The Witch's Shadow (Wanda Maximoff x Girl)

Sixteen

Over the next week I tried to keep my mind as blank as I could, afraid that at any moment Wanda would hear something she shouldn't.

After our conversation, things had shifted between us. We still slept in the same bed, we still kissed, still acted the same with each other, but underneath it all was the horrible realization that any day would be our last.

And even though I'd told her it would be someday soon, not even I knew when the actual day would come.

Yelena still hadn't returned from Sokovia, which could either be a good thing or a bad thing. But if it was bad then she'd call, I remind myself. So maybe it was just a dead end or she's found another lead and that's why she hadn't made it back to the small apartment.

Whatever the case was, it was evident that something was bothering me but after I'd snapped at Natasha when she asked, nobody else had been brave enough to. Not even Wanda, although I suspect that it was more because she knew I'd have to lie to her if she did. And thanks to my bad mood, the tower was slowly filling with so much tension you could almost cut it with a knife.

And one day Tony and finally had enough when Bruce punched a hole in the wall because someone drank the last of the orange juice.

So Tony decided that it was time we all got sent on a mission, me included since I had my powers back.

The day of the mission was crazy.

We got up while it was still dark and everyone got suited up, even me. To my surprise Tony had made me a suit almost exactly like my old one but made with bulletproof fabric. Of course I cornered Bruce and made him tell me that Wanda was healed enough to go on this mission. After several reassurances I finally believed him.

When we were all ready we loaded up on the jet and headed out.

This was the first time in years that I had been on a mission with Nat and I had missed it. Her flying though, not so much. "I see your flying still sucks," I told her as she turned sharply.

"You're just jealous you can't fly," she retorted.

I laughed at that, "oh Natasha, I don't need a jet to be able to fly."

Wanda looked over at me with surprise, "you can fly?"

"Oh I can do a lot of things baby," I told her with a wink. The blush on her face was worth the looks from the others. It also reassured me that despite everything, Wanda did still truly care about me, about us.

"Coming up on the base," Tony told us. "Get ready to drop." Everyone got up and started to put on parachutes and I just watched. Nat came and held one out to me and I took it, but didn't put it on. The ramp door lowered and I looked over the edge, the Hydra base glowing faintly in the early morning darkness.

"So what's the rules?" I asked.

"No rules. Destroy the base and everyone inside," Nat said with a grin.

This was going to be fun.

We flew over the base and got the signal to drop. I let everyone else jump first and then I followed. I loved the rush that jumping gave me. The others had already deployed their chutes when I went rushing past. I heard someone yell my name but I just laughed. I headed towards the main Hydra building and just as I was about to hit, I used my magic to slow down and crash through the roof.

The sounds of confusion were like music to my ears. "Hi boys," I said with a grin. "I'm looking for a man called Dreykov, has anyone seen him?" The sound of gunfire was my answer and I shrugged, "guess not." I took out the Hydra agents with a blast of magic and headed out of the room. The hallway was deserted and I chose a way at random. The sounds of distant explosions told me that the others had made it.

A group of agents came around a corner and I tore them apart, all except one. That one I slammed into the wall and held there. "Where's Dreykov?" I asked him. When he didn't answer I pushed him harder into the wall and cracks formed in the plaster. "Where is Dreykov?" I asked again.

"Not here," came his strained reply. So he was working with Hydra. "Hail Hyd-" his words were cut off when I snapped his neck.

Running around a corner I was met with doors that I blasted open and inside was what looked like the command center. Dozens of agents started to shoot me but a wall of black smoke stopped the bullets and I sent them back to their owners.

This was almost too easy. And fun. I'd forgotten what it was like to let my powers loose.

I found a computer and hacked into it, searching for Dreykov or any mention of him, but there was nothing except an encrypted file. Pulling out a flash drive I downloaded everything to it and put it in my pocket before smashing the computer.

Turning around I stopped in surprise, Nat was standing there looking at me. "What are you doing?" She asked suspiciously.

"Just looking for more bases," I lied smoothly. Or so I thought.

"What did you put in your pocket?"

"Souvenir," I told her with a grin as I stepped towards her. Her hand moved to the gun at her side and I stopped. "Nat? What's wrong?"

"Don't lie to me Ray. I heard you with that guard. Why are you looking for Dreykov? I thought you killed him," she asks.

I stepped towards her and she brought the gun up, leveling it with me. "Nat I can explain. It's not what you think."

"Then explain. Now."

I took another step towards her and she shook her head at me to stop. "I'm sorry Natasha, this isn't how this was supposed to go." I flashed behind her and knocked her out, catching her as she fell. I gently lowered her to the ground and took her gun, putting it a few feet away from her.

The sound of someone saying my name made me look up from the unconscious Natasha. Wanda stood in the door, looking from me to Nat. "What's happening Ray?"

I breathed deeply and stood up, facing her. This was not going how I had intended. "She's fine Wanda, I promise."

She looks at me, a resigned look on her face. "You're leaving."

I nod, "I have to now. I hadn't planned on leaving today, not like this. But you know Nat, she'd never look the other way."

Wanda sighs, "I know." She chuckles dryly, "she's gonna be pissed when she wakes up. I'd almost hate to be you." She takes a step towards me, her hand lifting slightly as if to reach for me but she never does. "I suppose there's no talking you out of it?"

"No."

She nods and rubs her eyes, "take care of each other." She turns and runs from the room, her stifled sobs echoing back to me as I pick up Natasha and flash us away from the base, from the Avengers and from Wanda.