Broken

Sinner or Saint?

*mentions of drugs*

"Have you followed me here?" He asked urgently, watching her shake her head.

"No, someone from the help group said you mentioned running here sometimes. Helped clear your head." She murmured, glancing up at him then back at the ground guiltily again. "I figured I'd try and find you. You'd understand."

"Wanda, you can't be here..." he started, throwing a cautious glance towards Peter and Natasha before watching the brunette take a few steps out of the shade.

"I need help...James, you've gotta help me," she rubbed her arms, shivering despite the warm day. "I-I caved, alright! I used and-and then I couldn't get clean and now- now I want to do it. But I've still got all this stuff but-But....I don't want it and I can't make myself to get rid of it. But if I don't I'll use it, then I'll lose my job and then Rumlow...."

James sighed at the name, stepping into the shade of the trees, closer to Wanda, forcing her into the shadows more so their conversation didn't attract any attention.

"I owe him, he gave me...some stuff... said I could pay for it later." She stuttered on, and James swallowed his anger down hard. The sick bastard loved praying on the weak, and Wanda didn't deserve to be wrapped up in his scheme.

He'd fallen off the wagon plenty of times before. It happened, it was part of learning and recovering. She just needed the support to get back on.

He sighed, already regretting what he was about to do. He quickly pulled $60 from his wallet and handed it to her. "Take that, it's all I have in me. Use it to help pay him off and flush the rest of your stash."

"I-I can't." She shook her head, rejecting the money until he forced her to take it, glancing around to ensure no one was watching. He could see Natasha in the distance, scooping up Peter, seemingly oblivious.

"Take it, Wanda. And call your mentor."

"I can't! He won't understand," she sniffed, shaking her head quickly.

"That's what He's there for, Wanda. Just call him. And then if things are still bad then...then call me." He offered.

She quickly squeezed a small bag of powder into his hand, holding it there tightly. "Please take it. I know I'll use it, I know I will and I really don't want to." She was quietly sobbing now, trembling like a leaf even though her grip was vice like. "Take it. Get rid of it."

"Wanda, there's no way I'm taking that right now," he tried to give it back, but her grip was desperate.

"You're stronger than I am!" She half yelled, alarming him incase someone noticed.

He snatched his hand back and quickly shoved the packet in his pocket and sighed. "Go downtown, go to the meeting tonight, they'll put you up, help you through the detox."

She nodded shakily, and he quickly looked around the park again. "I really have to go."

She nodded, following his gaze to where Natasha was chasing Peter around, catching him and playfully pretending he managed to tackle her to the ground. They were laughing, rolling onto their backs as Peter began pointing up to the sky, discussing clouds with Natasha.

"Is that your kid?" Wanda asked quietly, admiring them just as much as he was.

"Yeah." He nodded once.

"And your wife?"

"No, not wife." He cleared his throat quickly. "Keep at it Wanda. You're better than this. Let me know how you get on."