A/N: Think we are coming to a close on this fanfiction. Like maybe 3 ish more chapters. And then if anyone wants, I might make a sequel where we explore a lot more of the mentoring part of Nat and Wanda. Things like missions and fighting and all of that.
I have an idea for another fanfiction I really want to explore but I can't write two at the same time. That will not work at all so that's also kind of why I am thinking about wrapping this up. We'll see, but I think will be like the second to last or like two more chapters after this, depending on how long this chapter will be since my later chapters have been a lot longer
As always thank you guys so much for the love. Everyone who follows, favorites and reviews, very much appreciated. Also, thanks to everyone who has sent me PM's, it's so nice.
S-B
It was getting late in the afternoon and Pepper and Laura were both sitting in the living room doing some light reading. Or in Peppers case scanning through a horrible schedule for next week.
"So you are just chilling in one of Stark's sports cars now. Sounds safe"
Pepper and Laura both lifted their heads when Clint and Wanda walked into the living room, both with bags in their arms.
"Not exactly. But yes, he gifted one to me. "
"Guys?" Laura interrupted the two of them to get their attention.
"Hi, honey. I just found out Stark has decided that giving a car away as a welcome home gift is normal." Clint said with a sarcastic tone as he walked into the kitchen with Wanda close behind.
"Well, it is one of his old cars. And it's not like a world-class sports car, like Nat's, Atrica" Wanda said as she put down the bags on the counter.
"Her what?" Laura looked at the younger woman as she slowly started to go through the bags.
"Atrica, that's what she calls her car. Inspired by the fastest spider alive, Eratigena atrica, also known as the giant house spider." Pepper shot in into the conversation. Oh boy, clearly, she had been hanging out too much with Tony and the avengers.
"Of course, she named it after a spider" Laura mumbled. She knew Natasha loved cars and motorcycles, but honestly, naming her car after a spider species. Who does that?
"I don't think I want to hear more about Natasha's spider car. Where are the kids?" Laura said changing the topic of the conversation.
"They are outside. Told them I would fire up the grill as soon as we put away everything we aren't using for the barbeque" Clint said. He had already finished putting away most of the stuff from the bags in various cabinets.
The four of them finished the work in the kitchen in silence, and it was first when Pepper was about to go back to the couch to start working when Wanda asked.
"How is Natasha?" Pepper put down her tablet and Clint who was almost out the door turned around and looked at Laura with a questioning look before he turned and looked at Pepper.
"Well." Laura started only looking at Pepper unsure what to answer.
They didn't get as far to giving Wanda an answer before Lila stormed into the room with tears streaming down her eyes.
"MOM! Natasha is crying in the bathroom!" Laura froze and looked at her husband who nodded slowly. He kneeled in front of the girl before slowly saying.
"Lila, what happened?" His voice was slow, and he was clearly trying to keep his voice under control.
"I went up to her room to ask her how she felt because I wanted to tell her about the guitar you bought. But because she wasn't in her bed, I figured she was in the toilet, so I went over to her toilet and I heard her crying before it sounded like something fell on the floor and it went quiet." Lila said with tears still streaming down her face.
They had all heard it. And they were all thinking the same thing. It took only one look between the four of them before all of them stormed up the staircase. To Pepper's frustration, Clint was lying in the lead. Judging by the way Laura had talked about Natasha's very delicate relationship with Clint, him being in the room was maybe not the best idea. Or at least not right now.
Clint was just inches from the door when they heard. "STOP!" Clint turned around from the door. Pepper noticed how the handle was now shining in red. She slowly turned around as well, and her eyes fell on Wanda. She was standing beside Laura and her hands were shining in a familiar red glow.
"Clint. I don't think-." Wanda's voice trailed off when Lila slowly walked up beside her. She let the girl pass while looking at her. Pepper could see her eyes had a red reflection in them, which was a big contrast from her normally blue eyes.
"I think maybe you should stay here." Wanda's voice was calm, and she slowly made her way up the stairs motioning to Clint to move out their way. The younger woman looked at Pepper and Laura nodding at the door.
"But I…" Clint started, still moving out of the way. Laura was the one interrupting him in his sentence.
