Mother Widow

To say that Wanda Maximoff had a bad time at the Raft was an understatement. Even to say it was a living hell would be putting it nicely. She would rather have no choice but to be a part of HYDRA again if it meant she didn’t have to live another day in her cell in solitary confinement, in a straitjacket, tucked away in a corner making no noise because if she even opened her mouth, she would be shocked by the shock collar around her neck. That wasn’t even going into detail on what would happen should the guards decide she was looking too happy.

At first, she had tried to fight and scream and make sure that General Ross knew how she felt about this entire thing. But each time that happened, she would be shocked until she fell silent. Eventually, she gave up using her voice. It even got to the point where if she woke up from a nightmare screaming, she’d be shocked into submission. She had unfortunately mastered the art of silent screaming.

When she saw a familiar face, the man she had followed into the battle that led her into this, she shrunk back, terrified that this was something they were doing to trick her. She looked away from him when Steve Rogers stepped into he cell and approached her. In her peripheral vision, she could see he was concerned about her. What had happened to her? He didn’t want to know. He reached out to remove the shock collar and she whimpered softly, the first noise she had made in a long time. She didn’t want something to happen that would cause her or both of them being shocked. She was completely still when he undid the straitjacket to give herself freedom again. She didn’t get up until he helped her up, needing to help her because of how weak her legs felt.

She didn’t say a single thing as he walked her to the getaway jet even though he asked her what had happened to her. If she spoke, she’d be shocked. If he knew what happened, would he think the same way of her?

When they reached the jet, she saw another familiar face and froze. Was this another trap? Last time she saw her, she had sent her flying after she was fighting Clint. She lowered her eyes as Natasha Romanoff approached them.

“Tasha, keep watch over her. I’m getting the others.” Steve gently passed Wanda off to Natasha before he turned and left again.

Natasha nodded and turned her attention to Wanda, guiding her to a chair to sit down. She didn’t show it all the time but she was extremely protective of her friends and even though they didn’t spend a lot of time together at the base, when they had been together, they were extremely close, like sisters. Seeing Wanda like this made her want to go after whoever hurt her enough to make her this way. Her voice was soft as she said, “Wanda, you don’t have to say anything but I’m here for you.”

Wanda’s eyes darted up to her for a brief moment before she looked back down again, hugging herself tightly. She was silent for several long moments before she whispered hoarsely, “Hug?” Her voice sounded hollow, empty, lifeless. She was truly broken, in an even deeper shell than she had when she first became an Avenger after the loss of her brother.

Hugs weren’t something that Natasha did often but she could definitely make an exception this time. How could she say no to a woman who looked like she had been through hell and back at least a hundred times over? She nodded again as she wrapped her arms around the witch. It was a loose hug. If she wanted a tighter one, she’d have to be the one to start it.

Wanda felt her breath hitch when Natasha came in close. She told herself she wasn’t going to hurt her. She wanted to help. She buried her face into the older woman’s shoulder, trying desperately not to burst into tears but it felt great to be enveloped in warmth that was friendly and not hostile.

Natasha could feel her shaking and she ran a hand through her hair. In a gentle tone, she said, “You can cry, Wanda. No one will think of you different.”

The younger ex-Avenger shook her head wordlessly yet she could feel the sting of tears in her eyes. At the Raft, she hadn’t been able to cry. It only made things worse. She had to put on a mask that everything going on didn’t bother or hurt her. But she wasn’t there now. Her body shook as she let out a soft sob. Damnit. She had tried to push that away. No use. She couldn’t stop now, tears streaming freely down her face as she shook. She need up hugging Natasha tightly, needing to feel security and comfort that the motherly-figure on the team, a sister, and a woman could give her.

Hearing her cry, Natasha almost broke into tears, herself. Even without her saying anything, she had a good idea of what happened to her just by the way she clung to her and the way she sounded. She looked up as Steve returned with Clint, Sam, and Scott. She motioned for them to keep quiet.

The others wordlessly nodded, feeling heartbroken to see the state Wanda was in.

Steve went to the pilot’s seat to take them away from the Raft, from the harsh memories, from the Sokovia Accords that started this entire thing.

It was a solemn trip to the sanctuary that Wakanda would provide them.