The Reaper's Keeper

"I want to help." You look at Natasha expectantly as she came to observe Dr. Cho check your vitals. Hearing the gist of what happened, you can't help but feel responsible for the events that occurred. 

"Please, let me come with you." You heard them earlier that they found where Ultron is and they're planning to come after him.

"No. You have to stay here with Dr. Cho for recovery. You've been through a lot. We can't risk-" Before she could finish, you intercepted her.

"Risk hurting you. Or anyone for that matter." You look down in guilt and shame.

"That's not what I-" she sighed. "Look, we can't risk losing you again. Especially this time." Natasha came closer to your side and tries to put a comforting hand on your shoulder but you flinched.

"Natasha, I know how much more dangerous I've become. The Hydra..." You took a deep breath. "I'm starting to remember. All of it. It's a reminder of what I'm only capable of." You take in her reaction but you can't decipher the look on her face.

"I'm only just a weapon. Or worse, a killing machine." With teary eyes, you look back at Natasha. "So please, just this once. Let me help." You pleaded but Natasha could only shake her head at you.

 "I'm sorry. I can't let you come with us..." You look away at her to blink the tears away. "But..." She gently took your chin to face her. "You can help by staying here. I'll let Hill fill you in on everything and let you assist her with whatever."

"Really?" You hesitantly ask in a small voice. She just gently wiped your stray tears away.

"Of course, do you trust me? Because I trust you." Surprised by her sentiment, you returned her smile and nodded in agreement. 

"Good, so stay here while we're out there. We'll be back sooner than you think." She kissed the side of your head before bidding her goodbye. 

You can only wish and hope that they return safely.

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That sooner never came. 

You were just informed by Director Hill that they're in hiding because of what Ultron did. You can never fault the team for that, so you just waited patiently for their return.

They let you wander for a bit inside as long as you get back to your room after. While mindlessly walking around, you noticed a presence on the other side of Dr. Cho's lab. You were confused because there was no one else on that side of the room aside from you and Dr. Cho, and she was at her desk working.

"What is it, Y/N? Is there something wrong? Are you okay?" She noticed you staring warily at the door.

You shake your head at her. "I- uhh, what's in there?" You point at the room and slowly moved closer. 

"Oh, there's nothing really there. Do you wanna check?" You nod at her as you felt a gentle tug when you moved closer. "If that's okay with you, please." She just smiled at you as she punched something on her keyboard to give you access.

You walked through the door and immediately, your senses heightened as a figure in the corner emerged. 

"Wanda?" You breathed out. The figure turns out to be Wanda, one of your companions when you were being held captive at the Hydra base. 

She rushes to you and gives you a bone-crushing hug. You return it immediately. If it wasn't for your enhanced strength, you would both be on the floor at the impact. But Wanda already knows your abilities, so she's got nothing to worry about.

"You're okay..." She sighed beside your ear. Detaching herself from you, green-eyes immediately found yours. 

"What are you...? How? Where's Pietro?" With you being a good few inches taller than her, she found herself being towered over by you.

"He's fine, dorogoy. He's at the camp, waiting for us. We're here to get you out of here." As much as you're ecstatic to see Wanda, you don't wanna go back to the Hydra.

"Wanda, I- I don't want to go back to Strucker. The Avengers..." You took a step back from your close proximity to give her your full attention. Her eyes are as beautiful as you remember, but with dark circles adorning them.

"Are enemies. Strucker is dead, Scythe. We're fighting under a new... authority." You knit your brows together, confused at the new profound information.

"My name is Y/N..." The name that the Hydra gave you makes your blood boil. "And the Avengers are not my enemies, Wanda." You see her face morph into an angry one. You try to reach out to her but you can't help but hurt when she flinched away from you.

"They have been in your head. They're manipulating you, Scythe." She angrily spat out. "But don't worry, we will return us home." She's been implying that she's not alone here, but no one could be seen. Before you could ask her, the door behind you hissed. Instinctively, you hid Wanda behind you.

"As much as it's wholesome to see you reunited, I believe we have far more important things to do." A robotic creature revealed himself. You watch it stride confidently in the room with other creatures like it but smaller, and Dr. Cho is behind them. You noticed a red mist clouding the eyes of Dr. Cho.

"Ultron?" You were just guessing, but sensing his arrogance, you knew you were right. 

"Ah, it's nice to meet the ruthless Scythe I've been hearing a lot." You can't attack it without the possibility of Wanda and Dr. Cho getting hurt. 

"Wanda, we have to-" Red mist surrounded you and you find yourself unable to move. Wanda from behind circled around to face you, red tendrils of magic emitting from her hands.

