Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 47:

Everett Ross hurriedly packed his bags. He had resigned by phone from the C.I.A. in disgust only thirty minutes ago. He knew his agency partook in some less than savory actions as all countries intelligence agencies did but this was too far. The story was too outlandish to make up. They had committed a terrorist act to cover up the murder of a government official in Romania.

The Romanians would have never came forward as they had unless they had concrete evidence.

First he worked for SHIELD and now the C.I.A.

Everett vowed his next job would be as a commercial airline pilot or a crop duster. He was done with the intelligence world.

His phone buzzed and he was surprised to see his ex-wife calling. He would think she would be busy spinning the story and lying, disavowing agents all to save her own ass from being executed on foreign soil. A press conference had been called for that afternoon and he guessed it would be the President who had already been under pressure, announcing his resignation.

“What do you want?” he answered.

“I need your help.”

Everett laughed bitterly. “You think I can help you? You are screwed Val. You will be lucky to share a cell next to Thunderbolt Ross.”

“I’m not worried about Romania or my job or criminal charges. I’ve got a bigger problem.”

Everett’s eyes widened. “A bigger problem than being an outed terrorist?”

He heard Val sigh. “Yes, a bigger problem than getting blamed for doing my job and protecting the interests of this country. I had no idea what Peyton… look, I didn’t know who he had. You know how their handpicked cells work. The head agents are given assignments and money and they handle these missions on with their handpicked teams. Peyton wasn’t supposed to keep documents, but he did. His team was the problem. I’ve heard from multiple sources he bought two little girls to do his dirty work and was keeping them prisoners or under mind control. I had no idea. I do now. The scene of the apartment building where the takedown took place, those weren’t Romanian security forces that raided the building.”

Everett suddenly felt very cold.

“Please don’t tell me…”

“There was a Red Widow symbol painted on the wall. Everett, the two girls he had were twelve year old black widows. It looks like he bought them from Dreykov and has had them over a year. I had no idea.”

Everett nearly vomited but held it together.

“You do have bigger problems. You are already dead.” he told her.

“I didn’t know he had those little girls!” Val stressed.

Everett felt like he was in another reality. Val had always been confident, cool, collected and mostly arrogant. She always acted as if she knew a joke only she had the answer to.

She was panicking. There was true fear in her voice.

“He worked for you, Val. He used little girls… how old did you say the girls were?”

“Twelve I think.”

Everett closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

“You are screwed, Val. They are coming for you.”

Val hesitated. “You think they would do something as reckless as come onto American soil and kill someone in my position?”

Everett’s answer was a bitter laugh. “He worked for you. You know what they do to… Val they are coming for you. Your position doesn’t matter. Wanda was ready to kill Thaddeus Ross and he was the Secretary of State. If she doesn’t kill you, it is because she has something worse planned.”

Val was quiet for a moment.

“Then you have to talk to them. Belova and Maximoff will listen to you. Tell them I didn’t know. Make them understand. You know I was trying to find a black widow to rescue and give them as an offering of friendship. Make those damn psychos understand that they cannot touch me and it is in their best interest not to try!”

Everett shook his head. “I can’t do that, Val. You are on your own on this one.”

“I am ordering you to speak to them!” she said angrily but the panic was still there.

“I resigned half an hour ago. Your days of ordering me are over. My suggestion is to turn yourself over to the Romanian government publicly and hope that will be enough to satisfy them.”

Val laughed bitterly. “You son of a bitch. Are you screwing one of those teenagers? Is it Maximoff? She dresses like the kind of girl who would screw someone to get them under her spell. Or is it Belova? Black Widows are trained in seduction. I suspected you may not help. If you won’t be an asset, you can be a bargaining chip. If I die, you die.”

Everett’s door was kicked in and two agents entered, guns at the ready.

“Everett Ross, you are coming with us.”

Everett hung up the phone.

“By whose authority?”

“Hands behind your back.” he ordered instead of answering.

Everett shook his head. “You don’t want to do this. You don’t want to make Wanda Maximoff your enemy for Val’s sake. Nothing can save her now but you can save yourselves.”

The man pressed the gun barrel against his forehead.

Everett barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes. “I won’t make much of a hostage if you pull that trigger.”

“Maybe, but you will do just fine with a shattered kneecap.” he answered, pointing the weapon away from the head and towards his knee.

Everett looked at the man’s hand suddenly empty hand and shook his head sadly.

“I hope you don’t have family.” he told him. “Because you don’t have a gun anymore. That’s not a good sign for you my friend.”

The man looked at his now empty hand with wide eyes. He turned to his partner who was also disarmed.

Everett head-butted the man, then punched him in his throat. When he bent over, he struck him behind the head sending him to the ground unconscious.

The other agent approached Everett but suddenly seized up, unable to move as electricity ran through his body. When the buzz stopped, an electric baton swung from behind him and cracked his skull. He joined his friend on the ground.

“I have always wanted to do that! I live around these electric batons but they are very stingy about who gets to play with them since Wanda made a habit of shocking herself. So you are Everett Ross. Hello, Cutie. I can’t believe we have never met in person. I’m Agatha Harkness. I have seen your picture but you are even more stunning in person. How long have I been waiting for this, secret agent man.”

Everett’s took her in. He had heard about her but never seen her and he didn’t expect this. She was younger than he expected, or at least appeared younger. She wore a widow suit but it didn’t seem natural on her.

“Oh the clothes? I always wanted to wear one of these suits as well. It isn’t my style but I think my ass can compete with Romanoff in this suit. What do you think?” she asked, turning around for him and looking back over her shoulder while batting her dark eye lashes.

“Uh…”

She tuned back to him, snapped her fingers and was in a very tight low cut purple dress that ended mid-thigh and had some very tall heels on.

He was impressed but kept his eyes on her face.

“Don’t answer. I can see it in your eyes. Secret Agent Man likes. So, you bad boy, I see your bags are packed. Going anywhere in particular or just hitting the road looking for a woman like me?”

