Chapter 23
It has been a day since the bombing of the King and the world was in outrage in the hunt for the infamous winter soldier. Much to her annoyance Daisy was stuck at the compound while the overs were out in Germany. Stuck with The vision, Wanda, and Pietro. Not that she didn't mind.
Steve had forced her to stay behind on the hunt for the winter soldiers due to her now broken leg. She felt utterly useless being indoors and with a permanent limp all thanks to the many shattered bones while destroying Sokovia and the heavy debris from the bombing.
She watched intrigued as Vision began cooking. Watching through the cameras on the open tablet, Pietro was in the gym and Wanda was on her way to the kitchen. Taking a sip of a rouge alcohol bottle relishing the slight burn of the throat it gave her.
"A pinch of Paprika."
She watched as the Vison took a pink of the spice that lay next to him on plates. Soft music played along in the background as the android tried to make a meal for Wanda. Admittedly she was only a slight jealous one because she can't cook for the life of her and secondly. After all, the Vision was quite enamored with Wanda.
"Are you making Paprikash?" Daisy turned around at the softly accented voice. Wanda walked in, hand in her pockets as she observed Visions work. She sent over a smile before carrying on to the stove.
Daisy decided not to tune into the talk between the android and witch that was until she heated Vision stated that 'No one dislikes you, Wanda.' She felt like she had to Chime in.
"He right you know. Some lots like you. Even my friends at Shield that I have contact with would like to meet you." Well, she only really keeps in touch with the bus group, not including Ward.
"Thank you." Wanda's eyes lit up a bit, Daisy could feel the lingering eyes of Wanda despite the Vision scientific talk. Her laugh was light and caught onto something the android had said.
"I used to think of myself one way. But," The misty red energy crackled around her raised hand it was quite endearing in Daisy's eyes, "But after this. I'm something else. I'm still me, I think... But that's not what everyone else sees." Wanda's smile was mournful as she remembered each life she took. Her eyes filled with restless guilt as she looked down at her ringed hand almost afraid to use her powers much now.
Daisy had taken to just observing the two talk. They talked about the stone that powered Vision. From here the vibrations that it emits are truly outstanding. While it may look almost peaceful it's constantly vibrating more than everything on this planet. She could feel its age, its power, and she felt drawn to it.
"-I'm going to the store, I'll be back in twenty." She heard Wanda say, taking it as her opportunity to get out.
"I'm coming." Daisy started as she moved from her seat stumbling lightly before she reached Wanda. The woman sent her a smile but was replaced when Vision stood in their path.
"Alternatively we can order Pizza," Vision asked with his usual monotone voice as he stood quite tall above the two females.
"Pizzas are Bad for my health, and we've run out of salad ingredients. You know how Stark feels about food delivery sooo we need to go out." She kept her voice in a factual tone despite the android not being able to process any real emotions.
"Miss Johnson I recall no memory of you ever having health issues. Now if you may please sit back down." Wanda's look displayed slight betrayal as she looked up at him.
"You're keeping me locked up?" Her accent was more prominent when she got even a slight bit angry, Daisy in any case though it was quite hot. That thought made her realize that they haven't talked about the kiss yet. She underlined that in her mental checklist of things to get done along with visiting Coulson again.
"Mr. Stark-"
"Mr. Stark can shove his words up his arse. He ain't even here and corrects me if I'm wrong but I have the highest authority, no?" Raising an eyebrow she felt a sort of giddy excitement of betraying Starks obvious rule. It wasn't like she had much authority anyways it was just a perk of being an Agent which reminded her that she had never done much with S.H.I.E.L.D and in the spy area for a while now.
"It's a question of safety."
"I can protect myself." As Wanda made a move to try and get past him, The vision held her arm not letting them move. Daisy felt a swell of anger ripple slightly as her hand began to thrum with power but retained from doing anything yet.
"Mr. Stark would like a possibility to avoid another public incident." Wanda had a small sneer braced in her features as she stared directly ahead, "Until the accords are more secure the three of you are required to not leave."
