Great reviews of last chapter, but did anyone notice Rogue's feelings
towards Scott and Jean?
Pietro sat in the hovercopter watching as it hovered silently over the warehouse, Captain America leaping from the landing strut to the roof and rolling. Without a sound he unlimbered his shield from his back and crept silently towards the window.
Looking down Cap saw shadowy figures moving inside, the glass was not quiet clear enough to tell who was doing what, but motion was obvious. Holding one hand in the air Cap made a circular motion three times.
Pietro saw the go ahead signal, as did the hovercopter pilot. Wanda sat on the edge of her seat staring not into the night, but at a small picture of Kurt and a little girl in her hand. She folded the picture twice and held it in her fist, a fist that was soon surrounded by Pietro's two hands. Feeling the squeeze she looked up at him and saw him nod once. Nodding back they both dropped to the ground and headed towards separate sides of the building.
Cap kneeled next to the window, slowly counting down from 100 as he waited for the other two to get into position. 67, 66, 65, 64, god I hope they don't screw this up, he thought.
Where was I?, Slapping himself on the forehead he began counting again near what he hoped was the right number, 60, 59, 58..
Wanda slunk around the side of the building careful to keep to the shadows and watch for any possible guards. Seeing two smoking a cigarette side by side and cradling their rifles Wanda pointed her hand palm out in the direction opposite the side she was suppose to go.
CRASH
"What was that?", One guard asked the other. Shrugging in reply he followed his friend to investigate.
Easy as pie, Wanda thought as she stood near the window and waited.
On the other side three guards lay gurgling as blood either pooled in their shattered throats or froze completely due to a snapped neck. Pietro looked at all three with a contempt he hadn't felt for another human being since his days of running with his father. He was no stranger to death; the blood on his hands was a mixture of reds, and even some colors that weren't normal.
All men though, Pietro thought dragging the bodies out of sight, and somehow that made a difference.
His father had taught him little, believing that experience was the best way to learn. Dropping Pietro in strange and dangerous situations bred little trust between father and son, but it had instilled in Pietro a sense of survival that had served him well.
"Pietro, come here." His father had addressed him one day from the other side of the room sitting in his techno throne of sorts.
Pietro had been monitoring communications in a small station at the moment, but he immediately rose and approached warily but speedily, "Yes sir."
Magneto had placed a hand on his shoulder and turned him so that he could see the monitor his father had been intent on. On the screen a mutant with no flesh on his arms showing bare bones, but was still very much alive sat strapped in a chair with Sabertooth standing over him with a pipe.
Pietro looked at this coolly, a sense of foreboding feeling his heart. His father had put a hand on his shoulder and asked, "What is a traitor Pietro?"
Pietro had replied immediately still watching the screen, "A fool waiting to be killed, especially one that betrays us."
At this his father had squeezed, grating the bones in Pietro's shoulder in a strange imitation of approval from which Pietro had not flinched, "When do you kill a man?"
"Only when necessary, humans kill in fear, hate, or jealousy."
Magneto had leaned closer with a rustling of cape until Pietro felt his father's breath on his other shoulder, and yet he still did not flinch, "This man is a traitor Pietro, he has taken money to tell others of my plans. Normally I would use this to my advantage, but not this time. Why?"
With a voice frighteningly like his fathers Pietro replied, "Betrayal for a belief can be understood if not condoned, but betrayal for money shows a lack of conviction."
Magneto leaned back in his chair, "You speak with ice in your heart, I approve. A leader must make decisions with the clearest mind, never tainted by anger, pain, or fear," reaching to the side of him Magneto pulled a small pistol and offered it to him, "Do your duty."
Pietro had zipped down there with faster than he had ever run before, fueled by a bloodlust that seemed unholy and a sense of approval from his father which in his heart was even more damning. As he opened the door the man had looked up and flexed in his bonds, hoping to escape.
"So he finally decided to give you your spurs eh?" Sabertooth had grinned maliciously and licked his lips, "Bout time."
Pietro had walked to the man and grabbed his hair, wrenching his head back Pietro stared into eyes that held so much emotion; guilt, shame, anger, hatred, fear, and strangest of all betrayal.
"Do it you son of a devil," the man had whispered vehemently, "You're just like him, so do it."
Staring into those eyes he had seen his reflection; a reflection that needed only a red helmet to be complete. Shaking his head he had dropped the pistol to the ground earning a surprised grunt from Sabertooth and a sigh of relief from the man..
"No I am not like him," he had said still holding the man by the hair he speaking slowly and carefully, "I am something far more terrible to be hold."
Turning to Sabertooth he had extended a hand, "Give me that."
Sabertooth had obediently handed him the pipe as if he was his father. Pietro had turned and asked, "Do you pray?"
The man had begun crying and nodded, "I wish God would save me."
Stepping back and digging his feet in Pietro aimed for his left knee, "lets make a deal."
"Rea-, Really?"
Pietro had nodded, "You can call for God, and if he shows up, I'll stop."
Later that night Pietro washed the blood from his hands with a speed that seemed inhuman. Scrubbing frantically at the black liquid that had scabbed over his own hands he had felt his father and turned to him. His father seemed to dominate the spartan room as he reached out and grabbed Pietro's hands. Admiring them with the love one would a child he had looked Pietro in the eye and asked, "Why? What you did was almost cruel-, no was cruel. Why?"
He had stared back at his father, "To help him repent."
Magneto tilted his head, "Did he?"
A look of almost religious fever took hold in his eyes, "With all his soul."
