For the first time in her life, Wanda Maximoff could say life was good.

She'd made groundbreaking progress with Helena, more than she had expected. She hadn't expected a kiss from the girl with the lethal touch. She saw less of her imaginary brother, which was good and sobering for her.

The two remained at their latest hotel stop, now more comfortable sharing a bed together. The two mutually agreed they wanted to explore this slowly and take their time.

Wanda was the first up in bed. Helena faced her, her face calm with sleep. Her dark hair fell over one shoulder. Wanda wanted to reach out and touch her, but she feared waking the girl up. She let a small smile escape. We both come from rough backgrounds, but we're here. We can have something.

Wanda's mind ran with what their future, though uncertain, held in store for them. A life without the Avengers. A life without watching their backs. A life where they could enjoy each other's company. Granted, she still disliked the band of "heroes" strongly, but her energy could be put into more practical things.

For now, unless they provoked her, she would leave them be. It was a thought she never considered after Pietro's death. Helena...the girl was no longer a tool in Wanda's game to try and take down the Avengers. She was a friend...well, more than a friend, if their first kiss was anything to go off of.

"You're staring."

Helena's comment brought Wanda out of her thoughts. Heat flushed through her face. "I wasn't staring. I was...thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"A lot of things. Random things."

"Are they good things?"

"Some are. Some aren't."

"Care to share any?"

"Not at the moment." Wanda looked over Helena, out of their window. "Let's take a walk."

"What are we, exercise enthusiasts?"

Wanda poked Helena's nose. "What's your idea, then, sunshine?"

"How about lying in bed and watching crap TV. That's my kind of day."

"Yes, well, I used to be okay with being cooped up, but I've learned that's terrible for the mind. Come on, let's go." Wanda threw back the covers, Helena remained put. "Don't make me force you out of bed."

"I can be persuaded, but magical means is not the way."

Rolling her eyes playfully, Wanda walked around the bed to Helena's side. Their mouths met softly, sending electricity through the witch's veins. She had never felt more alive, even when trying to help save Sokovia. Being with Helena was a content thrill.

Helena bit her lower lip. "Okay, you got me. But since this is your idea, you dictate where we go."

"Fair enough."

Once the two were ready, they started out with breakfast. The normalcy was new for Wanda. She hadn't felt like she belonged in a while. She still didn't at times, especially when she felt her power run through her veins, begging to play a little with the New York public.

The two left after not paying (curtesy of Wanda's magic), holding hands loosely. Most they passed didn't bat an eye at their display of affection. Wanda welcomed it.

"We should leave New York," Helena said casually.

"Why?"

"Let's face it, this place holds bad memories for the both of us. We can start over somewhere new, where nobody will know our past, only our present."

"New York is building good memories for us now. I wouldn't want to jinx that." Wanda cast a side-glance at the girl. "Is it because of what you've done to people?"

The two stopped, waiting for the signal to cross the street. Traffic moved turtle-like before them. "They say it's best to leave the past behind you. It's not the worst idea in the world. What about New York makes you want to stay, Wanda?"

Wanda could think up some things. The food. The atmosphere. Being with Helena. "This is what I am used to. All the hustle and bustle of a city. I couldn't...I couldn't live anywhere else, I would miss the noise too much."

"We could still go to another city." The signal was given, the two began to cross along with others. "I won't make you give up the noise factor if it somehow comforts you."

"It would require transportation, which I can easily get for us. It'll depend on how we want to go."

"Gosh, we sound like criminals or fugitives, the way we're talking. Are...are we technically fugitives, Wanda?"

The witch frowned. "No, we aren't. You are not wanted for murder, and neither am I. We're two women who are finding their way in life through this crazy place of a city."

Helena chuckled. "I wouldn't want to navigate my life with anyone but you."

Wanda's cheeks erupted into a blush. Such a strong statement when they'd only just started dating. "I wouldn't want to navigate my life by myself. It's a lonely path."

Helena pulled Wanda to avoid being barreled over by a man in a hurry. Wanda was glad to see Helena was accepting her limits of her ability. Truthfully, it was a welcome sight.

"Aw, that's too cute!" came Pietro's chiming tone. Wanda winced. "You listened to me for a change! Good for you, sis!"

"You, uh, okay there, Wanda?" Helena asked the witch.

"Sorry, got stuck in my head for a second," Wanda replied. Pietro shook his head at her. Again, like before, people passed through her brother as though he wasn't there.

Well, it was because he wasn't. It was a disturbing sight to see.

"Is it your power? Is it...I don't know...is it trying to control you or something?"

Wanda shook her head. "No, it isn't. Like I said, busy mind."

"Like thinking about our next stop in our walk kind of busy, or are we talking about down the road, future type busy thinking?"

"I believe you're looking for the hearing-your-dead-brother type of busy," Pietro sang.

Oh, shut up, you. You're ruining this day.

Around the two women, people craned their necks up to the skies. The air was boisterous with excited chatter. Wanda and Helena looked around.

"Um, Wanda," Helena started, her grip tightening on the witch's hand, "you said you destroyed Ultron, correct?"

"Yes, I did. Why?"

Helena pointed skyward.

Just as Wanda's eyes shot up to the sky, a green and red blur shot downwards at the crowd. Most of the crowd ducked and screamed. Wanda felt a hard yank on her arm, and she was lifted inches off of the ground.

"Wanda!" Helena screamed. She was held around the waist by the green and red blur, but Wanda knew exactly what it was.

Another one of Tony Stark's creations. The machine was called the Vision. And he was currently trying to carry Helena off into the skies.

"Wanda, get me down!" Helena kept an iron grip on Wanda's hand. Wanda tried to anchor herself to the sidewalk, but the crowd did her no favors when it came to her landing.

Wanda's legs made contact with the frightened crowd below. She lost contact with Helena once she collided with a tall man, who helped cushion her fall back to the ground.

First Pietro, now him. Does nobody want me to be happy?!