Notes: Okay, not dead, in case you're wondering. Testing came and then my birthday was on Sunday so I was mostly offline for that period of time. But heeelllooo again!

A small biblical reference to Samson and Delilah in this chap. A small cameo of Pietro's ultimate universe uniform (which no lie, was pretty damn awesome). A whole bunch of refs to the book Ordinary People by Judith Guest. (I couldn't stand it at first, but then it grew on me. But to be fair, I was forced to read it in 10th grade when we could have been reading A Clockwork Orange. Yes, I'm biased.) Go on a read it, if you want to read some heavy stuff.

Blackbird

Chapter 5: Ordinary People

It took Wanda a while to realize that Pietro was avoiding her. It wasn't because she was that dim or anything, it was simply because she wasn't focusing on the people around her. Mystique announced that their first mission would be coming up soon. So Wanda decided to use the free time that they had to strengthen herself. Wanda had perfect confidence in her mutant and magical abilities, but she wouldn't be able to defend herself is someone had somehow taken her abilities away. She had to make sure that there was just no way to stop her.

So between work out and combat sessions and going that CPR class, Wanda really didn't have the time to even think about anybody around her. But eventually she did catch on.

OoOoO

Lance was in the kitchen this morning, eating cereal. Wanda gave him a look of acknowledgment before going to get her own bowl. She could feel the rock tumbler's gaze on her, even as she she poured her milk with her back facing him. She stared at the big bowl. Her appetite was starting to grow a bit as the weeks passed. She wasn't at Fred or Pietro's level of eating, but it felt like she was getting there. Silently, she made her way to the table and started eating as well.

Lance was still eating, but Wanda noticed it was a little bit slower than usual. Spending enough time with her father taught her that this was basically a "manly man's" way of searching a person. Wanda resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She met his gaze but Lance didn't let up. He was still giving her that curious searching gaze.

"What?"

Lance shook his head and looked down at his bowl. They spent a few more minutes just eating before Lance cleared his throat.

"Have you seen Pietro?"

So this was what it was about? Wanda shook her head and took another spoonful in. Lance let out a grunt and finished his bowl. Wanda watched with narrowed eyes as he quickly left the room. What the hell was he trying to tell her?

Wanda ate quickly; she was sure that around this time Toad would wake up and no doubt bug her. She really didn't have anything to do today so she was simply going to make it her relaxation day. Since her freakout that other day, Wanda really just steered clear from dealing with the source of the problems (whatever they may be). The boys weren't the extremely nosy type so they never mentioned that day either. For which, Wanda was grateful.

She finished her cereal and went up to her room. Of course, the boys probably had other shit to do themselves. She really didn't know. They were close, but not that close. She let out a low hum in thought and ran a hand through her hair. She really didn't really know what to do with herself right now. Wanda frowned, she really didn't need a day off if she wasn't going to do anything productive. There was a knock on her door and then Lance popped his head in.

"What now?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

Lance opened the door all the way with his hands held up in a gesture of surrender. Wanda crossed her arms and waited for him to continue.

"Um, Mystique asked us to do a little job for her," he explained.

"What kind?"

"Just supply shopping," he answered, "the mission date was moved to tonight so we need to get our stuff together."

Wanda nodded and grabbed her coat from the bed. She really didn't have problems with that. It was something of mundane task in her head, but at least she had something to do now. Lance followed behind.

OoOoO

"So did she say specifically what we needed?"

Lance shook his head.

"Not really. She just said it was going to be an information gathering type thing. She said, it was going to be pretty dangerous though."

Wanda looked around in the small market with a contemplative look. Then they would need a first aid kit and something to use as communication. And something to hide their tracks as well. She voiced her thoughts to Lance and he nodded his head.

"We have $150, though. So we'll work on first aid and communication," Lance said, "I think our powers can cover our tracks well enough."

He gave her a grin as a small tremor went through the shop. The other customers looked around in a mix of surprise and fear. Wanda rolled her eyes and almost smiled. Moron. They made their way to one of the aisles with a cart and started their shopping.

Wanda grabbed some burn ointment and bandages while Lance grabbed some random things like wires and disposable phones. Wanda raised an eyebrow at that but made no comment. He apparently knew what to do. Wanda saw some eyewash solution and looked around for the cheapest one. She was sure that the expensive stuff was made from the same shit anyway.

"Did Mystique even say what type of information we're gonna be getting?"

