finding wanda: a tale of discovery and trust

"discovery and trust"

As I pushed aside the brambles and leaves, concealing the hotel from view, I spotted Wanda sitting outside on a bench with her hands covering her face and her elbows resting on her knees.

A sense of concern washed over me, wondering if she had been crying or simply lost in thought. Wrestling with hesitating, I decided to slowly walk over.

"Wanda?" I started softly, my voice not much louder then a wisper. She lifted her head from her hands, revealing her reddened eyes. Her voice cracked as she spoke, "Yn?"

I nodded my head. Not knowing what to do, as i wresteld with my inner turmoil. On one hand I wasn't sure how I felt about the news but on the other side, I knew Wanda hasn't had the most easy life.

Wanda looked at me with a hint of surprise in her watery eyes as she spoke, "I wasn't sure if you'd come back." She wiped her tears away, revealing the redness surrounding her eyes, a clear sign of her recent crying.

As Wanda's words echoed in my mind, I knew she was aware of the news that had been made public that morning. While a part of me recognized her statement, I also knew that I would not have returned if I were anyone else. However, as Wanda had already acknowledged before, I was not like everyone else.

Wanda looked up at me and attempted to smile, but her efforts failed. "Would you like to come inside?" She asked.

Still hesitating, Wanda already opened the door. Stepped aside while holding the door open. "Come inside sweetheart," she said. The only one ever calling me sweetheart, was my mom. Who never came back for me.

As she waited for my reaction. I saw how her eyes were filled with loning. I could tell she was hoping for me to say yes. So I stepped inside.

As Wanda told me to make myself comfortable, I settled onto the grey couch. She brought me a soda and smiled nervously.

"If you'd like anything else, just let me know," she offered, still seeming a bit unsure of how I felt about her. Despite her tough demeanor, I could see through her.

I managed a firm yet not unkind response, "It's fine." I was ready to listen to her explanation, but I felt weird. my heart was still bouncing in my chest this whole time. Wanda noticed and looked at me.

"You don't have to be afraid of me," Wanda looked in my eyes as she said it. "I'm not going to hurt you," she added.

I met Wanda's gaze. I was still really confused and concernd. Hearing the words from the news reporter in my head, I was not sure how to feel. Despite my conflicting feelings, I knew that I didn't wanted Wanda to think I was afraid of her.

"Wanda," I spoke and paused. "I'm not afraid of you. I'm just incredibly confused about everything,".

Wanda's eyes filled with hope as she asked, "You're not?" Her relief was visible and made me wonder why she felt that way. After all, I was just a teenager who didn't know much about the world.

I was determined to find out everything. So I responded firmly, "No, I'm not. So please, tell me what happened." I said as I wanted answers. Or, so I thought.

As soon as Wanda was done explaining my heart seem to have stopped again. I needed a few seconds to process everything. Wanda looked at me, seeing it was a lot for me to take in.

Wanda inhaled deeply, breaking the heavy silence. Her voice trembled as she spoke, her emotions evident in her words.

"I know it's all overwhelming, but I want you to understand that I will never make those mistakes again. I promise." She swallowed nervously before continuing. "What happened to Westview was wrong, and I am fully aware of that. My powers are much more under control now."

After even more silence, Wanda's voice reached my ears once more. "Please say something, sweetheart," her desperation for contact with me could clearly be heard. However, I was struggling with the overwhelming emotions and felt sick to my stomach again.

As I locked eyes with her, gazing into her sad emerald eyes filled with the desperate plea for reassurance, I slowly found my voice.
"It's a lot to take in," I responded while fidgeting my nails. An automaticly reaction to my anxiety. Something I unfortunately had to deal with a lot.

She noticed my tense body language. "Its okay if you need some time, yn, I completely understand," Wanda said as the smell of her tea reached my nose. It somehow made me feel warm by just smelling it. Wanda appearedly notice and placed her mug infront of me. "Drink it honey, it will help,"

I hesitated at first, but as my eyes met the warm liquid, I finally accepted her offer as I knew it would help. And it did. The liquid felt soothing as it made its way down my throat, calming my racing thoughts and easing my tension.

As I finally managed to calm down, I was able to talk properly again.

"It's not necessarily," I mumbled as I hinted at her comment about taking time. "I Just need time to fully process it but, that doesn't mean I need space," I said, now looking at her and seeing the once vulnerable and sad eyes, turned into relieve and appreciation.

Before she however could respond, there was a knock on the door.

Wanda's expression turned serious as she glanced behind the curtain. "It's Steve," she clarified with a hint of worry in her voice. "Please, honey, I need you to hide," she pleaded gently, her tone filled with concern.

I nodded quietly, fully aware that beign with her didnt came without a risk. If the other avengers found out, Wanda would face consequences.

I quickly hid behind the end of the couch, remaining unnoticed as Wanda opened the door.

We heard about the news, Wanda," Steve said, his voice filled with tension. He removed his sunglasses and entered the room uninvited. Wanda hastily protested, "No no no, Steve, wait!" Her voice rose with urgency, but it was already too late. Steve's eyes met mine.

"Oh, what do we have here?" he said with a sarcastic tone, his eyes settling on me. "I wasn't aware you had a child. Congratulations, Wanda," Steve voice with upsetting and disapproval.

I stood frozen in the corner, silently watching the exchange between Wanda and Steve. I walked over to wanda. As Wanda was about to explain, he cut her off abruptly before she could even start.

"I don't care about any complicated explanations, Wanda. This isn't allowed, and you know it," he snapped.

Wanda, who noticed my flinching, looked concernd. As if she sensed there was something more to it.
So when steve tried to make his way over to me, she quickly stepped in.

Facing me again, Wanda rested her hands on my shoulders. "Sweetheart, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave,". Her voice was soft but certain.

My heart sank as I realized that Wanda had to sort things out with Steve, and I had to leave her alone. Though I dreaded the thought of returning to school, I knew it was the best choice for Wanda's sake.

With a firm yet caring tone, Wanda instructed, "Go, honey." I  nodded and made my way out of the hotel. As I hurried back to school, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of emotions.

Hoping wanda would be okay, I walked back to school