Chapter 3
Drip, drip drip.
The methodical sound of water seeping through the cracks in the cave is what I come to. Ultron is standing outside the bars with an oddly robotic smirk. I can hear his gears moving around in every movement he makes. I slowly stand my body not quite ready to support itself and lean against the wall. I look past Ultron and see the cavern that he has created with thousands of bots ready to do his bidding, but I suppose they’re all him. I shiver and cross my arms across my body as he growls and walks away from the cell.
After several minutes I hear footsteps running down one of the walkways and hide myself in one of the larger crevices of the cave. I hear two voices but only hear one set of footsteps and make the conclusion that Natalia is one of them. I peek out and see Bruce and Natalia looking around. I step out and run my fingers across the bars in front of me.
“Hey guys, long time no see?” I asked, lacing my voice with sarcasm. I bow again with my arms outstretched and a wide smile.
“Oh thank god.” Natalia sighed as she elbowed Bruce.
I raised my eyebrows at her obvious relief but chose not to question it, after all, she was still going to be dead. I peeled the tracker off of my shirt and tossed it to her through the bars. Bruce’s jaw dropped and it took another elbow from Natalia to continue doing what he was currently doing. After a few moments the door popped off and I walked up to Natalia eye-to-eye.
“I will resume my mission after I help your sorry asses save the world.” I say keeping a steely glare before grabbing my weapons Ultron stupidly left on the table in the open.
I didn’t hear a reply as I flew up to the now floating city and began dragging the many civilians off of the giant floating rock. Upon landing for the last time I could successfully manage, due to untrained powers, I began to assist in the actual fighting bit. I haven’t seen any Avengers running around yet but decided that they’re professionals, so they probably know what they’re doing...right?
I heard a large thud behind me and spun around to see Natalia climbing off the Hulk. The Hulk looked highly pissed and I ducked quickly when he flew over my head attacking more robots that seemed to never end.
“Follow me, the rest of the team is waiting.” Natalia commanded.
I would’ve argued had I not known they communicated throughout battles with earpieces. We didn’t encounter many robots on our way and helped the few straggling civilians into safer areas as we made our way toward the middle of the city. Rounding the last corner we came across Wanda, Captain America, or Steve.I wonder if he knew about his best buddy being alive. Natalia stopped dead in her tracks eyeing the Sokovian.
“Is that my jacket?” Natalia asked, seemingly annoyed.
“She’s with us.” Steve assured her and I found myself snorting as Clint came into the building.
“That still doesn’t explain why she’s wearing my jacket.” Natalia replied and I rolled my eyes wondering why we were talking about this in the middle of battle.
Wanda’s eyes practically bugged out of her head as she turned away from Natalia, who was now occupied conversing with the Captain and Clint. I walked toward Wanda, my arms crossed as my eyes fell down to her shoes...well, MY shoes.
“Once a thief, always a thief I suppose.” I growled out but made no indication of hurting her or taking them back.
“There are people still hiding in the city,” Wanda explained. At least someone here had an actual heroic thought other than cleaning up their mess.
“Do something about it.” Steve nodded in her direction and I felt a small sliver of hate eat at me as I wanted to smack that arrogance off his face. “Clint, watch her six.”
I watched the two of them run away, silently relieved that he hadn’t sent Wanda off on her own. “Now?” Natalia asked, walking toward Rogers and I looked at him assuming he must be in charge then.
“We fight robots.” He answered as she pulled her weapons out of her pockets and lit them up.
“Today? We fight robots today?” I heard Pietro say after zooming up beside me and I smirked at the other two who shook their heads.
“Yes, today.” I answer.
They ran off and Pietro held his hand out to me. Cautiously, I took his hand and he lifted me up before taking off to the church where a few of the other Avengers were fighting. Then, Pietro took off again and I fell in with the group, several of them throwing confused glances my way. I sighed realizing that none of them had been told I was joining them and wondered just how bad their communication was. I wasn’t too sure what was happening because I couldn’t hear the rest of them but a little while later Pietro ran up with Wanda in his arms and placed her next to me. She shot me a small smile as the three of us fought pretty much back to back. Natalia pulled up in a fricking freight truck and walked out as the robots had died off.
“What’s the drill?” She asked Tony and I just rubbed my eyes feeling the exhaustion of the day taking over.
“This is the drill. If Ultron gets a hand on the core, we lose. Game over.” Tony answered as the twins glanced at each other briefly and I sighed with the neverending robot stream continued.
Ultron landed in front of us as the Hulk joined up with everyone. “Is that the best you can do?” Thor yelled out and I cursed him for being so arrogant. These people might just kill me.
Ultron raised his hand and I felt a slight whisper of a whimper escape my throat as another entire army climbed out of the shadows. “Ya had to ask?” Cap looked at Thor sarcastically as everyone took a deep breath.
“This is the best I can do. This is exactly what I wanted. All of you against all of me. How can you possibly hope to stop me?” Ultron explained simply and I shivered at the coldness of it all.
