Newfound Family

Black Beauty

Wanda didn't even notice when the plane landed. After sitting up in the front with Tony, she had wandered back to her seat beside Natasha and rode the rest of the way in silence.

Wanda liked Natasha. She had a certain calmness about her that made it easy to be around, despite the fact that she was almost always emotionless. Wanda sat silently, listening to Natasha and Clint chat to her about what they would do when they got to the compound. Straight to the hospital wing for all of them, then apparently Natasha was going to show Wanda to her new bedroom.

"I am staying with you?" Nat and Clint looked at each other, then at her.

"What did you think we would do, milaya? Drop you off on the side of the road and say goodbye forever?"

Wanda shrugged her shoulders. She didn't know what to think.

After the plane landed and everyone got off, Natasha stayed back with Wanda to talk to her for a moment. Wanda was glad. She felt overwhelmed with everyone asking how she was doing. She wanted to draw as little attention to herself as possible. It was safer that way.

Natasha crouched down to her level, and it made Wanda feel safer.

"What would you think about staying with me? We could stick together, you and me. Be a team. I could even teach you how to control your powers, so you didn't have to worry about hurting anyone. What do you think?"

Wanda nodded timidly. She was surprised that she wanted to stay with Natasha. The whole plane ride home she feared she would be dropped off and left in the dust. She had been the enemy, after all.

Nat smiled and waved her forward. "Come on. We have a doctor's appointment to get to."

Wanda followed along for a moment before stopping.

"Natasha?" Nat turned around to see the little girl's eyes glazed with tears. One by one, they fell. Nat crouched down again, and Wanda ran to her.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I went into your head. I saw your thoughts and you're just like me. I hurt you and I don't want to do it again." She was balling at this point. Natasha pulled her into a hug, but Wanda pulled away.

"You can't touch me! What if I hurt you again? I'm a bad person."

Nat rubbed her shoulders.

"Wanda, you could never hurt me. You've been hurt by some very bad people in the past, just like me." Natasha took a deep breath. She hated talking about her past. "But just like me, you have to learn that you're not a bad person, and it's not your fault. You deserve a family and a happy life, just like any other kid."

"But I'm not like other kids. I could kill someone!"

Nat sighed. She wasn't wrong. Wanda technically could kill someone if she wanted to. She was very powerful. But she knew she wouldn't.

"Sweetie, I know I don't know you very well, but I do know that you would never hurt anybody on purpose." Nat took her hands. Wanda flinched but she didn't pull away. She trusted Nat.

"I know I don't have the same powers as you, but I do know that those hands of yours can do a lot of good for this world."

"Like an Avenger?"

Nat laughed. There was so much innocence in her voice.

"Like an Avenger." Nat got up off the ground.

"You have to promise me one thing though, Wanda." She let go of one of her hands, keeping hold of the other one.

"What?"