Chapter 8

                                    

                                          
 "So, the siblings," I started, tilting my head in Steve's direction as I sat down across from him. I had a feeling he would be the most open with me. My suit had been stowed away in a corner, leaving me in just the athletic leggings and shirt I had worn inside. Not practical for a fight, I was just realizing, but I doubted there would be an emergency. "Who are they?" The super soldier adjusted himself in his seat.
                          
"Wanda and Pietro Maximoff," he answered with a nod. "Sokovia. Their parents died in a bombing when they were ten, and they've been on the streets since."
                          
"That's awful," I commented, my eyes drifting over to where my father was sitting. That could have been me... I think. I knew he had taken me in, but everything went fuzzy when I tried to think of anything past living in the tower.
                          
"It is," Steve agreed, following my gaze curiously. "There's footage of them in riots, but what was most recent was their cooperation with HYDRA." The way he said the organization's name sent a chill through me. I had heard of it several times from Dad, but it was hitting differently. "They signed up for human experimentation along with several others, but they were the only ones who survived. She can manipulate energy and read minds while he has super speed." Ultron's line about her not being able to read his mind finally made sense.
                          
"What would happen if Ultron paired up with them?" I asked Steve slowly, trying to make it sound like a theory rather than a fact only I knew. He bristled at the idea.
                          
"Not good," he shook his head. "Definitely not good." I nodded, keeping a neutral expression on my face. "You do know it's gonna be dangerous."
                          
"I don't think I'm considered in Ultron's equation," I lied, my words easily rolling off my tongue like I had done it a million times. "He spared my life during the fight at the Tower. Maybe I'm not a threat."
                          
"Makes sense," he commented, but the look in his eyes said otherwise. My words, after all, made sense for someone who was new and innocent to all this superhero stuff. Any person my age would believe it, but I knew better. Ultron wanted me to come, and now so did the Maximoff siblings. "I'm gonna give Clint a hand. You want to join me?"
                          
"I'm good," I shook my head. The supersoldier smiled, standing up from his seat and walking over to his teammate. My father took his place, and I leaned my head on his shoulder. My glasses were almost hanging off my nose, but I didn't care. "So what do I do now?"
                          
"You stick with the plan, that's what," Dad sighed, pushing my glasses up for me with his pointer finger. "No funny business, no nothing. I'll have a heart attack if anything happens to you."
                          
"If I didn't look similar to you, you'd be getting questioned left and right, wouldn't you?"
                          
"Like I haven't been questioned enough already," he grumbled quietly, setting his head on my own. "The story's been that you were conceived during my 'glory days' and when your dear mother passed away, I took you in. Pepper was fine with it and we kept you out of public to avoid publicity."
                          
"You're okay with lying to your friends?" I asked him, my eyelids growing heavy on his shoulder. I wasn't falling asleep, but it was a simple way to rest and not invite anyone else to talk to me.
                          
"Not really, I'd like to think we don't keep secrets from each other. A little lie won't hurt my reputation too much."
                          
   "We've got you cornered now." I shook fearfully, pressing my back into a corner as two men prevented me from leaving the alleyway. "Wa-Haw- HYDRA will be thrilled." It was like my memory was glitching as it tried to recall what had happened.
                          
 "I'm sorry," I sputtered, tears clouding my eyes. "I'll be good, I promise. Just leave me alone!" The man who spoke before laughed, whipping a pistol out from his side and pointing it at me. I ducked down, pulling my arms over my head to brace myself from the coming pain, but I felt nothing. The sounds of metal and shouts full of anger and pain filled my ears. I lifted my head when they faded away, shrinking more into the corner as a red and gold colored suit replaced the two men who had almost killed me. I screamed, using my powers to slam him to the side of a wall with a wave.
                          
 "God damn- hey, kid!" The face of the suit opened up, revealing a middle aged man with dark facial hair. Panic was etched across his face. "I'm not with them! Want to let me down now?!?" I managed to piece his identity after hearing his voice, lowering my hands and stepping closer to him. The water that had been holding him in place fell to the ground with a loud splash.
                          
 "You're... you're Tony Stark."
                          
 "Um, yeah! What are you doing out here, kid?"
                          
 "Hiding," I admitted, glancing at my hands before rubbing them against each other nervously. "Didn't really work though. How do I know you aren't lying?"
                          
 "Listen, kid," Tony started exasperatedly. "I work solo. Not a team person... however, I might make an exception." I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms against my chest uneasily. "You said you want to hide. I'll assume all these people who've been creating a shit ton of mess around my tower have been trying to find you. Let's say I make it look like you aren't here anymore and you stay far from where they can get you. Deal?"
                          
 "What's in it for you?"
                          
 "Someone to hang out with who I didn't employ." I couldn't help but laugh at his comment. "So what do you say, miss..."
                          
 "Isabel," I nodded, shaking the hand he had extended towards me. "Let's do it."
                          
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"Guys, is this a Code Green?" Bruce asked, pressing a finger over his earpiece. We had been sitting and waiting for almost two hours, not even speaking to each other from the stress of wondering what was going on. There must have been a yes, because he pushed the button to open the jet hatch. He must have been really worried, as he didn't notice me follow behind him quietly. I didn't get an earpiece of my own, so I took it that if Banner went, I went. Not that my father would enjoy that idea.
                          
Bruce hadn't even touched the grass when the girl from my dream slid up from the side, her fingers emitting red energy. Wanda. I froze in my tracks, ducking so she couldn't see me. Banner roared loudly, and I knew that he had turned into the Hulk. Enraged, he stomped away before running with another yell. Forget everyone else; Banner was compromised and therefore a threat. Wherever he was heading meant trouble.
                          
"Where is she?" Wanda muttered, her voice thick similar to a Russian accent. "He promised... Sunt un idiot." Her boots made soft thudding noises against the floor of the Quinjet, and I could almost feel the red aura coming from her. She was looking for me. The movements stopped. "I know you're in here. I can feel you... hear you."
                          
"Feel this!" I don't know what possessed me, but I stood up from my hiding space and thrust my hands forward, sending a jet of water in her direction. Wanda turned around, a happy look on her face before she yelped and ducked. I took it as my chance to run out of the jet, following the footprints Hulk had left behind. They were leading to a city...
                          
"Stop! Ga-" I threw another jet, preventing her from finishing her sentence. All I could think about was that many people were about to get hurt.