Being an Avenger's no picnic

Maybe she could realize the impossible (if it had been really her doing at the time) : summon forth Wonder Man, an act she seemingly (and almost miraculously) performed in the heat of her recent battle against Morgan Le Fey. Yes, this was the solution. Maybe...

The thought of Simon Williams’ whereabouts snaps her back to reality. So it was only a dream - - a nightmare in truth. She is stretched-out on her double-bed (though a single one would be just as well these days) in her room at Avengers’ Mansion. It is not night because she’s fully clothed and her window is open (Wanda cannot stand the air conditioning since her return to these quarters). Nevertheless, she knows that there’s a need to change, since this weird slumber was so restless. Standing on rubbery legs, she goes straight to the shower.

Washing herself, executing so mundane a task, puts her immediately more at ease. Once again, her thoughts are torn between making another never-ending list of past enemies who could be responsible for this last distressing episode or just push this aside under the "emotional stress" category. She can’t accept that this "dream" was just mere nervousness -- she would have cracked long ago, as the pressure encountered during her crime-fighting career has never seemed to let up along the years. But at this very moment, in familiar and comfortable surroundings, she feels no immediate menace.

Her schedule today isa simple one: she had accepted an unlikely invitation to a picnic in Central Park with some fellow Avengers, current and reserve members. Their faithful butler Jarvis had prepared for each a surprise basket, supposedly containing their favorite dish. Wanda had accepted half-heartedly, but had decided to go mainly for the reason that she couldn’t stay seated hours after hours watching the Vision repairing himself in a tank. She had gone along a very similar pattern years before, after another injury, and this waiting was driving her mad. Secondly, she didn’t want to let down her teammates, as the roster was now officialy established. She particulary wanted to become reacquainted with Carol Danvers, who was back in the Avengers after some long months. They had shared some traumatic times together and it seems that they had never been able to reconnect since then.

It’s been ages since any kind of social event had taken place in the Avengers’ circle. Maybe it was a good thing to invest more time in such gathering of friends, as past events came crumbling down one after the other. Wanda had been especially worried about the many mind-altering incidents of late, particularily those trips to bizarre parallel universes of which she confessed to having hazy recollections. They were made puppets at every turn and this trend was too unsettling. At this point, Wanda couldn’t believe that their scientific allies could not come up with some kind of detection device to put a stop to that kind of conflict.

Once again, she dresses herself. These days, she feels a need to go back to a more traditionally "gypsy" look which makes her more comfortable. Odd looks on the streets are now a daily routine. But this she didn’t mind. Maybe it was time to design a new costume as well... ?

So, it is with a small wicker basket under her arm that she found herself at the rendez-vous point in Central Park. She is surprised to find just another Avenger present (if this person could really count as an Avenger): Magdalene, partner of the Swordsman, who had declined to remain active members of the current lineup. To see this tall and powerful woman sitting calmly by herself on a blanket seems much more odd than to observe Wanda in a kind of gypsy get-up. The Scarlet Witch is a bit taken aback -- she didn’t know that Magdalene would be here and she is a bit surprised to notice that they were the only two present. The truth is, she didn’t know the other woman very well and had always thought that she was a bit cold and distant. But this could be an occasion to get to know each other.

" Hi, there. "

" Oh, hello. "

They both stare at each other, completely in the dark as how to pursue this conversation. Wanda finally sits down in front a Magdalene in a yoga position. She could glimpse in the other woman’s open basket to spot an enormous submarine-sandwich. Seeing this, she can’t help but smile.

"I can guess that you have an impressive appetite."

"I’ve been growing quite fond of these, I admit."

"Are you alone ? Isn’t the Swordsman with you ?"

"He insisted on going to see this new motion picture, about this big dinosaur... I couldn’t stand to join him on such a lovely day. You see, I... I wanted to talk to you."

"Me ?"

Wanda is astonished. She doesn’t quite know what to make of this. In her mind, she can still see images from her dream, particularily the Vision’s melted body and Captain America’s uncharacteristically harsh yell. She is in no mood to offer support, if this is really it.

"Yes. I wanted to ask you..."

"Well, well, look who’s here !"

Wanda and Magdalene turn their heads. Coming their way is Hawkeye and Warbird, in their civilian identities of Clint Barton and Carol Danvers. They each have a basket and a brown paper-bag in their hands.

Alcohol? thought Wanda. In the park ? Oh, Clint, you wouldn’t dare ! ! !

Magdalene looks a bit disappointed and Wanda could guess that her questioning would have to wait. But curiously, something unexpected happens as they wait for their friends to catch up with them. Clint and Carol’s jovial faces chang expression 180 degrees. Something behind Wanda and Magdalene has caught their attention in a disturbing way.

The next second, the Scarlet Witch understands everything -- coming the other way along the path amongst countless ordinary citizens, the four undercover Avengers detect the Absorbing Man and Titania in civilian clothes !!

To be continued...

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