Can't Ask, Don't Need, Won't Acknowledge

Chapter 2: Tentative

“Yes sweetheart, go back to sleep.”

Wanda grunted slightly in response, but couldn’t fight the comfort she felt from the action. She burrowed herself closer to the older woman, but let herself be carried off to sleep. Part of her wanted to fight the comfort, she felt pathetic for wanting it, but in that moment she basked in the affection being freely offered.

The next time she awoke, she was alone in the bed. The effect made her think she had dreamed the previous night. She sat up in the bed, and noticed the Cannula in her arm was gone, a bandage replaced it, but the nasal one was still in tact.

Natasha turned in her chair towards the bed, “morning Wanda, how do you feel?”

Wanda looked slightly awestruck it was the first night she had slept through since Ultron. No nightmares, no panic, no fear.

“I’m good,” she replied slightly dumbstruck. “Did I imagine you sleeping in the bed with me?”

Natasha laughed warmly, “No sweetheart you didn’t.”

Wanda’s chest filled with warmth at the endearment, but she didn’t really know what else to say. Clint entered the room to break up the awkwardness, “I have breakfast.”

He placed the bowl on the small table and the pushed it over the bed, Wanda looked at it with slight disgust, “Thanks Clint but I’m not really hungry.”

“Wanda you aren’t leaving this bed until you have eaten,” replied Natasha in a strict but loving tone.

Wanda glared at the woman, “I think I’m going to leave now, I appreciate your help, but I’m fine now. I think I’m going to go get a coffee and hit the gym.”

“Wanda,” warned Natasha. She took a deep breath to stop her saying anything else in the heat of the moment. Once she was calm she carried on.

“You aren’t looking after yourself Wanda,” explained Natasha with a gentle tone.

“Yes I am,” responded Wanda crossing her arms against her chest in agitation, “I haven’t missed any meeting or training sessions.”

Natasha shook her head at her, “there is more to looking after yourself than turning up for training. You aren’t sleeping, you aren’t eating,” she emphasised that statement by pointing to the bowl sat in front of the teenager.

“I am fine; Nat you are being ridiculous.”

The flippant comment angered Natasha, “You are not fine Wanda, you passed out. Imagine if you passed out on a mission??”

“I wouldn’t,” came the simple reply.

“How do you know that??” asked Natasha. She was glaring at the young girl. Why were teenagers so damn annoying?

“Anyway, you are moving in with me,” stated Natasha.

“I’m what?!”

“You heard me,” replied Natasha. Tony had thankfully been entirely brought in on the plan when she had gone to him the previous night. He clearly carried around a lot of guilt when it came to the young witch. He felt responsible for the death of her parents and the situation in her war torn country. He may not have dropped the bombs himself, but he had profited off it. If helping her in this way helped to abate some of his guilt, it was a win-win as far as he could see. He had moved them into adjoining rooms, and locked Wanda out of the gym. Only Nat and himself could override the lock.