I don't how many more chapters of this I'm going to do. I've got another ten planned but I think that'll be it.
Here's chapter 16:
We were there for a few days, having not been feed due to my refusal to let them in. They'd tried everything to break the door down but it wasn't shifting. We kept ourselves hydrated by letting some ice melt in our mouths. It was perfectly harmless. However, due to lack of nutrition, we were still becoming weaker. The water could only do so much.
A couple of days later, they were trying to break in again. It was getting harder and harder to keep them out as we grew hungrier and hungrier. The only thought that kept me going was keeping Wanda safe. If they got in, we both would be tortured and maybe killed. Doom wasn't the sanest person on the planet and I doubt he takes rebellion calmly.
All of a sudden, the banging on the door stopped and there were shouts and gunfire. Wanda shook me to get my attention away from the apparent chaos outside.
"Piper, it's them," I immediately looked up. "No wait, Sam's leaving the area."
"Get him back. I'll unfreeze the door. It should be unlocked still from their attempts to break in." I clambered to my feet, staggering over to the door. I unfroze it quickly and tested the handle. It opened and there was a startled man lying on the floor. He went for his radio and without thought I jumped on him and knocked him out. I turned back to Wanda who was struggling to keep herself upright.
"They should still be around. I'm trying to send a message to get them back here." I wrapped Wanda's arm around my shoulders and placed mine around her waist to keep her supported.
"Let's get out of here."
I led her down several corridors, trying to find an escape or one of the team. We wandered for five minutes, searching for anyone. The corridors were becoming less and less dark and more respectable, which means we're reaching an escape. We were being held in the basement of an office building by the looks of it. Respectable on the outside, evil on the inside. Just like Doom himself.
We were suddenly pulled back and I saw Doom going for a gun. I dropped, protecting Wanda with my body as I waited for a gunshot. When nothing came, I turned around, only for a boot to collide with my face. He started beating down on me, and then dragged me away from Wanda. I fought to hold on but he wrenched my arm behind my back. Crying in pain, I tried to shield myself from further attack but it never came. I saw Wanda, curled into a ball, crying. Sliding over to her, I pulled her to me with my good arm.
We lay in silence, losing hope that an Avenger would find us. A gun pressed into my neck and I knew that this was it, I was going to die. I started sobbing and the bastard laughed. He laughed and then the gun disappeared.
"You're so pathetic. It isn't even worth my time to kill you. When you're an actual opponent, then and only then will I kill you. Only then will I kill an Avenger. You and that Sokovian bitch you're protecting, she isn't good enough for anything." I tightened my arms around her, defensively. I was failing in my mission to keep her safe.
He disappeared and I continued crying. Not actually grasping what had just happened. Apparently, I wasn't good enough to kill. He wouldn't gain anything out of my death and so he didn't bother.
"Piper! Wanda!" We couldn't move but Steve and Sam were standing at the end of the hallway. They rushed over to us and their arms wrapped around us.
"Guys, we've got them. Let's get out of here."
"We've got all their gear," a voice sounded. I heard footsteps rushing towards us and Hawkeye appeared in my line of sight. I was unable to move but he pulled me into his arms and cuddled me tightly, and then the same with Wanda who returned it.
"Can we please leave now?" I cried out.
"Shh, we're going." Hawkeye picked me up whilst Steve carried Wanda.
My whole world was fading, everything sinking to the background as I longed to sleep and eat. I fought to stay awake, looking around to find Wanda and saw her passed out in Steve's arms. I reached out as best as I could for some contact which the two men realised. The moved closer together so I could see her.
"You're always looking out for her," Hawkeye whispered.
"It's an intense need. We haven't eaten since we were kidnapped but I've kept her hydrated but creating ice and allowing it to melt. We've slept as well but the lack of nutrition has gotten to her."
"We've got plenty of food on the Quinjet. We're gonna get you home, soon and then straight to the infirmary."
I heard the rush of the engines before I saw it. Tony was at the wheel, and the worry etched onto his face was kinda heart-warming. Rhodey had the ramp open already and Natasha had set up two gurneys to set us both down on. She squeezed my hand as I was set down. Tony rushed over to check on us both while Hawkeye started sorting out drink and food. Thor placed all our equipment to one side and then walked over to Steve, flashing me a smile on the way.
"How are you feeling, kid?" Tony sat himself down in between Wanda and I with a kind smile.
"Like I've been beaten half-to-death. Everything aches."
"We're gonna get you back to full health, don't you worry. How's Maximoff?" He looked over at Wanda who was still out of it but she was facing my way so I could keep an eye on her.
"I tried my best to keep her safe, I really did. I kept us locked in a cell away from physical beatings and emotional torture but the lack of food..." My tears started again.
"Hey, hey. You have kept her safe. She's still alive, isn't she?" I nodded. "The pair of you are gonna be fine."
"Tony, we should leave." Steve called him.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y?" Tony called to his A.I.
"Yes, sir?"
"Initialize take-off sequence and head for New York."
"Yes, sir." The engines kicked in and we slowly rose to the air.
The whole team kept checking on us regularly. I saw Vision sitting in a corner as he watched myself and Wanda. He looked deeply concerned so I gave him a weak smile. He smiled back gently. Clint and Nat rarely left our side. My eyes never left my best friend as I watched over her. She woke up after an hour, blinking her eyes, adjusting to the lack of light. I smiled at her as her eyes met mine and she smiled back. I reached out my hand and she took it, lacing our fingers together.
"How are you feeling?" I whispered.
"Safe. Safer." I raised an eyebrow. "You took so much pain just to protect me, Piper. Even when we were hostage, I felt safe because you were doing everything you could to shield me from pain. It was you who kept us safe; I was merely a whimpering mess."
"I wish I had managed to keep us even safer, like not let us get into the situation in the first place."
"Hey, hey, you listen to me, Piper Knight; it was not your fault. We were overwhelmed and they managed to reach us. While we were captured, you managed to keep us locked away even though it was taking away all your energy. Because of you, we're still alive and I could never be more thankful."
As soon as they heard us talking, Natasha, Tony, Clint and Steve were at our side in seconds. Sam checked Wanda for any injuries.
"How do you feel, Wanda?" Nat smiled.
"Honestly?" They nodded. "Hungry," she smiled. We all laughed.
"As soon as you're out of the infirmary, we'll take you to get some schwarma," Tony chuckled. She raised an eyebrow at him. "It's an Avengers tradition. After every mission, we have some schwarma; it's really nice actually." A dreamy look appeared on Stark's face at the prospect of food. Clint grabbed the trays of food he had prepared and set them down next to us.
"I've got enough food here for the whole team."
Everyone came and sat down and started eating. I devoured the food offered, as did Wanda. Having not eaten for so long, we claimed the right to eat like animals. After wiping my mouth clean, I noticed the whole team looking at us with fond smiles.
The rest of the journey was spent talking. Tony tried to come up with as many jokes as possible that amused himself more than anything. Sam managed to make everyone laugh as he goofed around.
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