InsaneJournal

Wanda sat on her bed waiting for Thor. She listened for a knock on the door. Her roommate was out but she didn’t want a man in her room, so she would sit in the hall with him.

He seemed like a surrogate for a brother, though he was nothing like Pietro. But he was protective and kind, and that was enough for her to gravitate towards him. She knew him enough that she was comfortable talking to him, so it would do.

When the knock came, Wanda started walking towards the door while using her powers to pull it open. “Hello.”

---

“Hello.” He grinned broadly, carrying a bottle under one arm and a pair of glasses in his other hand. He knew he might not be able to help her, but it was worth a shot. Nothing she’d done had been fully her fault and she’d taken responsibility for the parts that were.

“How are you feeling?”
---

Wanda awkwardly squeezed past him, and shut the door with her powers. She plopped down on the floor of the hallway, sitting cross legged and pulling her dress down so no one could get an unwanted peek.

“I am very tired, Thor.” She pat the floor next to her. “What did you bring us?”

---

“I see that.” He had a solemn tone to his voice as she sat down next to her. Without another word, he offered her the bottle. Thor doubted it was just lack of sleep that made Wanda tired. Wanda had an air of weariness about her that was almost palpable.

---

She took the bottle from him with a small smile. Wanda then unscrewed the top of the bottle and took a long drink from it. Fuck the glasses he brought. When she was done, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Thank you.”

---

He looked at the glasses then shrugged, tossed them aside and too a swig himself. “We can talk about it, or we can just drink. But I think you should talk about it.”

---

Wanda looked hesitant for a moment and then spoke, “I have dreams about Ultron. My brother. Tony Stark.” It was sad that he gave her a home and a cause only to betray her again.

---

“Those sound not like dreams, but nightmares,” Thor observed. Others had given him the details of what had gone down with the Avengers, and he could only half believe it. That many egos, and they’d always been a little on edge with each other. And yet, he hadn’t wanted to. They were friends. Work-buddies at worse.

But Ultron and Pietro’s death? Definitely nightmares.

---

“Yes, after the situation in Lagos when I --accidentally pulled up an explosion to the side of a building, Stark had Vision keep an eye on me. Would not let me leave the compound. Said it was safer.” She took another long drink.

“And Ultron was a monster, I wish I could have seen it sooner. I was consumed with hatred. Every day, I watch the arrivals board for Pietro. He could come through, couldn’t he?”

---

“That wasn’t your fault,” Thor replied, though he understood that kind of guilt. Too many times had there been casualties as a result of a battle. He didn’t think it was possible to avoid them, short of trying to evacuate the area ahead of time. “And I cannot believe that the Iron Man would be so quick to lock you away. He is the last person one could accuse of cautious judgement.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Your brother could come, yes. Even if he were wounded this ship’s healing capabilities are lightyears beyond your Midgard’s.”

---

She smiled at him, a little strained. Like maybe she was forcing it. “Thank you, Thor.” But it was her fault. Wanda thought she should have been more careful, moved the bomb somewhere else. If she had thought a little bit more before it happened…

“Well…” Tony did lock her away. Thor wasn’t there for that. But she didn’t want to speak ill of someone when they weren’t around to defend themselves. Even Tony. “I hurt Vision escaping.”

---

“That happens.” Thor took the bottle and took a swig, then handed it back. “I’m sure there are no hard feelings. I wouldn’t have any! But then, I’ve learned to pick and choose my grudges.”

---

Wanda took the bottle back and held it close for a moment. She thought for a long moment, drank, and then spoke, “You are so … easy going? How do you do it?”

---

“I drink away my troubles and ignore them unhealthily,” Thor joked. He grinned at her, then leaned his head back against the bulkhead. “Everyone deserves a chance. Life should be something enjoyed, something exciting. If you let everything get to you, what kind of life would you lead?”

---

Wanda nodded and took the bottle back from him. “Life is for living, right?” She smiled softly and took a long drink. Maybe she’d do the first part of his advice, and just drink away her troubles.

---

“Life is for living, and the living,” Thor corrected. Drinking away their troubles was probably not the best possible thing to do, but Thor did have a plan. It was the ‘get Wanda so hungover she never wants to drink again’ plan. Either that, or she becomes party-Wanda.

Either was a valid outcome.

---