Wanda/Victor Creed 2

*** I own nothing. I'm just having fun. ***

Victor growled under his breath as he caught the scent of his hunters on the air. They were close. Too close. He didn't understand how they'd found him, or how they'd followed his tracks so easily, as careful as he'd been, but these were the Avengers and apparently he'd underestimated their abilities. Well, not anymore. This time he'd get them off his back for good.

Wanda drifted away from the others as they combed the area for their prey. Not armed, but extremely dangerous, she'd been told, with natural weapons in his claws and brutal strength. Victor Creed was a man to be wary of. A killer. An animal.

She shook her head. What made her think she had any right to be here, tracking a killer, when she was one herself? When she had destroyed her home? When her choices had killed her brother and were the very reason she was now alone in the world? She was just a foolish girl, she could admit that now, and it was even more foolish to think she had a place here among the Avengers.

There was no place left for her.

She listened to the quiet voices in her earpiece sounding off the all-clear and was about to do the same when a large body tackled her from behind. She hit the floor hard and rolled as Natasha had taught her to do, groaning as she forced her body to move.

Looking up brought her face to face with the very man she'd been hunting. He was smiling at her, all teeth and the promise of pain, and she shivered. He held her earpiece in his hand, and crushed it before tossing it negligently to the side.

"No one to save you, little girl."

Victor watched the girl's eyes widen. He could taste her obvious fear in the air, but there was something else too, something darker in her gaze, and it sent a delicious shiver down his spine. A second later he was on top of her, pinning her to the ground, one long claw against her throat where he could feel the rapid beat of her heart.

Something made him pause, some instinct he couldn't ignore, and he stared down into her eyes as he tried to make sense of it.

"Do it," she said quietly, tilting her head up to bare her throat to him further. "Just do it. Please."

Victor froze instead as he felt the sting of his soul mark across his back. Her words, the words he'd pondered all his life, and finally he understood.

"I'm not gonna kill you," he growled. "And what kinda person would ask that of their soul mate?" He watched the tears start to roll down her face as she lay there beneath him, not struggling but defeated.

"I just... I can't be alone anymore." She was crying for real now, sobs wracking her small frame, and Victor sighed as he released her and pulled her into his arms instead.

"Dammit, girl. You're not alone now. You've got me," he said gruffly. She clung to him tightly, and he stroked his fingers through her hair, careful to be gentle.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she said over and over into his chest, and he curled around her protectively, cradling her in his warmth and strength. She was so beautiful, but so broken, and he wanted to protect her from everything, including herself.

It was a strange feeling for him. He hadn't wanted to protect anything in a very long time.

"Take me with you," she whispered, and that surprised him.

"You're an Avenger. I'm not a good person, girly. You don't wanna throw in with me." As much as it hurt to say that, he had to, had to give her the warning. The option to leave. She looked at him with pleading eyes.

"I'm not a good person either. I've done horrible things. I don't belong here, with them." Her voice was shaky but filled with resolve. "I don't care that you've killed people. We'll... we'll work it out. Just don't make me stay."

He couldn't say no to her, not now. He suspected he'd have trouble saying no to her for a very long time.

"Alright, girly. It's you and me." He stood up and reached down to lift her into his arms. She didn't struggle, just let him carry her bridal style while she wiped her face and snuggled into his chest. "What's your name, girl?"

"Wanda."

"Wanda," he said, testing her name on his tongue and deciding he liked it very much. It felt almost familiar. "I'm Victor."

"I know," she replied softly. She touched his face with soft fingers, her eyes on him at once soothing and stimulating. He wondered what she saw when she looked at him.

"I won't let you be alone again," he told her, and it was a vow he meant to keep no matter what.