𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 | 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘧𝘧 [✓]

Ch. 10 Representation

Word count: 1.23k

Nat's POV:

We got home safely, telling Peter most of what happened as he stares on longingly at his sister, who sits uncomfortably in a chair in Banner's lab.

"She's not an experiment." Pete mutters quietly. I put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly, reassuring him.

"I know, kid. But she was hit by rays from an Infinity Stone, making her a danger either to us or to herself, be the harm intentional or not. That's a risk we cannot afford to take, for our safety, and society's. You understand, don't you Pete?"

He murmurs a yes and walks off. I don't follow him, giving him the space he needs. I turn my attention through the one way glass, watching as Eliza holds her head in her hands. Her skin is pale, and her eyes look tired, the sea-green of their colouring dimmed ever so slightly. Her head moves up, her eyes gazing at the mirror glass, but her eyes meet mine. Coincidence?

"She looks awful, doesn't she." Wanda's now by my side, sighing at the scene in front of her. I don't speak, only nod at the comment. "Do you mean it, what you said, Nat? You don't like her. . . in that way."

I turn to her abruptly, my face a mess of anger and impatience. "No, Wanda. I don't like her like that."

She returns the stubbornness. "I don't think there will be a day where I believe you. I've seen the way you look at her when you think no one's watching, the way you held her hand to feel her pulse on the jet, the way you're looking at her now. Nat, there's no point doubting it now. You take your chance before somebody else does."

"I have no feeling for the girl." I retort, the lie feeling bitter in my mouth. "And don't you dare think about going through my thoughts, Maximoff, or I'll deal with you myself."

I seem to have startled her. Her hands immediately go up in a sort of mock surrender, and I shake my head, giving up.

"Suit yourself," she mutters, before starting to move, but I grab her hand, stopping her.

"Wanda, she doesn't need to know about what happened on the jet." I say seriously. She nods once, pushing her way through the door. I watch her curiously as she makes her way to Eliza, who perks up massively when she sees Wanda walking towards her. I smile to myself, happy to see her cheeks fill with redness again. Then I feel myself blush, cursing it over and over. I can't hear the conversation between the two inside the room, just as they can't hear me, but I feel myself swaying, my foot tempted to walk towards the door, my hand itching to press on the handle. But I retract, stay standing where I am, watching their interaction. I can't help but drown myself in stupid pity. I lost my chance.

Wanda's POV:

I can tell Nat is lying the moment the words leave her mouth. I don't need to read her mind to know it, her eyes give her feelings away. Don't get me wrong, she's a world class liar, but for the love of god, she can't hide a damn feeling. But, like she silently asks, I drop the subject, and instead give my attention to Eliza, who seems pleased to see me. I smile at her in return, glad to see her almost back to her normal self.

No noise gets through these walls. I know that, Nat knows that.

"Hey, Ellie."

"Hey, Wands." Her voice is rusty. It scrapes on the back of her throat. "I- I don't remember what happened."

"That's fine. In fact, I haven't come to speak about that. You'll remember when you remember, just as I did. I'm not worried about that."

She looks at me confused.

"I talked to Nat. She says she doesn't like you. . . like that."

I can see her heart sinks, so I laugh and keep going. "She's lying, Ellie. She's a first class liar, but she can't hide this feeling to save her life."

"You're telling me to trust a faulty feeling? Please, Wands, if she says she doesn't, then she doesn't." She sighs, and my heart breaks for her a little.

"Fine. I read her mind."

She slaps my arm with as much playfulness as she can muster.

"Don't you go wasting your energy telling me off. I'm telling you, Ellie, she likes you. Probably even loves you. Now, I'm here to ask you if you still want to continue with our little game."

Ellie thinks it through, knowing I'm right in some respects. "Okay." She smiles. In return, I grin helplessly at her, knowing that we're both in for a different world.

"So you wanna start now?"

"Well, it wouldn't make a difference, would it? She'd have to be around."

I laugh at her innocence. "Honey, she's been standing there for hours."

"And you didn't tell me?" She pouts and scoff. "Then, I guess, babe, that I'll move first," She tells me, pulling me in. I feel her lips on mine, soft and gentle and sweet. Don't get me wrong, I love Ellie, but I'm not the type of woman to fall for their best friend. I won't regret lending a helping hand. After everything she's been through, being with Nat will be good for her. Once Romanoff accepts her fated love life, she'll treat Eliza like a queen, I know she will. I mean, otherwise, she's dead to the both of us.

I pull away and grin childishly, knowing that Nat is there watching us. I know it's wrong, but I feel joyous that she's feeling jealous. Should teach her not to wait too long. "How you feeling now?"

"Right as rain." She smiles brightly.

"Then why don't I go find Bruce and get you unplugged?"

"Great plan, Wanda. I'll wait here."

I roll my eyes at her comment, knowing that I'm going to have to put up with a shit tonne of where that came from. I close the door behind me, so not to disturb the whole building. Just a I take a step forwards, a hand comes at me, dragging me by my wrist straight at the wall. I slam in to it with a whimper, but I don't disintegrate. Just like Steve taught me, I wrap an arm around their torso, ducking under their shoulder. But for some reason, my usual trick doesn't work and they weave their way out. Should have gone for the head. I check it, anyways, to make sure I don't damage a pretty face. Nat.

I let go immediately. Big mistake. She flips me around and slams me in to the wall again so hard that the air in my chest vanishes. Her face is but inches from mine when she hisses, "What was that, Maximoff?"

"What was what?"

"Don't you play dumb with me."

"If you hadn't hurt me so bad, I'd perhaps feel inclined to tell you that she's chosen me over your sorry ass."

She drops me, backing away, and I smirk. "Why? Finally catching feelings?"

She snarls something inaudible and stalks off. I smirk after her and go my own way in search of Banner, rubbing my now sore back as I go.