{Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone who has favorited/followed this story and to those who have left a review! I just want to give fair warning to everyone who is following this story that although I will keep trying to pump out chapters fairly regularly this summer (I apologize, I am an agonizingly slow writer), come August, I will likely not be able to update, except perhaps around the holidays. We will see. I will be entering a new stage in my life, and I have been informed that I will have zero to negative free time, so that's fun. Also, from here on out, though there's not really major spoilers in this chapter, just assume that there will be spoilers for Captain America Civil War. Enjoy!}
Recap: Reaching Erik, Pietro crashed into his father, wrapping his arms around him in a fierce hug.
ERIK POV
A little while earlier…
Erik liked to think that he was a very patient man—he had waited many years to kill Shaw after all—but in actuality, Erik did not like waiting, and he had been waiting hours in this godforsaken room, while other people decided when he would be able to see his children.
Though Erik had learned never to be too trusting, Captain Rogers had seemed sincere enough when he'd said he'd be able to see his children once the Avenger's had verified his story with Wanda and Pietro.
How long could that possibly take? Maybe Erik was losing his touch at reading people, or perhaps perhaps the Avenger's had already spoken with Wanda and Pietro, and his children didn't want to see him. Maybe they blamed him for their current situation. They wouldn't be wrong. It really was his fault they were here. He should have taken out the obnoxious metal man as soon as he felt him approaching, but no, Erik had tried to be civil. He had tried to set a good example for his children. He had tried to do as Charles would. Fat lot of good that did.
But even if his children didn't want to see him, Erik still had to know that they were okay, and being treated well. And he wouldn't know that for sure until he saw Wanda and Pietro with his own eyes, in person, not through some screen.
Erik leaned forward placing his elbow's on the table in front of him and clasping his hands behind the back of his head in pent up frustration. Despite his anger at the situation Erik had managed to behave himself, not that he could let out his anger in his usual way, being cut off from metal, but even if he could have, Erik wouldn't have, unless he could be sure that he would escape and be able to find his children. He did not want his captors to take out his insubordination on his children.
Though the Avengers had made no such verbal threat against his children, Erik wasn't taking any chances. He knew how cruel people could be.
Nevertheless, looking past his forced imprisonment, Erik had been treated well. He had been given a substantial amount of food and water, and he was brought a cot to rest on, though he had chosen not to use it. He wouldn't have been able to sleep anyway, not knowing where his kids were. But all of this gave him hope that his children were being treated well too. He hoped they weren't too frightened or wondering why he hadn't come for them.
There was a small electric click noise of a lock being disabled and Erik looked up from his seat to see the young blond captain walk into the room followed by a beautiful woman with shoulder length fiery red hair.
Besides the fact that both appeared a little grim, the two individuals were very different. Erik's first impression of the woman was that she was someone he would want on his side in a fight. Despite her small stature, she gave the appearance of being a lethal individual, though Erik somehow guessed that she could give whatever appearance she wanted to. What's more, without the woman even saying a word, Erik felt that she was a kindred spirit who had events in her past, which like Erik's own past, she would rather forget.
Erik stood up as the man and woman entered. He was ready for anything. If Captain Rogers told him they weren't going to allow him to see his children, he was going to do everything in his power to bust out of his prison. He didn't care that the captain had easily tossed the man called Stark from the room and torn Erik's own cuffs from the table as if it were no more difficult than breaking a toothpick. Nothing, no one, was going to stop him from reaching his children. Not again.
"Mr. Maximoff, sorry to keep you waiting for so long. Good news, your kids confirmed your story, and they seem just as eager to see you as you are to see them." said Steve turning toward the red haired woman, "This is Natasha Romanoff. Natasha, Erik Maximoff."
"Pleasure." said Natasha, her expression unchanged.
It seemed to Erik that Steve had made a noticeable effort to appear happy for Erik's sake as he delivered the good news, and Erik wondered what was troubling the man. In contrast, besides her curt greeting, the woman remained impassive. She made no move to offer a hand shake, leaning casually against the wall next to the door.
Unlike most people who would probably have found this behavior as a personal affront, Erik was not bothered by it. It seemed natural for her, and why should they shake hands? This wasn't a dinner party. They weren't friends.
"It's Lensherr." corrected Erik, and then a little quieter. "They have their mother's name."
