Falling for a Maximoff

Chapter 43: Comforting

TW: talking about panic attacks and PTSD

Pov Natasha

Around an hour later, Wanda joins us in the kitchen. She immediately comes to me.

"Hey, Natasha. Y/n and I are already home because she wasn't feeling well." She explains, careful because she isn't sure how much y/n wants me to know. I appreciate her being careful with the information she shares and nod.

"I know, the school called me and we had quite a long talk. Don't worry, you're not in trouble." I add when I see Wanda's expression change into worry.

"They just informed me about what happened. And I wanna thank you for taking care of y/n, I assume in school and here." I thank her, honestly relieved y/n didn't have to be alone.

"Yes, of course. I would do anything for her." Wanda replies and I crack a tiny smile at her honesty. Maybe she really is okay and by the way she cares about my daughter it seems like she wouldn't hurt her on purpose.

"I appreciate that a lot. Is she up now? Can I talk to her?" I ask and Wanda nods slowly.
"She was pretty exhausted and I think sleeping helped her to regain some energy. When I left, she was half awake but I don't know if she fell asleep again or if she's awake now." Wanda shrugs and turns to the fridge to get a bottle of water.

I nod and make my way to her room. After I knocked, I slowly open the door and look inside.
Y/n is sitting up against the headboard of her bed and looks up from a book when I step in.
She smiles at me and puts the book down.

"Hey, malyschka. How are you feeling?" I ask, close the door and sit next to her on the bed.
"I'm okay now. Do you know what happened?" She asks, her voice tells me she is unsure about my reaction. I tug some hair behind her ear and nod.

"But I'm not mad." I make clear so she knows there's nothing to worry about.
"Wanna tell me what happened?" I ask and take her hand, slowly brushing my thumb over the back of her hand. That always calmed her down when she was little.
She thinks for a few seconds before she shifts a little to sit up straighter and nods.

"Well, I was in my thoughts and not paying attention, even though I should have. The teacher noticed and picked me to answer his question. He repeated it but I still didn't have an answer because it was based off of our homework, which I didn't do. Just this one time, I just forgot, it never happened before. He started raising his voice at me and told me that it's disrespectful not to listen in class and so on. I didn't like him yelling at me, it reminded me of the Red Room and images flooded my mind and when he raised his hand, I covered my face with my arms. It was an impulse without me thinking about it. Because in that moment I was too much in the headspace of being back in the Red Room." Y/n starts telling her side of the story and her voice starts to slightly shake at the memory.

Her fingers start to play with my hand and I continue to rub her hand. I don't like that her teacher yelled at her, no one should yell at my daughter.

"I started to panic and I felt trapped in the room and just wanted to get out. And so I did and ran off to the toilet. Wanda joined me and helped me to calm down. I don't know why I got flashbacks but the teacher yelling at me just seemed to have triggered something. And when he saw my reaction, he called it ridiculous." She ends, her eyes glued to her fingers and a single tear rolling down her cheek.

I clench the hand that she isn't fiddling with and grind my teeth. That teacher will wish he never spoke to y/n that way! How dare he call her ridiculous when she's having a panic attack?!

"I'm sorry." Y/n whispers and I look at her to find her glancing at me, her body small.

"No, malyschka. I'm not angry with you, you can't control what triggers you. I'm angry with the way your teacher reacted." I explain and run my hand through my hair.
Y/n slightly flinches when I lift my hand and it breaks my heart to see her reaction and how scared she was for a second. She seems to realize her action and starts to tear up a little. This day really is an emotional rollercoaster for her.