Infinity Crisis Aftermath: Therapy Session

by L1701E

One-Shot. After the events of Infinity Crisis, one of the Avengers gets a therapy session.

Infinity Crisis Aftermath: The Therapy Session

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their owners. This is just for fun.

Author's Note: This is set about a week after Infinity Crisis.

The Avengers Compound, Earth-199999

A auburn-haired woman walked down the hallway to one of the rooms in the compound. She was wearing a pair of black jeans, sneakers, and a dark red blouse. Her auburn hair was in a ponytail. She noticed the sign on the door she was heading towards. The woman pursed her lips in nervousness at the name on the sign.

Dr. Leonard Samson

Psychiatrist

Wanda Maximoff sighed as she thought back to the events that led her to coming here...

–

"How have you been, Wanda?" Sam Wilson, the Falcon, asked as he held out a bottle of water to the mentalist.

"I've been...I'm fine." Wanda answered as she toweled her face. The two Avengers had been engaging in a training session.

"You're fine." Sam repeated.

"Yes." Wanda nodded. "Why?"

"Well, I've been reading about you." Sam explained. "You've been through a lot. I mean, losing your parents, your brother, living some years on the run, then Vision, you getting Dusted..."

Wanda frowned at this. "Sam, what're you getting at?"

"All that can wear on a person, Wanda." Sam explained. "I'm saying that if it ever feels too much, you do have someone to talk to..."

"I'm fine, Sam." The Eastern European woman smiled. "And well, thanks to that little epic battle we had recently, I got to get Pietro and Vision back. So, that was very nice."

"Wanda, I counseled veterans that went through trauma." Sam continued. "Quite a few of them would not admit that they had troubles. And that led to...problems."

Wanda chuckled. "What, you think I'm going to have a breakdown one day and turn a town into a sitcom?"

"I'm just saying, it's good to vent every once in a while." Sam advised. "You should talk to that therapist Banner got for us. That's what's he's for." Wanda's face contorted in thought.

"I don't know..."

"It wouldn't hurt to try." Sam said. "Besides, your crazy brother could use a therapist. No offense."

"None taken." Wanda rolled her eyes. "He was always high-strung." She then blinked. "You know what? I think I will go see our new therapist."

–

Wanda looked at the sign.

"Well, may as well do this." She opened the door, and looked into the office. The office itself was rather nice.

The dark-haired man looked up from the files he was looking over.

"Ah, Miss Maximoff!" The man got up and walked towards her, holding his hand out for a handshake. "Dr. Leonard Samson. Nice to meet you."

"Thank you." Wanda smiled.

"Please, take a seat." The psychiatrist gestured to a comfortable-looking red chair. Wanda did so.

"I heard that Banner recommended you." Wanda noted.

"Yes, I found his particular case...fascinating." Samson noted. "And I have to admit, the opportunity to be the shrink for Earth's Mightiest Heroes was one I could not pass up."

"I see."

"I have read about you, Ms. Maximoff." Samson noted, holding up the file with her name. "You're a young lady who has been through a lot of trauma."

"Falcon said the same thing." Wanda recalled. "He said I should talk about it."

"It would help."

Wanda sighed. "Well..." She moved in her chair in an attempt to get comfortable. "The last few years have been...rough. I spent time on the run. Nothing unusual there. I fell in love with a man that is seen by most as...a glorified calculator. I saved the world alongside the man who caused the deaths of my parents and brother."

"Stark."

"My feelings about Tony are..." Wanda frowned as she tried to find the word. "I guess...complex would be the best word to describe them. For a long time, I was quite angry at him."

"Being angry at him would be understandable." Samson nodded. "He also has a bit of a knack for casually annoying people."

"...it's why I volunteered to get my powers in the first place." Wanda recalled. "I admit, when I first got these powers..." She looked at her hands. "I wanted to kill him. I hated him. But then those powers allowed me to see his mind. Mostly his fears...and his regrets." She linked her fingers. "I mean, all my life, I saw him as a monster. A cruel demon who destroyed for his own pleasure. But now, after I have learned what goes on in his head...things became harder. More complex."

