Honeybee | Wanda Maximoff {AU}

Chapter Twenty-Six: Dorsata

Music is "Romantics" by Tove Lo feat. Daye Jack.

Picture is Claudia Doumit as Sarai.

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Apis Dorsata

Commonly referred to as the giant honeybee, Apis Dorsata is found in South and Southeast Asia, mainly in forested areas such as the Terai of Nepal. They are a social species known for their aggressive defense strategies and vicious behavior when disturbed. A. Dorsata is unusual in that multiple colonies can exist within a close distance of each other, sometimes having up to 200 hives in a single tree.

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Chapter Twenty-Six: Dorsata

My hand tightens around Wanda's as we walk through the doors of the Eco Innovations Fair. Inspiring music plays over the speakers, and thousands of people flood into the building. It's like every scientific event or TEDx event I've ever been to and more. The security is much more impressive, too. Dozens of guards can be easily spotted around the front of the building and inside. When we walk through the front door, we're escorted to a security check. Metal detectors and bag checks are a normal procedure for these kinds of events, and yet I can't feel like Max has gone into overdrive because of Stephen, Loki, and I.

After getting through security with ease, Wanda hands our tickets over to the people at the front desk in exchange for lanyards, an event schedule, and brochure of the speakers.

"These are your event passes," one of them tells us with a wide grin. "Enjoy the event!"

I try to smile, and Wanda thanks them. As we walk away, further into the busy lobby, she pulls out her cell phone and dials a familiar number. "We're in," she tells Bucky on the other line. "Where are you?" He replies, and Wanda turns to nod at me. "Good. We're on our way into the stadium. Text the group when you're set."

She ends the call, and I sign, "Are they in place?"

She shakes her head softly. "Not yet, but they will be soon."

I breathe in and out heavily. "God, I hope this works."

Wanda links her arm with mine as we step from the lobby into the giant stadium of people and speakers. "Me, too."

I stop us both at the entrance, turning to her to sign, "Promise me that, once this is all over, we'll go on a proper date, one that might end with us being proper girlfriends?"

Wanda blushes as a joyful grin spreads across her face. "I'd love that."

The room takes my breath away. The stage is in the center, but there are seats all the way around it, stacked several meters gradually upwards. It reminds me more of a sports stadium than a conference hall. If we weren't here to take down a bad guy, I might actually be enjoying myself. This event is spectacular. It's unique, one of a kind, and the perfect place for Max to hatch the final stage of his plan.

We find our seats uncomfortably close to the stage, but I'd expect just as much since we got the tickets from Max himself. However, this was before I tried to break in and destroy his favorite project. We're in the front row, just a few feet from the stage, and next to the speaker's booths on either side. I swear, I'm breathing the exact same air as Jane Goodall and Tetsunari Iida.

Wanda and I take our seats, and I spot Max on the balcony across the stadium. He seems to be ensuring the final preparations for the Fair, last minute checks and such. He hasn't seen us yet, which is good, but I know he inevitably will. Hopefully, he won't act against me while I'm with Wanda, whom I'm fairly certain he still believes to be innocent. Our entire plan hinges on his attention being solely on me.