The third Maximoff

Chapter 47

"I know this is tech from the '80s, but can we sharpen the visuals?" Hayward asked as they watched on the monitor from inside the base.

"Working on it. Maximoff located." Clint flew the device towards your house.

"Well done."

"We can't see the drone on the broadcast. Wanda's framing it out of the shot." Jimmy reported as they watched on the tv from Darcy's desk.

"Just like all the jump cuts. Wanda decides what makes it onto her show and what doesn't." Darcy continued the thought she was having earlier with a realization.

"And here we go. You're up." Hayward ordered.

"Wanda, this is agent Natasha Romanoff. Can you hear me? I just want to talk." She spoke out as Wanda continued to glare at the drone, eyes turning red on the black and white camera.

"No joy." Hayward commented.

"Uh... Wait, my controls aren't working. Reconnect patch." Clint worried, trying to steer the device.

"Disregard. Take the shot." Hayward ordered another agent sternly.

"What? No. The drone isn't armed." Clint looked over his shoulder before turning back to you, Wanda and the kids standing in front of the drone.

"Take the shot."

"What did you do?" Natasha stood suddenly and grew mad at him as the footage cut out.

"There's a breach, sir." An agent reported as an alarm blared out.

"I think you've made her mad" Clint glared at the directer of Sword.

The show stopped airing on the screens as everyone raced outside to see what was happening. A figure stepped out from the barrier and the team of snipers pointed their green lasers at Wanda Maximoff.

"Is this yours?" Wanda threw the drone to their feet as it crackled from her powers. She wore her regular suit and jacket upon exiting the town, clearly ready for a fight.

"The missile was just a precaution. You can hardly blame us, Wanda." Hayward claimed.

"Oh, I think I can. This will be your only warning. Stay out of my home. You don't bother me. I won't bother you." Wanda warned, not scared of the guns trained on her.

"I wish it could be that simple. You've taken an entire town hostage." Hayward told her, trying to make her out to be the bad guy.

"Well, I'm not the one with the guns, Director." Wanda looked around, flipping the situation back on him.

"But you are the one in control." Natasha reminded stepping forward with caution.

"You're still here." Wanda took note with a slight tilt of her head. She formed a ball of magic in her hand making Natasha give her a weary look that might have resembled fear.

"Wanda, I didn't know the drones were armed. But you know that, don't you? A town full of civilians. And you, a telepath, brought an avenger into your home. You trusted me to help deliver your babies. On some level, Wanda, you know I am still an ally. I wanna help you." Natasha tried to talk her down, reminding her of all they have been through together.

"How? What could you possibly have to offer me?" Wanda asked back with hurt cracking her voice.

"What do you want?"

"I have what I want and no one will ever take it from me again." Wanda flicked her wrist before walking away again as all guns were aimed at Hayward from her flick of power.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Stand down!" He panicked, hands raised in defence.

"Wanda!" Clint called after her, but she was not listening.

"Stand down!" Hayward ordered and they followed as Wanda made the wall stronger and walked back inside.

~~~

"Wanda, you're back" you commented as you and the boys stood outside of the house still.

"I just went to check on something" she claimed with a calm smile.

"The boys wanted to go look for Sparky, but I told them we should wait for you to get back" you explained to your sister.

"Then let's go find our dog" she led you all down the street.

"Sparky! Come on, boy!" Tommy called out.

"Sparky! Sparky!" Billy tried next.

"Here, boy! Sparky!"

"Hey, what's the trouble, little dudes?" The mail man asked as you passed him on his way to deliver a package.

"We can't find our dog." Billy told him with a frown.

"Ah, don't worry. He's sure to turn up. Your mom won't let him get far. Ma'am." The mailman reassured with a nod to Wanda, making you look questioningly to her.

"I don't know where he could've gone." Wanda thought to herself while speaking to you.

"Here, boy! Sparky! Sparky!" Tommy continued.

"Sparky!" Billy shouted as he saw some bushes shaking. Agnes stands up with an object wrapped up in her arms. Tommy gasps and Agnes looks up with an apologetic glance as she sees you all.

"I didn't wanna come until I'd wrapped him up." She claimed sorrowfully.

"What happened to him?" Wanda asked in a slightly demanding tone.

"Found him in my azalea bushes. Don't know how many leaves he ate. I didn't find him until it was too late. Oh... Tommy, Billy, I'm so sorry." Agnes looked to the boys who looked at each other and nodded.

"Wait. Don't. Don't." Wanda moved to look at them in their level, kneeling down.

"Don't what?" Tommy asked defensively.

"Don't age yourselves up. The urge to run from this feeling is powerful. I know." Wanda started to speak gently.

"It's too sad." Billy claimed.

"You can fix anything, Mom. Fix the dead." Tommy said out of the blue.

"What? No." Wanda shook her head.

"You can do that?" Agnes asked in shock. You glanced from Agnes to Wanda, trying to piece together everything odd that's been happening recently.

"I am trying to tell you that there are rules in life, okay? We can't rush aging just because it's convenient." She looks to them with gentle eyes. "And we can't reverse death. No matter how sad it makes us. Okay? Some things are forever." She continued, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"You said family is forever." Billy spoke out.

"He is family. Bring him back, Mom."

"Bring who back?" Vision appears from behind with Pietro as they returned from working. He looked to see Agnes holding Sparky and immediately understood. You took your brothers hand for comfort as Vision spoke to his sons.

"Oh, boys. Come here." Vision hugged them both. After a few moments of silence Vision spoke up again. "Wanda, why don't you take the boys home"

"Yes, come on" she reached out for their hands and walked them home with you following the group.

"I'll take Sparky" Vision held out his hands for the dog, Pietro promising to help him bury it.

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Question of the day: what was your reaction when Wanda left the hex to confront Hayward?