Usually, the road puts you in a good mood.
Beautiful landscapes and the movement of the car helped you think, but after escaping from a bunker underground, getting involved in a shootout that almost cost you your life, having to flee for four whole days, and still driving your way back, you were far from happy.
You just wanted to get to the compound soon, take a long shower and eat some warm food. Maybe answer a few questions from whoever was curious about the mission, and then fall asleep in a real bed for the first time that week.
You did this. You were wearing a comfy sweatshirt and finishing some good soup, figuring you could watch some sitcom before bed when a certain android suddenly came through the kitchen wall and almost made you knock over your plate with fright.
"Jesus, Vis, don't do that." You complained, receiving an apologetic look from the robot to which you just nodded saying it was okay.
"Forgive me for the intrusion, Miss L/N." He asked as you went back to eating. "It's good to have you back in the compound."
"Thanks." You muttered.
Vision shifted the weight of his feet half-heartedly and you raised an eyebrow at him. "Is there something you want to say to me?"
He gave a short laugh. "Actually, there is." He said, clearing his throat. "There' s a situation that I need assistance with. And well, naturally I sought out Mr. Stark at first, but he had a comical response and told me he had no way to help with it. Captain Rogers seemed uncomfortable with the subject, and I thought it best not to insist. Miss Romanoff told me to talk to you."
You swallowed before you spoke, your confused gaze on the anxious robot in front of you. "And why did she tell you that?"
"Miss Romanoff said that you participated in an infiltration mission two years ago where you retained specific knowledge of the subject." Vision retorted and you put your spoon down in the soup pot.
"You'll need to be more specific mate."
Clearing his throat again, Vis straightened his posture before continuing:
"First of all, you may not be aware of the new nature of my relationship with Miss Maximoff. In the weeks you have been away, we have officiated our romantic relationship and-"
You cut off Vis' speech with an incredulous laugh, thinking he was joking. The robot made a confused expression.
"A-are you serious?"
"Yes, Miss." He returned and you laughed again, shorter and drier. Locking your jaw, but leaving as neutral a face as you could you asked him to continue. "As I was saying, Miss Maximoff and I are in an affective romantic relationship. I have been, how can I put it, studying Wanda's reactions. She seems willing to reach a new level of physical intimacy, but as a synthesized, I don't have the same needs."
You wanted to dig a hole in the ground. You just mumbled that you were listening, and Vision kept talking.
"I have contacted the other Avengers about this occurrence, and in talking with Miss Romanoff, she mentioned that a few years ago you were working on a mission where your primary cover was as a sex educator, and that you would have the necessary knowledge to assist me." He continued. "Actually, it will be a double help. It has come to my attention that Miss Maximoff has never been in an intimate relationship, and I wouldn't want to do anything wrong."
You were going to kill Natasha. Honestly.
With a sigh, you stood up. You had lost your hunger completely.
"Vis, I..." You took a deep breath to keep from cursing at him. "I've had really tough weeks. Let's leave that conversation for tomorrow, okay?"
He hesitated, but then nodded and you forced a smile before you left the kitchen making your way back to your room in record time.
–//–
The next day you awoke to a soft weight on your bed.
"Wake, wake, sleeping beauty." Murmured a female voice in a teasing tone, and you murmured sleepily, opening your eyes to find yourself face to face with Natasha Romanoff - dressed in workout clothes - lying beside you.
"Get out of here, I want to sleep." You mumbled sleepily, closing your eyes again. Nat chuckled beside you.
"No chance, I want to know how the conversation with Vision went yesterday."
You grumbled loudly, sinking your face into the pillow. "My god I thought that was a nightmare." You commented getting another laugh as Nat moved to get out of your bed towards the wardrobe.
As you woke up, she separated a workout outfit for you. Reluctantly, you sat up in bed, yawning and rubbing your eyes.
"Why do you hate me, Natalia?" you asked and she just raised an eyebrow at you, tossing the clothes at your feet.
"Why do you say that?"
"Telling Vision to ask his sexual doubts to me? That was a really low blow. The fact that I call you my best friend." You explained as you took off your sweatshirt to put on your uniform. Nat rolled her eyes.
"Y/N, you really can't see the big picture can you?" she retorted, receiving only a confused look in return. With a sigh, she moved away to the door, "Let's run and I'll tell you why I'm brilliant and you'll be thanking me instead of whining, cry baby."
You raised your middle finger at her, but Nat just laughed, leaving the room.
After brushing your teeth, and stealing an apple, you left the silent compound - only you and Nat had woken up, and maybe Steve, but you didn't see him - and went running around the facility.
Many minutes later, when you were panting and sweating, Nat finally let you take a water break.
"Okay, feel free to explain the incredible reason you traumatized me last night." You asked as you opened the water bottle. Nat laughed, stretching her legs out beside you.
"Isn't it obvious?" She retorted smiling. "What did I tell you it was going to happen if you didn't make a move on your not at all platonic feelings towards Wanda?"
You almost choked on your water. But you pretended to be unaffected - which didn't work much because Nat could see your red cheeks - and just cleared your throat.
"I don't know what you're talking about." You grumbled, but she laughed shaking her head.
"I said you'd miss your chance." She clarified. "And what happened? Exactly what I said it would."
You rolled your eyes, sitting down on the floor and grimacing. Nat laughed at your behavior.
"If this is all about you wanting to say 'i told you so'..."
"No, Y/N." She cut in more gently. "You two are complicated, but I figured this time away would be exactly what you needed to build up your courage. The problem is that Vision made his move first."
You shifted your gaze to your own lap, your fingers tugging at the tips of the grasses on the ground.
"How the hell did that happen anyway?" You asked thoughtfully, and Nat sighed, taking a seat across from you.
