A/N: Look at that, Chapter 8 on time once again, go me. So last chapter, you all seemed to love Wanda getting involved, which is really awesome I'm glad you all liked that. Exciting things await in this chapter, this is when it all starts to happen. Hold onto your hats people, and don't forget to read, review and enjoy.
Steve looked at Wanda in consideration, his eyes examining her carefully. Phoenix watched him as he seemed to agree with Wanda's idea and his expression changed to acceptance. Natasha had seen it as well and stepped forward. Lightly, she grabbed Steve's elbow and pulled him to the side
"No," Natasha protested with low voice as she looked up at Steve in disbelief. "Don't even consider it."
"It's a good opportunity for Maximoff to be around people like her. People with powers," Steve argued. "I don't know much about unique abilities like hers, but Phoenix might be able to help her. I think Maximoff should go with them."
"Phoenix and Wanda are a bad combination," Natasha warned. "They're both incredibly powerful and temperamental."
"It's good training for Maximoff," Steve offered, trying to sway Natasha. "She'll help protect them, and if Phoenix tries to put herself at risk, Maximoff will be able to stop her. Phoenix is going to take off either way, at least this way you know that she'll be safe."
Natasha realised that he had a point, Phoenix would be going to Japan no matter what happens. Rather than give Steve the satisfaction, she decided not to admit that he was right. "Fine, we'll do it your way," she responded bitterly.
Natasha and Steve back to Phoenix, who was waiting expectantly for what they had to say. Steve nodded to Wanda and pointed to Phoenix. "Maximoff, you're with The Experiments," he gave the order.
"I don't need a babysitter," Phoenix protested in a flat voice, sounding outraged. Turning to Wanda, she lowered her voice. "No offence."
"It's done Phoenix, she's going with you," Natasha told her, making it clear that Phoenix had no room to argue with her. Very gently, Natasha led Phoenix aside, and placed a hand on her shoulder. Addressing Phoenix in a sincere manner, Natasha spoke softly. "You have to stay in contact with me, do you understand? I know this is important to you, but I also know that you're reckless and impulsive. Please, try not to do anything too risky. And for the love of God, stay out of trouble."
Half an hour later, Wanda Maximoff sat in the passenger seat of their stolen van as Phoenix, wearing a blank expression, drove out of the car park. The Experiments stared at Wanda from the backseat of the car, looking her up and down as if she was an intruder. Wanda shifted uncomfortably against the stares and tried to focus her attention on the road ahead.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she watched as Phoenix flicked her eyes up to the rear-view mirror and made eye contact with someone. Wanda looked over her right shoulder only slightly so she could see what was happening in the backseat. She saw the blonde girl look at Phoenix.
Wanda felt it before she saw it, the energy in the air. It was telepathic. The teenagers were psychically connected, and they were communicating with each other. They weren't sharing words, their connection wasn't strong enough for that. They were sharing emotions.
"You have a telepathic connection," Wanda stated, catching Phoenix's attention.
"We call it a Mental Link," Phoenix corrected her. "But essentially it's just a mild telepathic connection. We're not entirely sure how it works."
Wanda craned her head around to look at The Experiments in the back of the car. "I didn't know that there were more of you," Wanda addressed them before she turned back around. "I thought you were the only other person with abilities that Hydra created. When discussing powered people, Hydra would always mention a Phoenix who had slipped through their fingers."
"The Doctor kept the other five a secret," Phoenix explained. "He hand raised me himself, while the others were left to be raised in a normal environment. I don't know why, but Hydra never learned about the rest of them, which is a good thing."
"What's it like to have your abilities for most of your life?" Wanda asked. "I can't imagine having my gifts at a young age."
"I'm sorry," Heather interrupted her, holding up her hands in a timeout signal. "How is it that you know so much about us?"
"I asked about you," Wanda answered, slightly embarrassed, but more curious than anything. "I didn't know that there were other people like me, so after I met you on the Helicarrier I asked the other Avengers. Hawkeye spoke of Phoenix fondly, but the Black Widow was less reluctant to speak about you."
