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

Chapter 2: Tentative

Clint just watched the young girl, and saw how tense she was, and was just about to respond with an answer, when their space was interrupted.

“Clint, how many times? stop letting her have coffee this late at night!”

Natasha stalked into the room and slapped the back of his head. Wanda picked up her mug and downed the rest of her coffee, the entire time keeping eye contact with Natasha.

“Let me?” questioned Wanda in annoyance, “I can have coffee if I want.”

Natasha just ignored the witch. Clint groaned at the assassin, “It’s decaff Nat, why do you always attack first ask questions later??”

Wanda looked confused at the man, “it’s not decaff.”

Clint smirked at her, “yeah it is I swapped them over.”

Wanda crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance at his deception, “I’m not a child!”

Natasha turned her attention back to the young witch, “Come on Wanda it’s bedtime.”

Wanda shook her head at the woman, “No, I’m done with this. I appreciate all your help Romanoff, but I am ok now. I don’t need you fussing around me.”

“Do we have to have this conversation every night Wanda?” asked Natasha, “can we just skip the argument and you get ready for bed?”

“I don’t need a bedtime,” stated Wanda angrily.

“Yes you do,” both Nat and Clint said at the same time.

“I’m not tired,” refuted Wanda. “How can I be tired when you won’t even let me in the gym to train?”

Natasha sighed in frustration at the young girl. Every night this week they have had the same argument. Wanda was the most stubborn teenager she had ever met.

“Don’t make me count to three,” stated Natasha. Wanda growled before jumping up from her chair sending it clattering to the floor in the kitchen before storming out of the room.

“I can’t believe that counting thing actually works,” said Clint in slight amusement. Natasha shrugged at him, “it works on your kids and you…”

“very funny Natasha,” deadpanned Clint.

………………………….

Wanda was sat on her bed. She was glancing around the room. it was very different from her other room in the tower. Nat has asked Tony to decorate it slightly, and now there are personal affects adorning the room. There were posters on the back of the door, books in the bookcase. It no longer resembled a hotel room. It looked lived in. It gave Wanda this warm feeling when she was in the room, to know that Natasha cared enough to try and make her feel at home. She recognised the coldness of her old room, but also knew she would not ask for the personal touch. She had got used to not having personal affects. There was no place for materialism during a civil war.

Natasha walked into the room, “come on Wanda get changed.”

“Romanoff, I’m fine I’m just going to sit up and read a book.”

Nat shook her head at the girl, “No, it’s time to sleep.”

“Why are you doing this Nat?” asked Wanda weakly, her resolve starting to weaken. Natasha noticed Wanda called her Nat which meant she was calming down and becoming more receptive to her. She went and sat down on the bed, “I’m giving you what you need, structure and care. You are a strong Wanda, you are powerful. But you neglect yourself.”

“It was one time, I passed out.”

“One time too many,” replied Natasha, who tapped her playfully on the nose in response. “Now lights out in 15 minutes.”

Wanda rolled her eyes at the older woman, but acquiesced to the request as soon as she left the room.

…………………………………………………..

Having left Wanda to sleep her next port of call was to talk to Clint. His nose was so far into his coffee cup; she was surprised he didn’t require a snorkel.
Natasha looked at the guilty expression on her partner’s face across the kitchen table from her, “you know something?” she enquired.

Clint scratched his head in discomfort, “even if I did it’s not my place to say.”

Natasha narrowed her eyes at him, “Talk Barton.”

He shook his head, “I can’t betray her trust Nat. I’ve told her to tell you, I will step in if she doesn’t in a week. That’s the best I can offer.”

Natasha looked frustratingly at him but on a level she knew he was right. It was important Wanda knew they could be trusted. She had full confidence in Clint’s judgement. Even if it pained her to admit it sometimes.

Clint stretched out in her chair, “Why don’t you both come with me to the farm for a while, get some proper R&R.”

“That’s actually a good idea for once,” replied Natasha.

“I was due one,” joked Clint. “I promised Laura I would go home, I’ve been neglecting baby duties. I’m sure the kids would love to see Aunty Nat and meet their new cousin,” he finished with a wink.

Natasha just smirked at him, “cousin Wanda hey?”

“Oh come on you have practically adopted her in all but name,” explained Clint.

“Shut it Barton,” cut in Natasha. Clint stood up, “I’ll go let Stark know we are leaving in the morning, it will probably work out for the best, means you can stay with us until the new facility is ready upstate.”

Natasha nodded in agreement, “now I have just to convince Wanda to come….”