"Now that's a whole lotta bullshit right there," Wanda looked back at her with a small amount of laughter in her eyes, "Stark knows full well that what happened in Lagos was an accident. Does he think that keeping us locked up will help anyone? So let us go, or I shall make you."
Yet he made no point to move clear not threatened by her. The two women shared a looked before Daisy shook the floor beneath Vision's feet to cause a shift in balance and let the woman free.
Grabbing Wanda's clammy hand they ran through the compound laughing nearly running into the sharp corners. Soon enough they had reached the gym red-faced, well Wanda was jealous of how Daisy didn't break a sweat despite her leg. His grey eyes looked skeptical as alarms rang through the building.
"Pietro bring a car round the front, Now." Nodding he was off leaving them standing alone. But not for long as they soon took off to the front to beat the lockdown of the building. Wanda was being dragged along by Daisy as they got a few suspicious looks from the workers that went on with their day.
Soon they where met the sharp cold air and the darkening sun. Panting slightly the two enter the car, Daisy pushing Pietro out of the driver's seat. He glared at her but soon excepted his fate as they speed past the closing gates and into the streets of New York.
"You know." Pietro poked his head through the middle gap between the driver's and passenger's seat, breaking a calming silence of a soft buzz of the radio, "You make a very odd-looking couple."
They shared a laugh knowing it was true because who would suspect that they would even like each over? Wanda seemed to be the complete opposite of her, she took an example from the present. Wanda had dressed up in a loose-fitting dress with a dark red shawl draped between her two arms. Scuffed boots and curly hair held back by a headband. Too many rings that didn't fit with the soft-spoken voice. Wanda was carefree with her smiles thanks to the calming meditation she managed to fit in each morning. In Daisy's eyes, she was perfect in every way.
Yet Daisy seemed to be the complete opposite with form-fitting suits and leather jackets. Heels or boots, she made sure we were always in shape despite using each daily. Short hair was pushed away from her face with a few rouge pieces as the days died down. She only wore the necklace Thor had gladly given her as a sign of respect for the god. Multiple spoken languages, hidden emotions, and many secrets made Daisy everything she was, and Wanda was glad.
It just so happens to be in their fate that they were each over equals with the power they couldn't even comprehend at the time. But wouldn't switch it for anything.
"Quite giving each over heart eyes, the romance is sickly sweet for my liking. Now hurry up I want to get some food before being in lock up again." The twin ignored the rules of a seat belt and let himself fall onto the backseats with dramatics and fake gagging.
Daisy still reflected on Pietros' statement. And it made her realize, despite how rushed everything seemed, that she did just want Wanda. She helped her remind of who she was now and not who she used to be. Whilst Daisy boosted Wanda's confidence in herself teaching her that the powers she has aren't cures even with the damage she had caused. They balanced each over out that is what counted.
Once again underlining I'm her mental list was to gain the confidence to finally ask the woman on an official date. After she asked about the kids first even is she speculated on what Wanda's answer will be.
After they had pulled up in front of a small newsagent on the side of the road as most big shops would have closed by now. Daisy pulled out a couple of notes for the twins after stating she'll stay in the car seeing as Pietro had picked out one of Tony's sports cars instead of the SUV they were supposed to use. Claiming 'He never uses them.' Which was indeed the truth.
Wanda and Piero stepped out of the car after being threatened to not take longer than ten minutes inside. Taking that as leave the two rushed out and into the shop. A loud ring indicated to the half-asleep cashier that they had entered.
Pietro made a beeline for the sweets and crisps while Wanda had taken a more particle route. Picking out different ingredients she could remember off the top of her head from meals she used to make with her Mother. Only the newsagents were very restricted in what there was. But she managed.
Talking it as a signal to take leave she had almost run into her bother whose arms were stacked with different types of sweet treats and what looked like a dentist's nightmare. His boyish smile peeled up from a bag of gummies seeming to get a sugar high from just the bags.
"Pietro?" She raised an eyebrow eyeing the food. She was quite positive about healthy eating as it helped to calm her down and was good for her.
"Ohh Wanda don't be such a letdown. We need something sweet after all. Don't look at me like that, it looks too much like Mama after finding my secret stash."
