Burning

The Quinjet slowed as the Avengers approached their destination. A broken group of rusted ships stabbed through the surface of the South African ocean, an ugly pile of garbage in an otherwise blue waters. It looked just like the satellite photos, Natasha thought to herself. Klaue’s information was proving to be good so far.

“Clear and present is Ultron,” Steve was saying, pacing the deck of the jet. Save Clint who listened from the pilot’s seat, the other Avengers were gathered around considering their plan. “He will probably escape into the internet again, but if we can stop him and the Iron Legion from taking the vibranium, that will be a big win.”

“Let’s hope he doesn't have too much of a head start,” Bruce said.

Nat was thinking the same. The extra hours flying to and from Vegas definitely had them playing catch up. And it was fair to say that she and her boyfriend had taken a few more precious minutes on their mission than necessary, but selfishly, she wouldn’t have traded that time for the world.

“Second objective is the twins,” James cut in, bringing her thoughts back to the situation at hand. “They’re young and idealistic. I don’t think they realize what they’re getting into. We need to convince them to leave Ultron.”

Tony snorted, running a hand through his dark hair. “Someone else can handle the weird sister. I have no desire to let her in my head again.”

James, clearly not ready to forgive Tony’s previous transgressions, barked a laugh. “You were brainwashed for what, 60 seconds?” He snapped. “That’s cute.”

“It’s not a competition, gentlemen,” Natasha interjected, placing a hand on her boyfriend’s knee while simultaneously holding up her other hand in Tony’s direction, attempting to head off a fight before it started. “I think we all just need to be aware of what Wanda can do and keep far enough away that she can’t affect our minds.”

“I’ll try to talk to them if I get the chance,” Clint commented over his shoulder. “I’m good with kids.”

Nat bit her lip. He was, it was true. She had seen him with his own children, and Clint Barton was a natural father figure. But she was surprised he admitted that outloud to the team when he kept his personal life so carefully shielded from the rest of them.

Fortunately, no one commented on his statement and the group went about strapping themselves in for landing.

“So ah…” Bruce began, slowly. “What’s my role here?”

“I don’t imagine adolescents and robots will be more than we can handle,” Thor said, handing Steve his helmet. “We’ll let you know if there’s a code green.”

Bruce nodded, turning his attention to his seatbelt. Natasha let out a long breath and glanced at James, who met her eyes and held them. She recognized his thoughts instantly; he didn’t share Thor’s confidence. Facing Ultron and the twins was not going to be a cakewalk.

She swallowed hard and leaned her head back against her seat, doing to best to concentrate on the landing checklist rather than her own fears. Ready or not, they were going in.

They split into two groups when entering the broken ships. Tony, Steve, and Thor taking a direct approach, strolling straight in. Nat, James, and Clint dispersed into the shadows, playing support, hoping to keep the element of surprise when the inevitable fight came. Slipping comfortably into the role of a spy and saboteur, Natasha moved slowly along a wall on the level about the first trio, doing her best to keep a line of sight on her friends below.

The atmosphere within the old ship was uncomfortable to say the least. The smell of rust and salt filled her senses, humidity sitting heavy in the air, wrapping around her limbs, stifling her breath. It was difficult to keep her footsteps quiet on the metal floor, and Nat often found herself wincing as she heard movement from the other Avengers. Fortunately, Ultron and his minions were somewhat distracted.

Her friends below came to a stop on a narrow catwalk, Ultron and the Maximoff twins directly ahead of them on the other end. Nat’s eyes shifted from the scene below to search the railing on her own level. James was on another catwalk directly across from hers, his eyes trained downward, watching the others with rapt attention. She couldn’t see Clint, but Natasha guessed he was somewhere close as well, probably somewhere higher up.

“On this rock,” Ultron was saying, caressing a bar of vibranium with his metal fingertips, “I will build my church.”

“Religious? You didn’t get that from me, Junior,” Tony remarked, stepping forward and drawing Ultron’s attention. Their three advisories turned to face the three Avengers, all looking a little smug.

“No, I wouldn’t think so,” Ultron replied, a thoughtful hum in his tinny voice. “Man doesn’t often put any god before himself.”

Steve shifted at Tony’s side. “You sure are quick to judge all men by the actions of a few.”

“And who should I judge them by? You?” The robot chuckled. “You may think you’re righteous, but you can’t seem to live without a war.”

Natasha watched as Thor’s fingers shifted, gripping the handle of Mjolnir a little tighter. Her own fingers did the same on the railing before her.

“A wise man never seeks out war,” Thor said, “but he must always be ready for it.”

Ultron cocked his head. “How ready?” he asked. But before giving the Avengers time to answer, he launched an energy attack directly at Tony.

Nat eased back from the railing, closer to the safety of the shadows as Ultron’s robotic minions sprung to life around her companions below. Tony, Steve, and Thor were immediately engaged in battle, and Natasha didn’t miss the blur of blue and silver as Pietro also joined the fight. Wanda, on the other hand, quietly stepped backwards and through a doorway, out of sight.

