ataraxion | fifth shot; video

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fifth shot; video

Two things. One, I'm one of the flight officers now. Name's Clint Barton.

Second... Still looking for some materials. If anyone has an extra mattress you don't want, I'll take it off your hands. Old winter coats, scraps of clothes from home you'd like to see someone tear up? I'll take those, too.

[He is about to end the feed when he has an additional thought:]

If you see a little dark-haired kid in a suit in places he's not supposed to be, let me know. He answers to "Anthony".

[Satisfied now, Clint slings a quiver of arrows and a sleek black bow over his shoulder before shutting off the transmission.]

[Text to Ultimates/allied Avengers; encryption 100%]

Did anyone else have an issue with those masks? I haven't felt right since those things showed up.

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[And now that she's said that much she wants to tell him no, nevermind, it's fine. The part of her that doesn't back down from things, that doesn't show weakness is all at once both the cause for her wanting to put off asking her favor and to ask it anyway.]

I know this isn't really a thing we do and if Pietro were here I wouldn't ask [because she wouldn't need to] but if you don't mind...I could use a hug.

[She feels a world of stupid and ridiculous saying it allowed but need overrides her sense of ego and pride.]

[A...what? He looks confused for a second.]

A hug?

[Bizarre but understandable. Wanda's always struck him as someone who feeds on affection she probably never got, someone who stays very close to the people who matter to her.]

[And she's already rethinking things. Swallowing again, she stands, speaks a bit too quickly.]

It's alright, you don't have to.

[He stands as well.]

Wanda. Don't worry about it.

[Everyone would want him to take care of the team. This is just part of it. Even if it's... completely awkward.

Have a suitably awkward hug?]

Edited (i suck) 2012-11-27 20:36 (UTC)

[The need for physical comfort, no matter how small or fleeting it might be wins out over pride even through her awkward feelings. Head bowed so he can't see her face, Wanda lets her hands rest lightly on his sides and takes a deep breath.

It's an awkward hug, but she's needed one ever since she fell out of that grav couch over a week ago so she's not feeling picky. It's human contact and it helps even just a little. After a moment, she just gives in and gets close enough to wrap her arms around his middle and press her cheek to his shoulder. Wanda takes another deep breath, though it's a bit shaky, and waits for the first sign that he wants to let go.]

[The hands at his sides make him instantly uncomfortable, and it takes all he has to not push her away. It's too close, too personal, too intimate. So he tenses, and gently removes her hands from his back after a few moments.

He has his limits. This is pushing them.]

[The moment is hands remove hers, Wanda steps away, and she can't bring herself to look at him. It's one thing to pull away, but that he feels he has to remove her hands is indicative of something more. He said not to worry about it, but she feels that she's overstepped. She never should have asked.]

I'm sorry.

[Wanda steps back and then to the side, reaches past him for the mask she left sitting on his bed.]

I should go.

It's fine. I'm just...

[Issues. He shakes his head. This isn't easy for him. He doesn't want to go around hugging people. But she's part of the team, dammit.]

Look, if it helps, it helps.

[He reaches for her arm.]

[Wanda doesn't shake him off, but she doesn't move any closer either.]

But it's obviously not fine, and it doesn't help if it's not okay.

[It takes effort, but Wanda pushes whatever she's feeling down and off of her face, and soon there's nothing there but a neutral expression.]

Don't worry about it, Clint.

You startled me. That's it.

[It didn't feel like a friendly hug, not one he's ever given. It felt more intimate than that, and maybe Wanda is just that intense, but...]

[Intimacy had been the last thing on Wanda's mind, or she might have considered that a possibility when he'd removed her hands. She shakes her head just barely and then moves to tug her arm away.]

Regardless, I've stayed too long.

You've only been here a few minutes.

[He sounds like he's trying to recover from whatever slight he's just made against her.]

Do you want me to stay longer?

[She sounds doubtful. After all, she's a bit of an emotional wreck, and it's showing, and this just isn't something that they do.]

I want... What I want is for you to feel better. To feel secure. I know it won't be instantaneous, but everyone would want us to look out for you, Laura included, and I'm going to do my damnedest to make sure you're okay.

[Maybe the words sound strange, but they're not forced, and he's been thinking on them decently long enough to understand the weight he puts behind them.]

[Wanda goes quiet for a long moment, both surprised and touched by his words. The mention of Laura in particular makes her eyes widen ever so slightly more, and she stills. Clint's wife had always been welcoming toward Wanda and Pietro, and she'd liked the other woman a great deal. Swallowing, she summons up a half smile.]

Thank you. I'm trying, and trying to do so without having to lean overly much.

No one's asking you to stand alone. No one. We wouldn't dream of that. You're part of the team.

[He tries to move closer, to rest a hand on her shoulder.]

[She lets him put his hand on her shoulder. Wanda's learned quickly that it's better to simply let himself be there for her however he's comfortable.]

Of course not, and it's appreciated. Nonetheless...we have enough to deal with here that I'd rather add to it as little as possible.

[He's sorry, okay? He sucks at this. He's just not used to having to be supportive.]

Give it a little time, a little rest, and we'll deal with it as it comes.

[She understands, Clint. The shock has faded enough that she simply...understands. It's fine.]

Mm, I suppose there's little else we can do but that.

Right. Not much else that we can do.

[He removes his hand from her shoulder, letting it fall to rest at his side.]

[She takes a deep breath and reaches up to rub her eye a moment. This would all be so much easier if Pietro were there. Wanda feels his absence keenly...

After a moment she sits down again.]

I suspect keeping busy will probably help a great deal. What have you been doing to fill your time?

I drink a lot of coffee.

[It's a lame joke, but he's trying.]

Mostly keep my eyes open, talk to people, stay in shape. We're setting up a shooting range, myself and somebody I met here. Other than that... there's enough to stay busy, if you like to relax. Only the occasional freaky occurrence.

Like the masks.

[Wanda smiles a bit, half-heartedly.]

Do you need any help with the range? I wouldn't know the first thing but you'd have another pair of hands if necessary.

I could use some help with the heavy lifting. Some higher-up targets might be good.

[Her smile grows a bit broader, a little more certain.]

I can give you moving targets even, if you like. Without Pietro I could use someone to continue training with, if you're amenable to the idea.

fifth shot; video

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