Escaping Maximoff

No One Knows (with Laufey)

"That's your plan?" I scoffed, leaning back in the chair and tossing a collection of scribble-filled papers onto the table.

"You say it like my idea isn't the best thing you've ever heard."

I quirked an eyebrow at the equally sleep-deprived boy. After my declaration the night before, we had drunk about ten tons of caffeinated drinks to help us stay awake and tried to decide on a strategy. Unfortunately there are no guidebooks to breaking into one of the most secure facilities in the world; obviously that would have made the rescue mission far too easy. We were absolutely screwed, and with time running out, the chances of us saving Wanda were getting slimmer by the minute.

"I think we should take a break for lunch. Maybe we'll come up with something better later," I said while pushing my chair back and offering my friend a hand up. Hiding my worry was becoming easier for me. Although the gaping chasm in my chest still remained, I no longer showed its depth or how far the cracks reached.

"Better than hiring a helicopter and dropping stink bombs on the building?" He asked with a grin.

"Probably not," I joked, grabbing his hand and pulling him downstairs to the kitchen. "Now, where did Julie say she left the gummy worms?"

My aunt had left early that morning to go on a work trip. As much as she protested going because of the previous 'super villain threat,' as named by S.W.O.R.D (what a fucking joke), the twins and I pushed her to go, knowing how big of an opportunity it was. Luckily, she hadn't left Leo in our very incapable hands, which meant I wouldn't feel bad leaving.

Sam scoffed, leaning against the counter and brushing his messy locks from his eyes. "What a substantial lunch!"

I stopped riffling through the cupboards to give him an unimpressed look. "Would you rather I actually try to cook something?"

Sam tilted his head and tapped his fingers against his chin in mock contemplation before coming to an appropriate conclusion. "Gummy worms and cranberry juice it is."

I nodded; it was definitely for the best. If you searched up the leading cause of house fires, I'm sure a picture of me would come up. I also stand by the fact that both cranberry juice and water are superior to all other beverages.

"Are you doing okay?" Sam asked as I sat down next to him, two glasses and candy in hand. My nerves short-circuited. I wanted to say yes. I really wanted to be okay, but I knew I wouldn't be until Wanda held me in her arms again. Until I was enveloped by the aroma of vanilla and swimming in those emerald eyes. Wanda was a part of me. No matter where she was, a piece of her was always stuck in my mind – a shard of light piercing the darkness in my shitty life. "It's okay if you're not," he whispered, gently wiping a stray tear from my cheek.

Affection blossomed in my heart, flora tangling its green stems around my bones and organs, making it harder to breathe. My fingers reached out to take his, rooting us both to each other. I loved Sam. He had always been there for me, and through it all, I knew that would never change. His eyes, his smile, his laughter were all things I knew I could not live without. Wanda was my heart, but Sam was the air I breathed.

"I'm not okay. But I'm better with you," I finally answered, gazing into his light blue eyes with sincerity.

"I'm better with y–"

The moment was interrupted by a crashing sound, followed by the frantic clattering of feet down the stairs.

"Guys, what the actual fuck is this?" One of my cousins voice called out to us, his voice edged with worry and fear.

Sam and I froze with mouths full of gummy worms, turning with comically slow movements to face the twins who were holding up the A2 sheet covered in the aimless scribbles of our plan to save Wanda.

"Shit," Sam mumbled under his breath.

Shit, indeed.

"Paper?" I offered with a shrug and an awkward half-smile. Ryan went to say something but I cut him off, knowing it was better to put an end to things before they got out of hand. "Look, if you sit down and listen to everything I have to say without speaking a word, we'll let you have one of these."

Sam shook the packet of gummies for emphasis, the sweet aroma of high fructose corn syrup and Red 40 wafting through the air in a mouth-watering explosion of senses. They were sold by just one shake of the sugar filled bag.

And suddenly our rescue team consisted of more than just two.