Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 29:

Wanda missed many things about her home. Despite spending most of her early teen years on the street, it was familiar. The smell of alleys with overflowing trash because the garbage trucks only ran every three weeks, the constant rain, even if was as little as a mist and the fist fights and occasional knife fights were something she was comfortable with.

The hunger was also familiar. Sometimes she actually missed the bitter cold and standing next to a burning trash can at night to stay warm. When their friends managed to score abandoned apartments of recently deceased, it was a paradise and they felt as if they were the richest people in the world.

She missed Pietro bringing her food and clothing. Even before he got his power, he was a confident and quick thief. He did what was necessary to keep her fed and clothed. She scolded him for stealing because she was worried he would get shot and she would be left alone. That was Wanda’s greatest fear. She once said that everybody was afraid of something. She was afraid of being alone and forgotten.

Now she was on the streets of her home. Wanda knew she wasn’t astral projecting, nor had she been teleported to Novi Grad. This was the past. It was her past. She knew it because she felt familiar arms holding her from behind, keeping her warm. She would recognize those arms and that scent anywhere. Pietro was holding her.

He was shivering because he didn’t have a coat on. He had given her his in addition to the one he had stolen for her and was blocking the wind with his body. The burning trashcan in front of her and Pietro behind her, kept Wanda warm and she felt safe for a moment.

“Tomorrow our problems will be solved. I’ve gotten a job.” he told her.

Wanda no longer felt safe. All contentment was gone. “What kind of job?”

“Cars. Ivanovic needs four cars stolen. I only have to get one and I get four hundred euros. I can get us hotel for coldest months to come and buy us new boots. You need more pants and socks too. Maybe I can get you thick hoodie and real food.”

Wanda shook her head. “Who do these cars belong to?”

Pietro shrugged his shoulders. “What do I care? I am wheelman. Ivanovic can worry about retaliation. I’m his best thief. He won’t sell me out.”

“I don’t like this! You are going to be killed one day!”

“And I don’t like listening to your stomach growl and feel you shaking in my arms from cold. I will do what I have to do to keep you alive. I’m going to leave you here tomorrow night. Vlad said he would look after you. Then I will return and we can find food first. We can actually go inside to eat. Trust me sister. I will take care of you. I won’t leave you. I’m too fast to be caught.”

The two heard a commotion at a nearby trashcan. A crowd was gathering around one of the street kids. Wanda knew this kid had stolen a cell phone earlier today and it apparently hadn’t been disconnected by the owner. Everyone was watching a video.

Her and Pietro approached and saw a news report. The video showed images of the Avengers attacking a HYDRA base. Iron Man was bombarding the base with those fancy destructive lasers from his armored suit. The video switched to a reporter standing outside Avengers Tower.

“Could you imagine living in a tower like that?” one of the kids said. “They have it made. Powers and riches. Tony Stark…”

“Is a monster!” Wanda shouted. “Stark Industries supposedly stopped making weapons. Clean energy.” Wanda spit on the ground. “What is he wearing!? Is that not considered a weapon?”

“The Avengers saved the Earth.” another argued.

Pietro shook his head, matching Wanda’s anger. “No, they saved New York City. They say Captain America leads them. Do you believe Captain America gives a damn about anywhere else? The clue is in his name, idiot. They can all burn in hell, starting with Stark.”

Wanda and Pietro walked back to their former spot and tried to regain the warmth they had.

“Is it true? Do you wish the Avengers to burn in hell?”

Pietro took his arms from Wanda and turned around, standing protectively in front of her.

“You have a problem with that?” he asked. Wanda pulled the knife from the back of his belt under his shirt and handed it to him stealthily. She peeked around her brother and saw a man who did not belong on the streets. He was dressed in a suit and was clean, fresh shaven with a sharp short haircut.

“On the contrary.” The man told them, smiling warmly. “I know firsthand what liars and monsters the Avengers are. Do you know what HYDRA is?”

Pietro nodded.

“They are Nazis.” Wanda told him.

“That is what Captain America would have you believe. That is what the United States calls all their historical enemies. HYDRA was a separate entity from the Nazis. We started in Germany but we had one purpose. We wanted to stop super soldiers from being made. We wanted to stop Howard Stark. We wanted to stop everyone who sought to gain an advantage over the poor, the average citizen or those the Allies and Axis considered a threat. We stopped Nazis from learning the formula to make superhumans. Unfortunately we weren’t able to stop Steve Rogers from becoming America’s weapon. Because we defied them, the United States called us Nazis.”

Pietro gripped his knife tighter but Wanda was intrigued. “What does that have to do with the Avengers?”

“HYDRA still exists today. We still seek to stop those who would impose their will on others by force. Those like the Avengers. Those like Howard Stark’s son who has turned himself into judge, jury and executioner.”

Pietro chuckled. “You are not doing so well.”

The man shook his head. “No, we are not. The Avengers under Captain America and Iron Man have become very strong. They use an out of control monster. They have a man from outer space who calls himself a god. They have two master assassins from SHIELD who now claim to be superheroes. They are very powerful. We have an advantage though. HYDRA has decided it is time to fight fire with fire. What would you say if I told you that we can offer you the power to destroy the Avengers?”

