[Wanda flips it to video. She's practically glowing with happiness.]
You helped. I thought maybe it was too soon...and not when I could be taken away again. It wouldn't have been fair. But if the timeline is safe, and if we would both be happier here...we aren't strange here. I'm not a monster. I think we have to try.
I can see things that I know they don't want me to, but there's nothing 'wrong' in our minds. Maybe I couldn't see it in myself, but there should be something from the times some of us have been here before.
[A beat.]
Are you sure that you are the 'real' Steve Rogers? That I am the 'real' Wanda Maximoff?
You would have to ask Vision about the science, but...maybe we are just copies of ourselves. It would explain why I can't see the damage to our memories, even during Calibrations.
[She ducks her head and looks away.]
Or maybe I am just looking for more excuses to stay. I just...I want to keep this.
Don't blame yourself for that. God knows that I've been tryin' to find any and all reasons to stick around myself.
[He looks down at the ground himself.]
You should stay. You're happier here than I've ever seen you. And if Vision is staying too... Well.
[It worried him but also soothed him. Did that mean the Infinity Stone was stuck here? Did that mean Thanos lost without him going back? But what about Nat? She's already seen her death. What was the real answer, here?]
I think we are somehow separate. No one has been able to change anything at home and I am sure that many changes to our memories would leave some mark.
I don't want anything bad to happen at home. But I'm sure if we can get free, everything will be all right.
[It's all he wants to hear, frankly. It is a perfect reason to shrug off the weight on his shoulders and just do what he wants. He leans in, not even blinking.]
You really believe that? If we break free, home will be alright?
I have been able to see things that I know the Atroma didn't want me to see. And if I chose to stay here, wouldn't the rest of you know? I think I am earliest in the timeline.
[A beat. It's not a simple decision, but Wanda's decided to try to hold on to the happiness she's found here with Vision. She's not even sure they could get married at home.]
I want to hold on to this. If Pietro was here instead, I know what I would tell him to do.
I do too. [He scrubs at his face with both hands.]
If I leave I'll never see Bucky ever again. Not...not the Bucky I know here. But I can't shake the idea that I'm putting billions of lives at risk for it.
I wish I had the certainty you do. But...[He looks over at her and gives a smile] If anyone was gonna know what was going on behind the scenes, I'd trust you and Vision.
[Still he groans an exhale]
It should be an easy decision. I hate the fact that it's not.
I can understand that. I'm not too fond of it myself.
[Steve sighs deep and shakes his head. He's smiling though.]
I can't help but think that if they hadn't taken us here, I would have never met so many people I care for, now. I hate thinking I should thank them, but...
Vision and I have had things here we couldn't have at home. I know what it feels like to not be so frightened of my powers. The way I feel on these singing planets...I wish it was always like this.
[She sighs.]
I won't thank them for this. It is an impossible choice.
It is. It is, but the people we have here... They disappear forever when we go back. We don't even remember what happened.
[The forgetting seems saddest of all.]
I walk through and never know I even met Bucky let alone was with him. I don't remember being friends with Loki or Hux or Kitty...
I'm glad I was brought here but it's impossible to choose what to do next, you're right. Still... If I can stay and not ruin Earth... [He knows what he'll pick.]
And you deserve to be happy too. If we've been split from ourselves somehow, if nothing will change...think about it. You may have more of a choice than you think.
[It's all he wants to hear: that he has a choice and that he can do what he wants for once instead of what he feels he must. Steve smiles at Wanda, warm.]
I'm glad you talked to me. This has given me a lot to think about. I can't thank you enough, Wanda.
If you need someone to officiate the wedding or anything, you let me know. Okay?
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2019-07-02 02:19 am (UTC)Really?
How did that happen?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-02 03:00 am (UTC)I was so afraid I couldn't keep him but if we win, I can
no subject
Date: 2019-07-02 03:23 am (UTC)That's amazing, Wanda. I'm so happy for you two.
You're going to have an amazing life together.
