Wanda saw only the briefest glances of herself in the ensuing media coverage of the conference center bombing. The world was not interested in the Avengers' efforts to catch the bombers, whose errors in wiring had failed to bring down the main building in spite of skillfully placed charges. Broadcasts barely mentioned that the Sacrificial Lambs of February had been linked to a cell of former SHIELD agents with ties to Hydra or that they were still at large. The global press had even forgotten that they had ever been in mortal danger.
In spite of dramatic footage of the evacuation, building collapse and the Avengers in action, all anyone seemed to be interested in reporting was Captain America kissing Black Widow.
Only two photographers and one cameraman had been situated at the ideal angle to capture the moments after Natasha and Steve had emerged from the annex building wreckage, but the images had provoked instant international obsession. The minute and a half long clip played everywhere. One particularly well-composed photo of their kiss had graced the front pages of nearly all the world's noteworthy newspapers, from the Afghanistan Times to the Herald of Zimbabwe, not to mention every magazine, tabloid and internet site, relevant or not.
Avengers' HQ was aware of each and every mention; Hill's nascent PR team had already been expanded by three, with talk of more hires. Her theory was that the world had seen terrorists and bombings before; a superhero love story was completely new territory.
Director Fury's only response had been a half-frown, half-smile, with a muttered, "Damn kids."
For their part, Steve and Natasha had retreated into his quarters when the team had returned and she had been cleared by Dr. Cho. She had suffered only minor cuts and bruises in the explosion, due to her quick thinking to use the elevator as a shelter. In the small building, it had proved strong enough to provide protection from the blast and falling rubble. Most of her injuries had come as a result of the impact after the cables had snapped and the emergency brakes failed in the compromised shaft. In a taller building, the results would have been much different.
Wanda was pleased to find that the bright flashes of light had not been picked up by the cameras. She had been the only one to experience the true joy of the moment, apart from Steve and Natasha themselves. The light wasn't always present when she looked at them now, but she found it somehow comforting to know it was there. She liked to think that actually seeing love was like seeing light. Light didn't disappear, merely moved to a new location too quickly for the eye to sense. In billions of years, cosmologists with the right equipment in a faraway galaxy might mistake the couple for a supernova.
Headquarters was quiet tonight after the active week. Wanda was alone in the lounge, sipping a cup of tea and watching a 60 Minutes piece speculating on the 'Story Behind the Superhero Love Story' when Natasha appeared, deep in conversation on her phone.
"No, I get that you…look, it's not like I was lying to you…" She waved to Wanda as she walked into the kitchenette, conversation still audible. "When are the kids off for spring break? Are you doing anything? Then can we spend the week? I'll ask him how he feels about it. Yeah. Yeah. Give everyone my love. I'll cook at least four nights. What? No, put her on." There was a pause and Natasha's voice was gentler when she resumed speaking. "Hey, sweetie. It wasn't a secret, I just hadn't had a chance to tell you…Yes, Lila, Steve is my boyfriend. Well, you can ask him yourself. Yes! When you have your week off from school. Okay, put your dad back on. I love you, too." She was all business when she reentered the lounge with her own cup of tea a moment later. "Third week of April, then. See you."
Natasha dropped her phone as she collapsed into a chair across from Wanda. After a glance at the TV, she said, "If I'd been thinking more clearly, I would have pulled him into the elevator with me."
Wanda smiled. "You two have become very famous very quickly as a couple."
"It would be a nightmare if I had to live out there in the real world." She took a long sip of tea. "We're safe in our little bubble for now. "Where is everybody?"
She ticked off the rest of the team on her fingers as she said, "Rhodey is at an Air Force commitment, Sam is spending the weekend with his sister's family, Vision has decided to learn about love through Shakespearean literature and Steve is…I assume you know where he is."
"Raiding the galley. His metabolism is ridiculous." Natasha sipped her tea again. "I hope Vision isn't focusing on Romeo and Juliet. Or I might have to lend him Doctor Zhivago, not that it's a more realistic model of love. What is?" After a long moment's consideration that bordered on the awkward, she said, "Anyway, you all alone here?"