Wanda stepped beside Pietro who still kept one arm protectively over her front.

“By destroy, you mean kill?” she asked.

The man nodded.

“What would I have to do for this power?” he asked.

The man looked at both. “You are twins, yes? I have watched these streets, looking for the right candidates. You are Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, orphans since the United States knowingly bombed innocents and killed your parents. I am offering you both this power. Come with me. You will be fed, clothed, kept warm and given the power to take revenge. To kill the man whose bombs dropped on your home and took everything from you. To kill the man who symbolizes American domination over the world. All you have to do is say yes.”

Pietro glanced down at Wanda to gauge what she was thinking. Wanda was fascinated. Perhaps this man was a liar but if he were offering food and shelter without Pietro having to risk death it would be worth it. If it were a trap, they had escaped worse.

If he could truly give them what they needed to kill those bastards, the risk would be worth it.

Wanda nodded. “What is your name?”

“Wolfgang Von Strucker.” He said with a warm smile. “I have watched all of those here and on the other streets. I have watched orphans and found them all lacking. Only you two have shown the fire, the drive to do what is necessary before the Avengers force their will onto the planet. We are not villains. We are freedom fighters.”

Wanda nodded and looked up at Pietro.

“We will come with you. Show us what you can give us.”

“It will not be easy.” He warned her. “It could be very dangerous.”

Wanda shrugged. “If it means killing them, it is worth the risk.”

Strucker offered his hand and she took it.

Wanda watched her and Pietro follow the man to their destiny.

She had taken what they gave her. Her hatred for the Avengers and Stark caused her to never question HYDRA’s true goals. She thought she was saving the world and getting what she wanted. Strucker had been a father figure to her. She trusted him.

It had all been a lie. She stupidly followed him, allowed herself and Pietro to become their weapons, just more pawn for a left over Nazi organization to kill their enemies.

They had been lost when the Avengers had come and gone and they were left alone once again. They had dealt a blow to the Avengers but Strucker gave himself up and left his soldiers to die that they had been lied to. HYDRA was nothing like Strucker had claimed. They were just another version of the Avengers, seeking to enslave the world.

Ultron gave them purpose. T He told them he would protect humanity by destroying the Avengers and they believed him despite being betrayed by Strucker. Then Ultron sought to destroy all humanity.

When Pietro died Wanda had wanted to die with him. She had never been without him. She wasn’t sure who she was without him.

“It was fate, princezná. Nothing you could do would have stopped the path you were on.”

Her father was beside her.

“Papa?”

“Yes, it is me.” he told her.

Wanda ran into his arms and reveled in the feel of him holding her. She couldn’t stop her tears from flowing.

“Are you really hear or is this an illusion?” she asked.

He pulled away from her, keeping his arms on her shoulders.

“I am always with you. You have unlocked your potential. There are many realms beside what you call reality and planes of existence. We never leave your side eve in the afterlife. We are very proud of you.”

Wanda looked to the ground. “Proud of me?”

“Proud of you, proud of the lives you have saved, proud of the family you have made and yes, proud of the bad men you have stopped. But now you have a greater challenge. Now you are the Scarlet Witch. Do you know what that means?”

Wanda felt another tear fall down her cheek and nodded.

“I am a nexus being. I may be the only one. Agatha has told me of what I am capable of. I’m scared, Papa.”

The man nodded. “You should be. You must be so careful. You can wipe out the Universe with a thought, change reality into something unrecognizable, cause people to lose children, change fates for good and bad. If you are depressed, the world may feel your depression if you are not careful. If you are angry, the world will feel your anger. The fate of the Universe depends on your ability to control yourself. You must control your every action and thought, Wanda.”

Wanda thought of this and stepped back into her Papa’s arms.

“Can I bring you and Mama and Pietro back to life?”

Her father sighed. She felt the rise and fall of his chest where her head lay and knew she wouldn’t like the answer.

“You can. You can change reality but we would not be those who died. We would be your creations, under your control. While we would be real, we would be no better than those walking dead we watched in scary movies. Once a soul has moved on, you cannot bring it back. Not even a Nexus Being can defeat death.”

“Then what am I supposed to do with these powers that I already couldn’t?” Wanda asked bitterly. “They are another curse.”

“They are what you make them. I must go. It is your time now. We will always be with you.”

“No! Can I see Pietro?”

Her papa shook his head. “If you did, you would never let him go. Be with your family, Wanda. You are not alone.”

Her papa was gone and Wanda sobbed.

She wasn’t sure how long she had been crying. She wasn’t sure where she was when she opened her eyes.

Wanda was on a rock in space surrounded by thousands of other large rocks dressed as she had been when she killed Vision. This could not be space since she was breathing though.

A beam of some energy flew towards her and she instinctively put up a magical shield to protect herself.

A giant eye opened from the darkness.

“What are you?” a loud voice asked.

“I am the Scarlet Witch. What are you?” Wanda answered confidently,

“I am Dormammu. This is the Dark Dimension, my realm. You have no cause to be here, Scarlet Witch.”

Wanda nodded, feeling more emboldened as she felt her power increase.

“Be sure I never have cause to be.”

