{Author's Note: Thanks once more for all the reviews, favs, and follows! It makes my heart happy that people are actually reading this story. I hope this next chapter isn't too confusing with the clashing of characters. As always, let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Oh, and I do not believe there are any new spoilers in this chapter.}
AVENGER'S WANDA POV
Could it be true? Was her brother really alive? She had to know that's why she had taken off right after Agent Hill had finished speaking. She knew they'd try to stop her from seeing him because of the little tid bit about Pietro being from a different universe, but it could still be him. Couldn't it? She needed it to be him.
God she missed her brother so much. It had been the two of them against the world since they were ten years old, and even before then, they'd been inseparable. She tried to put on a brave face for the other Avengers, and she liked to think most of the time she fooled them, but the truth was, part of her died when Pietro did, and everyday she wondered if it would be better if she just let the rest of herself die too. At least then she'd see her brother again…
But now there was a chance that he was alive, and she felt the dead chasm in her heart flicker with a tiny flame of hope.
Racing down the hall in the opposite direction of Steve and Maria, Wanda headed toward where she had last seen Vision. She'd actually witnessed Agent Hill speaking with Vision a while ago near the extra rooms in the compound that were kept empty for the unexpected guest, but she hadn't thought anything of it at the time, figuring they were just chatting. And so, not having eaten much yet that day, she had gone off to try to find something that was at least a little bit appetizing. She hadn't felt particularly hungry since the incident in Lagos.
Wanda's heart was pounding as she half ran down the compounds twists and turns. As she grew closer to where she had last seen Vision, she began to feel as if an invisible force was guiding her, and her hope that her brother was somehow alive again resurged within her.
Why shouldn't it be possible that Pietro was alive once more? Wasn't the existence of their powers alone evidence that impossible things were possible? And Wanda already knew there were other Worlds out there by evidence of the Scepter, which had given her and her brother powers, so why couldn't one of those worlds be where people went when they died? If that was the case, then of course Pietro would do everything in his power to come back to her, and perhaps, he had finally managed it.
Relying on the feeling that was guiding her, Wanda eventually came to a stop outside a closed door that led to a room that as far as she knew was normally empty. It was actually one of the rooms that had been offered to her when she had joined the Avengers, but ultimately Wanda had gone with a different, smaller one, since she figured now most of her time would be spent alone, she didn't need the extra space.
Taking a deep breath, Wanda reached out to grab the door's handle when suddenly Vision came gliding through the closed door, unconcerned by the traditional limitations of physics.
"Don't do that!" Wanda said a little more gruffly than she intended as she jumped back in surprise. "Really, we just went over this."
"My sincerest apologies." Replied Vision. "I just heard someone coming, and for some reason I thought it might be you."
"Oh? Well…It's alright…but if you could just step aside, I was just going to…." said Wanda trying to edge around Vision.
"I am sorry Wanda, but I cannot allow you to enter this room. Perhaps you'd care to take a stroll outside instead? I did earlier, and I can contest that it is quite a lovely day." Replied Vision with a hopeful look as he remained firmly placed in front of the door.
"Vision…step aside. One way or another I am getting into that room. You cannot guard it forever, and even if you could, do you really want me to try to force my way in?" asked Wanda her Sovokian accent becoming thicker as her impatience grew.
"I do not know what you have been told Wanda, but there is only one reason that you would have any interest in going in this room, you overheard something that you do not truly understand….I'm afraid I have to tell you, the boy is not your brother. Your brother is at peace." Said Vision giving Wanda an imploring look.
"I will be the judge of that, and if he is not, then there is no harm in me seeing for myself. I have to know for sure, Vision. I have to…" said Wanda, feeling her eyes begin to tear up. Maybe Vision was right. He wouldn't lie to her. His heart was too good for that, but she had to see with her own eyes.
Vision gazed at Wanda for a moment longer with his unnaturally green eyes. "Very well." Said Vision stepping aside and opening the door to allow Wanda to enter.
Without a moment of hesitation, Wanda stepped through the doorway, her heart hammering once more as she looked around the room.
There were two beds inside, on one lay a young teenage girl with auburn hair, but that was about all Wanda took care to notice as her eyes wandered over to the next bed.
Her heart leapt for the briefest of moments as her eyes registered the presence of a figure with unnaturally colored hair, but after the briefest of seconds, her heart was filled with despair once more. Vision was right. Her brother wasn't here.
Wanda felt tears threatening to spill over again, but she forced them away. The figure on the second bed might not be her brother, but there was something peculiar about him, something that reminded her of the boy she'd grown up with, for the unconscious individual was still a boy.