"I see."

"They..." Wanda waved her hand as if she was trying to summon the words she was looking for. "They had bound him. They were like chains that wrapped themselves around him, and weighed him down." Wanda remembered. "That's the best way I can describe them."

"Stark has shown a lot of guilt over his company's past actions." Samson said.

"I know that's genuine." Wanda tapped her head. "Can't fool me. Not with my powers."

"Have you discussed this with any of the Avengers?"

"I can't say I have much." Wanda admitted. "It's just been things have been so crazy lately. Especially with that madness Thanos caused."

"Yes, the Second Battle of New York." Samson recalled. "I have to admit, I am curious about the...allies that you made during that battle."

"Maybe I'll tell you more about them sometime." Wanda suggested. "I do want to talk to Stark about...all the stuff with my past."

"You want to approach this in a constructive manner. That's good."

"Yes. I just have never had a chance to. Especially lately. It's been a bit hectic. Steve and Carol are adjusting to modern times..." Wanda recalled. "I've been helping Carol with that, Sam has been helping Steve. Tony and Bruce have gone all science mad thanks to that whole multiverse thing being real..."

"Have you been trying to find anything for yourself lately?" Samson asked.

"Yes, I've been considering signing up for a yoga class. It sounded nice." Wanda smiled. "I have been feeling good lately. I got my brother back, I got Vision back. It's great."

"Ah, right. According to this..." Samson held up a document. "During that battle, the Vision was rebuilt, and your brother was...resurrected?"

"Yes."

"Your brother died in Sokovia, if I remember correctly."

"Yes, he died saving lives." Wanda nodded. "I remember Clint telling me that he was a hero." She brushed some hair back.

"I can understand Vision being rebuilt, but I admit, I'm not exactly sure about how that happened." Samson said. "As far as I know, you can't bring back the dead."

"He was in this thing called the 'Speed Force'." Wanda nodded. "You'd have to ask Pietro about it. Evidently, according to the Flashes, it's where many speedsters get their power...and it's like a heaven for them, too."

"The Flashes. They were two of those heroes from another universe that helped you fight Thanos in New York, correct?"

"Yes." Wanda nodded. "They were two different versions from two different universes." The Sokovian chuckled. "I know, it makes my head spin a bit, too."

"That is something." Samson wrote in his notepad. "Heroes from another universe. That sounds like something out of a 1960s comic book."

"I thought the same thing myself." Wanda chuckled. "But truth can be stranger than fiction, as they say."

"Indeed." Samson concurred with a nod. "How are you feeling about that?"

"I am rather happy about it." Wanda smiled. "Got Vision back, too. I never imagined something like that would happen. I've lost a lot in my life, and in a way...I felt that I never really got to get to terms with any of it. I lose someone I love, and before I can process it, some new trauma hits me."

"Yes, I read your file." Samson recalled. "You have extraordinary mental strength, Wanda."

"When I was dusted in Wakanda, I admit, I had welcomed it." Wanda confessed. "I wasn't sure if there was anything like an afterlife or anything like that, but I did hope that maybe...maybe I would go to one, and Pietro and Vision were waiting for me. God, that makes me sound like...sound like..."

"It's normal, Wanda." Samson assured. "There's only so much a person can take. Do you remember what happened to you after you were dusted?"

"A little bit." Wanda nodded. "I remember being in this forest. It felt...very calm and peaceful. I certainly wasn't what I expected." She chuckled a bit. "It was...strangely rather nice."

"I have heard that from some others who were dusted." Samson looked over a document. "Evidently, you had ended up inside an Infinity Stone?"

"Yes, the Soul one, I believe." Wanda confirmed. "I'm not sure of the technical terms, but it basically got shattered to free everyone from it."

"So, the Stone was destroyed."

"Should be." Wanda frowned. "But I do fear that we haven't seen the last of that particular Stone."

"Wasn't the Stone shattered?"

"Yes, it was." The mentalist nodded. "But there is so much we don't know about the Stones. I know that we do know a little about the Mind Stone thanks to Vision having it, but that doesn't mean we don't automatically know everything about them. For all we know, the Soul Stone may have reassembled itself and is floating around somewhere. And that's not the only thing that frightens me."

