Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Clint?" asked captain America. Whilst helping the refugees settle into the aircraft.

"... yeah?"

"What happened? I saw that red explosion and couldn't help but think … did the twins betray us?"

At this Hawkeye, looking like he had a lump in his throat, turned his head towards Steve ...

"Not exactly."

And gestured his hand towards Pietro's corpse, lying on the cold cement floor.

"... God dammit"

"Cap … there is something else that you should know about."

"Like What? Did something happen to Wanda as well?"

"No … it's just that, there is a third party involved."

'Ah, Clint is finally telling Rogers about me … good.'

After her emotional breakout, Wanda flew away to a secluded part of the hovercraft and continued crying hear heart out.

'And also, for whatever reason brought me with her.'

I am still "unconscious", and currently in a dilemma.

'On one hand, I could wake up now and try to comfort her, thus strengthening my bond with her, marking this horrible, just awful event with my presence.'

But, would that look suspicions? Why would a monster try to sympathize with her?

'On the other hand, I could … she stopped crying?'

She did, and now she is looking directly at my face … uhm … why is her gaze so intense?

Slowly, Wanda moved towards our hunter's body, and couped his face in her wet hands.

"You … *Sniff* … You look just like him..." She said, before succumbing back to tears, only this time hugging my body.

'...'

{There is no dilemma you moron, this is your perfect chance. She is lost and confused, so make her think that you are her only way out of misery.}

Slowly, I moved my hands and hugged her back.

"... It's okay, Wanda."

"You even sound like him … wait, sound?"

Realizing that the monster turned boy that was in her embrace just woke up, she suddenly let go of him and distanced herself a bit.

"Sorry! I … uhm, didn't mean to wake you up."

'Is she blushing?'

Well, it must be embarrassing, having the passed-out total stranger you were hugging just, wake up.

"It's fine …"

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Wanda wiped her face with the sleeves of her coat, and asked:

"I am sorry if this sounds rude … but one moment you were a 3-meter-tall beast, full of sharp fangs and long appendages, and now, you are a little boy? … what exactly are you?"

'...Don't fuck me up now flaw.'

"I … I think I'm a shapeshifter." said the boy with full honesty, in his high pithed and childish voice.

"A shapeshifter? … I didn't think those were real."

'You know I can say the same thing to you, right?'

"Neither did I … until I turned."

"... When did you turn? If you don't mind me asking"

'... now how do I answer this?'

{Consider your words carefully, shape your lie until it becomes the truth.}

"Today actually ... right after I saw my mom's dead body."

'Which is true, well … the boy's mother was a puddle of flesh and blood, and I was a monster before I became human, but she doesn't need to know that.'

When she heard those words, her heart sank into her shoes.

"... I … I am so sorry for asking you that, *sniff*, you must feel terrible."

'I could not give less of a fuck, but thanks for caring.'

"You know the feeling?"

"Yes … the same thing happened to me and my brother, a bomb dropped on our apartment. Afterwards he was my only family left, and … and now he's gone." She said, almost swallowing those last words and her teary eyes starting to pour down on her pretty face again.

{Pretty? Heh, looks like someone is going through puberty.}

'Shut up … too bad I can't say that I'm sorry, that chain of events brought you to me after all.'

"... How old were you when it happened?"

"Ten … and you? How old are you?

"Me? … uhm, I'm Twelve." At those words, her eyes widened.

"Wait … What? You are just a kid?!"

"... Why are you so surprised? pretty sure I look like one right now."

"I … you don't talk like a 12-year-old, or fight like one."

"Oh, thanks I guess."

After some more silence, Wanda suddenly questioned:

"How? How can you be so calm, how can you keep it together?"

'Wow, straight to the point.'

"Well, this may sound weird … but I think it's you who keeps me calm, specifically your presence."

'How could I be anxious when I know you will protect me?'

At this, the Witch's heart fluttered.

'My presence … wait … did my magic influence him in other ways? I need to check.'

"C-Can I touch your head for a second?"

"Uhm … sure, go ahead if it pleases you."

'You … couldn't you have phrased it better?'

The witch moved closer once again, and put her delicate hands on the predator's head, only to once again have her worldview broken beyond repair.

Inside the creature's body laid a scarlet core, one much smaller than hers but nevertheless, still there.

'You … you are like me?'

After coming back to her senses, Wanda incredulously stared at the boy, her hand's still holding his young and delicate face.

The boy meanwhile tilted his head, raised his left hand just to put it on hers, and involuntarily changed his eyes, his pupils becoming a stygian black and his slitted irises a wine red, only this time with glowing scarlet edges surrounding said irises.

Then while looking deep into her eyes, he asked with a caring voice:

"What happened Wanda, is there something wrong with me?"

Feeling the warmth of his palm, and his intense, almost predatory gaze, a new feeling emerged in her heart.

An urge to protect those inhuman eyes, an impossibly intense desire to be the sole person to ever hold his sweet and adorable face.

A strong possessive need to have him as her own and nobody else's.

'Why ... is she looking at me like that?'

"What is your name?"

'Crap … I can't just say I'm nameless, I guess the boy's name will do...'

"... It's Victor"

She then suddenly bent down, still holding his face into place.

And gently kissed him on his now burning cheek, her cherry red lipstick leaving a visible mark.

"There is nothing wrong with you, Victor."