Chapter 1
The Avengers were hanging out in the common area, the usual chatter filling the room as Tony, Steve, Clint, and Sam casually talked about everything and nothing. Wanda sat off to the side, watching the group with a mix of curiosity and quiet contemplation. She wasn’t particularly close with anyone in the room yet, though she had been with the team for some time. There were just so many people, and it was hard to find where she fit in.
She had tried to bond with the other Avengers, but it always felt like something was missing. Especially with Natasha, who kept to herself more than anyone else. They were the only two women on the team, and Wanda had thought it might be nice to reach out to Natasha, especially after seeing her a few times, alone in her room, away from the group.
Wanda wasn’t sure why Natasha kept to herself. The others didn’t seem to have the same problem, but maybe it was because Natasha was different—always so stoic, so focused. And maybe that was exactly why Wanda felt drawn to her. There was something about Natasha’s quiet strength that intrigued her, but Natasha also seemed… lonely. Wanda could feel it, even when the team was around.
She had thought about approaching Natasha before, but it never seemed like the right time. But today, something inside her told her she needed to try. She needed to make an effort to connect with the only other female Avenger, to see if she could make Natasha feel like she belonged with the team.
Wanda looked across the room at Tony, who was typing away at his tablet, probably working on some new invention—or maybe just entertaining himself. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to approach him.
“Hey, Tony,” Wanda said softly, walking over to him. “I was wondering if you knew where Nat is? I haven’t seen her around lately.”
Tony glanced up from his tablet and raised an eyebrow. He was always quick to offer a comment or joke, but this time, there was a hint of seriousness in his eyes.
“Natasha?” Tony repeated, glancing over toward the hallway. “Ah, yeah. She’s been hiding in her room a lot lately. She comes out for missions, but otherwise, she keeps to herself. You know how she is.”
Wanda’s brow furrowed. “Hiding?”
“Yeah,” Tony said, his voice a little softer now. “I thought you knew. Natasha is, well, a little. She doesn’t like to show that side of herself. She hides in her room to avoid slipping in front of everyone. Every so often, she sneaks out at night to grab some food. We only know that because the plates keep disappearing, and then they reappear the next day.”
Wanda blinked, surprised. “A little? But why wouldn’t she want help with that?”
Tony shrugged. “She doesn’t like anyone seeing her that way. Natasha’s strong, but she’s also… private. I guess she’d rather keep it to herself.”
Wanda nodded slowly, her mind whirling with what Tony had said. “I think she’s just… alone. She doesn’t have to be alone.”
Tony gave her a knowing look. “Good luck. She’s pretty good at pushing people away.”
But Wanda wasn’t going to give up that easily. There was something about Natasha, something that called to her. Wanda had been alone in the past, too, and she knew how hard it could be to let someone in. But if Natasha wasn’t going to reach out, Wanda was going to try.
She stood up from Tony’s side and started walking toward the hallway. Natasha’s room was right next to hers, and the girls had practically the whole wing to themselves. Wanda paused outside the door, unsure for a moment. She hadn’t spoken to Natasha much outside of team-related matters. But they shared something—being the only women on the team. Maybe that would be enough to start a conversation.
Wanda raised her hand and knocked gently on the door. She waited, but there was no answer. She knocked again, a little louder this time. “Hey, Nat… I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Silence.
Wanda hesitated, standing there in front of the door. She wasn’t sure what to do next. She didn’t want to push too hard, but the silence made her uneasy. She thought about walking away, but something told her she had to try. With a deep breath, she turned the door handle and gently pushed the door open.
Before she could take a step into the room, a book came flying from across the room and slammed into the wall beside her head. Wanda’s eyes widened in shock as she jumped back, her heart racing.
“GET OUT!” Natasha’s voice rang out, sharp with anger and something else—fear, maybe?
Wanda froze, her hand still on the door handle. For a second, she just stood there, feeling a pang of sympathy mixed with a strange sense of guilt. She hadn’t meant to upset Natasha, but she wasn’t sure how to fix it.
The book had hit the wall with a thud, and the silence that followed felt heavy. Wanda stepped back quickly and shut the door quietly behind her. She pressed her back against it for a moment, her mind racing. She wanted to help Natasha, but she hadn’t expected that reaction. Why was Natasha so defensive? Why wouldn’t she let anyone in?
