Author's note: So I loved Age of Ultron and I'm excited to be writing this story! Any comments/constructive thoughts are appreciated, let me know what you think! I do not own Marvel/Avengers/etc. just my own original character Ruzanna and her parents.
Year: 1998
The cab was silent except for the cantankerous rumble emanating from the engine. For the past week the old farm truck had been nothing but trouble. Breaking down every few days, something new always needing to be replaced or patched up… What would have been a couple days journey was stretched into nearly a week on the road.
Nestled between her parents, Ruzanna picked the peeling vinyl off the seats, flicking them in the air with an empty sigh. For days she had seen nothing but wide rolling hills not filled with so much as a flower. No birds flying past, no shrubs or trees breaking the endless grasslands. Not even a hint of a shadow from the clear skies overhead.
It was a bleak and barren compared to the forests of Romania.
The front wheel dipped into a pothole, jerking everyone forward. Ruzanna felt herself lift off the seat completely and collided with the roof. She nursed her new bump with a pout and a chuckle escaped her father. He snuck a glance but was silenced with a vicious glare. Well as vicious a glare a seven year old could give.
"Are we almost there?" Ruzanna whined as the throbbing faded away.
"We're almost there," Her mother cooed from her left, "Right Garik…" She added with a pointed look at her husband.
"Hmm?" His eyes darted from his wife to his daughter and back to the road, "Oh, yes – yes of course my sweet. Just a few minutes more."
"Just watch, it'll be just like Romania," Her mother added. Ruzanna gave a look of doubt.
"I just don't understand why we had to leave."
"It's complicated my sweet."
Ruzanna shrank back into her seat. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping it would swallow her whole and that she'd wake up in Romania. A warm hand clasped tightly around hers giving it a gentle squeeze. She peeked through one eye, nearly missing the apologetic look her mother shared with her father.
…
"Ruzy wake up," A voice echoed far away. "Livia would you mind grabbing that bag… Ruzanna we're here in Sokovia."
Eyelashes ripped apart to greet a bright and shining sun. Ruzanna groaned, rubbing the crust from her eyes. She hopped out of the truck and eyed the dirt around her. Not a surprise considering the view during their journey.
In the distance she heard a bustling market alive with haggling and trading. A chicken scuttled by her feet, clucking away. Ruzanna scuffed her shoes against the dirt and her parents worked to unload what few possessions they had left.
"Ruzanna, let's go inside," Her father called. She looked up, letting out a small gasp, taking note of the tall building before her.
The setting sun reflected a melting orange burn off the sandstone building. Shuttered windows were scattered in pairs and adorned with flower boxes in full bloom. Thick cable vines stretched up nearly the entire height of the building and Ruzanna gaped up at it, eyes flitting to each webbing branch. The building appeared aged and rundown with its numerous cracks like spider veins.
A group of children playing nearby stopped to stare at Ruzanna as she admired her new home. One of the girls made eye contact and offered Ruzanna a gentle wave. She replied with a smile before scampering off into the building, hot on her parent's heels.
Upstairs in apartment 6B was a small living area linked to an aging kitchen. Off to the side stood two doors, each leading a bedroom. Ruzanna peered inside to see an iron-wrought bed with a nightstand and chest of drawers. She walked over to place her bag on the bed and turned upon hearing her parents walk in.
"How do you like it?" Her father asked.
"It's not Romania, but it's…cozy," She replied, trying to find the best word to describe it. Maybe this place wasn't going to be so bad after all.
"And look, this is the bathroom. It's linked to mine and papa's room," Her mother motioned to the spare door. Livia knelt down so she was eye-to-eye with Ruzanna and patted her hands, "That way we are always connected, if you ever need us."
Ruzanna nodded relaxed knowing her parents were only a few steps away. A knock echoed off the front door and Ruzana felt her mother's grip tighten.
"Don't worry, Livia, I'll get it," Garik whispered, leaving a kiss on her forehead. Soon it was only Ruzanna and her mother in the room. She smiled at her mother, oblivious to the burning fear her mother tried to swallow.
"Hello and welcome! You just moved in, yes?" A deep voice boomed from the doorway. Ruzanna escaped her mother's grip to peer around corner. In front of Garik stood a couple and their two children. "I am Django Maximoff, this is my wife, Marya, and our children Pietro and Wanda."
