We go to the lab where Bruce already sits, working on what looks like a crude space helmet. I nod to him as we walk in and he smiles softly.

"Alright, so Mr. several Ph.D.'s over here came up with this great idea and we invented a little something." Tony waves at Bruce and he stands. "Mind if I take a little blood while the big guy explains?" My head shakes and I offer him an arm. A little pinprick is all I feel since my eyes are on Bruce.

"Instead of putting you in a machine, we designed a helmet that will read your brain activity so we can see what goes on when you actually employ your ability." He tells me and I stoop so he can put the helmet on. "This does mean you're going to have to actually use your ability though," Bruce says slightly apologetically. I take a deep breath.

"I think it should be me," Wanda says, stepping forward before Tony can speak. My lips pop open. "It's fair that I know what I do to people. Especially since you're letting me into your mind." Bottom lip between my teeth, I mull this over.

"Are you sure about this, Wanda?" I ask and ignore Tony's small sound of indignation. "Our gifts are different and what I do may not affect you the way yours affect others." She nods.

"Trust me, she knows her own mind," Steve interjects, slipping in the doorway and bringing me a semblance of peace with his familiarity. He moves next to me and I lean towards him slightly without thinking about it. "Rhodes and Sam are racing, so be ready with some mechanical fixes heading your way soon, Tony." The man huffs and rolls his eyes.

"Okay then, I'm ready." I agree, keeping Wanda's argument clutched to my chest as a plausible excuse.

"Sure, you do it to her." Tony scoffs and I roll my eyes as Bruce moves around me to plug me into things.

"Unique circumstances, Tony." My voice is tender but I'm filled with anxiety. "I've never done this to someone I wanted to stick around." Now, my tone wavers. Wanda moves in front of me and does her best to smile reassuringly at me.

"Do you want me in your head when you do it or...?" She asks, leaving it up to me. I chew on my bottom lip feverishly.

"Sure. Let's go with that first and then we'll see what happens." I suggest as Tony and Bruce come on either side of Wanda and me. "Go ahead." I nod at Wanda and she lifts her hands, red mist leaking out of her very skin and reaching out to me. The first thing that happens is my vision goes. I immediately claim whatever's nearest to me; Steve's hand. "I'm blind, Wanda."

"I know, I know. Sorry, it's something that happens when I delve into someone's mind like this. Deep. I don't know how to fix it yet." She trails off and Steve squeezes my hand. Still, panic is seeping into my heart like turpentine.

"You're still wearing my clothes." He whispers into my ear and I nearly smile. "Not complaining. Just an observation." My head shakes slightly at the fact that I can't turn and answer, and he knows it. Slowly, I'm soothed.

"That's alright. We can work on that later, right?" She hums. "I'm just going to start with something small and easy, alright?" Dread builds in me and I can't crush down the feeling that this is a bad idea.

"Go ahead. I'm just on the surface of your mind like...like a float on the surface of a pool. I'll be able to see if there's a large disturbance." Wanda tells me.

"Same on our end," Tony speaks for him and Bruce.

"Uh, I'm not sure how this is going to work since I can't see, so I'm going to ask the rest of you to plug your ears," I tell them firmly, really not needing to argue about this now. A moment passes before Steve slips his hand away from mine and Wanda gives me the go-ahead verbally. Now blind and without a touchstone, I wobble, but before I topple Steve is behind me. He's not even really touching me. It's just my shoulder blades lightly brushing his chest and my hair tickling his chin. Steady, I start.

"Raise your hand," I say simply, pushing the words out of me like a sailor his boat. The words leave a bitter taste in my mouth, as well as a modicum of relief at the exertion of power. Sickening. There's a loud beeping and shuffling as Tony and Bruce check it out, but as long as Steve's behind me I'm steady. Suddenly, Wanda's mind blooms in mine and I see red, but that's it. I can feel her, the essence of her, but her mind is completely blank. "Let me see." Red bursts in front of me and everything is in varying shades of the color. My breath leaves me in a relieved sigh, but it gets caught in my throat when I see the empty stare in Wanda's eyes so horribly familiar to me. "Tell me how you feel." I request worriedly.