"When we first received our abilities they were incredibly weak," Phoenix answered Wanda's earlier question, distracting her from a conversation about Natasha and Clint. "As we've gotten older, our abilities have developed to be more powerful. Just imagine a five year old with that much power, it would be a disaster."
Wanda nodded in understanding. "You know a lot about people with powers?" She sounded like she was asking a question, even though she spoke like it was a statement.
"I have experience," Phoenix responded, turning to Wanda with the slightest hint of a smirk on her lips. "I can show you a thing or two if you want, it's probably a good idea that you see what The Experiments can do, that way we can work together more effectively."
Heather cleared her throat, angrily shooting Wanda a look before she addressed Phoenix. "Aren't we on a mission Phoenix," she reminded her. "When are we going to Japan?"
Phoenix's smile faded as she refocused her attention back to the mission at hand. "We leave for Japan tomorrow so that way we have time to run through what we need to with Maximoff," Phoenix answered. "She needs to be briefed on everything before we move onto Japan."
At the very back of the car, a bitter Mark sighed dramatically from where he sat next to Sam. "Now Phoenix is best buds with the creepy Eastern European chick," he commented flatly, leaning his head back against the seat as he looked to the top of the car. "Great."
"I don't trust her either, but I trust Phoenix. If she thinks that it's ok to reveal our mission to this lady, then we just have to go along with it," Sam shrugged as he spoke quietly so the others wouldn't hear them. "You can't pick a fight with everyone you know."
"Fucking watch me," Mark muttered back.
Abruptly, the car swerved as Phoenix spun around a corner at the last second, sending them all flying to the right. Before The Experiments had time to react, Phoenix spun the car the other way, sending them all flying to the left as she turned another corner, hard.
"What is it?" Bella asked anxiously as she sat upright and glanced behind them nervously.
"Someone's on our tail," Phoenix answered through gritted teeth. "I've only just noticed, I don't know how long they've been following us. Whoever they are, they're experts. They should realise by now that I've seen them, hopefully they'll drop back."
"What if they don't?" Josh questioned.
"Then we need to be ready for a fight," Phoenix answered.
It was a painfully long period of waiting as they continued driving through London, with Phoenix constantly scanning the mirrors with intense caution. Eventually, tensions in the car lessened as Phoenix relaxed her death grip on the wheel and nodded.
"They're gone for now," she informed them. "That doesn't mean they won't come back. We need to stay on alert."
"Now we have someone following us," Josh groaned, covering his face with his hands as he slid halfway down his seat. "Who the hell would be following us? Phoenix, did you recognise them?"
"No," Phoenix replied, her voice rough. "Black car, tinted windows, basic number plate. There's was nothing distinguishable about the car. It could've been anyone." Phoenix angrily slammed a hand against the dashboard as her gaze flicked backwards and forwards between the mirrors.
"What do we do?" Heather asked, her voice quiet.
"There's a shopping centre a few blocks ahead," Phoenix pointed to a sign. "I'll park the car underground and we'll lay low for a while. After a few hours, we'll move onto our hotel. While we're here we may as well get some supplies and sort out the flight to Japan."
Once Phoenix had aggressively driven into a parking space and aggravated a female driver who had been about to park in the same spot, The Experiments and Wanda stepped out of the car. They moved as a group in the direction of the entrance, with Phoenix in the lead.
"Heather, Mark, Sam and Bella. Hold out your hands," Phoenix addressed the four members of the group as they came to a stop just inside the entrance. They opened their hands and Phoenix placed an earpiece into each of their palms. "Patrol the area and be on the lookout for anything suspicious. Try and stay within sight of each other at all times and remember not to draw attention to yourselves."
"What am I doing?" Josh asked, confused as to why he hadn't been given the same orders.
"You and Maximoff will be coming with me. I need your ability," Phoenix answered, as she handed him an earpiece. While putting on her own earpiece, Phoenix continued talking. "If anyone sees anything, we regroup immediately. Then, depending on the situation, we either fight, or run for it."