"Here, I brought a housewarming gift," Marya held out a dish of food. Garik took the steaming food gratefully.
"Thank you, you are so kind."
"It is no worries," She replied with a wave of her hand and her smile grew larger as she cought sight of Ruzanna trying to hide. "Oh, is that your daughter? Hello sweetie!" Marya waved.
Ruzanna shrank back from view but was nudged forward by her mother who appeared behind her, "Come, let us not be rude."
Her father gave a nod of approval, giving her the courage to step closer, "Yes this is my daughter Ruzanna, my wife Livia… And I am Garik. Garik Kazarian" He added.
"A lovely family," Marya smiled, "And you must come for dinner tomorrow!"
"No, we shouldn't-" Livia's cheeks flushed red but Django cut in.
"It is no trouble, besides it'd be good for Pietro and Wanda to get to know Ruzanna, right children?"
They chimed in agreement and Ruzanna recognized Wanda as the girl who waved to her earlier. Both her and Pietro stood a few inches taller but they appeared around the same age. She smiled at the two but Pietro had a funny looked fixed on his face.
"Why are you so dark?" He blurted, staring at Ruzanna.
"Why are you a turd head!" Ruzanna snapped at the boy, glancing down at her bronzed arms. "It's not a bad thing…" She muttered and Pietro looked taken aback by her outburst. This look of surprise soon turned to pain.
"Pietro!" Django smacked his son up the head, earning a howl of protest.
"I'm so sorry, Pietro never thinks before he speaks," Marya gushed and glared pointedly at her son. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Sorry…" He mumbled with a stare fixed to the ground. Ruzanna felt her anger continue to boil just waiting for him to dare look up.
"It's not every day we get an Armenian family here is Sokovia – Not that it's a bad thing," Django rushed to say after Garik narrowed his eyes
"No I understand, children can be a handful," Garik said. He placed a hand of warning on Ruzanna's shoulder and she obediently took a step away from Pietro.
"Well we should be going," Marya ushered her family away from the door, "But please, tomorrow night, dinner? I'll send Wanda down to let you know when it's ready!" Marya continued to say as they walked down the hall. She threw a final smile over her shoulder before climbing up the stairs.
In the apartment, Garik and Livia let out a bout of nervous laughter, but Ruzanna remained frowning at the spot where they had been standing.
The front door rattled from violent knocking and Ruzanna sprang up from her seat on the couch, knowing full well who it was. She opened the door to find a smiling Wanda with Pietro a few steps behind her trying to look annoyed.
"Bye Mama," Ruzanna called, "Wanda and Pietro are here!"
"And where are you going?" Her mother's head appeared from the kitchen as her daughter tried to rush out the room.
"Just to the field behind the building Mama." And with a nod of approval the three raced out the building.
They were sprawled on the field of wildflowers and watched as the clouds floated by. Laughter filled the air as they pointed out various sights of animals and people in the clouds.
"You guys would love Romania," Ruzanna sighed.
Wanda propped herself up on her elbows to face her, "Tell us about it again!"
Before she could respond, Pietro cut her off, "Please, Wanda, you've asked her about a hundred thousand times already."
"Just because you think it's lame doesn't mean I do!" Wanda scowled as her brother donned a mischievous smirk.
"Just ignore him, he's obviously got loose marbles in that big head of his," Ruzanna's taunt wiped the smirk of Pietro's face. He pouted as Wanda erupted into a fit of laughter.
Silence returned but Ruzanna bolted upright and looked at the twins with daring smile, "You guys want to see something cool?" They nodded in unison. "Okay, but we gotta be quiet or else my dad is going to have a fit."
Ruzanna led them up to her apartment and put a slim finger to her lips. They followed with wide eyes into the living room. Soft humming drifted from the kitchen as Livia cooked dinner. All three froze when Pietro's stomach let out a loud groan.
The delicious smells of the hearty stew cooking on the stove were wafting though the air and reminded him that he forgot about lunch. Ruzanna narrowed her eyes, motioning for continued silence. Pietro rolled his eyes.
The door to her parent's room creaked open and they paused, listening for any sounds that her mother heard. "Come on," Ruzanna whispered. She pulled out an old suitcase from under the bed.
Dusting puffed up around them when she propped up the lid. Clear, glistening crystals filled the suitcase. The twins leaned forward, jaws dropped, entranced by the rainbow of colors the reflecting light made.
