Characters - Natasha, Yelena, Carol, and Wanda
Warnings: anxiety/panick attack
My hands shook as I peaked around the curtain to see a large crowd of people in front of a stage. There were people donning cosplays, reporters with cameras, and just reguakr people amongst the large group. On the stage sat chairs, one for each of the avengers.
This isn't what I signed up for when I joined the group of fighting heros. Fighting cynical villains, I could do that every day of the week, but this? Sitting in front of hundreds of people and having to answer questions, think through each if my words so carefully? This is my hell.
I took a shaky breath as I whipped around to look at the group behind me. They lounged on the chairs spread throughout the backstage, laughing and talking. They all looked so relaxed.
My eyes glanced up at the exit. No one's paying attention. I could easily make an escape. Claim an oncoming illness that showed up out of no where.
The tight ball in my chest was slowly unraveling with each step that I took towards the door. My salvation only steps away. With one push on the door I was outside, finally able to breath again. I took one big deep breath, and then jumped at the presence of a hand landing on my shoulder.
I looked over to see Nat, Yelena, and Wanda had followed me out the door.
"You okay there, sweetheart?" Nat asked with a soft smile.
"Yeah, um, I was just gonna head out, I just don't feel well, and well," I began to ramble but was stopped by Wanda grabbing my hand into her own.
"Hey, it's okay to be scared," she whispered. "This isn't my wheelhouse either."
"Tell me about it," Yelena scoffed. "I'd rather be getting punched in the nose by the bad guy then deal with these vultures."
The coil in my chest tightened once more as I realized they weren't about to let me skip this.
"I don't know if I can do this," I said. They looked at me with sympathetic smiles.
"Just think about it like this, they don't even wanna talk to us." Yelena shrugged. "You might get two questions. Maybe three. The big hitters are going to Cap and Tony."
"No, really, I think I'm gonna be sick." My hand landed on my abdomen where my insides twisted. "And just the thought of having to open my mouth on that stage makes me wanna cry."
Water filled my eyes just at the thought of it. Being asked a simple question and only being able to stutter and stammer my way through an answer. My cheeks would grow warm with blush and my tapping foot would give away my nerves before even attempting to speak.
"Sweets, Clint wasn't asked a single question the last time we did one of these." Wanda reassured me. "He's one of the original six and no one asked him a question. Like him, you don't have any powers. While you are an incredibly talented agent, you don't have a party trick."
"That's true," I sniffed, working to prevent any unshed tears from escaping.
"And if someone does ask you a question, I'll be sitting right next to you. Just look at me and I'll help bring you back down." Nat said, stroking my hand with her thumb.
I took a deep shaky breath and closed my eyes. After allowing myself three more deep breaths I nodded my head, allowing the girls to pull me back inside.
Once arriving inside we were caught with the sight of our team being oit into a single file line. A worker quickly walked over to us and pulled us towards the line, placing us into our walking order.
I took my spot behind Nat, trying to hide my shaky hands.
"Hey," Carol whispered from behind me, placing a gentle hand onto my arm, "want me to fly you away?"
She successfully broke the tension that echoed in my brain, causing a giggle to fall from lips.
"Thanks, C." I responded, "but I think I'm gonna give it a try."
"You got this." She winked.
I was grateful as Carol walked out alongside me, her arm locked through mine.
Wanda was right. Not a single question was thrown my way. Clint and I passed the time as we discreetly messaged each other, playing a game of I Spy.
While sitting in front of such a large group had my anxiety flaring terribly, it was a good first step in terms of press conferences. Maybe one day I'll be able to answer questions without a second thought, but until then, I'll always have my girls to bring me down from a panic attack.
