The Avengers compound was one of the most secure buildings anywhere; maybe even more so than a few of the highest-level government buildings around the world. The sleek design of the building itself left few hiding places or hidden corners, each room sparsely decorated as if for this purpose rather than just minimalist choice. You had done just enough homework on the facility to get your mission completed, and now as you stood behind it, shrouded in the dark of night, you felt that you were as prepared as you would ever be. You really had no other choice.

Your left hand held a crumpled and worn picture of your little brother in happier times, much happier times, before your parents abandoned you with their Hydra buddies for a little extra cash. Long before they had ruined the innocence of his age, and before they made you into this thing that you were now. You hadn't felt like yourself in years; it had been so long since you had been called by your real name that you held no association with it anymore and it didn't even feel as if it were yours to claim. But every now and again, that name would slip through his lips when you were allowed to see him, and you would force a smile for his sake.

It scared you to think about the day coming when he would be transformed, made into the weapon that you had become, and that fear is what had you standing here now. If you did this, they would leave him alone for a little longer. They would keep him free of the pain that you had willingly taken in his place, even though it likely meant more for you. At this point, you had decided that it wouldn't matter, because it was just one more thing to endure in a long list of what was yet to come.

You quickly folded the picture and shoved it into your boot, taking your knife from its sheath to fill your empty hand. Closing your eyes, you saw the blueprints of the compound in your mind, deciding on your first target and planning the cascade of who would be next after each of them. You pushed your mind to hone in on your first visit to be made, and when you opened your eyes again, you were standing at the bedside of a sleeping Sam Wilson, your blade almost touching his throat.

"INTRUDER ALERT!" FRIDAY's voice boomed throughout the room, it's walls now illuminated in the bright red lights of the warning to the team. Sam almost made the fatal mistake of jumping up too quickly, but the cold metal that just barely pierced his skin stopped him.

"You don't want to do that," he warned quietly, holding his breath as to not move. His eyes had gone from sleepily content to filled with the rush of adrenaline in a blink.

"It's not a matter of want, Mr. Wilson."

"Then you don't have to do this either. Whoever it is that's controlling you, we can keep them away from you."

"Wrong again," you answered, "I do have to do this."

He must have picked up on the slightest movement of your hand as you prepared to swipe the blade over his throat, because he was able to shift quickly enough to knock you back a step, but not so quickly that he didn't suffer a long gash across his collarbone. At the sight of his blood beginning to spill, you hoped that it was enough, and before he could stand to reach for you again, you moved on to your next target as fast as you could now that FRIDAY had given you away.

When you materialized in Clint Barton's room, you left just as quickly, finding yourself on the receiving end of an arrow ready to fire.

"Guys, she can teleport!" he announced to warn the others, rushing out into the hallway fully armed and desperately searching in each direction. Since your attack was happening in the middle of the night, FRIDAY had opened the communicators throughout the building, blending everyone's voices together in a frantic mess. "Call out if you see her, otherwise shut it!"

Steve was the first to actually get a hand on you when you showed up next to his bed; he kept his position there to draw you in, and when you appeared from thin air he was thankful for the quick reflexes that allowed him to grab your hand before your knife plummeted into his chest. You had come so close to success, in fact, that his breathing shallowed to avoid the point touching his skin.

"Who sent you?"

"Who sends everyone?" you hissed, unable to free yourself. "I thought you were smarter than that, Captain." With the hand that held your weapon in his unrelenting hold, you grabbed a gun from the holster on your thigh, but he slapped it away with a force that you were certain had broken your hand. His legs swung over to the edge of the bed to stand, but you faded from his view and out of his hold before his feet could touch the floor.

"I lost her!" he called out to his teammates, wishing that he knew where you would go next and feeling totally helpless. All he could do was run out into the hallway as Clint had, taking a route that would lead him from room to room to check on everyone.

"Yeah, well I found-" Natasha added, but her voice was cut short by the sound of a gunshot.

"No! Nat!" Steve panicked, rushing towards her room. He slammed the door open with a force that ripped it from the frame and threw splintered wood across the floor, only to find you already gone once again. When his feet stopped at the sight of her on the far side of the room, she was slumped down against the wall, but awake and holding her shoulder just above her heart.

"I think she missed because I'm not dead," she gasped, grimacing at the pressure she was using to stop the bleeding. "She was right next to me, Steve. She shouldn't have missed."

"You think she's changing her mind?"

"I don't know, but we can't afford to be wrong. Go, get her. I'm okay."

Without drawing attention to herself, Wanda had kept silent thus far, tracking you as best as she could with the images she could keep up with in her mind. She was close to breaking into your thoughts, but every time you dematerialized she would lose you and have to start over. You weren't difficult to distinguish from the others, however; even amidst the terror that you were inflicting, you were the only one in the entire building who was afraid. With each appearance, your fear had grown and was making her accuracy sharper.

