Chapter 5
AVENGERS TOWER…
Katarina’s eyes slowly began fluttering, both her head and eyes felt heavy. The bright light surrounding her didn’t help matters either, as her violet eyes adjusted to the bright lighting her senses followed suit. The first thing she observed was that she was entrapped in some sort of cell, she slowly rose into a sitting position so she could better assess her new surroundings. Thinking she could just break the glass of the cell, Katarina used what little growing strength she regained and tried to break the glass around her.
That however, did not work… the entire cell lit up in electric waves and sent a shock in Katarina’s direction. With a yelp she stumbled back to the ground, her body tingling with pain from the shock.
“Are you alright maly tien?” Her head snapped in the direction of the voice, Wanda stood there by the entryway, Katarina did not know how long the older woman was there for but she didn’t care enough to ask.
“Where am I?” Katarina asked, this time choosing to remain on the ground in a kneeling position.
“The Avengers Tower.” Wanda answered as she moved inch by inch closer to the cell.
“You know I won’t tell you anything, I will not betray Strucker unlike some people.” Katarina hissed.
Wanda’s face became saddened, “what happened after we separated?” all these months she thought the girl she thought of as a sister had died during the battle of Ultron, to this day Sokovia was still trying to recover from the aftermath.
“Ask your brother, he was the one who promised you two would come back for me.”
“I would, but Pietro’s dead…” Wanda felt her throat close up, it felt like a dagger to the heart when she spoke about her brother now. He was her other half, without him she felt lost and a gaping hole in her heart.
Katarina swallowed heavily, she dare not let the emotions threatening to come out take control. Pietro was like a big brother to her during their time in Sokovia, he’d always try to make her laugh after a horrible day of training and lab experimentation by Strucker’s science goons.
“We wanted to come back for you Katarina, but we became fugitives ourselves and got swept into the madness of Ultron.” Violet eyes met green ones.
“You met him?” Katarina quietly asked.
“He sought us out, convinced us to join him. But when I saw what he truly was we had to get away, I should have known in the end there would have been a cost. And that cost was my brother.” Wanda’s eyes glistened with tears, Katarina herself was trying hard not to cry as she turned away hugging her knees.
“I don’t expect you to tell me anything. But, I want to give you the chance to change sides. Let us help you, Katarina.”
“You can’t help me, I am loyal to HYDRA.” Katarina said, her back still turned facing away from Wanda though she could see her reflection in the glass. “Strucker will find me, and he’ll kill you all.”
“HYDRA does not care about you Katarina, they only care about your powers and exploiting them.” Wanda tried to reason.
“They never abandoned or forgot about me, Strucker knows I am valuable to him he’d never risk me.” Katarina clutched at the sleeves of her outfit, she was now wearing loungewear as opposed to her leather leggings, purple skirt and black corset top.
“Strucker only cares about using you until you are of no use to him, does it look like he’s out searching for me?”
“That’s because you’re a traitor, I stayed loyal- but out of survival. No one betrays Strucker and lives to tell the tale. And soon you all will see, HYDRA grows stronger and stronger. Soon they will take over and Strucker will strike down anyone who gets in his way.” Katarina began to feel her fingertips tingle with power.
“Please, Katarina. Think about where you’re actions will get you if you stay with Strucker, we can help-”
“I said you can’t help me!” frustrated with Wanda’s heartfelt chatter she released a surge of power causing another shock to hit her body, she curled into a ball as the pain coursed through her body. She hated when her emotions controlled her powers, it always made her feel out of control.
“You don’t have to live in fear Katarina, I can help show you how to control your powers. Just think about it, please.” Wanda walked away without another word, it hurt her to see her friend like this. Katarina grew up under HYDRA’s influence, she and Pietro just needed the money that was promised to them if they volunteered to be experimented on.
She stopped midwalk, an idea forming in her head. It might not work given Katarina’s abilities were of somewhat similar nature to he own but it was worth a shot if it meant Katarina would see the truth. She decided she would wait until she had her meeting debrief with the team then execute her plan.
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Avengers Conference Room…
“So you're telling me, that one of HYDRAs most dangerous experiments and assassins is in my home? All because the little witch was once buddy-buddy with her?” Wanda heard Tony exclaim as she walked into the conference room, everyone went silent when they noticed her presence in the room.