“I just quit my job and thought a road trip might do me some good. I wasn’t expecting visitors. My ex-wife sent them. What are you doing here? I thought you and the others would have more important things to do. Wanda doesn’t think I was involved in this mess, does she?!”

Agatha snorted. “Of course not. She would never admit it to you, but she thinks you are a saint. Yelena thought the C.I.A. director may use you as a hostage to protect herself. She asked me to come visit you. We have three jets in the States right now. One is above this building cloaked by me. I’m glad you are packed. Cloaking isn’t easy and we need to leave quickly. I doubt those will be the last ones coming for you. You are a known associate of the Red Widows. The world might be after you by the end of the day. Your old coworkers will be.”

Everett looked at the men on the ground and knew she was right.

“Where are we going?”

“The only place we know to keep you safe until this blows over. Red Widow compound. Things are about to get crazy. For now, relax. Agatha is here to tend to your needs. You have one minute, hot stuff. Get moving. I want to see what you look like walking away. By the way, do you tango? I love to tango. Just putting it out there.”

Secret United States Air Force Base, Nevada Desert

Val hung up the phone after trying to connect three times with the men she sent to take Ross.

“Problem?” Maria Rambeau asked. “Who are you trying to contact so badly?”

Val sat back and grinned, despite knowing they had failed. She had to remain calm as long as possible but it was becoming difficult. “It doesn’t matter. I have called you here for a reason. We are waiting for Colonel Rhodes to arrive and then I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

“Are you still the director of the C.I.A.? I ask because the President isn’t going to be the President this afternoon. As soon as the Vice President is sworn in, he is going to fire you.” Maria pointed out.

Val kept her cool but wanted to scratch the woman’s eyes out. She didn’t need anyone pointing out her position. No one was making her leave this bunker. This was the most guarded and secure location in the world. Maximoff couldn’t sneak up on her here. She couldn’t sneak up on anyone. It was desert with no cover for her followers to hide behind. There were over a hundred soldiers above them ready to protect the secrets of this base with their lives. The secret weapons in the hangars above and the really secret weapons kept below in this bunker over the large hangar on top of them were the greatest nationally guarded secrets. Wanda Maximoff wasn’t bulletproof.

She wasn’t.

Right?

Rhodes finally walked in, wearing a black flight suit.

“Colonel, where is your suit?” Val asked immediately, letting her calm façade slip.

Rhodey wasn’t surprised by the panic in her voice. She was screwed on an international stage. He had been sent here by the President to protect her and keep her out of the public spotlight until it was decided what to do with her. He had only met the woman once but she was very different now. Her hair was a mess, her eyes were dark as if she hadn’t slept and her voice was shaky.

“In the hall. It makes sitting down at a table difficult.” he told her, taking a chair.

“Maria, where is your strike team? Are they above? How many are there and what weapons are they carrying?”

Maria shook her head. “I haven’t assembled a strike team.”

“I told you to!” Val shouted.

Maria raised an eyebrow. “You realize of the two of us I will still be a director of a federal agency in a few hours while you will be fighting extradition to Romania to stand trial as a terrorist. I have no idea what is going on or why I was asked to fly here of all places early this morning by the Deputy Director of the C.I.A. I am here out of curiosity. I wasn’t going to assemble a strike team to face an unknown threat because you ordered it. Give me a good reason and I may call one together and have them travel here.”

“My life is in danger.”

Maria snorted. “They don’t shoot criminals in Romania anymore. You will be thrown in the deepest, darkest hole they can find but you won’t die. I know you Val. You have a team of lawyers and hundreds of legal loopholes that you can hide behind. You will never serve a day. Did I fly to Nevada because you are panicking? Helping those who fund terrorists doesn’t fall under the purview of my agency.

Val laughed bitterly. “Peyton. Agent Peyton.”

“The guy you told to commit the murder of a government official and he included a train bombing with it?” Maria asked. “Yes, I have heard of him. Romanian authorities killed him and his team and he had incriminating documents connecting him to you. It isn’t a secret.

Val shook her head. “Peyton’s team was given a budget and orders. I didn’t care how he completed his mission and I did not know the name of his agents. They were his people.”

Rhodes shook his head. “Why am I not surprised?”

“He bought a set of twin girls to do his dirty work! I had no idea! They were twelve.” Val explained.

Rhodes and Maria’s felt sick.

“Please, tell me the Romanian authorities didn’t kill the twins.” Rhodes told her, ready to kill her himself now.

“Those weren’t Romanian authorities that raided the apartment building. I have a source inside the Bucharest police. They were Red Widows. The agents were gutted and Peyton was dismembered. A Red Widow symbol was spray painted on the wall by his body. The twins were bought from Dreykov. He kept the girls in a cage. I had no idea! The sources know the girls were there because of the cage and the handcuffs on the bed.

“Oh God.” Rhodes whispered, raising his hand to stop her rant. “He kept them handcuffed to a bed in a cage! Wait you said Dreykov… the Red Widows… No. Please don’t tell me they were mind controlled black widows.”

“Yes you idiot! Do I have to make it any clearer? Bucharest police read about the girls in the documents. They went back and found one of them on video planting the bomb while the other entered the alley just before the official was killed. They never looked twice at her but now they know. Somehow the Red Widows found out about them. They took the girls with them. They are the reason Romania got their hands on the documents!”

Maria slid her seat back, bumping into the wall behind her as she hurried to stand. “I have to get away.” she mumbled, her fear reflected in her eyes.

“The hell you do! You are S.W.O.R.D. Sentient World Observation and Response Department! Your department was created to deal with individuals like Maximoff!

“She will kill me if she finds me here! She will kill my daughter! I have to leave! I can’t be here!”

“Damn it…” Val started, “are you that much of a coward? I am a government official in danger of being kidnapped or killed by a psychotic organization led by an enhanced individual and a group of sadistic child assassins! Defending people like me is what your department was made for!”

“My daughter still has nightmares about hellhounds and demons and Maximoff wearing a red crown on a dark throne ripping her apart! She dreams about Red Widows hiding in the corner of her room ready to take her back to the witch! Maximoff got into her head! You have no idea what she can do to someone’s head! It never goes away! Monica had to quit because she still has panic attacks medicine can’t control!”