The next room you visited was probably the worst decision of all, and you had originally planned for him to be last. You had planned to try to talk him into coming with you, as a negotiation ploy that Hydra would never be able to refuse. If you walked through their doors with the Winter Soldier in tow, they would let you and your brother go without question. You had hoped that a good sob story would appeal to his compassion, but now that you were standing face-to-face and looking into his eyes, you were almost mute under the intensity of his presence. He was just as terrifying as the stories made him sound, and he had yet to say a word to you.

"Don't," he finally said quietly. "Whatever it is that you're going to do...just don't."

"You understand...you know..." you stammered quietly, your nerves taking the strength from your voice, "you know what they do...when we don't comply."

"Let me help you."

"I have to protect him."

"Who? Who are you protecting?"

"I have to do this..." you continued, raising your shaking hand with weapon drawn. "I have to."

Bucky stood steady, his eyes still as they stared at you. He didn't even look at the gun aimed at him to know where the bullet would strike, and he made no effort to get out of the way. "So do it."

He took one small step forward, and then another, but his eyes never wavered from their focus. His hand slowly began to raise as he got closer to you, the moonlight shining through his window and gleaming against the metal that it was made of. You knew what that hand could do, but with the slow motion and the calmness in his gaze, you weren't scared of it. "Go on," he said, finally stopping only a few feet away, "or give me the gun and let me help you. It's your decision."

"I...I have to..."

At the slightest twitch of your finger, he lunged forward and yanked the gun from your hand, but he wasn't fast enough to get his hold on you. In the blink of an eye, you were gone.

"Dammit! She's on the move!" he called out to his team, tossing the gun to the ground and hurrying out into the hall. "She needs our help! She's not in control of what she's doing!"

"And, bingo! We have a winner!"

"Stark?" Steve replied, holding his breath to hear the only answer he wanted. He couldn't be everywhere at once and just needed this to end before luck ran out and he lost anyone. "Tony, talk!"

"I've got her cornered in the north hall, Cap, but if I zap her for much longer it might kill her. I could use some help."

"Wanda, Vision, get down there and give Tony some back up," he commanded with a thankful sigh. "Buck, see if you can get her to talk. I'm going with Barton to circle back to grab Nat and Sam then I'll be on my way."

Part 2

When Wanda and Vision arrived to assist Tony, you were barely holding onto your senses, and the strength you would need to get away was depleted. He could have stopped, he could have quieted his repulsor at any point now, and you would still be their prisoner, but he continued until his backup could make sure that you were safely detained.

"Mr. Stark, you can release your hold," Vision urged, kneeling at your side. "Her power is significantly diminished."

"Don't...don't touch me..."

"I do not wish to harm you."

"You can't help me, either."

Vision paused, looking at you with an eerie stillness; you had studied the android before this mission, or whatever he really was, but now that he was a mere few feet away, you had so many more questions. He maintained his position at your side, summoning his teammate softly to join him. "Wanda, if you would?"

She didn't move towards you right away, glancing at Tony first to find someone to disagree with Vision, but she didn't get anything from him other than a nod towards you to push her forward. She had learned a harsh lesson not that long ago, forcing her way into his mind with a terrible result, and her desire to revisit that guilt was nonexistent.

"Perhaps there is another way?" she asked him hopefully.

"You gonna talk?" Tony barked out harshly, but all you gave him in reply was your silence. "See? Do it."

"Viz, I feel that this is wrong," she whispered to him, feeling Tony's glare at her back. "We should allow her to speak when she's ready. She should be given time to rest first."

"Don't do me any favors, Miss Maximoff," you answered for him, "because I won't return them in kind. If you want in, then by all means, I dare you to try."

"You dare her?" Tony pushed forward now, as if the other two weren't even there. "Please enlighten me how you might stop her so that I can stop you first. If you don't mind."

You closed your eyes at the attitude being thrown back at you, not that it wasn't unexpected in any way. Tony Stark was the first Avenger that you had studied for this mission, and he was only moderately interesting in comparison to some of the others; he certainly wouldn't take that very well, given his textbook narcissism, so you used that to your advantage. "Tony Stark," you answered flatly, quickly interrupted, of course.

"Yeah, you know who I am."

"Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropic asshole, inherited his daddy's company and fortune after this guy," you paused, opening your eyes and pointing at Bucky, "offed him and mommy late one night while they tried to smuggle second-rate super soldier juice along a dark dirt road, like that would ever be a good idea, am I right? Then, in true traumatically regressed fashion, our young Tony would go on to spend the next couple of decades living to appease the old man's ghost and never quite getting that approval that he so desperately needs. Then, bam! In walks the defrosted Captain Rogers over there, flaunting his perfection right in Tony's face, reminding the junior Stark that this was just one more man from his past that he would never live up to, and that this immaculate specimen was the guy who had received the father's love that he would never have, and maybe didn't deserve."

