driftfleet | An Incomplete Homecoming

Entry tags:

An Incomplete Homecoming

Who: Wanda Maximoff
Broadcast: Yes; Network-wide
Action: Starstruck
When: Now

[The scene that appears as the communicator's video feed clicks on is that of a dimly lit bunkroom aboard one of the fleet ships. The crew of the Starstruck, and any of Wanda's friends who have visited her room, will recognize the space rather quickly as the young Maximoff girl's own. What may be surprising, however, is that, what had been an empty room for over a month, now contained someone sleeping on the cot. Wherever Wanda had gone, it had been clear that the Atroma had not exactly sent her home and out of the fleet. All of her belongings had remained in her room, and her name never left the Starstruck's or Fleet's registry. Still, she'd been absent for some time, seemingly having vanished into thin air. But now, the communicator's feed was showing her asleep in her room as if nothing had changed at all.]

[However, it soon becomes clear that something has indeed changed about Wanda. As she begins to stir, the young woman sits slowly up in bed, stretching her arms overhead as she starts to awaken fully. Her eyes spread wide in a look of first confusion that begins to seem more panicked. She looks about her own bunk room as if she's never seen it before. The note of fear in her eyes makes her seem not like someone who has spent over a year in the fleet. Instead, she seems more like --]

This... this is not where I-- What- what is this place? Did the Avengers... did they move me here in my sleep? But how could they have...

[Her voice is quiet, believing she is only speaking to herself. She seems unaware of the communicator recording all of this. Though, it is now rather clear that Wanda does not recognize where she is at all.]

[She swings her legs out over the edge of the cot, slowly getting up, and measuring the size of the room. As she studies the small interior, her eyes stop on the occasional picture or keepsake hanging on the walls. Various trinkets she's collected from the planets visited during her time in the fleet. There's a look to her eyes as if each item kindles a flicker of recognition that is then almost immediately snuffed out. Each time leaving her looking more and more bewildered and frustrated.]

[She shakes her head. Whatever was happening clearly was proving to be a lot to process. She then spies the communicator out of the corner of her eye. She takes a step over and picks the device up. Holding it out in front of her now, she stares at the screen for a moment. She looks as if this is her very first time ever handling the device. But then, in an instant, she seems to suddenly recognize what exactly it is that she's holding. She then addresses the screen with a calm, yet slightly edged tone.]

Whoever is watching this, I do not appreciate being toyed with. I did not think the Avengers were ones for such games. If this is some kind of test, I expect an explanation. Now.

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That twelve minutes is what I will take.

[ He's no fool, it's easy enough to put together that something happens to him that he has not experienced yet. Wanda is upset- more than he's really seen her be since arriving. The last time she was this distraught was when their parents--

So, that's it, isn't it? He will table that discussion for another time. Right now, comforting his sister is his priority. ]

You always were the faster of the two of us...

[That's right. Right now, this moment was all that mattered to her. Whatever had happened before arriving here... it didn't matter this second. No, Pietro was here now, and that was what she wanted more than anything. For her brother to still be here, to still be alive...]

[She relinquishes from the hug just enough so that she can move the two of them over to the bed. They're not so much hugging anymore, but Wanda keeps a hand clutching his shirt sleeve. It's as if she's afraid that, were she to let go, he'd disappear on her.]

How... how long have you been here?

[The unspoken question being: "How long have I made you wait..."]

[ He settles on the bed next to her so that their legs are touching. Pietro understands that fear of letting go. That if one of them lets go or wakes up, the other will no longer be there. He's lost her once already, he's not willing to do it again.

He sighs wearily, a hand running through his hair before he glances to her again. ]

We have both been here for some time, though you were in this place an entire year before I arrived. You've been asleep for too long.

[Wanda looks taken aback at that. She blinks at him, somewhat dumbfounded. After a moment, she looks down at the ground just above their toes.]