>>video
Date: 2019-07-02 03:44 pm (UTC)You helped. I thought maybe it was too soon...and not when I could be taken away again. It wouldn't have been fair. But if the timeline is safe, and if we would both be happier here...we aren't strange here. I'm not a monster. I think we have to try.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-02 04:23 pm (UTC)I am so happy for you, Wanda. You really do deserve all the happiness in the world, here.
[But. Wait...]
How will you know the timeline is safe, though?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-02 06:40 pm (UTC)And I have been thinking and I am not sure it is as simple as being kidnapped.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-02 06:58 pm (UTC)[Down, boy.]
What do you mean?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-03 02:00 pm (UTC)[A beat.]
Are you sure that you are the 'real' Steve Rogers? That I am the 'real' Wanda Maximoff?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-03 02:02 pm (UTC)What?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-03 02:53 pm (UTC)[She ducks her head and looks away.]
Or maybe I am just looking for more excuses to stay. I just...I want to keep this.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-03 03:04 pm (UTC)Don't blame yourself for that. God knows that I've been tryin' to find any and all reasons to stick around myself.
[He looks down at the ground himself.]
You should stay. You're happier here than I've ever seen you. And if Vision is staying too... Well.
[It worried him but also soothed him. Did that mean the Infinity Stone was stuck here? Did that mean Thanos lost without him going back? But what about Nat? She's already seen her death. What was the real answer, here?]
I'm happy for you both.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-08 05:46 pm (UTC)[It's not a question.]
I think we are somehow separate. No one has been able to change anything at home and I am sure that many changes to our memories would leave some mark.
I don't want anything bad to happen at home. But I'm sure if we can get free, everything will be all right.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-08 06:22 pm (UTC)You really believe that? If we break free, home will be alright?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-08 07:06 pm (UTC)I have been able to see things that I know the Atroma didn't want me to see. And if I chose to stay here, wouldn't the rest of you know? I think I am earliest in the timeline.
[A beat. It's not a simple decision, but Wanda's decided to try to hold on to the happiness she's found here with Vision. She's not even sure they could get married at home.]
I want to hold on to this. If Pietro was here instead, I know what I would tell him to do.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-08 10:30 pm (UTC)If I leave I'll never see Bucky ever again. Not...not the Bucky I know here. But I can't shake the idea that I'm putting billions of lives at risk for it.
I wish I had the certainty you do. But...[He looks over at her and gives a smile] If anyone was gonna know what was going on behind the scenes, I'd trust you and Vision.
[Still he groans an exhale]
It should be an easy decision. I hate the fact that it's not.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-10 10:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-10 06:30 pm (UTC)[Steve sighs deep and shakes his head. He's smiling though.]
I can't help but think that if they hadn't taken us here, I would have never met so many people I care for, now. I hate thinking I should thank them, but...
no subject
Date: 2019-07-10 06:48 pm (UTC)[She sighs.]
I won't thank them for this. It is an impossible choice.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-10 06:54 pm (UTC)[The forgetting seems saddest of all.]
I walk through and never know I even met Bucky let alone was with him. I don't remember being friends with Loki or Hux or Kitty...
I'm glad I was brought here but it's impossible to choose what to do next, you're right. Still... If I can stay and not ruin Earth... [He knows what he'll pick.]
no subject
Date: 2019-07-11 02:44 am (UTC)You want to make it matter, [she says softly.] If we go home it is like part of ourselves is lost. Everything we've done, every way we've grown...
It's why I told Strucker I couldn't change memories. Maybe I can, but I don't want to know.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-11 08:11 pm (UTC)[Not exactly true but it's still amusing to him. Steve sighs and hangs his head again.]
I don't like it. I don't like losing everything I gained. And I don't like saying goodbye to people and then forgetting I ever loved them.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-16 07:22 pm (UTC)And you deserve to be happy too. If we've been split from ourselves somehow, if nothing will change...think about it. You may have more of a choice than you think.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-22 01:06 am (UTC)I'm glad you talked to me. This has given me a lot to think about. I can't thank you enough, Wanda.
If you need someone to officiate the wedding or anything, you let me know. Okay?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-22 01:57 am (UTC)We'll keep that in mind, but I think we don't want to plan too much yet, just in case.
[Because if this doesn't work and they're still stuck here, the wedding's off.]