The Age of Miracles (Maximoff Twins)

Chapter 36 - Believe Her

When Laura and the kids came home, Clint packed up some lunches for him, Cooper and the twins while Wanda went to get dressed. "Ready?" Clint asked when she came out. She nodded and followed him as he walked behind the house. They walked through the trees until they came to a lake. The water was clear and still, making Wanda smile.

In Sokovia, the river water was always either green with algae or grey from the reflection of the sky. The sky was usually covered in dark clouds, rarely sunny. This lake was so much more beautiful. The sun's reflection made the water sparkle in some places.

Clint and Cooper walked over to a small wooden dock and started setting up their fishing rods. Pietro was standing behind them, watching with interest. Wanda thought for a few minutes about going and sitting by the water. Clint wouldn't mind, would he?

She decided he wouldn't, and sat on a rock by the water's edge. She slipped off her boots and dipped her feet into the cool water and smiled. She liked it here, so much more than the river in Sokovia. She heard Clint explaining something to Pietro while Cooper got started, but didn't pay much attention. She was looking out at the water and for once, not even thinking. That was until a few people came out of the trees on the other side. Clint and Cooper shared a frown. This was a small lake in the middle of nowhere. How could anyone else even know it was here let alone want to come here?

"What happened to 'no one comes here'?" Pietro asked when he noticed Wanda freeze.

"I'm gonna be totally honest with you, I have no idea why these people are here. Never seen 'em before, nor do I know how they even got here."

"They could've come from that new house that was built" Cooper pointed out.

"Maybe..." The new people seemed just as surprised to see them here, but they didn't anything. They just jumped in the water. "Okay," Clint sighed in annoyance and they put their rods away.

"You can't fish with them here?" Pietro asked.

"One, it would be dangerous, if they swam into one of our hooks. Two, they're just scaring the fish away anyway. No point."

"We can come back tonight, can't we?" Cooper asked hopefully.

"Probably, the fish are always more active at night anyway."

"We should go for a swim," Cooper announced, running back to the house. Wanda got up and walked up onto the dock.

"You can stay here," Clint told her, "I mean, apparently we're going for a swim." He chuckled.

"No, that's alright-"

"Wanda," Pietro said warningly, "These people don't know who you are. They don't care if you just sit there."

"I bet you could fit in one of Laura's bathing suits if you wanted to swim a bit." Clint proposed.

"No, that's okay-"

"Okay, we're all going for a swim," Clint announced, grabbing the equipment and starting back to the house. Pietro smirked as they started after him.

"Come on, you like swimming and these people can't be afraid of you if they don't know who you are."

"I don't know, you guys can go and I'll just sit"

"Mmmm, no" Wanda sighed. "I will throw you in if you don't come" He threatened. Wanda laughed.

"You're such a jerk"

"I can be, yes."

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The twins borrowed swimsuits and they all went back to the lake. Cooper didn't even stop running when they got there, just ran right in. Wanda laughed at his enthusiasm. Clint jumped off the dock next, splashing Cooper, making him laugh too. Pietro looked at Wanda expectantly. She went an sat on the end of the dock, before slipping into the cool water. Pietro ran in with almost as much enthusiasm as Cooper.