Wanda looked over to Lance, who was crouched down comparing one headache medication with another. She frowned; there really needed to be a way where he could bypass the headaches. The expressions he made when he was using his powers were incredibly disturbing. Lance met Wanda's gaze and shrugged.

"She didn't say," Lance answered her, "I'm guessing it's a need-to-know type of thing."

He turned his attention back to the medication and Wanda started looking for a cheap pack of gauze that still had good quality. Faintly, Wanda heard laughter. She didn't pay it any attention the first time she heard it until the laughter became louder, closer. She recognized that laughter.

"Hey," Lance started, oblivious to the thoughts in Wanda's head, "you think Mystique would mind if we spent some of the money on somethin' for us?"

Wanda shrugged, but looked around trying to find the source of the laughter.

"Hell if I know," she answered, narrowing her eyes as she gazed beyond the aisle. She saw shadows. Lance let out a snort in mirth.

"Crazy blue witch," he muttered, "I wonder where Mystique even got all this money anyway."

Wanda was about to reply until she saw two people standing at the end of the aisle with surprised expressions on their faces. Kurt and Kitty. Wanda stared back, just as surprised. Then blinked and looked over at Lance. He was still oblivious to the two newcomers. She grabbed small box of cough medicine and threw it at Lance's head to get his attention. His head jerked in her direction with irritation in his eyes. Wanda glared right back and pointed at Kurt and Kitty.

"Your Delilah's here, Samson," Wanda shot at him. She heard Kurt's snicker and resisted the urge to smile. She was in public, with X-geeks. She still had a reputation. Lance looked over Wanda's shoulder at Kitty and his eyes widened in recognition.

"Just keep her away from your hair," she muttered as Lance passed her. Lance gave her a sneer in response.

The pair went over a few aisles down to talk, leaving Wanda with Kurt. The X-Man gave her a grin in greeting. She responded by giving him a smile with her eyes. He walked over to her and looked at the objects she had in her hands.

"I didn't take you for the spiritual one," Kurt said as he made a grab for the small package of gauze in her right hand. Wanda shrugged.

"I'm not," she said as she reached for another pack. $4.50 for a three-pack. Kurt let out a low hum.

"I didn't take you for the talkative type either." He raised an eyebrow at her. She didn't miss the hint of humor in his eyes.

"I'm not," she repeated, narrowing her eyes in a false challenge. The holographic projection of Kurt gave her a wide grin.

She turned away and put the smaller pack away, replacing it with another $4.50 three-pack one. Maybe they could find a way to a dollar store and get some cotton balls.

"So what's with all of the medical supplies," Kurt asked. The look he was giving her was reminiscent of the one Lance was giving her earlier at during breakfast. Wanda let him pry. If he heard anything about Mystique, then his questions mostly had to do with familial issues, and not his duty to the X-Men.

"Ever been at that place?" She gave him a raised eyebrow and left it at that. Kurt laughed and scratched the back of his neck.

"I don't know how you could live in a place like that," Kurt said with another laugh, "especially with someone like Toad."

Wanda let a grin slide onto her face. She didn't know either.

"You know I got a cold from lurking around you?"

Kurt put a hand to his chest in mock offense.

"Me? How?"

"The rain..." she trailed off and looked up at him.

It was true though. Two weeks had passed after their meeting in the rain before Wanda finally stopped sniffling. She gave Kurt a glare. Each day felt like a month. A long, painful month. With Toad and Pietro at her bedside. Agony.

"Can't blame me then," Kurt simply said, walking past her to look at the other things on the aisles, his moves were a bit sluggish, "it was the rain."

Wanda rolled her eyes. She looked around for anything else to add to the first aid kit. She knew that Pietro could add a few things to her outfit in less than a minute, so she wasn't worried about getting new fingerless gloves. She looked down at her fingers with a frown. Her powers seemed to be burning the material her gloves were made of. She was sure her brother had something that could at the very least make her new gloves last longer. Maybe whatever the material he was using on his costume.

She looked over at Kurt, realizing that she had been quiet for this whole time. But it seemed that he was in a world of his own as well. He was looking at some of the containers on the bottom shelf, but Wanda could tell that he wasn't really focusing on the stuff in front of him. Wanda sighed; his thoughts really couldn't be that pleasant, considering his knotted eyebrows and tense stance. She thought of something to distract the man from her thoughts. Too much thinking could ruin a person.

"You know," she said, "I still need to return your umbrella."

