Escaping Maximoff

Everywhere

Dodgeball sucks.

While I held an ice pack to my face, I wondered why on earth someone would invent such a violent, savage sport. I concluded that whoever they were, they deserved to rot wherever evil people went when they died.

Victoria dabbed a wet tissue at my bleeding lip as I sat by the sink, my legs either side of her body whilst she gently brushed my skin.

"Y/n, I have no idea what I'm doing. I think it's best you go home, just in case you have a concussion or something," she said, stopping her actions and resting her free hand on my leg. I sighed and leaned forward to rest against her, wincing as she took the ice pack off my face. My head throbbed, and there had definitely a moment where I thought I was dying, but other than that, I was amazing! "That is definitely going to leave a bruise."

"Great," I huffed, crossing my arms in defeat. I guessed that's what I deserved for running into someone's elbow, my lack of spatial awareness finally making an appearance.

"Come on, let's get you home," she urged, gently taking my arm and leading me to the school reception where I was dismissed. I managed to convince Victoria that my aunt was waiting for me outside, so I was free to leave by myself. I suspected the girl wouldn't be too happy if she discovered I was going to a wanted fugitive's cottage instead of my house. Speaking of which, I assumed she wouldn't be pleased with me either. The Witch was always complaining about how accident-prone I was, as if I had any say in the matter!

When I reached her house I took a deep breath, mentally preparing for the verbal chastising I was about to receive.

"Y/n, what the hell happened to your face?" Wanda gasped, taking my head in her hands and lightly brushing over the broken skin. There it was – the concern in her eyes I'd hoped to avoid.

I winced, making her eyebrows furrow. "Dodgeball," I replied, as though that were answer enough. She sighed, then took me to the kitchen, shaking her head at my recklessness.

"You know, you really could've gotten hurt," she said, patting the kitchen counter to get me to jump up while she took out a first aid kit.

I shrugged. "It was just a stupid game, I'm fine anyway."

Her green eyes met mine and I faltered, worried by her knitted brows and the intensity of her gaze.

"I promise I'm okay, Wanda," I assured her, shifting to the edge of the counter so she could start patching me up. "It barely even hurts," I claimed, my lie becoming apparent as I hissed at her touch. She gave me a skeptical look and I laughed nervously.

The redhead smoothed a Band-Aid over the cleaned cut on my cheekbone, then kissed my hairline, letting out a shaky breath.

"I'll be more careful next time," I offered, hoping to cheer the woman up.

"You better be; I can't stand to see you hurt," Wanda replied while nudging my shoulder, a hint of seriousness hidden behind a joke. I smiled softly when she enveloped me in a warm hug, loving how safe she always made me feel. I gently buried my head in her neck, careful to not press against my bruises as I allowed myself to relax in her embrace.

"I really... care about you, Wanda," I admitted, whispering the words into the soft skin of her collarbone. I felt her body tense and my heart stopped beating, panic stifling my breaths as I waited for her to respond. 

"I care about you too, y/n."

My smile returned, and I beamed into her chest, hiding my giddiness at our confession.

"You remind me of my brother, Pietro," she spoke gently, her lips tugging upwards at the memory of her twin.

"Yeah?" My eyes sparkled up at her.

"Yeah." She met my gaze and ruffled my hair slightly. "You're both absolute goofs, but you're also kind and patient, and you make it almost impossible for anyone around you to be sad," Wanda explained, making me look at her in wonder. I never knew I could make someone feel that way. It had always felt like Sam and my cousins were an exception to the rules, like they were the only ones who thought highly of me. But now that Wanda, a person who had known the most selfless heroes on the planet, told me that I was worth being around, I finally could believe it.

"Thank you." I blushed and looked down at my legs, which were swinging gently like the child I was. She tilted my chin up with an index finger so my eyes met hers again.

"You mean a lot to me, y/n. I can't lose you," she stated seriously, the intensity of her gaze making sitting still excruciating. Whenever my parents told me they loved me, it felt like a lie, especially when they left. I couldn't bear to look back on happy memories without the doubt sinking in. My mother and father had chosen the universe over me, but Wanda would never do that. I knew that if the world ended tomorrow, she would do whatever it took to keep me safe.

"You're never gonna lose me, Witchy," I said, causing a smile to break her earnest expression. "I'm not going anywhere."