Wanda Maximoff (isweird) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2016-09-01 16:48:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !completed gdoc, !log, ~2016 september, ~25 points, ~wanda maximoff (isweird), ~~~maria hill (by_the_book) |
Who: Wanda Maximoff & Maria Hill
What: Making amends
Where: Diner
When: Thursday afternoon
Warnings: none unless Civil War spoilers are still a thing
Status: Complete gdoc
Wanda knew that her conversation with Agent Hill was long overdue. After talking with Bucky, John, and Natasha, she understood that Hill’s concern over Bucky’s presence in town wasn’t a reflection on either her views about Wanda specifically or an approval of the Accords and the way Tony and Vision treated her when that all went down. She also knew that it wasn’t very fair of her to unload her issues over what happened at home on Maria, especially since the other woman was behind and unaware of the whole mess that occurred.
Knowing those things didn’t mean it was easy for Wanda to reach out though, especially since it involved admitting she was wrong, but she finally did and asked the other woman to meet her at the diner so they could chat. She arrived first and procured a booth in the corner, ordering a cup of coffee and a slice of apple pie while she waited.
***
Maria had given up on hearing from Wanda, and had resigned herself to just avoiding her. It was disappointing and annoying, but she wouldn’t press the issue. Wanda was happy with John, found a life for herself here. Maria was still getting her feet under her and trying to do the same thing. She figured it was better to just avoid the whole mess...which was the main reason why she volunteered to work Labor Day at the casino.
Then the call had come. After agreeing to meet Maria wondered just what the hell she was doing, sighed then figured if it went poorly she could always text Peter to return the favor as she drank herself into a stupor. She wouldn’t go with any expectations either way, however, and as she got ready to go she went through the mental preparations she used as an agent to neutralize her thoughts. By the time she got to the diner she was in the right frame of mind.
Maria spotted Wanda in the booth, thanked the hostess then joined the Avenger, sitting across from her. “Hello, Wanda.”
***
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Agent Hill,” Wanda said, unable to bring herself to address the woman by her given name. They hadn’t interacted much during Wanda’s tenure with the Avengers, but Hill’s cool, professional demeanor always set her on edge. “I understand that you’ve spoken with some people who have filled you in on the most recent events that occurred at home.”
Or at least the most recent events any of them were aware of being stuck under the dome. Wanda knew that she and Clint were headed to move his family to a new safe house, but she had no idea if they were successful, nor did she know where any of the others were.
***
“Maria,” she answered. “Or just Hill if that makes you more comfortable. I’m not an agent here.” She ordered some coffee then returned to the conversation. “I was brought up to speed on the events going on, yes.” And if the set of her eyes were anything to judge by she wasn’t happy. “I’m sorry that happened. I don’t know what Fury and I are doing, but I can’t see either of us tolerating that.”
That wasn’t what the Avengers were for. Fury had never put them on a leash. As a matter of fact, he went up against the World Council to keep that from happening when he first set the Avengers Initiative in action.
***
Wanda nodded. She wasn’t sure if she would use the other woman’s first name or not, but she could at least manage to drop the Agent title. “I do not believe anyone mentioned you or Fury,” she said. “So I am unsure where you were.” She did appreciate that Maria seemed to be on the same side though.
“I was imprisoned with Clint, Sam, and Scott Lang,” she said. “Steve managed to break us out and Clint and I were heading to move his family to a new safehouse.” She was under the assumption that Maria, as Fury’s right hand, was aware of the existence of Laura and the children. “Tony mentioned Clint’s family in front of General Ross.”
Just one of the many reasons that Wanda was very glad Tony was no longer residing in Madison Valley.
***
Maria shook her head as a frown forced its way past her stoicism. What the hell had Tony been thinking? He was a handful under normal conditions, but when he got his head going there was no stopping him. Ultron was a perfect example of that. Peace in our time. Bullshit. Tony had too much power and resources to make these mistakes. That had been why Fury had assigned her to Stark Industries after SHIELD dissolved. Observe and report so they’d have advance warning.
“I don’t know what else you want me to say,” Maria said feeling helpless.