Wanda was on what she believed was a spaceship. It was massive and in front of her was a giant throne. Seated on the throne was a large purple monster in armor. Beside him was a very tall, well built grey skinned woman with a scowling face and on the other side was a thin older alien dressed in a robe.

She looked behind her and saw aliens that resembled the ones that had invaded New York.

The one in purple was obviously shocked by her sudden appearance.

“Where did you come from?” he asked calmly in a deep voice.

Wanda felt a tug at her body. No one was in front of or behind her. She looked around and saw the older thin alien moving his hand as if pulling her closer.

Wanda lifted a hand and the thin alien flew away from the throne and hit the ground at her feet.

He scrambled to his feet and backed away from her.

“Nexus Being.” he whispered and ran back to stand beside the purple alien.

The purple alien walked down the steps. Wanda stood her ground despite the size difference.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“My name is Thanos. Who are you?”

“I am the Scarlet Witch.”

Thanos raised an eyebrow. “I have collected knowledge of this universe for centuries. The Scarlet Witch is a myth.”

Wanda’s eyes turned red. “I assure you I am real.”

Thanos nodded and walked back to his throne then sat. “I hope you are not here to kill me. I seem to be at a disadvantage now and would not offer a fitting challenge to one of such great power. Perhaps we may meet in the future on more equal footing.”

The humored tone set her on edge. What had led her to this place? Why was she being led to any of these places? This one was obvious and her entire being knew it.

They were meant to be enemies.

“If we do, that day will be your last.”

Wanda was gone again, falling this time. She landed on Earth several times. Each time was a different city and appeared a bit different. One had flying cars and one had a statue of Hitler where the Statue of Liberty was in New York.

She then saw herself. This version was wild eyed, covered in blood and rage dominated her features. Agatha lay dead at her feet and this Wanda Maximoff was reading from the Darkhold.

“Who are you?” the dark witch asked, finally noticing her appearance and scowling.

“I am you, but not you.”

“If you are not me, I suggest you leave.”

Wanda was in Paris. She saw another version of herself. The other her looked in agony, on her knees with her face in her hands and wailing.

Wanda noted there was no one in the normally bustling city. There was no sound at all. No cars driving, no birds chirping.

The Wanda on the ground looked up.

“I didn’t mean to.” She said.

“What did you do?”

“I made my worst fear come true. I am alone.”

“Alone in the city?”

“Alone in the universe. I didn’t mean to say it. I was upset and I… I’m sorry! I keep trying to take it back but it is so hard! Can you help me?! I can’t fix this! They are gone! Everyone is gone!”

Wanda could only stand in horror at the realization of what had happened. This version of herself did destroy the universe.

By accident.

Before she could scream, darkness overcame her.

Siberia

The jets hovered over the forest and the widows dropped down on lines, detaching them from their belts when they hit the ground.

Only Natasha was with them. She stayed by Yelena’s side as they spread out and approached the Siberian HYDRA facility to find and surround the exits. Once the outside guards were taken care of as well as any cameras they could find the others would advance on the base. Iron Man had landed but was waiting for the signal to move. He tended to make a scene and sneaking around a base with metal boots was difficult.

To Yelena’s concern there were no guards and no cameras that could be seen. Of course it was dark but they should have found something. Either the Winter Soldiers were gone or they were waiting to set a trap for them.

“I don’t like this.” Yelena whispered to Sonia and Nat. “It doesn’t matter. We have to go in. Teams 2, 3, 4 and 5, have you found exits?”

“We have found three.” Ingrid said. “Shall we enter? The Prince is anxious.”

“I’m going in.” Yelena told her. “Wait until I give signal. If signal is blocked, enter at five minutes. Watch my transmitter for when I enter. Tell T’Challa we can flush the mastermind behind this to you. If he escapes into the wild, the cat man can catch him easily.”

Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes and Jessica Jones moved quietly behind Yelena.

“Sonia, Team 1 is yours. Follow same orders as others. When you come in, let Iron Man go first.”

Sonia snorted but nodded. She didn’t like the idea of anyone going first but Iron Man would be better at catching bullets. Most of their Kevlar vests were compromised due to robot shrapnel after explosions.

Yelena and her crew snuck into the entrance. They saw several cameras but they all appeared to be dead. Bucky stepped up beside her.

“Containment room is four hundred feet away behind two turns.”

Yelena nodded and motioned for Nat to take flank. Steve stepped up beside her and raised his shield. Yelena stayed just off the side of it, rifle at the ready.

When they reached the containment facility they saw the soldiers.

Each one was frozen in a pod. Each one had been shot in the head by a very high powered gun and most of their skulls were gone.

“Team one, come in with Iron Man.” Yelena ordered.

They were soon joined by the team 1 with Tony at the lead, his loud steps announcing his presence.

Tony walked around and shook his head. “I don’t get it. Why learn their whereabouts and then kill them all? I thought he wanted an empire to fall.”

A voice spoke over the intercom.

“What empire did you think I wanted to destroy, Stark?”

A metal panel raised revealing a glass pain. All rifles and repulsors were aimed at the man behind the glass.

“I didn’t want more super soldiers in the world. Two are too many. This was to be the culmination of my plan. It was derailed. I expected the Accords. I counted on them passing. I never counted on Captain America and his friends quitting the Avengers beforehand. I never expected the Accords to not pass. I never expected the Red Widows and my fellow Sokovian to become involved. The end result was the same though. It was even better than I expected.”

