Hey guys! This chapter is a little bit longer to make up for the fact that I posted so late today.
It was my favorite chapter to write so far, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
And I don't own anything. Not the characters or their stories.
X_X_X
Week 3.5 of training with the Winter Soldier, Wanda thought.
I can now land a punch on his incredibly muscular chest, she kept thinking, admiring said chest as it came closer.
She fought back when the owner of that chest wrapped his also incredibly muscular arms around her upper body. Wanda heard him grunt when her legs connected with his shin and she took advantage of his pain to get out of his grasp.
I've started flirting with him and I'm sure it's fear that flashes on his face as he ignores my advances.
A closed fist came her way and she dodged.
I've lowered myself to the lowest of lows and started training in only a sports bra. Thank the heavens Pietro isn't in training with me or I'd never hear the end of it.
Wanda felt arms wrap around her again and tackle her to the floor.
She looked up to see the Soldier's flushed face inches from her. His blue eyes staring into her own.
I don't know what this feeling is, but I'm scared and kind of excited..? I wish I could talk to someone about it.
Wanda glanced down at the Soldier's lips before looking back up to his eyes.
"Wanda," he whispered, his breath fanning over her face.
Both of them were frozen. Neither seemed to care that the Soldier was straddling her.
"Soldier," she said in an equally soft voice.
His face was coming closer and she could practically hear her heart trying to beat its way out of her chest. She hoped he couldn't hear that.
Not being able to take it any longer, Wanda craned her head up and met the Soldier's lips with her own.
Fire spread from their connected lips and Wanda felt like she would explode.
The Winter Soldier grasped her hips and pushed himself closer to her, wanting more of whatever this feeling was. All he knew was that he would think about how soft her lips were for the rest of his days.
Wanda reached up to run her hands through his hair, which seemed to be the wrong thing to do.
In a blink of an eye, the Soldier was off of her and standing a yard away. Wanda slowly got up and observed him. Their eyes connected and she could feel the tension build.
"Wanda, I- I-," he stuttered. The torn look on his face made her want to reach out and comfort him.
"Soldier," Wanda said before pausing. She had no idea what to say to him.
"This shouldn't have happened," he finally said, quickly exiting the room.
Wanda stayed for another hour just staring at the wall.
She touched her lips and smiled.
Week 3.5 of training with the Winter Soldier, she thought.
We've kissed and he didn't apologize. He's not sorry. Though, he did say it shouldn't have happened, but he didn't apologize. He doesn't regret it.
Wanda giggled.
"He doesn't regret it!" She said to herself, getting up and hugging herself.
After calming down she started walking towards the door. As she reached for the handle she noticed her hand. More importantly, the hand that had made it into his hair.
Ew, she thought as she opened the door. I'm going to have to persuade List to allow us daily showers.
X_X_X
"Show me what we practiced yesterday," Dr. List said through the speakers.
Wanda was working on her powers with him and other scientists but he always made sure to stay a safe distance away. Today she saw Pierce standing next to him.
Wanda closed her eyes for a brief second before opening them again and clearing her mind.
Red smoke began to spill from her hands and reach for the closest person, which happened to be the lab technician taking her vitals. She wove her desires into her powers and made them seep into the tech's mind. He calmly put down his clipboard and left the room, only to return a minute later with a cup full of ice. Handing it to Wanda, he went to pick up his clipboard and continued as if nothing had happened.
Smugly, Wanda let her powers come back to her and put a piece of ice into her mouth.
"Again, but this time I want blood," Pierce said.
Wanda froze and refused to look at the men.
"Maximoff, again," List said this time.
Wanda closed her eyes and lifted her left hand, as the other one held her ice. She could feel her powers running free, searching for something to take hold of. She wrapped around the first mind she came in contact with and was surprised to learn it was a guard. There were no guards on the lab floor.
With a heavy heart, she saw through his eyes as he took his gun out of its holster. At Wanda's insistence he aimed the gun at his foot and pulled the trigger.
She cringed at the sound that could be heard all the way up into the laboratory. She pulled her powers back into herself and opened her eyes to see Pierce looking at her with mild interest.
"Sir, we've received news of a wounded guard in level 5," one of the tech's told Pierce.
Five? But we're on level three…, Wanda thought.
"Cause?" Pierce asked.
"We don't know, sir. There was no danger at the time and no intruders as far as we can tell. He claims to have shot himself by his own will," the tech informed him, glancing warily at Wanda.
She forced a grin on her face and watched with amusement as everyone in the room flinched away.
"Thank you, you may go," Pierce said.
"It could only be her," List offered.
"Yes," Pierce started, turning to the doctor and patting his shoulder. "Good job, List. Keep working with her. I'll inform the Asset to incorporate their powers into training starting tomorrow."
With a proud smile thrown her way, Pierce made his way out of the lab.
The technicians hesitantly came closer and started getting her unhooked from the machines. Wanda ate the remaining ice in her cup trying to feel cold anywhere else other than the ice that was settling into her heart.
X_X_X
Wanda was a nervous mess.
She stood facing the door to the gymnasium, terrified of entering. On the other side she could sense the Soldier's anxiety.
Or maybe that was just her own and she was projecting it onto him. Besides, he was the Winter Soldier. He didn't have anxieties. Or at least, that's what she'd grown to believe.
He was always so calm and… empty, she thought sadly. After that first day she stopped trying to get into his mind, but it shook her to her core that someone could be so devoid of emotion. Without emotion was he even human?