"I have no idea." She said. "I was quite surprised when Tony told me. I think it started shortly after you traveled."
"No, it has to have happened before." You muttered. "Wanda is not exactly the kind of person who embarks on a relationship in such a short time. I just wish I had noticed it before..."
"And what would you have done? A pout like now?" Teases the redhead in front of you causing you to snort in irritation.
"Well, I would have said it's ridiculous to begin with!" You defend yourself. "Do we even know if he is capable of caring about her?"
Nat shrugged, thoughtful as well. "I just know it happened, and you need to pick up your game. I've tried to talk to Wanda about this, but she's not exactly willing to open up about her relationship with a machine to everyone. I get the impression that she assumed I was going to make fun of her."
"And you were."
"Absolutely, but that's not the point." Nat commented making you laugh weakly. "The point is that I realized, from these little attempts to get some information out of her, that there is an uncertainty there. I don't know why she got into a relationship with the microwave, but neither of them seems sure what they are doing. You still have a chance."
You sighed, resting your face on your knee as you hugged your legs. "I would have rather you had told me than hear Vision say that Wanda wants to sleep with him."
Nat laughed, making a cute face. "Sorry, detka, but I needed to see your reaction."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't." She retorted and you smiled, rolling your eyes. "I'm joking of course. It was just a perfect opportunity that came along for you to get more information about this."
"What do you mean?"
Natasha smiled. "It's like a spy mission, Y/N. Study it a little bit. Find out how it happened, why it happened. And if you have enough intel, you'll be able to make a decision that hurts as few people as possible."
"You are an evil genius, Romanova." You retort making her laugh. With a sigh, you straighten your posture, wiping your grass-soiled hands on your pants. "I'll think about it."
You offered your hand to help her stand, and Natasha pushed her shoulders against yours as you both started walking again.
"Don't look so sad." She commented. "The situation isn't ideal, but I know what I'm talking about. You still have a chance with her."
"I hope so, but if not, I can always leave the country." You joke, escaping Nat's pinch to go back running.
–//–
The kitchen of the compound was full when you and Natasha returned - the two of you laughing softly at the updates the redhead gave you about the past few weeks - but your laughter turned into an exclamation when two arms wrapped tightly around your shoulders.
"Wow." You exclaimed in surprise, wasting no time in wrapping your arms around the brunette's waist to keep the two of you from falling. "Someone missed me." You joked, receiving a giggle from Wanda as she pulled away only to look at you.
"You arrived and didn't even speak to me, moya lyubov." She commented almost annoyed, and you pouted.
"Forgive me, darling, it was so late I didn't want to wake you."
"I wouldn't have minded. I missed you." Wanda retorted looking at you so fondly that you felt your cheeks heat up. Her hands came down to yours intertwining your fingers together, and you could swear she was leaning in, but then a blue figure was appearing beside you the next moment, a stronger hug that almost knocked you backwards.
"Pietro, easy!" You heard Wanda complain, but you just laughed, letting go of her hands to hug your friend.
"Are all the Maximoffs gay for you?" Natasha sneered behind you before skirting around and leaving to join the others at the table.
Pietro loosened up the next moment, talking quickly about missing you, how the compound got boring without you around and how he was practicing new things with the others, and you laughed as you asked him to breathe and speak more slowly.
"You have no idea what's new, Y/N." Pietro began as he threw an arm around his sister's shoulders. "A hilarious thing has happened in the last few weeks. Wanda started-"
Wanda let out an exclamation, and a red thread of magic kept Pietro quiet as she removed his arm from around her shoulders, and cleared her throat.
"Stop spreading gossip, and let Y/N breathe." She asked quickly and was already pulling you away from the confused yet well-humored boy. "Come on, you must be hungry." She told you leading you to sit at the coffee table with the others.
You would have thought it funny that she avoided a subject you already knew about if it wasn't for the bitter feeling on the tip of your stomach. You wished the others good morning and avoided looking at Vision, imagining that he would have an anxious look about the previous evening's business, something you wanted to avoid at least at mealtimes.
Natasha seemed quite willing to do just the opposite.
She sat down in the chair opposite yours, while each of the Maximoffs took a seat next to you. You smiled in thanks to Wanda for passing you the toast without you even needing to ask, but your smile faded as you noticed the mischievous expression on your best friend's face.
"You know Pete, I updated Y/N on some things, but I left the best part out." Started the redhead, and the silver boy giggled, while his sister stood tense in the chair next to you.
"Y/N, you're going to love this one." Pietro then spoke up. "It happened a few days before you left, but Vision and Wanda are dati-
"-ing." You complete with a forced laugh. "Yeah, I heard." Pietro was quite surprised, and you felt Wanda's gaze on you, but you didn't look at her right away. "An unusual couple, yes?" You joked feeling your stomach turn, Pietro laughed nodding.
"We're still trying to figure out exactly how that happened." Pietro continued. "Tony's bet is some kind of problem in Vision's algorithm, maybe a hacker attack and-"
"Shut up, Pietro." Wanda grumbled angrily, slamming her juice glass down hard and getting up to sit in the living room.
You sighed, ignoring the giggling of Pietro and Nat at a completely chaotic table, who hadn't even noticed that Wanda was upset, and stood up behind the brunette.
She sat down in one of the armchairs, a plate in her lap, but she was just poking at the bread without really eating anything. You put your hands in your pockets as you stopped beside her.
"What made you so grumpy, little witch?"
A small smile tried to leave Wanda's lips, but she bit them to avoid it, a move that immediately attracted your attention. If she noticed you looking, she didn't show it.
"Don't call me that." She retorted.
"But you love it."
