"Shine"

Chapter Twenty-One

By Darthelwig

*** I own nothing. I'm just having fun. ***

Carol didn't want to open her eyes. She hurt all over. God, why did it always have to hurt? Her mind raced as she took stock of her injuries. Surprisingly enough, aside from the general aching in her body, she didn't seem to have any. Even her head wasn't splitting this time, which was a huge relief. She felt better than she had since those goons had snatched her up.

And she felt clear-headed. That was important too.

"You can open your eyes. The lights are down."

Carol groaned as she forced herself to do so, blinking as her eyes adjusted, and saw Natasha Romanoff herself sitting at her bedside. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered what this meant. Was she in trouble? Was she safe? Did Natasha have to be so damn hot? Because that was really distracting. But most importantly...

"Where's Wanda?" It came out more of a croak than words, but Natasha understood her anyway. Because of course she did. She helped Carol to sit up and offered her a cup of water.

"Drink slowly," she ordered. Carol did, but only because she didn't want to risk throwing up in front of Natasha freaking Romanoff.

"Where's Wanda?" she asked again, glad when it came out more clearly this time. She was starting to feel better already, the aches beginning to fade away.

"Now that we know you're okay, she's busy avoiding you," Natasha replied, folding her arms over her chest. "It's stupid, really. I've tried to tell her, but she won't listen to me. I figured she would listen to you when you finally woke up."

Carol sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes. "I need to see her."

"First we need to run some tests." Natasha's face was impassive, but her eyes held something more, something strange Carol couldn't name.

"What kind of tests? I feel fine, and I really just want to get out of here."

Natasha hesitated, and that scared Carol more than anything.

"Medical examinations while you were out revealed some... major changes in your body. Your DNA, specifically. We need to know what that means for you."

"You've been running tests on me while I was unconscious?" That was an uncomfortable thought. Almost a violation. Her stomach turned.

"You were out for four days. Yes, we ran tests on you to see what was wrong," Natasha said completely unapologetic. Carol had to admit that was a pretty good reason. She nodded.

"Four days? Really? It doesn't feel like it. I mean, I felt like shit when I woke up, but I'm already feeling so much better now."

"Exactly. That machine they hit you with was powered by an alien artifact we'd been searching for, and that alien technology has had some major effects on your body. Tony and Dr. Cho will be able to explain it to you better than I can, but it was my turn to sit with you. We didn't know how long it would take you to wake up."

"What about the other prisoners?"

"None of them were exposed to the artifact as strongly as you were. They're all fine, relatively speaking."

Carol sighed. "Can we get this over with, then? I just really want to see Wanda. We need to talk."

"Sure, kid. I'll get right on that. Let's not allow your health and safety to interfere with your love life." Nat shook her head, but her lips were tilted up in a smirk.

"Thanks! You're the best!" Carol said with all the false cheer and sarcasm she could muster, making Natasha laugh.

"You and Wanda really do deserve each other," she said.

"I think so too," Carol replied.

Carol was tired of waiting for Wanda to come to her. Two weeks, and she hadn't seen her girlfriend (because that's what she was, damn it) except in distant glances, and Wanda was always quick to make herself scarce. She knew it was her fault, and it weighed on her heavily, and all she wanted was to make it right, but Wanda sure as hell wasn't making it easy.

It took a bit of help from Natasha (and oh my god would she ever get used to being able to talk to the freaking Black Widow?) to finally corner her skittish prey.

"This place is too damn big. Too many places for you to run and hide," she said, walking into the previously locked and off-limits training room Wanda was currently using. The dummies Wanda was currently lifting and manipulating crashed to the ground as she swung around to face Carol with wide eyes, and Carol winced. "Ouch. Glad that isn't me. Though I probably deserve it."

"You do not," Wanda said, shuffling uncomfortably. "If you wish to use the room, I can leave."

"I'm actually here to talk to you. You're a hard girl to pin down. At one point I thought I might have to break the wall down. I can do that now, apparently."

"Yes. I have seen you training with Tony."

"Yeah, I don't know if he'll ever be done with me. He and Dr. Cho are running test after test, trying to figure out what Hydra did." Carol shrugged. "I feel fine, though."