Wanda slowly approached the boy's bed. As she drew closer she could see that the boy's hair was silver, not very close in color to the bleached looking white hair Pietro had developed after he'd gained his powers…but still…the hair color couldn't be a coincidence. Most boys didn't go around dying their hair, and she figured that the ones who did, didn't typically dye their eyebrows to match their rebel hair color.
Wanda continued to stare down at the boy. She didn't know why. He obviously wasn't her brother. He was just a kid, still clean-shaven, unlike her brother. In fact, the boy probably didn't even need to shave yet. He was also shorter and much thinner than her brother, and probably still had a couple good inches of growing left to do, as he had a wiry almost gaunt look, much different than her brother who though trim was still quite muscular.
Wanda felt her lip twitch in an echo of a smile as she took in the boy's outfit. Even though she'd forgiven him for his past actions, Wanda was rather glad the boy seemed to favor Captain America over Iron man. Then there was the boy's jacket. Though she often thought her brother had questionable style choices, favoring tight fitting running shirts and outdated tracksuits, she was fairly certain he would have found the silver jacket the boy was wearing ridiculous, though Wanda herself rather liked it.
Lost in her thoughts, Wanda reached out to touch the jacket's metallic material, when suddenly the boy's eyes shot open, and Wanda found herself staring into eyes much different from her brother's blue ones. They were the darkest eyes she had ever seen, and they were filled with fear.
Before Wanda had time to say anything or reassure the boy that she didn't mean to startle him, a voice behind her shouted "Get away from him!"
Wanda turned just fast enough to see that the girl that occupied the other bed was now standing up and her hands were glowing with red energy that was all too familiar, before that red energy came hurtling toward her.
Wanda instinctively threw her hands up, calling on her own psionic energy, which blocked the foreign red energy. Wanda gazed at her hands a moment before lowering them back down to her sides. Meanwhile, the boy must have managed to overcome his fear because in that instant there was a blur, a fwhip noise, and suddenly the boy was on the other side of the room standing for a right by the girl; then he began to wobble before the girl managed to steady him and keep him on his feet.
"Pietro?" Wanda blurted out. She didn't mean to say her brother's name, it just slipped out. But when the boy had somehow managed to make it across the room so inhumanely fast using what could only be super speed, the first thing she thought of was her brother. At the same time, Wanda realized why the boy had stumbled when he reached the other side of the room. He had what looked to be a homemade cast on his left leg. She had failed to notice it before as she had been too distracted by his unique hair color and iridescent jacket.
The girl seemed momentarily stunned that her energy blast had no affect on Wanda, but she quickly recovered, addressing Wanda in seemingly calm manner, which contrasted greatly to the fury filled protectiveness she had displayed moments before. "Who are you and where are we?" the girl demanded.
"I—I…You're in…" Wanda couldn't manage to find the words to answer the girl's questions. She was too focused on the silver haired boy the girl was supporting and trying to wrap her mind around the fact that she had seem him display the power her brother had once possessed.
Wanda looked at the boy's eyes; this time purposefully. Now that he was standing by the girl, the boy's eyes didn't seem to be filled with the terror that had been there when he had first awoken, and maybe she was just imagining it, but behind those eyes it seemed to Wanda that his brain was moving at a hundred miles a minute or faster, analyzing everything in the room, while also appearing like he wished very much that he could grab the girl and run away, which unfortunately for him was an impossibility due to the current condition of his leg.
As Wanda once more tried to form a coherent sentence, she noticed that the girl was eyeing the door behind her, obviously calculating whether she should wait for an answer or try to make a break for it and maneuver herself and the boy past Wanda, even while knowing her power seemed to be ineffective on Wanda.
Just when Wanda was sure the girl would try to blast her again and make a move toward the door, Vision—who until presently had remained outside to give Wanda some privacy—entered the room behind Wanda, once again not bothering to use the door.
At his sudden entry, the boy and the girl's eyes darted over to him in unison, but it was Vision who spoke first, "Please children, remain calm. You are in no danger. I am glad you have awoken. Are you experiencing any pain? Or are you hungry or thirsty? I can have some food and beverages brought in for you. Do you have any food allergies? Perhaps you would enjoy some that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? I have learned that they are a staple childhood snack, but it seems many children today have an aversion to peanuts."
This introduction, based on the kids' behavior, was definitely not what they had been expecting to encounter when they woke up in a strange place. Wanda looked at the girl again, assuming she would be the one to answer being that the boy had yet to speak, but she had a look of utter disbelief on her face, as if she didn't know how to respond to such an ordinary, but rather odd, first impression.