Natasha glanced up, only just catching a glimpse of James as he moved quickly, surely making his way down to join his friends. As for the Black Widow, she had decided to track down Wanda.

—-

Bucky rushed across the catwalk and down the nearest flight of stairs, taking the steps two at a time. It no longer mattered how much noise his heavy feet made, all that mattered was getting to his friends, and to the kids, before someone got hurt.

The first wave of enemies was made up of what had been Stark’s Iron Legionnaires, and his three friends were pretty well tied up with them. He hurried to the heart of the battle ready to take on the robots, but also sweeping the scene around him for the twins.

It didn't take long to find one of them. Shortly after the Winter Soldier’s metal fist decommissioned one of their foes, he caught sight of Pietro zipping around. The boy took full advantage of the Avengers’ distraction with the robots, shoving Thor off balance, even throwing a punch at Steve’s chin. Bucky chose his timing carefully, then stepped out into the open, right into Pietro’s path. Strong legs braced himself on the metal grate beneath him, arms flexed, fists clenched, but Bucky kept his hands at his sides. He blocked Pietro’s way, but did his best to show he wasn’t trying to fight.

The boy skidded to a halt in front of him, eyes widening as he looked the Soldier up and down. But it wasn’t long before that familiar, cocky grin curled his lips upward.

“Ah, the traitor shows his face,” Pietro said.

Bucky kept his eyes on the teen, his voice steady. “I wouldn’t call myself a traitor, considering I never chose to be on Hydra's side to begin with.”

Pietro leaned forward, jabbing a finger at him. “Perhaps not, but you betrayed me all the same.”

His worst stung, and Bucky swallowed hard. “You’re right,” he admitted, slowly. “But I didn't want to. I didn’t have a choice. I had orders.”

“Sure,” the boy replied with a snort. He began to pace back and forth across their narrow catwalk. He never was one to hold still for long, Bucky remembered. “And do your new friends know about it? How long before you betray them too?”

It was difficult not to shout back in his own defense, but Bucky managed to hold his tongue behind gritted teeth. “This is different,” he said. “This is keeping the world safe. This is something I believe in.”

Pietro’s wry smile returned. “Ultron also wants to keep peace. And last I checked, it was Tony Stark’s name painted on bombs, not Ultron’s.”

“Ultron is using you, and your sister,” Bucky insisted, his voice firm. “When you’ve outlived your usefulness, he’ll discard you. Just like Klaue, just like Strucker.”

Pietro faltered. “Strucker?”

That was it. That was the foothold he needed. Bucky pushed forward. “Ultron didn’t tell you? Strucker’s dead. Ultron had fun finger painting with his blood.”

The boy’s blue eyes wavered, shifting down to his feet before meeting his gaze again. He looked angry. Confused. Scared.

Taking a chance, Bucky took a step forward. “Pietro, look…”

But the kid held up his hands and shook his head before suddenly streaking off in the other direction.

Bucky swore and raised his metal fist, bringing it down hard against a nearby railing in a sudden burst of anger. The flimsy bars crumpled beneath his force, but he didn’t care. He was never very good at talking his way through situations, and this was no exception. Just when he thought he might be getting through to Pietro…

“If you’d like to punch something a little more satisfying,” Thor shouted from behind, drawing Bucky out of his thoughts, “might I suggest you help us with some of these robots?”

Bucky snorted. “Sure thing,” he quipped before turning to face the battle. Maybe hitting a few enemies would help him feel better.

—-

As she moved through the windowless hallways of the wrecked ship, Natasha could hear the sounds of battle all around her. The echoes made it difficult to place what noises were coming from where, as everything reverberated through the rusty walls at seemingly the same volume. Never mind that the twists and turns felt like a maze to a newcomer like herself, it was all she could do to keep her bearings.

A few men tried to get the jump on her, probably the remainder of Klaue’s crew, but Nat saw their motion from the corner of her eye with enough time to react. She dispatched the three of them quickly and easily.

What she didn’t see coming, however, was Wanda Maximoff silently sneaking up as she was engaged in the fight.

It started before she even realized the witch had touched her mind. At first, Nat didn’t notice anything different as she continued down the halls of the ship. Then the corridor began to get a little fuzzy around the edges. She turned a corner to find some of the walls had been painted a light grey. Then some had tall windows, stretching up to the ceiling.

Natasha paused in her steps. It felt impossible, yet completely familiar all at once.

The Red Room. The place she had no control, no hope for a future. Where her only sense of fulfillment came from hurting others. Something in her mind was screaming at her that this couldn’t be real… but the screams sounded fuzzy, muted, far away. The more she tried to concentrate on them, the dimmer they became.

Nearby there were young girls… her sisters… learning how to shoot, learning how to fight, practicing ballet in the just next room over without being bothered by the sound of shots nearby. She felt the grip of a gun, heavy and cold in her hand. The Madame was there, coaching her, guiding her, giving her orders that she never even thought to disobey. Natasha caught her reflection in one of the windows. She wore a simple blue dress and had bangs in her hair. She looked youthful, but far from innocent.