Erik didn't elaborate. He thought it was important to rectify the Captain's error, but he didn't need to share his entire life story with the man. He'd already told him enough. All they needed to know was that he wasn't Mr. Maximoff, and his children weren't Wanda and Pietro Lensherr.
He didn't deserve to share a name with his children. He'd given up that right when he had missed out on the first 15 years of their lives. Besides, even if these people already knew beyond a doubt that Wanda and Pietro were his children, it was still better for everyone if he didn't reinforce the connection. They were safer that way.
"Oh, errr…okay. My mistake." Responded Steve.
Erik wondered if he made the man uncomfortable. If he was telling the truth about being around in the forties like Erik, then maybe the Captain wasn't use to nontraditional families, and though Erik guessed Steve probably assumed Wanda and Pietro were born out of wed-lock—even though that wasn't technically the case—Erik didn't think the man would care either way. He seemed like a man who would care more about one's wellbeing and happiness than any social expectations.
Hearing the name Maximoff out loud also brought back too many painful memories to let the mistake persist. The twins were already a constant—and while at times painful—reminder of Magda, they were also happier reminder of her, but hearing her last name come out of the mouth of someone who had never known her, who was still basically a stranger to Erik, felt wrong. It reminded Erik that he had left her, but even if he wasn't there for Magda, in his heart he had always been married to her. Even though he wasn't there like he should have been, he was still married to Magda when the twins were born. He was still married to Magda when she died. He would always be married to Magda, even though she had long since left this world.
"Shall we?" asked Natasha pulling Erik out of his thoughts, before heading out of the room after entering what Erik assumed to be a password into what Erik had learned from Al was this century's version of a phone. The woman, Natasha, did not wait to see if Erik and Steve would follow, and Erik wondered if she trusted him not to attack her from beyond, or if she trusted the captain to have her back, or if she didn't feel she needed protection at all. Erik reckoned it was the last option.
With Steve close behind, Erik stepped through the open door and then through the second set of doors, outside of which Natasha stood waiting.
As soon as Erik was through the second set of doors, he felt rejuvenated. He could feel all the metal in the building, and it calmed him. He felt as though he had been drowning without realizing it, and he had finally managed to get a breath of fresh air. To be connected with metal again, gave him a feeling of what he imagined it might be like to regain the ability to walk after having being paralyzed…
The memory of Charles being shot and falling onto the beach all those years ago along with a rush of guilt came to the forefront of Erik's mind, but he quickly pushed it back again as he did with all of his regrets in life.
A new thought crossed Erik's mind as he existed his cell.
I could just kill them, and find Wanda and Pietro on my own. I know they are here somewhere.
But in the end, Erik chose not to act on the gruesome impulse. Yes, these people had locked him up, but they had also let him out again, with apparently no thought to their own safety, as they clearly knew he possessed superhuman abilities.
The hallway had harsher lighting than the room he had been in for hours, and it took a moment for Erik's eyes to adjust. When they did, he realized Natasha and Steve hadn't come alone after all, and Erik was instantly on guard as more dark thoughts came to his mind. But he didn't attack. Despite what people might think, he didn't kill without a purpose, and though these people had taken steps that had most certainly angered Erik, they hadn't yet crossed the threshold of the doors of death.
In a way, like Schrodinger's cat, these people were both dead and alive. Their ability to remain breathing all depended on the state of his children.
The metal man, Tony, was one of the additional people in the hallway. The man's arms were crossed. He looked pissed off, and also as though he needed a good night's sleep.
There was also a taller African American man who looked a little more welcoming, but still alert. The third person in the hall was a young woman, with long brownish hair and dressed in a comfortable looking long sleeved black sweater, black skirt, and black boots. She looked like she was analyzing every part of Erik, as though looking for something recognizable in his features.
"Guys, I told you Natasha and I could handle it." said Steve, though Erik could tell he wasn't really that mad.
"Like you handled Lagos?" asked Tony brusquely.
"That was uncalled for Tony." said Steve narrowing his eyes at the shorter man.
"Yea. Low blow, Stark." said the black male.
