Falling for a Maximoff

Chapter 12: The good in people

Pov y/n

I sneak through the compound. It's dark and only the light of my phone's flashlight guides the way.
On the level with our rooms, the light went on as soon as I stepped out onto the floor but downstairs this doesn't seem to be the case. I open the door and walk to the cell where they keep Wanda in.
My steps seem to echo in the corridor and it's creepier than I remembered. My heart beats in my chest and I'm not sure if it's because I'm worried to get caught or because I'm honestly a little excited to see Wanda again.
When I reach her cell she's still awake and sitting on the ground, starring at the wall opposite of her. She doesn't turn her head when I stand in front of the acrylic glass that divides us.

"What are you doing here?" She asks with her accent, her eyes not leaving the wall.
"I wanted to see you again." I admit and start to fiddle with my finger. Sometimes when I'm nervous, I do that and standing here makes me nervous. I'm just not sure if it's the good kind.
"Did they tell you not to come back here?" She asks and finally turns her head to face me.
"I didn't talk to anyone else except my mom but yes, she told me to not see you again." I answer and sit down because it feels weird to just stand there.

"And you still decided to come back?" Wanda asks and raises an eyebrow at me. Her eyes scan me and I nod. I shift a little under her stare and look down at my hands that fiddle in my lap.
"Why?" She asks and I look back up to see her now fully turned to face me. Her eyes have soften a bit and she looks genuinely interested.
"Because I don't get why they locked you up. The only answer I get is that you are dangerous but it doesn't seem like it and I don't think it's right to lock you up in here." I explain and a tiny smile forms on her lips while I talk.

"You believe in the good in people?" She asks again and I shrug and then nod. I've never thought about it but I guess she is right. Without noticing it, I always assumed people have good intentions until they proof differently. Maybe not the best quality, considering I'm the Black Widow's daughter but I can't really change that.
"So, you also believe there is good in me?" She sounds a little hopeful and her eyes look at me and I see hope in them. Why is she so unsure about herself? Doesn't she know that she's a good person?

"Of course I do. You've done nothing to proof me wrong so yeah. And I also think that people make mistakes that don't define them. Just because you did one wrong thing, that doesn't mean you're a bad person. Everyone breaks the rules sometimes. Some just more than others. And if you can admit that you're wrong and truly are sorry, I think you're still a good person deep inside." I ramble and blush when I notice how much I've said. But Wanda doesn't seem to be annoyed by that, more like the opposite, she listens to what I have to say and seems to think about it herself.

"So, you think that people aren't automatically bad just because they did something wrong?" She asks and again there's this hope in her voice that does something to me. I'm not sure what but I like that she seems a bit more optimistic.
"Yes, that's what I think." I agree on her question.

"And what if you never learned the difference between wrong and right and maybe did the wrong thing your whole life because you thought it was right?" She asks, her voice more silent now and she breaks our eye contact to look at her hands.
I breathe in and think about her question. Does that define if a person is good or bad? Theoretically yes but practically? My mom did wrong things when she grew up because she was taught that it was okay. She didn't really get a chance to do what she thought was right. And when she got out of the Red Room, she had that freedom and joined the Avengers to do good. So, even though her past was dark and she probably did many wrong things, she isn't a bad person deep down. Now she is a hero and does good...so, she is a good person, even with her previous actions.
I release my lip that I didn't realize I was chewing on while thinking and look back to Wanda who glances over at me.

"I don't think that has to define you. You may did bad things but if you realize that they we're wrong and you try your best to do the right thing, you're still a good person. I mean, it's nothing that changes from yesterday to today, it's a process. Not just for you but for everybody around you, too. But if you really try to be good than I think you are. Does that make sense?" I end my spoken thoughts and see the smile on her lips growing and she nods. Her smile is so beautiful and I get lost in it for a few seconds before I look down again, slightly blushing because she noticed my gaze.

We sit in silence for a few moments but it's a comfortable silence. Until a thought plops into my head and I look back up.
"Do you think you did something wrong?" I ask her and watch as she nods slowly. Since I don't want to push her, I stay silent and wait if she wants to elaborate.

"There's a reason why Tony Stark keeps me down here." She says and again I get the feeling she strongly dislikes him. "He thinks I'm a monster because I did what I had to do to survive and because I thought it was right but now I know it wasn't. I never really got the chance to decide for myself and the first few decisions I made were not correct and I know that now. But when you only know one side of every story, it's hard to see that your side might be the wrong. Especially when the other side also made bad decisions. Stark doesn't think like you. He sees bad and good and that's it. For him I am bad and that probably won't change any time soon. It doesn't matter that I helped his team to fight in Sokovia, he still sees my mistakes and defines me for them. I know not all of them do. That Clint guy doesn't. He talked to me during the battle and told me I could either fight and be an Avenger or go and get saved like all the other people."

She seems to be in thoughts as she speaks but focuses back on me after a few seconds.
"Yeah, Clint is similar to me in that way I think. He believes people can change. He wouldn't want you down here." I agree and smile a little at the thought of Clint and his view on things in life.
"He treated me like one of them and after that and during the whole fight, I felt like one of them. And it felt good. I felt like I was doing something good and people cheered me on for that. When you save lives, they don't care what you've done in the past, they are just happy you help them. I wish the other Avengers would see me like that too." She sighs and seems truly sad about that.

"I see you like that." I say quietly and her head shoots back up and our eyes lock.
"I saw you on the news, fighting alongside the Avengers. You saved lives. " I continue and her eyes light up a little bit.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" She asks and I bite my lip at the eye contact that shortly breaks as her eyes dart to my lip.
"Because I don't see a reason to treat you badly. You've been nice to me too, so why be mean?" I answer and shrug.
"Because other people tell you I did bad things?" She offers and I shake my head.

"First of all, they just said you were dangerous and I don't see any danger at the moment and second of all, I don't care what other people say or think. I'm making my own picture of you and in that you are a girl, locked up for no reason who has not really anyone to talk to." I explain and her eyes soften a little bit at my words. The smile on her lips comes back and I can't help but to smile myself.
"Well, now I have you, don't I?" She says and again there is hope in her voice that makes my heart beat a little faster.
"Yes, you do. I am still not allowed to talk to you but I will try to sneak down here as often as possible. Probably more likely at night because it's less obvious than in the middle of the day." I respond and a sweet tickle fills my stomach as I think about seeing her again.

"I would enjoy that. I like talking to you." She admits and my stomach flips and I blush.
"I like talking to you too." I say and smile a little shy.
We sit in silence again and I yawn, feeling the exhaustion from the day and especially the training.

"It's okay, get some rest." Wanda assures me as she watches me yawn.
"Are you okay with that?" I ask, worried to leave her alone. And here they are again, worries about a total stranger. But a stranger with stunning eyes and a wonderful smile.
"I am okay. Thank you for talking to me." She answers and we lock eyes for a few seconds before I get up and make a move to go.

"What is your picture of me at the moment?" She asks without context and I turn back to her.
"In my eyes, you are a hero." I answer and she smiles wider than she did ever before.
"Good night, y/n." She says and my stomach does a little flip when I hear my name out of her mouth.
"Good night, Wanda. I'll try my best to visit you tomorrow again." I smile and turn around to sneak back to my room, where I should be.    

A/n: For some reason, I sometimes hear Wanda's voice saying the sentences I write as if I wanted to check if it fits her character. XD
Anyway, thanks for reading and love to you all <3