Daughter of a Witch

Part Two: A New Home

Y/n stirred awake to the sound of soft voices. For a moment, she was disoriented, her mind still foggy from sleep. The constant hum of machines was gone, replaced by the faint chirping of birds outside. Slowly, she opened her eyes, squinting against the bright sunlight streaming in through large windows. This wasn't the cold, sterile cell she had been trapped in for so long. This was... different.

She sat up quickly, her heart racing as she scanned the unfamiliar room. The walls were painted a warm, soft grey, and the bed she had been sleeping on was far more comfortable than the hard cot she had grown used to. Bookshelves, a desk, and even a tiny armchair were by the window.

The door creaked open, and Wanda stepped inside, her expression softening when she saw Y/n awake. "Hey," she said gently, holding a tray of food. "You're awake. I brought you something to eat."

Y/n tensed, her body still not used to the idea of safety. She pulled her knees to her chest, eyes wide as Wanda approached.

"Where am I?" Y/n asked, her voice shaky.

Wanda set the tray on the small table near the bed and stepped back, giving Y/n space. "You're in the Avengers Compound," she said softly. "You're safe here. No one can hurt you anymore."

Y/n didn't respond immediately. Her mind was racing with questions-what was this place? Who were these people? Could she trust them? Her memories of Hydra were still fresh, every promise of kindness always followed by more pain. The thought of trusting anyone again terrified her.

Wanda seemed to sense her hesitation and sat in the armchair near the window, keeping her distance. "I know this is overwhelming," she said softly, "but we're here to help you. Hydra is gone. You don't have to live in fear anymore."

Y/n's gaze flickered to the tray of food-a simple plate of eggs, toast, and fruit. She was starving, but she couldn't shake the feeling of wariness.

"I... I don't know how to be here," Y/n whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know how to be anywhere anymore."

Wanda's heart clenched at the raw vulnerability in Y/n's voice. She remembered that feeling all too well-lost and disconnected from the world. She leaned forward slightly, her voice gentle but firm. "You don't have to figure it out all at once. You take it one day at a time. We'll help you."

Y/n blinked back tears. The overwhelming weight of everything she had been through pressed down on her chest, and for the first time, it felt like she wasn't bearing it alone. Tentatively, she reached for the plate of food, her hands trembling as she picked up a piece of toast.

Wanda smiled softly, watching as Y/n began to eat in silence. The room was quiet except for the occasional clink of silverware against the plate. Wanda didn't push Y/n to talk, sensing that the girl needed space to process everything.

After a few minutes, the door opened again, and Agatha entered, her presence as commanding as ever. "So, she's awake," Agatha said, her voice calm but not unkind.

Y/n's eyes darted to Agatha, unsure how to feel about the older witch. There was something about her that felt intimidating yet oddly comforting. Agatha seemed like the kind of person who didn't waste time sugarcoating things, and Y/n respected that.

Agatha gave Y/n a slight nod. "How are you feeling, kid?"

Y/n swallowed the piece of toast she had been chewing and shrugged, unsure how to answer. "I... don't know," she admitted. "I don't know how I'm supposed to feel."

Agatha's sharp eyes softened, and she walked over to the window, glancing outside before turning back to Y/n. "That's fair," she said. "No one expects you to have all the answers right now. But we're here to help you find them."

Wanda stood up and walked over to Agatha, showing her appreciation. "Y/n," she said gently, "we're not just here to get you through this. We're here to teach you, too. About your powers, about yourself. You don't have to go through this alone."

Y/n's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "My powers..." she whispered, feeling the familiar tingle beneath her skin. "I can't control them. I don't even understand what they are."

Agatha smirked, folding her arms over her chest. "Well, you're in luck. Between the two of us," she gestured to herself and Wanda, "we've got a pretty solid grasp on magic. We'll teach you how to control it."

Y/n looked between them, her heart pounding. She had spent so long hiding her powers, fearing what they could do, fearing herself. The idea of learning how to control and understand them felt like a lifeline she didn't know she needed.

"Will... will you help me?" Y/n asked, her voice small as if she didn't quite believe it could be true.

Wanda smiled and nodded. "Yes. We'll help you. But you have to trust us."

Y/n hesitated momentarily, then nodded, a tiny flicker of hope igniting her chest. "Okay."

The days that followed were a whirlwind of adjustments. Y/n stayed at the Avengers Compound, slowly becoming more comfortable with the routine and the people. She didn't see many of the other Avengers, but she occasionally caught glimpses of them-Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers, and even Tony Stark walking around the compound.

But Wanda and Agatha spent the most time with her. They began her training slowly, focusing on helping Y/n understand the magic within her, the energy that hummed beneath her skin. At first, Y/n struggled, terrified of losing control and hurting someone, but Wanda was always patient, guiding her gently.

In the training room, Y/n stood before Wanda, her hands trembling as she tried to summon her power. "I don't know if I can do this," she muttered, staring at her hands. "What if I mess up?"

Wanda smiled softly, stepping closer. "It's okay to make mistakes. That's how you learn. You have to trust yourself, Y/n."

Y/n swallowed hard, nodding. She closed her eyes, focusing on the energy inside her, feeling it rise to the surface. Slowly, she extended her hand, and a tiny flicker of glowing pink energy appeared, swirling gently around her fingers.

Wanda's eyes lit up with pride. "That's it. You're doing it."

Y/n opened her eyes, staring in awe at the magic hovering above her hand. It didn't feel like something dangerous or uncontrollable for the first time. It felt like a part of her.

Agatha watched from the corner of the room with a satisfied smirk. "Not bad, kid," she remarked. "You've got potential."

Y/n couldn't help but smile, a flicker of pride rising in her chest. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was finally starting to understand herself.

Later that evening, Y/n sat in the common area of the compound, curled up in one of the armchairs. Wanda and Agatha were seated nearby, whispering. Y/n glanced at them, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years.

"I never thought I'd be here," Y/n said suddenly, her voice breaking the comfortable silence.

Wanda looked over at her, a soft smile on her face. "What do you mean?"

Y/n shrugged, staring down at her hands. "I thought... I thought I'd be stuck in that cell forever. I didn't think I'd ever have a chance at a normal life."

Agatha raised an eyebrow. "Well, I wouldn't exactly call life with the Avengers normal," she said dryly.

Y/n let out a small laugh, the sound surprising her. It felt good to laugh, even if it was just a little. "Yeah, I guess not."

Wanda's expression softened, and she reached over to place a comforting hand on Y/n's shoulder. "You're not alone anymore, Y/n. You have us."

Y/n looked at Wanda, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. She didn't know when it happened, but she had started to trust Wanda and Agatha somewhere along the way. They had become more than just her mentors-her family.

For the first time in a long time, Y/n felt she had found a place where she belonged.