They group spilt as they went their own ways, Phoenix leading Josh and Wanda downstairs, as the other four took the upstairs level where they had a clearer view of the surroundings. Phoenix entered a bookstore first, which Josh found odd, until he saw her pick up a Japanese translation book.
Wanda moved the other side of the store at Phoenix's command, leaving Josh to wait with Phoenix while she tried to find an appropriate translation book. As he absently glanced around the store, Josh's eyes fell on three boys of about 18 who all fell into the tall, dark and handsome category.
They were keeping their distance, but stayed close enough to be able to watch Phoenix. Josh was about to warn Phoenix that someone was watching them, until he realised that the three guys had a much different interest in Phoenix.
"Ooh hello," Josh caught Phoenix's attention as he turned away from the boys, speaking to Phoenix in a singsong voice as he smirked devilishly. "Don't look now Phoenix but there's some cute boys back there staring at you. They're pretty hot actually, not a bad catch at all."
Phoenix turned her head, catching a brief glimpse of the three boys before she turned back to riffling through the shelves. "Don't they have something better to be doing?" She scoffed, questioning no one in particular.
"Come on Phoenix, you're hot shit," Josh leaned against the bookshelf as he looked at the boys once again out of the corner of his eye, biting his lip as he looked them up and down. "It's the curse of being sexy, everyone stares at you like a piece of meat."
"Actually I've been thinking more about that," Phoenix mused as she absently opened and book and flicked through the pages before closing it and placing it back on the bookshelf. "How all six of us are unnaturally attractive."
"Unnaturally attractive?" Josh repeated, eyeing Phoenix with a titled head. "We aren't...oh wait," he trailed off as he came to a realisation. "Holy shit, I never actually noticed that. None of us are ugly in the slightest. How the hell?"
"I think it was the serum," Phoenix suggested, turning to look at Josh directly. "Think about it, the serum that created us was based off the original Super Solder Serum. You've seen the before and after photographs of Captain America, there was a significant change in appearance. I don't know if we were designed this way on purpose, but either way, it makes it easier to catch people off guard."
"Huh," Josh made a noise of surprise as he thought over Phoenix's words. "You know, it also makes it easy for you to have anyone you want. Everyone wants to date you, even those guys back there."
"Don't worry, I don't want them," Phoenix scoffed. "You can go ahead and flirt with them if you want, I know they're your type."
Josh felt his entire body go rigid as his mind froze, Phoenix's words echoing like the chime of a clock in his head. He looked at her, outraged to see that she was calmly sorting through the books as if nothing drastic had been said.
"How - how did you?" Josh stuttered as he questioned her, his hands trembling. "I was? How'd you know that I'm – I'm?"
"That you're attracted to boys," Phoenix finished his sentence calmly. She looked up at him, watching as he stared at her in shock, as if he couldn't believe that the words had left her mouth. "Natasha trained me to be able to read people and pick out every detail about who they are just from their behaviour. Don't worry, it's not obvious, no one else has any idea."
"You won't tell anyone will you?" Josh questioned fearfully, his voice lowered to a whisper.
"Of course not. I know what it's like to have a secret like that, I'm not going to say anything," Phoenix promised. Finally, she selected a book and held it up for Josh to see, effectively steering their topic of conversation in another direction. "Show time."
Phoenix placed the book back on the shelf and calmly, she and Josh walked towards the exit. Wanda saw them moving, and quickly followed as they turned around a corner. The girls stood in front of Josh, making sure no one was watching, before Josh's image flickered, and he vanished from sight.
Phoenix and Wanda waited for close to a minute, before they heard the alarms at the front of the bookstore start ringing. The security guard shot the security devices a look, confused as to why they were going off when no one walked past them. Phoenix heard the guard curse the system, as Josh reappeared behind Phoenix and handed over the book.
"Nice job," Phoenix complimented him as she ran her hands over the book. "You're improving."