Your words hit home with striking effect, literally, as the sting of Tony's hand slapped across your face to silence you.

"Tony!" Wanda objected, standing and pulling him back with all of her might. He fought her to stay close to you, his eyes filled with fire and desire to slap the smirk out of your expression as you looked back. "Please, I'll do it, alright? I'll find out everything I can. Just go with Steve. Please."

"Tony, come on," Steve readily agreed, adding his strength to the effort, "let's take a walk." He felt a slight sense of relief when Tony allowed him to lead, but he knew that this was something that wasn't going to be let go in the near future. He was trying to put on his best sympathetic air for his friend, but deep down, he was intensely curious as to what you had been ready to say about him as well.

After the two men were clear of the hallway where you had been cornered, Vision moved quickly to secure his grip on you before you could react, a gentle glow emanating from his hands to keep enough of your power drained so that you would stay immobile. He gave Wanda a nod of acknowledgement to summon her forward, even though he felt regretful of what needed to be done as much as she was.

"I am truly sorry," she prefaced, hovering her hands over you uncomfortably, "this may not be pleasant."

"Nothing ever is."

Wanda took a deep breath, holding it while the vibrant red glow began to swirl around her hands and her eyes were alight to match. You felt the essence of her mind pressing against yours, pushing against the walls that you had built with your Hydra training, but she was trained in how to break them by the same people. In any other time, you would be an even match in mental fortitude, but in your weakened state, you were just barely holding on.

"Your name is (Y/N)."

"That name means nothing," you murmured, pushing away the emotions that came with it.

"You have a brother-"

"Stop."

"They're keeping you from him-"

"I said stop," you repeated, but your fight was nothing compared to hers. "He's not your concern."

"You're here to protect him from them."

"Hey, she said to stop," Bucky interrupted, slapping her hands away to break her connection. "Don't you think that she's been through enough? You know who sent her and what they do to people. You know that she's not here because she wants to be, and rather than making her feel safe and telling her that we can help, you do shit like this?" He turned towards Vision next, feeling his adrenaline begin to surge enough to try to push him away. "Get your damn hands off her."

"He should leave them there," you insisted, "because I'm not going to stop."

"You know who I am too, right?" Bucky snapped at you. "You know what I can do? What I'm capable of? I'm sure they told you."

"They did."

"Then let me use that against them to help you. This doesn't have to be your life, and you don't have to fight us. All that I need you to do is promise me that you won't run. That's it," he practically begged, "just say that you won't run, and I'll do whatever I need to so that you and your brother are free again. Even if the rest of my team tells me not to, I'm going to be on your side if you just promise."

Your eyes must have been as big as the moon outside that was still lighting the night sky through the windows all around you; you couldn't remember the last time that anyone had said something close to saying that they cared about you or your brother, and you weren't sure how to react. It could easily be trickery on his part, but something in him told you otherwise. Maybe it was your joined Hydra history, and the knowledge that he had actually escaped that life; maybe it was the earnest look in his eyes and the steady hand extended for you to take, but no matter what it was, you found the sensation foreign. "You don't know me," you whispered, "and you have no reason to help."

"I'm an Avenger," he answered with a shrug, "it's what I do. Besides, I'll never sleep right again if I don't get a smile on that face. That's a reason to help if I've ever heard one."

You tried to weigh out what he was saying with what you knew would happen the second that Hydra knew what was being spoken of; they would kill your brother because of your insolence and you would never see him again. The stories of the Winter Soldier were legendary in the ranks that still remained, and he was easily the greatest weapon that they had ever created; he was a strange goal in skill for you to meet, but that wasn't the side of the man that you were looking at here. This version of him was purposeful and cared about what happened to you. He was a gentler man now, with a sense of responsibility and righteousness that the Soldier would never have. It was this side of Bucky that made your decision for you, as he could never do what would truly be needed to save you now; he was too soft.

