ＢＬＡＤＥＳ// 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙛𝙞𝙘 // ᴡᴏʟᴠᴇʀɪɴᴇ x ᴀᴠᴇɴɢᴇʀꜱ

It had been nine years, six days, and two hours since the worst day of Iyona Andreeva’s life. She scrunched her eyes and blinked a few times before looking towards the sharp light shining through the small window of her cell door. She closed her eyes back as she realized it was the guard’s flashlight, keeping them shut until her room fell dark. Now, at fourteen, she was a shadow of the child she once was, a weapon forged in secrecy and pain.

Iyona sat on the narrow cot in her cell, the metal restraints around her wrists a constant reminder of her captivity. The walls were close, suffocating, and the faint hum of machinery behind them droned on like a never-ending lullaby. She had no windows, no concept of time beyond the sterile light that flickered on and off in the corner of her room. The only color in her world was the crimson stains that occasionally marred the white walls, the result of her claws tearing through her skin whenever the urge to feel something—anything—overwhelmed her.

Her healing factor ensured that no wound lasted long, but the pain brought a fleeting clarity, a reminder that she was still human, despite HYDRA's attempts to turn her into something else.
All of the children were in close quarters, kept in cells much like hers, but they were forbidden from speaking to one another. Communication was a privilege she had been denied long ago, after she’d tried to rally them during one of the many failed escape attempts. Now, their faces were just shadows passing by during the rare moments they were paraded through the facility like trophies. She'd learned to read their eyes, though—eyes that reflected her own torment.

A sharp hiss filled the room as the door slid open, the sound pulling Iyona from her thoughts. A pair of guards stepped inside, their expressions hidden behind helmets, though she knew they wore the same cold indifference as always. One of them carried a sleek, black suit, the combat gear she had worn on missions, the suit that turned her into HYDRA’s killing machine.

"Get up," one of the guards barked, throwing the suit at her feet. "They’re here.”

Iyona’s hands trembled as she picked up the suit. It was a second skin, designed to amplify her abilities and remind her of what she had become. She slipped into it, the material nearly suffocating her, its embrace cold and unyielding.

As she was led through the desolate halls of the facility, Iyona tried to drown out the painful ringing of the alarm she had become so familiar with as it echoed through the building. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, she stayed quiet as she slowly realized what her mission was. She was being taken to the chamber—the place where they kept the Scepter, the artifact she was ordered to guard with her life.

The Scepter. The source of the power that had brought so much pain, that had turned men into monsters and children into weapons. She hated it, but she feared it even more. Its blue light pulsed like a heartbeat, its energy palpable even from a distance. She had been warned about it, told that its power could unravel her mind if she got too close.

As they reached the chamber, Iyona’s heightened senses picked up something unusual. The faint rumble of explosions far above, the tremors in the floor—something was happening. The guards seemed on edge, exchanging glances as they hurried her inside.
“Stay here.You see anyone, you kill them.” one of them ordered before they locked her inside.

Alone, Iyona stood before the Scepter, its blue light casting eerie shadows on the walls. The sounds of battle were growing louder, closer. She could hear the unmistakable hum of energy weapons, the roar of gunfire, and something else—something primal, like the bellow of a beast unleashed.

The Avengers. She’d heard whispers about them from the guards, stories about the so-called heroes who opposed HYDRA. But HYDRA had always told her they were the enemy, that they would kill her if given the chance. They would use her powers just as HYDRA did.

She unsheathed her claws, the metallic blades sliding out with a soft snikt. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the fight that was to come. The facility shook violently, and the door to the chamber burst open, revealing a figure bathed in the dim light. A man. He had blonde hair and blue eyes that seemed pure.

Iyona’s instincts screamed at her to attack, to defend the Scepter with her life as she had been trained. But something in the man’s eyes gave her pause—there was no hatred there, only resolve and a hint of sorrow.

“Stand down, kid,” he said, his voice steady yet gentle. “We’re here to help you.”

Help. The word sounded foreign to her, like a language she no longer understood. The man was carrying a shield. He slowly put it down and placed his hands in the air before he began to approach her. Her heart pounded in her chest, the conflict tearing at her from within. Was this another trick? Another test? But there was no time to think.

Iyona snarled, baring her claws, but she didn’t move. She couldn’t. Confusion and fear warred within her, paralyzing her as the man advanced.

A woman’s voice appeared, “Let us take the Scepter, and we’ll get you out of here,” her tone calm and soothing. “You don’t have to fight us.” The voice came closer to reveal a woman with bright red hair.

The walls seemed to close in on her, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had been taught to kill, to destroy anyone who came for the Scepter. But these people were different. There was no malice in their eyes, only determination and a strange, unexpected compassion.

The ground shook again, and she could hear the distant shouts of more HYDRA agents, their boots pounding against the floor as they raced to secure the facility. “You got this?” The woman said to the man, watching as the agents approached. “Yeah. Go.” He said softly, still looking at Iyona.