His father had smiled then. It was not the cold clinical smile he was used to, but the smile of one damned by his own hand to another of the same ilk. Feeling the ties that bound them, both blood their own and that of other men, each felt that what he had wanted had been delivered at a great price. Pietro had gained a father in exchange for damnation; Magneto had assured his legacy by damning his own son.
Magneto had turned from him to the door, but before leaving he said, "You have spilt blood. Know that by all the rules I have governed myself by, this is my greatest; never spill the blood of women or children. In this we may retain some small honor in what we do."
And with that he was gone leaving Pietro to slide to the floor and listen to the two voices inside him scream; "Murderer! Murderer!" and "Daddddddddyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!"
Remembering the task at hand Pietro ran from where he had piled the bodies to the side door of the warehouse. Listening to the sounds from inside he waited for the breaking of glass, rubbing the finger of one bloody gloved hand against the others.
10,9, 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, Cap thought as he rose took three steps back and leapt through the window.
Men scrambled in all directions as he fell on top of a pile of crates raising his shield to deflect the rounds that came his way before wading into them. Swinging his shield in an arc he nailed terrorists scrambling for their guns noticing that so far he was totally alone.
Wanda as if on command jumped through the window with her arms crossed, landing on her feet behind a defensive position taken by the men against Cap. Pointing her hands in each direction waves of energy flew scattering them like ants Aiming at a grenade at their feet Wanda sent her powers streaming to make the grenade blow. The explosion threw them in all directions at once, one of which was right on top of her.
Cap lowered his shield in time to see Wanda get dog piled by a group of men and ran to her aid yelling at the top of his lungs, "WHERE ARE YOU QUICKSILVER?!"
The dog pile disintegrated in a whirlwind as bodies were thrown 20 feet or better. Looking up Wanda saw her brother standing over her with a grim look on his face offering her his hand, "Well?"
Wanda took it as he hauled her up, "I had it under control."
"DUCK!!!"
Both crouched as Cap flew through the air to skillfully deflect a rocket fired at them with his shield and prevent it from exploding. Scrambling behind some crates as beams of energy carved the ware house apart around them all three looked at the others. Pietro grabbed Cap's shield yelling, "COVER ME!"
Running around the crates and straight at the men who stood behind a futuristic gun on a tripod he hurled the shield with far less accuracy but more speed that Cap. Seconds behind Cap appeared with pistols in each hand picking off the odd man that Pietro missed as Wanda covered his back. Seeing Cap and Wanda dive behind a pile of boxes under fire from the tripod gun's blasts. Throwing the shield through the air it cut straight through the gun and the man who manned it seconds after he had released. Picking up the shield he ran after the few survivors who were fleeing and threw again and again and again until no one was left standing.
Cap and Wanda walked out from behind the boxes to survey the damage; the warehouse was destroyed, crates full of obvious weapons were spilled everywhere, and all the weapon hijackers were lying on the ground with no sign of life.
Pietro straightened from where he stood after picking up the shield, turned to Cap, walked up to him and presented it, "I believe this satisfactory shows our skill."
Looking around with the haunted eye of one who had seen many combat scenes Cap nodded absently before asking, "You're the people for the job. But tell one thing, truthfully, did you enjoy it?"
Pietro threw back his head and laughed. The laugh seemed to well from deep inside him where there was no humor stored and echoed around them as if mocking the question. Pietro looked Cap in the eye, "I never regretted killing anyone, because I never kill without good reason. But this was duty."
Cap nodded, pleased with the answer he offered his hand for the second time, "Welcome to the Ultimates."
Pietro had taken it, not in the latest custom of palm to palm, but grasping Caps arm which Cap quickly mimicked. Something passed between them, like a demon who had been cast out of hell and an archangel on a quest meeting, something passed between them that was more than words.
Wanda stared in horror at the man she saw before her, he was her brother, not this man who killed and killed and killed until there was nothing left. Taking a step towards him she reached out a shaking hand to him, "no."
Cap looked at her, lost for words.
Wanda stared in her brother's eyes as the happy man she saw days before seemed to struggle and squirm as he was attacked but what was done this night, "NO!"
Pietro looked at her, the conflict inside him falling away, "What?"
Wanda saw now that if she called her brother on what it was inside him he would deny it and renounce her. Left to fester with no one to fight for him the darkness would pass over him in the way that it had their father, something she would not let happen. Deciding to play it easy Wanda remarked, "Were here only until Magneto's gone, that's the only reason were on this team."
Cap had nodded believing himself that that was what he had meant, "Of course."
Pietro shook his head and smirked, a smirk that warmed Wanda's heart and endeared Pietro to Cap a little more, "Always arguing semantics Wanda, when are you going to learn?"
Cap pulled a small comm. Unit from his belt and called back to base to inform Fury that the weapons had been found. Wanda and Pietro were looking at the weapons when the doors to the warehouse had slid open revealing two stunned guards. Pietro had turned to run for them, but Cap was that much closer and clubbed them with a skilled toss of his shield without removing the phone from his ear.
Pietro turned and regarded wonder with question, "Those guards came from your side of the building."
Wanda shrugged, "I never saw them."
Pietro had mulled on this for a second before he shrugged back and returned to his inspection of the weaponry. Wanda had sighed inwardly and thanked her lucky stars; he never could call a girl he loves on a bluff.
As if picking up on her thoughts Pietro swiveled and asked, "That picture you have."
"Yeah?"
"Do you have anymore?"