He was also far too trusting; as the seconds ticked by without Vision draining your resources, you were rebuilding the energy needed to make your escape. The last thing you saw of the reality around you before you disappeared were the sad eyes of the man who had been the Soldier, and your resolve was solidified. He didn't deserve to face those people again just to save you; he had made it out, and the smallest shred of decency left within you wouldn't let you be the reason for him to go back.

~~~

"You let her get away!"

"I didn't think she would run."

"You didn't think!" Tony hissed, slamming his fist on the conference room table. "And now, if she comes back and tries this again and someone actually dies, it's on you, Barnes."

"I know," Bucky sighed, glancing over to Steve with a shameful eye. He would normally try to find support from his best friend, but in this instance, he knew that he wouldn't find it there; Steve actually agreed with Tony on this, and even though he wasn't saying it aloud, Bucky knew. "I'm going to find her, Tony. I won't stop until I do."

"How in the hell do you think you're gonna do that? She can disappear before you can get sight of her."

"I will be going along to assist," Wanda joined in. "When I was trying to track her as she moved through the building, I was able to identify her specific aura. Once I joined my mind to hers, it created a link that I can use to search for her. My scope is limited, but between the two of us, we should be able to narrow down several places to begin."

Tony was uncharacteristically silent for a moment after she stopped, letting the plan roll around in his mind before speaking again, "how is it a good idea to send two ex-Hydra operatives back into Hydra to rescue someone who doesn't want to be rescued? I say we just track her and take her so she can atone for her crimes like a good little criminal."

"How is it not a good idea?" Bucky retorted, almost getting angry at the insinuation. "I know how they work, and how to get inside to find her before they have a chance to hurt her or her brother."

"Get inside?" Steve broke in, suddenly energized at what he feared he was hearing. "Buck, what are you saying?"

Bucky turned to Wanda, exchanging a look that gave Steve the answer before they could say it. The two of them had already talked this through and had made their decisions before they had all taken their seats around the table. They had decided that they weren't going to be deterred, and that they weren't going to be swayed by threats to change their minds. They would do it on their own if they had to, and they would succeed or fail together.

"You said it yourself, Tony," Wanda answered for her teammate, "we're two ex-Hydra operatives. It should be quite easy to get our old jobs back."

Part 3

"Okay, I'll go in first," Bucky commanded to Wanda, "just hang back here until you get my signal. I'm not sure how this is actually going to go, so it's better if I try to talk to them without you. No need to put us both in a pinch if we don't have to."

Wanda watched him hide more weapons than she had ever seen one person carry into his old winter Soldier uniform, marveling at the number of secret pockets and just the sheer volume that it could hold, and that was just in the jacket. He had knives in his boots and guns in each pant leg that were ready to take with the quickest slip of his hand. He was terrifying in this persona, but not to her; she knew what he was doing, but when he walked into this Hydra base, he had to be prepared for the worst reception. "What are you going to tell them? Why would we leave the Avengers?"

Bucky stopped, looking up at her with furrowed brows at the realization that he hadn't actually thought of what words he would use. "Um...okay, how about if we say that there's too much chaos in the team now, and we refuse to be a part of it anymore. If we're defecting as vigilantes, we need protection and this made the most sense."

"I suppose that's the best we'll come up with. It's a stretch, but we'll have to make it convincing somehow."

"Okay, so stay here while I go in," he directed again, standing up from where they were hidden from view, "I'll let you know when it's okay to follow me."

"Good luck."

"Thanks, hope I don't need it," he smiled, and her heart dropped to know that it was the last smile that she would see from him for some time, and he picked up on it. "Hey, we're gonna be okay. You trust me, right?"

"I do. It's them that I have no trust for. I worry that they could gain control of us. They've had it before."

"I won't let them."

"That is another worry, Bucky," she urged, standing to meet his posture, "what are you willing to do to be sure that they don't? You aren't the Soldier anymore. What will it do to who you are now if you need to become him again? I can feel your hesitance and fear just from putting on that uniform."

"You telling me that you're not afraid?"

"For myself? No, I'm not."

Bucky's eyes widened at the cold tone that her voice had taken, and the flash of red that lit her irises just long enough to make her point. He had chosen his partner well, and the nerves that he was fighting were beginning to settle. "Shit, I don't really need all of this stuff, do I?"

"No, you do not."

~~~

About an hour later, after Bucky had entered the Hydra base to make their case to re-enter their ranks, Wanda was beginning to feel uncertain. She hadn't heard a sound from him in all of that time, and the base looked calm outwardly. If things had gone poorly, certainly she would have heard something, and it would have given her a strange sense of security in knowing that he was at least alive. She couldn't sense him when her mind searched, but there was something or someone familiar nearby. Maybe it was him, and she was misreading the feelings coming back at her. Perhaps it was someone that she had known in her past here, or maybe it was the one person that she both wanted to find and the last that she wanted to confront again.

"Maximoff."

"(Y/N). How did you know that I was here?"

"This mental link that you forced on me goes both ways, genius," you scoffed, pushing your weapon into her back. "Don't try anything."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"I knew that you were coming for me and what you have planned. He's going to get himself killed."

"He's well prepared."

"Are you so stupid as to think that they're not? I know that you've been gone for a while and have been living in that weird hero house filled with hearts and flowers and crap, but this is the real world. He's nowhere near safe."

