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

Chapter 4: Status Quo

“That’s not happening,” stated Wanda in anger.

“We actually have a legal obligation to educate you Wanda.”

“No one had that obligation at Hydra or when I was orphaned at 10,” she cut back bitterly.

“Well we do,” answered Natasha, not wanting to open up that can of worms at the moment. She just wanted to focus on having this discussion. Wanda was quietly seething at this change of situation.

“Anything else you want to change? Do I have curfew now? Will I get grounded if I misbehave?” Her voice was dripping in sarcasm and agitation.

“I am going to be your legal guardian, so you will have to listen to me to an extent. There will be rules I expect you to follow.”

“Such as…?” asked Wanda.

Natasha narrowed her eyes at the sardonic teenager, “keep safe, listen to adults, do not put yourself in danger. Nothing overly restrictive Wanda.”

Wanda unstiffened slightly at her words, as she realised Nat wasn’t going to just demand her complete submission. This was still same Natasha she had grown to know over the last few weeks.

Natasha continued speaking, “our relationship will alter slightly Wanda, it has to. You are focusing on the negative at the moment but there are positive sides too.”

She nodded in understanding, “It may take me a while to get used to all this.”

“I can learn to be patient for you.”

Clint snorted from the cockpit of the plane, “Wish you had tried that for me.”

“Shut it Barton.”

Wanda giggled slightly at the exchange, yes they were the same black widow and Hawkeye.

Natasha smiled warmly when she heard the laughter erupting from the teenager, before realising she needed to wrap up this conversation.

“There is one other thing Wanda we need to discuss what will happen if you break the rules.”

Wanda looked at her in confusion before shrugging. “I guess we just talk about it?”

Natasha shook her head, “No you will have consequences.”

“So like three strikes I’m out system?” Wanda recalled reading something about American justice working in that way. “So three rule breaks I’m on my own? I have to leave the avengers?”

“Not a chance,” replied Natasha, she knew Wanda needed the reassurance desperately right now that she wasn’t going to be tossed aside.

“No, consequences can be anything from writing lines, to being grounded, to having extra chores to do.”

“That all seems so juvenile,” argued Wanda.

Natasha took a deep breath, “I am also relatively old school Wanda, so if you put yourself in danger, or lie to me again. There will only be one consequence for that….”

Wanda looked at her in confusion, “what does old school mean?” Again she knew what the two words meant but she wasn’t sure what was different from an old school or a new school. Natasha realised the colloquialism was lost on Wanda completely.

“It means I believe in corporal punishment,” explained Natasha briefly. Wanda looked at her for a second before realisation dawned on her, “you can’t be serious Nat??”

“Deadly serious.”

Wanda paled, and felt the blood leave her face, she knew all about whips and canes. Hydra liked to use them in abundance. Any slight infraction she had felt the bite of the whip on her shoulder she still had the scars. “Wanda you ok?” asked Natasha worriedly. Clint turned the auto-pilot on and walked towards the pair of them, “Nat stop scaring the kid.”