"You should let them do their tests. You do not know how these changes will affect you later. Please, Carol." Carol's heart hurt at the concern so blatantly pasted on Wanda's face.

"I will. Don't worry," she reassured her. "I actually didn't come here to talk about that, but I'm glad you're not running away," she teased.

"I thought it better if I stayed out of your way," Wanda said simply.

"I don't want you out of my way, Wanda. I don't want you out of my life. God, I'm so sorry for what I said." She moved closer, wanting so badly to be able to just reach out and touch her, to feel Wanda's warmth again.

"What are you saying?" she asked. Carol swallowed thickly. Moment of truth.

"I'm saying I was an idiot for breaking up with you, and I love you so goddamn much. I'm miserable without you. I can't imagine being with anyone else, can't imagine wanting anyone else. You're it for me, Wanda. It's just you. And if you'll have me back, I will do everything in my power to make this work. I'll be more understanding about the whole Avenging thing, because I know I haven't been as supportive as I could have-" She was interrupted by Wanda's lips, as her (maybe now once again?) girlfriend threw herself at her. It was desperate and needy and felt a lot like coming home. She clutched Wanda's slim frame to her own, didn't make even a sound of complaint when Wanda's fingers tangled in her hair and pulled painfully at the strands. Fuck it. This was perfect.

Slowly she became aware of Wanda speaking softly and quickly between kisses. "I am sorry. So sorry. Carol. Please. I am sorry."

Carol pulled back so she could look Wanda in the eye. Tears slipped down Wanda's cheeks, and she brushed them away. "You have nothing to be sorry for, babe. You're so fucking perfect, so good to me. You always have been. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I let you down, always. I know I am not there for you as I should be. I have every reason to be sorry," Wanda confessed softly. Carol shook her head and kissed her girlfriend's face, her eyes, her cheeks, her nose.

"You've got serious obligations, and I know that. You're saving the damn world, babe. Helping people. And I'm so fucking proud of you for that." Carol's voice was tight with emotion and she had to clear her throat to continue. "I need you. In whatever way, and however much I can get, I need you." She cupped Wanda's face, stared into those green eyes that she'd missed so damn much.

"You deserve better," Wanda whispered.

"There's no one better for me than you." Carol kissed her again, deep and slow and sure, and Wanda responded just as she'd hoped she would, melting into her arms. Their kiss went on and on, and Carol could feel that heat starting low in her belly, the want she always felt for her beautiful girl. And Wanda wasn't stopping, was pulling her closer, like she was trying to climb inside her skin.

She didn't want to. God, she didn't want to, but they needed to stop.

"Wanda," she gasped between kisses. "Wanda." Another mind-melting kiss. "Stop." She pulled back. "We have to stop." And oh god, Wanda's lips were swollen and shiny from their kisses, and Carol wanted nothing more than to finish what they started, but... "Not here."

Wanda blinked, and Carol could literally see her brain start to click again. Pride filled her chest. Yeah, she did that to her beautiful, powerful girl.

"What?" Wanda asked, and Carol grinned. Okay, maybe her brain hadn't completely caught up yet. Carol tipped her head towards the observation deck.

"We have an audience."

The way Wanda instantly pulled into herself had Carol more than a little concerned. Where was her girlfriend who delighted in risky sexual behavior? The girl who had sex with her in the back of Carol's car, and in her bed while her family slept a few doors down, and in school for gods sake?

"Wanda?"

"It is nothing." She shook her head. She tried to walk away, head down, but Carol refused to let her.

"Talk to me," she asked, ready to beg if that's what it took. She hated the look of shame and embarrassment on her girlfriend's face.

"They do not like me, most of them. Some think I am a freak. They blame me for what happened in Sokovia, for attacking the Avengers. They are right."

And now Carol was good and pissed.

"Hey, listen to me," she said, tipping Wanda's chin until she looked at her. "You made mistakes. Everyone does. You're not the only one responsible for what happened in Sokovia. A lot of that rests on Tony's shoulders too. And honestly, these people have no room to judge you. They weren't in your shoes. They've never been where you've been." God, Carol wanted to break the faces of every person on this base who ever made Wanda feel bad about herself. She glanced up at the nosy assholes who were still peering down at them unashamedly. She smiled evilly as she had a really, really bad idea.