Wanda smiled as a flicker of hope for what her brother had made of himself was kindled, "I have albums."
"Aw c**p, all I wanted was a picture. And not one with Wagner in it either, its bad enough thinking about you two."
Wanda rolled her eyes and leaned against the wall, "Is it the idea of us, or is it the idea of US?!"
Pietro gagged as the mental image flickered across his mind, "We are in a weapons store house Wanda, I would hate for someone to get hurt."
"You would shoot me?"
"That wouldn't remove the horrible visual from my mind."
Jumping on his back in a fit of playfulness Wanda cried, "You always were melodramatic!"
Pietro spun in a circle careful to hold her legs until she yelled, "IIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMM GOOOOOOOONNNNNAAAAAAA PPPPPPUUUUUUUKKKKKKKEEEEEEEE!!!!!"
Stopping he caught her as she swung around him with centrifugal force and held her up until her dizziness passed, "No I just make everything look good."
Cap walked over and clapped a hand on each of their shoulders, "You kids are all I told Fury you were and more! What do you say we get out of here and get cleaned up?"
"A shower sounds like a great idea," Wanda replied pushing a sweat soaked strand of hair behind her ear.
Pietro looked down and saw the blood that was spattered on his suit, "Ditto."
Returning to the compound Pietro and Wanda went to each of their rooms to shower while Cap did all the paper work and oversaw the returning of the weapons. Wanda took a quick shower hoping to catch Pietro before he sped off to who knows where.
Knocking on his door Wanda called, "Pietro?"
No one answered, but she could distinctly hear the sound of water running inside his room. Pushing the door open slightly Wanda called again, "Pietro?"
"Wanda?"
The sound of the voice was weak originating from the bathroom. Walking into his room she saw the bloody gauntlets laying on the floor on top of his shirt, the blood from all three soaking into the carpet. Pushing the bathroom door open Wanda found her brother kneeled in front of the sink as if at confession, scrubbing away at his hands and the blood on them with a scrub brush.
He looked over his shoulder at her and blinked slowly, "The blood wont come off."
Stepping closer Wanda saw that it wasn't the blood from the warehouse on his hand's, he had scrubbed the skin hard enough that they were no bleeding freely. Snagging a towel that hung on a hook she gathered his hands in it and leaned him against the wall, "I'll get a doctor."
"NO!" he had grabbed her hand with his leaving a bloody hand print, "It'll hear overnight, it always does."
Wanda kneeled down in front of him and asked as she caressed his cheek, "Pietro how many times have you done this?"
He shrugged; the number was beyond remembering.
She sat down and lay back against the wall as his head slowly fell until it rested in her lap and he asked, "Wanda, what's happening to me?"
Your becoming a monster Pietro, the thought flitted through her head before she began stroking his hair, "Your just in battle shock, it happens every once in awhile to us all. Its normal, like breathing."
He stared at the wall, "I'm afraid Wanda, I think I liked it."
Wanda cried silently as she hugged her brother to her, crying for another life that had been ruined by their father.
The next day his hands were better than ever, still that off white that they usually were if not a little red. He said nothing of their conversation they had, or why she had sat with him through the night holding him. Instead he stood up and yawned before asking, "You want some breakfast?"
They ate in silence, Wanda eating her toast while Pietro had a sausage biscuit. A soldier approached their table and waited to be recognized while Wanda and Pietro waited for him to speak. An awful lot of waiting would have been involved if Wanda hadn't said, "Yes?"
The soldier continued to stare over their head's, "The prisoners are to be released soon from cell block D, Captain Fury wants to know if you wish to see them."
Expecting her brother to go back to breakfast she was surprised when he replied, "Yes I believe I will."
"WHAT?"
Pietro had looked at him even more surprised, "What's with the just saw the ghost look?"
Wanda dropped her toast, "I thought you said you were ashamed of them?"
Pietro leaned down and smiled sardonically as he put the toast back in her hand, "You didn't give up on me, why should I give up on them?"
As he followed the soldier away Wanda asked herself, how are we going to get through this?
Deep into the compound Pietro followed the soldier, taking trains lifts and even escalators they finally came to an air lock that said "Cell block D."
Inside the room Pietro looked through the transparent electrical screen at his former associates and friends. Lance looked the same expect for what appeared to be a small goatee growing out of his chin, clad in the same old battle uniform he had worn years ago.
Toad surprised him; it appeared that the young mutant had aged well. He now moved with a grace and skill that not even Pietro could muster as he paced the cell, muscles rippling under a black jumpsuit. His hair was now short and green, spiked up in the front to a point that was the same color of his eyes.
Fred.was Fred. Nothing had changed about him. Though finding him reading a copy of DOS DIESQUE marked with the islands library label was surprising.
Lance looked up and saw him first, "Well if it ain't the speed demon himself?!"
Toad leapt to the edge of his screen, "What did they get you for? Last time I hear you had wandered off into the wild blue yonder."
Fred put his book down and frowned, "He's not been caught you idiot's, do you see any hand cuffs? Or more importantly a restraining collar?"
The others mulled this over as Pietro slowly looked from one to the other. Lance spat at the screen and watched it fizzle, "Then why are you here?"
Fred threw his hands in the air in exasperation, "its pretty obvious-"
"That if you don't shut your mouth I'm going to shut it for you. Well?"
Toad's quizzical look change quickly to a snarl, "He's with them."
Lance fell back against his bunk in a fit of laughter. Roaring he pointed at Pietro and yelled to the others, "You surprised? He never could stay on one side too long!"