Wanda walked slowly back to her room, feeling a deep sense of confusion. She had thought Natasha might open up to her, but now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe Natasha really didn’t want to be bothered.
Nat wasn’t feeling so big, but she couldn’t let herself slip. She buried the overwhelming feeling under layers of anger and the weight of past trauma, clinging to the illusion of control. The pressure didn’t let up, and soon she couldn’t hold it anymore. She reached for her knife, and she drew a small line across her wrist. She watched her arm bleed for a few moments, the red dripping blood always helping her feel bigger, stronger.
Once the bleeding on her wrist slowed, she pressed a cloth to it, waiting for the sting to subside before covering it with a bandage. Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she heard a tap at her door. She ignored it, hoping whoever it was would go away. But the knock came again, louder this time, followed by Wanda’s voice. Nat clenched her jaw, refusing to answer. The doorknob began to turn, and in a blur of frustration, she threw her book at the door. It missed Wanda by inches.
“Get out!” Nat’s voice cracked with anger.
The door slammed, and Nat immediately regretted it. She didn’t want to push people away, but she couldn’t let them see her weak, not like this. She collapsed onto her bed, closing her eyes, wishing for peace.
For the next few days, Wanda kept her distance, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened. She knew Natasha was struggling, but she didn’t understand why she pushed everyone away. She couldn’t ignore it. It wasn’t just a bad day; there was something deeper there, and Wanda was determined to find out what.
Each night, she heard the sound of Natasha’s door opening and closing quietly, as if she was sneaking around. It was always between 1 and 2 a.m., sometimes earlier, sometimes later. But it always followed the same pattern: Natasha would sneak out, and Wanda could hear her moving around the hall.
But tonight, there was nothing. No soft creak of the door, no quiet footsteps in the hall. The silence gnawed at Wanda, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest. She waited, straining her ears, but the sound never came.
Something was wrong.
A knot of worry tightened in her stomach as she slipped out of bed, padding quietly toward Natasha’s door. She hesitated for only a moment before carefully pushing it open.
As soon as she stepped inside, she heard it—soft, muffled sobs breaking through the silence.
Her heart clenched as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Natasha was curled up in the corner, her knees drawn to her chest, her small frame trembling with quiet sobs. But as Wanda took a step closer, she noticed something else—the damp sheets on the bed.
“Nat?” Wanda whispered gently, kneeling beside her.
Natasha flinched, burying her face deeper into her arms. “Wana…” she whimpered, her voice small and shaky.
Wanda’s chest ached at the way Natasha’s speech slipped—like she had regressed, her distress pulling her into a younger state of mind.
“It’s okay, Nat,” Wanda soothed, reaching out carefully. “I’m here.”
“Bad…” Natasha sniffled, her fingers gripping her pajama sleeves tightly. “M-messy… bad…”
Wanda shook her head instantly. “No, sweetheart, you’re not bad. It was just an accident.” She ran a comforting hand over Natasha’s back. “You’re safe. I promise.”
Natasha blinked up at her, her tear-filled green eyes full of shame and uncertainty. “No mad?” she asked in a broken whisper.
“Never,” Wanda assured her, brushing a few damp strands of hair from Natasha’s flushed face. “Let’s get you cleaned up, okay?”
Natasha hesitated, but when Wanda gently reached for her hand, she didn’t pull away. Wanda helped her to her feet, guiding her softly to the bathroom. She ran a warm bath, making sure the water was just right before carefully easing Natasha in.
Wanda washed her hair gently, taking extra care as she worked, her touch light and reassuring. When she noticed the faint scars on Natasha’s arms, her heart sank, but she didn’t say anything—she just made a silent promise to keep her close.
When the bath was over, Wanda dried Natasha off and dressed her in soft pajamas before leading her back to bed with fresh sheets. Natasha curled up beside her, her small hands clinging to Wanda’s shirt.
“Let’s just sleep,” Wanda whispered, stroking Natasha’s hair. “You’re not alone.”
Natasha let out a small, sleepy hum, nestling closer. “Wana…” she mumbled, her voice barely above a breath.
Wanda smiled softly, holding her close. As Natasha finally drifted into a peaceful sleep, Wanda knew she had made the right choice. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but she wasn’t going anywhere.
