Avengers/MCU Oneshots

The Promise (Wanda Maximoff)

This one is specially made for owlsCbooks. Hope all of you enjoy.

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Freezing water hit her face, waking her up. She looked into the mirror, frowning. She didn't look like she usually did. She was thinner, paler, and there were dark bags under her eyes. She had to admit that she wasn't taking care of herself, but her other half had just died two weeks ago. You couldn't really blame her.

She shook her head, realizing that she was starting to zone out. She remembered the shower was on and she quickly undressed, slipping into it. The warm water hit her skin. She felt herself truly relax for the first time since Sokovia.

She debated whether or not to use the soaps and shampoos. After all, they weren't technically hers. She decided to. They were in her bathroom, and she needed to actually be clean. She combed out her hair, flinching at the tangles. She finally got them all out.

She pulled the razor down off the rack. As she finished her leg, a thought occurred to her. What if she just purposefully cut herself.

She was immediately pulled into a nearly forgotten memory.

-•-

She was eleven. She'd had the nightmare about her parents' deaths again. Distracted, she tripped over her shoelace, falling to the concrete ground of the alley.

Her left palm fell in the shattered remains of some sort of alcohol bottle. The glass and remains of the drink burned her palm. But... almost in a good way. She left her hand where it was, knowing she should pull it up and check on it.

"Wanda?" Her brother's voice asked, coming out of the small tent that they shared. He saw her figure on the ground and ran over. "Oh my god, are you ok?!"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." She flinched.

Pierto pulled her hand up, examining it. "C'mon, let's go into the tent. I'll be able to see this better in there." He looked at the cuts. He pulled out a first aid kit, removing the pair of tweezers. He gently pulled the glass out of his sister's bleeding palm. "Why didn't you move your hand sooner?" He asked, his eyes still fixated on the injury.

"Cuz it kind of felt good," She admitted.

Pietro's grip on her wrist tightened. "Don't do that again. Don't hurt yourself. If you feel like doing it, tell me. Or at least talk to me."

"What if you're at work or something?"

"Then find someone else, like the bakery lady. You don't need to say what you want to do, but at least engage in conversation. Distract yourself."

"Ok."

"Promise me you will."

"Promise."

"Good."

-•-

A change in the water temperature was what knocked Wanda back into the present day. She finished her leg, then instantly put the razor away. She didn't need to shave anymore. And she could not cut. She had promised Pietro. She wouldn't dare go back on her promise now.

She said she'd talk to someone. But she hadn't talked to anyone but a few stray words to Clint. Who could she talk to? Clint had gone home to see his family. Thor, maybe? He seemed like a dumba**, but he'd also tried to comfort her that day. Steve was too nice. She was pretty sure Natasha hated her. Vision was a machine. Wanda had said maybe one word to Cap's friend Sam. That Rhodes guy was Stark's best friend. And Stark was so obviously not an option. So that narrowed it down to... Thor. Well... she wouldn't have thought that.

'Or I could try talking to whoever I come across,' She thought. She decided that that seemed like a good plan.

She took a deep breath, leaving her room for the first time that week. She headed down the hallway. Who came down the hall that moment. Black Widow. Lucky Wanda.

"Hey, Maximoff. Nice to see you out of your room." She tilted her head. "You looked freaked out. Are you ok?"

Wanda shrugged. She continued walking, but Natasha grabbed her shoulder. "Let's talk."

Nat lead Wanda to the former's room. "So what's really bothering you?"

The actual concern in her voice caused the words to just pour out. "I miss Pietro! I was shaving a few minutes ago and wanted to cut myself. I didn't, cuz I remembered him telling me to never do that. And to talk to someone if I even thought about it, and I-"

"Hey, Hey. It's alright. It's ok. Calm down. You're really upset." Nat took the girl's face in her hands. "Your brother was right, you need to talk to someone."

Wanda took a few shaky breaths. "I... I don't WANT to hurt myself. But... I thought about it, if only for a second." She sniffled.

Nat nodded. "I think like that too, sometimes."

"You do? But-but you're a bada**!"

"So are you."

Wanda shrugged. "Not really."

"Yes, really. Wanda, don't blame yourself for what happened. Everyone makes mistakes. Trust me, I'm the queen of mistake making."

"Really?"

"Really. Now how about we go get some hot chocolate, calm your nerves."

Wanda nodded. "Ok."

Natasha lead her out of the room. Wanda sat at one of the barstools, watching Natasha make two cups of hot chocolate. She brought the hot drinks over, sliding one over to the young woman, who nodded in appreciation. They sat next to each other, drinking their cocoa in a peaceful silence.

Wanda realized that she'd been wrong. Natasha didn't hate her. In fact, she realized that she might have made a friend in the strange new place. And she was all for it.