Yelena caught what he had said and pressed. “A fellow Sokovian? You are from Sokovia? What is your name?”

The man showed no hesitation in answering. “I am Baron Helmut Zemo, formerly of Sokovian special forces.”

“You lived in Novi Grad.” Nat guessed.

“As did my family. They were killed in a battle between the Avengers and the Avengers creation. Innocent bystanders of a group of individuals who brought death and destruction to our home. I could forgive the Maximoff twins. They were children, the same age as mine. What was the Avengers excuse?”

No one said a word. Steve opened his mouth then stopped.

“Why all this? Why bomb the U.N.?” Yelena asked. “Why find these men and women just to kill them? HYDRA is all but dead. You could have searched for them any time.”

Jessica knew. She was a detective and a damn good one. She knew angles and motivations.

“Because he needed Barnes to take the fall. He needed Captain America to come out of the woodwork and protect a supposed killer. When the Accords failed, Captain America would not be a fugitive for not signing so he needed something else. He didn’t just need a fall guy in Barnes. He needed Captain America and the Black Widow to knowingly help a true criminal go on the run. He needed Barnes to escape the Center and leave as many bodies behind as possible.”

“You are as bright as I heard, Miss Jones.” Zemo said. “Quite the show at the airport. The media who snuck close are proclaiming the Avengers reassembled to fight Vision along with the Red Widows. They have put Maximoff as the leader of the Red Widows and are proclaiming her a hero for killing another Ultron though no one is sure if she is alive. She was high enough that the world saw her explode in the sky, sending one final blast into Vision. Is she alive? I suspected she would be here.”

Yelena didn’t answer. He didn’t need to know and he was still hiding something. Despite his plan failing, he did not seem upset.

“Not all is lost.” He continued. “Stark became despised by the world and will be answering questions about Vision leading an army of Stark robots to attack Captain America and the Red Widows at an airport. You may even be sent to the Raft you built, Stark. The world will demand Bucky Barnes is turned over for his murder spree and Rogers will not allow that. Romanoff will join him on the run.

“That’s assuming him and Stark don’t kill each other.”

Tony laughed. “Not exactly in the mood to pick a fight with Cap. Like you said, we have our own problems to deal with. You are going in for those deaths at the U.N. and the Counterterrorism Task Force Center.”

Zemo shook his head. “I never had any plans of getting out of this alive. I will see my family. All I have to do is exit this building and raise a gun. I will be shot multiple times. It will be quick.”

“You obviously don’t know much about how the Red Widows operate.” Tony said. “Quick aren’t all they specialize in. Slow deaths are more likely.”

Zemo was quiet for a moment. “I expect you to have more sympathy for me Tony. You should know what it is like to have family murdered. My family was murdered by the Avengers and your family was murdered by HYDRA.”

The room quieted.

“You mean you didn’t know? Captain America never told you?”

Tony looked at Cap. “You never told me what?”

“Don’t listen to him, Tony. He has been playing head games from the beginning with us. He has lost.”

“I don’t need to play head games Captain. Why should I when I have the proof?”

The glass panel blocked him from sight and a video began playing. It was black and white and grainy but there was no doubt what was going on and who were involved.

Tony watched the Winter Soldier kill his parents. He watched him snap his mother’s neck.

“Did you know?” Tony asked quietly.

“I suspected HYDRA killed your parents. I didn’t know it was Bucky.” Steve told him. “Stay calm, Tony, he wants us to fight.”

Tony wasn’t listening though. The past weeks evens were catching up to him. The breakup of the Avengers, not noticing that Vision had been going down a dark path, Ross being exposed for war crimes and Tony being linked to him. The company failing, the Accords failing, the hunt for his friends, Vision turning on them all, his damaged relationship with Rhodey and now this.

A man he considered one of his closest friends had known his parents were murdered and kept it from him, probably to protect his best friend.

“Tony…”

Tony fired into Barnes, sending him flying back. Cap dove in front of Bucky and raised his shield. Tony began to fire again when a gunshot busted through his armor and buried itself in his arm.

A bullet pierce his armor. That could mean only one thing.

Yelena was aiming her gun at his helmeted head.

“That’s enough, Stark. Barnes was mind controlled. He could not stop himself.”

Tony felt even greater fury at the short widow who had no business here. “Stay out of this!” he shouted. “I don’t care if he was mind controlled. He killed my mother!”

“I’ve killed many mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. My family has. You have and you weren’t mind controlled. Do not attack him or I will put you down.”

Nat gently touched Yelena’s shoulder. “Yelena, back away. This isn’t your problem. Send the widows away. We can work this out ourselves.”

Yelena didn’t move. “Nat, you must decide whose side you are on. Barnes was mind controlled. We protect and free those who are mind controlled. If you think I will let him kill Barnes for something he had no control over, then you are very wrong and should rejoin the Avengers at his side.”

That hurt Nat. That wasn’t what she meant. She didn’t want Yelena becoming involved in a fight between Iron Man and two super soldiers. There were other ways to stop this than shooting Tony in the head. Rather than saying anything, Nat backed away. Jessica Jones was at the back of the room, unsure of what she should do if anything.

