Chapter Text
Despite the emptiness inside of herself, the world surrounding her had never felt so alive. A steady humming from the ground beneath her feet, the way the breeze seemed to be whispering in her ears as it blew around her. When she had first gotten her powers those years ago, it had been overwhelming to suddenly feel connected to the world around her, being able to sense the energy in all things. Yet her sensitivity to it had only grown in the past few days, since she left Westview, New Jersey. Her hands tightened around the white mug in her hand, tense as the memories of it flashed through her mind, the pain she caused, the harm she inflicted, losing Vision once more and saying goodbye to her boys.
A shuddering breath left Wanda as she tried to keep herself steady, her eyes focused on the open space of the front yard to the small cabin she had built, she’d considered starting a garden of flowers in the front, maybe apple trees of some kind. Already she had vegetables and fruit growing in the backyard, but maybe she could add something gentle, nice to look at in the front. The wind seemed to whisper as it ruffled her light auburn waves, some flyaways moving across her mostly blank expression as she kept her eyes forward. Absently, she moved the stands behind her ears and considered perhaps she should dye it back to its natural color, though the thought left her. The slight red tinge of her hair was part of the last remnants she had of Natasha, of the woman who guided her, who she looked up to. It had been Wanda’s idea to dye her a reddish color after Natasha, who had already dyed her hair a platinum blonde color to disguise herself.
Wanda gingerly sipped the warm tea, it felt nice against her raw throat, which was a result of her constantly waking up to herself screaming from the nightmares that haunted her. It was how she found herself out here on the steps at a little after two in the morning. Too frightened to go back to sleep. It had only been a week, maybe two, since she left Westview, which means it was a month, from her perspective, since Vision was lost, since learning Natasha was gone. After what happened, she knew she needed to get away from everything, everyone, to learn this power, to learn more of the Scarlet Witch she supposedly was.
“There’s a whole chapter in the Darkhold dedicated to you.”
Wanda glanced behind her to the floorboards in the hallway where the Darkhold was currently residing, untouched. Part of her considered she shouldn’t look into it, but the other part of her needed to know more about her abilities, about this prophecy, this myth come to life in her. She turned away from it, she wasn’t ready, she couldn’t, she couldn’t do it yet. She inhaled the cool evening air, trying to keep herself calm as she remained seated on the steps of her porch. Building the cabin hadn’t taken her long, she felt both more in control of powers and more uncertain with them, a feeling she was frustrated with having. When she had found this place, she had made sure no one would come within dozens of miles of this place, so that she could truly be isolated, truly alone, as she always was. In Westview, she hadn’t been alone, she’d had Vision, she had Billy and Tommy, her boys.
Wanda felt her eyes burn, “Stop it.”
Being isolated was a blessing for her, so she could use her power without fear of hurting something, but it was a curse because all that could keep her company were her thoughts, thoughts of the past, of the regrets she had, of the wrongs she committed. From helping Ultron, to Lagos, to Westview. No matter where she went, no matter how she tried, she always ended up hurting people. Wanda inhaled sharply at that, her eyes glanced upwards to the clear night sky, seeing the star twinkle and the moon glow softly. For a moment, she considered making a wish like a child, but decided against it. No wish she asked for would ever be granted, no matter how hard she wanted it or tried to get it.
She rose from her seat on the steps, prepared to head inside when she sensed something. In the time since Westview, she had grown more sensitive to energy around her, she could feel when something was coming, she could sense when something was about to happen. Her eyes took on a slight red glow as she looked around, trying to locate the source of the energy she could feel building in the nearby area. Was it Monica and Sword? Was it someone else coming to take her in? It was never a question of if she would be found, only a when, but she had hoped to have more time. Red tendrils of light went around her hands as she stepped forward, ready to fight if necessary. A loud sound she compared to a boom reached her ears followed by a bright white light above her in the shape of a… a star.
