𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐌━︎━︎ W. Maximoff ✓︎

𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT TRUST?

WANDA HAD SAT THERE ON Salem's bed, her hands in her lap as she deeply frowned. Having listened to Salem twist and turn before shooting up with a gasp of air made her terrified. Even when she had barely known Salem, the girl had always seemed so happy, strong, and definitely sarcastic. She never realized how Salem was struggling until now, and she wanted to curse herself. She wished she could help, but she didn't know how, or if Salem would even allow her to help.

Wanda was quick to push herself off the bed once the door opened, revealing Salem who had tried to quietly close the door in hopes of not waking Wanda up, not knowing that the woman was standing behind her with her arms crossed over her chest, her face covered in worry. Salem turned around and jumped, letting out a surprised gasp upon seeing Wanda standing there right behind her.

     "Wanda! You scared me." Salem breathed.

     "Sorry." Wanda apologized. "Salem, are you alright?"

     "Fine. Why?" Salem furrowed her eyebrows, looking at the woman before walking around Wanda and sitting down on her bed, grabbing the controller and turning on her show. Wanda watched her with a frown, Salem acting as if nothing had happened to her.

     "Why are you acting as if nothing happened?" Wanda frowned, turning around so that she was looking at Salem who's eyes were focused on the television. Salem glanced towards the woman, raising an eyebrow before looking back towards the television.

     "Because, nothing did."

     "Salem, I just watched you shoot up in the bed and gasping for breath as if you were suffocating. You stood up and walked out of the room and have been gone for an hour. I was worried about you and I went to follow after you, but Natasha was already there." Wanda told her. "I came back and have been sitting here, waiting for you to come back so that you could tell me what was wrong."

     "Nothing is wrong, Wanda. Just drop it, all right?" Salem spoke, not even bothering to glance at the woman. Wanda clenched her jaw for a moment before relaxing, a realization falling upon her. She shook her head with a sigh.

     "I see." Wanda nodded. "You do not trust me."

     Salem was quick to pause the television, sitting up straighter as she turned to look at Wanda with confused eyebrows. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, who said anything about trust?"

     "No, it's alright. It makes sense." Wanda assured. "I wouldn't trust me either. I hurt your team, the people that you cared for most, you have every right to not trust me. I'm going to go to my room. Goodnight, Salem."

     "Wanda!" Salem called her name, but Wanda ignored her, slipping out of the room and walking down the hall with her heart pounding heavily in her chest. She entered her room, sitting down on the bed as she closed her eyes, tears of regret filling her eyes after she thought of what she had done to the Avengers, and how they had welcomed her with opened arms. But apparently not everyone. Not Salem. Or so she thought. Wanda couldn't help but admit to herself that Salem had been quick to become important to her. Salem had risked her life in order to save her, and it made Wanda's heart warm at the thought of someone actually seeing the good in her enough to save her. But maybe she had received the wrong message.

Salem sat on her bed, her hands propping up her chin as she sat cross legged on her bed with her lips pursed and her eyes closed in frustration. It was true that when they had first met, that Salem's flirting had been simply playful, she hadn't expected herself to fall so deeply for someone. She never thought she would have the chance, and she never thought she was good enough for anyone. Salem was scared. She didn't know what to do. She ran her hands through her hair before groaning to herself. She sat up straighter before opening her eyes.

     "Damnit." She cursed before closing her eyes once more and quickly teleporting to Wanda's bedroom door. She knocked twice, glancing around nervously before the door was pulled open, revealing Wanda standing there. "It's not that I don't trust you," Salem started, "because believe me when I say I trust you. I risked my life for you and I would gladly do it all over again. I do not blame you for what you did, because you knew nothing else and you wanted to avenge the death of your parents, which makes total sense. But, Wanda, you have to understand that you're the only person that I've gotten this close to besides Clint and Natasha. So, this is still kind of new to me. I'm just-- Wanda, I'm scared. Because there's something between us--at least I'd like to think so--and I don't know what to do. I have trust issues, and I'm trying so hard to push them aside. . . I just need time to collect myself."

     "You don't have to explain yourself to me." Wanda shook her head. "I never wanted to pressure you into anything."

     "No, I know that." Salem assured.

     "We can both agree that there's something there, and both of us just need time to sort things out. So, I say we take that time, and once we're ready to talk, we will." Wanda suggested. Salem looked at Wanda before biting the inside of her cheek, nodding her head in response.

     "I believe that is best." Salem spoke before glancing at the woman one last time before turning on her heels and walking away, knowing she wouldn't be getting anymore sleep that night.