Maria reached the door when alarms began blaring all over the complex.

“Oh God, its too late. She is here.” The woman mumbled, feeling sick.

Rhodey knew she was probably right. He had a very bad feeling about this.

“How would she find you so fast underground in the middle of nowhere? This base doesn’t officially exist.” he told Val, hoping to calm her. He knew the answer though.

“She is a witch.” Maria told him quietly. “She isn’t just some enhanced human. She told my daughter she was the Scarlet Witch. You can’t beat her. She is the devil. She had mercy on me once. I’m not risking her wrath a second time. I’m not getting involved. Rhodes, tell your soldiers not to engage her. Throw Val out of this base if you have to.”

Maria ran out of the room. Rhodey wasn’t sure where she was going but suspected it was somewhere to hide like a broom closet or bathroom.

“What about you, War Machine? Are you going to let her kill me without a fight? I know Stark is afraid of her. Are you?” Val asked.

Rhodey narrowed his eyes. “Watch your mouth, Director. I have half a mind to leave you to her. I’m not going to fight her but I will talk to her. Maybe if I convince her you will turn yourself in after you resign, she will back off.”

Val turned red. “You are going to negotiate with her?!”

Rhodes stood up and walked out, stepping into his armor in the hall. He approached a monitoring station. Unlike the ones Tony had, these were small monitors covering close to one hundred cameras from all over the area. Motion detectors were lighting up across an electronic area map. All of them were going off at once.

“How are they all going off at once? There must be two hundred of them. There aren’t two hundred Red Widows.” he told the communications chief.

The man was pale and his fear was obvious. He pointed to another monitor.

Standing in front of the main hangar that sat atop the underground bunker was Wanda Maximoff, Bucky Barnes and Yelena Belova. They had made it this far without setting off an alarm and now Wanda had purposely set them all off to announce their presence. They stood in line like gunfighters, ready to shoot anyone who dared step up to them. Wanda was even wearing her long red coat over her normally tight black leather pants and top.

“Oh shit.” he said under his breath, understanding it was unlikely they would be in the mood to talk. If Wanda were willing to talk, she wouldn’t have brought only Yelena and Barnes. The RPG shoulder launcher Yelena had didn’t escape his attention. You didn’t bring one of those to talk.

They were maybe two hundred feet from the main hangar when the large door opened and soldiers rushed out with rifles aimed at them.

He saw Wanda’s eyes turn red as she tilted her head.

“That’s not good.” Rhodey mumbled, having seen that before.

The soldiers’ guns disappeared and the men themselves floated into the sky, their bodies flailing in the air as if hung by strings. With a wave of her hand they were sent flying off into the desert for miles until they were out of sight. Rhodey wasn’t sure how far or how high they travelled. He just knew she had disarmed, lifted and swatted them away like flies without breaking a sweat. He caught her act on video when she lifted the broken ship out of the water in New York and brought it back together. That was an enormous feet of strength and he knew she was capable of more. He didn’t know how much more but wasn’t enthused about finding out.

Then the base intercom came alive with her voice. She wasn’t on a radio or holding any communication device. The soft thickly accented voice was soft and creepy causing him to shiver.

“I am Wanda Maximoff. I have come for C.I.A. Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Have her walk out alone and none of you need to be harmed. Stand in my way and you all die. This is your only warning. I will give you thirty seconds to decide.”

Rhodey knew Fontaine was evil even for Intelligence Directors. She may not have known about the kids but she hired monsters and gave them free reign. She was responsible and she would get soldiers killed. Who knew how many Wanda had thrown were already dead from their fall.

“I’m going to talk to her.” he told Val who had made her way to the monitors. “Get ready to walk out if she insists.”

“I will not!”

“You aren’t worth risking every soldier on this base.” He told her bluntly. “Captain if I give the word, send her out alone.”

“She wouldn’t dare attack us here! She is bluffing.” Val said quietly, trying to convince herself.

“You don’t’ know her!” Rhodey said firmly. “Wouldn’t isn’t in her vocabulary and she is too powerful to bluff! She brought the two deadliest members of her group. They didn’t come to negotiate! At least she isn’t wearing her super suit. That may be a bad sign though. I have no idea what goes on in her head. I’m not sure anyone beside Belova knows what goes on inside her head but make no mistake, she is a killer. She will kill every man here to get to you.

“Captain” he told the officer in charge… “give me a chance to talk to her. Do not engage her. Order your men to stand down.”

The Captain didn’t like this but the unease on his face was obvious. If the man had ever seen Maximoff work up close he would be terrified rather than uneasy.

“I’ll give you first chance, Rhodes, but as much as I don’t like it, I don’t like the idea of sending an American citizen to her death. Figure something out. I’m not going to take a knee to some European teenage brat, no matter who she is.”

Outside, Wanda, Yelena and Bucky waited. They had expected more soldiers to come out but perhaps they were afraid if they saw what she did to the others.

She was surprised to see James Rhodes fly out of the hangar.

He landed in front of her and retracted his helmet.

“Hi, Wanda. Yelena… Barnes.”

“Rhodes.” Bucky greeted him. “I would suggest you fly away. I’m about to exercise my Sokovian diplomatic immunity.”

Rhodes ignored him and focused on Wanda.

“Nobody wants a fight. We can handle this calmly. I guarantee she will turn herself into Romanian authorities. Let me take here there myself.

Wanda stared at him with a blank expression on her face, saying nothing and making him uncomfortable.

“Wanda… she just told me what she did. I get it. I will make sure she pays.”

“She harmed black widows.” Yelena told him. “Children. That means she answers to our authority, as does anyone who defends her. Romania can have her body to hang in the streets after we are done with her.”

Rhodey cringed. His guess had been right. They would not be reasoned with.

“Don’t put me in a position where I have to defend a woman like that! Come on Wanda. You can’t just come onto a United States Air Force base and attack soldiers, kidnap the director of the C.I.A….

