Wandas POV

I thought I was going to be eating my breakfast in silence this morning since I came down a little later than everyone else.

No such luck.

"So, have you heard from Lexi yet?" Nat asks as she sits down next to me.

"Nope. Probably won't. I'm sure she changed her mind or they didn't actually know her that well, if she even exists," I say after I swallow a bite of my cereal.

"I told you, I even met her! She's real. And I think she'll like you. I know she will. I'm sure she's just nervous."

I scoff, "yeah. Nervous. The date is suppose to be in two days. If I don't hear from her, then I guess we both are fine without the other."

"Wanda.." Nat starts.

I look over to her.

"I know it's been hard without your brother, but someone is out there that will make you want to dance in the rain."

I look at Nat like she has two heads and one of them is giving birth. Because really? From Nat? "Okay, where is all of that coming from?"

"What?"

"All of that sap that just came pouring out of your mouth. Did you read it in a hallmark card or something?" It's so suspicious.

"What? No. Of course not. I'm just saying that it's possible to find someone."

I narrow my eyes at her, "I don't believe you. Spill."

"There's nothing to tell," she says simply.

I'm not buying it, "come on Nat, I know you. And I'm not stupid. Did you find someone?"

Her face reddens a little before she looks away from me.

"Maybe.."

I can't help the grin that spreads across my face. I reach over to her arm and give it a light shake to bring her attention back to me.

"Nat! That's awesome! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks.." she looks down at her hands. "It's still pretty new, but I have a good feeling about it, ya know?"

"That's what matters. You never know when you could find the one. Time doesn't mean anything, just how you feel about each other."

At that she looks back up to me, "see! You could totally be going out with the love of your life this weekend!"

Damn it. I walked right into that one..

"Ugh.." I bring my hand up to my face. "Whatever. I'm going to go on the date if I hear from her. Isn't that enough?"

"It could be!" She springs up from her seat and goes to leave the room.

But I think of something, "wait! Was that just a ploy to get me to realize I could find someone, or are you actually interested in someone?"

She smirks, "maybe.. but don't you have a mission you're suppose to be getting ready for?"

Then she leaves.

That little Russian spy..

But she isn't wrong. I do have to get ready for this mission. Hopefully it's as easy as Tony said and I'll be back here tonight for dinner.

——————

So here I am sneaking up on some random building that's suppose to be holding some pretty important information.

It's pretty gross looking. Almost seems like no one has been near this place in ages. But according to Tony and some info they got there's some big wig connected to Hydra that likes to work out of here.

I can only imagine why.

So now it's my job to find out if that's true and hopefully catch him and bring him back to the compound for questioning.

I figure if I can find my way into the ground floor without making too much noise I can silently and swiftly work my way up the building.

Is it sad I'm kind of hoping he isn't in here?

Not that I don't think I could take him. Because I could. In my sleep.

I just don't want to have to fight anyone. Sometimes you just don't want to be the hero, you know? It would be nice to be at home with the family or just doing something normal.

And then I have to kick myself because this was kind of Tony and Nats point about the date.

I have to roll my eyes at myself.

I'll take this as the final sign I need to enjoy the date in a few days.

If she even bothers to call or text.

Okay. Enough of that. I need to focus on the job at hand so I can get home.

As I draw closer to the building I do my best to stay hidden and in the shadows, only peeking around for a way in.

I don't see any obvious signs that someone has been in here.

But I do find a window that's open.

Could be a trap. Could be because it's an old building.

One way to find out.

I carefully crawl through the window, making sure to use my powers so I don't get cut on anything.

It's so freaking dark in here. The small amount of sunlight left in the day is doing nothing.

So I guess a small orb of my magic to light the way wouldn't hurt.

It's so insanely quiet it almost seems wrong. Like that kind of quiet before a storm hits?

I don't know.. something just feels.. off.

Maybe they were right about this place and some creep has been working out of it.

I swear I feel someone looking at me followed by a small noise. Goosebumps race over my skin.

I turn around sure that I'm about to be face to face with this guy and..

Nothing.

I shake my head. "You're losing your shit, Wanda. Just focus on the mission," I whisper to myself.

I start to follow along the floor plan, moving from room to room before I go to the stairs.

I could almost swear I see footprints in the dirt, but it's so hard to tell.

So I'll just keep my guard up and magic ready.

I do my best not to make a single creak as I walk up the stairs, but it's impossible. I mean, it's an old, run down building. That's like asking for free wifi that actually works; it just doesn't happen.

But, if someone hears me and tries to make a run for it, I'll know.

I make it to the second level and the feeling that something is off only heightens. I don't know what it is, but something is not right here.

As I check out each room, I am still finding absolutely nothing.

Although it does seem like someone has been here.

I'm almost willing to bet whoever was here has given up and left, clearing everything out with them.

I still go up to the third floor, just with very little belief that I will actually find anything of use, but knowing I need to make sure.

Just as I'm at the back of the house checking through the last room, I swear I hear another sound. It's louder this time. And coming from downstairs.

Which I know I checked through. Thoroughly.

I go to make my way back downstairs to investigate, hoping it's just some rat or something..

no, actually, I don't want it to be a rat. Gross.

Then there's a loud ringing sound and I quickly grab for my phone in my back pocket that I apparently forgot to turn down.

As I look at the screen I find a new text message from an unknown number reading;

'Hey Wanda, this is Lexi. Pepper gave me your number and said it was okay to message you. I know it's been a couple days, but I hope we can still figure out that date for Friday?'

She added some cute emojis that get me to smile.

And as I'm about to answer her back with a newfound excitement for this date, I know I hear something crash downstairs.

I wait a heartbeat as it thumps in my chest before putting my phone away and running to the top of the stairs, hoping to hear something else to give away the location of the noise or what it might be.

There is.

I am definitely hearing a fight between at least two people.

They aren't really talking, mostly just grunts and punches.

I'm running down the stairs, making it to the second floor quickly before I stop to listen once again for where these people are fighting.

I can hear muffled voices, but once again, I still am not able to understand what they're saying.

"Fuck," I breath out.

I finish running down the rest of the stairs.

Then the fighting stops.

There isn't even a sound.

But then there's a person.

They're running out the door, back towards me.

And I go to run after them or yell out to them or something.

But I barely get any noise out, barely enough to get the person to stop.

Before there's a loud explosion that knocks me off of my feet.

All I see is fire.

And destruction.

And then nothing.