Chapter 4

Author's Note: I felt that I really over-exaggerated the Twins' accents in the last chapter. From now on, I'm just going to leave them up to the reader's imagination. I'll probably go back and edit the third chapter when I have time. Thanks for reading!


"Don't think I haven't noticed how you've been avoiding him," Wanda said as she braided Susan's hair.

"Well, what am I supposed to say, Wanda?" Susan asked, "Hi, I'm Susan and I read to you while you were in a coma?"

Wanda snorted at the comment. "No, of course not. Just talk to him."

Susan sighed and shook her head. Pietro had been up and about for almost a month. He was very friendly, and good at making her laugh. He was the only person in the tower who called her "Susie," and she hoped the butterflies it put in her stomach didn't show on her face. But she hadn't had any kind of romantic relationship before. She couldn't help but have misgivings about it.

Natasha chimed in from behind her book, "He certainly seems interested in you. Overall he's a good guy, if annoying."

"That's not why I'm hesitant," Susan said.

"Then what is it?" Wanda asked.

Susan looked out of the window. There were millions of people in New York. Millions of people who'd never even heard of Hydra until a few years ago, she thought. She wondered what it was like, that kind of blissful ignorance. She even envied it.

"I spent the larger portion of my life as a Hydra prisoner," she said, "So I've never really had an intimate relationship with anyone. There are things I've done, and sides of myself that I don't know if I can share with someone. Hell, just the thought is terrifying."

Wanda paused in her hair braiding for a moment. "You forget that Pietro and I were involved with Hydra as well," she said softly, "He may be more understanding than you think." She gently patted Susan's cheek and sat down next to her on the couch.

Susan threw a curious glance at Natasha as she read in the armchair. Now would be as good a time to ask as any. She leaned back with a mischievous smile and said, "Well, since we're nosing into each other's love lives… What's going on with you and my Dad, Natasha?"

Natasha shut her book and said, "That's up to him to tell you." Turning to Wanda, she added, "But you might ask this one about Vision."

"We have not talked since just after the Sokovia accords," Wanda replied irritably. Natasha and Susan gave each other a surprised look and dropped the subject. The former went back to reading her book. A few moments passed before Wanda looked up and snapped her fingers.

"I have an idea," she said.

"What's that?" asked Susan.

"The weather's supposed to be nice tonight, so Tony was going to break in the new fire pit. Pietro and I were going to go. You could use the opportunity to strike up some conversation with him." Susan groaned and tried to protest, but Wanda insisted. "I'll help you pick out what to wear," she said with pleading eyes.

"Fine," Susan relented. This earned a small cheer from the Sokovian woman. Susan sighed. This was going to be an interesting night.


Wanda had perused Susan's entire wardrobe to find an outfit. "It has to be just right," she insisted. She found a long black skirt and a deep blue blouse that met her qualifications. After Susan found a pair of small silver shoes, she was finally satisfied.

"I think he'll like it," Wanda smiled.

"Well, no one knows him like you do," Susan replied.

It was nearing dusk when Wanda and Susan walked out onto the roof of the tower. Tony had set up a cast iron fire pit, and started a good-sized blaze. A cooler full of beer and soda sat next to the circle of chairs. Natasha, Bucky, and Steve had already arrived. Susan was all nerves when she and Wanda sat down, so she took a beer out of the cooler. Maybe it would help her relax.

"Are you even old enough to drink?" Steve asked suspiciously as she popped the bottle cap.

"Hey, since you can't get drunk this one's for you," she replied.

"That better be your only one tonight," Bucky interjected.

"Oh come on," Susan laughed, "I've seen you knock back vodka like it was water."

"And I am a terrible role model."

Everyone around the fire laughed at the comment. Susan moved her hands closer to the fire to warm them. It was a crisp, New York spring night. Without a single cloud in the sky, the stars began to appear one by one. A sudden gust of wind ruffled Susan's blouse, announcing Pietro's arrival. It was then that she realized Wanda had made sure the only seat left was between the two of them. Susan glared at her over her brother's shoulder, only to be met with a large grin.

"Hey speedy," Tony said, "Have a beer."

Pietro reached behind Susan to get to the cooler. She could feel the heat radiating off of his arm, and tried not to look as embarrassed as she felt. He looked her up and down before saying, "You look lovely tonight, Susie."

She smiled at him in response and took a sip of her beer. Bucky leaned close to her and whispered, "So what's with you and this Maximoff punk?"