But then again, she could feel his anxiety through the doors. Wanda was sure that was his, not hers. She could also feel confusion and hopelessness.
Wanda's heart ached at that.
Taking a deep breath, she entered the gym.
As soon as she stepped inside the Soldier turned to face her. Wanda wasn't normally the blushing type, but she could feel heat spread from the roots of her hair down to her neck.
"Ms. Maximoff," he greeted her gently, turning his back to her.
"Soldier," she replied, walking over to where she normally kept her wraps and hair ties.
"Mr. Pierce informed me that he wants you using your powers in training from now on. You're aware of this, correct?" he asked.
Wanda finished wrapping her hands and turned to face him, the heat still on her face.
"Yeah, I heard him telling Dr. List yesterday. I'm not sure how to do that though, most of what I can do it mental manipulation," she said.
The Soldier nodded.
"Yes, and that will be useful. But I've read your file and you can do much more than that. Probably more than what the Doctor knows," he said, looking straight into her eyes.
Wanda was the first to look away. Maybe it was her imagination, but his eyes seemed sharper than she remembered. Like they were trying to see beyond what she was showing him.
"We'll start with the usual routine. During the practice I'll do something new and I want you to be ready for it," he said, coming closer to her.
"You want me to go into your head?" she asked, eyes wide.
His responding smile took her breath away.
"I knew you'd catch on," he said, moving into position.
Hesitantly, Wanda moved in front of him.
"Go," he said as he moved towards her.
Wanda struggled to enter his mind as he fought with her, but after a few tries she broke through and stumbled a bit in her movements after she did.
At first she felt really cold, like an empty building always did. Wandering around more, she was shocked to find it abnormally empty of memories, which she usually came across the first few seconds of entering someone's mind.
Wanda tried going further but she came across a large steel wall. Hoping to find a door, Wanda gently touched the wall only to yank her hand back in surprise at how cold it was. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that the wall was covered in frost.
That's odd, she thought to herself.
Before she could think about it more, a thought pushed at her.
Double kick, echoed around her in the Soldier's deep voice.
Holding on to the Soldier's mind, Wanda made her body react in time to his improvised fighting technique.
When she was out of danger, she focused again on the Soldier's mind. However, this time she decided to go to his most accessible thoughts.
Walking back to the front of his mind, Wanda found herself watching herself.
Huh, she thought to herself, So that's how my eyes look. I can see now why Pietro said it was freaky. I look possessed.
Wanda saw a smile grow on her face.
Focus, the Soldier commanded. She was about to apologize when she saw him shake his head from her own eyes.
Confused, Wanda walked closer to what she imagined to be the front of his mind.
Gorgeous, slammed right into her, followed by, How can she make fighting look so elegant.
Wanda froze as she realized these were his thoughts running through his head right now.
As suddenly as these thoughts slammed into her, they were gone and she was left empty again.
Don't think about it, came circling around her. It was dizzying and she was going crazy with thoughts that were knocking around her, forced back by his repeated, don't think about it.
With a frustrated groan, Wanda pulled back into her own mind.
"Stop," she said, holding a hand out towards the Soldier.
Exhaustion came rushing through her and she bent over as she found herself barely able to stand.
"Wanda, are you alright?" the Soldier asked.
He came close and offered her a hand. Taking it, she let him guide her to her side of the gym. He reached for a water bottle and handed it to her.
Wanda took a small sip as she closed her eyes and leaned against the wall.
"Thank you, Soldier," she said.
"You're welcome," he said. She felt him rest against the wall next to her.
"How was it doing both at the same time?" the Soldier asked her.
"It was strangely exhausting," she answered. "I could do everything just fine, but as soon as I came into my own mind it was like I hadn't slept in weeks.
Wanda felt the Soldier hesitate.
"Well, it was quite impressive. There wasn't much in your file about mind reading so I wanted to test that out first and see how much you could do," he told her.
Wanda opened her eyes and turned to look at him. A small smile played on his lips and she grinned.
"To be honest, I hadn't experimented with that as much as everything else. List is more focused on mental manipulation. I've only read minds a handful of times before," she admitted to him. "It must be why I can't read every single thought someone thinks."
The Soldier turned and offered her a grin that turned her mind to mush.
"I'm glad, I wouldn't want you reading into my personal thoughts. It ruins the whole 'dark and mysterious' vibe I've got going on," he said.
Wanda was stunned for a second before she burst into laughter. She found herself leaning on him as she tried to control her laughter, focusing on his soft chuckles as she tried to calm down.
Wanda looked up at the Soldier with a smile on her face and melted at the happiness on his as he looked down at her.
Then without warning, his lips were on hers.
As if on instinct, Wanda kissed him back.
She felt his hand gently touch her cheek and she took that as invitation to reach up towards him.
Slowly, Wanda slid her hand up his chest and around his neck. A moan vibrated against her lips and she wrapped her arms around the Soldier and pulled him closer.
She felt him grasp her waist and pull her against him. She gasped as she felt his desire poking at her stomach and he took that moment to suck gently at her bottom lip. Wanda felt heat run through her and was embarrassed to feel moisture between her legs.
Pulling back with a chuckle, the Soldier leaned his forehead against Wanda's.
Unaware of when she had closed her eyes, Wanda opened them to look into the bright blue eyes of the man in front of her.
"You'll be the undoing of me, Wanda Maximoff," he promised before kissing her lips one more time and calmly walking out of the gym.
Wanda stood frozen in her place, listening to the erratic beating of her heart.
She shook her head before muttering to herself, "What the hell?"