Though the comment about Lagos meant nothing to Erik, by Steve's tone and response, he could tell it touched a nerve but Steve pushed on, "Erik, you of course have already met Tony Stark, this is Sam Wilson, and this is "Wa—"
Erik didn't hear the rest of what Steve said because as Erik's gaze had been on Tony, then Sam, he hadn't noticed the girl draw closer, she might have had metal on her person, but Erik's senses seemed to be a little out of whack from having been without his powers for several hours, so when Erik looked over to where the girl had been standing as she was introduced, all he saw was a slender raised hand moving gracefully in front of his face. Then there was a flash of red that made him think of his daughter, before he saw the white walls of the hallway no more…
Erik was twelve years old, entering Aushwitz then watching his mother being dragged away from him as he screamed and attempted to tear down the metal fence between them with a power he didn't know he possessed.
FLASH
Erik was terrified as a man calmly smiled at him while threatening to kill his mother if he did not move a coin. Then Erik was watching his mother die as he failed to complete the task and the man laughed with pure joy as Erik tore the room apart in his rage and killed everyone else in the vicinity with his newly manifested ability.
FLASH
Erik was thrust forward in time again. Now, he was escaping Aushwitz with Magda amidst the chaos of a revolt, holding her hand as they ran toward freedom.
FLASH
He was marrying Magda, and he was happier than he'd been in a long time, thinking maybe there was good left in the world after all.
FLASH.
Erik was holding his beautiful baby girl for the first time. His Anya.
FLASH
He was holding his little girl again, except this time her body was lifeless, and a fire raged behind him, as he realized he was wrong, there wasn't any good in the world after all.
FLASH.
He was the monster Shaw always wanted him to be, hunting Nazis across Europe.
FLASH.
He was under cold raging waves of ocean water trying desperately to stop a submarine from leaving, before a certain telepath was joining him, telling him he had to 'let go.'
FLASH.
He was training at Charles' mansion, laughing with him after just having 'encouraged' a young and very much alive Sean to take his abilities to the skies.
FLASH.
He was on a beach in Cuba watching Charles clutch his back as he fell, almost as if in slow motion, to the ground, and as he fell, Erik realized the reason there was no good left in the world was because he would always wipe it out.
FLASH.
It was November 22, 1963. He was in Dallas trying and failing to save a man who could have made all the difference for mutants.
FLASH.
He was lying in a plastic prison far beneath the earth gazing up at a pale silver-haired boy who had a smirk on his face and an air of mischief in his eyes, wondering why he looked so familiar.
FLASH.
He was on his knees holding a hand against a bullet wound in his neck, gazing at Raven, waiting for her to deliver a final blow of death that never came but that he knew he deserved.
FLASH.
He was looking down at Marya's dead bloodied body, fearing he'd lost his only son without ever having known him.
FLASH.
He was meeting his second daughter, just as beautiful as his first, regretting that it had taken him 15 years to do so.
FLASH.
He was cradling his son's seemingly lifeless battered form to his chest hoping above all else that he would be alright as Wanda tore them from the universe.
FLASH.
He was listening to Pietro's terror filled dreams, feeling entirely inadequate as a father.
FLASH.
He was holding the minuscule threat that was a metal man in the air before him, until there was a sting in his neck and he faded into blackness wondering how he continued to fail his children time and time again...
The final scene faded, and for a second, Erik thought it was over but then he was living a memory that wasn't his own…
He was small, scared, and tired, trapped under debris, staring at a bomb labeled Stark. A small brown haired boy with fear in his eyes that mirrored Erik's own feelings lay beside him.
FLASH.
He was screaming in rage at a protest along with many other youths. The young man beside him looked like the little boy with brown hair, except now he was all grown up and the fear had been replaced by anger.
FLASH.
He was volunteering for a program that would help his country.
FLASH.
He was in unimaginable pain. A bright blue light was awakening something inside of him. The young man with brown hair was on a table next to him, going through something similar, yet his hair was no longer brown. Now it was white.
FLASH.
He was listening intently to a striking figure that was much more than a robot, feeling hope that his home and the world would be changed for the better.
FLASH.
He was seeing the annihilation of the planet, wondering how he could have ever put so much trust in someone so evil.
FLASH.
He was fighting an army of robots with people who though once his enemies, were now his allies.
FLASH.
He was fighting the robots again, this time alone. Then, he was dying. He had to be dying. His heart was surely being torn from his chest, but no, he was still alive. It was the white haired boy who was dead. Falling to his knees, he let out a powerful surge of energy, destroying everything around him.
FLASH.
