"Okay Wanda, I think that's it, we can officially say that you can swim." Clint said, floating in the deep end of the pool, watching Wanda swim laps from Natasha to him.

"No, one more thing, you need to be able to put your hand under water." Natasha added

Wanda visibly whitened and stood up near Natasha in the shallow part. She started to wring her hands nervously, not lifting her gaze from her wrists.

"No, I… I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why? there's nothing to be afraid of!"

"But… I really don't want to do it" she whispered

"Why? Wanda you need to tell us, or we can't help you." Natasha said, putting her hand on Wanda's shoulder. The girl flinched and stepped back. Natasha's eyes met Clint's. It had been weeks since Wanda had had such a violent reaction.

"I don't really want to talk about it."

She went out of the pool, picked up her stuff and left the pool, saying no more.

"Okay, that was weird." Clint said, following the girl's retreating figure.

"And that's something that we can't just let go." Natasha answered, already out of the water.

"I know." Clint sighed, following her.

A few hours later, Clint and Natasha gathered behind Wanda's bedroom door. They had given her time to cool down, so hopefully they would be able to talk calmly. They started to argue quietly about whether or not it was a good idea to confront her now.

Their argument died down and the door opened, threads of scarlet curling around the handle.

"For two spies, you're awfully loud."

Clint and Natasha came in. Wanda was sitting at her desk, her notebook opened in front of her, pencil in hand. She was working on a drawing representing two people, a little girl and a baby. When he came closer, Clint saw that it was in fact Lila and Nate. He recognized the image from a picture Laura had taken during one of their monthly picnics in the forest near their house. Laura had the habit to send pictures to Clint, Wanda and Natasha every week, so even though they were often away, they could still see the children grow up.

"You knew we would be there" Clint accused.

Wanda didn't answer, but focused on her drawing. Natasha sighed and went to sit on the bed. Clint leaned against the doorframe.

"Wanda, you know you can talk to us, instead of running away like you did." The archer went on

"You can and you should, by the way, keeping everything bottled up will not do you any good. I thought you knew that." Natasha added.

"I know, but sometimes, it's just too hard." The girl whispered, still leaning over her notebook, the brushes of her pencil on the paper becoming sharper.

"Wanda, look at me."

Wanda sighed, closed her notebook and stood up, facing Natasha. The older spy patted the space next to her on the bed, and Wanda went to sit, looking down at her fingers, playing with her rings.

"You know we won't force you to tell us anything. We just think it might be easier for you to move on if you did. It's up to you though."

Wanda remained silent, weighing pros and cons in her head. Clint and Natasha didn't say anything either, letting her come to a decision by herself.

"Can I just show you? I don't really want to tell"

"As you want." Clint answered, moving closer.

Wanda closed her eyes, and two scarlet tendrils came out of her open palms, one aiming for Clint, the other for Natasha. They stopped inches away from both of their forehead. Wanda's voice appeared in their heads. "Are you sure?" She was always so careful with entering other's minds, as she still had nightmares about what she made them live through when she was following Ultron, she never really forgave herself, probably never would.

"Yes, go ahead" Clint thought, knowing she would hear.

"Tasha?"

"It's okay, go on"

The scarlet ribbons finally touched their foreheads, and Wanda's room started to blur around them, replaced by a much different place, much darker, much colder one.

They were in a small room, a cell really, with no windows and grey cement walls. In front of them was a seemingly younger Wanda, long tangled strands of auburn hair tumbling down her back, dark circles under her eyes, wearing a dirty white sort of dress, staring blankly in front of her, held on either side by two bulky guards.

A commotion was heard, and two more guys brought in a boy. Pietro. Clint felt a pang in his chest at the sight of him. He was as skinny as his sister, his hair longer than when they had meet for the first time and curly and brown.

"Well, well, well…" Stucker entered the cell, his voice echoing in the silent room. Natasha gritted her teeth when she saw him, and she had to contain herself in order not to jump on him and tear his eyes out, preferably in the most painful way possible.

"You know what, little Wanda? You darling brother here, refused to cooperate earlier today. You know what it means, don't you?" he went on, a sickly grin on his face.

Pietro whitened even more, but Wanda stayed stoic, emotionless.

Shouts could be heard from the boy, but it all started to blur once again, and before they knew it, they were back in Wanda's warm room at the tower.

"I am sorry, I cannot do it, I cannot go on." Wanda whispered.

She was a shaking mess on her bed, her legs drawn up against her chest, face hiding in her knees. Natasha stood up from the bed, and knelt in front of her, knowing better than to touch her yet.

"Hey, hey, hey, it's fine, you're fine. Don't worry it's okay, it's over"

Her shaking didn't lessen.

"Wanda, honey, open your eyes, look around you, we're in your room, at the tower"

Slowly, Wanda lifted her head, and one of her hands found the comforter on her bed. She gripped it tightly in her fist.

"Yes, darling, just like that, deep breath. Can I touch you?" Natasha asked softly, her hands still raised in front of her.

Wanda merely nodded and Natasha slipped her arms around the little witch's shoulders. Instinctively, Wanda leaned into her side, letting herself be held. She had come a long way since she first came to live with them. Then she would avoid physical contact, and now she was seeking it.

A few minutes later, Wanda was calm again, her breathing back to normal.

"You know, you don't have to tell us" Clint said, a hand on Wanda's back.

"But I want to, I need to…"

"Okay then, take your time, short sentences, few words."

Wanda took a deep breath before hiding her face in the crook of Natasha's neck.

"When Pietro did something they didn't like, they would punish him by hurting me. Sometimes, they held my head under water until I couldn't breathe."

Silence fell. There it was. Water-boarding, of course. Clint felt like punching himself. Why did he not think of it earlier? It made perfect sense. Natasha just held her tighter. She knew the feeling, and didn't wish it on anyone.

"That's something you can overcome. I know you can. We'll help you, but I promise you, you'll be able to swim just as well as anybody else."

Wanda lifted hopeful green eyes to Clint.

"Now sleep, and meet us at the pool tomorrow, same time as today. "

Clint kissed her forehead and left the room, without adding anything else. Natasha went to stand up to follow too, but Wanda gripped her arm.

"Can you stay a bit longer? Please?"

Natasha just smiled and sat back down. They didn't say a word, just enjoyed each other's presence.

"Now I'm okay, you can go." Wanda said after what felt like hours, but was only minutes.

"Okay, I'll see tomorrow." The spy stood up and opened the door. "Don't be late" she called from the hallway. Natasha heard Wanda's giggle and smiled. Yes, it was all worth it.

Two weeks later, Wanda put her head under water and swam all the way across the pool, under Natasha and Clint's proud gaze.

Natasha went to see Tony the same night, telling him Wanda was ready.

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