Wanda let out a short chuckle, rolling her eyes. She mumbled something that sounded like "just because you're the one saying" but you weren't sure, and didn't insist, as you took up the armchair opposite hers.
"I wish I had been the one to tell you." She comments once you are seated, feeling your gaze on her.
"Why?"
"Because." She retorts, making you smile. You just stare at her for her to clarify further, and Wanda kept her gaze on her lap as she did so, "I just wanted you to hear it from me. I don't know, I didn't want you to get the impression that I was hiding things from you."
"And were you?" You inquired, and Wanda frowned, facing you again.
"No!" she said. "I mean... Damn, maybe. It wasn't like that."
You gave a sad chuckle, settling back against the armchair. "It's all right, Wands. I won't be mad at you for not telling me about your boyfriend."
"I wanted to." She defends herself. "I just...I didn't know-how. And it's something new, and I didn't know how you would react and..."
"Not so different from Pietro and Natasha, I assure you." You comment causing Wanda to become silent. She stares at you for a moment, a mixture of shock and annoyance on her face, and then swallows dryly.
"Well, if you're going to mock me too I'll eat in my room." She declared standing up. She was really upset, ears burning red, and hands clutching her plate tightly. You think she looked lovely.
You giggled, waving goodbye, which only seemed to irritate her more before she left the room.
You were thinking about finishing your coffee, when Vision approached your armchair.
"Miss L/N, perhaps we can continue our conversation from yesterday." He started but you widened your eyes, and stood up abruptly, giving an awkward little laugh.
"I have many tasks, comrade! I can't help you now. I'll talk to you later." You warned, and ran out of the room so quickly that you could have been mistaken for Pietro.
–//–
Wanda was avoiding you - and Pietro, Nat, or any avenger who wanted to torment her - and you were avoiding Vision.
After eating breakfast, and taking a shower to cleanse yourself from the run, you changed into comfortable clothes and decided to hide in Bruce's lab.
The scientist seemed well aware of the whole thing, and he chuckled when he saw you sneaking inside.
"Let me guess, running away from certain lovebirds?" he asked and you let out an annoyed huff.
"Don't call them that."
Bruce just laughed, shaking his head as he went back to his notes. You took the opportunity to circle around until you sat down on one of the stools.
"Is it okay if I stay around?" You asked, and the other Avenger shrugged, looking focused.
But you couldn't stay silent for long. "Hey, Bruce, if I had a hypothetical question involving hypothetical people would you hypothetically help me?"
The man laughed, nodding in the affirmative. "Go ahead, ask."
With a sigh, you tried, "In your professional opinion, what is love?"
Bruce frowned slightly, a little surprised by the question. You guessed he expected you to ask directly about Vision or Wanda.
Without taking his focus off the activity, he was thoughtful for a few moments. "Well, Y/N, for the field of biology, love is a chemical reaction in your brain. But you can end up having a variety of interpretations on the subject."
"What about from a robotics point of view?"
"I believe that is something you should ask Tony." He jokes, and you sigh, crossing your arms. The scientist takes off his glasses and turns toward you. "If you really want my opinion, and that is, from a biological standpoint, no Y/N. Vision is simply not capable of feeling love, or anything at all."
"And what other point of view is there if not that?" You retort, and the avenger gives a short smile.
"Well, maybe the one from the magic stone in his head." He clarifies. "Things have never been simple, and they're sure got stranger when gods and that sort of thing proved to be real. Maybe Vis can love her in a way other than the one you love her."
"I never said that-" You start to defend yourself with warm cheeks, but the look from the other Avenger makes you sigh. "Fine, you got me. B-but it's not just about my feelings. I want to understand what's going on."
Bruce nods, leaning on the countertop behind him.
"Well, despite the teasing, Tony was interested in the subject. Jarvis and Ultron were AI, unable to feel, because all a robot understands are binary numbers in its algorithms. Everything that's there was put there." He explains. "But Vision has something else."
"The stone is what causes these feelings in him, then?" You deduce received a nod. "Thank you, Bruce. I'm going to go talk to a certain God now."
Banner laughed, waving goodbye as you walked away to leave the lab.
Thor was almost always in Asgard, or off the earth, mostly to study the stones around the universe. Fortunately, last week he had come to visit his girlfriend and was in the compound for the next few days.
You found him illustrating the statue of Mjolnir in his room.
"Enjoying yourself, your highness?" You teased startling him, and the blond quickly covered the hammer, pretending not to be admiring it.
"Y/N! You're back!" He greeted with an awkward laugh, moving closer to hug you tight and consequently usher you out of the room, and close the door. "Good to see you, mortal."
You laughed, shaking your head. "Good to see you too, rain lord."
The blond rolled his eyes with amusement at the nickname but didn't correct you. "What can I do for you?"
"What makes you think I want anything?" You retorted making him chuckle.
"You have that determined look of someone who is up to something. Go ahead, say what you want."
You sighed. "I just want to know a little more about the mind stone."
Thor frowns slightly. "Oh, sure. I can help. But, why don't you ask Vision about it?"
You hesitate, but force a smile. "I'm on some kind of secret mission. I don't know if you're aware but he and Wanda are in a relationship now."
Thor grimaces then laughs. "What? That's the weirdest thing."
"I know, right?" you retort in the same tone. "But I want to understand where this came from, because it just doesn't make sense to me how this ended up happening in the first place."
"Wanda knows he's made of metal, doesn't she?" Thor tried thoughtfully, and you laughed humorlessly, nodding. "Mortals are weird."
"Very much so." You agreed. "Do you know anything about the stone that might explain how that happened?"
"Not really, other than what you all already know." Thor comments crossing his arms. "Six objects of power linked to aspects of the universe. The teachings of Asgard refer to them as superior beings, but they don't really possess a mind like my people or yours. I don't imagine that love comes from the stone, it's just a mystical rock. It doesn't feel anything."
