Set the World on Fire
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and ocs. Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you thought!
Chapter 8
Cat glanced around her, taking in her surroundings as she stood next to a signal light, waiting for the red hand symbol to change so she could cross. Every muscle in her body was tense as the crowd that had gathered at the street corner pressed closer to her, and she huddled her shoulders closer into her body, hoping none of the camera would catch her. Unease settled in the pit of her stomach and she glanced carefully over her shoulder, whiskey colored eyes landing on a young girl towards the back of the crowd, ear buds in her ears, an old baseball cap pulled over her head, and layers obscuring her body shape, although Cat could tell she was on the petite side. Something about the young girl pulled at her heartstrings, reminding her of someone she had long since given up on trying to forget.
Inhaling a breath, Cat glanced around her, finally noticing why she was so on guard. Two men in the back of the crowd, inching their way closer to the girl caused every muscle in her body to tense further. They moved with ease, practiced movements she was all to familiar with. Rolling her eyes skyward, she carefully fell to the back of the crowd, keeping her head bowed as she watched the girl brush past her. The two goons who had been inching closer to her carefully followed behind her, keeping a few paces back. Cat knew she should mind her own business, cross the street, ignore what was surely two harmless men walking in the same direction as a young girl. However every instinct in her body told her that wasn't the truth, and she had come to rely on her instincts. Exhaling a breath she was certain was a sigh, she followed after them, her hands digging in the pocket of her faded red hoodie under her black leather jacket, dark aviators rested on the bridge of her nose, and a black beanie was pulled low on her head. She watched as one of the goons glanced over his shoulder, eyes scanning the area quickly before mumbling something to his partner who nodded.
Cat took in their appearance, knowing it would be information she would need for the future. The two men were tall, just over six feet. One was toned, lean muscles. The other was muscular with broad shoulders. They weren't wearing suits, but their clothes weren't rags. That alone told her they were simply the hired muscle, they were working for some one who didn't want to get their hands dirty. She paused a step, reaching into her back pocket for her phone and pulling her ear buds out of one of the hoodie pockets, placing them in her ears and turning up the volume to AC/DC, blasting in her ears. She glanced up, noticing the girl had just reached another cross walk, waiting for the signal light to change so she could cross. That was when Cat noticed one of the goons moving closer to her and that was when she decided to stop it. She moved closer to the taller goon, the one with more muscles, deciding he was the deciding factor in bringing the two down.
Wanda was humming along to one of the songs on her Starkphone, oblivious of her surroundings. She knew if Natasha or Steve ever learned of her lack of attention, she would never be allowed to leave the Tower. However she was excited. It was the first time in months she had been given a day off. And instead of staying locked away in the Tower, Wanda had decided to explore New York. She wanted to see the area Steve and Bucky had grown up, and she didn't care if she wasn't paying attention. However, she quickly regretted that decision when she heard the beginnings of a scuffle. Glancing over her shoulder, Wanda saw a young woman engaged with two men. Her eyes widened as she took a step away from the corner, unsure what to do exactly when she watched one of the men, one twice her size pulled out a knife, swinging it down towards the woman's chest. Wanda moved closer, red energy already covering her hands when she watched as the strange woman caught the man's wrist, twisting it and pulling it back until the knife fell from his hand before sweeping his feet out from under him. The man landed on his back with a grunt and that was when Wanda saw the other man coming towards the stranger, the silver glint of a knife flashing before it embedded itself in her shoulder. Wanda acted before she could honestly think about it, gripping him with her energy and flinging him against a dumpster in an alley they were in front of. The stranger glanced up head tilted slightly before bringing her left fore arm down on the base of the other man's skull.
Wanda watched, gaze guarded as the stranger glanced towards her shoulder, easily removing the knife from her shoulder before looking Wanda over.
"Thanks," her voice was slightly husky, reminding her of Natasha's slightly before she shrugged her shoulders.
"I think I should be the one thinking you. I didn't know those two had been following me. If you hadn't stepped in, they might have actually gotten to me," Wanda replied easily, sliding her hands into the back pockets of the skinny jeans she was wearing.
"I'm sure you would have been able to handle yourself just fine," Cat stated, glancing at the two men for a moment before shaking her head, obviously deciding against something before turning on her heel, going back the way they had come.
"Let me... Let me repay you some how. Not everyone would help a stranger and on top of that, you were just stabbed," Wanda spoke, suddenly not wanting this stranger to leave her just yet. She watched as she paused in her steps for a moment, glancing over her shoulder before rolling her neck as she thought over Wanda's words.
"Buy me a cup of coffee and we'll call it even," she finally answered and a wide grin stretched across Wanda's lips before she jogged lightly to catch up to the other woman.
"I know this great little shop," Wanda stated, falling into step beside her.
"Merde!" The french curse fell from Cat's lips as she rolled out from the under carriage of a Chevy Cobalt, casting a glare towards the vehicle before grabbing a rag to wipe most of the grease from her hands.