"Oh?"

"...I get scared about Pietro and Vision." Wanda confessed. "Don't get me wrong. I am thrilled to have them back. I was so overjoyed to see them again. But that doesn't mean their deaths didn't happen. Pietro still did get shot. Vision still got the Mind Stone ripped out of his head. I get scared that I'll lose them again. This Avenger thing is a very dangerous line of work. And I know they'll want to leap back into it."

"Have you talked to them about this?"

"A little bit." Wanda said. "I fear Pietro's return may have made him a bit more of a daredevil, though. And as for Vision..." She sighed. "Vision is so noble. He sees himself as a knight, and the Avengers as a bit of a calling, for a lack of better words. You'd think you'd be more cautious after returning from the dead."

"I can imagine Pietro has his own issues when it comes to this." Samson suggested. "I've haven't the opportunity to speak to him yet, so don't quote me on that." Wanda looked at her watch.

"I am sorry, but I have to cut this short." Wanda got up. "I have an appointment." She smiled at the psychologist. "Thank you for letting me get that off my chest. It was...relieving."

"Of course." Samson shook her hand. "I'm here for you to talk to if you need it."

"I will, thank you."

"Samuel?" Falcon turned his head and saw a tall thin man walk towards him. The man had blond hair in a neat cut, and was dressed in a dark green tweed jacket and matching slacks, with a yellow sweater. The collar of a red shirt popped up underneath the sweater's collar. The man's outfit was completed by a pair of white-and-black fine shoes. "May I speak to you a minute?"

It took Sam a moment, but hearing the man's voice allowed him to figure out this stranger's identity easily. "Vision? Is that you?!"

"Yes, it is." Vision nodded with a smile. "It's something Stark has been helping me with. My new holographic projection system. It allows me to take on a more 'human' appearance."

"Awesome."

"Indeed. Stark pointed out that my default appearance can cause...a stir. And there are times when I would need to move among humans anonymously. With this, I can do so."

"Well, that's great, Vizh." Sam chuckled.

"I have chosen this for my default appearance. Do you...think Wanda will like it? I hope she does."

"Vision, I think she'll love you no matter what you look like. It wasn't your appearance that won her heart." Sam said.

"Thank you, Sam." Vision smiled. "Stark has also been working on giving me what you would call a civilian identity."

"That's good." Sam nodded.

"He suggested the name 'Victor Shade'. What do you think of it?"

Sam snickered. "Victor Shade? Really?" Vision nodded. "No offense, Vizh, but...that sounds like the name for a certain kind of actor."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"...I shall rethink it, then." Vision nodded. "I've also been working on...another little gift."

"Really?" A curious Sam crossed his arms.

"Yes, Stark also helped me with this one." Vision smiled. He pulled a folded piece of paper out of his jacket and handed it to Sam. The former military man opened the paper and looked it over. His eyes then widened in surprise.

"Vision...this is...how did you get this?"

"Stark helped me." Vision smiled. Sam looked over the piece of paper again. It was a land deed. "It's a little plot in this nice town in New Jersey. I'm hoping to build a house for Wanda and myself there. I've been modeling it on the homes in the old sitcoms she loves so much."

"She likes old sitcoms?" Sam asked.

"Yes. Since childhood." Vision nodded. "I watch them with her as well. I am quite fond of The Dick Van Dyke Show."

"That's actually kind of sweet." Sam chuckled, handing the deed back to Vision.

"Indeed. I hope she likes it." Vision smiled as he put the deed back in his pocket.

"There you two are!" Sam and Vision turned and saw a smiling Wanda walking towards them.

"Hey, Wanda. How'd the therapy session go?" Sam asked.

"Very well, thank you." The Sokovian woman answered. "I managed to get quite a bit off of my chest. It...felt good."

"Well, that's good."

"It is." She smiled at the two. "So, what were you two boys talking about?" Vision and Sam looked at each other."

"Uh...the Ship of Theseus!" Vision quickly supplied.

