You're everything I thought you never were
And nothing like I thought you could have been
They were never meant to be. How could they? Nothing good ever happened to him or her, and if it did; it never lasted. It was a cycle for them. They were used to it.
"Who are you?"
Those were the first words she said to him. The first time they met. Neither of them could or would ever forget it. She was his target; his mission. He and his beloved sister had decided to accept Coulson's request to join SH.I.E.L.D. Many had objected to the Maximoff twins joining because of their initial role in assisting Ultron. But after Clinton and the other Avengers testified to the twins' heroic actions during the final battle, all protest quickly died down.
Like all initiates, they went through training. Nothing out of the norm. After being experimented on by Hydra, almost anything S.H.I.E.L.D. threw at them was relatively easy. Soon enough, they started going on missions. They quickly rose to the top and became two of Shield's best agents.
It was a few months after joining the agency that they were assigned a mission. The mission that would forever change his life and hers.
Amara Rasia Bennett.
Poor girl never had a chance. Abandoned in an alley at only three days old, a Good Samaritan found the infant and brought her to a local hospital. Of course, it was almost impossible to locate her birth parents so she was placed in the system. She went from house to house, home to home, and it was always the same thing. Something always went wrong.
It started out as small things. As far back as she could remember, whenever she was upset or sad or angry, something would fall. A book off the shelf, a bottle of perfume off the dresser. Little things. Then, when she was eight, she fell off her bike and scraped her knee. This particular family was one of the many cruel ones. They refused to give her any aid and forced the child to tend to her bleeding knee on her own. She was devastated. Five minutes later, she heard a piercing scream and found her foster mother, who was applying makeup to her face in the bathroom, dead. Thousands of pieces of glass scattered all over her face.
Everyone called the death a "Freak accident," but Amara knew the truth. She killed the woman, unintentionally, but still a murder. No one suspected the child, but she was still returned to the state shortly after the funeral. Her future families would never keep her for more than two months following the incident. They didn't suspect her to be the culprit, but instead were wary of taking in a child who had witnessed such a thing.
When she was fifteen, after a butcher knife "found" its way into the back of her would be rapist at her current foster home, she ran away. That's when they found her. The man was nice enough. He offered her permanent shelter and a place where she would never have to worry about hurting anyone or being hurt ever again. Desperate and naïve, she accepted.
HYDRA, as she learned it was called, became her home. For a year, they facilitated her, worked with her. They taught her how to control her "gifts" as they called them and even helped her unleash more of her abilities. Then, once she finally mastered control, it all changed.
They drugged her, took her out of the country, to a remote location just outside of Russia and experimented on her. Of course, she tried to fight back, but realized their helping her control her gifts also meant they knew how to control her and had created serums and drugs that hindered her abilities. She was trapped. She now understood everything. They were never interested in her. They were interested in her gifts. Specifically, they wanted to find out the source and a way to duplicate it. For two years, she was tested, experimented on, and tortured.
Any type of escape or plan to end her life all ended with viscous beatings and more torture. Eventually, she gave up and accepted her fate as HYDRA's guinea pig.
That's when he came. SHIELD had found another one of Hydra's secret locations and made it a mission to take it down. Not only was it a major lab for their experiment, but also many Shield agents were being held hostage. Captain America, Black Widow, along with the twins and a few agents were sent.
Natasha was in charge of gathering whatever Intel she could, while Steve and a few agents were the "muscle" and the twins were in charge of the rescue part.
Amara was lying in her cell, weak and barely coherent after a brutal beating earlier for "getting out of line." She heard the emergency sirens go off, letting her know there was a security breach. But she didn't care. They could bomb the place. She was too weak to move, and too tired to fight back. As far as she was concerned, they could all go to hell.
"Get up wench!" She heard a man with a thick accent yell as he frantically jammed the code in to open the gates to her cell. "We're under attack!"
"Really?" Amara yawned, still starring at the wall. "I hadn't noticed." She knew she was going to die, so it didn't matter what she said or did at this point.
"Why you little!" The man spat harshly before marching into the cell and yanking her up by her hair. Amara screamed internally, but refused to show her pain on the outside. "We must get you out of here quick. Shield must not-"
"Shield?" She questioned. She heard much talk about this Shield. They were Hydra's biggest threat. "You don't stand a chance," she giggled.
"Silence!" He yelled as his fist made contact with her stomach. She doubled over in pain.
"Sir!" A bleeding man came running up to the cell. "Captain America has just taken out another quadrant."
The man holding Amara cursed loudly in his native language, "What else?!" He demanded, noticing the hesitant look on the his face.
"The twins are with them…." Amara's eyebrows creased. She had no idea who the twins were but judging by the expression on the bastards face, they weren't good news.
"Traitors," he spit bitterly. "Come, we must move quickly before they-"
"Black Widow has infiltrated the control room. All carriers are-" The man didn't even get a chance to finish his sentence. A bullet to his forehead made sure of it.