"What are you doing, Wanda?! Let me go!" You struggled in the constraints, but it was futile. You could only squirm as Wanda held you in your place, her face apologetic.

"I'm so sorry, Y/N... This is the only way." As soon as she said that, you heard a succession of Russian words from her mouth that you were all too familiar with.

"No, no, no! Please stop!" You protested, but it never stopped. 

You find yourself waking up as Scythe.

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Finding the real motive of that mad robot, Wanda ordered you to get you both out of there as soon as possible. She felt herself getting sick as she remembers Ultron's plan of extinction.

"I'm so sorry, Y/N... I didn't know..." At this point, she's sobbing uncontrollably. But your cold eyes only met hers as you were still not under control of yourself. She wants to undo what she did to you, but she's afraid that you'll leave her for it. She decides she'll hold on to you as Scythe for the time being.

"Let's get back to Pietro first." 

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The Avengers, minus Natasha, were surprised when the twins joined their side. And finding you alongside with them, but as Scythe. 

When you all go to get ready after the Vision has been born, Wanda heeds the Avengers' request to release you. She dragged you into a room and gently took your face to look directly in your eyes.

"Please forgive me. I didn't mean for this to happen. Don't leave me..." She whispered regretfully. Finally, a red mist clouded your mind, releasing you, and you found yourself staring at Wanda, who was crying.

"I would never..." You wiped her tears and hugged her. Kissing the top of her head, you nudged her to continue getting ready.

At your peripheral vision, you noticed your old things back in the lab with the doctor. The suit, mask, and your favorite daggers are tucked in the corner.

You felt the urge to touch them, and you did. Deciding that you want to put it to good use, you start getting dressed as the Reaper once again. You tucked the mask inside your coat and your daggers behind before joining the group.

You took Wanda's hand and gripped it gently, assuring her that you'd be by her side no matter what. She returned the gesture and gave you a smile that never failed to make your stomach feel things that you don't understand. 

As you settled inside the quinjet, you all listened to the Captain's instructions. Finding out that Natasha has been taken away, you can't help but frown in worry.

"She'll be okay, kid. She's the toughest among the group." Clint surprisingly assured you as he noticed your troubled expression at the mention of Natasha's situation.

You could only huff and look away, missing the concerned and slightly jealous look from Wanda. Sensing his twin, Pietro calms his sister by rubbing her shoulder lightly.

The quinjet landed in Sokovia in no time. You put on the mask and followed your teammates. You were assigned to look for Natasha, and they didn't have to tell you twice as you used your enhanced speed to get to her immediately as soon as you landed.

"Natasha!" 

"Y/n?" Hope and worry interlaced in her voice when she heard yours. How come you're in the enemy's lair? Natasha did not expect you dressed as the Reaper when you popped in front of the cell.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be staying at the compound." You removed your mask to properly examine Natasha for any injuries. You only let out a sigh of relief when there's none.

"It was also compromised. Please step back." Natasha looked at you confusedly when you don't have any weapons in your hands.

"I don't suppose you found a key lying around somewhere."

"There's no need for that." Using your brute strength, you punched the keyhole and pried the gate open. 

"Sometimes I forgot you're basically stronger than anyone." She looked at you proudly and with astonishment. You could only smile shyly at her.

"So what's the plan?"

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You never imagined yourself fighting alongside superheroes, but here you are. You all grunted when Thor challenged the enemies, and they started popping everywhere.

"You had to ask." 

You fought the robots coming on your way with daggers in both hands, coordinated with your enhanced speed and strength, these robots didn't stand a chance against you. 

You checked in on Natasha, then on Wanda, and both of them were handling themselves pretty well. There's no need to worry except for the civilians. After assuring Wanda that you'd get back to her since she's left to protect the core, you joined Pietro and others in getting the civilians to safety. You know she's more than capable of handling it.

Ultron has taken control of the jet and is firing its weapon haphazardly. When you settled a civilian to the boat, you saw Clint getting off to run for a young boy. That's when you noticed Ultron firing in the direction of Clint, and as if in slow motion, you saw Pietro run towards them.

"Pietro!"

A swarm of robots came in your way as you try to reach them on time. Feeling the familiar surge of energy, it bursts from you, dismantling those robots around. You put up a barrier around them just in time, but not fast enough for some bullets to go through.

"You didn't see that coming?" You heard Pietro say it when you were close enough. The energy and barrier had taken a toll on you, rendering you weak on your knees.

From the distance, you heard a painful howl of agony.