"I don't think there will be a barbeque today, but maybe start on some dinner, Clint. And stay with her." Laura said nodding at Lila who was still looking really scared by the whole situation. Not that she could blame her.
"Yes, mam."
Pepper walked behind Laura who was the first one to walk into the room. The light in the room was off, but you could see some light shine under the bathroom door. Pepper closed the door behind them, and she could see Clint drag his daughter down the stairs.
Pepper looked between Laura and Wanda. Wanda opened her hand and a red power ball lit up the room with a low scarlet glow. Laura nodded approvingly at the new light source. They all made their way to the bathroom door. They couldn't hear anything in the other room. Just silence.
Wanda put her hand on the door and Pepper watched as a red light burst out of her hand and over the door. Wanda's eyes drowned in a red for a second before she fumbled backward. Laura caught her when she stepped backwards, and Pepper watched as her the glow in her hand and eyes died out. She gripped Wanda's hand as the girl's body got limp and it looked like was going to faint right then and there.
She picked herself up quickly forcing herself to straighten up. But Pepper saw the pain in her eyes.
"She is on her floor. She is in pain. A lot of pain. She is in a deep state of panic. She is awake but can't move." Wanda whispered. Pepper was sure she had never seen anyone as horrified as Laura looked. Her face lost all colour in seconds and neither Pepper nor Wanda were able to stop her as she forced the door open.
Pepper was beside the woman in seconds taking a strong grip around Laura to support her when her legs gave under her. Pepper let the woman fall to her knees beside Natasha. The sight was beyond anything she had seen before. Natasha was lying on the floor holding around herself. She could see her back rise and fall in an insane speed, indicating that she was struggling to breathe again.
What got Pepper feeling sick and Laura falling to the ground wasn't Natasha lifeless body, it was Natasha's eyes. They were wild. Darting across the room with a look of pure panic and fear. She seemed wide awake but not aware they were even there.
Pepper felt Laura forcing herself to take a deep breath in her arms. Clearly struggling to get herself together.
"Natalia. Sweetie" Laura's voice was filled with worry and pain as she wrestled herself out of Pepper's grip and crawled over to Natasha. Pepper watched as she hesitantly reached out towards her. Her hand touched her forehead softly, but Natasha didn't react. Laura moved her red hair way from her face and Pepper felt a shiver down her spine as she watched Natasha's wild eyes fly over the room.
Pepper had no idea what to do with herself as she watched Laura try to wake Natasha up from her trance. For a second Natasha had seemed to calm down before she threw herself backward slamming the back of her head into the bathroom wall. Laura was completely thrown off guard and Pepper watched as she desperately tried to keep Natasha's head away from hitting the stone wall again by keeping her hand between Natasha's head and the wall.
"Wanda, do something!" Laura's voice was desperate as she held around Natasha's head.
"Wake her up or something!" her voice was filled with so much pain and agony it hurt Pepper just listening to her.
Wanda seemed to be in her own trance watching Laura with her mentor on the floor. She had never seen Natasha like this before. In fact, she could remember Natasha ever showing any sign of pain before they were captured. And even then, she had seemed so… so much stronger than her. Disciplined almost, always, somehow, pushed away her own need to help others. She had always been the one in control. Always be the first one standing up after a fall. Always knowing exactly what to do. And most importantly, she had told Wanda what to do. She had always kept her grounded. Even when she felt she had lost herself Natasha had gotten her back on earth.
It was sickening to watch. Her eyes wild and out of control, and her body shaking and screaming in pain on the tip of a breaking point. Wanda could tell. Natasha's body was going to break if her mentality didn't first.
"I…I" Wanda stuttered. She hadn't dared to try to use her powers on anyone after Lila. And that was only a small lift. What Laura asked of her was beyond anything she had done before.
"Wanda do something! She is throwing herself into a stone wall! My best friend is hurting herself! Do something before she KILLS HERSELF!" Laura had lost every bit of self-control as she felt tears stream down her face when Natasha yet again threw herself against the wall. Laura felt the knuckles on her hand getting smashed into the stone wall again and she let out a twisted yelp.
Pepper could tell Laura was on a breaking point as well. She was shaking and her eyes were filled in pain as held around Natasha. Pepper looked at Wanda with begging eyes and Wanda nodded before she took a deep breath. The older woman watched as Wanda's eyes fired up in red and she lifted her hands.