Kurt blinked then smiled at Wanda. He shook his head.

"You mean Ororo's umbrella," he corrected, "she was the one who gave it to you."

Wanda shrugged. "I still need to give it back."

"No you don't," he said with a little laugh.

"I should give it back though," Wanda insisted.

Kurt rubbed the back of his neck in thought. He looked at Wanda with a contemplative look. She raised an eyebrow at him in return. Then Kurt smiled at Wanda. A genuine smile. But it was gone just as quickly as it came, replaced with what Wanda knew now as his fake smile.

"Are you available tonight," he asked. She shook her head in response. He looked at her as if he wanted to ask what her nightly activities were going to be, then seemed to think better of that.

"Tomorrow then," he tried. Wanda somehow found herself smiling at his accent. She nodded.

"There's a park nearby here," she said, "we can meet there. At three."

She made sure her voice made no room for argument. Kurt nodded. Wanda almost wanted to laugh; all of this for a stupid umbrella. She reached up and grabbed a few cold packs, each 50 cents. Wanda looked around with a sigh. Maybe she should have written a list before she left.

"You don't have any rubbing alcohol," Kurt noted as he looked at the objects in her shopping cart.

Anti-septic. Right. Forgot about that. Wanda walked took the cart and went over to the next isle. Kurt followed behind.

"What are you doing here," she asked. Kurt gave her a shrug.

"Kitty needed brain food."

Wanda held back an insult that almost involuntarily escaped her. Kitty did show some initiative when she was looking for people to help with Apocalypse. That involved some type of intelligence, right? Then again, she's still with Lance. Though, Lance may be the idiot in that situation.

"Can I ask you a question," Kurt asked as Wanda stopped in front of a row of bottles and containers.

"Go ahead," she said distractedly. How is one bottle one dollar, when the other one of the same size is four?

"Is... is Mystique really back?"

Wanda blinked and looked over at Kurt. His expression was so hopeful, but worried at the same time. Wanda's eyebrows knotted. Saying no would imply that they had something to hide, right? Saying yes would bring more questions. She looked away and tried to focus her attention on the anti-septic wipes.

"She is."

Kurt was oddly quiet as she grabbed a couple of the one dollar bottles and wipes. Of course Kurt may have a lot of other questions to ask. Mystique was the boys mother. Anybody who had Mystique as a mother would have a shitload of questions to ask. Especially if said mother wasn't in the child's life as much as she should be. Wanda knew that better than most.

"I see," he said finally. There was a trace amount of anger in his voice. Along with disappointment.

Suddenly there was low tremor. Some of the objects were bumped off of their shelves. Wanda frowned as she heard the confused customers complaints. Lance. Wanda looked at Kurt who gave her a confused glance in return. Wanda was surprised that there wasn't any arguing from the (former?) couple.

Suddenly, Kitty was seen walking at the end of the aisle. If looks could kill, nearly half of the people in the shop would have been dead. Kurt gave Wanda a parting glance and ran after Kitty.

A moment later, Lance was walking toward Wanda. His jaw was tight, and his hands in his pockets. It was obvious that the two had broken up, but the look in his eyes was a new thing for Wanda. Then again, she wasn't around long enough to see Lance when he first broke up with Kitty. He probably got all types of pissed before turning mopey.

Wanda laid a hand on his shoulder.

"You gonna be okay?"

He didn't look at her as he nodded.

OoOoO

Wanda had plenty of time before they needed to meet up with Mystique for a briefing. She didn't want to spend all of that time by herself, in fear of her thoughts going in directions they didn't need to go. But she didn't want to deal with anybody else either. Not when she had nothing in common with Fred. Not when Lance just broke up with Kitty. Not when Toad was being... Toad. And not when she couldn't find Pietro.

So she opted for a shower.

She was staring at her reflection with a frown. She wasn't big on hot showers, so there wasn't any steam covering the mirror. But she was completely dry now, wrapped up in her towel. Staring at her reflection.

There was something off putting about mirrors. She didn't know what, but it bugged Wanda. She lifted her arm and watched as her mirror image did the same. She let it drop to her side, and it did the same. She stood there observing herself. Her hair was growing a bit more. It was transforming into a classic pixie cut. Wanda wondered if she should cut it again. Then decided against it. It was bad enough that she was related to Pietro, she didn't need to look like him.

She stared at her reflection.