Toad quivered with anger, "You joined the other side huh? Kicking your father in the balls wasn't enough? You had to turn traitor to your whole race?"
Fred shook his head, "Why Pietro?"
Pietro continued to stare at them.
Lance finally stopped laughing. Rising from his bunk he asked, "What's the matter? They finally get sick of your constant jabber so you gave up your tongue too?"
Pietro hit the energy lock on all three cells, retracting the screens from the others path. Stepping out of their cells with the urgency of animals they arrayed themselves unknowingly to face him in combat stance. Pietro looked at each with something akin to regret and said, "I'm sorry."
"What?" Lance asked.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, after what happened with Tabby I left you all high and dry. I'm sorry."
Fred was amazed at his gall, while Lance and Todd only seemed more inflamed. Finally Lance grabbed Pietro and slammed him against the wall, "YOUR SORRY!!! YOU THINK THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO FORGIVE YOU FOR WALKING OUT ON US?!! THE LAST YEARS HAVE BEEN HELL!!!"
Pietro leaned his head down until both foreheads touched, "I know."
Lance threw him away from him and towards the door. Pietro landed on his feet and faced them, "Just be glad that Magneto never got hold of you."
Toad snarled, "Get out of our face traitor! You think we need you or want you around?"
Fred looked at Pietro frankly, "There's been far too much wrong for you to make right."
At this Pietro nodded and walked out the door, soldiers soon appeared to escort them out from the same door.
Walking down the hall Pietro thought of what his life could have been if he had stayed with them. Maybe it would have been him in one of those cells with them? Who knew?
"Maximoff to the meeting room." An overhead PA system declared.
Pietro shook his head at the lousy timing and decided to take a nice slow elevator back to the surface while he collected his thoughts.
"Where is he?" Fury asked, already chopping down on his cigar.
"Wanda?" Rogers asked from his seat at the head of the table.
Wanda looked up from where she had been studying her nails, "No idea chief."
Fury sighed and sunk back in his chair, looking at his watch again and again as his scowl deepened with every glance. Finally Pietro walked through the door with an absent look on his face, "You called?"
Fury swung the chair around, "Ten minutes ago! I thought your power was being fast."
Cap ignored Fury as he stood and addressed the group arrayed around the table, some of which Pietro already recognized, "This is Pietro Maximoff, our latest recruit alongside Wanda his sister who I've already introduced you to."
Gesturing to the man on his left he said, "This is Tony Stark, our Iron Man."
Pietro looked at him and returned the nod given with one of his own.
Cap pointed to a red head sitting to Tony Starks left, "This is Natasha Romanov or Black Widow."
The red head didn't even look at him, instead she leaned over and whispered something in Starks ear.
Moving along cap gestured to a man with even colder eyes than Pietro's, "Clint Brown who you may have seen in the Olympics, he works under the field name Hawkeye."
Hawkeye look at Pietro for a second before shaking his head and looking back at Rogers and asking, "Can we get the meeting going or what?"
Rogers frowned and motioned Pietro to his seat at the table next to his sister and the man on the other side of the seat, "All right. Please take your seat, I'm sure Thor will forgive my rudeness."
Pietro took his seat across from Black Widow and looked to Fury who the meeting had been apparently handed over too.
Fury took out his cigar and stuck it in an ash tray, "Alright people, here's the thing. Right now the team is down three members; we have both Jan and Bruce in med bay while Hank is cooling his heels in the stockade. This leaves us with only 7 active members."
"6 to be exact, I have no idea why I'm here." Thor interjected.
Fury rolled his eye, "I'm sure everyone here is quite aware that you aren't a member of our little troop, you've told just about every single newscaster in New York that. So if I may continue?"
Thor smiled.
Fury picked up his cigar and began chomping on it again, "The raid last night on the weapons store house was a paid off double. We got our weapons off the streets with no one the wiser and found out that they were destined for Magneto's little guerilla army."
Black Widow leaned back and put her black boots on the table, "So where is he?"
Fury continued as if not hearing her, "So far we have been unable to find his present location, but we believe that it is somewhere in the Arctic Circle. But we have a more pressing matter at hand; whoever sold us out to the weapons dealers may try to sell us out again. I want you four; Hawkeye, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver to find our mole, while Thor and Captain America search for Magneto."
Hawkeye and Black Widow looked at each other for a moment before looking at the twins, neither was happy and the twins felt the same.
"While were gone Tony will run matters and watch over the base, Pietro will be in charge of the investigation."
"WHAT?" both Hawkeye and Black Widow yelled.
Hawkeye stood up, "I cannot believe this! You're making the guy who's Magneto's son leader?"
Black Widow flipped her hair back, "What makes you think he can handle this?"
Rogers spoke up, "Pietro knows the most about Magneto's operations, besides he once worked security for the man."
Pietro was speechless. Wanda was not.
"What's the matter? You have a problem taking orders from a mutant?" Wanda said as energy crackled in between her fingers menacingly.
Hawkeye shoved his chair back and walked towards the door saying over his shoulder, "No, just someone who was a terrorist."
Black Widow glared at them both before following Hawkeye out of the room leaving the remaining members sitting in uncomfortable silence.
Thor turned to Fury and asked, "Did I ever tell you what a wonderful operation I think you run? Seriously, nothing could be going smoother."
Pietro smirked, "I like him."
Fury shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Why are the smart mouths always the ones with super powers?!"