Hands glowing crimson, prepared to defend herself, she watched as the mysterious shining opening launched something through it, no someone. However they weren’t posed to land on the ground, she reacted quickly, through her magic forward allowing the red wisps to create a cushion for the person to land on. A soft groan left them as she set them on the ground, just as the bright star shaped thing above her vanished. Uncertain, Wanda made her forward with cautious steps, her hands at her sides as she continued to let her magic flow through them, ready to attack if this person turned out to be a threat.
“Who are you,” Wanda asked, her tone hard, but filled with curiosity she couldn’t hide. “What was that?”
The person on the ground moaned softly, it gave Wanda a pause because it sounded… off wasn’t the right word, but young. She closed the distance between herself and the person who fell through the portal she guessed, the sun had gone down and now only the light from her hands with the moon above let her see. Laying there in the grass was a girl, a child who looked close to Billy and Tommy’s age. Her throat tightened at the thought of them, she shook it away, she needed to focus. A frigid waves of fear that wasn’t her own washed over her senses, stealing her breath for a moment. The girl’s eyes were open, wide with fear and she tried to prop herself up so she could move away, but the action caused a pulse of pain to reach Wanda and the girl cried out. Frightened and injured.
“Hey, hey it’s okay,” Wanda whispered as she kneeled in front of her, hands without her magic raised. “I won’t hurt you.”
Big shimmering brown eyes stared up at her through messy dark hair, her bottom lip trembling along with her shoulders. Even though Wanda had questions about who this child was, where she came from and what the hell was that thing that brought her here, she could get those answers later. For now, she needed to check over this girl, make sure she was okay. Then she could focus on the answers she wanted to find. She needed to calm her down.
“I’m Wanda, I live back there.” She gestured to the cabin behind her, but didn’t take her eyes off the child. “I can help you. It looks like you’re hurt. Can you tell me what hurts?”
For a moment, the girl said nothing, too scared to do anything. But after she determined that this woman wasn’t going to hurt her, at least not yet, she decided to speak. “Me duele mucho el hombro.”
Wanda blinked, Spanish, okay. She didn’t take a Spanish class once in her life, but she was supposed to be a being capable of spontaneous creation, certainly she could figure out how to communicate with a frightened girl despite the language barrier. Though there was a solution for that. During some of her... training with Hydra, though she wouldn't call it that, she had been tasked with gathering information from someone's mind. Sometimes it was easy, other times it was difficult. When she had encountered someone who only knew Italian, something she had no prior knowledge of, she had managed to get inside his mind and understand the language. As if she created a small link between the two of them so that she knew his language.
Though she no longer remembered any Italian outside of a few words, she had been able to do the trick while on the run with the Rogues, it seemed to last longer and she could still think in other languages outside of English and Sokovian. She'd have to use the trick now if she intended to talk to this girl. Luckily, this wasn't the same as going into someones mind exactly, only accessing one very small part so language would not be a barrier and frankly, she didn't have another option as she didn't have a translator.
Her eyes took on a bright red glow, the girl’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight, but before she could react, the light was gone. Wanda replayed the girl's words earlier, me duele mucho el hombro which translated to, 'my shoulder hurts a lot'. Okay, now she could get somewhere. Either the girl had pulled something or broken something in shoulder, while Wanda may not have been a doctor herself, she did have first aid training.
“Your shoulder hurts,” Wanda said softly, to her surprise and relief, the girl nodded. “Okay, can I take a look at it?”
The girl hesitated, wary of the woman in front of her. But she had no other options, so she nodded once more. Gingerly, Wanda helped the girl sit up and rested her hand on the right shoulder. While being with the Avengers, she learned many things about first aid, how to tell when something was broken or sprained, best way to stitch a wound on yourself and all sorts of other great things she still remembered. An ache reached her chest at the thought of the Avengers, at what she once was, when she had thought she found her place, only for it to be destroyed a year later. Wanda refocused on the task, she gently applied pressure to the girl’s shoulder and realized what it was.
