The Life I'm Running From

28\ My Secrets Are In My Control

Quick, energetic hand movements controlled the steady stream of water coming from the sink in the corner. It slowly amassed into a large ball as I collected it, using nothing but willpower to hold it in the air.

Steve turned off the tap, but I already had plenty of water. I raised my palms to the sky. The seventy pounds of water followed, and as I spread my hands out, the water formed a roof above us. Not a single droplet slipped out of my control.

"What are you doing?" Wanda asked, her Sokovian accent jarring my thoughts. Two drops of water fell onto the ground in front of me.

I tightened my metaphorical grip on the water. "Warming up. Where do you want it?"

Wanda rolled back her shoulders, preparing herself. "Anywhere is fine."

In a swift movement, I clenched my fist and the water returned to one rolling mass. Steve moved away from the sink to stand behind me. Even though we had been practicing for an hour—breaks included—I could tell he was still amazed by my control.

Wanda raised her hands, wielding a red eerie brand of magic. I moved the water in front of her. With a swipe of my hand, I flattened it into a smooth but thick shield. "Ready?" I asked.

She nodded. I gritted my teeth, preparing to hold my own against her magic. Last time I had failed. I was hoping with more water I would be able to hold her back.

Wanda pulled her arms back, and without warning, let her magic go on my water shield. The weight nearly made me lose control over the water. With my might, I pushed back. The water shield creased its corners to fold over her magic, turning it a diluted pink.

From the side of my gaze, I saw Wanda grit her teeth and try to push her magic out. Oh no you don't. I tightened my grip over the water, forcing it to squash the blood red tendrils of her witchcraft. Both of us refused to give up.

Steve was the one who called for a withdrawal. Wanda lowered her hands and I let go of the water. As soon as I broke the connection in my mind, all seventy tons of water crashed to the floor. And the three of us were in the splash zone.

I didn't get wet—that's a bonus, as a daughter of Poseidon—but Wanda's tank top and leggings got soaked.

Steve wiped the water out of his eyes. "Next time, can you let it down slowly? Into the sink?"

"Maybe." I grinned, flexing my fingers. "That was fun, huh Wanda? We're not too badly matched."

Wanda tightened her ponytail. "It was better than last time. At least you had a chance."

After I revealed to the Avengers that I could control my abilities, they insisted on having me train with Wanda to be sure. "Better safe than cocky" Natasha had said. So Wanda and I were here, practicing our somewhat-but-not-really-similar powers.

Since I had visited the training room with Peter to check out his supersuit, I had been dying to actually train in here. Of course I couldn't just walk in and start levitating water. But now that I had exposed myself, I was taking full advantage.

The training room was huge. One wall was entirely a rock climbing wall, stretching taller than thirty feet. The floor was springy; perfect for judo-flipping your opponent if you were going to spar on the mats. There were speakers pumping out punk rock music. Across the room, where I hadn't cared to check out, there was a whole set up of weight lifting equipment. Steve had borrowed a weight from there and was repping it while he supervised Wanda and I's practice in the open space.

Steve had been quick to assure me he wasn't babysitting—he was just ensuring we were practicing safely. Having someone not in the fight watching it also meant someone could give advice.