Next episode: Rogue and the X men go after Proteus!!!
Pietro sat in the hovercopter watching as it hovered silently over the warehouse, Captain America leaping from the landing strut to the roof and rolling. Without a sound he unlimbered his shield from his back and crept silently towards the window.
Looking down Cap saw shadowy figures moving inside, the glass was not quiet clear enough to tell who was doing what, but motion was obvious. Holding one hand in the air Cap made a circular motion three times.
Pietro saw the go ahead signal, as did the hovercopter pilot. Wanda sat on the edge of her seat staring not into the night, but at a small picture of Kurt and a little girl in her hand. She folded the picture twice and held it in her fist, a fist that was soon surrounded by Pietro's two hands. Feeling the squeeze she looked up at him and saw him nod once. Nodding back they both dropped to the ground and headed towards separate sides of the building.
Cap kneeled next to the window, slowly counting down from 100 as he waited for the other two to get into position. 67, 66, 65, 64, god I hope they don't screw this up, he thought.
Where was I?, Slapping himself on the forehead he began counting again near what he hoped was the right number, 60, 59, 58..
Wanda slunk around the side of the building careful to keep to the shadows and watch for any possible guards. Seeing two smoking a cigarette side by side and cradling their rifles Wanda pointed her hand palm out in the direction opposite the side she was suppose to go.
CRASH
"What was that?", One guard asked the other. Shrugging in reply he followed his friend to investigate.
Easy as pie, Wanda thought as she stood near the window and waited.
On the other side three guards lay gurgling as blood either pooled in their shattered throats or froze completely due to a snapped neck. Pietro looked at all three with a contempt he hadn't felt for another human being since his days of running with his father. He was no stranger to death; the blood on his hands was a mixture of reds, and even some colors that weren't normal.
All men though, Pietro thought dragging the bodies out of sight, and somehow that made a difference.
His father had taught him little, believing that experience was the best way to learn. Dropping Pietro in strange and dangerous situations bred little trust between father and son, but it had instilled in Pietro a sense of survival that had served him well.
"Pietro, come here." His father had addressed him one day from the other side of the room sitting in his techno throne of sorts.
Pietro had been monitoring communications in a small station at the moment, but he immediately rose and approached warily but speedily, "Yes sir."
Magneto had placed a hand on his shoulder and turned him so that he could see the monitor his father had been intent on. On the screen a mutant with no flesh on his arms showing bare bones, but was still very much alive sat strapped in a chair with Sabertooth standing over him with a pipe.
Pietro looked at this coolly, a sense of foreboding feeling his heart. His father had put a hand on his shoulder and asked, "What is a traitor Pietro?"
Pietro had replied immediately still watching the screen, "A fool waiting to be killed, especially one that betrays us."
At this his father had squeezed, grating the bones in Pietro's shoulder in a strange imitation of approval from which Pietro had not flinched, "When do you kill a man?"
"Only when necessary, humans kill in fear, hate, or jealousy."
Magneto had leaned closer with a rustling of cape until Pietro felt his father's breath on his other shoulder, and yet he still did not flinch, "This man is a traitor Pietro, he has taken money to tell others of my plans. Normally I would use this to my advantage, but not this time. Why?"
With a voice frighteningly like his fathers Pietro replied, "Betrayal for a belief can be understood if not condoned, but betrayal for money shows a lack of conviction."
Magneto leaned back in his chair, "You speak with ice in your heart, I approve. A leader must make decisions with the clearest mind, never tainted by anger, pain, or fear," reaching to the side of him Magneto pulled a small pistol and offered it to him, "Do your duty."
Pietro had zipped down there with faster than he had ever run before, fueled by a bloodlust that seemed unholy and a sense of approval from his father which in his heart was even more damning. As he opened the door the man had looked up and flexed in his bonds, hoping to escape.
"So he finally decided to give you your spurs eh?" Sabertooth had grinned maliciously and licked his lips, "Bout time."
Pietro had walked to the man and grabbed his hair, wrenching his head back Pietro stared into eyes that held so much emotion; guilt, shame, anger, hatred, fear, and strangest of all betrayal.
"Do it you son of a devil," the man had whispered vehemently, "You're just like him, so do it."
Staring into those eyes he had seen his reflection; a reflection that needed only a red helmet to be complete. Shaking his head he had dropped the pistol to the ground earning a surprised grunt from Sabertooth and a sigh of relief from the man..
"No I am not like him," he had said still holding the man by the hair he speaking slowly and carefully, "I am something far more terrible to be hold."
Turning to Sabertooth he had extended a hand, "Give me that."
Sabertooth had obediently handed him the pipe as if he was his father. Pietro had turned and asked, "Do you pray?"
The man had begun crying and nodded, "I wish God would save me."
Stepping back and digging his feet in Pietro aimed for his left knee, "lets make a deal."
"Rea-, Really?"
Pietro had nodded, "You can call for God, and if he shows up, I'll stop."
Later that night Pietro washed the blood from his hands with a speed that seemed inhuman. Scrubbing frantically at the black liquid that had scabbed over his own hands he had felt his father and turned to him. His father seemed to dominate the spartan room as he reached out and grabbed Pietro's hands. Admiring them with the love one would a child he had looked Pietro in the eye and asked, "Why? What you did was almost cruel-, no was cruel. Why?"
He had stared back at his father, "To help him repent."
Magneto tilted his head, "Did he?"
A look of almost religious fever took hold in his eyes, "With all his soul."