“Like the old man said, together.” Tony replied as Hulk roared. I think Tony and Steve would be cute together.
This served as the beginning of a very long and tiring battle. The noise never ceased as the thousands of robots rushed toward us. Wanda was taking out entire rows at a time and I smiled at how powerful she was. Pietro ran circles around them and I laughed as the twins utterly outfought all the Avengers, minus maybe Thor and the Hulk, combined. They fought like a well-oiled machine, each covering each others’ backs and I felt guilt taking place for what I was about to do to their team. In the end, it took Vision, Thor, and Tony to take out the main Ultron. As Ultron began to speak, the Hulk punched him and chased the ones that tried to flee.
The heros that could currently fly all took off and I rested my hands against my knees. The rest of us turned to Cap. “Let’s take care of the rest of the civilians. Someone needs to stay here though.”
“I will.” I answered standing up before Wanda stepped in front of me pushing me into Pietro who wrapped his arms around me.
“No, I will stay. You guys all leave.” Wanda interrupts my moment. Steve nods as they all jog away. I try to break out of Pietro’s grip but it’s no use. I’m too tired. Wanda walks up to me with a small smile. “I saw what’s in your mind, you are tired. I will see you on the other side.”
I pause at her revelation and look at the two rapidly. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you were the little girl we had played with at the park. Natasha was there with you. She was still working for the red room. You don't remember it. At least not consciously. Your mind has been played with, it’s muddled.” She answered quickly before continuing, “if you continue with this, you’ll die. Your body can only take so much as you were given a set amount of hours to kill Natasha before needing to go and rest. Otherwise, you’ll die. Your time was up a long time ago and you’ve slowly been dying because of not resting.”
I tense at the realization and fight harder but before I break free Pietro has run me to the edge of the city. I growl as he lets me go and turn around throwing punches but he dodges all of them and I feel a tickling sensation at my feet. Looking down I see a widow bite and laugh stepping out of it’s reach. The shocked faces of the others are clear as I see that there aren’t any more civilians in the floating city. I realize that this was an attempt to easily take me but instead, Pietro simply picks me up and carries me onto the raft closest to us. I don’t fight but just give in and collapse to my knees sweating from overexerting myself with minimal rest in between. I look toward the middle of the city hoping to see Wanda but seeing nothing because of the buildings in my way.
I watch as Clint runs off the raft towards what seems to be a child but can’t bring myself to stand up. Clint gras the child and begins to make his way back. I hear shooting and my eyes don’t leave Clint. I stand as Pietro runs off and I yell out as I throw up a shield of Earth in between the three and the bullets. I throw the helicopter into a nearby building with the air and sink to my knees as my vision goes dark. I feel arms wrapping around me as I cease to breathe.
Death is a weird sensation. Everything is black and silent. However, it never lasts long. I hear the scream of Wanda as she too passes out and joins me in the void. It’s not quite death but also not life. Her eyes lock onto mine for a split second before she is pulled away and I hope she has returned to life not the other way around. Perhaps, they will have mercy on me, as I did die a heroic death. A set of gold doors appears before me and I step through already knowing what will pass already having to do it hundreds of times.
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My head feels like it's on fire and I suppress a groan wondering why Madame has decided to have me rest on a bed this time. I hate when she does that. The floor is much safer. I resist moving and slowly open my eyes. I freeze seeing a very unfamiliar room and try to recall what has been happening. I jump out of the bed, a deep panic taking place as the door flings open and an almost familiar red-head enters quickly but keeping her distance. Smart, I think as I calm my nerves and mask my emotions before sitting in one of the chairs in front of me. The red-head does the same but keeps her eyes on me as the door slowly shuts.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath as I slowly go through events in my head ignoring the time skips as always. I do have to say, this is the most pleasant way I have been allowed to gather my thoughts in a long time. Suddenly, everything comes back. My eyes fling open as I look around the room panicked. I’m not supposed to remember these things.
“Wanda and Pietro.” I say trying and failing to stay calm.
“They’re okay, I promise. I just wanted to see how you were doing before seeing them.” Natalia answered and my hands clenched at having her so close but not being allowed to take action upon it without seeing them first.
Hey eyes trail down to my arms and legs. I realize that I am only in shorts and a tank top and my face drains of its color. Natalia’s face is red and she’s glaring at me. I should’ve known this was just a test. Now, I’m going to be wiped and frozen again because I remembered. Stupid, I was thinking loudly and sunk back into the chair. She quickly stands and exits the room and I know she’s angry because you can hear her stomping down the hall. In her haste the door is left open and I briefly consider running but before I even step one foot out the door Pietro and Wanda are standing in the doorway, both looking slightly pissed.
“Oh… heh… heyyyy guys… how’s life?” I asked them, wrapping my arms around my sides nervously.