"What are these?" Wanda reached out to grab one but was smacked away by Ruzanna.
"Don't touch them!" She warned in a low voice, "My father says these are dangerous."
"But then why does he have them?" Pietro questioned, unable to tear his gaze away from them.
"Ruzanna!"
They nearly jumped out of their skin as the bellowing voice echoed around the small room. Slowly, Ruzanna turned to meet the livid face of her father. Her mother rushed behind him and gasped at the sight of the crystals.
"What have I told you about messing with these?" He roared, rushing forward to shut the case. Ruzanna yelped as he yanked her up by her arm.
"I'm sorry…" She tried to say but it came out as garbled nonsense.
"Sir it's not her fault!" Pietro pleaded and stood to face Garik. He gulped when all attention focused on him, "I asked to see them."
Pietro flinched back when Garik took a step forward. "You and your sister need to leave." He said with an icy tone.
"Pietro let's go…" Wanda loudly whispered, tugging at his sleeve. He flashed Ruzanna a wary glance before sprint out the apartment.
"Now I don't know why that boy tried taking the blame for your lack of better judgment," Garik said, frowning as she shied away from him, "but the next time I find you here will result in severe punishment."
Ruzanna nodded rapidly and her father's stern gaze softened at the sight of welling tears. He gathered her in a hug and muttered that he only wanted her safe. She was determined to keep her promise to never look at the crystals again.
But there would be no next time, because that night a shell was launched into the building.
A loud shriek woke scared Ruzanna awake. She jumped out of her covers when a sound louder than death rumbled and the building shook. The force knocked her to the floor and she cried out chunks of the ceiling fell away.
The violent shaking stopped and the cries of confusion and fear began. Realization dawned that a shell had hit the building and Ruzanna rushed into the living room. A gaping hole filled the room.
"Mama!" She cried, "Papa?"
"My sweet…" Ruzanna heard her mother's faint voice. She scanned the wreckage and gasped at the sight of her parents pinned under the rubble.
"Mama!" Ruzanna cried again. Panic washed over her when she couldn't find a way around the hole.
"No my sweet," Her mother urged, coughing the dirt out her lungs, "Go to my room, hide under the bed!"
"Where's Papa?"
"Go hide my sweet!" Her mother ordered.
Ruzanna turned away with a whimper and willed her heavy legs to move faster. Her parent's room was a mess. The dresser was toppled over and spilling clothes across the floor. Her mother's perfumes were crashed, creating a sickly sweet smell of flowers and dirt.
That's when the second shell hit, crashing into the floor above. This time, the shaking was not as intense but a portion of the ceiling crashed down onto the bed. Ruzanna dropped into a fetal position in the corner and looked up when the dust had settled.
"Oh no," She cried. Shards of the crystals littered the floor. Ruzanna dropped to her knees trying to gather them up to put away. She coughed and dust appeared to rise up, clouding the room.
She looked up and a large crack formed overhead. Ruzanna watched with wide eyes as the ceiling caved completely and the world went black.
...
"Agent Coulson, sir I've found something!" An agent called to his superior.
Shield agents were swarming the remaining rubble of the building in Sokovia. They believed this attack more than just war activity and it was up to them to figure out why. Agent Coulson walked over a fallen beam to the agents struggling to move a large chunk of rock.
"Oh my god," He gaped. Staring at the small figure that had been trapped under the heavy object for the last few days. Dark curly hair was matted and tangled in knots. Her face was had a childlike roundness that came to rest at a pointed chin, but what stopped Coulson in his tracks was her skin. It was silver and it gleamed as if made of metal. She began to stir and the coating faded away to reveal normal skin.
Ruzanna heard voices. Everything ached. Her back, her arms, her head felt like it would explode. She blinked her eyes open to see two people standing over her. One of them knelt closer and tried to give a kind smile. The other stood tall and glared down with one eye hidden by an eye patch.
"I'm Agent Coulson," the man who smiled said, "what's your name?"
She barely made out his English but understood the word name, "Ruzanna." She said, pointing to herself.
Ruzanna watched as the men turned to talk with each other. "Commander Fury, why do you think she survived that?" Agent Coulson side glanced at her struggles to sit upright, "Think it has something to do with that coating?"
"I don't know," he said, eyes trained on the child, "we'll just have to find out."