His father had smiled then. It was not the cold clinical smile he was used to, but the smile of one damned by his own hand to another of the same ilk. Feeling the ties that bound them, both blood their own and that of other men, each felt that what he had wanted had been delivered at a great price. Pietro had gained a father in exchange for damnation; Magneto had assured his legacy by damning his own son.
Magneto had turned from him to the door, but before leaving he said, "You have spilt blood. Know that by all the rules I have governed myself by, this is my greatest; never spill the blood of women or children. In this we may retain some small honor in what we do."
And with that he was gone leaving Pietro to slide to the floor and listen to the two voices inside him scream; "Murderer! Murderer!" and "Daddddddddyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!"
Remembering the task at hand Pietro ran from where he had piled the bodies to the side door of the warehouse. Listening to the sounds from inside he waited for the breaking of glass, rubbing the finger of one bloody gloved hand against the others.
10,9, 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, Cap thought as he rose took three steps back and leapt through the window.
Men scrambled in all directions as he fell on top of a pile of crates raising his shield to deflect the rounds that came his way before wading into them. Swinging his shield in an arc he nailed terrorists scrambling for their guns noticing that so far he was totally alone.
Wanda as if on command jumped through the window with her arms crossed, landing on her feet behind a defensive position taken by the men against Cap. Pointing her hands in each direction waves of energy flew scattering them like ants Aiming at a grenade at their feet Wanda sent her powers streaming to make the grenade blow. The explosion threw them in all directions at once, one of which was right on top of her.
Cap lowered his shield in time to see Wanda get dog piled by a group of men and ran to her aid yelling at the top of his lungs, "WHERE ARE YOU QUICKSILVER?!"
The dog pile disintegrated in a whirlwind as bodies were thrown 20 feet or better. Looking up Wanda saw her brother standing over her with a grim look on his face offering her his hand, "Well?"
Wanda took it as he hauled her up, "I had it under control."
"DUCK!!!"
Both crouched as Cap flew through the air to skillfully deflect a rocket fired at them with his shield and prevent it from exploding. Scrambling behind some crates as beams of energy carved the ware house apart around them all three looked at the others. Pietro grabbed Cap's shield yelling, "COVER ME!"
Running around the crates and straight at the men who stood behind a futuristic gun on a tripod he hurled the shield with far less accuracy but more speed that Cap. Seconds behind Cap appeared with pistols in each hand picking off the odd man that Pietro missed as Wanda covered his back. Seeing Cap and Wanda dive behind a pile of boxes under fire from the tripod gun's blasts. Throwing the shield through the air it cut straight through the gun and the man who manned it seconds after he had released. Picking up the shield he ran after the few survivors who were fleeing and threw again and again and again until no one was left standing.
Cap and Wanda walked out from behind the boxes to survey the damage; the warehouse was destroyed, crates full of obvious weapons were spilled everywhere, and all the weapon hijackers were lying on the ground with no sign of life.
Pietro straightened from where he stood after picking up the shield, turned to Cap, walked up to him and presented it, "I believe this satisfactory shows our skill."
Looking around with the haunted eye of one who had seen many combat scenes Cap nodded absently before asking, "You're the people for the job. But tell one thing, truthfully, did you enjoy it?"
Pietro threw back his head and laughed. The laugh seemed to well from deep inside him where there was no humor stored and echoed around them as if mocking the question. Pietro looked Cap in the eye, "I never regretted killing anyone, because I never kill without good reason. But this was duty."
Cap nodded, pleased with the answer he offered his hand for the second time, "Welcome to the Ultimates."
Pietro had taken it, not in the latest custom of palm to palm, but grasping Caps arm which Cap quickly mimicked. Something passed between them, like a demon who had been cast out of hell and an archangel on a quest meeting, something passed between them that was more than words.
Wanda stared in horror at the man she saw before her, he was her brother, not this man who killed and killed and killed until there was nothing left. Taking a step towards him she reached out a shaking hand to him, "no."
Cap looked at her, lost for words.
Wanda stared in her brother's eyes as the happy man she saw days before seemed to struggle and squirm as he was attacked but what was done this night, "NO!"
Pietro looked at her, the conflict inside him falling away, "What?"
Wanda saw now that if she called her brother on what it was inside him he would deny it and renounce her. Left to fester with no one to fight for him the darkness would pass over him in the way that it had their father, something she would not let happen. Deciding to play it easy Wanda remarked, "Were here only until Magneto's gone, that's the only reason were on this team."
Cap had nodded believing himself that that was what he had meant, "Of course."
Pietro shook his head and smirked, a smirk that warmed Wanda's heart and endeared Pietro to Cap a little more, "Always arguing semantics Wanda, when are you going to learn?"
Cap pulled a small comm. Unit from his belt and called back to base to inform Fury that the weapons had been found. Wanda and Pietro were looking at the weapons when the doors to the warehouse had slid open revealing two stunned guards. Pietro had turned to run for them, but Cap was that much closer and clubbed them with a skilled toss of his shield without removing the phone from his ear.
Pietro turned and regarded wonder with question, "Those guards came from your side of the building."
Wanda shrugged, "I never saw them."
Pietro had mulled on this for a second before he shrugged back and returned to his inspection of the weaponry. Wanda had sighed inwardly and thanked her lucky stars; he never could call a girl he loves on a bluff.
As if picking up on her thoughts Pietro swiveled and asked, "That picture you have."
"Yeah?"
"Do you have anymore?"