"Agent Hill and Dr. Cho invited me to see a movie, but I preferred to stay in."
Natasha gave her a significant look. "When they're asking you to hang out, it's just Maria and Helen. You probably missed a good time. We usually hit the local bar after a movie."
"Really?"
"You shouldn't stay cooped up at HQ all the time. Just come the next time we invite you."
Wanda realized with a start that she had rejected multiple invitations to go out. "I may do that."
"Seriously. No one around here would ask just to be polite. Of course, it might not be as much fun to see a romantic comedy starring Channing Tatum with all this going on," Natasha waved toward the television, "but still…it's good to get away, even for a few hours."
"Yes. You, um, you were making plans to go away?"
"Uh-huh. Clint is beyond furious I didn't tell him I was with Steve, but you can't stay mad at family. Has he sent you the latest pictures of Nathaniel?" Wanda leaned over to coo over the baby pictures, though she had received a few of them. Clint had been very eager for her to meet his son, named partly in honor of her twin brother, but she had yet to reply to the offer. Natasha hadn't pressed about it, though Wanda was sure she knew.
"He is very cute. Chubby cheeks on a baby, yes?"
Natasha didn't reply right away, holding her phone out a moment longer as she drained the dregs of her tea. "Clint really does want you to meet the baby, and the whole family. You, um…you could come with us. In a couple weeks."
Having heard at least part of the conversation concerning the trip, Wanda was even less inclined to agree to the reluctant proposal. "Perhaps another time."
"Okay. We may kidnap you for a barbeque on the Fourth of July, then. Just saying." She put away her phone and set down her empty mug, leaning back to watch a story about deep sea exploration. When a commercial came on, she began quietly, "We haven't really talked since…look, I still don't like the mind reading, but if you only use it for good reasons…"
"I will not…you…you were actually very accurate when you told Steve it was like overhearing through thin walls." She did her best to block her previous experiences enjoying Steve and Natasha's relationship through the walls from her mind. "Did you know I would hear you?" She quickly added, "After the building collapse, I mean."
"I was hoping. Once I realized the doors and the roof hatch of the elevator were blocked and I couldn't raise anyone on comms…I don't know how I knew you heard me." She glanced back at the Mariana Trench on television. "I was trying to say that maybe it's something the team should practice. Maybe Vision can…his powers are based on the Mind Stone, too, so…you two could work together, if it's…this is weird."
Wanda took a moment to gather all the things Natasha was suggesting. She had agreed to join the Avengers because she wanted to help people, to use the powers she had been given for positive outcomes. Her telekinesis was terrifying enough when she could barely control it. The fact that Natasha was the one telling her to try to develop her psychic powers was more reassuring than she would have expected. She smiled. "Weird. I have heard that was how my powers were initially described."
Natasha smirked. "Hasn't changed."
"I suppose it is difficult to argue with that."
"You still need to work on control. Don't think I'm condoning…I'm sorry. We've already resolved that." Wanda was about to question the sudden flare and disappearance of Natasha's anger when she said, "Hey, Steve. What's in the bowl?"
"I made mac and cheese. Figured you'd be hungry." He sank onto the couch between Wanda and Natasha's chair. "Wanda, you're welcome to grab a fork, too."
Natasha was smiling as she twirled her fork between her fingers. "Steve, you realize that one box is meant to serve, like, two or three people."
"Well, there were five boxes strapped together, so I thought…" he trailed off as he chewed a mouthful. "S'better than that ramen stuff."
"You need the calories," Natasha said, leaning forward while ruffling his hair. She contemplated the yellowish mass on her fork for a moment before taking a hesitant bite. After swallowing, she said, "It's not too bad."
"Not bad? I could live on this if there were some meat in it."
"Meat or Spam?"
"Just because you don't appreciate…"
"You know, I've eaten authentic 10-in-1 World War II rations and…"
"And?"
"Nothing," Natasha sank back into her chair, leaving her fork in the bowl. "Kraft mac and cheese is good."
"What would you rather have?"
"Well…how would you feel about something home cooked?"
Wanda left before Natasha could tell Steve about the plan to visit Clint's farm. She had the feeling it would end in something she couldn't ethically enjoy.