Pepper had no way of explaining what was happening. Whatever Wanda was doing was clearly tearing her apart as she struggled to even keep herself on her feet. Her eyes went from a deep red to a fire mixed with power and pain. They were almost as wild as Natasha's. The red glow around Natasha increased and Pepper could see Natasha's pupils start to burn in a scarlet red as well but unlike Wanda, her green iris was still in is wild usual colour.
Wanda moved one of her hands away from Natasha and pointed it to the bedroom door. Pepper didn't realize before Wanda's movement that Clint was banging on the door trying to break it down.
Wanda's eyes were just as wild as Natasha's at this point. But unlike her, she seemed to be more present. But she was shaking and breathing just as fast.
"Natasha… Natasha… Come on Natasha. Listen to me." Pepper could hear Wanda whisper under her breathing. And for a second she was not even sure if it was real or in her head. Wanda twisted the hand that was pointing to the door before she turned her full attention to Natasha.
"Natasha. Please come back to me." Wanda's voice cracked before the light around Natasha exploded and Wanda fell to the floor.
Pepper threw herself forwards grabbing Wanda just before she hit the ground. The red glow had completely burned out and it was only the dimmed bathroom light that was lighting up the room.
Pepper felt Wanda's body shaking, but her breathing was back to a normal rhythm. She looked up at Laura who had tears still streaming down her cheeks. But Natasha was lying peacefully in her arms with her eyes closed. Nothing showed any sign of panic or pain.
Silence fell over the room and all Pepper could hear was Natasha and Wanda's breathing and Laura's low crying. She wasn't sure what kind of magic or whatever Wanda had put on the door. But Clint was definitely not coming in.
Pepper was wondering if she could lift Wanda. She was pretty small considering her average height. She slowly slipped her arm under Wanda's body and lifted her surprisingly easily off the floor. She slowly walked over to the bed before she placed the girl on the duvet on the bed.
Wanda's eyes were closed, and she seemed to have calmed down. But Pepper noticed her frowning in her sleep. Whatever she had done to Natasha had calmed the spy, but also worn out the younger girl.
Pepper looked at Laura and Natasha who were still on the bathroom floor. Pepper could see some blood on the bathroom tiles, but it wasn't Natasha's. Laura's hand was bleeding and Pepper could see her hand shake. She kept the injured hand close to her body while her left hand slowly stroked Natasha over her head.
Pepper didn't need to ask, she just carefully picked Natasha up from the floor and laid her down on the bed beside Wanda. Unlike Wanda, Natasha was completely calm. She didn't seem to have any pain left in her. And just looked like she was in a peaceful sleep.
The CEO watched Natasha for a few seconds before she turned her attention back to Laura. The mom had seemed to be so calm earlier in their visit. But this episode had made its marks as Laura still had watery eyes. Pepper slipped down beside her.
"Laura. Are you okay?" Pepper knew the answer to the question. That wasn't the point. She needed Laura to say it. Laura had put on this brave face ever since Pepper had talked to her back at the avenger's headquarters. Now she needed her to let Pepper help her. Like she had helped her.
She noticed how Laura kept her right hand close to her body and Pepper grabbed her wrist carefully and guided to out into the light. The knuckles were bleeding with open wounds. They were blue and completely beaten up. Pepper opened Laura's fist with her other hand as carefully as possible. She could see the discomfort in Laura's eyes as she opened up the hand completely.
If Natasha could hurt Laura, a person she cared for so much, in an unconscious state, Pepper didn't want to know what she could do if she wanted to hurt someone. It was a scary thought. It was only now she understood the full powers of the black widow. She had seen Laura struggle to keep Natasha's head still, and that was only her head.
All these thoughts flew through her head as she slowly cleaned up Laura's hand and wrapped it into a bandage. She looked at Laura, and for the first time since Lila had run into the room hours before, Laura seemed to have calmed down.
A/N: For some reason, I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Idk it was fun and it kinda made me love this story a bit more. Maybe I'll do a few more chapters. Not many, but maybe I'll give it a bit more time to give it a real Nat Wanda moment as an explanation for this, and then neatly wrapping this up. Giving it the time and love I feel like this deserver.
S-B Again.