As they stood behind a half-drunk buying a pack of cigarettes they reminisced on childhood memory sharing stories one may have forgotten or simply just for embarrassment. Like one time Pietro had fallen out of a tree after following Wanda and broke his leg. He mumbled a quiet response about 'reason' and 'on purpose.'
Just as Wanda places the items on the counter, gathering the notes out of her pocket and much to her surprise was sixty dollars, The sound of a gun ripped through the air as the ground began to shake but stopped as quick as it started. She shared a panicked look at her twin as they ran out to see what commotion was caused.
Shouting hit them as they stood outside of the shop, only to Daisy wasn't inside or out of the car. Now Wanda was panicking even knowing Daisy could handle herself.
"What happened?" Wanda demanded, catching a wide-eyed woman who was about to pass her. The Lady looked at her but refused to speak to no one but the police. Wanda tightened her grip around this lady's forearm and sent a shock of her power into the woman.
"A woman was standing here," pointing her finger to indicate Daisy had gotten out of the car, "It all happened too quickly," The woman scrunched her face up to try and point out everything, "Two men, I think, One shot her shoulder while the overused another weapon to knock her out. Pulled her into a back of a van and that way. Black with no number plate." Aiming toward where a highway would be.
Nodding at Pietro he was off in a second to search the surrounding areas. The wide-eyed woman seemed to widen her eyes more as she watch Pietro move.
"You're-You're them...Her." Her face flickered with reconsideration at Wanda's face being plastered on the news and the rumors of a fast-moving Avenger came into play.
"Yes, now you're going to go home and forget you met us yet." Despite the Woman being taller than her and looking quite imposing with long blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and smart attire Wanda was still able to be a little fretting.
"You don't seem as Bad as the news makes you out to be. I hope you find your friend. Here," She handed Wanda a business card for a place she worked at, "I'll see if I can find anything with some connections. Karen Page, I know some lawyers if you ever need any. Keep in touch." With a wave of her hand, the fair-haired woman walked briskly down the streets, heels clicking each step.
Wanda let all fear take over her now as she stood along with sirens in the distance just as Pietro appeared at her side with downward eyes.
"No sign?"
"No sign of her, how hard is a black van with no license plate hard to find." He shook his head, silver locks covering his eyes.
"Јебига, јебига, јебига." She half shouted running a hand through her hair, dislodging the headband that kept her hair in place. It took every one of the controls she built up over the years to stop her powers from getting out of control. She could feel itching at the base of her skin. The tips of her fingers began to glow an unearthly red and she held back.
She would find Daisy, with anything she had.
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Steve looked down at Bucky, Metal arm lodged tightly to keep away any unnecessary fighting. Helicopters buzzed around the old warehouses he and Sam were in.
"Which Bucky am I talking to?" Less of a question and more of a demand. All he just wanted was Bucky back, but he knew being greedy wasn't the right way. Nothing can go back to the way it was all them years ago and non of them can help that. Yet he found himself constantly blaming himself for the supposed death and now torture of his best friend.
If he never decided to join the Army. Agreed to take the serum. Then the rescue that leads up to the train ride. Leading to Bucky to kept captured. It was no doubt that both of them would have died in the War. Steve with his short health and Bucky as a soldier but at least the torture wasn't there.
"Your Moms name was Sarah." Buck looked up at him with blue eyes, the same face that girls would swoon over back then, "You used to wear newspapers in your shoes." He chuckled at the lost memory. Steve let out a tick of a smile.
"Can't read that in a museum, now." The little jokes they shared were a thing he cherishes even to this day. Each forgotten memory Bucky has lost was with him and intended to help Bucky find that shine he used to have in his eyes.
"Just like that was supposed to be cool." Sam stood with his arms crossed and tense as he watch Bucky. No doubt remembers what happened back when S.H.I.E.L.D fell.
"What did I do?" Bucky sounded almost hurt by not knowing what he had done.
"Enough."
"God, I knew this would happen. Everything Hydra put in me is still there. All he had to do was say them goddam words." His tone got increasingly bitter as he talked.
