Part 5: Scarlet Tension
Location: Outside Riven's Room, Evening
The hallway was dim. Most of the compound had gone quiet for the night. Only the low hum of power running through the walls gave the place life.
Riven leaned against the doorframe of his new room, arms crossed, staring at the floor like it might answer a question he hadn't dared to ask.
"You always stand like that when you're lost in thought?"
He turned. Wanda stood a few feet away, barefoot, arms folded around a small cup of tea. She wore a plain hoodie and jeans, no red glow in her fingers, no wariness in her eyes.
Just... her.
Riven blinked. "Didn't hear you."
"I get that a lot," she said softly.
She stepped closer. "I saw you in the gym earlier. You didn't look like you were training. You looked like you were trying to fight ghosts."
Riven didn't answer. His jaw clenched slightly. Wanda didn't press.
Instead, she sat down against the opposite wall and looked up at him.
"I know what it's like to have power that doesn't listen. To wonder if it says more about you than you want it to."
He lowered his gaze.
"You think I'm dangerous," he said quietly.
Wanda tilted her head. "I think you're hurt. And scared. That doesn't make you a monster."
He leaned back against the frame again. "Some of the kids looked at me like I was. After I... after what I did."
"They looked at you like you were the only reason they're alive," she replied.
Riven swallowed hard.
Wanda stood slowly. She took a step forward, pausing just in front of him.
"You don't have to be okay yet. Just don't disappear into that anger. Not again."
Their eyes met.
Then she gave him a small, sad smile and walked away, the steam from her tea curling in the silence.
Riven didn't move for a long time.