Wanda raised her hand and Rhodey stopped speaking immediately, not of his own accord. His jaw clamped shut, involuntarily.

“The United States Government denies the existence of this base. Isn’t that right, Bucky?”

Bucky nodded. “You are right, Doll.”

Wanda grinned. “So how can I attack soldiers on a base that does not exist? Yelena, are we at a United States Air Force base?”

Yelena shrugged. “According to the United States and our map, we are not. That means there are no soldiers here. They were likely hunters in the desert, who pointed their guns at us. Not very nice. Aiming weapons at diplomats is big no, no.”

Wanda stepped closer to Rhodey.

“Leave now or I will make sure your back is rebroken.”

“Wanda, I swore an oath to defend the people of the United States from dangers, foreign and domestic. I can’t just step aside.” Rhodey told her, his jaw working once again.

“I swore an oath to avenge mind controlled black widows against all enemies, terrorists, cartels, organized crime and governments. Leave, James. Tell the soldiers to put down their arms and send her out. Make a smart decision. You know you can’t win.”

Rhodey wanted to scream. He was stuck in the middle. He wanted to leave, wanted to see Val get what she deserved but he was a member of the armed forces. He had a duty to protect Americans from vigilante justice, no matter how deserved it was. He didn’t want to fight Wanda, but she was backing him into a corner.

He shook his head sadly. “You know I can’t step aside Wanda. The men in there have a duty, as do I. Can we pleas come up with another solution?”

Wanda’s eyes glowed red. She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder before he could move, red energy flowed from her and wrapped around his suit.

Rhodey was suddenly standing in front of her, wearing only a black flight suit. The War Machine armor, was a silver pile of dust at his feet, rising to his knees.

He couldn’t believe it. The weapons inside the suit, the arc reactor, the explosives… were all gone as if they were paper doused in kerosine lit by a match.

Bucky stepped up and punched him in the jaw. Rhodes was unconscious before he hit the dirt.

“I have wanted to do that since Germany.” he said, satisfied.

The three heard a helicopter coming in low behind them. They turned and Wanda raised a shield as the attack helicopter unleashed thousands of rounds.

When it was out of ammo, Wanda dropped the shield and Yelena fired an RPG, turning it into a fireball.

“Ha! That was cool. I hope Kate saw that on camera.”

Barnes handed her another rocket that had been strapped to his back and the three marched towards the hangar door that had closed while they were speaking to Rhodes. An armored vehicle came from the back of the building with a mounted gun.

Wanda raised her red glowing hand and the bullets froze in midair and dropped to the ground. The vehicle continued to race towards them. Bucky fired an armor piercing round where the driver would have been sitting. The driver must have been hit because it careened to the side and hit a smaller building to the right of the hangar.

Wanda let loose a blast of red energy, evaporating the large hangar door. Fifty soldiers stood in front of a door that led underground. They were armed and their rifles were raised but none had fired. They were all shaking, having listened to what happened outside, knowing these three had gotten past an armored vehicle, an attack helicopter and at least fifty special forces soldiers.

“You better be sure.” Bucky told them as he aimed a very large automatic rifle towards them and Yelena aimed her RPG launcher. Wanda’s eyes were glowing and she was hovering over the ground, a swirl of chaos magic lighting her up. “One of you pulls a trigger, you all die.” He warned them.

They all hesitated and looked at each other then back at the three. The men all dropped their weapons and raised their hands.

“Run.” Yelena told them. “Find your friends in the desert. Don’t come back.”

Over fifty soldiers ran. Bucky watched them until they were gone from the hangar.

Yelena blew open the door to the underground lair with her final RPG. Bucky dropped a grenade down the stairs.

There were multiple screams when it went off.

Wanda shielded them as they carefully stepped over bodies of armed men who had been planning to set explosives in the stairwell, judging by the damage that was in excess of what one grenade could do. They reached the bottom of the staircase and Bucky pulled a round disk from the back of his belt. Wanda ripped the final thick metal door open and he threw the disk inside. Electricity erupted beyond the door, shocking everyone within a forty foot radius standing on the ground.

Soldiers who had gathered for a last stand on the other side of the door were down, caught in the electrical storm of the oversized widow grenade.

Before they could look for Val, they heard a scream.

One soldier ran through a side door with a rifle raised, ready to fire. Yelena threw a blade into his chest before he could pull the trigger.

“Leave or die. Why do they not get this?” Yelena asked, walking over and retrieving her blade. “We go through more than hundred of them and he thinks running out with a rifle while yelling some ridiculous battle cry will surprise us? Points for bravery but deductions for stupidity.”

“They think we are Avengers. People have forgotten who they are dealing with because some Americans call us heroes. Norman Osborn’s money didn’t save him or A.I.M. Her position won’t save her. We gave them a chance to surrender. They chose to defend her. Bad decision.” Wanda said.

The three made their way to the panic room Val was hiding in. On the way she took a good look at the planes the United States had at the far end and the offices with windows where scientists were peaking their heads up to see what had happened. The planes were very sophisticated and likely cost billions of dollars. Some had arc reactor technology which was no surprise really. Tony Stark had given over the plans when he gave Rhodes the War Machine suit and outfitted SHIELD and then the Department of Damage Control with arc reactor jets and Helicarriers.

“Pretty planes.” Yelena commented. “Can we steal one?”

Wanda shook her head. “Not this trip. Bucky and I can’t fly Reaper 1 back. Bucky, could you find as many plans as you can? Engineers in Sokovia may be interested in this. The next time Americans think of bombing our home, we will at least know what planes they plan to use and maybe use the same to strike back.”

Bucky went off and searched the offices, finding many scientists hiding behind desks and counters. All of them valued their lives enough to download everything on a thumb drive for him, while he watched carefully.

Wanda stopped on her way to the safe room and looked around. She smirked and waved her hand, ripping a computer bank and desk into the air and tossing it away with a flick of her fingers.

Maria Rambeau was on the floor on her hands and knees. She had been hiding under the desk that held the computers.

