Operation: Anansesem

[x-scarletwitch.livejournal.com]

While Wanda attempts to rest, she has a request of Amanda - who isn't quite happy to be given it.



Wanda shifted uneasily against the worn headboard in the hotel room as she attempted to get comfortable. Though whatever had caused the attack had faded, her face was sallow and pinched, indicating that she was not yet back to full health. It had been a few hours now but she was still sluggish and exhausted and had been unable to protest being forced to stay in bed while the others made the necessary arrangements.

Her head fell back against the headboard as she groaned, pulling the blanket up higher around her.

Gentle hands tugged the blanket up and tucked it over her shoulders, before one lay on her forehead. It was cool against her skin. "Shhh," Amanda soothed quietly. "Just rest. Strange'll be here soon and we'll get you off to Rom quick as we can."

“I feel as weak as a newborn,” came the grumbled reply. Weak and electric, as if her entire body had gone to sleep and was just now waking up with pins and needles. Wanda had been strong all of her life - physically, mentally and emotionally. To be injured was one thing. This weakness terrified and disgusted her in turns.

"Whatever this is, it's hitting you hard." Amanda let her hand rest against Wanda's cheek for a moment before moving again to tuck in the already-secure blanket. The witch's own face was pinched with worry. "But we'll find out what it is and stop it, I promise." She bit her lip. 'I'm not going to lose you too, not like Pete.'

Wanda’s hand came to rest on one of Amanda’s, effectively stopping the nervous fussing. “I believe Rom sports her last name for a reason,” she said mildly. “I’m sure that once Farouk and I reach her, she will be able to pinpoint the cause of this.” If, of course, it was even remotely magical in nature. If not, she would return Stateside to Emma’s doctors and, if it came to it, she knew the Professor would see her.

"Farouk and I will even stop the squabbling for the flight, just for you," Amanda replied, smiling faintly. "Tho' I can't wait to see how he and Rom handle each other."

This, Wanda thought wryly, might not be pretty. “Amanda, I know you want to come over to England with us but I think you’re going to be needed here.” Her breathing hitched for a moment before she settled. “Stephen has said that one of the missing is from Germany and that there'll be a team sent there; you need to find out what happened there.”

Amanda stilled, her expression darkening. "Then let Angie go. She can dig up what's needed just as easy as I can." Her free hand clenched. "I'm not leaving you."

“You both are needed here,” she replied calmly but firmly. “Three people that helped us are missing, or in one case, dead, Amanda, and I would feel better if as many people as possible were looking for them. Or for what happened. I’m not going anywhere, I promise. I've survived worse things than a crippling flu…”

"But..." Amanda knew it was useless to protest, that Wanda was making sense. But the thought of letting the older woman leave her sight was almost too much to bear. How could she keep her safe if she wasn't there? "Do I have to?" Her voice was almost that of a frightened child.

Wanda’s hand gripped Amanda’s tightly now. After Pete, she knew Amanda had to be going through hell but she was worried about taking her to see Romany with both of them dealing with their grief and anger. “You would go insane,” she said, shaking her head. “With nothing to do in England. Here, though, you'll have a purpose and a goal.” Shadows fell over her eyes. “For a brief time, I held them close to me and in some way, I feel responsible for them because they entrusted themselves to me.”

Ugh, sense and logic and appealing to her sense of duty and compassion. Amanda knew she'd lost. "Take someone else with you, then," she said. "One of us. Farouk's unreliable and if there's nothing in it for him, I don't trust him to stick by you."

“I think they’re sending someone over from the States, Marie-Ange said something. I’m sorry, I can’t think straight right now. I think, given that we saved Farouk’s life, we should give him a chance. If he tries to bail on me, I have friends between here and London that I can call on and you can probably call in some favors from Clarice if you feel the need.” She gave Amanda a look. “Only in the case of an emergency.”

"I'll check with her." Amanda's tone turned brisk, business-like. If this was going to be the way of it, she'd make sure it was done right. "And we'll run this to ground. I don't believe in coincidences and there's definitely something funny going on. No bailing until the job is done." Unless she was called. She pushed the thought away. "You take care, Boss Lady. If anything happens to you, I'm going to come back and kick your arse for breaking your promise."

Wanda rubbed the middle of her chest and gave Amanda a tired but genuine smile. “I wouldn’t dare let something happen to myself,” she murmured, slipping further down into the sheets. Maybe sleep would stop the pain for a while…

Amanda squeezed Wanda's hand and slipped it back under the blankets as the woman drifted off to sleep. A couple of drops of moisture landed on the blanket, quickly soaked up and disappearing, before the witch straightened her shoulders and quietly left the room.