conquer • wanda maximoff

「 THREE 」

CHAPTER TWO ; WHEREVER YOU ARE

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AYANA HAD NEVER been to a party. That was the thought which suddenly dawned on her on Saturday, the day of Stark's celebration. It wasn't like she held anything against them; there had simply never been a reason for her to go to one.

"Hey, Ayana," Natasha greeted her as they passed in the hallway.

"Hi," Ayana replied. She continued walking for a moment then stopped in her tracks. "Oi - Natasha!"

The Widow turned around, looking curious. "Yeah?"

"Do you, uh...do you have anything I could borrow for Stark's party?" Ayana asked sheepishly, hand rubbing up and down her arm.

A small, amused smile grew on Natasha's face. "Are you asking me for fashion advice?"

"I mean, I guess."

Natasha's smile grew wider and Ayana furrowed her brow in confusion.

"Come with me, we'll find you something."

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THERE WERE VERY few things left that could make Ayana nervous but, as she discovered, crowds were definitely one of them.

The sounds of music, polite chatter and laughter filled the room as Ayana entered the party, beginning her descent down the modern white staircase. Already she was beginning to feel warm in her dress, her tongue darting out to wet her lips anxiously as she entered the crowd.

Across the room she spotted Thor and Steve talking to a small group of old war veterans, both men dressed sharply as they smiled and chatted easily, clutching drinks in their hands. Natasha was busy behind the bar, seemingly deep in conversation with Bruce, and Tony stood at the centre of attention, happily surrounded by a group of people.

"Hey, there she is! I was starting to think you weren't gonna show."

Ayana turned her head quickly to see Clint moving towards her, joined by a dark-haired woman who she vaguely recognized, but couldn't remember the name of.

"Hi," Ayana smiled sheepishly.

"Good to see you again, Ayana," the woman said politely.

"You too, uh..." she trailed off awkwardly, cursing herself as she wracked her brain to remember her name.

"Maria. Maria Hill. We met on the helicarrier, before New York?"

"Oh, right, yeah. I remember," Ayana nodded. She chewed her lip thoughtfully.

"What've you been up to since then? You completely dropped off S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar. That's not an easy thing to do," Maria said, raising an eyebrow.

"Can't be that hard if a nineteen year old girl managed to do it," said Ayana with a tight-lipped smile, not liking how the agent was prying into her business.

"Guess not," Maria replied, narrowing her eyes at Ayana. "But not all nineteen year old girls have your computer knowledge or superpowers, do they?"