Wanda's gaze abruptly switched back to the boy as he spoke for the first time in a quick concise succession of words, completely ignoring Vision's questions. "Where'sOur—Where'sErik?"
The boy's voice sounded slightly strained, as if it had been awhile since he'd used it, but despite the fact that his young voice was decidedly American and contained no hint of a Sovokian accent, for some reason the hint of fear, worry, and edginess still tugged at Wanda's heart.
"Your father is being held in a secure location until it can be determined whether or not he is fit for custody." Answered Vision matter-of-factly.
"What? Who are you to make that decision?" the girl replied, still sounding stunned that that they were actually having this conversation, and no one was attacking them.
"My sincerest apologies. Introductions are indeed in order. We have already been informed as to your names…Wanda and Pietro. My name is Vision, and you are in the home base of enhanced individuals much like yourselves and your father. As you, young sir," said Vision nodding at the boy, "had the remains of some troubling injuries, my fellow teammates found it necessary to converse with your father as to what led to those injuries. He has stated that none of your injuries were his doing, but rather from a group of malicious individuals who kept you prisoner. Will you attest to his version of events? You need not be afraid to speak out against him if he has caused you injury. We will not let further harm befall you again or your sister by his hand or that of another's."
Though Vision was mainly addressing the boy, it was the girl—with her fist clenched tightly at her sides—who responded this time, "We're not afraid of Erik. Sure, he might not be getting a father of the year award anytime soon, but he didn't hurt Pete. He would never hurt him, or either of us for that matter."
Vision gave the girl a thoughtful look that held a hint of concern, "Not that I do not trust your word, but I need confirmation from your brother all the same." Finished Vision turning his head slightly to make eye contact with the boy.
Pietro? Pete? Wanda still wasn't sure what to call him….or how to think of him. She especially didn't want to dwell on what it might mean that the girl's name was also Wanda, so she focused her attention back on the boy. He looked rather uncomfortable and very fidgety as all the eyes in the room turned to him. The kid looked as though he still wanted to take off running, but in the end he did speak, "ErikDidn'tDoThis. WhatHeSaidWasTheTruth. HeReallyWouldNeverHurtMeOrWanda. He'sTheReasonI' 'sNotAbusive. And—AndI'mGladHe'sMyDad. WhereAreYouKeepingHim?SeriouslyWhyDoesThisKeepHappening. IT'sLikeThe21stCenturyNowRight?Shouldn'tEverythingBeCivilizedByNow?WhyDoPeopleThinkIt'sOkayToGoAroundKidnappingOtherPeople?JustJustTakeUsToErikOr…Or…IGuarenteeHe'llEventuallyFindUsAndYou'reNotGonnaLikeWhatHappens." The boy finished in a rush. All of his words flew together as he spoke, and even though Wanda wasn't involved in bringing him and his sister to the Avenger's compound, his words made her feel guilty nonetheless. But Wanda also couldn't help notice that his quick manner of speaking him suited him very well, but for some reason she felt that his voice would sound more natural offering a quick sarcastic quip, rather than the pained dejected remarks he had just relayed.
Vision studied the boy with his inquisitive gaze, and Wanda could tell he felt a great deal of compassion for the kids. Even if Vision knew more about this boy and girl than Wanda, she guessed he didn't know their whole story, but it was impossible not to feel like you wanted to make everything okay for them…for him…for Pietro…
"They're telling the truth Vision." Said Wanda speaking up for the first time since the kids had woken up, and earning some surprised looks as everyone turned to face her. She figured that on some level they'd all sort of forgotten that she was in the room too, since she had been so quiet, and they'd been focused on Vision since he was in front of the door.
"They're father isn't abusing them, Vision." Continued Wanda who received rather confused looks from the kids who probably wondered why she was substantiating their words.
"How do you know?" asked Vision, not accusatorily, but in a genuinely curious tone.
"Because I remember what it's like to have a father who loves you and who you know will keep you safe from monsters and all the horrors of the world until the day he dies. That's who this Erik is to them. I can see it."
This statement garnered more confused looks from the teens. "I'm sorry, but who even are you?" the girl asked in rather critical tone of voice.