Wanda smiled as a flicker of hope for what her brother had made of himself was kindled, "I have albums."
"Aw c**p, all I wanted was a picture. And not one with Wagner in it either, its bad enough thinking about you two."
Wanda rolled her eyes and leaned against the wall, "Is it the idea of us, or is it the idea of US?!"
Pietro gagged as the mental image flickered across his mind, "We are in a weapons store house Wanda, I would hate for someone to get hurt."
"You would shoot me?"
"That wouldn't remove the horrible visual from my mind."
Jumping on his back in a fit of playfulness Wanda cried, "You always were melodramatic!"
Pietro spun in a circle careful to hold her legs until she yelled, "IIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMM GOOOOOOOONNNNNAAAAAAA PPPPPPUUUUUUUKKKKKKKEEEEEEEE!!!!!"
Stopping he caught her as she swung around him with centrifugal force and held her up until her dizziness passed, "No I just make everything look good."
Cap walked over and clapped a hand on each of their shoulders, "You kids are all I told Fury you were and more! What do you say we get out of here and get cleaned up?"
"A shower sounds like a great idea," Wanda replied pushing a sweat soaked strand of hair behind her ear.
Pietro looked down and saw the blood that was spattered on his suit, "Ditto."
Returning to the compound Pietro and Wanda went to each of their rooms to shower while Cap did all the paper work and oversaw the returning of the weapons. Wanda took a quick shower hoping to catch Pietro before he sped off to who knows where.
Knocking on his door Wanda called, "Pietro?"
No one answered, but she could distinctly hear the sound of water running inside his room. Pushing the door open slightly Wanda called again, "Pietro?"
"Wanda?"
The sound of the voice was weak originating from the bathroom. Walking into his room she saw the bloody gauntlets laying on the floor on top of his shirt, the blood from all three soaking into the carpet. Pushing the bathroom door open Wanda found her brother kneeled in front of the sink as if at confession, scrubbing away at his hands and the blood on them with a scrub brush.
He looked over his shoulder at her and blinked slowly, "The blood wont come off."
Stepping closer Wanda saw that it wasn't the blood from the warehouse on his hand's, he had scrubbed the skin hard enough that they were no bleeding freely. Snagging a towel that hung on a hook she gathered his hands in it and leaned him against the wall, "I'll get a doctor."
"NO!" he had grabbed her hand with his leaving a bloody hand print, "It'll hear overnight, it always does."
Wanda kneeled down in front of him and asked as she caressed his cheek, "Pietro how many times have you done this?"
He shrugged; the number was beyond remembering.
She sat down and lay back against the wall as his head slowly fell until it rested in her lap and he asked, "Wanda, what's happening to me?"
Your becoming a monster Pietro, the thought flitted through her head before she began stroking his hair, "Your just in battle shock, it happens every once in awhile to us all. Its normal, like breathing."
He stared at the wall, "I'm afraid Wanda, I think I liked it."
Wanda cried silently as she hugged her brother to her, crying for another life that had been ruined by their father.
The next day his hands were better than ever, still that off white that they usually were if not a little red. He said nothing of their conversation they had, or why she had sat with him through the night holding him. Instead he stood up and yawned before asking, "You want some breakfast?"
They ate in silence, Wanda eating her toast while Pietro had a sausage biscuit. A soldier approached their table and waited to be recognized while Wanda and Pietro waited for him to speak. An awful lot of waiting would have been involved if Wanda hadn't said, "Yes?"
The soldier continued to stare over their head's, "The prisoners are to be released soon from cell block D, Captain Fury wants to know if you wish to see them."
Expecting her brother to go back to breakfast she was surprised when he replied, "Yes I believe I will."
"WHAT?"
Pietro had looked at him even more surprised, "What's with the just saw the ghost look?"
Wanda dropped her toast, "I thought you said you were ashamed of them?"
Pietro leaned down and smiled sardonically as he put the toast back in her hand, "You didn't give up on me, why should I give up on them?"
As he followed the soldier away Wanda asked herself, how are we going to get through this?
Deep into the compound Pietro followed the soldier, taking trains lifts and even escalators they finally came to an air lock that said "Cell block D."
Inside the room Pietro looked through the transparent electrical screen at his former associates and friends. Lance looked the same expect for what appeared to be a small goatee growing out of his chin, clad in the same old battle uniform he had worn years ago.
Toad surprised him; it appeared that the young mutant had aged well. He now moved with a grace and skill that not even Pietro could muster as he paced the cell, muscles rippling under a black jumpsuit. His hair was now short and green, spiked up in the front to a point that was the same color of his eyes.
Fred.was Fred. Nothing had changed about him. Though finding him reading a copy of DOS DIESQUE marked with the islands library label was surprising.
Lance looked up and saw him first, "Well if it ain't the speed demon himself?!"
Toad leapt to the edge of his screen, "What did they get you for? Last time I hear you had wandered off into the wild blue yonder."
Fred put his book down and frowned, "He's not been caught you idiot's, do you see any hand cuffs? Or more importantly a restraining collar?"
The others mulled this over as Pietro slowly looked from one to the other. Lance spat at the screen and watched it fizzle, "Then why are you here?"
Fred threw his hands in the air in exasperation, "its pretty obvious-"
"That if you don't shut your mouth I'm going to shut it for you. Well?"
Toad's quizzical look change quickly to a snarl, "He's with them."
Lance fell back against his bunk in a fit of laughter. Roaring he pointed at Pietro and yelled to the others, "You surprised? He never could stay on one side too long!"