You absorbed Thor's words in silence, and he was equally thoughtful. "But Vision can lift Mjolnir, right? I thought it was the stone that made him worthy."
The blond man laughed. "You can too and you don't have a stone on your head." He commented making you smile. "The stone is an object of immense power, greater than my hammer has ever carried. If the goddess of death can carry and destroy without being worthy, the singularity must be able to as well."
You nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Thor. I'll...try to organize my thoughts. But thank buddy, you've been very helpful."
–//–
Natasha and Pietro found you hiding on a balcony, a video on metaphysics playing as you dozed against the pillar.
"That's the saddest thing I've ever seen." Commented the redhead to the runner next to her.
"I thought you talked to her." He returned with a frown.
"I did!" Spoke the widow. "I think that's part of the plan."
"She intends to sleep and hide until my sister breaks up with toaster?" Ironized the silver one, receiving a short laugh from Nat before the widow kicked your feet lightly, waking you up.
You were startled, and your cell phone slipped from your hand to the floor below, but Pietro simply ran and picked it up at high speed, curious about the video you were watching as you rubbed your eyes.
"Are you really trying to find a logical explanation for the worst couple ever to form on the planet?" The boy asked, and you laughed humorlessly, stretching.
"I just wish I knew how to talk to the two of them about it."
"I think you're just looking for an excuse other than 'I'm in love with Wanda' to explain why you hate their relationship." Natasha retorted and you snorted softly.
"It doesn't matter." You muttered getting up and taking your cell phone back. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to tell Vision that I can't help with sexual tips."
Nat laughed at Pietro's confused expression. "You don't want to know, fast boy."
With Friday's help, you asked the new couple to meet you in the meeting room in half an hour.
"Miss Maximoff has politely asked you not to speak to her." Informed the system on the first try, but you just laughed as you arranged the slides.
"Tell her it is not a postponable appointment." You insisted, and the AI was silent for a long moment before informing you that Wanda had begrudgingly agreed to participate.
Vision arrived before she did, and you had to ignore your own embarrassment and irritation to tell him that you weren't going to start explaining until Wanda arrived.
"Please, can we join in?" Someone said from the doorway, and you laughed as you saw Pietro and Nat standing there, denying it immediately with your head as you approached to push them away into the hallway.
"Get the hell out of here, I'm warning you two!" You spoke, but Nat was pushing back, pleading about wanting to see the reaction of all of you, and Pietro was quick enough to run from your hands. "You know what? Pietro, did you know that Nat has a secret sister? Her name is Yelena, she lives in St.Petersburg with the rest of Nat's secret family, and you two would be great friends."
Nat stopped struggling immeditately, widening her eyes and Pietro also stopped running only to jump at Nat the next second with a million questions.
The widow threw you a warning look, but you just nodded in farewell as she tried to run away from the speedster down the hall. You returned to the room, and within minutes, Wanda joined you.
The witch weirded out the lack of the other Avengers right away, but you had already closed the door behind her.
"Please, Wanda, have a seat." You asked seriously, and the brunette frowned, but obeyed.
"Y/N, what are you...?"
"I think this is my fault, Wanda." Vision interrupted the witch's question, standing up as you turned on the presentation. "I asked Miss L/N last night for assistance regarding the new phase of intimacy we are reaching in our relationship and-"
"Jesus, you did what?" Wanda cut in shock and indignation, standing up. You raised an eyebrow at the interjection, Vision had a confused expression completely clueless as to what had infuriated the witch.
"Dear, I explained to Y/N that as a Sintentized I have no experience with human needs. You might recall how disastrous my attempt to cook something was and..."
"Oh my god, that's not like cooking!" Wanda retorted angrily, and you sighed, gesturing to them.
"Please, I know the situation is awkward, but I would like to bring this matter to a close as quickly as possible. For the good of my mental health, just take a seat both of you."
Wanda hesitated, but a moment after Vision obeyed, she did the same. Crossing her arms with an angry frown.
You chuckled lightly before turning on the project. "I needed to make a timeline of events to understand exactly how we got here." You began, pressing the remote to start the presentation. "I started with the emergence of Vision."
Over the next few minutes, you briefly reminisced about Ultron's conflicts, the birth - if you could call it that - of Vision, and the recruitment of Wanda and Pietro to the team.
"Despite how close I am to both of you, neither ever told me there was anything going on that was more than friendship." You commented, and Wanda looked away to the floor almost guiltily. Vision straightened up in his chair.
"The nature of our relationship changed when you left, Miss L/N." The robot clarified. "Wanda and I were friends, and then, we were more."
You cleared your throat, wanting to push that horrible feeling in your stomach. "I see." You murmured. "And h-how did you realize you wanted to be more?"
Wanda shrank back against the seat. Vision smiled almost nostalgically, "Well, from the moment I met her, I've been attracted to her. I don't know how to find the right words, forgive me, but it's feeling, almost..."
"Magnetic?" You completed and Vision looked surprised, but nodded in agreement. Wanda raised her gaze to you, but you bit the inside of your cheek as you turned to the screen again. "Forgive me if I offend you in any way in this presentation, Vis, know that it is not my intention. I was just curious to understand exactly how, not one, but two artificial intelligence systems would come to the conclusion of love in your source code."
A graph of Vision's body appeared on the screen - notes on his compositions, software stability status, that sort of thing - and although the robot let out a short exclamation with a smile saying "look, that's me.", Wanda stood tense in her chair.
You moved the image of the graphic so that the focus was on the robot's power center. "There's no kinder way to say it, so I'll just say it. From a mathematical and biological standpoint, Vision is simply incapable of having feelings." You stated, and the android looked confused but didn't interrupt. "So I tried to look for a magical explanation for the thing."