Wanda paused, looking at the building and pushing her mind towards it with all of her strength, but she still couldn't break through whatever barrier was keeping him from her. She couldn't stop her heart from racing, her palms beginning to sweat and her breaths quickened; she knew that you were picking up on it, and that you were likely to use it against her, but her fear was becoming insurmountable without Bucky. "We have to stop him. Please, help me to stop him."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because he's here to help you," she urged, turning around to face you despite your earlier warning to hold in place. "(Y/N), please. We're here to get both of you."

"Don't lie to me."

"I promise you, I'm not. If we are linked as you believe we are, you will know that."

You did know that, you could sense it, but the Hydra way of life and penchant for brainwashing left you skeptical of your own insights. When you met her eyes, they carried a genuineness and urge for you to believe her that you tried to deny, but it was just too much. They had offered you this already, even when you were in the midst of attacking them, and now here they were, continuing to try to help when you never asked them to. You hadn't been able to get your brother out on your own, and you couldn't afford to throw away what might be your last chance.

"Can you play along?" you asked her urgently, though still skeptical.

"Yes, I will. Anything that you say, I will do." Her eyes widened just enough for you to notice when you pulled a pair of cuffs from your uniform, and she recognized them well; they weren't simply to hold her still, but to negate her powers while under your restraint. "Before I willingly let you do this to me, I require your promise as well (Y/N). We are going in to stop him before they can hurt him, not for you to give me to them."

"I won't turn you over, I promise."

"Will you protect me? You know what these will do."

"I will."

Wanda nodded gently, raising her hands up to expose her wrists, sucking in a loud breath at the draining sensation of the metal snapping around them as her abilities were silenced. She felt not only the quieting of her power, but also the break in her connection to you. She was now completely deaf to what you were thinking and feeling, and she could only rely on if you were truthful to her in gaining her trust. You pushed her slightly towards the bunker, forcing her to lead the way while you held your weapon at her back once again.

"Let me do the talking," you ordered, stopping at the door. "Not a word."

"None."

"That was a word," you replied flatly, and her expression dropped. She remained silent when you gave her your approval with the push of the door, allowing her inside to see the vast room filled with your Hydra comrades, no more than maybe ten, each of them turning to face you as the door slammed shut behind you.

"Ah, at last! You've done well," your commander greeted with a loud clap of his hands. "Strucker's finest work, back home as she should be."

You turned your head at the small gasp from only a few feet away, seeing Bucky standing with another man while he examined his metal arm for any damage since the last time he was under Hydra control. With the slightest movement in your expression, you tried to convey that you needed his silence, and thankfully, he was adept enough to catch on. "Yes, well, she claims to be here of her own free will, as the Soldier has stated," you answered. "I have her powers controlled in the event that she may be lying."

"She's not," Bucky joined in, fueling your frustration, "I told you that. We're both here by our own decision."

"Then why did you come in alone?" the man asked. "If you're both willing to return, then why the hesitation?"

"We needed to be sure that we could trust you to let us back in."

"Oh, you can definitely trust me to let you back in, Sergeant Barnes," he smiled, albeit frighteningly coldly, "but I'm not so willing for Miss Maximoff. Once we take these restraints away, who's to say that she won't end us all with a simple thought?"

"She won't," you answered for Bucky, "she's given me her word."

"You believe her?"

"Yes, I do."

The commander watched you for a moment, his gaze boring into your mind as he searched to find your own loyalty, feeling that maybe Wanda had turned you and that this was a trick. He was too smart for his own good, but you were just as committed to your own needs as he was, and he couldn't break your resolve to hold steady. "Fine," he smiled again, "I know how to find our answer." He turned towards Bucky, taking the few steps between them to close the gap and stand only inches away. "If you want to prove your loyalty to Hydra again, Soldier, then kill the witch."

Bucky's spine stiffened and panic filled his body, but he couldn't let the man see it. All he could do was to nod in agreement, pulling one of the guns from his belt and making his way across the floor to stand in front of his teammate. She didn't look scared in the least, and you admired her strength in what could be her final moment. They shared an entire conversation without saying a word as they looked at each other, and when Bucky's glance darted quickly to you, an entirely new plan was set into motion. He raised his hand to aim the weapon at Wanda, but his eyes were still on you.

Please, he mouthed silently to you, and your loyalty was immediately broken. They were treating him like a weapon, rather than as a person just as they were you, and you couldn't let it go on any longer. You couldn't let him hurt someone he cared about, and you finally believed that he wanted the same escape for you.

Your hand jutted down to the cuffs that held her, releasing them to set her free just before you dematerialized before their eyes, appearing again only seconds later behind your commander. You kicked the back of his leg to topple him to the ground, twisting his arm back as he fell with a yelp of pain. You hurried to drop your knee into his back, cranking forcefully on his shoulders with an intensity that echoed the sound of crunching bone throughout the room. "Where's my brother?"