"Who was he?" Steve looked down at Bucky, which was odd to compare when he used to look up. Bucky stared down at the floor quite obviously not knowing who it was.
"Look, People are dead. The bombing, The setup...This doctor did all of that just o get them minutes with you. You need to do better than 'I don't know"
He looked almost lost for words, recalling what was asked of him, "He wanted to know about Siberia. Where I was kept. Exactly where it was."
"Why does he need that information?." Steve sifted off position to put rest on the other foot and crossed his arms. He needed to know who they were up against before everything turns into a civil war between him and Tony.
"Because I'm not the only Winter Solider." His voice hardened as he remembered little flashing behind the blocked memory.
"Who were they?" Steve led against a wall as he looked trained on Bucky.
"Hydra's most elite death squad. More kills than anyone in their history. This was before the serum."
"So they all turn out like you," Sam spoke up after staying quiet and standing guard.
"Worse."
"So the doctor, Could he control them?"
"Enough, but it wasn't no doctor." Bucky looked down at the floor, dark hair creating a sort of barrier between him and them.
Steve ignored the fact for a moment, not wanting to get off track with the progress they were making, "He wanted to see an empire fall."
"With these guys, he could. They speak thirty languages and hide in plain sight. Become a chameleon you won't know who's on your side or who's not until they kill you. Infiltrate, assassinate, destabilize. Take a whole country down in one night and no one would see them coming. But it's them against the person that trained them, me. All of that in one person."
Sam walked in front of Steve, "All of this would have been a lot easier weeks ago if we have gotten the information out of Johnson instead. seeing as she was with their lot."
"Yes, it would have but look at us now plus if we call Tony-"
Sam shut him down, "Tony won't believe us."
"And even if he did-"
"Who knows if the Accords would help him. We're on our own Sam."
Sam shrugged his shoulders, "I know a guy."
The pair turned back to Bucky who was looking deflated as he sat on a wooden stool.
"You said there's a more dangerous soldier out there, that trained you?" Steve asked as he walked over to Bucky, "They'd got to be dead by now, no?
Bucky looked up at him with haunted eyes, "Cryo, that's how I stayed young, that's how she did. The serum slows down aging also. About what I said about the elite death squad having the most kills in Hydra history. I was wrong it's her. She's brainwashed like us all, more dangerous. Brings down buildings just by closing a fist. Don't underestimate her if you ever come across her."
Steve and Sam shared a look because they could wager a guess about who he was talking about.
"Are you suggesting Johnson is really who he was talking about?" Sam asked Steve. What Bucky was talking about, was all fit, and yet it means that she was lying about everything. Bucky must have heard her last name as he looked at them with wide eyes.
"You know her, don't you?" His head tilted to the side studying them both.
"She's a part of the Avengers, a Shield agent," Steve answered, and much to his surprise, Bucky let out a small chuckle.
"Remember what I said, Destabilize, infiltrate, assassinate. Let me guess claims to not be able to mind control. You're wrong. You've been played and you didn't know it. She would have been sending information about you to Hydra and wouldn't even notice it herself. So you're better off keeping her locked up away from anyone and everything overwise you don't wanna be there. Everything you think you know about her is fake."
Just then a phone rang out as it echoed throughout the warehouse. Steve took out his old phone, which he hardly remembers taking out. Flipping it open to find Wanda was calling him.
"Hello?" He put a finger to his lips at Sam who was ranting quietly about Daisy being a traitor.
"Steve, it's, Daisy. She's been taken by someone. And we don't have now where else to look as Pietro has searched everywhere he can." Her voice was frantic over the crackling line. He could imagine her pacing as she held her hand as she normally did when ranting or scared.
"See if you can contact Tony, I can't leave at the moment alright? Stay safe Wanda but I'll try as much as I can from where I am."
As the line shut down he could still feel Wanda's anger at him for not coming over to America. Not while they are being traced by the government right now and someone out for Bucky's blood.
"Daisy's been taken by an unknown group." It was quite hard to believe with old and new information that someone like her can be taken down so easily.