Wanda didn't interrupt you, she wasn't looking at the presentation but you knew she was listening by the way she was curled up in the armchair, her fists clenched in her lap.
"I talked to Thor, and tried to gather some Shield files on this, but the conclusions weren't that different." You continued. "My opinion is that it has a connection to Wanda's powers."
She frowned, finally looking at you. Without hesitation you continued, "The Stone retains a comic signature. It is the one who gave Wanda her powers, and now, it is part of Vision's consciousness. It is natural for him to experience a magnetic feeling towards you, Wanda, because it is the mind's stone recognizing itself in your magic."
There is a moment of silence in the room. Vision is the first to speak. "Well, that clears up a lot of things then. Since I am not able to match your biological needs, I believe our relationship should come to an end, Miss Maximoff. We can continue a working relationship, but it must be strictly-"
Wanda stood up abruptly and threw you an angry glare before marching angrily out of the room.
You sighed and turned to Vis. "Dude, this is not how you break up with a girl."
"Wow, I'm sorry. Do you think I should apologize?" He asks and you gesture in the negative, handing him the control.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to her." You say. "Pack things up for me, please? I'll try to keep Wanda from destroying the floor."
But despite your expectations, when you reached Wanda's room a few minutes later, you didn't hear the sound of anyone furious. Only low sobs that were worse than anything else.
Knocking softly on the door, you wouldn't blame her for sending you away. But, seeming willing to totally surprise you today, Wanda opened the door.
The magical string faded into the air as you closed the wood behind you, the figure lying on the mattress with her face buried in the pillows made no mention of reacting to your presence, although the crying ceased.
You walked to the end of the bed, but didn't sit down, hesitating about what to do or say. Wanda was the first to build up the courage.
"Why did you do that?" she asked low and hoarse, and you swallowed dryly, trying to look at her face more clearly, but she was staring at the wall.
"I don't know."
"Bullshit." She accused bitterly. "You were mean for no reason."
"I didn't mean to be!" You defended yourself, almost deciding to shut up, and ask for forgiveness when Wanda looked at you angrily, her eyes swollen from crying, but her irises red with her magic. "Go ahead. Read my mind, you'll know I had no intention of hurting you."
"I don't want to! I want you to talk to me!" She retorted, her eyes returning to their normal coloration. But you gave a dry laugh.
"What am I going to say, Wanda? That I was surprised you started dating without telling me? Or that you waited for me to travel to do so, and didn't think for a second to write me about it? Or who knows, maybe we can talk about how the hell you ended up dating a piece of metal?"
"Don't talk like that!" She asked angrily, and one of the pillows flew right into your belly, but you caught it quickly, shaking your head in disapproval. "He is my friend! He's not... He's almost human but he's-"
"A machine." You insisted, returning the pillow to the bed, and kneeling on the mattress to approach Wanda. She curled up against the headboard, trying to control her tears.
"There's nothing wrong with loving him, Y/N." She tried softly, and you sighed, sitting down beside her. "He's good and kind, and he treats me so well. He-
"Can't love you." You retorted almost impatiently. "He simply can't, even if you both pretend differently. Just numbers and metal in his head, Wanda."
The brunette looked away, hugging her own legs. You sighed. "I just wanted to feel loved."
"Is that what this is about then?" You questioned in a calmer tone. "It breaks my heart to see you like this, sweetheart."
"Like what?" she challenged with a dry laugh.
"Hating yourself to the point where you think the shallow affection of a machine is all you deserve."
Wanda let out a tearful laugh. "You don't know what you're saying."
"Don't I?" You retorted in defiance, moving away from the bed. You went to her wardrobe, and pulled out a few long blouses from there, throwing them on the floor.
"What are you doing?" She questioned confused and impatient.
"I don't know what I'm talking about, you said. Well, let's start with the sleeves." You clarified, lifting one of the blouses to the height of your face. "You rip them off. Before, you wore gloves. But you've been dressing differently now, as less flashy as possible right, as Natasha taught us. I noticed it the first time you did. The same night you started practicing, the way you knocked Sam down over the tatami. I saw you hiding your hands at dinner."
Wanda choked softly, shaking her head in denial. "It doesn't mean anything. I-don't-."
"I thought you were just afraid of what you can do because it makes sense, you're the most powerful of us, and it's scary not knowing how strong you'll get and whether you'll have control. But then I realized other things." You continued, returning the blouse to pile to walk closer to her again. "I noticed the way you dig your nails in until it hurt your palm. How you don't train with others if you can avoid it, how you're getting really good at hand-to-hand combat because you just don't want to use your magic."
"Stop." She asked softly, and you sighed as you sat back down on the bed in front of her.
"I notice you, Wanda." You spoke in a lower tone. "The way you can't accept a compliment, how you're always doubting yourself. Craving attention and affection like you're starving."
A few tears fell down her face, but Wanda quickly wiped them away. "Don't make fun of me..."
"I'm not!" You quickly clarify, moving your hands to entwine theirs, and resisting when she cringed and tried to pull away. "Calm down, you're not going to hurt me."
"You don't know that!" She cried, and you sighed before releasing her hands, only to hug her tightly. Wanda sobbed against your neck, trying to break the grip just for a moment before sinking against you.
"Wanda, I can't magically teach you to love yourself." You comment as you caress her back. "It's hard, long work. I can only promise to be here for you. Until you understand that there are people who love you endlessly. And that you are worthy of all that love."
Wanda shakes her head against you, her hands around your waist. She continues to cry softly, and you move to lay you both down together, without releasing your grip.
She cries herself to sleep against your collarbone. But you don't move or complain any second.