I don't... I don't remember any of it. Being here before... none of it...

[Her brow increases in frustration. So all of the things she'd been hearing from the others... they were all telling the truth. All this confusion... what was the point of it? Why would her memories be taken from her? She shakes her head. It didn't matter to her right now. No, in fact, she'd rather not try and remember what it had been like to spend a year in a place like this without her brother with her. There couldn't be anything that happened in that span of time worth remembering... right?]

It will come to you in time. It is the augment toying with you.

[ Which greatly implies that it has happened multiple times in recent history. He's still limited in abilities because of it, and now they're toying with his sister. That, he won't stand for. ]

Don't rush it, we will have nothing but time. I will not go anywhere you aren't.

I'm in no hurry.

[She looks back up at him. A small smile and pleading look in her eyes.]

Promise?

[Though, she already knows she doesn't need to ask. It's just still nice to hear him say it.]

I promise. [ He grabs his sister's hand, linking their fingers together. ]

It will take something much stronger than I am to stop me.

[Wanda's smile grows a little bigger and a little warmer. She gently bumps his shoulder with the side of her head.]

So... I understand we share a ship with Captain America?

Indeed, we do. Our Captain is his woman, Agent Carter. She is quite unique.

[ Starstruck best ship. ]

[She cocks an eyebrow at that. "His woman," huh? Her brother's choice of wording aside, she doesn't know what intrigues her more -- the fact that Captain Steve Rogers is not only NOT apparently a captain here, but that the actual captain of their ship is apparently his girlfriend.]

Unique? How so? Like, in the way that you and I are "unique?"

[A not so subtle reference to the twins' enhancements.]

[ 'Girlfriend' seemed like too juvenile a term, and even 'his woman' isn't quite right, but they need some sort of relationship definition.. It's a humorous point that Captain Rogers isn't their captain, but he doesn't seem to mind. ]

She is filled with.. oh what is the word they used? 'Moxie'?

[Wanda makes a noise sounding like a soft snort mixed with a chuckle.]

"Moxie?" And you find that this makes her unique?

[Well, now Wanda was very intrigued by her. Any woman that could get the kind of respect from Pietro that Wanda was reading from him certainly was someone she wanted to meet.]

And what of the others? I'm already aware the Black Widow is here.

All you have to do is simply talk to her. You will see what I mean.

[ Peggy Carter is something special, and not because of Steve Rogers. Hell, he respects her, especially as a captain. How could you not? ]

Some are here. Stark has gone home, it seems.. As has Vision. [ He frowns, watching her carefully. They were close- how will she take this information? Not well, he assumes. ]

[Yes, Wanda had already had the news broken to her about Vision. Again though, she's not certain why the lady, Wrath, and now her brother think this of such concern for her. Her brow furrows as she wrestles with that thought and the memory of how she'd first reacted to the news. The crying, so sudden and so much... why?]

[Without seeming a conscious thought from her, Wanda's hand reaches up and delicately touches one of her necklaces -- a chain with a yellow gemstone ring dangling from it. Wanda looks down, surprised at herself. Why did she-- Her confusion quickly switches to frustration. More of this -- more of this strange, involuntary behavior. She decides to ignore it. Instead, focusing on the first of those two names.]

Stark... the Black Widow said he was been here, but now no longer. I'm sorry I left you alone with him.

[Yeah, she's still bitter. Probably will carry a chip on her shoulder forever when it comes to Tony Stark.]

[ Everything will come back to her eventually. When it does, Pietro isn't looking forward to it. For Wanda's sake, not his own. It will be heard for her to carry the way he knows she will.

He gives her knee a squeeze, leaning into her side a bit more to offer a solid weight. He's here for her, even if she doesn't need him to speak or explain a thing. Pietro huffs, offering a brief smile. ]

What, you think I cannot handle someone like Stark on my own? It is like you don't even know me.