"Isn't Natasha a little young for you?" she whispered back.

Bucky grumbled but straightened back in his seat. Meanwhile, Tony was opening bags of marshmallows. Looking at Susan, he asked, "You ever had s'mores before, kid?"

"Oh yeah," she said, "We all sat around the fire in Hydra summer camp singing 'What a Friend we Have in Red Skull'."

Looking confused, the twins said that they'd never had s'mores either. The rest of the Avengers made it their mission to remedy the tragic situation. Bucky showed Susan how to toast her marshmallows until they were an even golden-brown. Pietro, as impatient as ever, stuck his straight into the fire. Wanda's marshmallows kept falling off of her skewer, so she just stole some from her brother. Soon, everyone was stuffing their mouths with the molten, chocolatey treats.

Pietro smiled at Susan and paused. "You have a bit of marshmallow…" he said. As his thumb grazed across her cheek, she couldn't keep the heat from rising to her face. After removing the offending sweet, he popped his thumb into his mouth. This drew grins from Steve and Natasha, and a glare from Bucky. Tony was oblivious as always.

"I have a question," he said, "What's with Hydra's penchant for edgy code names? I mean, isn't 'Winter Soldier' a little dramatic?"

"And 'Iron Man' isn't?" Natasha quipped.

Tony waved off her comment. Turning to Susan, he asked, "Did you ever have one?"

"I think you've had enough to drink," she said. When that didn't stop the curious looks from around the fire, she sighed. "It was Hellhound."

Pietro let out a playful "Awooo!" beside her.

Susan turned and smirked. "Cute, but is that the best you can do?"

"Why don't you show us how it's done?" the silver-haired man taunted.

At the cheers from around the fire, she stood up and dusted off her skirt. She walked over to the edge of the roof and faced the city. After throwing a wink over her shoulder, she turned and took a deep breath. The sound that escaped her throat was unearthly, to say the least. It didn't just sound like a hound, it sounded like twenty with throats made of iron. It echoed off the tall buildings of the city, amplifying its eeriness. When Susan finished, she gave a slight cough and turned. The others began to clap, but she put a finger to her lips and motioned for them to listen. Every dog within a five mile radius must have been howling.

Susan smugly sat down in her chair. "Who needs to sing for their supper?" she joked.

"That's my girl," said Bucky as he threw an arm around her shoulder.

Wanda nudged Pietro and said, "Speaking of singing, why don't you get your guitar and play for us?"

"You know it's been at least a year since I played," he protested.

"I'd like to hear you sing," said Susan.

Pietro was gone before she'd even gotten all of the sentence out. Just as quickly, he was back with an old guitar in his hands. Several people around the fire snickered at his eagerness to meet Susan's request, but he ignored them. "What would you like me to play?" he asked.

"Well, I've never heard a Sokovian song before," she said.

Pietro grinned widely at her request. He tuned his guitar thoughtfully. After plucking a few notes, he settled into a slow, almost mournful tune. In a low voice, he began to sing. Even if she didn't understand the language, she could sense the intense longing behind it. It was a love song, she realized as a flush rose to her face. It was clear to everyone that this song was meant especially for Susan. They discreetly began to get up and leave. Some yawned as a pretense, but a few were genuine.

Susan and Pietro took little notice. Even when her father kissed the top of her head and bade her goodnight, she sat in rapt attention. Pietro was a joker. He hardly ever took anything seriously, and hated any kind of stillness. She hadn't expected him to be one to sing with such emotion. She felt the story in the song unfolding more than she heard it. There was a man who could never be with his love, and grieved immensely for it. Eventually, he began to waste away. The final, wavering note of the song spoke of his death from heartbreak.

She had to turn away to hide the tears making their way down her face. "That was beautiful," she said quietly.

"Oh, but not nearly as beautiful as the woman I sang it for," he replied.

"Now, Pietro," Susan teased, "Your sister has informed me that you were quite the womanizer back in Sokovia."

With genuine concern on his face, he asked, "She did?"

"Well, I know to be wary about dresses from Paris, at least."

A slight flush rose to his cheeks. He stood and said softly, "A lot has changed since Sokovia."

Susan stood in turn. "I'm sure it has," she said. She laid a gentle hand on the side of his face. He leaned into it before pulling her closer. She sighed heavily and looked away toward the city.

"What is wrong, Susie?" Pietro asked.

