The Sokovian skies were clear as Wanda Maximoff and Natasha Romanoff departed their homeland. A part of Wanda felt heavy leaving behind the place she had fought so hard to reclaim, but she knew this journey was necessary. Beside her, Natasha exuded her usual calm confidence, her red hair tucked into a plain bun and her striking green eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.
"You sure this is going to work?" Wanda asked as they approached the bustling airport in a neighboring country.
"Fake names, fake passports, fake smiles," Natasha replied, flashing a grin. "It's not my first rodeo."
Wanda raised an eyebrow. "And the part where we're flying commercial instead of your usual spy gadgets?"
Natasha smirked. "Sometimes the best way to hide is in plain sight. Besides, Sokovia's Scarlet Queen flying private might turn some heads."
They passed through security without incident, Wanda marveling at Natasha's ability to blend in despite her commanding presence. They boarded the plane, settling into their seats in the economy section.
"You really went all out, didn't you?" Wanda said, glancing at the cramped seats.
Natasha shrugged, leaning back. "No one looks for fugitives in economy class."
"Fugitives?" Wanda asked, smirking.
"Figures of speech," Natasha said smoothly.
As the plane took off, Wanda leaned closer to Natasha, lowering her voice. "So, how exactly am I supposed to carry a glowing alien staff through an airport without raising suspicion?"
Fracture's voice slithered into Wanda's mind. **"I have a solution."**
Wanda frowned slightly, her hand instinctively brushing against the Chitauri Scepter stored in her bag. "Care to elaborate?"
**,"The Knullic Hive,"** Fracture explained. **"An extra-dimensional space linked to my essence—and now, to yours. I can store the scepter there. No one will find it, not even other symbiotes."**
Wanda blinked, processing the revelation. "So… I can carry it in my soul?"
**"Simplistic, but accurate,"** Fracture replied.
Natasha watched Wanda curiously. "You're talking to her again, aren't you?"
Wanda nodded, handing Natasha the scepter. "Give me a moment."
Natasha raised an eyebrow but complied, watching as Wanda closed her eyes. Crimson energy flared briefly around her, and the scepter disappeared into nothingness.
"Impressive," Natasha said, leaning back in her seat. "I'll admit, that's one hell of a carry-on policy."
The flight was uneventful at first, the hum of the engines lulling Wanda into a light doze. Natasha sat beside her, scrolling through a tablet with encrypted data, her expression focused.
But midway through the flight, a commotion broke out near the cockpit. Men in tactical gear stormed the aisle, their faces obscured by masks. Passengers screamed as the hijackers barked orders, brandishing weapons.
Natasha's gaze sharpened, her hand instinctively reaching for her concealed knife. "Trouble," she muttered.
Wanda's crimson eyes flickered as she leaned closer. "Hydra?"
"Unlikely," Natasha whispered. "These aren't amateurs, but Hydra doesn't use methods this sloppy. What's strange is…"
"What?" Wanda asked.
Natasha's lips pressed into a thin line. "The only people who know our aliases are S.H.I.E.L.D. contacts. This isn't random."
The first hijacker moved toward their row, scanning passengers for threats. Natasha reacted first, her knife flashing as she took him down with silent efficiency.
"You've been practicing," Wanda quipped, standing as another hijacker approached.
"Always," Natasha replied, grabbing the man's weapon and disarming him in one fluid motion.
Wanda stepped into the aisle, chaos magic crackling around her hands. "You'd think people would stop trying to hijack planes."
The hijackers weren't deterred, their movements coordinated as they surrounded the two women. Natasha dropped low, sweeping one's legs out from under him before using his weapon to fire at another. Wanda blasted two more with a surge of energy, sending them crashing into the cabin wall.
The fight escalated, the confined space making every movement critical. Natasha used the limited cover to her advantage, taking out hijackers with calculated precision. Wanda's chaos magic flared, but she kept her attacks controlled, avoiding harm to the passengers.
"You're good at this," Natasha remarked, ducking a swing and retaliating with a quick jab.
"Thanks," Wanda replied, her tone dry. "But I don't think we're winning any frequent flyer miles for this."
Natasha chuckled, her grin widening despite the situation. "I'd settle for a refund."
As the last hijacker fell, a sudden explosion rocked the plane. Smoke filled the cabin as alarms blared, and the nose of the aircraft tilted downward.
"Brace yourselves!" the pilot's panicked voice crackled over the intercom.
Natasha grabbed Wanda's arm. "We need to jump. Now."
Wanda's eyes widened. "Jump? From a plane?"
"Unless you have a better idea!" Natasha snapped, already heading toward the emergency exit.
Fracture's voice echoed in Wanda's mind. **"Use me. I can shield you both."**
Wanda nodded, grabbing Natasha's hand as they reached the open door. The wind roared around them, the ground a blur of sand and rock far below.
"Hold on," Wanda said, her crimson energy flaring.
"What are you—" Natasha began, but the words were lost as Wanda leapt, pulling Natasha with her.
The symbiote enveloped Wanda, forming a protective cocoon around both women. They descended rapidly, but the fall felt controlled, almost weightless. Natasha's arms instinctively wrapped around Wanda's neck as they landed gracefully in the desert, Fracture cushioning their impact.
Natasha blinked, her heart pounding as she realized Wanda had carried her in a princess hold. "Well," she said after a moment, her voice dry. "That's one way to travel."
Wanda smirked, not letting go immediately. "You seemed to enjoy it."
Natasha flushed slightly, her usual composure faltering. "Don't get used to it."
"I don't know," Wanda said playfully. "It felt pretty natural."
As Wanda set Natasha down, the wreckage of the plane crashed in the distance, a fiery plume of smoke rising against the desert sky. Natasha stared at it for a moment before speaking.
"I don't think anyone but us could've survived that," she said quietly.
Wanda nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Whoever sent those hijackers… they weren't expecting us."
Natasha's gaze hardened. "No, they weren't. But we'll find out who they were."
Wanda glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I'm glad you're here, Natasha."
Natasha returned the smile, her green eyes softening. "Same here, Wanda. Now let's figure out how to survive this."
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