New Beginnings - A Wanda Maximoff Story

Chapter 1

It had been two months since she lost everything and she still felt very hollow; the nightmares plaguing her day in and day out.

After Wanda and her brother Pietro had figured fighting with the Avengers was going to be better than killing millions of people with Ultron, they had inducted the two young adults informally. Wanda had volunteered to guard the new center of her city, that held pounds of vibranium and could kill millions of people if Tony Stark didn't finish the job just right. Did she trust him then? Absolutely not. But he was their only hope.

Across the city, the rest of the team was fighting off the remainder of the Ultron bots while helping civilians load onto old SHIELD lifeboats. Wanda had been proud of herself and her stamina at that point. She wasn't entirely familiar with everything she could do, as her and Pietro had been locked away and experimented on and played with most of their adult life so far. She had stopped an entire train with her magic, as well as several Ultron bots and then she had a shield over that vibranium filled death machine holding her city far too high in the air.

That's when she felt it, her heart ripping in two pieces and crumbling. She knew something was wrong. Somewhere across the town that she couldn't see; her twin brother Pietro gave his life to protect Agent Barton and a young boy. Shot multiple times by Ultron flying a small jet. She screamed, breaking the barrier over the vibranium motor and broke down. That's when the hollow feeling started. Wanda had found Ultron nearly crumbled on an abandoned bus and tortured what was left of him; ripping out his "heart" and asking if he liked how it felt; simply to avenge her brother. Then everything was dark. She felt like she was floating or flying and none of it felt good. When she woke, she had been taken to the new Avengers compound.

She had been assigned her very own living quarters and it was quite possibly the largest space she's lived in her entire life. Two months of only leaving her room at odd hours to grab something to eat so she didn't have to interact with anyone. Two months of hardly sleeping because the feeling of losing Pietro played over and over in her head.

———

It was currently four in the morning and Wanda was sat at the kitchen island eating an apple and some yogurt, her favorite breakfast so far. She sat rubbing her temples, the constant headache accompanied with the nightmares was making her head throb in pain. She didn't hear the footsteps behind her but she wasn't on guard either so seeing someone in front of her at the fridge was quite alarming. Wanda jumped, dropping her apple, and then pouted.

"Sorry, good morning," the girl in front of her stated sheepishly.

"Hmph," Wanda grunted back. She likes to be in peace and alone and yet there was someone else awake now. Time for her to go back to her room. She got up from the stool she was perched on and taking her yogurt, she began to walk to the elevators.

"Wait! Uh- I'm sorry, I didn't think anyone else would be awake.. I didn't mean to startle you," the girl said, clearly a bit older than Wanda but unfamiliar nonetheless. Wanda turned and took in her figure, knowing the apology was genuine but said nothing as the elevator dinged and she stepped inside.

Wanda was upset with her reaction but she's just not ready to meet new people or even deal with the people here currently. She sat on her bed and finished her yogurt, using her magic to gently place the empty container into the trash bin. She decided a nice hot shower might ease her shot nerves this morning. As she headed for the bathroom, a loud knock was at her door. She jumped again; groaning at the pain in her head. She paused, hoping whomever it was would go away, but the knock came again.

"Wanda, I know you're in there!" She rolled her eyes. Of course she's in her room; she doesn't really ever leave it. The knock came again.

"Wanda! New recruit training in an hour. It is MANDATORY."

Wanda groaned. So much for washing away her shot nerves this morning. That also meant she was going to have to interact with people and she certainly did not want to do that, but the fear of what would happen if she skipped another training was greater. She took a quick, cold shower to wake her up and got dressed in clothes she was unfamiliar with. It seems her wardrobe had been stocked without her noticing. Wanda pulled on some leggings and a branded tee with her trainers.

It was just about time to meet in the gym, so Wanda headed down to the main floor. The floors of the gym were lined wall to wall with mats for combat training and the newest recruits were standing in the middle as they all awaited orders from Natasha and Steve.

"Hey guys! Today will be all about hand to hand combat. No powers, no weapons, no suits, nothing. You'll need to know how to defend yourself in case there's ever a time when your powers are awry or you just need to deck someone," Steve said matter of factly.

"Classy," Natasha chided at the man's instruction. Steve elbowed her jokingly and rolled his eyes at the response. Wanda tuned out the rest, having no desire to be there in the first place. That's when she noticed the new girl from the kitchen this morning was walking towards her.

"Hi.. I'm Mila.. um.. Steve paired us up.." she stammered.

"Wanda." She responded coldly, mentally cursing Steve in her head. She could feel a warm aura off the girl and knew she was kind and genuine but Wanda squeezed her eyes shut quickly and shook it off.

"Okay! The goal is to get your opponent off their feet. Dodge hits and remain stealthy! Good luck! Begin!" Steve boomed from across the gym. He and Natasha walked the gym observing the pairs and assisting with form. Wanda attempted her first hit at the girl who blocked it almost like it was second nature. The girl hit back, knocking Wanda's shoulder causing her to flinch but she wasn't knocked down. The two sparred back and forth, Wanda eventually going in for a sweeping kick that she had learned from Natasha, swiftly knocking the girl on her ass. The team cheered as she fell, Wanda feeling a small bit of pride before helping the girl up.

"Nice work," she smiled meekly at Mila as she helped her stand. Mila smiled back sheepishly and brushed off her hands and pants upon standing. The warm aura coming from the girl was drawing Wanda in whether she liked it or not.

Mila stood around the same height as Wanda, petite frame and long, brown curly hair that was currently tied in a high pony compared to being draped down her back when they first met this morning. Her cheeks were rosy from combat and her face was adorned with golden brown eyes and a button nose, and lips that were pink and soft looking. Wanda shook her head quickly, snapping out of staring at the girl. She giggled at Wanda trying to snap out of her daydream.

"Alright team, let's break for lunch! Romanoff is cooking and you don't wanna miss that!" Steve bellowed.

"What!!" Natasha responded, not knowing before that moment that it was her day to make lunch. Steve threw his head back and gave a hearty, full laugh. The thought of Wanda having to sit around and eat with everyone made her feel kind of sick. Maybe she could grab a plate and head back to her room to eat in peace. They headed to the kitchen and Natasha had started putting together sandwiches and sides and the guys all grabbed beers and headed to the couches to eat and hang out.

"...Wanda?" A small voice from behind her called her name. Wanda turned and saw Mila, looking at her with big, round eyes. Her brown eyes featured flecks of gold scattered throughout, as if they were placed there individually.

"Yes?"

"Um.. I was wondering if maybe you'd want to sit outside with me for lunch? Away from all the guys..?" She asked, her thumbs picking at the cuticles of her short nails.

"I can't." Wanda said coldly, grabbing her plate from Natasha and walking back to the elevators.

"...okay" Mila squeaked out quietly.

"Hey hun, don't take it personally. Wanda has been through a lot. She doesn't really leave her room much," Natasha said, having observed the interaction.

"I've noticed," Mila responded quietly, head hung as she headed to the balcony to eat alone.

Upon reaching her room, she set down her plate of food and plopped on her bed.

'How can you be so STUPID! All she wanted was a familiar face to eat lunch with. It didn't have to be that serious!'

Wanda berated herself at the way she reacted to Mila's invitation. Her warm aura frightened Wanda. She hadn't felt it since she was a child, living happily with her brother Pietro.