Team 4 rushed inside and saw Yelena aiming at Stark. Now several guns were aimed at his head.

“You can talk this out, but you will not kill him.” Yelena told him once again.

“You think you can protect him forever?” Tony asked. “He killed my mother. I will find him and kill him one day. You can’t stay by him forever. Not even the deadly Red Widows can stop me unless you kill me now. I’ve got nothing left to lose.”

Yelena shook her head. “Everyone thinks they have nothing left to lose until more is taken from them. You aren’t close to having nothing to lose but one pull of this trigger and it won’t matter. You will never understand what having nothing is. Step out of the suit, Stark. We will all leave, take Zemo to Ross and you can explain how another of your robots went crazy. We go our separate ways or I end you here. Your call.”

Tony looked again at Barnes who was standing by Steve’s side and went to raise his left hand when he was frozen.

Wanda walked inside with Taskmaster standing by her side.

Wanda waved a hand and Tony’s helmet retracted. His eyes widened as she approached but she saw the rage inside him. He was willing to chance Yelena killing him for one shot at Bucky Barnes’ head.

“I’ll take this, Yelena.”

Yelena snorted. “You wake up in time to ruin my fun, портит спорт.”

Wanda placed her hand on Tony’s arm and he cried out sharply when the bullet came out and the skin closed behind it.

Then before he could say a word, her eyes turned red and the two were alone.

Tony looked around and saw they were in Novi Grad.

“You are in my head, again!” Tony told her accusingly. He was no longer in his suit of armor, instead dressed casually in jeans and an AC/DC t shirt. “Is this what you do whenever you want to get your way?! You go into someone’s head. I think I preferred Yelena’s method. At least a bullet to the head is less manipulative.”

Wanda looked around the area and smiled. “Actually I brought you into my head.”

Tony’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to manipulate you and I didn’t invade your mind. Do you see anything you recognize? Do you see a Malibu mansion or a great Tower with your name on it? Do you see anyplace resembling home? No, I’ve brought you into my mind. There are things we need to talk about and I thought it would be best if we did it in private. Since Yelena would have blown your head off before you could raise your hand I felt we need to get out of the moment.”

“Is this where you talk me out of killing Barnes? You tell me it wasn’t his fault?”

“Was it? You are a genius. You tell me.”

Tony was silent. Rather than answering he looked around. “Why here?”

Wanda shrugged. “This is home. Where else would my mind go when I invite someone inside?”

Tony closed his eyes. “So you brought me here to play on my guilt.”

Wanda turned sharply towards him. “I don’t play on guilt. I punish the guilty. I told you long ago, I don’t blame you for the deaths of my parents and brother. You didn’t know what Ross would use your weapons for. You grew up believing the United States was all good and you only sold to the good guys who killed the bad guys. You were a tool for powerful men to use. The same as I was. We have many similarities, Tony.”

Tony smirked, beginning to calm down.

“Cap knew.”

“You wouldn’t protect Rhodey? You would. You would do anything to protect him. He is your brother. I would go to any lengths to protect Yelena. She is my sister. Bucky is his brother. We use these terms easily. Brother, sister, but they are more important than biology. These are people we choose to make our own and would kill anyone it took to keep them safe. Do you know why? Because they have seen us at our worst and still loved us. They have seen us at our best and didn’t resent us. That is family. Can I show you something?”

Tony looked up from the cracked ground and nodded.

“It won’t be pleasant. Its an experience I picked up when I first met Yelena. I won’t show you her memories but I would like to show you the feelings. I’m going to show you what it feels like to be mind controlled.”

Before Tony could ask her not to, he was in a hallway of an apartment building or hotel. He had a gun in his hand and was walking with conviction.

He tried to stop but he couldn’t. He couldn’t even speak. He begged himself not to do it but to his horror a part of him did want to do it.

Then he kicked a door in and marched inside.

A mother was in the living room with a vacuum in her hands and a baby in a swing. Her eyes were wide and full of terror.

“No.” he thought to himself but it did not matter. She begged. She begged him to spare her but it didn’t matter. He took aim and fired. One shot and she was dead. He didn’t stand still for long. He walked over her body and kicked the bedroom door in. Her husband hadn’t heard the first door being kicked in over the vacuum but he had heard her begging for mercy. He had a gun ready and fired.

He missed and Tony shot him multiple times then stood over him until he was dead. He took a picture and left, leaving the baby, now an orphan, still crying.

A neighbor was in the hallway and he shot her as well. No witnesses.

When he was brought back to himself he tried to vomit.

“I’m not letting you vomit in my mind, Tony. What you just experienced was various hits I have seen in the memories of others mixed together and formed into one simulation. You just felt what it was like to be a passenger in your own body, unable to even beg yourself to stop, a part of you liking it because you were trained to like it. That is what Barnes felt. In the war he was friends with your father, wasn’t he?”

Tony had never thought of it before. His father always talked about Captain America but didn’t speak much about the Howling Commandos.

Tony nodded.

“HYDRA chose him for a reason. They didn’t need a super soldier to kill your parents. They sent him to torture him. To break him further. He was forced to watch himself kill an old friend and his wife. They weren’t content to mind control him. He had to suffer.”