Phoenix had been training Josh for over a year now to improve his Invisibility. He'd started off only being able to turn himself invisible, but under Phoenix's training, he had graduated into turning small objects invisible. However he could only do it when he came into direct contact with an object.
"That was impressive, but I thought that Stark was giving you money," Wanda spoke. "Why do you need to steal?"
"Tony's account is easily traceable, and we only need it for flights and hotel rooms anyway," Phoenix clarified. "Besides, we never steal from actual people. We only ever steal from large corporations and retail stores, usually because if items get stolen, they can just bring in more stock."
"Phoenix is very anti-capitalism," Josh explained to Wanda who was staring at Phoenix through narrowed eyes. "Any opportunity to stick it to the man, she takes it."
After securing more stolen items, Phoenix sent a message out to the other Experiments, asking them to meet in the food court in the centre of the shopping centre. They were already waiting when Phoenix arrived with Josh and Wanda trailing behind her.
"Nothing to report Phoenix," Heather told her as she sat down at the table they were waiting at.
"Although don't hate us if we did miss something," Mark added. "It's chaos in this place."
Phoenix turned her head to the left and right, taking in her surroundings carefully. It was nearing the end of the lunch rush hour, so it was extremely crowded in the food court. People were moving around rapidly, making it hard to keep track of anything amongst the large groups of people.
"I came up with a list of who might've been following us," Bella informed the group, but she directed most of her attention to Phoenix. However Phoenix wasn't paying much attention to her, she was too focused on scanning as much of the environment as possible.
The food court was a large circular shape, with fast food shops lining the edges, and a maze of tables and chairs in the centre. It was an open court, which meant that on the second floor above them, they could see the shoppers moving around. Railings were the only thing stopping the second floor from dropping down into the food court below. A large glass ceiling directly above them provided the main source of lighting.
"We know that Hydra and SHIELD survived the Hydra uprising, but after the battle they broke off into two small factions," Bella informed them of her idea, using hand motions as she spoke. "It's possible that the leftovers of SHIELD or Hydra might've been following us. Aside from the two obvious ones, I was also considering an elusive government branch, or maybe a non-government group. What do you think Phoenix?"
Bella turned to her, but Phoenix's eyes were trained on a spot above her, watching something near the railings carefully. "Phoenix?" Bella repeated, seeing whether or not she could catch her attention.
Phoenix's eyes widened as she saw something ahead of her, and immediately leapt to her feet. "DOWN!" she cried in warning as she threw herself across the small table and collided into Bella, throwing her to the ground just as a bullet flew over the top of her head, flying through the space where Bella's head had been just seconds earlier.
The rest of The Experiments ducked and threw themselves under the table as chaos erupted around them. Hearing the crack of a gunshot, people started screaming and frantically ran for the exits in a panic. A stampede of people moved past them, allowing for a brief few seconds of cover.
Phoenix drew her gun and signalled for her team to stay down as she quickly glanced over the top of the table to see where the shooter was. She ducked back down again and loaded her gun. "Stay down, I'll see if I can take out the shooter."
No sooner than the words left Phoenix's mouth, more gunfire erupted, but this time it came from the entrance to the food court on their left. The crowd split in half, giving The Experiments a clear view of what was happening.
A man in his late thirties stood there with an anxious, and psychopathic grin. He wore black combat pants and a vest, which left his heavily tattooed arms visible. His hair was trimmed to a crew cut, and his small dark eyes scanned the surroundings with a deadly glint. He was tall, with large muscles, and a bulky figure. He had two guns hanging off his belt, a shotgun slung over his shoulder and an assault rifle in his right hand.
"No," Phoenix whispered as she locked eyes with him.
Flanking him on the right was a tall man with dark skin and long dreadlocked hair that was pulled back from his face. On the tattooed man's left side, was a petite young woman who stared at them through her thin eyes with an emotionless and dead eyed look.
As The Experiments looked up, they saw a blonde woman with pale skin and an eager grin, leap over the railings and land gracefully on one of the tables, raising her sniper rifle to aim at The Experiments crouched underneath the table.