"Oh my apologies again. This is Miss Wa—"
"Wilma." said Wanda cutting Vision off as he looked at her. She could sense that despite his attempted introduction he could understand why she didn't want the kids to know her name was Wanda too, not after they had already seen that she was virtually unaffected by the girl's powers. It was all just too weird, and that was saying something considering Wanda basically had super powers, as did many of the people she now considered friends. Wanda also didn't want to give the teens any reason not to trust her, and maybe them knowing she shared the same name with the girl wouldn't make them distrust her, and maybe it would. She just wasn't prepared to take that chance. Wanda had a feeling if the girl found out about her and her own brother Pietro, she'd feel possessive of her brother, and Wanda—no matter the differences between her brother and this Pietro—couldn't help but want to know him, to protect him, to watch him have a long happy life that her brother would never have.
He's not my brother…but he's not unlike my brother…maybe Pietro really does live on in this boy…but then how do I reconcile the existence of this other Wanda?
"Are you guys mutants too?" asked the boy at a slightly slower rate than he had spoken before, leaning forward a little past his sister who while supporting him was also not so subtlety attempting to also stand in front of him as if to protect him. Then he abruptly leaned back again, seemingly surprised by his own verbal prowess.
"We're different if that's what you mean." said Wanda/Wilma.
"Mutant is the name for those in their universe who have capabilities beyond those of the normal human physiology." Said Vision chiming in. "I was just familiarizing myself with their background and world in the hallway via my mobile device, as Agent Hill sent the recording of their father's interview and their genetic profile to me."
"Our what?" asked the other Wanda angrily as her hands flared red again. "We are not some lab rats to be studied!"
"Of course not. Your genetic material was primarily gathered to verify your father's parentage." stated Vision politely.
"That doesn't make it okay!" continued the other Wanda her voice growing louder "You can't just knock people out and drag them off to God knows where, and then analyze them!" the girl finished throwing her hands up in fury and as she did so, a wave of red sparks cascaded toward Vision and Wanda.
Reacting on instinct, Wanda threw out her own surge of energy which crashed into the girl's causing a crackling noise and a small shock wave, which blew everyone's hair—well those who had hair—back briefly.
There was a moment of silence before the girl looking at Wanda asked again, "Who are you?"
Wanda didn't know what to say. The other Wanda wasn't looking at her so much in anger anymore, but rather in awe.
Wanda didn't know how to answer her. This other version of herself…for it had become obvious that they were similar too, and though there was a definite age difference between them along with the physical differences that caused, they did look slightly similar, much more similar than her own brother and this new Pietro. The girl's hair was more red than her own brown, and her eyes were also a darker brown, but they had a similar facial bone structure. Yet, their connection disturbed her in a way that the existence of this other Pietro did not. It was one thing to see your brother perhaps reincarnated in some way, but completely another to face an incarnation of yourself.
Finally, Wanda made up her mind as to how to respond, "I am like you, so believe me…believe us, when I say, we truly do mean you no harm. I'm sorry you were forced to come here like this, but I think now you can see your father, and then…"
And then what? Wanda didn't know. She didn't want them to go…well she didn't want the boy to go. She wasn't entirely keen on spending time with the girl. Though maybe that would change. There was no one on this earth who truly understood her, but maybe this girl would be that one person.
But how could she be? She is still a child. She has not seen what I have seen, nor done the things I have done.
Vision interrupted her thoughts. "I'm afraid we actually have a meeting to attend. Your reunion will have to be postponed temporarily until we have time to speak with the other Avengers—that is what we call ourselves—and go through the necessary protocols before you see Erik. Wilma, why don't you head over to the conference room, and I will watch the children."
"How about no, Vision. You're going to take us to Erik, now." Said the younger Wanda with an air of authority that made her seem much larger than her small frame suggested.
"Miss Maximoff, I assure you, barring any extraneous circumstances or new revelations, you will both see your father later—"
"I'll take them to him," said Wanda jumping in. "Just tell me where he's being held."
"Wilma, we must stand united. One person cannot make decisions that affect the whole, and—"
"Okay. Then I will stay with them. You can go to the meeting." Said Wanda. She tried to convince herself that she was just being helpful, but in reality, she knew the only reason she had volunteered for the task as supervising teenagers was because she wanted to stay in the boy's presence longer.
"Wilma…Secretary Ross will expect you to be present in the meeting due to…recent events. Your absence will not reflect well." Said Vision in a calm soothing voice that held maybe a touch of pity "My presence at the meeting though expected, is not absolutely necessary. I will have Tony inform Secretary Ross that I am needed elsewhere, and he will relay the content discussed at the meeting to me promptly. I have a feeling it will not taking much persuading to get Secretary Ross to accept my absence. Though I do not think it is his intent, I feel he has difficulty seeing me as my own person separate from Mr. Stark, rather than one of his robots."