"The Ship of Theseus." Wanda repeated in disbelief.

"Yeah, the Ship of Theseus!" Sam nodded.

"I see." Wanda smirked amusedly at Sam. "I had no idea you were fond of Greek philosophy, Sam."

"Uhm, I'm curious?" Sam supplied with a nervous chuckle. Wanda tilted her head.

"Are you two trying to hide something from me?"

"Uhhhh..." Sam and Vision looked at each other. Thankfully, they would get an unlikely savior.

"WANDA!" Pietro Maximoff angrily stormed up to the group, waving a newspaper around. "Wanda, you have to see this!" He held out the paper to them. "Take a look!"

Sam glanced at the paper. "...The Honolulu Star-Advertiser? How're we getting a Hawaiian paper out here?"

"The Avengers are subscribed to many major newspapers from many major cities in the United States and around the world." Vision explained. "Captain Rogers is fond of newspapers."

"Never mind that! Look at the headline!" Pietro snapped. The three Avengers read it.

"...The Flash Busts Jewelry Theft Ring?" Sam read.

"That's no Flash we met." Wanda noted. Indeed, the photo showed that this Flash was a young blonde woman, wearing a purple costume instead of the traditional red associated with the speedy hero. Her cowl let her long blonde hair fly free, and her ears had covers with golden wings on them. Around her waist was a golden belt in the shape of a lightning bolt. She had on yellow boots and gloves. And on her chest was the Flash emblem: A golden lightning bolt over a white circle.

"Wasn't there another new heroine that showed up around there?" Sam asked.

"Yes, there was." Vision noted. "While we and our extradimensional allies fought Thanos in New York, there was an alien invasion in Honolulu. The Royal Family of Attilan helped fight them off...alongside a new superheroine calling herself Green Lantern."

"Who cares about some woman named after a light source?" Pietro sneered. "They are referring to this 'Fabulous Flash', as some call her, as the Fastest Woman Alive."

"What do you care? You're not a woman." Sam pointed out.

"Pietro, we don't know that this 'Flash' is faster than you." Wanda rolled her eyes. "And what does it matter?"

"Indeed, Pietro." Vision agreed. "Having more champions against evil is only a good thing."

"Not to mention I can imagine that there's only so many superpowers around." Sam chuckled. "Makes sense we'd get overlap at some point."

"Look at it like this, Pietro." Wanda smiled. "If she ever joins the Avengers, she could use a mentor."

Pietro rolled his eyes. "Mentor. Right." He stomped away, muttering. "I oughta challenge her to a public race. Show her who is the fastest..." Sam looked at Wanda.

"He's going to be grumbling about this for a while, isn't he?"

"I think we should tell the Justice League about this next time we meet them." Vision suggested. "I think they would be quite amused to hear about this..."

Outside the Avengers Compound, a woman floated in the air. Her wild black hair framed her face, and she wore a dark blue dress with a purple shawl. Her feet were covered by shiny black boots. On the collar of her dress was a broach with what looked like a cameo depicting Hecate on it. In her arms was a black cat.

"Hmmm..." Agatha Harkness thought with amusement. "Well, Ebony..." She smiled at her cat. "Looks like we found a source of great magical power here."

"Mrrowl..." Ebony muttered.

"Don't worry, my dear..." She assured. "Their sensors can't detect us." Ebony snuggled into the crook of her arm, purring contendedly. "Looks like our little Miss Wanda Maximoff is unaware of what she truly is...or of the legacy she carries..." She frowned. "We'll have to keep an eye on her. The last thing I need is the rising of another Scarlet Witch..."

Thanks for reading!

Author's Note: Part of the inspiration for this story was Michael Weyer's "Generation Gaps". I had noticed that he seemingly didn't establish Agatha Harkness yet, so here she is. Her line about Wanda being another Scarlet Witch is a nod to James Robinson's Scarlet Witch solo series. It's really good. And I thought I'd bring Leonard Samson back from The Incredible Hulk as the Avengers' new psychiatrist because, well...after all the insanity of Infinity War and Infinity Crisis, the Avengers would NEED a shrink.