Wanda initially had trouble getting used to the new psychic dynamics on the base and even within the team after the Winter Soldier arrived. She hadn't realized how comfortable she had gotten with the stability, now thoroughly disturbed. Steve was spending a lot of time with him, talking about their past, trying to get him back to who he used to be. Natasha was being cautiously supportive and pretending not to be jealous or frustrated that she had so much competition for Steve's attention. Sam was even less pleased, if that were possible; he'd never been bothered ceding bro-time to Natasha, but seemed almost threatened by Bucky's presence, as if he were worried that he was being replaced. Rhodey had temporarily relocated to the Tower for upgrades to his suit, while Vision remained his unflappable self. Wanda sometimes wished she had his composure. With their new addition's unpredictable and abrupt swings from easygoing potential teammate to hyper-paranoid human weapon, even remembering to call him Bucky was sometimes a challenge.
The challenge had only increased now that Steve and Sam had met up with Rhodey and Stark for a mission in Southeast Asia. Although Bucky still spent the majority of his time in his quarters, directly across from Steve's (or more accurately, Steve and Natasha's,) his appearances for meals and training were very closely monitored indirectly by Ops and directly by whichever Avenger was on call. In spite of the fact that Wanda's shift had ended several hours ago and she was ready to roll into bed, she was maintaining her presence in the gym, weakly punching a heavy bag as she observed Bucky with Natasha.
He had agreed to practicing yoga and tai chi with both of them several times a week in exchange for sparring sessions with Steve every few days. Wanda hadn't been sure about the meditational focused exercises until she'd tried them. As she worked, she found her powers were much easier to control when she could focus her mind. Combined with the training she had been doing with Vision, Wanda felt more controlled with each passing day.
Of course, none of that was helping at the moment. With Steve away, Natasha had taken over sparring with Bucky. She was doing her best to treat him the way she thought Steve would, but Wanda knew it was difficult for her. They'd yet to injure each other. Still, it seemed like a foregone conclusion with the two of them swinging and kicking with abandon on the mats. There were grunts and swears, but nothing concerning as limbs flew, reflecting in the surrounding mirrors.
Wanda suddenly jumped away from the heavy bag, hands raised defensively, as Natasha swore, "Shit!" She glanced in Wanda's direction with a reassuring wave. "Calf cramp." She hobbled around for a moment cursing in Russian before dropping to the mat and starting to stretch. Bucky knelt by the foot she was pulling toward herself and reached for it. She swatted him away. "I got it."
"Just tryin' to help."
Natasha hesitated for a moment and Wanda could feel the conflict racing through her mind – trusting Steve's erratic, brainwashed best friend or her own instincts. To Wanda's surprise, she chose the former. "Okay. Sure."
"Okay." He pressed on the ball of her foot with one hand while using the metal one to massage her calf. "I feel a big knot."
"Yeah." Natasha winced as metal fingers kneaded her lower leg. Gradually, the tension began to leave her body as Wanda watched carefully, still ready to throw Bucky against the wall. "That's better. Thanks."
He didn't let go when she tried to pull away, but kept working. "Keep stretching. Don't want it to tighten up again." His smile was almost shy as he looked up. "Gotta look out for Steve's girl while he's away."
"I really…" The next seconds passed faster than Wanda was able to process. Bucky leaned in, hand moving upwards, and Natasha suddenly caught him by the chin with her free foot, spitting in Russian, "Try it, soldier."
His voice was tense as he tried to look at her while his head was directed toward the ceiling. "Calm down, kitty cat. No need for the claws just yet."
The muscles showed under Natasha's spandex pants as she pushed his chin further back. "Tell me again how you're looking out for Steve by hitting on me."
The tension suddenly deflated as Bucky held up his hands. "I…I'm sorry. It's not me. I wouldn't…not…you smell nice."
She hesitated again before releasing the pressure needed to snap his neck. In one motion, she was on her feet. "We're done for today."
"Right. Sorry." Bucky immediately stood, left the gym and turned toward his quarters. Wanda could see Vision trailing him down the hall. He could be relied upon to hold the watch until relieved. She moved to follow Natasha until she realized Natasha was sinking back to the mats.