***
“Nothing,” Wanda said. “I am sorry that I became so angry with you when we were speaking on the network. Your concerns about Bucky sounded very much like the concerns that Tony and Vision expressed when deciding to keep me under house arrest.”
Thank god that Clint came and busted her out. She would have never forgiven Tony or Vis if she had missed out on what happened at the airport. Of course, she still might not forgive them, at least not Tony.
***
Maria stared at Wanda for long moments as a spike of anger shot through her. She had to remind herself that Wanda may not know certain facts, and definitely didn’t know others. She got her reaction under control then tried to explain.
“Everyone thought Bucky was dead,” she began. “Even SHIELD. We had no reason to believe otherwise until the Winter Soldier showed up in New York. He effectively killed my superior officer…” who meant so much more to Maria than just that. “The only reason Fury is still alive is because we have very…very...good contingencies in place. He even almost killed Rogers. When I learned he was here I had no reason to think he was anything else but the Winter Soldier still because no one told me differently.”
***
Of course it made sense now that Wanda knew the context. “You were not aware that he was deprogrammed and actually helped us,” she said with a nod. “I understand that now.” At the time, she was operating under incomplete information, as was Maria. And the whole trip home was also still fresher than it was now.
***
Maria took a deep breath then let it out. Long years of martial arts training helped her anger melt away. “Now we both know the truth. So where do we go from here?” She needed the drink of coffee she took. Very few things rattled Maria Hill, but Barnes and what he was capable of did.
***
“I would like it very much if you attended our functions at the farm,” Wanda said. She wasn’t sure if she and Maria could really be friends but she wouldn’t rule out the idea. For now, though, she wanted to make sure the other woman knew that she was welcome at the farm when they hosted holiday or other parties.
***
Maria smiled, but there was sarcasm in it. “Thanks,” she said, meaning it. “I’ll consider it, but if I don’t show don’t take it as a reflection on how I feel about you or anyone else. I’m just not a social butterfly.” Then she gave a rueful snort. “To be fair my social skills are for shit.” And gatherings like that made her feel twitchy.
***
Wanda gave a short laugh. “We do have quite a few regulars who stick to the corners like Dr. Banner and Melinda,” she told Maria. “And you are always welcome to stop by, get a plate, and leave.” With the number of people that usually showed up at their gatherings, no one would be likely to notice if she bounced early.
***
“Okay Banner is doing that because everyone lets him get away with it,” and Maria didn’t mind tattling on Bruce one bit. Melinda, on the other hand, had similar reasons to her own for avoiding people. “I’ll think about it as they come up.”
***
“That is up to Natasha to deal with,” Wanda said. Yes, she did have a sense of humor sometime. “I am glad that you were able to meet John, though. He is a wonderful man.”
It was pretty obvious that she was happy and very in love with her husband.
***
Maria was more than capable of scheming with Nat to drag Bruce out of a corner. The sneaky smile on her face said that might just be enough to get her to attend. She took a drink of coffee to move past it when Wanda brought up John.
“Seems like a nice guy,” she said. It was the truth. Maria had been impressed by him when they spoke. “I’m glad you found something here that makes you happy.” There was a tone in her voice that said she’d never find that for herself.
**
Wanda smiled and nodded when Maria said that John seemed like a nice guy. As far as she was concerned, he was the best guy. Well, second only to her brother. She and Pietro had endured far too much in their lives for anyone to remove him from the number one most important person spot in her life. “John is wonderful,” she said. “Perhaps you will meet someone special here too.”
Even if she didn’t, Wanda hoped that Maria would find something that provided her peace of mind here in a way that seemed impossible to find at home.
***
Maria’s mind spat Peter out at her, but she ignored it almost as instantly. Outwardly she smiled as she flipped her hand to wave that off. “Not a priority,” she said then changed the subject off herself. “Tell me how you and John met. I want to hear everything.”
***
“It’s actually a funny story,” Wanda began. And then proceeded to tell Maria all about how she and John met and became friends and ended up dating without realizing it for a while until someone else pointed it out to them.
***