–//–
You wake up first. Your natural instinct is to move, but a gentle weight on top of you holds you in place. The room is dark, but you don't really need to see to recognize the smell of the shampoo from Wanda's hair, which is now against your neck.
Gently, you start stroking her back in an attempt to wake her up. A few minutes pass before she shifts against you, mumbling softly before tangling your legs together and pressing you even further into her body.
"Wake up, little witch." You whisper without stopping your caresses, your face a bit flushed red from the intimacy of the moment. Wanda blinks her eyes slowly, until she realizes the position and tenses. She turns away from you with a sleepy murmur of apology, remaining lying on the bed, and though you immediately miss her warmth, you say nothing.
"Please tell me that yesterday was just a nightmare." She asked looking up at the ceiling, and you gave her a sad smile, turning your body toward her.
"I'm sorry, Wands." You retorted, feeling bad for the way she swallowed dryly and didn't look at you again. Trying to improve her mood, you added, "I also wished it had just been a nightmare to have heard Vision call you horny."
With a short, embarrassed laugh, Wanda covered her face with her hands, making you chuckle. "I can never look at you again." She murmured against her skin and you smiled tenderly, propping your elbow on the bed and moving your free hand to her wrists, gently tugging for her to stop covering herself.
"Don't do that. It would be a crime to deprive me of those beautiful green eyes of yours." You praise, smiling at the way her face reddens, the shy smile that fills her lips so suddenly inviting.
Clearing her throat, Wanda asks, "What time is it?" And tries to look beyond the window, but it is late and you can see only the moonlight outside. "I can't believe we slept all afternoon." She comments, and she is avoiding your gaze because you are simply staring at her in the dumbest way possible, and with that realization, you feel your face heat up, and you look away quickly, putting a little distance between you two as you sit down on the bed.
"I don't think we missed dinner. If you're hungry you'd better get up." You commented quickly. Wanda found your hurry strange and frowned as she saw you getting up.
"I'm not really hungry." She warns then, and you stop midway, turning to her with some hesitation. "You can go if you want."
"Okay..." You agree, shifting the weight of your feet. "Is it all right if I come back?"
Wanda smiled, looking at you in a way that made your stomach turn in nervousness. She nodded and you smiled too, gesturing awkwardly that you were going to the kitchen before leaving the room.
In the hallway, you let out a loud sigh. Something was different. You didn't know exactly what, but you had the feeling that you wouldn't be in control of yourself if you lay in bed with Wanda again.
Lost in thought, you went to the kitchen. You found the Avengers at the end of dinner, wrapped up in small talk and comments about upcoming missions. When Pietro saw you entering, he sped his body toward you.
"So, can I start calling you sister-in-law now?" He asked and you widened your eyes, laughing awkwardly.
"Excuse me?"
"Natasha told me you're in love with Wanda and" You covered Pietro's mouth with your hand so quickly you could have been mistaken for the team's speedster. The boy frowned in confusion, but you only sighed impatiently.
"First, keep your voice down." You ordered. "Second, don't talk about it. I haven't...told her yet."
"What? But you've been locked in her room with her all day." Pietro grumbles against your hand, and you grimace, motioning away as you complain about the drool. Natasha approaches you next, an empty plate of food she was carrying to the sink.
"Let me guess, she didn't make the move." Ironized the widow making you blush as Pietro laughed. "Girl, you need an intervention."
Rolling your eyes, you cross your arms as you lean on the kitchen countertop, watching Natasha wash the dishes.
"We were talking about other stuff, it wasn't the right time." You justify, but Pietro and Nat exchange glances that signal they don't agree with you one bit.
"And what will the right time be, Y/N? When Wanda gets engaged?" Nat retorts and you grimace, looking away.
Pietro sighs beside you, and softer than your friend, tells you, "You know she likes you too, right?"
Feeling your face heat up, you look at him incredulously, "Hard to believe that when she was dating someone else this morning." You sneer but sigh, not even believing your own words. Uncrossing your arms, you explain, "Wanda is going through a lot. Losing her home, the increase of her powers. She's been having a hard time accepting herself, and she needs to be able to love who she is before I do. O-or anyone."
Pietro nods in understanding, obviously aware of the situation with his sister. Unlike Wanda, who seemed to grow more insecure with every second regarding her powers, with every speed record broken, Pietro thought of himself as more incredible.
Nat finished washing her plate and wiped her hands on a cloth before turning to you. "So you haven't made a move about loving her because you think she has to love herself first?"
You nodded.
"And you didn't think that telling her how much she is loved by you might help?"
You hesitate at Nat's words. But then you argue:
"I don't want Wanda to be dependent on my love for her. I want her to see how amazing she is on her own, not let anyone tell her otherwise. I want her to know that she is worthy of the best love anyone can offer."
Nat gives a sad smile, shaking her head. "That's really sweet and all, dorogoya." She begins. "But if you don't tell Wanda how you feel, things will just look different to her."
You frown in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Nat sighs. "She cares about you. And you need to ignore the insecurity in your head and see things as they are because everyone can see how much. She likes you, looks at you as if you were the star on her horizon. She accepts every suggestion, seeks your approval and opinion, and longs for your presence. When you tell her she needs to love herself, but don't say you love her, how do you think Wanda feels?"
Stunned, you don't answer. Natasha places a hand on your shoulder. "Y/N, take the advice from that book you adore so much. We should try to show people that they deserve better love. You are the best for Wanda, then show her that you are here."
Pietro gives you an encouraging smile next to Nat, and you swallow dryly before nodding.
–//–
Wanda thought it was odd that you were taking so long to get back, but she wasn't really in the mood to join the others, so she busied herself with tidying up the room while she waited.