"You know what?" she asked Wanda, who was looking at her with tears in her eyes. And it was the tears that made up her mind to follow through with her really bad idea. She clenched her fist and it started to glow. "They piss me off," she said, and she punched her fist forward directly at the observation deck, letting off a beam of energy that had people scattering and screaming as a hole was blown through it.

Alarms immediately started to blare. Wanda's eyes were huge, hands clapped over her mouth in shock. Carol grinned at her. "I've got your back, babe."

"They are going to be so angry!"

"Yeah, probably. Totally worth it, though." She pressed a kiss to Wanda's temple just as Natasha entered the training room, followed closely by a horrified Steve.

"What happened?" Steve demanded.

"Sorry. My mistake," Carol spoke up.

"Tell me you had a good reason for that," Nat said. "An assassin, Hydra, maybe a mutant spider?"

"Mutant spider? Really?" Carol asked.

"Stranger things have happened," Nat said simply.

"They were watching us. Making Wanda feel bad." Carol wrapped an arm around Wanda's waist. Her girlfriend seemed to have gone mute.

"So you decided to wreck the room and put people in danger?" Steve said angrily.

"I decided to protect my girlfriend, since no one else is," Carol challenged. Steve wiped a hand over his face and sighed. "Look," Carol pointed. "Its a small hole. They're fine. I didn't kill or maim anyone." People had cleared out of the area, for the most part.

"You can't just attack people!" Steve yelled.

"Sorry?" Carol wasn't sorry at all. It was about time she protected Wanda like Wanda had always protected her. She could do that now. If a couple of judgmental assholes got scared shitless during the process, she couldn't care less.

"Just...go. We'll talk about this later." Steve sighed again, and Carol took the opportunity to lead Wanda away. She heard Steve mutter behind her. "These girls are gonna be the death of me."

She wasn't exactly sure where Wanda's room was, so she led her mute and pliant girlfriend to her own, shutting the door behind them. And suddenly Wanda was in her arms, kissing her desperately, ripping at Carol's clothes in her haste to get them off her.

"Fuck," Carol gasped as Wanda nipped at her neck. It was a struggle to get out of their clothes when neither of them wanted to stop touching, but they managed, and they tumbled onto the bed together in a tangle of limbs and desire. "Fuck, Wanda. You sure?" she asked breathlessly.

"You were amazing," Wanda said with a mischievous smile, "and I love you. Please."

That was all Carol needed to hear. She pulled Wanda into a hot, dirty kiss, moaning at the taste of her. Wanda pressed her down into the bed, fingers unerringly moving to her core and coating themselves in her slick juices, then running circles around her clit. Carol spread her legs wide, inviting Wanda to do whatever she wanted, and was rewarded with a thumb pressed to her clit while Wanda sank two fingers into her. Carol almost came right then and there, it felt so good. Her girlfriend knew just how to touch her.

Wanda kept kissing her, swallowing the sounds she was making. Carol's hips rocked upwards as Wanda fucked her, fingers crooked so they brushed over that special spot inside of Carol that made her see stars.

"Come for me, Carol," Wanda breathed into her lips. "I wish to see you." Wanda slipped another finger inside her, closed her teeth on Carol's nipple, and Carol was suddenly riding the wave of her orgasm, mindless with it. She jerked violently under her girlfriend's ministrations, and it was Wanda's voice that centered her, telling her how beautiful she was, and how loved.

"Oh god," Carol said shakily. Wanda nuzzled into her neck as she gently stroked Carol's pussy soothingly. "God, I missed you."

"I am not done with you yet," Wanda said, dropping a kiss to her lips. Carol thought about protesting for all of two seconds, saying she wanted to make Wanda feel good too, but her girlfriend was kissing her way down her body and she was so ready for this. Achingly so. Later, she told herself. You'll get your chance.

And then Wanda spread her folds and licked into her, and Carol put all thought aside.