Natasha looked back to the dancers, searching their faces. There was one in particular that she wanted to see. One she cared more about than the others. As if she could regain her sense of hope if she could just catch a glimpse of her. A little girl at the far end spun on her toes, blond hair whirling around her. Nat stepped forward, but the girl turned away before she could see her face.

“After the graduation ceremony, you will take your place in the world,” the Madame said, her voice as cold and stoic as always.

Staring at the dancers, Natasha felt a shiver run up her spine. The ceremony.

“I have no place in the world,” she said, her voice sounding much too meek to her own ears.

The Madame nodded curtly. “Exactly.”

Natasha spun to face her, but was instead greeted with the sight of another room. This one was less familiar, but she knew it just the same. It wasn’t her home in the Red Room. It was a part of Hydra’s facility.

She stepped forward, searching the nameless faces of the men working around her. She felt lost. Hopeless. Just like she had the last time she had been in this room.

A pair of men in white lab coats parted, and Natasha quickly drew to a stop at the sight before her. It was James, shirtless, sweating, teeth clenched in pain, eyes screwed shut. She took a quick step forward, but felt an iron grip on her arm.

Natasha looked backward to find the Madame, her clawed hand holding her fast. She turned back to James as he opened his clear blue eyes. Eyes that were completely devoid of any emotion.

Those eyes glanced at her, then moved on to the others in the room without registering anything at all. He looked through her, as if she didn’t exist. He didn’t know her, Natasha realized. James was gone.

Shaking, she leaned back on her heels, her face feeling hot, her eyes stinging. “My place was at his side,” she said.

The Madame was silent for a beat. “Not anymore.”

They had taken everything from her.

—-

The Soldier put one more well placed punch into one of the Legionaire’s heads before straightening with satisfaction. Metal lay all around him, twisted, sparking, but lifeless.

Silence fell over the old ship for a few glorious seconds, and Bucky relished the peaceful sounds of waves lapping against its steel hull. Ultron was gone again, and so we’re the twins, probably. But they had kept at least some of the vibranium from falling into the wrong hands. He’d take his victories where he could.

He turned to find Stark lowering himself to a nearby platform, helm lowered. His expression showed the same tired satisfaction Bucky felt. But none of the other Avengers were in his line of sight, Bucky suddenly realized. His spine straightened and he was about to ask about their missing friends when an earthquake shook the ship.

No, not quite an earthquake. But something had shaken the ground and water beneath them. Something powerful.

He met Stark’s eyes briefly, reading the mutual alarm there, before the man raised his helmet and shot upward through the ship. Bucky, on the other hand, started off to find his friends.

Natasha didn’t answer her comm. Neither did Steve. Bucky’s heart was beginning to pound faster in his chest when Clint’s voice sounded in his ear, cutting off his thoughts.

“Buck, you’d better get up here. Third level, starboard side.”

The Soldier was in motion before Clint had finished speaking. He could hear the concern in his friend’s voice, and he did his best not to panic about the possibilities as he moved. Worrying didn’t do any good, he told himself. But at the same time, if Natasha was hurt… or…

Leaping up the last few steps, Bucky yanked a railing to propel him to the left. He rounded another corner into a shadowy hallway and found Clint hunched over Natasha’s seated form.

Bucky nearly shoved his friend out of the way as he took a kneeling position in front of his girlfriend. She had a vacant look in those meadow green eyes, unfocused, not seeing him or any of the scene around him. She was in a world of her own.

He recognized it immediately. This was Wanda’s doing.

“Is she hurt otherwise?”

Clint shook his head. “Not that I can see.”

Bucky gingerly reached his right hand out to brush a strand of red hair behind her ear. “Tasha?”

She didn’t react. He brought both hands gently to her cheeks, his face close to hers.

“Natasha, I know you’re in there,” he tried again. “It’s me, James. C’mon, sweetheart. Talk to me.”

She inhaled slightly through parted lips, but otherwise remained motionless, trapped in her own mind.

“I could really use a lullaby right now,” Stark cut in over the comms.

Bucky turned his head to see Clint staring at him, eyes filled with concern. So the Hulk was loose; that was the quake he felt earlier. This day just keeps getting better, he thought, giving Clint a small shake of his head.

“That’s not gonna happen,” his friend relayed into his earpiece. “Not for a while.”

Footsteps closed in around them, and Bucky glanced up to find Steve and Thor approaching.

“The witch warped my mind too,” Thor admitted, his voice sounding sluggish.

Steve nodded as well, his eyes glassy, tired. “She’ll come out of it too, right Buck?”

Bucky’s eyes returned to Natasha’s even as she stared straight through his. “Yeah,” he replied slowly. “She has more darkness in her past than most people. Might just take a little longer for her to recover.”