Tony walked to a crumbled building and sat on a fallen block of concrete, Wanda joined him. Neither said anything. They sat in silence bent forward with their arms on their legs and head down.

“I’ve made so many mistakes.” Tony said finally.

“So have I.” Wanda agreed.

Tony shook his head. “Kid, you have nothing on me. I created two A.I.s in my image that thought they knew what was best for the world. Who do you think they got that from?”

Wanda laughed quietly. “I asked Steve that same question when I first met him.”

Tony began laughing and rubbed his eyes. Soon they were both laughing hysterically.

When they stopped Wanda took a deep breath. “I can destroy all life in the universe if I have a bad case of the Mondays.”

“If the airport is anything to go by, you will have a cool outfit to do it in.” he told her, not wanting her to know how frightened he was to hear that.

“When I was asleep, before I woke up here, I was traveling. I don’t think it was a dream. I saw things, spoke to people, could even touch them and protect myself. I saw threats, not only to Earth but to the Universe. I saw a purple alien who I believe I will have to face one day. Look.”

An image of Thanos appeared before Tony.

“Who is he?”

“He calls himself Thanos.” Wanda told him.

“What does he want?” Tony asked.

Wanda shrugged. “I didn’t stick around to ask him. I was sent away by whatever force was throwing me around the multiverse. He is in this universe though and I know he is a threat. He isn’t alone. He has powerful allies and an army. It may have been the ones you fought in New York.”

“Oh shit.” Tony whispered.

“That was the feeling I got. There was so much more. If I am to be ready, I have so much more training to do. The world will need you. Not your A.I.s or any other tech that can go crazy like an army of robots that can be hacked. This world will need Tony Stark.”

Tony took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Being in Wanda’s mind was fascinating. He could smell the foul air and taste the dust in the air.

“You’re the last person I would expect to say that.” e admitted.

“I’m the last person you will expect to be the biggest threat to the universe if I have a bad day but here we are.”

Tony knew she was right. As much as he would like to hide, to drink himself to death, to disappear from the face of the earth, he couldn’t. Yelena had been right. He did have much to lose. Despite the fracture in his relationship with Rhodey, he was still the man who had been there for him most of his life. Happy still deserved to live in a safe world and he would always love Pepper, even if they could never work.

Life was hard. Wanda understood that much younger than he ever did.

“You grew up on these streets.” he said.

Wanda nodded and pointed to the remains of a building that appeared to have been knocked down years ago. “That building was where Pietro and I lived with our parents. After we escaped the orphanage we returned to the streets we knew well. We stayed different places, inside and out, but we were always near this area. It wasn’t all horror and suffering. We had fun and we made each other laugh. He was impossible not to love. I was the cold bitch but everybody loved Pietro.”

Wanda stood up. “Its time to go back. I need to save Bucky Barnes. You need to forgive him for something he had no control over. Can you do that, so I can do what I need to do without Yelena putting a hole in your head?”

Tony nodded. “I really miss my mother. I don’t miss my father. I know that’s bad to say but I don’t. I miss my mom though. I don’t know where to go from here.”

“Maybe I do. For now, lets make sure The cat man and my sisters caught Zemo. That’s a good first step.”

Tony nodded and reached out his hand. Wanda looked at him for a moment and shook his hand.

The two opened their eyes and were surrounded by guns, all aimed at Tony while Barnes and Rogers watched him closely.

He shook his head and opened his suit, stepping out.

“I get it.” Tony said to Barnes. “It’s over.”

The tension was released from the room like a balloon losing air. Guns were lowered and Steve lowered his shield.

“Has Zemo been captured?” Wanda asked.

Yelena nodded. “T’Challa has him outside, alive. He has a Wakanda jet on its way to take Zemo back to Berlin and give Jones a lift. Ross knows he is coming and has called a press conference tomorrow to inform the world what has happened. At least what he thinks has happened. We are ready to go home.”

Tony moved towards Barnes and Rogers.

“Your going to stay with them until you are healed?” he asked Barnes.

Barnes nodded. “If they will have me.”

Tony nodded. “Good luck to you all. I need to go. I’ve got to explain to the world that Vision went crazy.”

Without another word, Tony walked back to his suit, secured himself inside and left.

On the flight home, Bea woke and sat up.

“Where are we?! Where is my gun? I’m ready. Who are we fighting?”

Agatha laughed and touched her cheek. “Relax kid. You go into a fist fight with a robot. You took a knock to the head”

“Did I win?”

Agatha barely held back a smile. “You kicked his metal ass, beautiful. Unfortunately with his dying hydraulic joints he threw you into a wall twenty or so feet away. You hit the wall and landed on your head. If I wasn’t so worried it would have made a great TikTok video.”

Bea nodded. “As long as I won. Are we all okay?”

“Of course we are. We are Red Widows. We never lose. We are almost home. Oksana checked your head and there is no internal bleeding but you have quite the bump on the head. Go back to sleep until we land.

Bea leaned back and said she wasn’t tired before she passed out again.

Agatha looked back at a grinning Oksana. The oldest widow was holding a blood bag above Charlize, performing a transfusion. Agatha had healed her leg but couldn’t do anything about the loss of blood.

“How are you doing, kid?”