"Ya know," Amara chuckled. "Now would probably be a good time to start your confessions-" This time she screamed loudly as she was thrown against the cell wall.
"You are priceless to us and your gifts are unlike anything we've ever seen," the man admitted. Amara looked up at him with rage and hate. "Losing you would be catastrophic." A beat. "But letting Shield get their hands on you could mean the end to us all," he shakes his head.
"Really? Where do I sign up then?" She fakes enthusiasm before being backhanded. Gently putting her hand to her mouth, she feels the blood starting to form. "I hope you burn in hell."
He smiles evilly as he raises his gun to her head, "I have no plans to die today wench."
"Just get it over with you bastard," she gritted out, closing her eyes and preparing to finally be at peace. Hopefully.
She heard the click, and inhaled, waiting for the brief burn.
But, it never came.
Instead, she heard a swoosh and then a snap. Opening her eyes, she gasped at the sight of the man on the floor. Dead. His neck had been snapped.
She let out a shaky breath and looked down at him, "What-"
"Huh," her head quickly turned to look at the cell door where a man stood. "Guess he didn't see that coming?"
"Who are you?" She breathed out. He was tall, with white hair that was brown at the roots and had a little facial hair. He also spoke with a thick accent.
He crossed his arms and his piercing blue eyes met her brown ones, "Technically, I'm the one who's supposed to ask the questions."
"You're with Shield," she stated quietly.
"I am," he admits casually. "But the question is," within seconds he's kneeled down in front of her. "Are you?"
Her jaw dropped in shock, "How-"
"Pretty sure I've already established that I'm the one who asks the questions," he teased, taking in her appearance for the first time really. Matted, coal brown/blonde hair, tan skin adorned with cuts and bruises and raggedy clothes covering her battered, but curvy figure. Her eyes though, those are what really catch his attention. Large brown orbs with so much.…pain behind them. "Why was he going to kill you?" He questioned softly.
She smiles sadly, "Because Hydra would rather see me dead than with you…." She trails off, her eyes not once leaving his. Of course by 'you' she meant Shield. He knew that. But that didn't prevent the fluttering in her chest or the strange feeling growing in the pit of his stomach.
He reluctantly tears his eyes away from her to look at the corner of the wall as Steve's voice comes in through his earpiece.
"I'm with the last rescue now," he replies to the Avengers question about his status. "We'll be out briefly. Ready the chopper."
She looks at him strangely, "You're not going to kill me?"
"And give Hydra what they want? Nay. I did that once. Never again." He frowns briefly, before a charming smirk appears. "Besides," she gasps as he quickly, but briefly, scoops her up into his arms. Their eyes meet again. "I'd rather you with me than dead any day."
That was the first time they ever met, but it certainly wouldn't be the last. Although she wasn't a Shield agent and he received a bit of a scolding for rescuing her, Coulson quickly realized she would be a blessing to Shield. Strangely, whenever anyone tried to question about her involvement would Hydra. She would stay silent. Not even Fury himself could get her to talk. That is until they brought him in.
"You know," he leaned against the door to her room. She was currently in the infirmary as Shield scientists and doctors had to treat and monitor her because of her weak, physical condition. She had to be nursed back to good health before she could leave. "I'm starting to get the feeling you're not big on the whole question and answer thing."
She smiled softly, "Maybe I just don't like the person asking."
He returned her smile and was instantly in the chair adjacent to her bed, "How are you feeling?"
This was the first time they had seen each other since he rescued her a little over a week ago. He had been occupied with other obligations while she was stuck in that damn room.
"I'm not dead," she shrugged, leaning back against the two pillows.
"Don't let Hydra find out," he whispers, leaning in closely.
She chuckles, "Amara." He looks slightly confused, "My name is Amara." She sighed, looking down. "I ran away when I was fifteen and that's how Hydra found me. I didn't realize what they were then, and the man they sent to come recruit me made it all sound so-"
"Perfect," he supplied. "I know the feeling." She looked at him strangely, "I'll explain later. Please continue."
"They offered to help me and a place to stay, both of which I desperately needed. So I agreed. I quickly learned that it was a place unlike any I've been to or seen. But, they followed through and helped me-"
"Forgive my interruption love, but I don't see how torture and almost killing you constitute as 'help'," he stated, anger growing in his voice.
She bit her lip and focused on the unopened water bottle on the table across the room. Instantly, it was in the air before floating in front of him as he hesitantly grabbed it.
He looked at her in amazement, "Before Hydra, I would have brought this whole facility down if I wasn't careful. They taught me how to control my powers."
"Is there more?" He pressed, looking at her in admiration. "Can you do other things as well?"
She nods meekly, "Aside from the telekinesis, I have telepathy, can project force fields and empathy. But, I try not to use that unless I have to. It's the hardest to control and makes it that much more difficult to balance the rest of my abilities."
"You're like Wanda," he said more to himself than to her. She looks confused. "My sister," he clarified. "Hydra experimented on us as well and that's how we received our abilities."
