Red Winter: Timeline

Chapter Thirty-Six: Promises

The rest of the day they trained together, learned strengths and weaknesses. After their version of show and tell they all seemed to have a better understanding of one another. As they all lef the training room and made their way back to their room, Wanda found herself in the hallway with Rouge. "Hey." Rouge walked over to her, "I'm...sorry. I judged you without knowing you."

"I did too." Wanda nodded, "You went through a lot. I feel your pain."

"I just..." Rouge looked down, she had her gloves back on, "I didn't have an easy life. I couldn't...can't touch anyone. I couldn't imagine wanting to make your life harder...but I understand why you did it." Wanda could tell there was more, she starred at Rouge until it came, "You lost someone...that must've been hard."

"It was, but...we heal." Wanda nodded, "I have friends to help me, my team. I have..."

"The soldier." Rouge nodded, "I saw." She shrugged, water filling her eyes, "I have Bobby...but it isn't the same. I can't..." She sniffed, Wanda watched a tear fall from the girl's eyes, "Can't touch him...kiss him."

"That doesn't matter." Wanda shook her head, Rouge looked at her confused, "He loves you. The physical touch isn't as important to him, I can tell."

"Sorry...I just..." Rouge shook her head, "I don't really talk to many people like this. I just feel like you can...get it."

"I do." Wanda smiled, she reached out and touched Rouge's face lightly, Rouge felt weird about skin contact, she wasn't use to it. "I think maybe...we can figure something out."

"Like what?" Rouge watched Wanda pull her hand back.

"I don't fully understand all of my power, but perhaps there is a way I can help you." Wanda smiled, her mind was turning with ideas.

Rouge looked down at the floor for a moment, "How?"

"We're going to have to figure that out, " Wanda smiled, "together."

When Wanda returned back to her room she found Bucky lying down, he was staring up at the ceiling intensely. Even when she crawled onto the mattress and snuggled up beside him, he didn't seem to flinch. "What's on your mind?" She asked softly.

"I...I don't know." Bucky wrapped an arm around her and held her close, "Something just feels...uneasy."

"Being here?" Wanda asked, but he shook his head, "The people?"

"I can't seem to put a finger on it, I just...feel off." Bucky finally turned his head lightly and looked at her, her green eyes looked up at him, wide with curiosity, "I'll be fine."

"Rouge...I wants to help her." Wanda kept his eye contact, "Help her touch without hurting people. I just...don't know how."

Bucky could tell her mind was wandering, "Do what you did with me." Wanda's light expression turned confused, "Practice. Get into her mind, maybe...maybe you can hold her powers back." Bucky shrugged lightly, "It wouldn't be permanent, but it would be something."

Wanda smiled slowly, her lips curling, "That's a great idea."

"Only kind I have." Bucky smirked and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

Wanda smiled, closing her eyes gently as he kissed her head, "Debatable."

"Debatable?" Bucky pulled away and looked surprised, yet was still smiling. Quickly he pulled away from her and shifted so he was looking down at her, an arm on each side of her head. Wanda was not intimidated, in fact, the moment he was in the position she wrapped her legs around him and smirked. Wanda leaned up to kiss Bucky, but he leaned away as she approached, "Debatable?" He asked again.

"Slightly." She teased again, Bucky leaned down and kissed her passionately while Wanda waved a hand so the door would lock.

The next day after training Wanda met Rouge outside in the courtyard, she sat down beside her on a stone bench and looked around at the tall hedges. With some practice, Wanda hopped she could get into Rouge's mind in a way and push what her body was absorbing from Bobby. Rouge knew this could be dangerous and intrusive, but she didn't care. After explaining their plan to Bobby, Rouge was hopeful. Only, Bobby wasn't on board.

"We don't know them!" Bobby shook his head, he and Rouge were standing outside of the library. "You're going to let one of them mess around in your mind?"

"Bobby we have to learn to trust them. We're on the same team." Rouge crossed her arms, "Professor wouldn't have brought them here if he knew they were a threat to any of us."

The look on Bobby's face said it all, "You weren't thinking that when we first met them."

"Everyone can change their opinion." Rouge sighed, "I just..."

"We get on just fine, why do we need to change anything?" Bobby stepped forward to close the space between them, but Rouge stepped back.

"Because I want to touch you!" She got upset, tears forming in her eyes, "I want affection! Physically, not just a smile!"

"I know." Bobby shook his head, "If...if you want to do this...then I'll try. But if something feels wrong..."

"I'll stop, I promise." Rouge nodded, "I promise."