Without looking at him she replied, "I've done a lot of things that I'm not proud of, Pietro. If you knew what I've done, if you saw that side of me… Would you still feel the same way?"

Pietro gently turned her face toward him. "You know, I met a girl once who had been hurt very badly. Beaten down and locked up like an animal. I just hope she knows that the only thing I want, in the whole world, is to make sure no one ever hurts her like that again. Do you think she knows that?"

Susan wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and said, "I think she does now," before planting a light kiss on his lips. She pulled away and walked back into the tower. "It's late," she called, "and you get to put out the fire."


"How did they get in at the birthday party?" Steve asked Tony as he sat at the tower's main computer.

"They came in disguised as caterers," replied the scientist, "and somehow hid their weapons from the security system."

"If they attacked us here, they're either regrouping or getting desperate," Bucky interjected.

"Either way, we're going to have to strike back soon," said Tony.

Steve sighed, "Will we ever be rid of them?"

No one had an answer.


Susan was fighting for her life. Hydra agents were coming at her left and right. But something wasn't right. It was their eyes. They were blood red and blazing like fire. She heard her father's voice coming from somewhere, but it was fading. There was so much blood. She was practically wading in it. She fell backwards, and one of the agents grabbed her wrists. He was pushing her down into the blood, trying to drown her in it. She started to scream

"Susie!" shouted Pietro. "Susie, wake up! It's me!"

Susan shook her head and blinked. Pietro's face swam into focus in front of her. He had her wrists in his hands. She must have been flailing in her sleep. Again. She pushed Pietro off and leaned forward in the bed with her face in her hands. "I'm sorry," she said, barely above a whisper.

Pietro put a hand on her trembling shoulder. When she didn't respond, he began massaging her shoulders in small circles. Slowly, she began to relax. She turned and buried her face in the crook of Pietro's neck. Wrapping his arms around her tightly he said, "Talk to me."

"I was fighting Hydra, and there was so much blood…" she said. Looking at him with wide eyes, she added, "Pietro, I feel like something terrible is going to happen."

"I won't let anything happen to you, you know that."

"I know."

Pietro kissed her forehead and ran his hand through her hair. He pulled them down onto the bed so that Susan's head rested on his bare chest. She had been having so many nightmares recently that he'd decided to just stay with her. He certainly didn't mind keeping her company, but he was starting to worry. It was becoming a nightly occurrence. She couldn't keep going like this.


The Avengers' attacks against Hydra had been increasing in frequency lately. Susan repeatedly asked if she could be any help on missions, but there was a new excuse every time.

"We need a smaller team for this one."

"Someone needs to hold down the fort."

"Maybe the next one."

Susan knew something was going on. When she brought her suspicion up to Pietro he couldn't look her in the eye. When she heard Nick Fury was going to be in the tower to meet with the Avengers, she was determined to learn more. An hour before the meeting was supposed to start, she snuck into the conference room. Looking for a place to hide, she saw a long storage chest with a hinged lid. Upon opening it, she found only odds and ends of electronics cords. God I hope Tony won't need any of these, she thought as she lowered herself gingerly into it.

She laid perfectly still as she waited. She hardly breathed for fear of being discovered as people filed in one by one. She recognized the twins' voices, along with Tony's, Natasha's, and Bruce's. Bucky arrived a few minutes later. Finally, the scraping of chairs announced that Steve had arrived with Fury.

"What's on the agenda today?" Tony asked.

Susan heard Fury's voice moving around the room as he said, "We've discovered another Hydra base. It's in an isolated forest area in Northern France, and has three floors. We have reason to believe it holds a large cache of weapons and supplies. It's a pretty routine job. Take down any agents and seize the base and its contents."

"What does their security look like?" asked Natasha.

"Automated turrets are stationed around the base," Fury said, "A good sniper would be able to take those out with no problem, though."

"I've got you covered," Bucky said.

Susan heard a file slap down on the table. "That's good, because you're on cover fire," said Fury. His voice migrated around the table. With every new assignment a file slapped on the table. "Pietro, you're on item recovery, explosives planting, and rescue, if necessary. Cap, you're on crowd control. Natasha, also crowd control, and you're driving the getaway car. Tony, Bruce, Wanda, I'm sorry but you three will be sitting this one out."

"Will that be all sir?" asked Steve.

Susan had to cover her hand with her mouth to keep from gasping when Fury sat on top of the cabinet. "Well…" he drawled, "We sure could use a heavy hitter like Susan on the team this time…"

Her heart skipped a beat at the sharp sound of metal hitting metal. Bucky had slammed his fist on the table. "How many times do I have to tell you that it's out of the question?" he asked.