"Blank." She replies in a normal tone and somehow that makes it worse.

"Okay, stop. Everybody stop." Wanda's mind snaps out of mine like a rubber band and my sight fades back into place. Thank god. She's blinking as if just coming out of a stupor and my hands are gentle on her face. "Are you okay?" My eyes search hers as she comes back to us.

"I'm fine, it's just...different. I think I...I need a second." She says and Steve's there with a stool in a second. I glance at him gratefully. He pulls me back from her so she has space and I take the annoying helmet off, setting it on the closest metallic table.

"She needs a minute, Rea." Steve murmurs when I turn back to Wanda, hand gentle on the inside of my elbow. I look at his blue eyes instead of her and a bit of his calmness leak into me.

"Incredible." Steve and I both turn to Bruce and Tony. Their hands fly over a light blue hologram with a picture of what must be my brain. "Every time you speak using your ability, your neurons fire at an accelerated rate. What are you thinking? Through bacteria or-"

"Electrical impulses maybe? That's why she can interact with a whole room?" They start finishing each other's sentences and I turn back to Wanda.

"Hey, kid. Can you tell us what it felt like?" Tony comes back over and runs a gentle hand over her back. She nods, although she's still staring forward like she can't see anything.

"Yeah, it was weird. I mean, the minute you spoke I moved. It wasn't voluntary. And I couldn't even do anything about it. My powers were...paused and my mind was just-

"Blank." I finish for her and cross my arms, chewing the inside of my cheek as I pace a bit.

"Right." Wanda nods and stands up with a gentle hand on Tony's arm.

"So, you didn't have control over anything?" Steve asks, stepping to her side. She shakes her head.

"Not a thing. Is that how it is when I do it?" Even I can hear the slight apology in her voice and Steve meets my eyes to gauge my reaction. He heard it too. God, this was a mistake. Everyone instantly shakes their heads.

"No. You're more of a presence rather than possessing," Tony answers and he's the last to look up at me. My expression must betray just how shitty I'm feeling because even he falls silent.

"You're okay?" I ask Wanda one more time and this time she manages a smile.

"I'm good. Just something I've never experienced before." She assures me. I nod slowly and swallow panicked tears rising in my throat.

"Maybe you should lay down a bit, Maximoff? Until you get your feet back." My eyes look to Steve and he nods just a bit. Wanda steps forward and grabs my hand, squeezing it.

"Thanks." She says sincerely before walking out with Steve. I face Bruce and Tony.

"I'm not doing that again," I swear, hands shaking slightly. Tony deflates slightly.

"But-"

"Ah, Tony..." Tony turns to Bruce and Bruce shakes his head. "Let this one go." Gratitude fills me as he and I meet eyes.

"Thank you." I breathe, reveling in the brief respite. "See why I don't do this now?" Tony shrugs and examines me in a new light.

"Actually, I was thinking about the big guy. You think she could get you to turn and go back?" Tony turns to Bruce with his hands on his hips. Bruce purses his lips and leans back from the hologram.

"Maybe. But that really isn't something we want to try." He chuckles and Tony slaps his back affectionately. Shaking my head, I move closer to see the hologram.

"Just tell me this wasn't for nothing," I ask and watch what looks like lightning zing through the brain on the screen.

"Definitely not for nothing, but this'll take us a while to figure out. Go ahead and get yourself a cup of coffee or lunch." Tony says with a fascinated glance at me.

"We'll find you if something comes up," Bruce says, pausing to look into my eyes with understanding. I put a hand on his shoulder and nod.

"Thank you. Either of you need anything?" Bruce shakes his head with a cautious smile while Tony is too absorbed to even look up. Shooting Bruce one last smile, I head out and the minute I'm out the door my shoulders sag. Hand up against the wall, I put a hand over my eyes and breathe deeply to keep my emotions in check. Discovering more about how I work may be even more difficult than I had previously thought.