Charlize smiled widely. “I don’t hurt anymore. How are you not tired? You haven’t slept since we left the campground.”

“Oh sweetie, I am exhausted.”

“Then why keep up the glamour?”

Agatha frowned. “I’m not. This is all me, babe. If I were glamouring I would look a lot better than this.”

Charlize looked at Agatha’s hands. Agatha followed her gaze and was as surprised as the young widow.

“Your fingers aren’t black.” Charlize pointed out.

Agatha shook her head, not wanting to believe it. “I didn’t realize…” Probably just some left over glamour magic that hasn’t dispersed. Let’s focus on you getting fueled back up. I’m going to find a spell that can make these suits better protection like we charged our weapons before we face A.I.M. again.”

When they reached home, Steve, Nat and Bucky were struck speechless at the base. They were even more surprised when the expansive yard in front of the mansion opened up and a wide entrance and landing pad to the underground bunker appeared.

“We had to put our jets we procured from the Red Room near tree lines, covered with limbs and camo covering. We can land six underground but it is a tight fit. After we sleep, we will have a meeting tonight about whether Natasha and Steve can stay.” Yelena told them. “For now we have extra rooms in mansion.”

While Nat, Steve and Bucky were give rooms and quickly crashed others were not as lucky. The Widows did not go to sleep right away. Instead they watched a press conference. Ross had just told the world that Helmut Zemo had been arrested for the bombing of the United Nations building and the activation of James Barnes leading to the shoot out in the Task Force Center. Then the hard questions began.

Berlin, Germany

As relieved as Ross was that Zemo had been arrested and brought in alive to face judgement for his crimes, he was also dreading this conference. He had hoped to leave it to Hoag but as soon as word came in that Zemo had been taken into custody by T’Challa, she had left, considering the job done.

“Agent Ross, are Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff considered fugitives at this time?”

Ross smiled. Trying to appear confident and hoping not to get killed by this answer. No one wanted to answer the question. Not the United Nations Secretary General, or the Berlin police department or Interpol. Ross decided if it were up to him the choice would be easy, even if he would be raked over the coals for it by the world press and the superiors to frightened to make the call.

“No they are not. Barnes was set up and had information that was vital to the arrest of Zemo. Because he was wanted, he enlisted the aid of Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff to evade custody while they worked to bring Zemo to justice. Because of their efforts, this mad man was stopped.”

“What of the deaths Barnes has caused over the years?”

Ross took a deep breath. This would be pushing it. “He was not in control of his actions. He was a weapon of HYDRA. He has been sent to a secure facility to receive treatment an ensure he is never used by anyone again.”

“What government has him in custody while he received treatment?”

Ross continued to smile, holding it in place and trying to appear confident and calm. “All I can say is he is in the most secure care facility in the world. Other than that, I am not at liberty to say.”

“There are reports that Vision, the A.I. who was an Avenger and created for the purpose of defeating Ultron turned on not only Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff but also on Stark and used Stark’s supposedly decommissioned Iron Legion robots to attack them at Leipzig Halle Airport, leading to the destruction of the facility. Is this true?”

Ross could no longer smile. “Yes, that is true.”

“Is it true that the Red Widows became involved in the fight along with the former Avengers and were able to destroy these robots?”

“Yes, that is true.”

“Is it true that Wanda Maximoff battled Vision and destroyed him, preventing another Ultron from running wild?”

Ross nodded. “It is true.”

“Is Wanda Maximoff part of the Red Widows organization?”

Ross was quiet for a moment, not sure how to answer. He decided to play a politician and give a non-answer.

“You would have to ask her that question.”

“Drone footage of the battle showed her glowing brightly in the daytime sky before burning Vision to dust then passing out. Is she all right? What is her health status?”

Before Ross could assure the world she was fine, Wanda walked onto the stage.

“I am fine. Defeating evil super robots makes me tired and I needed a brief nap. Thank you for your concern.”

The room was dead quiet for a few seconds. Ross shook his head and stepped away from the podium hiding a smile. He had no idea she would be here but she always kept him guessing. She was defintely facing the world for the first time on her own terms. Her accent was as thick as ever and her outfit was the same as ever. She wore her more revealing and tight clothes, had several thin chains and lockets around her neck, several rings on all her fingers and earrings in her multiple piercings.

In contrast to her tight leather clothes, she had on her worn combat boots she had probably had for years.

The media snapped out of their shock nearly the same time as the room erupted in questions. Wanda stood still, not answering until the voices calmed down.

“I will answer your questions one at a time.” She said.

A man in the front raised his hand.

“Miss Maximoff, are you a member of the Red Widows?”

Wanda nodded. “Yes.”

The room erupted in questions again, but Wanda stayed silent. Realizing screaming wasn’t going to get her to answer the room calmed down once again.

“Miss Maximoff,” a female reporter asked, “could you tell us what happened yesterday at Leipzig Halle airport?”

Wanda nodded. “Captain America contact the Red Widows asking for assistance in finding and apprehending Helmut Zemo. Tony Stark and Colonel Rhodes arrived as well to help in the search. As I was arriving I saw the former Avenger known as Vision, attack the group. He had also brought many formerly decommissioned Iron Legion drones with him. He ordered these robots to attack the Avengers and the Red Widows and then proceeded to attack me. A battle commenced and Vision and the drones were defeated. We then acted on Mr. Barnes’ intel and tracked Zemo to Siberia. We found him at a former HYDRA outpost and took him into custody.”