“If it isn’t the bad penny.” Wanda said humorously. “Turning up again. Look who it is, Yelena. It is Monica’s mom. Do you think she still has psychologists figuring out if Wanda Maximoff has daddy issues or is just a manipulative whore? Are you ever going to invite your friend Carol Danvers out to play? After absorbing Vision’s energy I could use another rush. Fury has her number, right?”

Maria felt Wanda invade her mind and clutched her head, wanting to dig her brain out. Then it suddenly stopped.

“Leave her Yelena. She was lured here under false pretenses and has no desire to protect the woman or fight us.”

Yelena sighed. “Lucky lady. Few survive an encounter with her twice. The next time we see you, consider yourself dead. Say hello to your daughter from us. Tell her our pooches still want to play with her sometime.”

Wanda ripped the door to the safe room open. Val was backed in a corner, shaking, her eyes wide and her hands in front of her as if to defend herself.

“Fontaine.” Wanda greeted her. “We’ve never met. Let me introduce myself in my own special way.”

Wanda ripped into the woman’s head. Val fell to her knees, grabbing her head, pulling out her hair and gnashing her teeth. Then she began to scream.

Wanda stopped her invasion and watched the woman completely collapse to the ground.

“She gave Agent Peyton money to do as he pleased. He used that money to buy two little girls from Dreykov. It’s a shame. She had been looking for mind controlled black widows to rescue and she had two right under her nose.”

Yelena raised an eyebrow. “And why would she do that? Out of the goodness of her black heart?”

“She wanted to manipulate us into believing she was a friend. Everett wouldn’t play ball so she needed someway in. You were right. She tried to take Everett. Her henchman won’t answer her call so it is likely Agatha reached him in time.”

Yelena shook her head. “Of course I am right. When will you understand? What else has she done?”

Wanda snorted. “Let’s just say she makes you and I look like saints.”

Yelena watched the woman climb to her knees, pale and shaking. Then she vomited.

“That was gross. I hate vomit. Now what do we do to her? I need to get out of this room. The smell… ugh.” Yelena complained.

Wanda looked at her for a moment, wondering if she should rip her apart and decided against it. “She is going to take a ride with us. I have so much planned for her. Are you going to stand up, Val, or do I need to make you?”

Val stood slowly with her hands in the air.

“We can talk about this. I had no way of knowing…”

“Did you, or did you not order the murder of a Romanian government employee?”

“He had a friendship with China that we couldn’t let stand!”

Wanda nodded. “So you decided since you didn’t like what was happening in another country, you would take matters into your own hands. Much as I am doing now. Fair is fair. Did you fund the man who bought two girls and used one to kill multiple people on a train, while the other one killed the man you decided couldn’t live?”

“I didn’t know!”

“Did you fund him?!” Wanda yelled.

“Yes! I did! I employ many people who carry out my orders! Every government does! Do you think your precious Sokovia is any different!?”

Wanda nodded. “There is big difference. If Sokovia did this to the United States your country would declare war on my home. Here however, you expect no repercussions. If you don’t like the decision another country makes, you kill as many people as necessary until you get your way with no consequences. That changes now. We are the consequences.”

Val sighed. “You think you and a band of less than forty assassins can fight wars? Not even you are that powerful.”

Wanda looked around the wrecked area. “We are doing well so far. Don’t fool yourself. No one is going to war for you. You will be replaced tomorrow and forgotten. It is time for your ride. After you.”

When they stepped outside, they heard four fighter jets closing in on their location quickly, no doubt to drop bombs.

Wanda shot multiple bursts of energy from her fingers that struck all four, disintegrating missiles and wings.

Four pilots ejected from the planes that no longer had wings, without ever having shot a missile or dropped a bomb.

“I do believe they were going to bomb us. So much for you mattering, Fontaine.” Yelena said. “They are more concerned about the information we have and making sure you won’t talk, rather than your life. It sucks to feel meaningless, doesn’t it?”

Wanda waved her hand and the cloaked quinjet appeared.

They walked inside, Bucky taking the rear with a computer drive holding top secret information and plans for the next three generations of American weapons technology.

Val was thrown to the floor by Wanda while Yelena piloted the jet into the sky.

“You will never get away with this. Even if they don’t care about me and the secrets I know, they cannot sit back and show weakness. You attacked a highly secured base and stole secrets. You pushed a bully into a mud puddle in front of his friends. If they don’t strike back, they look weak.”

“And if they do strike back, they have to admit that three people invaded their highly secure secret base and took you and everything else they wanted while destroying platoons, armored vehicles, helicopters and jets. Not a good look for them. Bucky, would you keep an eye on her? I need to make a personal call.”

Wanda sat upfront with Yelena and buckled herself in, then relaxed.

Her body slumped and her astral projection traveled to the White House’s situation room.

She stayed invisible listening to panicking generals, advisors, the President and the Vice President, argue back and forth as reports and video from the base they had just destroyed came in.

“The video shows the War Machine armor is gone!” One uniform said. “The best weapon we had that could attack globally in minutes with incredible power is no more. Maximoff has Fontaine and probably has every secret the United States has on weapon technology!”

Another in a uniform spoke up. “Mr. President, you cannot resign this afternoon. The Executive Branch cannot be in turmoil right now. Europe is turning against us. The United Nations expects us to testify on the matter, the European Union is calling for blood and the International Court is opening an investigation. Romania is asking the European Union to levy economic sanctions against us. We have to remain united. After the Thaddeus Ross situation, we are weaker than ever before and this is a disaster we cannot afford.”

The President held his head in his hands, frustrated. “How can a bunch of teenage girls cause so much damn trouble?! Maximoff is powerful but this goes beyond enhanced abilities! Enhanced we can handle. We could turn the opinion of the world against her, play on the average man’s fear of those more powerful. This is worse! Gathering our top secret intelligence, our plans for weapons, shaking the foundations of our government, where does it stop?! Who is doing this? Maximoff never finished grade school! Our profilers say she likely has the education of a ten year old and is probably illiterate!”

A man in a suit cleared his throat.