“No offense kid.” Tony at least had the decency to look embarrassed, something that rarely occurred.
“It’s not just your house anymore Stark, you chose to make this the headquarters.” Natasha spoke from her seat, “Besides, we chose to bring the girl back with us. It’s not just on Wanda.”
Wanda sent Natasha a thankful smile as she took a seat between her and Bruce. “Now that we’re all here let’s discuss the two most important matters, the girl and HYDRA, specifically Strucker.” Steve stood from his seat to address everyone, Tony rolled his eyes at Steve’s leadership act. He was always easily annoyed with how goody good the star spangled avenger was, that and his father would never shut up about Steve and the “good old days”.
“Wanda, we need to know what exactly your relationship is with this girl.”
Wanda picked at her chipped black nail polish nervously, “when we were 16 years old my brother and I volunteered to be experimented on for HYDRA’s science program.” she began.
“They injected us with different kinds of chemicals and drugs to enhance our bodies and give us superhuman powers. Not many survived the process, those that did were sent immediately to training.”
“Strucker would test our abilities against each other, anyone who failed in their training was punished. That is where I met Katarina. She was already Strucker's star pupil.” Wanda began anxiously bobbing her leg as the memories resurfaced.
“Katarina was raised in an orphanage in Sokovia, when she was six, HYDRA invaded the home and burned it to the ground. They took as many children as they could to use as experiments, most of them didn’t make it. When Strucker saw the capabilities Katarina possessed he saw opportunities. Pietro and I took her under our care, she is like a sister to us-me.” she corrected herself, there was no longer an “us”.
“So what happened? From what I witnessed she couldn’t wait for the chance to kill you.” Clint spoke from next to Natasha.
“We tried to escape by using your attack on Strucker’s castle, we grabbed her from her cell and ran. We didn’t get far however due to some “distractions”, we left her behind and told her we’d come back once it was safe…” Wanda looked at her hands trying to swallow the emotions building in her throat.
“It’s my fault she went back to Strucker, it's my fault she felt she had to stay loyal to survive. Strucker’s now completely overtaken her will, it will be a hard thing to break, but I think I can do it. I want her to know freedom.”
“Her powers are still uncontrollable, but I believe with the right guidance she could be something more and better. I would like to try and rehabilitate her, and possibly… let her work with us.” Wanda was now picking at the sleeve of her sweater.
“Mmm, yeah, no. Out of the question.” Tony was the first to oppose the idea.
“Hey, come on Tony, if Wanda thinks she deserves a second chance I say we explore the idea.” Bruce spoke up for the first time since the meeting started.
“Uh, I’m sorry, when did this turn into the center for strays? And did anyone forget this kid’s one of HYDRA’s most beloved pets? There’s no way they’d let her go that easy.”
“Careful how you speak there Stark. Katarina deserves a second chance, hell, at one point all of us were given second chances.” Clint was frowning at the billionaire, what crawled up his ass and died?
“Did you miss the part where I mentioned HYDRA? If they haven’t tracked her down by now they sure as hell will eventually, and when they do, this place and this team will be nothing but rubble.” Tony ran a hand over his tired face, ever since Ultron he’d been running on little to no sleep trying to undo all the damages the robot caused.
“Just- do whatever you want, I don’t care. But when HYDRA comes knocking down on our door, I had no part in this cause.” He left the room without another word, heading straight for his lab. Everyone sat there in shock, everyone- save for Wanda, was used to Tony’s little temper tantrums. But this was something else, Bruce volunteered himself to go talk with Tony while giving reassurance to Wanda that he was all for her idea and that he wished someone would have advocated for him when he needed it most.
Everyone else gave their vote of confidence, Natasha even stated that she could help speak to Katarina and share her own similar experience to the young girl. Wanda was thankful to all of them, since joining the Avengers she felt so out of place. Like she didn’t belong. Until she got closer with Natasha and Clint, they made her feel the most welcomed. After bidding everyone goodbye Wanda made her way back to Katarina’s cell to put her plan in motion, she just hoped it was enough.