A man in the middle raised his hand.

“Are you saying Tony Stark did not enlist Vision to apprehend Rogers, Romanoff and Barnes?”

“I doubt if he had, Vision would have turned against him. Tony Stark was in as much danger as all of us. He was instrumental in the defeat of Vision.”

“Why did Vision want him dead?”

Wanda raised her hand in question. “I would say you could ask Vision but I didn’t leave much left of him. I suspect Zemo had something to do with it. He has been manipulating the events of the past few months. I am not the one to ask. I can only say we are grateful Tony Stark was there.”

“General Ross has confessed to war crimes including the death of your parents. Tony Stark has been linked closely to him. How did you feel about working with Stark and destroying one of his creations, knowing his relationship with your parents murderer?”

Wanda was silent for a moment.

“I believe we sometimes put our faith in the wrong people and find out too late what their true nature is. You have all read about me. You know everything. You know I put my trust in the wrong people twice and it cost lives. I can only say that I was grateful Tony Stark was at the airport or the battle could have turned out much differently. Tony Stark is no war criminal. He is Iron Man and he is a hero this world has relied on om for any years. While it would make a great story, we all know that it isn’t true. I think everyone knows that. Before I go, I would like to say one thing.”

Wanda looked at the camera in front and smiled. “We haven’t forgotten about you, Norman Osborn. The Red Widows will find you. You cannot hide from us forever. Turn yourself over to the mercy of the law or prepare for no mercy.”

The room erupted once again as she walked off the stage. Ross followed her off.

“What are you doing here?”

Wanda smirked. “I’m not, Everett. You should know that by now.”

Everett reached out to touch the top of her head and his hand passed through. He smirked.

“You know you let him off the hook. That’s why you are here, right? Why did you do it?”

Wanda looked around to ensure they were not heard. Only a few aides at the end of the hallway and a couple guards stood there, too afraid to approach her.

“When I defeated Vision I unlocked something in myself. I will tell you all about it soon. Because of what I did, I passed out and while I was asleep, I was shown things.”

“Things?”

Wanda nodded. “Bad things. Very bad things will come for this planet one day, Everett. When it does, this world will need all the heroes it can find. Tony Stark is many things, but he is still the man who took a bomb into a wormhole to save New York City not expecting to make it back alive. That kind of person will be needed for the battles ahead.”

Ross nodded. He didn’t question her. He didn’t question these things she had been shown. He trusted her. She had never given him reason not to. In the world of Intelligence gathering, her blunt honesty was refreshing and he appreciated it. Her and Yelena never lied to him.

“Maybe I can see you girls soon and we can all share an expensive beer, yeah?”

Wanda winked at him and disappeared.

Ross looked at the wide eyed people at the end of the hall.

“She does that.” he told them.

Widow Mansion, France

“Stark’s freefall has slowed.” Eleanor told Wanda over the phone. “He is going to be needed. I hate that.”

“You think I don’t.” Wanda asked. “Bad things are coming, Eleanor. I saw things I can never forget. I think I even saw hell, or what looked like hell. I think I saw the devil. There is so much out there so much beauty and so much horror.”

“I’m just glad you are okay.” Eleanor told her. “All of you are okay. Kate was so worried and being cooped up in our apartment, her nightmares on top of worry for Yelena, she has not been pleasant to be around. I don’t care. I’m just grateful she is around. I’ll let you go. Be careful, okay?”

“I will.”

“Don’t let Agatha be a bad influence on you!”

Wanda chuckled and ended the call. She then made her way into the bunker’s briefing room. The Widows sat in rows facing two former Avengers and Barnes.

Ava took the lead, with Yelena staying out of it.

“Rogers we discussed this before you were brought in. You can stay with Barnes, but you will both have to stay in the pool house.”

Steve was confused and glanced at Bucky who shrugged his shoulders.

“I didn’t see a pool house.”

“Its by the pool.” Amanda told him.

“I didn’t see a pool.”

“Exactly.” Madison agreed. “You will have a concrete truck, building materials and tools. I hope one of you is good with wiring. Once the pool and the house is built you can stay there. Then you can work on extensions to the houses. Many more widows are coming. Do try to hurry but don’t take short cuts. If you could get the pool built by the end of the month, that would be wonderful.”

“That leaves you, Romanoff.” Ingrid said. “You wish to join us. You wish to become one of us?”

Nat cleared her throat. “I know I can never be one of you but I would like to assist your mission. If nothing else I would like to stay here.”

Naomi laughed. “You want to stay here and what? We are already a retirement home for world war two veterans. They offer carpentry skills and heavy lifting and hopefully yard work. You say you want to be one of us but what can you do that we can’t?”

Nat began to squirm. She had know this question was coming but hadn’t decided on an answer. She looked at the Widows and studied them. Searching for a need. Convincing her they needed her skills would just anger the proud girls.

“How many of you can cook anything not prepared by a microwave?” she asked.

The room quieted and the widows looked around at each other. Naomi nodded.

“You have our attention. Talk.”