“Your shoulder is dislocated,” Wanda told her softly.
“Dislocated,” the girl whispered in fear. “What, what does that mean?”
Wanda explained calmly, her tone even, “It just means your shoulder is out of place and needs to be adjusted. I can put it back in place, but it’s going to hurt.”
The girl looked at her still afraid, but Wanda could see something akin to resolve in her gaze. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Wanda nodded solemnly as she got into position, remembering when Sam had to do this to her while they were on the run. “On three. Count with me okay?” When the girl nodded, Wanda started. “One.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
In a quick motion and the sound of crack, Wanda relocated the girl’s shoulder causing a sound crossed between a sob and scream to be taken from the child's throat. Wanda felt her chest ache at the sound and sight of the girl bending forward, the pain she was in palpable to Wanda and she wished she could ease it. In the dim light, Wanda could see tears beginning to fall to the ground from the girl and without thinking, she wrapped the girl in her arms. She tensed at first, but a moment later just relaxed, her head resting on Wanda’s chest as she tried to get her breathing back to normal.
“It’s okay, you’re okay,” Wanda whispered, letting one hand rub the girl’s back and the other move through her hair. “You did so well and you were very brave. The pain will stop soon, it's okay, the worst of it is over now. You're alright.”
The girl released a shuddering and pained breath, “That sucked.”
Wanda let out a weak chuckle. “I’m sure it did. But better, it's back in place. We need to put your arm in a sling, I have one in my cabin. Do you think you can stand for me?”
Wanda looked down at the girl, who’s expression was uncertain, but a determined look reached her eyes. It reminded Wanda of herself when she was younger. Always so hesitant, uncertain, afraid, but seldom did she let it get in her way when she wanted something or needed to do something. The girl visibly swallowed, tears in her eyes from pain or fear, most likely both.
“It’s okay, I’ll help you,” Wanda assured her, keeping her tone gentle.
“Okay,” she replied.
Wanda smiled warmly at her, “Okay, we’ll do this nice and easy. Let’s go.”
With slow movements Wanda rose with her arms around the girl, careful not to bother her recently dislocated shoulder. Once the pair were on their feet, they began to walk over towards the cabin that wasn’t too far away, but far enough. The first few steps were unsteady for the girl, but after a minute, she was able to walk well enough. Though Wanda still kept a hand on the young girl, just in case her footing was lost. Once inside, she guided the girl to her kitchen table. In the light of her home, she could now better see the girl in front of her, she had to be around 12 years old as her face still held that childish shape, but it was changing, maturing. On her left cheek was a pretty bad cut, luckily Wanda had some medicine and bandages for that.
“Do you like hot chocolate,” Wanda asked as she rummaged through her cabinet under the sink for her first aid kit.
“What’s hot chocolate,” the girl asked, her voice timid and intrigued.
Wanda could feel the hesitance coming off the girl, she wasn’t trying to pry into her mind or emotions, but since Westview, she had grown more sensitive to things around her, and people too she supposed. It was understandable for the girl to be hesitant, to be afraid. If she had been in the child’s shoes, Wanda wasn’t sure she would have been as cooperative.
“It’s like chocolate milk, but much warmer and very comforting,” Wanda explained to her as she set the first aid supplies out on the counter. She looked over her shoulder to see the girl was practically sinking in her seat, though her eyes were no longer full of pain or fear. “Would you like to try some? Or I could make you something else.”
She shook her head, “I’d like to, to try it. Please.”
Wanda smiled broadly, “Okay.”