"I'd really like to know how the hell that is your decision to make, Barnes" snapped Fury.

"I am her father!"

Pietro scoffed harshly at this comment. "Something you'd like to share with the class, speedy?" Bucky fumed.

He sighed heavily before responding. "I don't like the idea of Susie fighting with us any more than you do," he said, "The thought alone terrifies me. But neither of us can make that decision for her. With all she's gone through at Hydra's hands, I think she's earned the right to stand against them. You know she's bound to find out that you're the reason she hasn't been able to. I, for one, will not lie for you anymore."

Bucky's chair scraped harshly as he stood up. "I have lost almost everything to Hydra," he said, "I am not going to lose my daughter too." His heavy boots stalked past Susan's hiding place as he left the room. Natasha quietly followed after him.

"Maybe we can keep her from finding out for just a little while longer," Steve said.

"It is too late," Wanda replied, "She already knows."

The room was silent, and Susan could sense the eyes on her, even hidden by the cabinet. She hoped Wanda could imagine the look she was giving her.

"Well," Tony said, "Speaking hypothetically, someone could stowaway in the cargo hold of the Quinjet. Then all they'd have to do is wait till it was too late to turn around to come out."

"Oh, yes. Hypothetically of course," Fury said as he left the conference room. "Be ready at 0600. Sharp."

Susan heard a whoosh of air before the lid of the cabinet was thrown open. She met the eyes of a very tired-looking Pietro.


Susan woke silently at 4:30 the next morning. She moved slowly, trying not to wake Pietro. Just when she thought she'd succeeded, he pulled her back down onto the bed.

"Is there nothing I can say to stop you?" he asked.

"No," she replied.

Pietro sighed through his nose and pulled her closer. With his forehead pressed against hers, he said, "If I ever lost you or Wanda I don't know what I'd do."

"I can take care of myself."

"I know," he said. Susan kissed him on the forehead as she got up to get ready. "Tony brought something by last night," Pietro called after her, "You were already asleep, so I set it on the table."

Susan walked up to the large plastic crate warily. She read the attached note first:

I've been working on this one for a while. Figure now's a good time for a test run.

~ Tony

Slowly, she opened the hinged lid. Inside was a bodysuit. It was a deep, dark red. She ran her hand across the fabric. Probably reinforced with Kevlar or something similar, she thought. Lifting the suit out of the crate, she couldn't suppress a chuckle. Covering the front of the torso was a large, black, inverted pentagram. It seemed that the "Hellhound" moniker was going to stick after all. Also inside the crate were a pair of black knee high boots with gripping soles, a pair of fingerless gloves, and a belt of throwing knives. She dressed quickly. The suit zipped up all the way to her neck. It wasn't until she put on the belt that she noticed the empty hook on its right side. Tony must have read up on her weapons skills. But how could he know that she'd kept it?

She walked back into the bedroom and opened the closet. Taking out a long wooden box, she laid it on the bed. Pietro watched her silently. With trembling hands, she opened the box and withdrew a long, black whip. It was the same one that had left the scars on her back. How fitting that it should be used against Hydra. Coiling it, she placed it in its hook. After giving Pietro a soft kiss on the lips, she was gone.


The cargo bay was hotter and more cramped than Susan thought it would be. She didn't know how long she'd been in there, but it felt like hours. Steve had discussed a plan with her. Once they were out over the ocean, he would ask Bucky to take his place in the copilot's chair and then help her out. Isn't this quinjet supposed to be faster than other planes? Susan thought.

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she heard the shuffling of feet above her. She had opened the front of her suit due to the heat, and she quickly zipped it back up. A foot tapped three times on the hatch of the cargo bay. Susan climbed the ladder and tapped twice on her side of the hatch. It slowly opened, and Steve pulled her out. After shutting the hatch, she looked over her shoulder. Just as they had hoped, Bucky and Natasha had been too focused on flying to notice for now.

Strapping herself into a seat next to Pietro's, Susan squeezed his hand tightly. "I love you," she mouthed to him.

"I love you too," he mouthed back.

"Hey Steve?" asked Bucky as he turned his head. Whatever question he had in mind was forgotten when his eyes fell on Susan. He threw an accusatory glance at Steve before unbuckling his seatbelt. Walking toward the back of the quinjet, he motioned for Susan to follow.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked her harshly.

