Frail heart

I can feel you

Chapter thirteen

New Avengers Facility, The compound

It had been a few weeks after the Sokovia tragedy, and everything had begun to settle down. Hulk had gone MIA and turned off the Quinjet's tracker so that he couldn't be found. Stark relief foundation had been working endlessly trying to find all the Sokovian civilians new homes and making sure they had access to proper healthcare after the incident.

The team had officially offered you a place as an Avenger, you were a viable asset, and they'd need you fighting their corner; but you were still considering their offer. You didn't know if you were ready to make a decision like that right now. You'd been alone for so long; working with a team was so unfamiliar to you.

Everybody had taken a well needed break, Thor returning to Asgard to be with his family and the others taking some time away from fighting. Sam had heard of what happened in Sokovia and decided he wanted to be there for Steve from now on, therefore making him an official Avenger.

You, however, felt as if you couldn't catch a break. You hadn't completely finished your recovery period when Steve had asked for your help and you hadn't gone back to Wakanda since; so the nightmares were still in full force, jolting you from your bed every night in a cold sweat. You spent most of your time in the training room to get your mind off things and it tired you enough to grant you a few hours of sleep before the night terrors woke you.

Since you'd returned, the air between you and Wanda had been... very still. She had her own room at the other end of the floor you were on meant for the new recruits, but she never left it. She'd sometimes get up to get something to eat but that was it, even then, she did it at times when nobody could see the looming emptiness that had settled in her bones.

You couldn't blame her; she wasn't supposed to be here alone. She was supposed to have her brother in the room right across from her. You could tell that the empty room haunted her, she'd walk past it and remember that he wasn't here anymore. That he never would be.

You hadn't tried to talk to her. You knew better than anyone that sometimes you'd feel so lost you just... couldn't find the words. You still felt the same things she did, the ache in your chest whenever you were near her; the grief she couldn't shake. You hated that she was feeling so much all alone.

//

"I walked by here this morning, and you were in the exact same spot. I'm starting to think I should be a little concerned."

You held the punching bag by its sides until it stopped swinging, turning to Steve as he leant against the training room's doorway, "Not much else for me to do."

Steve nodded, watching as you wiped the sweat from your forehead and walked over to the benches to grab your water bottle, "How's Wanda?"

You frowned at this, shrugging at him. "How would I know?"

"She hasn't talked to you?"

You started unwrapping your fists as Steve stared at you, "Did you expect her to?"

Steve uncrossed his arms, walking towards you "I guess not. How have you been?"

You sighed, clenching your jaw as to not lash out at him, his constant questions agitated you but they were of good nature. He was one of the only people who actually cared, you reminded yourself, "I've been... okay, I guess."

Steve was clearly expecting more out of you, but you didn't know what to tell him. You couldn't describe how you had been because you didn't know. You didn't know if this was you doing good or not.

He relented after a moment, patting your shoulder, "Well, dinner should be ready soon. Will I be seeing you tonight?"

You lowered your head, scratching the back of your neck, "I don't know..."