He was struggling to contain a bomb in a red orb of energy, before it became too much and he flung it upward, killing innocents and adding to a mountain of guilt to what he already carried and giving him one more reason why he should have died with the white haired boy...
As quick as they began, the visions—though the word seemed inadequate, they were so much more than that—stopped. Erik found himself back in the pristine white-washed hallway, but he was no longer standing and the hallway wasn't so pristine anymore.
Metal pipes had been torn out of and bent through the walls, causing a spray of water in some places where the plumbing had evidently been affected. There were some electronic devices shattered on the ground along the hall too, along with other random metal items. In all honesty, having just gone through what he did, it was a miracle the building had not collapsed on all of them, perhaps the only reason it hadn't was because some part of his mind was able to hold on to the fact that his children were here somewhere.
On his knees, Erik also realized he had his head in his hands and he was breathing heavily. He could feel a fresh trail of tears on his face. As he lowered his hands, he saw that the young woman was in a similar state, though the man named Sam was helping her to her feet. Everyone else seemed to have been unaffected by whatever had just happened, but they were giving the girl concerned looks and glancing over at Erik too.
"What did you do to me?" asked Erik struggling to prevent his voice from cracking. He was still on his knees. He didn't trust himself to stand just yet. He was reeling from being forced to relieve his past, and what he now presumed was the past of the girl.
"I—I'm sorry." said the girl with an accent that was decidedly not American. "I didn't mean to…I wanted to be sure you really weren't hurting Piet—your kids, but your memories…they were, they were just...I couldn't stop them…They were too…I'm sorry you had to live through that again…and—and my own memories."
"You had no right to do that." Fired back Erik his voice growing string, as he rose unsteadily to his feet. Steve tried to help him, but Erik shook him off.
"I know. I'm sorry…I can't—"
"Wanda has been through a lot." said Steve interjecting. "She can't always control her powers, but I'm sure she meant no harm. Oh…I didn't mean to spring that on you…the fact that this is Wanda Maximoff, of our universe that is…"
Erik replied shortly, "Yes. I figured that much out." Whatever the girl had done, it was something only someone with as much power as his daughter could have performed, not to mention the fact that her memories had given him clues to her identity too.
There was silence in the hall. It seemed no one knew quite what to say, but Erik broke the silence. "That was your brother I saw…Pietro…He died." It wasn't a question, but Wanda answered anyway.
"Yes."
Erik let that sink in for a moment before responding, "I'm sorry. I am, but my son is not your brother. He already has a twin sister. He doesn't need your pain. He doesn't need you."
Erik wasn't trying to be cruel. He was just stating the facts, and saying what needed to be said. Pietro had been through enough without this girl adding to his troubles and forcing him to fill a whole in the girl's heart.
She's not my daughter. Not my Wanda. Her pain is not my problem.
The girl looked like she had been slapped in the face at Erik's words, but she made no comment of protest to his decree.
Finally, after more silence and cold stares, Tony spoke, "Well now that everyone's back with us and my favorite tablet is thoroughly destroyed, let's get this reunion over with. Wanda, are you satisfied that this guy's alright to see his kids?"
Wanda just nodded silently in response.
"Great. Let's go." said Tony marching off down the hall. "And somebody call maintenance to fix damage that spectacle caused."
It took sometime to navigate through the Avenger's compound. Though it was a large facility, they didn't run into anyone. Erik guessed they had purposely cleared the path they were taking to Wanda and Pietro, incase Erik went rampant.
The group traveled mostly in silence, at least, no one talked to Erik, which was fine with him. He didn't feel much like talking, not that he would to these people, but his memories were too fresh in his mind. It was as if he had lived his whole life all over again. All of his pain, guilt, and shame…and the girl's…was once again fresh in his mind.
Finally, the group came to some closed sliding double doors. Stepping forward, Steve used his handprint to open the doors, before walking through them. Erik followed closely behind and he had only enough time to register that they were entering a very large open room before he heard a young familiar voice shout "Dad!" and a silver blur came crashing into his chest.
The impact very nearly caused him to lose his balance, but somehow he stayed on his feet. It took a moment for it to sink in that the arms around him belonged to his boy. his son. But when it did he felt an overwhelming since of relief and love. He barely managed to wrap his arms around Pietro in return, when the boy started to pull away.