She also decided that she could relax more easily if you did something together, so she set up the bed and the TV for a little evening of sitcoms.
But you didn't show up.
Frustrated and hesitant, she checked her watch. It was definitely past dinnertime, and the Avengers should be mostly asleep by now. So where the hell was you?
Maybe you had forgotten. Maybe you had asked her to come back there just as a joke.
Maybe you didn't even like her that much.
"Jesus!" Wanda exclaimed in surprise when the door suddenly opened. You muttered muffled apologies because you were carrying papers in your mouth. You were also carrying a box in hand and a laptop. "What are you doing?"
You mumbled something she didn't understand and closed the door with your foot. You moved to leave the box on the table and took the papers out of your mouth.
"Sorry for taking so long, I was preparing something." You say and simply walked over and kissed her cheek, smiling as stepped away for your stuff.
Wanda was too surprised to comment on how you were plugging the laptop into the television and pushing her back onto the bed until she was seated and you were back in charge of the electronics.
Clearing your throat, you stared at the confused girl in front of you with a certain frenzy.
"So, I've prepared something for you. A presentation." You start and press the power button.
In bright letters is written "Things I Love about Wanda Maximoff" and as soon as she reads it, the witch lets out a surprised laugh.
"Y/N, what is that?" She asks in a mixture of confusion and embarrassment. You are smiling confidently.
"Please, questions only at the end of the presentation." You retort with a falsely serious teacher's tone, making Wanda laugh heartily now. Clearing your throat again, you press the control again, and the presentation slide goes to a picture of two little babies. "The first fact I love about Wanda Maximoff is that she was born exactly 12 minutes after her twin brother, and that doesn't stop her one bit from acting like the oldest." You declare, and Wanda giggles, feeling her chest warm.
The slide switches again, and you don't look away from Wanda as you continue, images of twin children behind you.
"I also love how Wanda Maximoff used to wear braces because her front teeth were too big, and she needed them for three years." You recount, and Wanda can only imagine that some of this stuff came from medical records, and some her own twin must have told you. "I love that Wanda used to draw castles and princesses on the walls of her house."
The slide switched again, replacing the old photographs of her building with things that happened later. Wanda swallowed dryly as she saw the images of the civil protests in her country, but you didn't flinch.
"I love the young revolutionary you become. Angry and fearless. I love the way you started dressing, the torn clothes, the dark makeup." You retort proudly. "Oh, and I adore the rings, too."
Wanda giggles at the picture of the innumerable rings, and is surprised that you turn away from the television to return to the cardboard box you brought. After fiddling with it, you take out a small package.
You approach it, and crouch down in front of it, placing the object in your hands.
"Here are all the rings that I borrowed from you, but which you thought you had lost. There are also new ones, the ones you saw at the night market we went to with Pietro, and also from that day at the mall." You explained, opening the box and making it possible for Wanda to see the dozens of shiny little rings inside. "I also gathered the ones you accidentally marked or destroyed with your magic, but they're not here. I'm keeping them."
"Why?"
"They were yours." You reply with a smile. "Maybe I'll make something of them, or maybe I'll just keep it. Until you feel you can look at them again."
Wanda swallowed dryly, nodding in understanding. She made mention of hugging you, but you giggled and turned away, muttering about the presentation not being over.
The images changed again, now showing a young avenger. The title was "The cutest little witch in the world"
"I absolutely love Wanda in her superhero phase" You comment and she gives an embarrassed laugh to your expression, hiding her face in her hands. "Best era of all. The clothes, the hair. She looks incredible, don't you think?"
Wanda just laughs, shaking her head as you gesture to the images of missions on the screen.
"I almost forgot, I love Wanda's accent too." You say. "She was born in Sokovia, you know. And she's been learning from Natasha about how to sound American, but when she's moody or when she's sleepy, her accent gets thick. And I have to confess, it's the hottest thing I've ever heard."
Wanda's breathing hitched. You looked away from hers for the first time, though you continued to smile shyly.
Switching slides, you cleared your throat and added:
"Now, the personality session." You say. "It's very important for us not to be superficial in things like this, right? Well, there's a lot that I love about Wanda's personality. Some people think she is shy and innocent, but I will tell you, this girl has the most sarcastic and acidic humor I have ever seen." You tell, making her chuckle softly, all because she is still quite impacted by the last slide. "Wanda is so funny, and sometimes people don't get that, because she's busy doing her villain pose and being quiet, but that's the truth. And she's so smart. Like, really. Quick thinking, just like her brother. Everybody who underestimates her ends up impressed because Wanda is just amazing."
At this point, Wanda is surprised that she is not crying. Maybe it's your fault, that you're looking at her in a way that makes her legs go wobbly.
But the slide changes, to images of Wanda using her powers, and she tenses up, hesitating for the first time. You don't lose your composure.
"I love your powers." You confess seriously. "They are a part of you, of your history. A symbol of the sacrifice you made for Sokovia, a sample of your struggle. But they are also wonderful. They make you powerful, give you the abilities to protect the ones you love, which is exactly what you're so eager to do."
The tears finally come. Wanda sniffles softly, forcing a smile, but they fall anyway. You go back to the cardboard box. From it, you take out some kind of heavy workbook, which you bring back to the bed as you sit down next to Wanda.
"I only took ten minutes on the presentation, because it's pretty easy for me to name the hundreds of little things I love about you, Wanda." You counted softly. "What really took time, was asking Vision to use the stone and finding all the information on the internet about your magic."
You drummed your fingers on the cover for Wanda to read the title. It read "Wanda Maximoff's Magic Encyclopedia. Volume One."