Pietro holds out a set of clothes wordlessly and then closes the door. I don’t hear them moving so I assume that this is what I have to do. It should be easy, please them until I can get away. Though I’m not sure I could actually go anywhere without dying, not that that really mattered to me. I pull the hoodie over my head and slide the sweat pants on before cautiously opening the door, almost afraid of the consequences that I was sure had to be coming. Pietro was gone and I wasn’t really surprised.
“Come, we’re going to my room. You can wait there while the Avengers discuss what to do with you.” Wanda explained, grabbing my hand with a small smile.
I feel every ounce of hope leaving my body at her words and shame myself for thinking that just because they’re supposedly the ‘good guys’ they’d be any better. An immense amount of guilt hits me as I realize that they must be hurting Wanda and Pietro even more because I wasn’t awake. My feet suddenly stop and I feel Wanda trying to enter my mind but seemingly asking for permission first. I hesitantly nod, not really wanting to say aloud that I was sorry for the pain I have caused them. Wanda gasps softly as her arms wrap around me and I am pulled into her.
“No, маче. They don’t do those things here. We are safe. I meant your… problem.” Wanda reassures tapping my wrist and I feel myself relax a little knowing that they haven’t been hurt.
“What do you mean? I don’t have an issue with anyone. Well maybe Natalia but I’m not entirely sure why. She just seems to annoy me. Like I was supposed to kill her but don’t want to now but it’s like an instinct.” I reply not moving from the affection that I have never really had the chance to have. It was an odd sensation but nice nonetheless.
Wanda swept me up and walked through a door into what I assumed to be her room before answering me. “ You can’t harm yourself, маче. It’s not okay. You’re too great for that.”
I bit my lip hoping to find an escape from this conversation but seeing how we were now sitting on Wanda’s bed with her arms around me I didn’t see that happening anytime soon. I sigh and simply sink into her arms while pulling my hands completely into the sleeves. I wonder whose sweatshirt this is, it’s way too big for any of the girls. I’m thankful for the size though and relish in the deep blue hue.
“It’s not a big deal…” I mumbled but felt Wanda’s arms tighten at my statement.
“Don’t say that.”
“But, it’s true. I’ve hurt many people. I’m not worth anything. I don’t have a place on this Earth anymore.” The words slipped from my mouth before I heard a soft cough from the doorway behind us and closed my eyes.
Wanda released me onto the bed and stepped outside as Pietro entered his hands behind his back and a wicked goofy grin plastered on his face. “I, the great, and amazing, Pietro Maximoff, brought you the girl bright as the stars, some food.” Pietro mimicked my bow and held the food out.
I rolled my eyes at his antics and took a singular chip from the plate to eat. Pietro frowned before holding the plate out again. “I’m not really hungry, Pietro.” I say my nose scrunching up at the thought of eating all of that food.
“Ah, I see. Never fear, I shall find you later then.” With another bow Pietro took off and I laughed at his mischievous antics.
There’s a soft knock on the door and I face it to see Natalia and Steve stroll in as if they own the place. I see Tony and Clint behind them. Clint’s eyes light up upon seeing me and he waves before Natalia sends him a glare that has him being serious again. I find myself sinking into the hoodie more than before when all four of the adults gaze at me.
“So, I am assuming that this means I cannot stay here? I would like to at least visit the twins occasionally. I promise when I do that I can be handcuffed or whatever, I just want to make sure they’re-” I get cut off by Tony.
“You’re staying here. I mean, in this room. With Wanda and Pietro. Well, not his room, but this apartment.”
“You’re not allowed to leave this room without at least one other person. FRIDAY will alert us if you try. We’re not sure of your motives yet and our first and foremost goal is to protect the people in this city.” Steve continued.
“We’d like you to join us in training and for dinner, as that’s most of our bonding time. Eventually, you will also be required to come to Friday evening activities for fun as a team.” Clint explained.
“I will be working directly with you and the twins, everyday. I want to help you guys assimilate to life here and will be reaching out to an acquaintance that you each will talk to monthly, at least. I will also be making sure all of you follow strict schedules for food, sleep, and exercise so that you are ready for any threats. These things are non negotiable.” Natalia states leaving no room for arguing.
I roll my eyes, like hell I’ll be treated like a child now. It’s been sixteen years since anyone has tried that. I laughed before wiping my eyes and stood to leave the room. Upon standing all four adults took a step toward me and I saw all of the determined. I pause wondering what they were determined to do.
“And if I say no? That I want to be handed over to the government?” I asked my head tilting to the side.
“Then all of you, Wanda, Pietro, and you, will be turned over to the government to do with as it pleases.” Natalia answered not even trying to hide her grimace.
I fall back onto the bed, my head reeling at the prospect of the other two being tortured and experimented on because I didn’t want to play nice with these arrogant pricks. My hands reached for my hair, twisting a small piece of it as I considered my options. If I stayed here, I could always choose to escape later and the other two should still be safe.
“Very well, I’ll play nice, for now.” I decided looking straight at Natalia, making it known that I would not be staying here, one way or another.