Back To Me // WandaNat AU

The Last Minutes

"Wanda, are you sure you haven't seen my textbook?" Natasha inquired, frantically tearing through her apartment.

"Which subject?" Wanda asked casually from the kitchen table, sipping a glass of orange juice.

"French!" Natasha responded, agitated. "I have a final on Tuesday."

"Sorry, I haven't seen it." Wanda turned to face her girlfriend, who was rifling through her closet. "What do you think about getting sushi tonight?"

"Wanda, I don't have time for sushi! And how have you not seen my book? You cleaned my room the other day when I didn't ask you to, you had to have seen it."

Wanda frowned. "I swear, I haven't."

"Fine."

"So, um, no sushi?"

Natasha froze, glaring. "Are you serious?"

"It's just, you promised you would go yesterday."

Softening, Natasha slumped. "I know, I'm sorry. I've just been so busy with finals and trying to put my resume together..."

"I know you're busy, It's okay," Wanda lied.

"We'll get sushi tomorrow, promise."

Natasha went back to furiously searching for her textbook, leaving Wanda alone in the kitchen again. Eventually, a few hours later, Wanda packed up and headed out, throwing a 'see you tomorrow' over her shoulder, though she knew that was a lie as well.

Now, minutes before Tony and Pepper's wedding ceremony, Wanda spiraled. Carol was agitated with her, Natasha was messing with her, and she couldn't locate her left shoe. She had to walk down the aisle in just a few minutes, and if she didn't act fast, would do so minus a stiletto.

On the verge of tears, Wanda tore through every bag, every tote, every purse in the dressing room, all to no avail. She flipped chairs, threw couch cushions. It was hopeless. She was going to ruin this wedding. Her vision tunneled and breath quickened, and now her tears fell freely.

Though upsetting, the tears weren't just over her lost shoe. Since breakfast, Carol had been angry with her, convinced Wanda had lost her favorite watch, or forgotten to pack it, or both. Everything was Wanda's fault, it seemed. When Natasha lost her French book, it was Wanda's fault, when Carol lost her watch or got a speeding ticket or spilled the orange juice again, it was because of Wanda. All of the blame, the guilt, weighed on her, and now it was amplified in the wake of her missing shoe. The wedding would be ruined, and like always, it was her fault.

"Wanda?" A small voice asked from the doorway.

Wanda's head snapped up, and she expected it to be Carol checking on her, but it was a certain redhead, concern written all over her face.

"Wanda, what's wrong?" Natasha crossed the room to Wanda's crying figure, though she kept a respectful distance.

Wanda thrust her bare foot in the air, wiping her eyes. "I can't find my fucking shoe."

Natasha bit back the urge to smile. "You've lost you shoe?"

"You were always so perceptive, Natasha." Wanda tried to joke before taking another look at her foot, lip wobbling.

Natasha took a chance, inching closer to wipe Wanda's tears. "Take a breath, Wanda."

Obliging, the brunette took a shuddering breath. Natasha instructed she take a second breath, then a third, inhaling in time with her. Wanda obeyed, and soon felt calm enough to stand and resume her search.

"Where's the last place you saw it?" Natasha asked, joining her efforts.

"I dont-" Wanda thought back, cursing. "Damn it, I think it's in my bag at the hotel."

"You think I have time to run back and get it?"

The brunette paused. "You'd do that for me?"

"Well, yeah."

"Maybe you have changed, Nat."

Natasha rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, heart exploding at the nickname. "I'm trying, at least. I know little things like this used to upset me. I see that's foolish now."

"Wish Carol could realize that."

"Anyway, what are we gonna do about your exposed foot? You were supposed to walk out like, four minutes ago."

"I know, I know! It's hopeless, I may as well not walk out at this point."

"It's alright, Wanda," Natasha soothed, leaning down to unbuckle her own heels.

"What are you doing?"

"We're about the same size, right?"

"You can't be serious."

Natasha glanced up with a smirk. "Deadly serious." She handed Natasha the shoes, inching toward the door before she could protest. "Put those on, and break a leg!"

"Natasha-"

Natasha cut the other woman off, already halfway down the hall. "You'll do great! You look beautiful, by the way!"

With a rueful smile and a shake of her head, Wanda strapped the shoes on, laughing at the thought of Natasha returning to the crowd barefoot. All of that just for her, Wanda realized. For her.