"Oh," she nods knowingly. "The experimentation. That's when it all started. It took them a year to help me control my 'gifts' and after that is when the testing and such started. That's when I realized their goal was never to help me. It was to help them learn how I got my powers." She shook her head, trying hard not to cry. "I spent two years as their lab rat." A beat. "Wait, you weren't born with yours? Hydra…gave them to you?"
He nods, "My sister and I…..well we had nothing to lose, but everything to gain so we volunteered for one of their doctors experiments," he looked away. "What they didn't tell us that none of the other volunteers made it out alive because they couldn't survive the testing."
"But you two did," she finished for him.
Silence
"What's going to happen to me?" She questioned, starring at the ceiling.
"I'm not sure," he admitted honestly. "Shield probably has you labeled as a risk-"
"Good"
He looked at her, "Excuse me?"
"I refuse to go back to Hydra. I'd rather die," she confesses. "But, they were the only ones who were able to help me with my powers."
"I thought you said they taught you how to control them.."
"They did," she admits. "With their help. But after two years of being toyed with, I'm not sure what I can and can't do now." She shakes her head and wipes at her eyes, "I feel like I did when I was fifteen again. Lost." She looks down and allows a single tear to roll down her cheek.
She hears him move, but keeps her head down. Using his index finger, he raises her chin to make her look at him.
"Well then, I guess we'll just have to help you find your way again, now won't we?"
That day, Pietro (as she would learn was his name) dedicated himself to helping Amara. He and Wanda became her SO's and managed to help her, not only maintain control of her powers, but also finally feel like she belonged somewhere. She finally felt at home.
"You're not focusing," Pietro commented, flipping Amara over on her back. It had been three months since the rescue and while she still had plenty of scars (mentally and physically) from her time with Hydra, she was back on her A game. She could handle intense training.
"Stop talking and maybe I could," Amara muttered, quickly jumping up on her feet. Pietro moved to punch her, but she quickly blocked him and managed to gain the upper hand for a minute or two.
Didn't last long though.
Before she knew it, he had her arm behind her back and his arm across her neck.
"You have to learn to stop hesitating before you make a move. In one split second, your opponent can gain the-" Pietro is cut off by her foot jamming into his and her free arm elbowing him in his stomach. Using her adrenaline, she's able to flip him on his back. Holding both of his arms down, she crawls on top of him, both legs on either side. "upper hand."
"What?" She cocks her head to the side, "You didn't see that coming?"
He smirks, "I'm impressed."
She pants, "I have a good SO."
"Is that so?" He quips a brow.
She nods, releasing his arms and sitting up. He props himself up on his elbows, "She's the best."
He chuckles, "From what I heard, the brother is a far better trainer."
She pretends to think about his statement, "Debatable."
He laughs, sitting up fully. She moves to get off him, but his hands make their way to her hips preventing her from moving.
She bites her lip, "Pretty sure this could be seen as inappropriate conduct, Mr. Maximoff."
"Pretty sure I don't give a fuck Ms. Bennett," he murmurs, gently cupping her behind her neck.
"Language," she scolds playfully.
He groans and laughs, "You have got to stop hanging around Steve so much."
"Come around more often and I would," she mumbles. "Or maybe if I could go with you-"
"Amara, we've been over this." He closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're not ready yet."
"It's been three months Pietro. You weren't even an agent for a month before they sent you out on a mission!" He sighs, motioning for her to move, before they both stand up. "Same with Wanda. I mean, you've also said it yourself. She and I are one in the same."
"She can handle herself out there Amara-"
She scoffs sadly, "And you don't think I can?"
"I didn't say that," he turns to look at her.
She crosses her arms, "You didn't have to." He stays quiet, "Just forget I bought it up." She moves to walk past him.
"Wait a minute," he grabs her by her forearm and pulls her in front of him. "Do you know why I decided to take you with me that day?" She shrugs her shoulders. "I decided to bring you because….when I looked in your eyes….I saw hurt, pain, no hope. I saw myself before Shield and all of this," he gestures around the room. "I would never wish that on anyone, let alone you."
"I'm not the same person that I was back then P," she reminds gently, placing a hand on his bicep.
"I know," he looks up and sighs. "That's what I keep telling myself." He looks down again, "Then I see you and…." his fingers lightly graze over her arms. "all of your scars and I refuse to risk you going out there and getting hurt again." He grabs her hands and places them against his chest, "I'd die before I let anything else happen to you."
She smiles warmly, "Nothing will. I promise you that. I owe my life to you and there's not a damn thing anyone can do to change the way I feel about you. Not Hydra, or Shield or even Fury himself."
"I love you Amara," he breathes suddenly, as if it was too painful for him to hold in any longer. She doesn't say anything, and that's fine with him because the awe look on her face and the reciprocated look in her eyes speak volumes. "What?" He smirks, throwing her earlier taunt back at her as his lips slowly inch to hers. "You didn't see that coming?"