“Mr. President, Yelena Belova may be a teenager but she was a black widow and leads other black widows. They were more than trained assassins. They were spies. Judging by her actions and leadership role she is a brilliant tactician. It is likely Belova is calling the shots. During the Cold War, the Black Widow program was considered one of the greatest threats to the free world, supposedly able to topple governments with ease. It seems that hasn’t changed, even if they have rebranded. Belova is hitting us where it hurts in every area.”

“Damn Russians.” The President mumbled. “Why did the Black… or Red Widows attack the CIA team to begin with? They have been claimed and all but announced an official partnership with Sokovia. Why care about Romania? We know the Romanians didn’t take those agents.” he pointed out.

The men looked at each other in the room then all turned their attention to the CIA Deputy Director in charge of field operations.

“Fontaine gave these agents money and told them to operate on their own with no association to the CIA. She didn’t expect them to keep incriminating evidence in the event she burned them. She was too confident in being obeyed. The man, code named Peyton, made an arrogant and fatal mistake. He bought two mind controlled twelve year old black widows from Dreykov before his death. He used the girls to do his dirty work, including planting the bomb and the murder. The Red Widows found out and rescued the girls while killing everyone involved. Finding black widows is the reason for everything they do. It has led them to attacking organized crime, HYDRA cells, A.I.M. and Osborn and even a prison in Iran of all places. All of their actions have sprung from saving enslaved widows. They never came after our government because they never had a reason to until now.”

“I would say making us look like fools and murderers by exposing Thaddeus Ross would be coming after us.” A general spoke up.

“That was Maximoff’s vengeance against the man who killed her parents and friends. We were just caught in the crossfire. The Romanians were given documents proving the cell was responsible. They know about the girls and didn’t mention them or the Red Widows. They have no plans to. The Red Widows are getting away with this one clean and they don’t care because they don’t care about publicity.”

The President groaned. “Can we use that to shift the blame to them? Maybe we can tell the world they were behind the attacks. Romania may know better but it could cause confusion. If we can prove the Red Widows attacked and killed Peyton and then attacked one of our bases, we could shift opinions and make the Romanians look like liars who are coming after us with the Red Widows help.”

The CIA deputy director of operations actually laughed. “Maximoff and the Red Widows are the heroes of Europe. They see Wanda Maximoff as a savior and protector against American imperialism and Yelena Belova is considered a hero in Europe, sort of like a European Jesse James. If we attempt to defame them, we will look bitter and pathetic. We have lost credibility. Romania can simply say they had an agreement with the Red Widows to take down the cells and publicly thank them for working with their country. They claim the humble Red Widows did not want credit but it was time for the record to be set straight. The Red Widows become the team that took out United States sanctioned terrorists in Europe and rise in fame while our public morale at home is even lower.

“The Avengers are gone. Our heroes are Iron Man who many Americans still believe was in league with Ross and some vigilantes who never leave New York. Captain America has disappeared but now that we have proof the Winter Soldier is with them, we have to consider the very real possibility that Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers are part of their organization. It is also likely they have a partnership through Agent Ross with Wakanda.”

A general winced and continued the train of thought. “We also can’t admit that three of them took out our most secure secret base which we can’t admit exists. We give up the existence of the base and admit to the world that we couldn’t stop Maximoff and two others from leveling it and going through our best special forces soldiers like they were puppies.”

The President sighed. “Any suggestions at all, anyone?”

“I can make some suggestions.” Wanda told them, appearing in the room.

The men literally jumped when they saw her standing against the back wall, wearing what Rhodes had referred to as her super suit, red crown in place and her eyes glowing red.

“How did you get in here?” the President asked having thought the bunker under the White House was unbreachable.

Wanda smiled warmly.

“You have no idea of who you are dealing with. You have no idea what I am capable of, but I know what you are capable of. Would you like a demonstration? I can make nuclear ballistic missiles disappear with a thought. We can bring down your government in a day. Unfortunately, I have learned recently that your complete fall would severely damage the world economy. I can make you very weak though. Would you like to hear my suggestions or do you need evidence of my true power?”

The President tried to maintain his composure. “What is it you want from us?”

“I want nothing you can offer. Your CIA director funded terrorists who used two little girls to commit the violent acts. They bought little girls who were mind controlled. Then, they psychologically manipulated them into submission when the drug wore off. Do you know what we do to organizations who do that to former black widows, especially children?”

The President nodded. “I have read the briefings.”

“No one is above our law. Not the rich and not governments. We have not attacked your country until we have been provoked. My suggestion would be to check all your closets and make sure there are no skeletons. If Peyton knew how to buy girls from Dreykov, I doubt he was the only agent with that knowledge and lack of morals or conscience. We will be looking at you as well. The next time this happens, we will do much worse than bring in a CIA director. We will destroy the United States government no matter what it does to the world economy, not by violence but by exposing every dirty secret you have to the world. We will make your weapons disappear into thin air. We will make your public turn against you. Do not test us.”

“We don’t like being threatened.” One of the Generals said, trying to sound authoritative.

“And I don’t like children being bought and used.” Wanda countered. “I didn’t like years of bloodshed in my streets. I didn’t like bombs dropped on my home. I think I have been more than reasonable by only taking Thaddeus Ross down to this point. I could have done much worse and you all know it. My second suggestion is you do not mention our little foray into your base. If you do I will tell the world of our reasons and they will know how weak you are. I will give the data I collected to every news agency in the world. I am taking the CIA director to Romania right now. I’ve taken her secrets from her head. Be thankful she will be too insane to spill your secrets to the Romanians. If you retaliate, try to keep widows from us, threaten my country or do anything to anger us we will be at war and you will find how truly powerful and vindictive we can be. Do you understand?”

A general opened his mouth but the Vice President raised his hand to stop him. “We understand. Is this over now? You have what you want. I don’t want this to carry on. You have her. Can we leave each other alone? I have no desire to retaliate. I just want this over.”

Wanda met the man’s eyes, satisfied with the desperation she saw there. “I understand you are taking over today. I will be watching you. We can leave each other in peace for now. Come after me or keep black widows from us and we won’t be as reasonable next time.”