Wanda approached cautiously, not wanting to startle Natasha, though the very concept seemed laughable. She sat carefully, wrapping herself into a full lotus position before saying, "I think I could use some meditation today."
"Uh huh." Natasha folded herself into the position without another word. Silence reigned in the gym for several minutes.
Wanda couldn't help but peek at Natasha after a few minutes. "You…you are dealing with Bucky very well."
"I'm doing what I can." She uncrossed her legs and stretched them out, leaning back on her elbows. "Just ask."
"What do you mean?"
Natasha pouted slightly and her voice took on an accent, "Why didn't you hurt him just now? Or kill him in self-defense?"
"I don't sound like that."
"Yeah you do. Anyway, how closely were you paying attention to him when he went from helpful pal to leering sleazeball?"
"It happened so quickly…"
"And you were getting ready to atomize him, right. But there was something…it was in his eyes. There was a change. I could see it. He was doing fine, then suddenly he was the Winter Soldier for a few moments."
Wanda was careful not to make her next statement into a question. "You were not afraid."
"What's he gonna do? Shoot me?" Natasha shrugged. "He's just getting started working on his second chance. I have to give it to him."
"For Steve?"
"For myself. The Winter Soldier and I carried out similar missions. If he can get past them, so can I."
"But you…"
"Save it, Wanda. You don't know who I really was. Amnesia may be the best thing for some parts of Bucky's life since Hydra grabbed him."
"You and I were enemies once," Wanda said after a brief silence. "Now we are friends."
Natasha let the thought pass without comment, leaning forward to grasp her feet in a stretch, though she seemed to be hiding a smile in her knees.
If it had really been there, it disappeared when Wanda said, "Bucky is very important to Steve."
"He is." She remained in her stretch, not looking up. "He was a good man. He was Steve's best friend. Hopefully, he still has that in him. At least we know there's potential."
"What are you…?"
"Nothing." Natasha rose slowly rose to her feet. "Let's get some lunch."
They bumped into Hill, who was happy to give them an impromptu briefing on the guys' mission in Southeast Asia while they ate. After finding out that they were due back in a day, Natasha returned to Ops with Hill for a more detailed rundown and possible satellite call.
Wanda considered taking a walk outside, but the sky had become overcast since the morning. She wandered back toward her quarters, planning to catch up on the novel she had started some days before. Her indirect route led her down the hall where Vision was standing placidly outside of the Winter Soldier – Bucky's – quarters. He nodded politely as she approached. "Hello, Wanda."
She inclined her head toward the door he was guarding. "Anything interesting?"
"Alas, our new friend is quiescent at the moment." He regarded her carefully. "Have I said something wrong?"
"No." She wondered if the look she was giving him was anything like the ones she got when she inadvertently finished people's sentences. "I just wonder if he is really a friend."
"Ah. You are still as unsure of him as he himself is. May I ask what happened to upset him earlier?"
"He seemed to…forget himself for a moment. I thought…oh!" She cut herself off as Natasha walked around the corner. "Is everything all right downstairs?"
Natasha nodded. "Fine. Steve will be back…everyone will be back by 0400 tomorrow." She paused in front of Bucky's door, then glanced at Vision. "Think he'd mind a visitor?"
"It is not a prison cell."
"I'm pretty familiar with places that aren't prison cells," she replied with a mirthless smile. After Vision nodded, she pressed the buzzer.
There was a slight crackle before a muffled, "Yeah?"
"May I come in?"
The silence lasted so long that Wanda was about to speak when the intercom came to life again. "Okay. If you want."
"Thanks." Natasha entered and closed the door before Wanda could get a look inside the darkened room.
She lingered as Vision resumed his calm watch. "Should we…?"
"I believe Natasha can take care of herself, or signal for assistance if necessary. If you would like to provide company, however, I am amenable."
Wanda smiled as she entered into a somewhat abstruse conversation with the only person she knew who could understand her powers, at least to a certain degree. For some reason, she felt some of the affection for Steve she'd only ever sensed from Natasha flowing twofold from Bucky's quarters.