"You'll never find him," he grunted, "and he won't go with you."

The room around you filled with a warm but eerie glow of red, and one by one each of the other Hydra men around you began to fall to the ground. The final man to give into Wanda's control was the one in your hold, and when his body grew limp and his breathing stopped, you released him to hurry to your new partners. "I can get through the building faster than either of you," you urged, "just stay here."

"(Y/N), no," Wanda argued, "let me help. Show me what he looks like and I can search with you."

"Trust us," Bucky added, grabbing your arm, "then let us take you back with us, okay? We can make this right. If not, then maybe we can at least give you something better."

"I...I do trust you...now," you answered, "but I don't have time to talk about this. Just stay here," you repeated, disappearing before they could disagree any further. You had only one goal in mind, and it was to find your brother and get him to anywhere safe before they could take your traitorous actions out on him. You could feel the picture that you carried of him shifting inside your boot as you ran and moved from room to room, imagining it in your mind to keep a happier view of him with you so you wouldn't panic about what else you might find of him. As each room came up empty, you couldn't fight away the fear that you were too late, and that they had taken him to where you would never find him; you were running out of places to look, and just as you thought you were hopeless in ever succeeding, he was right in front of you.

"Hey, sweetie, wake up, it's...(Y/N)," you said softly, choking out the name that you struggled to accept again, sliding your hands under his small frame to lift him to you. "I'm getting us out of here, okay?" Your only answer was a quiet hum in his slumber, but he curled his body towards you as you stood, wrapping an arm around your neck. "That's right, we're leaving. Just hold on to me."

You swore that you could hear the sigh of relief from both Bucky and Wanda when you reappeared in front of them, or maybe it was just that yours was so loud, but no matter who it had been from, the feeling was mutual and filled the air around you. They hurried to take a stand at your side, almost protectively, though you really had no need for it anymore. With your goal of finding him done, you weren't about to let anyone or anything stop you from leaving.

"Hang on to me," you told them quietly, "and don't let go. It'll be fast, and I'm sorry if I make you throw up."

The two Avengers threw a quick and worried glance to each other, but before either of them could protest, your group disappeared into thin air.

Part 4

Both Bucky and Wanda breathed a collective sigh of relief when they found themselves back at the compound when they materialized, but it was a short-lived celebration when Bucky doubled over and vomited, doing his best to miss your shoes but still taking out a good portion of your leg.

"I'm sorry, I warned you," you apologized, "but it'll pass quickly. Just try to breathe through it."

"Here, Bucky, let me help," Wanda offered, resting her hand against his back as he continued to retch. It was almost an immediate relief when her hand began to glow against him, but he kept his head low until he was certain that it was safe to stand up again.

"That was one hell of a ride."

"Yeah, it's taken me a long time to not yak every time I do it." You jolted at the arrival of the rest of the team barging into the room, led by Tony, of course, who seemed to be the only one still harboring resentment towards you for the whole trying to murder his team incident. Your brother shifted his weight within your arms, his eyes slowly opening for the first time since you had picked him up. He was so shocked to see the new surroundings and the new group of people that he didn't know that you nearly dropped him before he could push away and jump from your hold to land on his wobbly feet.

"Traitor!" he screamed at you, taking fumbling steps back. For a boy who hadn't reached an age of double-digits yet, his voice carried the weight of a lifetime of betrayal and pain that stabbed like a dull knife into your chest. "What did you do?! Take me back!"

"Honey, calm down," you tried softly, your hands up to try to soothe him, "listen to me, okay? That place wasn't where we belong. They weren't good people, I promise. They were going to hurt you, and I had to get you away from them."

"Take me back!"

Bucky and Wanda exchanged hesitant glances, both of them understanding the confusion he was feeling from the sudden loss of a life he had come to know, whether it was a good one or not. They had both been where he was now, and it hurt them to see someone so young experiencing what their grown hearts and minds had barely survived. Bucky was the first to make his attempt, taking a decisive step closer to the boy, but he was allowed only one before he abruptly stopped, "hey, we don't want to hurt you, okay? They've made you think that they're the right way to go, but they're not. They don't care about you."

No matter how much pain you were feeling in watching him turn against you right before your eyes, he was seemingly feeling more, as if you had ripped him from the only family he had known, even when you had been with him all along. You turned to Wanda, desperate for something or someone to help, "make him sleep," you whispered, "please."

"No!" he shouted, his pitch piercing the ears of everyone in the room, so much that they were left ringing in the seconds of his silence before he began again. "You're my mission, (Y/N)!" he screamed, barging forward with hands open to grab you, but Bucky jumped forward to take his assault. When the boy's hands connected, Bucky's body jolted and shuddered, filled with a shock that conducted through the metal of his arm and into him with a force that blinded his vision and dropped him to the floor.