"What I'm meant to do," she replied, "Do you have so little confidence in my abilities?"

Bucky sighed and threw his hands in the air. "No, I just- I want something better for you."

"But you didn't care to ask what I want."

Bucky hung his head, and his shoulders drooped. "You're right," he said softly, "Just be careful." He brushed Susan's cheek with the back of his hand. Looking over at Pietro, he said, "I swear, if I ever get my hands on speedy over there…"

"His name is Pietro, and you'll have to go through me," she said firmly. At that, she walked back over to her seat. Pietro gave her a questioning look, but she just smiled and squeezed his arm gently. In another hour and a half, the quinjet was landing in the French forest. Bucky stationed himself on a ridge overlooking the base. He would have to take out the turrets before the rest of the team could move in.

They waited just behind the tree line for his signal. Pietro fidgeted with impatience, but stilled at a glare from Natasha. Susan took even, deep breaths. It had been a long time since she had given in to her powers. She worried it would take some coaxing. She was wrong. The animal Hydra had turned her into was pushed down deeply, but it was still there. It growled in her chest and ran in her blood. It ached to be let lose, to fight once again. Her nails lengthened into claws, her teeth into fangs. Her pupils dilated until her eyes were almost completely black. Every sound and smell intensified. She was ready.

A part of her worried that the others would want nothing to do with her once they'd seen what she was capable of. Of course, if they had read the files they already knew. If Fury still wanted her help after that, then perhaps she was being irrational. She sensed Pietro staring at her, and turned to face him. She registered the surprise in his face, and inclined her head to reassure him.

She heard the first silenced gunshot from her father's position. The rest followed soon afterwards. It didn't take long for agents to start pouring from the facility.

"You guys are up," she heard him say over the intercom.

Steve charged first, with his shield held up. Natasha fired at the incoming agents from behind him, while Susan skillfully flung her knives. As soon as she was within range of one of them, she lashed out with her claws. They raked across his face, and he fell to the ground. Two more fell soon after him. Pietro ran around the edges of the field, a blur causing agents to fly in the air. He planted explosives at strategic points around the base, and retrieved anything of note.

As they were closing in on the entrance to the base, Bucky came in over the intercom, "I've got an enemy sniper on the Northeast corner of the roof."

"I'm on it," Susan replied. Now would be a good time to test out these boots. She ran full speed at the sheer concrete wall of the base, knocking agents out of her way. When she reached it, she dug her claws into the wall, scaling it with ease. Her sudden appearance caught the sniper by surprise, which she took advantage of. Susan kicked his rifle off of its stand and out of his reach. The sniper jumped up and tried to run, but she lashed out with her whip. It wrapped around his ankles and brought him to the ground hard. Using all of her strength, Susan slung him off of the roof.

The door to the roof access opened and agents began streaming out. It was a narrow entryway, so she was able to take them down one at a time. "I may be up here for a minute," she said over the intercom, "I'll meet up with the rest of you inside."

"Copy that," replied Steve. He and Natasha had just entered the base. Pietro was a constant blur around them. He retrieved crates of weapons and supplies, transporting them to Bucky's hide. Up on the roof, Susan kicked an agent through the door of the roof access and fought her way down the stairwell. She met up with Steve and Natasha on the second floor.

"What's the situation?" she asked.

"We've almost got it," Steve said, "All that's left is the laboratory on the third floor." Susan nodded curtly and followed them up the stairs. They took out the guards around the lab, and then moved on to the scientists. A few tried to fight, and were quickly dispatched. The rest bit down on cyanide pills before they could get to them.

With the base secured, the team did routine cleanup. On the third floor, Natasha downloaded the base's files onto a flash drive. Susan stood by in case of trouble. Just as the Russian was finishing up, she heard a loud cough. One of the scientists was still alive, just barely.

Looking at Susan, she wheezed, "My, my, how you've grown." Her face was faintly familiar, but the young woman couldn't place any specifics. "You're every inch the killing machine we made you to be," the dying woman added.

Natasha laid her hand on Susan's back. "Let's go," she said softly.

As the two were leaving, the woman called after them, "Whether you're fighting for us or the Avengers, it doesn't change that you're a mindless animal!"

The words rang in Susan's ears as the base was blown sky high. Her father clapped a hand on her shoulder with an understanding look. When Pietro asked what was wrong, she could only shake her head. She closed her eyes gratefully when the jet took off.