“We understand. If we find any black widows, how can we contact you?”

“Let the Sokovian President know. He can get in touch with me. I will take it from there. I think this concludes our business.”

Wanda almost returned to her body but stopped.

“By the way I am working on eleventh grade algebra and science and read and write two languages proficiently. That’s one more language than most of you assholes know.”

Wanda disappeared and woke once more in the jet by Yelena’s side.

“Do I want to know how many barriers your broke today?” Yelena asked.

Wanda smiled. “Not drinking and your mother’s cooking are making me stronger. Sex is great for my cardio as well. I have to start breaking barriers, Yelena. I need to be better, more in control of my powers and accepting of them. We both know something is coming. The Infinity Stones still call to me in my sleep. Maybe not today or tomorrow but one day something big and bad is coming and holding myself back is not going to stop it. It’s not going to stop him.”

Yelena wanted to chastise her but she knew Wanda was right. Wanda worried about this Thanos character and these Infinity Stones constantly and knew if anyone gathered enough of them, she would need all her power to defeat them. Strange had the time stone and Wanda had the power of the Mind Stone and Chaos magic. If anyone got the four remaining Stones, they would be a force that could challenge her. She could not hold back. The fight with Vision would look like child’s play compared to what this Thanos character could do if he had four stones. With only two on Earth the rest were out of their reach.

“Everett is on his way to the Mansion. Natasha and the girls have entered Ohio. Dani and Zarola are enroute to Wakanda” Yelena told her.

Wanda was satisfied to hear that. After the tracking spell to find Val, they attempted a spell to find Melina. Val’s spell was difficult because they had nothing that was precious to her. They managed to find her though. The spell to find Melina was just as difficult but they found the general area. When Nat saw it was Ohio, she knew exactly where to go. Naomi, Ava, Bea, Ingrid and Steve had traveled with her.

“How are the youngest girls?” Wanda asked, referring to the new children.

“The twins aren’t talking much and are staying glued to each other. Sierra is doing as expected. Tonya will drink through a straw but does not make eye contact and still hasn’t eaten. The twins won’t let Oksana treat them. They keep asking for you.”

“Me?” Wanda was a little surprised considering they wouldn’t let her heal their wrists.

Yelena nodded. “All they say when she approaches is Wanda, Wanda, and run to a corner. Staci and Aino can coax them out but they won’t let anyone touch their wrists even to put ointment on them.”

Wanda took a deep breath. “Then I suppose we should hurry to drop her off in Romania. Let me get her ready.”

Wanda walked to the back where Val sat on a bench seat with Bucky across the way.

“Did your meeting go well?” he asked.

Wanda nodded. “I think for my first diplomatic meeting with the United States President and his advisors it was a success. They at least know my grade level now.”

Bucky laughed and motioned towards Val who was sitting quietly on a bench.

“What are we doing with her?”

“Dropping her off in Romania. No need to worry though, Valentina. You won’t be talking to them. I doubt they will even bother torturing you. You probably won’t care that you are in a cell for the rest of your life.”

“Why?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“You have always gotten what you wanted in life. La Contessa. Did you know that Buck? We have Spanish royalty on board.”

Bucky whistled. “I’m very impressed. Was I supposed to bow?”

Wanda smirked. “She grew up very privileged. She has always been given what she wants and always been in control. She craves control. She wants to control others more than she wants anything else. She has wealth and status already but control is so much harder to gain and sweeter. She is also a traitor.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow. “A traitor? Do tell.”

“She has sold out her country many times. She knew who HYDRA operatives were in the CIA and SHIELD and rather than exposed them, used the knowledge to further her own goals through blackmail. She also knew what politicians were in HYDRA’s pocket and said nothing, once again blackmailing to ensure she rose to the top of the intelligence community. The only thing she has ever done in her life that didn’t involve her gaining more power was marrying Everett Ross. She truly loved him for a brief time but when she realized he wouldn’t be controlled, she left him.”

Bucky shook his head. “Glad you aren’t like that, Doll.”

Wanda raised an eyebrow. “I thought we had that discussion. Do not call me pet names when I am intimidating someone. Do you remember my grumpy old man?”

Bucky winced at the reminder and gave her a thumbs up. Wanda turned her attention back to Fontaine.

“Where was I? Right, control. I think it is time you see life from the other side. I think you should experience the rest of your life, seeing and feeling what those little girls felt their entire lives. You are going to know what it is like to be controlled, beaten, told when and what to eat, told when to go to the bathroom, told when to exercise, when to sleep and handcuffed to a bed at night. You are going to feel what it is like to be completely at someone’s mercy for the rest of your life.”

Val shook her head frantically. “Please don’t do this! Kill me!”

Wanda’s eyes glowed red and she placed her hand on the woman’s forehead.

Val screamed then her eyes glazed over. She crawled to the floor in a fetal position and closed her eyes, whimpering, her nightmare having begun and never escaping until the end of her days.

Embry Ohio

Reaper 3 hovered three thousand feet above the suburban area, waiting for the sun to completely set. The widows were silent. Their minds were on the girls back home, essentially the babies who made their youngest look old.

Especially Tonya.

Tonya was why they were here. Oksana needed the formula for Melina’s drug to make a new antidote and pull her out of the haze she had been in.

Nat was determined Melina was coming with them, whether she wanted to or not.

Melony and Alex Harmon were a self-employed couple who ran an internet marketing business from their home. They had recently moved into the neighborhood and were members of the homeowners association. Alex was a member of the local golf club and they both hosted regular barbecues for their neighbors.

The more Nat dug the sicker she became. She knew enough.

Steve was in the back of the jet looking at a datapad. He had worn his black suit that had been made in Wakanda with the retractable wrist shield that was essentially a large triangle with a very sharp end. He had been watching the video on that datapad for the last hour and his frown had not gone away.

Nat walked over and had a seat next to him.

“You okay?”

Steve huffed and shrugged.

Nat took the pad from him that showed the video from Yelena and Bucky’s uniforms as they raided the base.