Silently, Wanda set up the materials to make the hot chocolate and while she could have used her magic to make the drink and tend to the girl’s injuries, she didn’t want to startle her anymore than she already was. It was bad enough the girl was thrown through some strange looking portal, and she was already shocked by her glowing red eyes. For the time being, she wouldn’t use her magic in the girl’s sight, at least until she was more comfortable and they spoke about what happened. With the milk in the saucepan and chocolate added, it would take a few minutes for it to be ready, giving Wanda time to take care of the girl’s injuries. Wanda placed the medicine, bandages and sling on the table, eyeing the girl who was looking around her home with curiosity. It gave her a moment to study the stranger in her cabin, she noticed the girl was wearing an interesting purple dress that was covered in dirt, from her fall just now or maybe from somewhere else.
“I have some spare clothes, if you would like to change out of those and I could wash them for you,” Wanda suggested kindly. She wouldn't make her do anything she didn’t want to.
The girl’s eyes flickered back to her and then to the table. “I don’t want to cause, cause trouble.”
Wanda shook her head. “It’s no trouble at all. I promise. Wait here, I’ll get you a shirt and some pants that should be your size.”
Even if they weren’t small enough, Wanda would just make them smaller. While there were many things she still needed to learn about her abilities, one thing was for certain. Her powers had all kinds of uses that she had been unaware of until now. Quickly, she found a t-shirt and some sweatpants, which was most of her wardrobe now if she was being honest, and shrunk them down to a size she guessed would fit the child in the kitchen. A child whose name she still didn’t know and would ask again. With the clothes in hand, Wanda walked back into her kitchen to see the girl watching the stove with fascination as the smell of chocolate filled the room.
“Here you go,” Wanda said, handing the clothes to the girl, who gingerly took them with her uninjured arm. “If you go right back that way, you can change. I’ll get hot chocolate ready and we can talk while I take care of your injuries. Sound like a plan?”
The girl nodded and mumbled a soft thank you before going in the direction she had been told to go. When the girl was out of sight, Wanda went back to the hot chocolate and stirred for a few moments, considering her next plan of action. Once the girl’s injuries were taken care of, she needed to ask her some questions about what that thing was in the sky and where she came from. Though it was possible the girl may not even know herself. If she didn’t know, then that would make things a bit more complicated for Wanda. But she would cross that bridge when she got to it. She turned off the stove and poured two cups of hot chocolate, then reached into her fridge to grab the whipped cream. As Pietro always told her, hot chocolate was incomplete when it didn’t have whipped cream or a million pounds of sugar. A pained smile floated to her face as she got the whipped cream on the drinks.
When she turned around, she spotted the girl standing in the corner wearing the pants, holding her dress in her uninjured arm and wearing the blue t-shirt, which was still a bit big on her and it seemed she didn’t put her injured arm through the sleeve. The girl caught her gaze, she shifted a bit uncertainly in her spot before glancing back up at Wanda once more. She seemed to look smaller, younger than before.
“It hurts to move my arm,” the girl explained, looking at her feet.
Wanda nodded in understanding. “I understand. Here, I’ll help you.”
Wanda grabbed the sling before she crossed over to the girl, taking the dirty dress from her and setting down on the footrest nearby so she could grab it later. As carefully and gently as she could, she helped the girl move her arm through the sleeve. The girl winced in place, but didn't react otherwise and Wanda felt guilty for causing her pain, but this would help. Carefully, Wanda situated her arm into the sling and reached around the girl to tie it securely behind her neck.
“And all done,” Wanda said, her smile gentle. “How does that feel?”
“Better. Thanks,” the girl whispered.
Wanda kept her grin reassuring. “Good, now let’s take a look at that cut on your cheek and have some hot chocolate. Once that’s taken care of, do you think you could answer some of my questions?”
The girl shifted slightly, but after a moment, nodded her head to show she agreed, which was a relief to Wanda. If the girl had refused to give her information, Wanda considered going into her mind to take it herself, but she couldn’t do that. It was her powers that always hurt people, she shouldn’t use them that way. Without a word, the two made their way back to the kitchen table. As the girl took her seat, Wanda placed a mug of hot chocolate in front of her before grabbing her own and getting the supplies ready. The girl lifted the mug in her hands, she brought it close to her face and stuck her tongue to touch the whipped cream. Wanda watched amused as the girl’s eyes seemed to light up in excitement at the taste before she brought it closer to her mouth and took her first sip.