"That's it. You two don't get to make decisions for us. And you cannot hold us here!" shouted the girl raising her right arm with what appeared to be the intent to blast her way from the room despite her recent failed attempts to use her powers successfully.
"Wait Wanda." said the young silver-haired Pietro unexpectedly, grabbing his sister's arm with his hand, and taking a deep breath as if to psyche himself up to speak. "It's okay…I think they're being sincere. The Green Lantern here is maybe a bit of a goody-two shoes and a tad condescending, but I mean, we're not being tortured or whatever. Heck, he offered us PB&J, which kinda sounds good by the way." Said Pietro giving Vision a pointed look. "Though I almost want to refuse the offer on principle because I think it might reinforce these guys' belief that we're kids and not extremely mature young adults…and well, they're obviously like us. I mean this Visioin guy makes me look normal, and the chick's got freaky cool powers like yours. That's gotta count for something right? I want to see Da—Erik too, but do we really have to fight? I'm tired of people thinking they can just get their way by force, people getting hurt, and…I'm just tired. I can't run us out of here right now either, so can't we just give them the benefit of the doubt, and wait it out? If anything goes wrong, Erik will find us. He found me before." The boy gave his sister a pleading look.
His sister gave him a long sympathetic look that also seemed to hold a fair amount of guilt that the older Wanda didn't quite understand, before responding, "Okay, Pietro. We'll wait…for now; see if they really do keep their word."
"For one so young, you are very wise, Pietro." Said Vision in genuine admiration.
"Uh thanks. But it's Peter. We're still not like friends dude." Answered Pietr—Peter, Wanda corrected herself. Maybe it would be easier for her, if she started thinking of him as Peter and not Pietro. It might help her separate him from her brother because he wasn't her Pietro. He wasn't her older twin brother, but she couldn't help but already think of him like a little brother.
"My apologies, Peter." Said Vision with sincerity.
"Are you British, man? You've got the accent down to a T, and you're all proper and what not." Said Peter. He seemed to be growing more assure of himself, now that his sister had calmed down and everyone was behaving cordial.
Vision chuckled softly, "I'm not British exactly, though you are correct my vocal inflection originates from there. I like to think I have my own unique nationality."
Peter raised one eyebrow. "Okay. You're officially weirder than us dude, and by the way, that walking though the wall thing you did earlier, you've gotta teach me that. That'd be friggin' useful."
Vision gave the boy another smile. "I am afraid that is not a skill I can teach, but I imagine your skills are just as impressive as mine without adding to them. Now, if you would please follow me, Wanda and Peter, we can wait out the duration of the meeting in the Avenger's private quarters. Our rec hall contains a plethora of leisure items that will help you pass the time. Wilma, you need to head to the meeting now, or Secretary Ross may send out people to look for you." Finished Vision holding open the door for Wanda, who slowly walked toward it.
Wanda glanced back at the teenagers still in the room, her eyes lingering on Peter. The boy looked a little uncomfortable under her gaze and whispered something in his sister's ear. Regretting that she made him feel uncomfortable, Wanda quickly looked away, but she would take the uncomfortable look over the one of pure terror he had given her when he'd first awoken.
"They'll be fine, Wanda. He'll be fine." Vision stated quietly so only she could hear.
Speaking just as quietly, Wanda replied "But…what if they try to fight you to go find their father and…" and then they leave. Wanda left the sentence unfinished. What if she never saw the boy again. The boy who somehow already made her feel like she had a family once more.
"I don't think they will, Wanda. You heard the boy. I think he's seen enough violence to want to avoid it if at all possible, and his sister just wants him to be happy. She won't do anything to upset him. As long as they don't feel threatened, I believe they will wait a few more hours before they do anything impulsive. And I can tell the girl is curious about you. She was in awe at how you controlled and used your powers so effectively while remaining calm and without drawing off of anger. You will see them again, Wanda. You will see him again." Said Vision placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
With that, Wanda gave one last glance at the room's young occupants before heading off to join the rest of the Avenger's at their meeting, wondering how she would be able to focus on anything that was covered in the meeting, now that this world once again held a speedster.
{Author's Note: I hope it doesn't seem like too drastic of a jump with Pietro once again being semi-vocal. The state of his recovery is clear in my head, but I'll probably write the next chapter at least partly from his pov, so his feelings are more apparent to all. I'm never really sure who's pov I'm going to write from until I start outlining the , details about Captain America: Civil War may change for the purpose of the story, such as Vision not attending the meeting with Secretary Ross}