“I’m just trying to figure out how many soldiers they killed who were doing their jobs.”

Nat shook her head. “Steve…”

“The kids had no choice! They had to follow orders!”

“So did the teenage soldiers that were killed in Rwanda.” Nat told him.

Steve jerked his head up. “What?”

“The soldiers that were killed in Rwanda. They were taken as kids and psychologically manipulated to follow orders. They truly never had a choice. You didn’t have a problem killing them.”

Steve shook his head. “I don’t like killing anyone!”

“But I didn’t see you watching the video over and over or crying over them when it was done. They let the ones who gave up, run. The jets could have been blown up…”

“Yelena thought killing two pilots in the chopper with an RPG was cool!”

Nat snapped. “Who the hell did you think you were getting involved with!? Damn it, Steve, we have talked about this. You had no problem with their targets or methods until the targets were close to home! If that had been any other country you wouldn’t have given a damn!”

“Yes, I would! Parents are going to be getting flags, Nat!”

“And the parents of those kids in Rwanda who lost them as kids won’t get anything! Those prison guards in Iran probably had families to. Having a red, white and blue flag doesn’t grant them immunity any more than having a Oscorp trademark granted Osborn and A.I.M. immunity. Did seeing those little girls not make that clear? This is war!”

Steve leaned back and closed his eyes. “I thought you wanted things to be different?”

“I did. I wanted the girls to start taking care of themselves, trying to protect their youngest, and they have. Things are better. But did you think we would ever stop them from going after the ones who steal kids and turn them into slaves, weapons, sex objects, like what happened to them? They are violent, Steve. Wanda and Yelena are very violent. It’s built into them. At least they use that violence for something good. They aren’t contract killers, or muscle for criminals. They do good work.”

Steve said nothing.

Nat leaned back, mimicking his position. “If you want to leave, I understand. You don’t have to be a part of this anymore. I love you but I won’t ask you to stay.”

“But you wouldn’t come with me.” he said.

Nat shook her head. “After what I have seen… what has happened to these girls and the girls still out there… I believe in what they are doing. Their methods can be extreme but I promise you, the United States is going to look very hard at their agents after today and any girls found under their control will be released quickly. Whether you like it or not a statement was made and it won’t be forgotten.”

“And if they make a statement in return?”

Nat paused for a moment. She had thought of this. She had thought of nothing but this since Yelena said she was taking a trip with Wanda and Bucky.

“Steve, you have listened around the house. You know what I know. There is more to Wanda than her powers we have seen. More than we know. She is scary powerful and the world is figuring it out. I saw the video. She made guns disappear. She made Rhodes’s armor crumble with a touch. She couldn’t do that a week ago. Who knows what she can do next week. She doesn’t turn twenty for three more months. Just be glad she is using that power for something good. We could barely handle her and Pietro when we first encountered them. Truthfully she beat each of us except for Clint and really scrambled Bruce’s brain. She is a lot more powerful now. You have influence on her. She will listen to you but she won’t stop her mission for you. I won’t leave. I won’t leave Stannic and I won’t abandon the mission. I don’t want you to go but I don’t want you to stay if your conscience can’t take it. I don’t want you to compromise who you are. I love who you are.”

Steve shook his head. He wouldn’t leave. He believed in their mission as well. He wanted to be with Nat and was attached to Stannic. He was proud of Wanda and what she had built.

He never had to face a hard truth like he did today. Going against Rwandans should have been no different. They were given orders but they were protecting a monster so he fought through them. The soldiers today… he needed time to process it.

“I’m not going anywhere. I just hope it doesn’t… I hope they don’t give anymore reason… I jut hope its over. HYDRA and organized crime is easier to go after. Maybe if I had went with them…”

“No!” Nat snapped. “That would have been a disaster. They did what had to be done. They made a statement and took a very bad woman in. They guaranteed the U.S. would make sure black widows would never be used by them again. You would have gotten in the way and Wanda would have…”

Steve waited.

“Wanda would have what?”

“She would have thrown you in the desert with the rest of your precious soldiers.” Ava said, walking up to the pair. “Sun is down, How are we doing this, Red 1?”

Nat stood up and addressed her team. “The formula isn’t enough. She comes with us. We can’t take the chance of her lying and with Wanda present she won’t be able to. Ingrid find a vantage point across the street from the front of the house. Bea, you have the backyard. Ava, Steve and I will approach the front door. We will kick the door in. Bea, if she runs I will give word. Steve can handle Alexei. Whatever we do, make sure she is hobbled, not dead.”

“And if Alexie tries to escape or gets past Steve?” Ingrid asked.

Nat thought of the man who had raised her for the few years she had been released from the Red Room for an undercover mission. She thought of the holidays, the Christmases and birthdays with empty boxes, the denials every time she asked for help running away with Yelena. She thought of a needle in her neck on a runway in Cuba while he told her it would be okay.

“If he runs from the house put a bullet into his head. Same for you Bea. Naomi will be cover from above.”

Ingrid grinned in approval but said nothing.

Nat looked once more at Steve. “You up for this?”

He nodded and kissed her. The jet dropped in altitude. When the door opened he jumped out. The four widows grabbed lines and rappelled to the street.

Nat motioned for Ingrid and Bea to take up positions. The two moved quickly and confirmed when they were in place.

Steve and Ava stepped beside her.

“Ava, put your helmet up.”

Ava did as told without complaint, something Nat still wasn’t used to. None of them had questioned her decisions.

The trio walked up the sidewalk. Halfway to the house, Nat and Ava reached for their weapons as the door slowly opened.

Melina was in the door with Alexei behind her.

“Welcome. I expected to see you one day. I hoped maybe Yelena would have come with you. I see you brought others. Something tells me you didn’t come back home to introduce the boyfriend to the parents.”

Melina’s American accent set Nat on edge immediately. It reminded her of the last time they lived in this house.

“If you aren’t here to say hello and your friend hasn’t shot me yet, I assume you are here for something else. Come in. I just made a fresh pot of coffee.”