"Stop! Let go!" you tried, grabbing your brother's arms to pull him back but the grip was too strong; it was as if the energy connected them and created a bond that you couldn't break.

Tony had come to this meeting prepared, of course, finding no trust in either of you and for good reason. Steve was too slow in stopping his arm from raising into the air before he could fire a blast from his gauntlet, effectively breaking the boy from his hold on Bucky, and tossing you away and into a still heap several feet away. The pure energy that you had felt from grabbing your brother felt like nothing more than an irritation compared to what Stark had just hit you with. In an instinctive move to protect yourself, you tried to teleport away but you were far too weak, and even the idea of breathing was a conscious effort as your power drained away.

"Dammit, Stark, was that really necessary?" Steve snapped, hurrying to Bucky's side to help him up while looking urgently towards you. "Wanda, lock that kid down, Barton, check on (Y/N)."

"(Y/N)?" Bucky groaned, pulling against Steve's arm and gripping his shirt to keep himself upright, his legs threatening to buckle despite the assistance. "What the hell was that? Is she okay?"

"She's down, so she's fine as far as I'm concerned," Tony hissed, his hand still raised at the ready.

"She came here so we could keep them safe, asshole, nice work," Bucky struggled, pushing himself from Steve's hold. "Let me go, Steve. I'll take her."

"You can barely hold yourself up, Buck. Clint's got her."

"I promised her that we'd help. I told her to trust us and look at what we've done. How are we supposed to convince them that we're the good guys after this, Stark?" Bucky finally broke free from his friend and promptly turned his attention to Tony. "We're no better than those bastards now. But hey, at least your suit is already red, so you should be right at home."

"Buck, come on," Steve tried, but readily failed.

"What was I supposed to do? Let that little shit kill you? You're welcome, by the way. Again."

"I didn't say thank you."

"You never do," Tony shrugged, but his voice didn't match the disinterest in his stature. He had no lack of anger at the situation, but he was more interested in keeping his eyes trained on you and your brother rather than the metal hand that was clenched into a tight fist, up until the last second before it cracked against the ridge of his cheek; it was a sound that only a fractured bone could make. Tony crumpled to his knees with his open hand up to catch the blood he coughed out, his gauntlet raised and charging with a new target.

"Guys, seriously," Clint now joined in, rushing past the duo with you in his hold, "do this later! I can't get her to open her eyes."

