Wanda/Wade 2
*** I own nothing. I'm just having fun. ***
Wade's been trying to get close to the girl, Wanda Maximoff, for weeks. Pretty tough when she's basically locked up tight in the Avengers compound 98% of the time, emerging only for brief forays onto the training field with the rest of the team. It means spending a lot more time than he'd planned on this one mission, but he isn't gonna give up now. All he needs is the briefest opening, and hello payday.
It comes unexpectedly, a sudden change in her routine, and he follows as she leaves the safety of the Avengers and SHIELD behind. Now it's just the two of them, and she is oblivious, yanking a too-large hoodie tighter around herself as she walks towards a quiet and secluded area of the base.
Wade has no idea what this area is for. He hasn't explored it yet. He assumed it was empty, as no one really approached it, an area not yet ready for use maybe, but the girl walks with purpose. There is a destination here, and he follows her towards it. He takes a moment to bemoan the lack of security. Sure, it makes his life easier, but wasn't this supposed to be the Avengers' super-awesome secret base? Shouldn't someone know he's here by now?
The hallway opens onto a marble room with soft lighting, and the girl sits on a stone bench, facing a plaque on the wall. The place is peaceful, but gives Wade the creeps for some reason. It echoes, feels colder than it should. If he weren't such a cool motherfucker, he might be a little weirded out, but nope. Cool as a cucumber. No prickles of uneasiness up his spine at all.
He pulls his gun as he silently approaches her, keeping it leveled at her as he walks around the bench. He doesn't know why he wants to face her. It would make total sense to just shoot her in the back of the head and be done with it, but he doesn't want to do that, and he's not one to question his instincts, so he holds back.
He has his gun pointed right at her face when she looks up at him, completely unsurprised by his presence, and Wade realizes she knew he was there all along. He doesn't know how, but she knew, and he wonders why she is just sitting there now, gazing up at him with tears streaking her face and pain in her eyes.
She looks so young, and so lost and alone.
His gun hand doesn't waver, but his resolve does. He's not opposed to taking out a real threat, male or female, but this girl doesn't look like a threat to anyone. She looks like she could break apart at the slightest touch. This makes him uneasy. This isn't what he signed up for. He doesn't know what to do.
"Do it," she says. "Kill me. I am already dead." Her voice breaks over the words, but she stares into the barrel of his gun and waits calmly for him to end her.
Only Wade can't. He won't. Not her. Not his soulmate. He knows those words by heart, has wondered for years about what would drive a person to speak them. The skin where his mark was may have been scarred beyond recognition, but he can still feel the Flare that connects him to her.
"Can't do that, babe. Not to you," he says, sliding his gun back into its holster. He sees her eyes widen with recognition, watches the realization spread across her pretty face, but is still taken by surprise when she leaps up and throws herself into his arms. Suddenly he's holding this tiny slip of a girl, who's sobbing into his chest and hugging him like he's her lifeline. He has no idea what to do. Again. This girl has completely fucked him up already.
It's a long time before she stops crying, lets go of him long enough to wipe her face on her jacket. She sniffles and looks up at him, and even with her face all blotchy from tears, she's beautiful.
"I'm sorry," she says. "I just lost my brother. My twin." She nods her head towards the plaque, and Wade is close enough now to read it. Her brother's name, dates of birth and death, the inscription that just had to come from her: Our hero.
He wraps his arm around her because it's all he can think of to do, and she leans into him, which makes him happy. He decides to take a risk. She's his soulmate, after all. She wouldn't reject him, would she? Rip the bandage off.
Wade reaches up and pulls his mask off, letting her see his disfigured face, waiting for judgement or disgust, but she touches him with kindness and concern.
"What happened to you?" she asks, curious, but accepting. He releases a breath he didn't even realize he was holding.
"Long story. Can I tell you someplace that isn't here?" He gives the place a once over. It still creeps him out.
"Of course," she says, and places a kiss on her brother's name. The hint of a shy smile she gives Wade gives him hope, and he stops her for a moment.
"One thing. You aren't dead, and you've got every reason to go on living, you got me? I'm not gonna let you give up now." He stares into her eyes, hoping she gets how serious he is about this. "I'm gonna keep you safe, starting by murdering the fuckhead who sent me here to kill you. We'll go from there."
"You are insane," she murmurs, but her lips are quirked up at the edges. "Do not let Captain Rogers hear you say those things. He would not appreciate it."
"Got it. Keep the killing to myself. Try not to offend America's sweetheart." That comment earns him an honest to god giggle, and it's the cutest thing he's ever heard. He wants more. He has a feeling he's gonna want more of a lot of things from this girl.
His arm around her shoulders, he guides her into the sun.