"What's wrong Kitty?" Wanda had been sitting in Cat's station for the last twenty minutes, waiting for her none super hero friend to finish with the car so they could get something to eat.
" This fucking fuel line. It's corroded. You would think these idiots would have brought their car in sooner but of course not. It's going to need to be replaced," Catalina explained as she pushed to her feet, shaking her head and tossing the rag on the tool box she kept at her station. Wanda could only chuckle, rolling her eyes as she pushed to her feet as well.
"I think you would get along with a lot of the people I work with. They aren't mechanics though, more engineers," Wanda commented, sliding her hands in her back pockets and watching as Cat grabbed her leather jacket, pulling it on over her black racer back tank top she wore. Her jeans were fitting her a bit better, no longer barely staying on her hips, and Wanda knew that was mostly because she had replaced the old denim her friend kept.
"Speaking of people you work with, how do you get out of eating lunch with them every week?" Cat questioned, quirking a delicate eyebrow as the two made their way to a small cafe a few blocks from the garage Cat was employed at.
"You've personally seen what I can do. And well, only a few of them are actually completely comfortable around me. My boss, he understands everyone needs space, and this is where I usually get mine," Wanda answered, shrugging her shoulders lightly.
"You're down playing it Cherry," Cat commented, glancing at the younger girl from the corner of her eye for a brief moment before turning the corner of the street that led tot he cafe.
"I... I did things I'm not proud of Kitty. The place where I work, the friends I gained there, we weren't always friends, weren't always on the same side. They don't fully trust me yet," Wanda explained, sliding into a seat at one of the outdoor tables. Catalina nodded, falling gracefully into her own seat before looking at Wanda, searching her face for a moment as she gathered her thoughts for what she was going to say.
"You think you're a monster," it was a statement, and Wanda didn't deny what the older woman said which caused Cat to nod her head for a moment before exhaling a sigh.
"Cherry, I'm only going to tell you this once, so I want you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say, understand?" she spoke, watching as Wanda's brows drew together in a frown before cautiously nodding her head in understanding. Before Cat could speak, their waiter arrived.
"I'll have a coffee, black and a basket of curly fries," Catalina spoke before the young man even had a chance to request what they wanted. Wanda rolled her eyes before turning to glance at their waiter.
"I'll have an iced tea and a turkey sandwich, please," the young man nodded before turning away.
"You are so rude some times," Wanda commented, and Cat only shrugged her shoulders lightly before focusing her intense gaze on her young friend.
"I know monsters Cherry. I slept five feet from twenty six of them for nearly two decades. I worked for them for longer than I know, was taught by them, see them every day I look in a mirror. I know monsters, and you aren't one of them," She spoke the words slowly, watching as Wanda's eyes widened slightly before her bottom lip began to tremble.
"I am, Kitty, I'm a monster," she mumbled, shaking her head. Before she registered what was happening, Catalina was in the seat beside her, placing both of her hands on the younger girl's shoulders and turning her to face her.
"You made a few mistakes, something everyone is allowed to do. You were lost and searching for a place in the world that was against you from the beginning. You are not a monster Wanda, you are a hero, you possess the heart of a hero, don't ever forget that," Cat spoke fiercely, her grip tight on Wanda's shoulders. She could only nod, watching the steel behind Cat's eyes and knew better than to argue with her.
"Good. Now let's eat out lunch and than you need to get back to your place of work and I need to replace a fuel line," Cat informed her before returning to her original seat and reaching for the ketchup.
"I hope you know, you can not live off of curly fries," Wanda stated after a moment, shaking her head as her friend took one of the potatoes and dipped it in the ketchup before taking a bite.
"Says who?" Cat retorted after chewing her bite and quirking a delicate eyebrow in challenge. Wanda could only roll her eyes in reply before turning her attention to her own sandwich.
Bucky was in a horrible mood. And he was certain everyone knew it. First he looses his soulmate, and can't find any lead on her. It's only been three weeks, but he was beginning to get frustrated at the lack of progress. Than Wanda, who he can relate to, almost gets taken, only to be saved by some civilian and when he and Steve went looking for the goons, they were already gone. And on top of that his Harley was beginning to act out. He growled as he drove it to the only garage he trusted, that had been owned by the same family for generations. He pulled into the drive way, a frown pulling on his lips as he saw Wanda laughing with another girl, a black beanie pulled over her head and her back to him. He cut the engine, shaking his head and went looking for the grandson who now owned the garage.
"I'll have my new mechanic take a look at your Harley now, don't worry," Charlie spoke after Bucky explained why he had brought his bike here.
"Thanks, I appreciate that," Bucky shook the older man's hand before turning, deciding to call Steve outside, rather than in the loud garage.
"Yo Carla, come over here," Bucky glanced up out of habit, and his jaw nearly hit the floor when he saw his soulmate turn away from Wanda and start towards Charlie and his bike.
A/N: Finished with Chapter 8 after rewriting like three times. Chapter 9 to come in the next few days. Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you thought!