“That’s really good,” the girl said, a bright smile flashing across her face with whipped cream on her upper lip.
Wanda chuckled, “I’m glad you like it. Though, maybe get the whipped cream in your mouth.”
The girl tilted her head slightly, her expression confused. This led to Wanda chuckling once more before she grabbed a nearby napkin and leaned in closer to the girl. Gently, she held the girl’s chin and wiped the whipped cream away, causing her scrunch up her face, but other than she didn't fight her.
“There we go, now let’s look at that cut,” Wanda said, she titled the girl’s head slightly to better look at the scrape. With her free hand she grabbed the cut disinfectant wipe. “This will sting, but it will make sure your cut doesn’t get infected.”
She applied the gel to her wound, the girl winced at the feeling, but did not react outside of that. The older woman blew onto the cut, which aided in lessening the sting which the girl appreciated. Once that was done, Wanda grabbed the Neosporin and with a q-tip applied it delicately to the wound. The girl didn’t move as Wanda then placed the bandage over her cheek.
“And done,” Wanda said, leaning back. “Good as new.”
A bit gingerly, the girl lifted her hand to touch her cheek. “Thank you miss.”
Wanda gave a light wave. “Not a problem, and please call me Wanda. What can I call you?”
“My name’s America Chavez,” the girl answered, her brown eyes lighting up. “I’m eleven.”
That was good for her to know. “It’s nice to meet you America. Where did you come from? Do you know what that thing was that brought you here?”
The light seemed to vanish completely from the girl’s eyes, her expression turned sorrowful and defeated. “I don’t know. It, it always happens when I get scared.”
“That star, it comes when you're scared,” Wanda echoed, her mind trying to make sense of it.
America nodded sadly. “It was an accident. I hadn’t meant for it, for it to come or take me or them.”
Wanda inhaled as she felt the girl’s fear and guilt hit her. “Okay. Does it work like some kind of portal? Where did you come from?”
“I, I think so and not here,” America said, her gaze focused on the hot chocolate. “But I don’t-don’t remember where-where.”
America sniffed as tears fell down her cheeks. Even though she could remember what her home looked like, as she got older, the fuzzier those memories became to the point where she didn’t even remember the name of the place she came from. It was always just out of her reach. She wanted to go back there, she wanted to find her moms so they could all go home, but she couldn’t and she kept getting lost because the stupid star always came and sucked her or others in. It took her to weird places, really weird places, some worse than others and they haunted her nights sometimes. She sniffed again and wiped hastily at the tears slipping down her cheeks.
Wanda’s voice was gentle, but firm as she said, “America, look at me.” America lifted her red rimmed gaze. “It’s going to be okay, everything is going to be alright. I’ll help you, we’re going to figure this out. Okay, we’ll figure it out together.”
Surprise colored her face. “You’ll help me?”
“I will,” Wanda assured her, she was slightly surprised by how much she meant those words, but she would help this child in whatever way she could. “But for now, let’s finish this hot chocolate and then get some rest. And here, I have some child’s pain medication that will help your shoulder.”
Wanda turned away for a moment, ready to reach for the pain relief gummies, but halted when she felt a thin arm wrapped around her neck. It startled Wanda to be sure, she hadn’t expected such a thing from the girl she just met, but after a moment, she returned the hug. The last hug she had, had been from her boys, her boys who were just younger than America was. Perhaps it was the lingering of maternal feelings she still had from her boys, but she vowed that she would protect this girl with everything she had.
“Thank you,” America whispered softly into her shoulder and Wanda could feel the gratitude.
Wanda gave her a small squeeze, but didn’t say anything to that. Instead, she just kept her arms around the young girl, wondering what she was going to do next.