[ He clicks his tongue, chiding. ]

[She snorts, gives her brother a light nudge with her elbow. Of course she would never doubt her brother's ability to handle Stark -- at least if it ever came to a fight. His patience for dealing with Stark day-to-day, however, that was more of her concern. Not that she could blame her brother. Stark's arrogance grated severely on her, too. Even if they were "allies" now, she still did not like the man. Nor does she completely trust him.]

And Rodgers? How has it been with him?

[Steve had been the first Avenger to trust the kids at a time when they'd really done nothing to deserve it. He'd somehow convinced the other Avengers to let the twins fight alongside them against Ultron, offering them a chance to redeem themselves. She doubts that now would suddenly be the time he'd turn on them. That didn't mean though that he wouldn't necessarily keep them at arm's length, perhaps concerned the two of them would again seek to cause trouble.]

It has not been so bad. He is not an annoying shipmate, at the very least.

[ All things considered back home and in the fleet, it could be worse. Living under the same roof is interesting. Pietro has even found himself relaxing as time goes by. ]

[The smile on Wanda's face takes on a clear note of relief. It was seeming Steve Rodgers was more and more a man who could actually be trusted, and not at all the imperialistic figure that Hydra had painted "Captain America" as.]

I am glad to hear it.

[There's a slight tweak in her expression. As if she's just now noticing something about her brother. She begins to look and sound more worried.]

Pietro, you... did something happen to you here?

[It's hard to put the sensation she was feeling from him into words. It was like part of her brother was missing, or as if it was being restrained.]

[ Now that is a difficult subject. Watching her die had been.. A piece of him had shattered, though he has her back now. To him personally, though? Nothing more than a long sleep. ]

No more than anyone else here.

[She studies his face, their bond feeding her his worry, concern... and even some fear. All of these emotions are mirrored in Wanda's expression when she realizes what has happened to him.]

You-- your speed-- they-- how did they? How could they?

[There seemed to be more, too. Something, deeper and more terrifying for Pietro that sort of surged up momentarily in response to her question, but it does not provide a clear enough picture to distract from this more easily perceived concern.]

They can do anything they choose. I am still quite fast, but nothing like as much as back home.

[ Where things had made sense and they had direction. Then things had all gone to shit and the Avengers came and things made more sense. And now they are here.

He takes her hand, lacing their fingers together. This way, they're at least together and it makes things a little less intense. His sister has always been the best way to ground him. ]

["Anything they choose." Pietro's words unnerve her. Their abilities... while acquiring and coming to control them had been incredibly painful and miserable for the both of them, they had each come to view their powers as blessings. Something that is a part of them. That their abilities can somehow be affected, changed, supressed here... it was hard not to be scared of the thought.]

[She wraps her arms around her brother, clutching him extra close for a moment. She's here now, Pietro. She's not going anywhere.]

[ They've always helped solidify their bond with touch. An extra tether for their shared mental space. Pietro doesn't take the ability for granted, though it has been tainted by the Atroma's meddling. It's what he blames, though there is likely another reason for it. He would rather not acknowledge that just yet.

Helping soothe his sister's worries will do for now. ]

Come now, it's not so bad. [ He prods gently at her side with a sympathetic smile. ]

It's not like you to be the first one sniveling.

[Wanda immediately pulls back and punches him the shoulder. That one may have had a little more strength behind it than she intended.]

I was not sniveling!

[There's a pause as the two of them process that little, seemingly involuntary, outburst. When their eyes meet after the moment passes, Wanda descends into a fit of giggles.]

I- I am sorry. I didn't mean to hit you that hard.

[Even when they were little, Pietro had a talent of knowing just the right words to push her buttons. Wanda's little outburst a practiced reaction to whenever this would happen. She reaches out her hand and gently rubs the spot on his shoulder where she slugged him, hoping the comforting gesture might somehow counterbalance her earlier act of sibling aggression.]

An Incomplete Homecoming

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