Erik held him a second longer, not wanting to let him go just yet. He wanted to convince himself that Pietro was indeed real, and not a mere memory. Reluctantly, Erik let his son take a wobbly step back but Erik didn't quite release his hold, keeping his hands on the boy's shoulders. Pietro's usually pale cheeks were slightly flushed, and Erik could tell he was embarrassed at having behaved like he did upon seeing Erik. But the boy had no reason to be embarrassed. If anyone deserved the comfort the arms of a father could provide, it was Pietro.
"Well that was adorable." said Sam, earning him cold glare from Erik and more embarrassed blushing and an attempted glare from Pietro. "What? It was. Just saying." said Sam shrugging.
Pietro cleared his throat trying to move past his embarrassment "Glad you're okay Da—Erik, old man." said Pietro not really making eye-contact.
Erik looked around the open room searching desperately for his daughter. His eyes found her standing across the room. She gave him a small smile, but made no move to approach.
"Hey Erik." said Wanda, sounding relieved that he was there but not overcome with happiness like Pietro
She still doesn't completely trust me.
She had to trust him enough to know he would do everything in his power to protect her and her brother, but Erik thought that part of her would never be able to look past the fact that he hadn't been there when she needed him most. When she needed him to protect Pietro. When she needed him to tell her and Pietro that they weren't alone. That there were others with abilities like their own.
"Wanda, Pietro, geht es euch gut? Haben sie euch gut behandelt?"1 asked Erik in a concerned voice, giving Wanda a once over before searching Pietro's face for fresh bruises or scars.
"We're fine, Erik." Answered Wanda, not bothering to respond in German. It seemed she and Erik might be more alike than him and Pietro, as she appeared to be harboring some anger, but willing to acknowledge the fact that she and Pietro were truly alright.
"Pietro?" asked Erik, still holding onto his son's shoulders to help him balance, though the boy was starting to squirm a little, evidently not liking being fussed over, especially with so many people watching.
"Yea—YeaIt' ' ,TheyHaveDouble-stuffedOreos now?" Replied Pietro quickly trying to lighten the mood.
Erik gave his son a small smile. Happy to see that he and Wanda really must've been treated well, if Pietro was able to respond so light-heartedly. Erik was going to reply but the sound of Sam's laughter drowned him out, and Erik thought he actually heard a chuckle come from Tony's vicinity as well.
"You've got good taste, kid. If you're impressed with double-stuffed Oreos, you should see all the different flavors they have now too. I like your shirt too, kid. I've been meaning to get myself one of those." Said Sam grinning at the boy then at Steve.
"Sam." said Steve clearly indicating that now was not the time.
Ignoring the outburst and Pietro's continued embarrassment, in one fluid motion, Erik easily scooped up a still too-light Pietro into his arms and started making his way over to Wanda.
"Hey! Erik, dude my leg might be out of commission, but I'm not an invalid, man. Just give me crutches and I'm good to goooo." said Pietro, a hint of embarrassment in his voice again as everyone in the room observed the interaction.
Disregarding Pietro's statement, Erik addressed his daughter in a voice low enough that it wouldn't be heard by the Avengers across the room. "I'm glad they treated you both well enough, but there is no need for us to stay here any longer and wait for them to rethink their hospitality. Get us out here, Wanda. Now. Take us home."
A shocked and anxious look came over Wanda's face, "I—I don't…"
"Just try Wanda. I know you can do it." encouraged Erik.
Wanda's hands started glowing red and little surges of energy flew out of them in waves.
"Miss Maximoff, is everything alright?" asked Vision striding cautiously closer to the family, not sure exactly how to proceed without upsetting anyone. The other Avengers drew a little closer as well.
"Hey, It's okay sis. You don't have to take us back now." said Pietro kindly from Erik's arms.
"Are you not ready to return, Pietro? We can keep you safe there, if that's what you're worried about." said Erik. He wouldn't force Wanda to take them back right now, if Pietro wasn't prepared to go home, but he didn't want Pietro's reluctance to be the result of fear.
"No, man. I want to. I do! We just don't have to go now. These guys are good people, so just stop pressuring her dude!" replied Pietro sounding a little irked now, and Erik regretted implying that Pietro was afraid though a part of him likely was.
Suddenly Wanda cried out, "Everyone just stop it!" A large wave of energy surged out in a circle away from Wanda forcing everyone back a couple of feet, and causing Erik to grip Pietro tighter so as not to drop him.
