"Come Undone"

Chapter Five

By Darthelwig


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


One thing it was impossible to get in space, it turned out, was space.

It had been a couple of weeks, weeks of rarely leaving Dryden's quarters, of never leaving his quarters without him by her side, and Wanda had had enough. While their talks had brought them closer together, she was tired of discussing her powers, and even more tired still of her suspicions that he cared more about her powers than he did her. She wandered through Dryden's ship, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. She needed to clear her head, to put some distance between herself and that maddening man. She didn't understand how she'd found herself in this place, a completely alien universe, it seemed, with a man who so closely resembled Vision's human disguise. How could a person end up with a new soul mark? She'd never heard of such a thing before.

It was somewhat of a relief to no longer be in the same universe that had failed her and Vision so badly. She'd spent hours going over what had happened in those moments before she found herself on Dryden's ship, at his feet. Between that and her talks with Dryden, it was quite obvious she'd somehow left that reality behind. And good riddance. There was nothing left for her there but grief and memories, and she carried those with her even now.

No, she didn't miss it. But it was still an adjustment, and this was the first time she'd taken an interest in her surroundings without Dryden's hovering presence at her shoulder. Not that she wasn't aware that everyone here knew of Dryden's interest in her. Dryden hadn't been particularly subtle in the few times she'd stepped outside of his room with him.

"It's you."

Wanda looked up to see a young brunette woman approach her. The haughty look on her face set Wanda's teeth on edge immediately.

"Can I help you?" she asked, trying to remain pleasant.

"I want to know who you really are," the woman demanded. "You come out of nowhere and expect to have Dryden's attention, and you've ingratiated yourself with him so far with that strange mark you somehow put on him, but I've seen women like you before, and I won't let you sink your claws into him for long."

Wanda stared at her, taken aback by her boldness and anger.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" The confusion coloring her words appeared to infuriate the woman, though why, Wanda couldn't even begin to guess. Shock held sway in her already clouded thoughts.

"All you need to know is that Dryden depends on me for many things, and you won't be in my way much longer. He'll tire of you soon enough. I've seen it all before." Her tone made it very clear what she was talking about, and anger blossomed in Wanda's chest. This woman had had her hands, amongst other things, on Dryden, but he was hers now, her soulmate, and Wanda refused to share.

"Listen to me," Wanda said through gritted teeth. "Whatever you had in the past is just that. The past. You can't hope to come between us."

Fury filled the woman's eyes, and Wanda was certain she was going to attack her. She braced herself for it, but the tension was broken by Dryden's voice. The woman's face immediately smoothed into a pleasant smile, so quickly Wanda was thrown by it.

"And what do we have here?" Dryden said as he approached. "I'm so glad you ladies have finally met. I've been intending to introduce you for ages." Shock was admittedly making her a bit slow, but surely Dryden had seen, surely he had witnessed…

But if he had, it didn't show. His wide smile seemed completely unaware of the violence he had prevented with his arrival.

"Wanda, darling, this is Qi'ra, my top Lieutenant. She's quite skilled."

"I bet," Wanda muttered, trying to gather her wits.

"Qi'ra, Wanda will be with us for the foreseeable future. Make sure she has everything she needs. I fear I haven't been the most gracious host so far." His grin widened as Qi'ra nodded her assent, and suddenly Wanda wasn't so sure Dryden was unaware of the hostility between them.

"I'll be sure to order whatever she needs," Qi'ra said sweetly.

"Excellent! Now," he extended his arm to Wanda and she took it gratefully, "I'd like to show Wanda around the ship, so I'll leave you to it."

Wanda tried her best to be upset with him for following her around like a puppy, but Dryden had rescued her from an ugly situation, and she was grateful. She could feel Qi'ra's gaze burning into her back as she and Dryden walked away, and she knew this was just a reprieve. She would have to deal with the woman sooner or later.

"You'll have to forgive her, darling. She's quite possessive of her place here," Dryden said once they were alone.

Dreading it, Wanda knew she had to set the boundaries now, or she was letting them both in for trouble, so she took a deep breath and forced her shoulders to relax. "You won't be sleeping with her again," she said firmly. "Whatever you had with her is over now. If you touch her again, you will never touch me."

"No one tells me what to do," he growled. "Not even you, my dear."

Wanda let go of his arm and turned to face him, arms crossed. "No, Dryden. That's not how this works. I don't share my lovers, and I expect them to be faithful in return. I won't be disrespected like that, and especially not from you. I accept you have a history with her, but that ends now." She half expected Dryden to yell at her, to tell her how she didn't matter to him and he would do as he liked, so she was surprised when he laughed.

"Oh, darling, you truly are my match." He stepped in close, sending a frisson of awareness through her body. As he looked at her, she saw the striations on his face growing darker, more vibrant, and she couldn't tear her gaze away. "We aren't lovers yet," he said, the intensity in his voice making her shiver. "Would you like to be?" he asked her. He brushed her hair back off her shoulder and traced his fingertips over her jawline.

"Yes," she whispered, unable to lie. Unable to pretend. Vision would want her to find her happiness, she was beginning to accept that, and Dryden was meant for her. Coming face to face with that woman had clarified her feelings for Dryden. She already thought of him as hers, and hers alone, as she was his.

Dryden's gaze darkened, and she could feel how much he wanted her. The arousal was coming off of him in waves, and she let it wash over her, enjoying being the focus of his desire. And for once, she let herself feel her own desire for him, not the man with Vision's face, but the man who slept chastely next to her each night because she wished it, who had granted her time to come to a decision, who wanted her but had not forced himself on her despite being unused to hearing the word no.

Wanda pulled his head closer and kissed him.