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"It's power," she repeated. "But it's trapped inside you… Like… you are unable to access it…"
Tony wanted to leave, to walk out. He didn't want to believe her, believe he had any ounce of powers but if Wanda could sense them there… He shook his head. Even Natasha was convinced he had something.
"You're powerful, Stark."
"Wanda…" he started. He searched for the right words.
"I think you're reading me wrong. I am nothing special at all. I am an arrogant, sarcastic, former playboy, philanthropist, billionaire who only works for himself. Someone like me would never have powers."
Her face twitched. "You do not work for yourself, Stark."
Tony folded his arms across his chest. "I used to. All I cared about was myself and doing what I wanted."
"I once thought that too," she replied quietly. "I misjudged you. But I wonder who you really are, Stark. Are you still the same person I manipulated into creating something which would seek to destroy you? I forced you to relieve your fears because I wanted to see you self-destruct… But, I think you already have. You're holding it together by… strands… I can't explain it. You and Natasha are the same. You're different from the rest of us. You know more than you should. I just can't place you."
Tony sighed. He didn't know what to do. Wanda clearly knew something was different about them.
"I can't say. If you say I'm powerful, Wanda, so are you. You have powers, working powers, something I do not have. You've taught yourself to control them. Your abilities have the potential to be endless!" He stood from his chair, not wanting to stay sitting if this conversation was going to continue.
"But you cannot tell me why!" replied Wanda. "I'm still getting to know what I can do!"
"Look, I pushed you too hard, alright? I shouldn't have asked too much of you. I'm sorry, I really am, but I don't know what you mean when you claim I am different!"
Wanda's lips twitched. "You're much too focused."
That caught Tony and he stepped back. "Too focused?"
"On stopping whatever is coming. You and Natasha. Both of you are different. Maybe I'm sensing power in you two because of that…" She shook her head.
"No… Whatever it is, it is not because you are too focused." Wanda sighed. "I should stop pushing you. You're not going to tell me anything, are you?"
"No. I'm not."
"I could tell Steve," she pointed out.
"Is that a threat, Miss Maximoff?" asked Tony. Steve could not know.
"No. I wouldn't do it. Maybe last year I would have done but not now. I think you're just as confused as I am about this. I won't say anything to anyone about how different you two feel to me, or the sparks of power I sense."
"Why would you protect me when I am trying to keep something from the team? You have no reason to do so. You hate me."
"Whatever it is, it's important, otherwise you and Nat wouldn't be working so closely together." She flinched at Tony's words. "I don't hate you."
"I killed your parents," stated Tony. "You blame me for their deaths. And rightly too."
"I don't blame you for their deaths anymore," explained Wanda, shifting her legs over the side of the bed. "Your weapons were dealt under the table. It was those that killed my parents. You didn't know what was happening."
"Because I was irresponsible and didn't care about others," interjected Tony harshly.
Afghanistan had opened his eyes, had shown a harsh reality he had never once considered.
"Only about how much money I had and how quickly I could spend it. All I cared about was the next woman." He didn't like to dwell on his past. He was different now, a much better person because of it.
"Natasha explained to me how you were not at fault."
That made Tony pause. "Nat did?"
"A while back. Just after the Lagos mission. She talked to me about it. Told me to investigate further. I did. You were cleared of being complicit in dealing under the table. You generally didn't know."
"I should have paid more attention though," said Tony quietly.
He still felt guilty that he had allowed such a misuse of his weapons.
He never wanted his products misused again which was why he had stopped all weapons production, stepped away from the trade and moved into areas where he knew people could be protected.
The only weapons he built now were ones he intended to use for himself or his teammates. "I should have realised something was up when I was profiting more than I should. I still reaped the benefits of what Stane did."
"But you became Iron Man and have fought for the people. You still do. I was young and naive. I allowed Hydra to manipulate me, allowed them to experiment on me just so I could destroy you. Pietro and I were the only ones who survived Strucker's experiments. I think we survived because we were meant to use our powers to help others, not help ourselves. Doing what I did to you, causing you to create Ultron, it opened my eyes. The one good thing to come out of it was Vision. I was wrong but I'm trying to be better. That's why I want to be an Avenger, so I can show the world what I'm capable of. These powers are just an extension of who I am." Wanda stood up, stretching her legs and arms, her gaze watching Tony carefully.
Tony moved around the room, not wanting to stay still and continue the awkward conversation but he simply couldn't walk away.
He kept moving equipment around the room, a nervous tick he had developed over the years.
"Tony?"
Surprise flittered through him.
Wanda had never used his first name in any of their interactions before. He couldn't help twisting his head to look at her.
She was standing behind him, arms loosely at her sides in the medical gown she was wearing, her hair trailing down her shoulders.
What surprised him most was her right hand held out in front of her, stretching towards him, as if she was expecting a handshake.
Curious he turned fully to face her. "I'm not sure if I shook your hand if it would be a shake or a squeeze," he commented wirily.
The right side of Wanda's lips moved upwards in amusement. "Just a handshake."
"Why?" However, he did reach out and take her hand.
"Because," she explained, "I want to start over. I want to put our pasts behind us. Move on. Begin a friendship, one that can grow and prosper." She shook his hand. "If something is coming and I am capable of so much more with my powers? You'll need me. Better for us to be friends, and learn to work together to face this, right?"
"Sure." Tony smiled. He hadn't expected this. It felt like it was the beginning of an unexpected friendship.
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Thursday 4th August 2016
"What brings you to my neck of the woods, Miss Romanoff?"
Nick Fury leaned back in his chair in the secluded cubicle of a diner, with one arm draped across the back of it, a slight grin decorating his features.
Natasha sat opposite him, leaning on the table, hands clasped together. "You have something I need."
"Very formal to your old boss," commented Fury.
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(A/N:Please drop some power stones.and add this fanfic to your library if you are new or you haven't.🐱)