"I—I can't do it right now okay!" said Wanda in distress and speaking loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. "I'm sorry! But I just can't. Maybe I have to be where we entered this universe. Maybe, I'm still not back up to full power after expending so much energy to bring us here. Maybe, my heart just isn't in it right now. I don't know! I'm sorry, Erik! I'm sorry, Pietro!" finished Wanda clenching her fists at her side.
"It's alright, Wanda. I shouldn't have sprung that on you." said Erik, regretting he had upset his daughter so much. He was still very much getting the hang of this parenting thing again.
"Yea, seriously sis, it's no biggie. If anyone understands not being at full strength, it's me." added Pietro quietly.
Erik could tell it was taking a lot of effort for Wanda to remain calm as she responded, "I just—I need to be alone. Is there someplace I can go please?" asked Wanda addressing Vision, since he was the only one she really knew in the room, besides the girl she knew as Wilma.
"Of course. You are welcome to stay here as long as you need to. There is plenty of space. I'll show you to a room Wanda, and perhaps Natasha could take Peter to see Dr. Cho about his leg now too."
Erik wanted to stop Wanda from leaving. They had just been reunited, but he recognized that it was his fault she felt she needed to leave. And he would give her her space. However, Wanda hesitated clearly she was distraught about everyone seeing her lose control, and wanted to have some time to herself but she looked back at Pietro unsure. "Pete will you—I could stay and go with you to the Doctor."
"Nah sis, it's alright. It's all good. Erik's got this covered, clearly." said Pietro gesturing with one arm at Erik and himself, as Erik was still holding him. "Really, Wands. If I need you, I'm pretty sure you'll know."
Wanda nodded and gave him a small smile. Erik noticed that she didn't really look at him though, and he feared he may have angered her more than he thought by asking her without any warning to take them home. Erik also noticed that a pained look came over the elder Wanda's face at Pietro's comment, causing him to feel a moment of guilt for his earlier words to the girl.
"Don't worry, I will set you all up in rooms within the Avenger's quarters that are adjacent to one another." said Vision as he went to lead Wanda out the door.
"I'll take her." Said the elder Wanda stepping in for Vision. Erik had a feeling that although it might be weird for this universe's Wanda to be around his own daughter, Erik thought that the reason she had volunteered to show the younger girl to a room was because either she couldn't handle being in the same room as someone who reminded her of her own brother or because she was trying to honor Erik's wishes for her to keep her pain to herself.
The younger Wanda looked back one more time, and Pietro gave her a thumbs up and a smile as she left, which caused Erik to feel a rush of pride for his son, who he knew still might not be feeling very happy, but who was managing to be strong for his sister.
As soon as the Wandas were gone, Pietro piped up, "uhhh, can you dial back the kung foo grip, Erik? I was being serious about being good to go, as far as walking is concerned. Like really the crutches are right theeeeere" said Pietro stretching out his hands as if he had Erik's powers and could magically cause the crutches to fly into his outstretched arms.
Erik—rather reluctantly—set Pietro back on his feet, supporting him while he used his powers to bring over the crutches.
Though Pietro was still certainly light enough to make picking him up not in any way cumbersome, it pained Erik a little when he had to acknowledge now that Pietro was recovering—which was of course what Erik wanted—there would not be much reason to hold Pietro again.
He had missed out on the time when he could've picked up Wanda and Pietro without a second thought or carried them on his shoulders, and he would never get that time back. Really what was so important that he'd been doing with during that time in their life? Killing Nazis and hunting Shaw? Yes, but nothing was more important than his children. Even if he didn't know about them that was no excuse. Despite all the destruction and death he had brought to Charles and the other 'X-men's' lives, he was still glad to have met them, but maybe if he never would've left Magda, they would have eventually met under much better circumstances.
"Sooooo." said Pietro shifting uncomfortably on his crutches as he addressed the room. "Introductions? Or are we in a staring contest? If so, my money's on Erik."
1: "are you alright? Did they treat you well?"
{Author's Note: I know how I described Wanda's powers might not be exactly how they worked in Age of Ultron, but in this story I imagine the visions/memories being just as realistic as what Tony, Steve, Natasha, and Thor experienced. I also realized a while back that I probably should have had Erik be most comfortable speaking Polish instead of German, but oh well.}