Iyona glanced at the Scepter, its light flashing urgently as if it, too, was caught in the chaos.

“Come on, kid. Step aside.” The man said, his hand almost touching hers.
Before it could, she felt someone else’s presence. He was behind her. With a quick turn, she sliced through the man’s leg, causing him to kneel down and shriek in pain.
“Cap! A little help!” He shouted. The man had a syringe filled with a clear liquid. It fell to the ground and made a clinking sound as it rolled about the room. HYDRA was right.

The blonde man grabbed her left arm in an attempt to disarm her. Iyona broke free and, with a primal scream, she lunged—not at the man in front of her, but at the door, slicing through the steel with her claws. She didn’t know what she was doing, only that she had to get away, had to escape the nightmare she had been trapped in for so long. The men watched her, making no move to stop her as she tore through the door and sprinted down the hallway, her heart hammering in her chest.

She ran, her senses overwhelmed by the cacophony of battle and the unfamiliar rush of adrenaline that came with the possibility of freedom. Soon, an explosion from the ongoing battle destroyed the floor above her. She ran as fast as she could to escape the falling rubble, but soon it had her trapped. Her ears began ringing and her head throbbing. As she tried to stand up, she realized her right leg had been crushed under a large piece of cement. She screamed in frustration and agony. She tried everything to lift the rubble but it proved fruitless. She was trapped.

With nowhere else to go, tears began forming in Iyona’s eyes. They streamed down her face as she accepted her fate. After some time, the complex fell silent. She heard footsteps approaching and tried again to move with no prevail. With no other choice, she looked to the person nearing her, hoping they might be able to help. It was the blonde man from before.

“You okay?” He shouted, making his way through the broken pieces of what used to be the second floor.

“Who are you?” She finally said, her voice shaky and unsure.

The man had made it to Iyona and began assessing the situation. “Is your leg broken?” He asked, ignoring her question. Iyona sniffled, and looked down to the rubble she was encased in.
The man bent down and placed his hands on the rock that had crushed her leg. With ease, he lifted the rubble off of her leg and placed it to the side. Iyona winced in pain as she pulled her knee to her chest. She took deep breaths as her body reset itself. The man looked at her with curiosity.

“Here, let me-” He said, reaching his hand out to help her up. Before he could finish his sentence Iyona shot out four metallic claws from her left hand and held them in front of her.

“Who are you?” She asked, this time with grit.

“Steve. My name is Steve, and I am here to help you.” He said, never even looking at her claws.

“That’s what they said too.” She said, referring to HYDRA.

“I know you can’t trust me. But your only choice is to come with me, or stay with them. What’s it going to be?” He said, calmly, still holding out his hand to help her up.

Iyona wiped the tears from her cheeks and retracted her claws. She didn’t know who this man was or what his intentions were. But anything was better than this place. She took his hand and he pulled her up.
The building began creaking again, and soon enough more rubble began falling from above.

“Okay. We gotta get out of here.” The man said, taking hold of Iyona’s hand. Before she could react, they began running to beat the falling cement.

“Cover your head, kid!” The man shouted, bolting towards the open door in front of them with Iyona in hand.

The smell of fresh air overwhelmed her. The faint smell of gunpowder lingered through the air. As the man led her through what had become a battlefield, Iyona counted how many HYDRA guards she saw on the ground. All of their lives, gone.

“Almost there.” Steve said, offering Iyona his hand once more to help her over a ledge. She declined his offer and jumped down to see a large jet in the distance.

“Avengers.” She whispered, mostly to herself.

Before she knew it, they were inside the jet. Inside, the man who had the syringe was sitting in the corner with a bandage around his wound. The man glared at Iyona while cleaning the blood from his hands with a rag.
“Cap. What’re doing?” He said, his voice raspy and cold.

“She’s just a kid, Clint.”

“Yeah, a kid who stabbed me.” Clint responded.

Iyona took a few steps away from both men. She began assessing her situation. “Hey, hey, it’s okay.” Steve said, bending down to reach her eye level. She hadn’t noticed, but she had begun breathing quick, short breaths and her hands began shaking. “I would’ve stabbed him too.” He said, with a chuckle.

He stuck both of his hands out and slowly moved them towards her shoulders. He approached her gradually with both palms out. She did not feel threatened and soon both of his hands were rubbing her shoulders. She hadn’t been comforted by anyone in years. It was strange. Eventually he moved his right hand to her face and wiped away her tears.

“It’s gonna be okay.” He said, moving his hands back to her shoulders.

A sharp pain ran through Iyona’s neck. A needle had pierced her skin. She tried to look behind her but Steve’s hands held her still. More tears ran down her face as she realized the situation. Her body soon fell limp as she tried to keep her eyes open. Steve caught her as she fell, and she looked into his eyes searching for any sign of help.

“It’s all going to be okay. Just rest.” He whispered as she shut her eyes, unable to fight the drug that had taken over her body.