"Haven't lost your sense of humor after all," she told it, "but your sense of identity is what seems to have been misplaced."

She shook her head and turned away from the mirror. No. Wrong. You don't lose what you never had.

OoOoO

Pietro sat there staring at his new uniform. He took off the padding and armor and redid the suit's design. It used the same color scheme as before but it was made of the new material that Mystique supplied him. It was a lighter shade of blue on one side, and a dark one on the other. The suit covered everything from his neck to his calves. He even made new boots to work with too. They were white, but they worked well with the outfit. This would be the outfit he wore for regular missions. Ones that didn't require him to be all secretive.

He had another uniform made in darker grayish silver color. It was just as form fitting as his silver one. This one came with some padding though. It was sort of those outfits that one would expect one of those secret agents to wear, the way it was designed. The only thing it did show was his face and his arms. He had the option to wear fingerless gloves for this outfit though. And this would be the outfit he would wear for special missions. Like this one.

As far as he knew, all of the Brotherhood received new outfits (or had the option to change their outfits). He knew for sure that Lance and Toad had changed theirs. Wanda and Fred he wasn't sure about.

He laid back on his bed. Their first mission in quite a while. His third time doing something without Magneto running the show in the background.

He wasn't going to act like Magneto was the worst man to ever cross this earth. He did agree with a lot of Magneto's views. Almost everyone in the Brotherhood did. Magneto just sucked as a father. From experimenting on his son, to locking his daughter in mental institution, Magneto was the worst man to ever be gifted with children. Pietro closed his eyes. Or maybe they just sucked as his kids.

He thought of Mystique. That blue bitch had two kids as well. And even though she fucked them up royally, she at the very least tried to make amends. Magneto didn't even do that with them. Even after Apocalypse. He just stayed with them for the trip back to America and disappeared. No, they weren't bad children. Magneto was just a coward. A manipulative coward.

The door to his room opened and Pietro shot up on his bed. It was Wanda. Pietro didn't miss the bags under her eyes. She looked a little off from her usual self. Her short hair was disheveled and she wasn't wearing that much makeup.

"I need new gloves," she informed him, showing her destroyed gloves. The ends were a little burned and scratched up.

He gave Wanda a skeptical look. This was what she came to bug him with? A small portion of his mind was glad that she wasn't going off on him, like last time. A bigger portion of him was glad that she wasn't bringing up that day either. He tensed up in suspicion.

"What am I supposed to do about it?"

Her eyes narrowed but surprisingly that was the only threat she gave him.

"Lance mentioned that your new suit is made of pretty strong stuff," she told him, nodding her head at the two outfits sitting on his bed.

"Yeah and?"

He took a small amount of pleasure in seeing her grind her teeth.

"I need new gloves," she said slowly, "made of that material." She paused.

"Unless you can't supply me with them."

He looked at his sister with a smirk, answering the challenge.

"Of course I can," he said.

His sister rolled her eyes again and left his room, not bothering to close the door. And there it was. Like the argument from before didn't happen. Like she didn't freak out at all. It was almost like he had his sister back.

OoOoO

Wanda, Lance and Pietro made the first team while the others remained outside as backup. She crinkled her nose as she followed the two boys down the hallways of the building. It looked like a regular retail building, but it was way too empty on this floor. She glanced over at her brother, about to voice out her opinion on this but she saw the tense and serious expression on his face and reconsidered her position. She kept her body charged and alert, looking out for any cameras or detectors. This really seemed like a mission Mystique could do all on her own, why did they need them?

Finally, they stopped at a locked door by the elevator. Wanda glanced at the last door at the end of the hallway, oddly feeling nervous. She looked behind her while Pietro tried to open the door. This was just too easy.

When Pietro opened the door and the trio snuck in, Wanda opted to stand by the door. The room was fairly small but it was filled with numerous file cabinets and computers. She watched as Pietro riffled through the cabinets at a high speed and Lance as he pulled out two flash drives while trying to hack in to one of the main computers. This was obviously their department and area of expertise.

Wanda continued surveying the room, noting that there was only two windows and one other door in this room. No sign of a mechanical ventilation in here, and still no cameras. She switched her weight from one leg to the other and leaned back against the wall. The small med kit and lunch box in the backpack she wore dug into her lower back. The fact that the other two weren't talking at all managed to make Wanda a bit more anxious. She flexed her fingers and felt an electric-like current of energy bolt through her fingers.

Then she heard it.

Alarms.