Toad quivered with anger, "You joined the other side huh? Kicking your father in the balls wasn't enough? You had to turn traitor to your whole race?"
Fred shook his head, "Why Pietro?"
Pietro continued to stare at them.
Lance finally stopped laughing. Rising from his bunk he asked, "What's the matter? They finally get sick of your constant jabber so you gave up your tongue too?"
Pietro hit the energy lock on all three cells, retracting the screens from the others path. Stepping out of their cells with the urgency of animals they arrayed themselves unknowingly to face him in combat stance. Pietro looked at each with something akin to regret and said, "I'm sorry."
"What?" Lance asked.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, after what happened with Tabby I left you all high and dry. I'm sorry."
Fred was amazed at his gall, while Lance and Todd only seemed more inflamed. Finally Lance grabbed Pietro and slammed him against the wall, "YOUR SORRY!!! YOU THINK THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO FORGIVE YOU FOR WALKING OUT ON US?!! THE LAST YEARS HAVE BEEN HELL!!!"
Pietro leaned his head down until both foreheads touched, "I know."
Lance threw him away from him and towards the door. Pietro landed on his feet and faced them, "Just be glad that Magneto never got hold of you."
Toad snarled, "Get out of our face traitor! You think we need you or want you around?"
Fred looked at Pietro frankly, "There's been far too much wrong for you to make right."
At this Pietro nodded and walked out the door, soldiers soon appeared to escort them out from the same door.
Walking down the hall Pietro thought of what his life could have been if he had stayed with them. Maybe it would have been him in one of those cells with them? Who knew?
"Maximoff to the meeting room." An overhead PA system declared.
Pietro shook his head at the lousy timing and decided to take a nice slow elevator back to the surface while he collected his thoughts.
"Where is he?" Fury asked, already chopping down on his cigar.
"Wanda?" Rogers asked from his seat at the head of the table.
Wanda looked up from where she had been studying her nails, "No idea chief."
Fury sighed and sunk back in his chair, looking at his watch again and again as his scowl deepened with every glance. Finally Pietro walked through the door with an absent look on his face, "You called?"
Fury swung the chair around, "Ten minutes ago! I thought your power was being fast."
Cap ignored Fury as he stood and addressed the group arrayed around the table, some of which Pietro already recognized, "This is Pietro Maximoff, our latest recruit alongside Wanda his sister who I've already introduced you to."
Gesturing to the man on his left he said, "This is Tony Stark, our Iron Man."
Pietro looked at him and returned the nod given with one of his own.
Cap pointed to a red head sitting to Tony Starks left, "This is Natasha Romanov or Black Widow."
The red head didn't even look at him, instead she leaned over and whispered something in Starks ear.
Moving along cap gestured to a man with even colder eyes than Pietro's, "Clint Brown who you may have seen in the Olympics, he works under the field name Hawkeye."
Hawkeye look at Pietro for a second before shaking his head and looking back at Rogers and asking, "Can we get the meeting going or what?"
Rogers frowned and motioned Pietro to his seat at the table next to his sister and the man on the other side of the seat, "All right. Please take your seat, I'm sure Thor will forgive my rudeness."
Pietro took his seat across from Black Widow and looked to Fury who the meeting had been apparently handed over too.
Fury took out his cigar and stuck it in an ash tray, "Alright people, here's the thing. Right now the team is down three members; we have both Jan and Bruce in med bay while Hank is cooling his heels in the stockade. This leaves us with only 7 active members."
"6 to be exact, I have no idea why I'm here." Thor interjected.
Fury rolled his eye, "I'm sure everyone here is quite aware that you aren't a member of our little troop, you've told just about every single newscaster in New York that. So if I may continue?"
Thor smiled.
Fury picked up his cigar and began chomping on it again, "The raid last night on the weapons store house was a paid off double. We got our weapons off the streets with no one the wiser and found out that they were destined for Magneto's little guerilla army."
Black Widow leaned back and put her black boots on the table, "So where is he?"
Fury continued as if not hearing her, "So far we have been unable to find his present location, but we believe that it is somewhere in the Arctic Circle. But we have a more pressing matter at hand; whoever sold us out to the weapons dealers may try to sell us out again. I want you four; Hawkeye, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver to find our mole, while Thor and Captain America search for Magneto."
Hawkeye and Black Widow looked at each other for a moment before looking at the twins, neither was happy and the twins felt the same.
"While were gone Tony will run matters and watch over the base, Pietro will be in charge of the investigation."
"WHAT?" both Hawkeye and Black Widow yelled.
Hawkeye stood up, "I cannot believe this! You're making the guy who's Magneto's son leader?"
Black Widow flipped her hair back, "What makes you think he can handle this?"
Rogers spoke up, "Pietro knows the most about Magneto's operations, besides he once worked security for the man."
Pietro was speechless. Wanda was not.
"What's the matter? You have a problem taking orders from a mutant?" Wanda said as energy crackled in between her fingers menacingly.
Hawkeye shoved his chair back and walked towards the door saying over his shoulder, "No, just someone who was a terrorist."
Black Widow glared at them both before following Hawkeye out of the room leaving the remaining members sitting in uncomfortable silence.
Thor turned to Fury and asked, "Did I ever tell you what a wonderful operation I think you run? Seriously, nothing could be going smoother."
Pietro smirked, "I like him."
Fury shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Why are the smart mouths always the ones with super powers?!"
Next episode: Rogue and the X men go after Proteus!!!