Wanda insisted on me going to bed, which I wasn't exactly able to argue about. "I've told the others to grab you some water and a bag. Bruce is on his way," she assured me, making sure I was comfortable.

As if on cue, Bruce entered, frowning as he looked down at me. "What happened?" "Don't worry, I'm fine," I assure, though I accept the bag when he hands it to me.

"Don't listen to her, she's worked herself half dead because of Stark," Wanda shook her head, then had Jarvis repeat his little medical report on me. I believe it is worth mentioning that Miss Stacy has been in this condition for nearly a week now, though this is the first time she has been physically sick.

Bruce frowns at me again. "You have been working a lot lately, haven't you? And skipping meals, now that I think about it... when was the last time you properly ate?"

"A few minutes ago, even though I told a certain someone that I was already full," I answer, shooting Wanda a look. "The one time you don't read my mind."

"And what about before then?" Wanda prompts, ignoring my comment. "Lunch at school," I answer. "I haven't been deliberately avoiding meals, guys. I guess I've just lost track of time and by the time I realise I just can't be bothered to get anything."

"If we're lucky the vomiting was just because you had a lot more food than you're used to," Bruce states. He'd been checking me over while we were talking. "But you need rest, okay? Good thing it's a Friday."

"I'm already behind on my work, so no can do," I shrug, moving to get up, but Bruce gently pushes me back down by my shoulder. "No, you stay in bed. I'll talk to Tony and let him know that he needs to give you less work to do. It's this or the med bay, Carmen."

I sigh, but relent. I wouldn't want to be stuck in the med bay, after all. The white everywhere is painful to look at, the constant smell of strong disinfectants and chemicals does nothing for my enhanced senses, a bigger fuss will be made of me like I'm some kind of wounded cherub and I'll be on even closer watch. My choice is clear; bed, not med.

Bruce and Wanda sigh in relief when I agreed, however reluctantly. Bruce said something about grabbing some stuff for me and left, leaving Wanda in charge of looking after me since Peter was off on another mission. The girl smirked down at me when the door closed. Her lips were curved at the tips in a way that implied a smugness I didn't know whether to find obnoxious or concerning.

"I've been telling you to take a break this whole time, Carmen. Next time you should listen to me before I get put in charge of you." "What are you going to do?" I scoff. "And before you answer, remember I'm literally dating Spider-Man, so all that's off the table."

Wanda pauses, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. I'm lucky I saw it around her natural rosy complexion. Well, it looks natural. Is she just super good with applying makeup? She looks like she's gone all natural today, so if it is makeup I need tips.

"Why... why would you need to tell me that?" She asks, caught off guard. "You sounded to me like you were implying stuff. Guess Vision doesn't have a convenient penis?" I joke. She immediately turns as red as her alias. No wonder she's the Scarlet Witch.

"Well, Uh, He-"

"Woah, stop right there! I don't need an answer to that, dorina. Trust me."

'Luckily', Bruce then returns before Wanda can work out how to respond to this. He hands me a glass of water and some pills. "Here, take these." "What are they?" I ask, sitting up a little so I can take the meds. "Just something for your fever," he replies. I nod and take the pills with the water.

I notice Bruce was carrying something else with him and look at it curiously. It's an orange-yellow chunk of... ice, I think? on a stick, wrapped up in transparent plastic. "What's that?" I ask him, gesturing to it as I set the water down.

Wanda frowns. "It's an ice lolly, Carmen. You... know what they are, right?" "No," I shake my head, seeing their expressions. They both have downturned lips, pity in their eyes. "Is that bad?"

"Well, not bad," Bruce replies. "It's not anything important, you've just been missing out. It's just a treat. I thought it would help with your throat, it would be pretty raw after throwing up."

"Oh. Thanks, then." I smile slightly as I accept the ice lolly, holding it by the stick. I see why a stick is needed; the actual lolly part is freezing!

"Unwrap it and lick it," Wanda smiles slightly. I nod and do so. So cold... yet oddly nice. It tastes like oranges. Oh, I get it now. It's literally just frozen orange juice on a stick. That's quite clever. And Bruce is right about it soothing my throat. It feels like chilly heaven.

"Like it?" Wanda chuckles. "Yeah," I nod eagerly, my reaction making them both laugh. "What?" I frown. "Nothing, don't worry about it," Bruce smiles, shaking his head. "Just eat it quickly before it melts."

Realising that that would get orange juice everywhere, I don't hesitate to do so. Man, it's good. Why am I only learning about these now?! When mum's better I'm gonna demand to know why this wasn't the first thing she showed me.

The reminder of Mum kills my mood, though, even if I keep up the facade for the others. I haven't been able to visit her again since I started working here, even just for a minute in the shadows. And it doesn't look like I'll have time now, either.

Wanda frowns and I immediately curse her out in my head, watching her expression change to disgust. That's what you get for being nosy, Miss Maximoff, I tell her in my mind.