"There's probably a lot missing, but we'll work on it." You say with a smile. "Vis even found a forum talking about some magician's home in China that we can investigate, but for now, thought what we could gather on the subject to help you understand yourself better would be exactly-"
Wanda pulled the book from your hands to place it on the bed, and with her free hand, she tugged at your shirt. The next second, her lips were on yours, interrupting your speech and train of thought completely. You gasped in surprise, affected by the softness of her lips.
With your shock, you did not reciprocate, and Wanda pulled away, eyes widening as if she realized what she had done, "I-I'm really sorry."
"I..."
She stood up, gesturing nervously and babbling, "I'm sorry, you started saying these things, and you brought me gifts and I just thought maybe you might... but this is silly, now things are going to get awkward between us because I messed up just like I ruin everything..."
With a groan, you stood up, lunging forward against Wanda. You cut her off half a sentence as you entwined her waist and pulled her to you, one hand on the back of her neck as you kissed her hard.
You both gasped, stumbling a bit from the intensity of the kiss before you broke into a passionate rhythm. Wanda melted, grabbing your shoulders to deepen the kiss while one of your hands squeezed her waist and made her sigh. You took advantage of the action to slide your tongue towards her lower lip, asking for permission, and when Wanda granted almost immediately, you moaned softly at the sensation.
Kissing so hungrily and in such passionate ways, your bodies began to heat up. Hands grew bolder, so long-buried feelings exploding on the surface all at once. Panting against each other's mouths, Wanda instinctively began to thrust her hips into you, and couldn't control the sound that escaped her throat as your hand moved down to her ass and pressed her up against you.
You moved again until you felt the bed at the back of your knees. Wanda wasted no time in pushing you up into a sitting position and taking her place on your lap. The kiss seemed to get more frantic after that, your hands dangerously on her thigh, caressing her skin as fast as your tongue slid over hers.
When Wanda slowly began to wiggle in your lap, seeking relief from the aching in her center, you choked against her lips, steadying your hands on her hips.
"Wands." You gasped as you broke the kiss, almost in a warning tone. She opened her dark eyes to you, her lips completely swollen from kissing so hard, and you almost ignored the remnants of sanity to go back kissing her.
"What's wrong?" She asked hoarsely and breathlessly, frowning slightly.
You swallowed dryly. "Don't do that."
"Do what?" she asked in a fake confusion. Biting back a smile, she stared at you with the worst of intentions in her gaze, "You don't like it?"
"Of course I like it." You retorted hoarsely. "I like it so much I don't want to stop."
Wanda smiled, bringing your faces closer together again. "Then don't."
This time, when she kissed you and moved back on your lap, you helped her. Your hands on her waist guided her movements, and Wanda let out an affected whimper when the pressure was just right. The sound made you groan, hiding your face in her neck as the girl failed to contain her sighs while she straddled your lap.
"I need more." She confessed hoarsely, stopping moving. You felt your face get very hot because you could feel the wetness and heat coming off of her. Looking into her face with an almost pleading expression, you just stared back at her.
"A-are you sure?" You asked, and her response was to move forward against your mouth, kissing you intently as she guided your hands down along your thigh.
Breaking the kiss to move her lips to your neck, you bit back a sigh when she whispered into your skin:
"I want you to take off my clothes." She asked, her hands on top of yours entwined in your fingers. "And I want you to kiss me until you can no longer keep yours on."
"Don't you think it's too soon?" You ask, unable to keep your eyes open with Wanda's lips teasing your skin. But your sentence seems to bring her a little reason because she sighs and lifts her face back to yours.
"You think that?"
Blinking away the cloud of arousal, you lick your lips. "I've been in love with you for the last three years, Wanda. I'm ready, but I can always wait a little longer."
"Are you in love with me?" She asks unable to contain a smile.
You feel your face heat up, but you let out a short chuckle;
"Sorry, did the presentation called literally the reasons why I love Wanda Maximoff give you the wrong idea?"
She laughed, shaking her head. "It could be platonic..."
"Girl, I'm practically taking your virginity in my lap right now." You retorted, and she blushed brightly, laughing and pushing your shoulder with her hand.
All you did was look at her lovingly, and Wanda swallowed dryly, feeling several butterflies in her stomach.
"I love you, Wanda." You repeated. "In a not at all platonic way, I promise." You joked last, and she giggled, releasing your hands to intertwine her arms behind your head.
"I love you, too. Romantically speaking." She retorted in the same tone, and when she kissed you - more tenderly this time - you were both smiling.
Before the kiss could start to heat up again, you broke off, giving an apologetic chuckle at the girl's sigh of frustration.
"Sorry, it's just that I'm pretty sure half the team is in the hallway waiting to hear if everything worked out."
Wanda let out a confused giggle and then realized that she could sense the presence of the other avengers in the hallway with her magic and let out a loud sigh.
"Maybe they'll give up if we stay quiet." She whispers, but the knock on the door the next minute makes you laugh at her angry expression.
You made a mention of getting up to answer it, but Wanda forced her body against yours.
"Don't go." She pleaded and you smiled. Instead of obeying, you carried her with you.
It was Steve at the door - evidently embarrassed and most likely blackmailed to do so. But he cracked a smile at the sight of Wanda entwined with you.
"So...?"
"Yes, Captain." You confirmed and barely finished your sentence when Natasha and Pietro jumped in front, shoving Steve with celebrations. You rolled your eyes at the scene, seeing that Tony had set up a hologram with the message "I Knew it all along" and Thor had brought bottles of champagne. "You guys are the worst." You commented with a laugh.
"Yeah, yeah, pretend you're not happy about it all." Natasha retorted. "Hey Koala girl, did you forget that it's our mandatory movie night tonight? Come on, you two to the living room this second. You can make out later."
Nat didn't let you get away from this. But you didn't really care, because this time, Wanda sat on your lap during the entire movie.