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

Chapter 23: Maturity Matters

Wanda crossed her arms trying to look stern, “No, what are you talking about?”

Steve sighed, but Natasha replied, “It’s not your concern, you need to go back to bed.”

“Don’t do that, don’t treat me like a naughty child. I need to know what is going on, I deserve better than that,” replied Wanda keeping her tone even.

Natasha sighed but pulled out the chair next to her. Wanda nodded and went and sat next to the older woman. Her measured response finally paid dividends.

“Peter is in trouble,” explained Steve. “he has been caught up in the accords, or more correctly Spiderman has been caught up in the accords. Tony doesn’t want him to get compromised.”

“What does that have to do with us?” asked Wanda her tone reduced the harshness of her words.

“Tony wants him to come into hiding with us,” stated Natasha.

“What about his Aunt though?”

“He thinks Ross has already figured out that Peter is Spiderman. I mean Tony doesn’t exactly have a lot of interns does he? It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out that the Spiderman who turned up in Berlin may be the the only intern that Tony has.”

“Then what are questioning?” asked Wanda, “Surely we will take him?”

Wanda looked curiously at the two adults and saw the slight trepidation on Steve’s face. “You think it’s a trap,” she stated.

Steve reached over and grabbed Wanda’s hand. Neither adult said anything so Wanda continued to talk. “Why would we not take the risk though? it’s for Peter.”

Natasha exhaled heavily, “we want to but we will not put you at any risk.”

“Ohh,” said Wanda sadly.

“You are our number one priority, we will always want to help others, but you always come first.”

Wanda tried to discreetly wipe her eyes, as she felt the tears build up. “I’ve never come first.”

“You do with us,” said Steve firmly, “We will do everything in our power to help Peter. I’m going to go and try and meet them. You and your mama are going to stay here.”

Wanda nodded, “But wouldn’t my powers be helpful if it is a trap?”

Natasha shook her head, and pulled the teenager into her body from her position on the chair. “No, Steve can handle it. Wanda we are trusting you by involving you in this discussion, but you can’t influence the outcome.”

Wanda nodded, “but what if you get caught?”

Natasha and Steve looked at each other sadly, “if I get caught, then I’m caught. You and your mama will continue without me.”

Wanda shook her head, “No, we will rescue you.” She appealed to Natasha hoping she would agree with her. Wanda was saddened when she saw a resignation on her face.

“Wanda, we got lucky on the last rescue we had the element of surprise, we will never have that again. This is why we have to be so careful,” explained Steve gently.

“When are you meeting them?” asked Wanda.

“Tomorrow,” replied Steve.

“What are we going to do?” questioned Wanda.

Natasha interrupted the conversation, “we are going to go to school as normal.”

Wanda’s stomach turned considerably, “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You are not going to, I promise you I will be careful,” stated Steve.

Natasha stood up holding Wanda’s hand, “now come on you, it’s bedtime.”

Steve released the hand he was holding and Wanda got to her feet. she leaned into the older woman, “Ok…”

Steve stood up as well, and followed them up the stairs. Wanda crawled into her bed, Natasha sat on the bed next to her with Steve the other side.

“I won’t be able to sleep,” exclaimed Wanda as Natasha ran her finger’s through her hair.

“Don’t worry about it now,” replied Steve. “Don’t worry about something you can’t control.”

“But I could control it if I was there,” said Wanda pulling her hand out of the duvet, and showed them the red wisps of energy flicking from her fingertips.

“No,” stated Natasha firmly. “I’m not playing around Wanda, we have trusted you with what is going on. You need to trust us. This is your opportunity to show your maturity.”

Wanda retracted her hand and buried it back under the duvet. “No I understand Mama.”

“Does being mature mean I can’t be scared?”

“No sweetheart you are allowed to be scared, just don’t act irrationally in your fear,” explained Natasha, she leaned over and kissed the teenager’s forehead.

“Everything is going to be fine,” stated Steve, who mimicked Natasha’s action.