The man who had fired the assault rifle at the ceiling, walked towards them calmly. As he got closer, his tattoos could be seen in greater detail. Covering the entirety of his right arm, was the tattoo of a large bird with its wings spread. Vibrant hues of yellow, red and orange gave the bird its colour, and intricate details of what looked like fire blossomed around the bird.
It was a tattoo of a Phoenix.
The Experiments turned their heads to Phoenix, who was staring blankly as the four people advanced. She turned to her team members. "Whatever you do, don't use your abilities in front of them," she gave the order, but it sounded more like she was pleading with them, almost begging. "Maximoff, I need you as my backup."
After those words, Phoenix unexpectedly stood up and stepped onto the table as she held her gun by her side. The man with the assault rifle grinned when he saw her, and looked her up and down as if he almost couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Phoenix," he spoke her name with a sickening rush of affection. He had a strong American accent, but spoke her name like she was some kind of exotic beauty.
Phoenix stiffened. "Carver," she addressed him, startling The Experiments as Phoenix made it clear that she knew the man.
Carver's expression brightened as Phoenix spoke his name. "It's been a while Phoenix," he commented as he titled his head to get a better view of The Experiments, crouched beneath the table. "I see you've got friends with you."
"Don't touch them," Phoenix warned, taking a step off the table and landing on the ground in front of The Experiments, blocking Carver's view. "How did you find me?"
Carver tsked, shaking his head as he looked at Phoenix with a smirk. "You've gotten slack," he chided her. "Did you forget that the LA base has access to the footage from The Databank? We knew the second you reactivated the building. Find anything interesting in the Achilles file?"
Phoenix clenched her fists and tightened her grip on the gun. Satisfied with her reaction, Carver's grin spread wider across his face. "What do you want Carver?" Phoenix demanded.
Carver's grin vanished as he became serious, hands twitching near the trigger of his rifle. "I want what I've always wanted," he responded coldly. "I want what the Doctor promised to me all those years ago. I want what's rightfully mine. I want you Phoenix."
Wanda jumped up from behind a table on the other side of the food court, having used Phoenix's distraction as time to sneak around to a better vantage position. Wanda moved her hands around in a large arc, red mist escaping from the tips of her fingers. The rifle that Carver held in his hand was ripped from his grasp, and Wanda used her ability to hit him across the face with it, before she flung him and his three friends, across the room.
Carver pulled himself to his feet and shot Wanda a murderous glare, wiping blood from his mouth as he stood upright. "So it's true," he spat at Phoenix. "You're working for the Avengers."
"Better than that," Phoenix shot back, a fireball forming in her palm as she made eye contact with Carver, giving him a smirk to rival his own from earlier. "Didn't you hear? I'm the newly adopted daughter of Black Widow and Hawkeye."
With that, Phoenix threw back her arm and flung the fireball. It hit Carver square in the chest, leaving him to try and put out the fire, while Phoenix ran to The Experiments. "TIME TO GO!" She shouted, ushering them to their feet as she frantically looked over at Carver to see if he had recovered.
The Experiments took off and ran for it, moving as fast as possible away from Carver and his gun-wielding friends. Wanda started to follow, but as she watched The Experiments running ahead of her, she saw Mark take off in a blur, moving with super-speed.
A stabbing pain erupted in Wanda's heart and she felt herself crumble to her knees as a horrifying memory overtook her. Lying there on the table, covered in blood, his skin pale and his eyes empty. The image was burned into her vision and she felt herself beginning to sob as it refused to leave her.
Pietro.
Strong arms grabbed Wanda and pulled her to her feet. "We've got to get out of here!" Wanda heard Phoenix shouting as the younger girl pulled Wanda along, forcing her to move as they ran in the opposite directions of the gunshots.
They made it outside to the carpark just as Heather started the car and slid into the backseat. Phoenix threw herself into the driver's seat and wasted no time in slamming her foot down on the accelerator. Wanda just made it into the car as Phoenix drove off, putting as much distance between them and Carver as possible.