In seeing you lying limp across Clint's arms, Bucky felt enough energy building within himself to follow his friend out, though with a cautious and accepted hold of Steve's hand on his arm. When he took the steps forward to pass in front of Tony to reach the door, the look exchanged between the two men dropped the temperature in the room around them, and it was made perfectly, unmistakably clear to everyone, that this was far from over.

~~~

Wanda had held her post without breaks in her focus nor her strength in her power to hold even this young boy silent; no one, including you, had known what Hydra had done to him, and with him requiring the sedation, it would be hard to ever truly know. She had tried to slowly wake him once and nearly lost her control, but she would not make that mistake again. Clint had stopped by to see her after leaving you with Bruce and the medical team that he called in to treat your injury, but she was too focused to speak to him. When he brought the report back to Steve that all he heard from her was silence, he knew that would never be enough; it was only moments later that the Captain decided to get the information himself.

"Have you tried to wake him up yet?" he asked her quietly from the door, unsure if he should expect a reply.

"Once,' she mumbled, unable to deny her commander his request.

"And? How'd it go?"

Wanda allowed a gentle movement of her head to glance towards him for the quickest flash of a second before returning back to focus on your brother. She shrugged and sighed aloud, upset in her inability to do the one job that she believed she could, and equally upset in the pressure that he was putting on her just by standing in the same room. "The answer is obvious."

Steve was a remarkably astute man, taking the hint readily, "got it, I'll just go. Let me know if anything changes or if you can't do this anymore. I don't want you to feel like you can't say no." Her focus remained sharp and away from him, and her voice was again mute even to his direct question, which she hadn't ignored before. He stood and watched her for a moment before speaking again, trying to get a better read on his teammate, but she wasn't offering much anymore; she wasn't offering anything at all. "Wanda."

"Yes. I will tell you."

"No, tell me what's going on."

"Steve, I need to maintain my clarity," she explained, if for no other reason than to shut him up, "because I can't...I don't want him to wake and be afraid like that again. I don't want to release him until we know how to help."

"That's very noble, Wanda, but you're lying."

"Fine," she snapped, "I have to maintain my clarity so that I do not leave this room." She finally turned to face him fully, though her hands remained trained on the little boy as she did so. She wanted Steve to see the fire red glowing in her eyes; the red that mirrored her power, but also her rage, and how it was boiling to a point that she found difficult to maintain her hold over. "If I'm offered the right opportunity...Steve, I can't guarantee that I can hold back from going after Tony for what he did. Neither of them deserve what's happened here."

"He was doing what he thought was right. He was protecting his team."

"And that is a valid cause for absolution?"

"It's a reason to consider forgiveness, Wanda. It's also up to these two to decide if they're willing to offer it, not us. It's also up to them to decide if they want our help, and for us to decide if we're in over our heads."

Part 5

"Hey, kid," Bucky whispered, sitting at your side in the infirmary, "you took that hit like a boss."

Your eyes opened just a flicker when you heard him sit down, but at the sound of his voice, you opened them fully to bring yourself to your senses and to bring yourself into the moment. The forced sleep that you had just experienced was not what you would call refreshing, by any means, but it did re-energize your power enough to give you hope that you could use it if needed. Pushing yourself up to look your guest in the eye, your head swayed and spun a bit at the shift, and your answer came fast enough; you tried and failed to teleport away, and were stuck. "Where is he?"

"He's asleep."

"He's asleep, or he's sedated?"

"Difference?"

"Please, don't try to humor me into feeling better," you scoffed, finally lying back against the pillow with a heavy drop. The man actually was welcome company, and he had his moments, but you were just scared and exhausted and just so done.

"Hey, I can't rely on my good looks for everything."

"Right."

"Ouch, (Y/N), just stab me in the heart, why don't ya?" Bucky smiled, albeit cautiously, hoping that he could get even just the curl of a smile from you, or maybe a little snicker, even if it were at his expense, but he received none of it. You had turned your head away, your hands folded tightly and resting on your belly, your body rigid and unaccepting if he were to try to reach out for you. He understood it to a point, the remnants that would be left behind by the life you were trying to escape, but he wouldn't be able to fully grasp the horror at not knowing what they had done to the only remaining member of your true family. It angered him that people like you were still suffering at the hands of Hydra, and that he and the Avengers hadn't stopped them yet, because this was the work he was meant to do now, and he was failing. "Okay, listen to me, at least. I don't know what they did to him, and I don't know if we can fix it, but I promise you that I'm going to try." When you turned to retort, he held up a quick hand to halt your voice, "no, don't argue with me. I know what those sons of bitches can do, and it makes me sick to think that I used to be a part of that. I'm going to make sure that they never touch either of you again, alright?"

"Bucky, it's not that I don't appreciate-"

"I said, alright?" His posture straightened and he pushed forward towards you, his stare becoming determined and focused, and it made you just a little bit scared of him. Bucky didn't enjoy using authority like this over you, but he had set his mind to a goal, and you weren't likely to be able to stop him anyway.

"Yes, sir."

"Oooh...nice," he smirked, "got me a sir. I've been practicing that look in the mirror for weeks, so it's good to know that it actually works. I can't wait to tell Steve that method acting really is a valid battle tactic."

"Unconventional one," you finally smiled back, much to his excitement that your mood was shifting. "I'm trying to envision how it would help when you're under fire, though. Like, if you cry loud enough, will they stop? Does pouting work? How about if you break into a dramatic monologue about Steve-" Your words were cut short when the door opened, delivering the Captain first, his movements slow and cautious as if he were afraid of something. "Speak of the devil," you greeted him equally hesitantly. "Captain Rogers? What's wrong?"

Steve didn't say anything, choosing instead to take a small step aside to allow Wanda to enter next, but she had your brother with her; he was walking in front of her under her firm hold, the glow around her hands as she gripped his shoulders. He looked so small, so unassuming now since you last saw him when he was filled with panic and rage, as if he had been broken like a wild animal now under its master's control. "(Y/N)," Wanda answered softly, "please stay there."

"I will," you responded readily, though you had to consciously hold yourself back from trying to run to him. It physically pained you to be so far away, but you couldn't chance any sudden movements being misconstrued when you felt there was still so much tenuous energy surrounding you all. "Is he okay?"

"That's what I hope to learn." She leaned down and turned him to face her, keeping her hands on him at all times to maintain her control. Now that she had woken him, there was no guarantee as to what he would do, since the extent of his powers weren't known yet. With the damage that had already been done, she couldn't risk any more. "Do you know who she is?" she asked softly.

"That's my sister."

"Do you know who we are?"

"The Avengers."

"What will you do if I release you?"

"Please, Miss Wanda, I want to see her. I promise, I'll be good."

"I will choose to trust you," she nodded with a restrained smile, "so please don't break that trust. I will have to act if you do." Her hands slowly lost their glow, and her hold released him. She stood and took a step back, holding out her hand towards you to allow him to run to you.

He jumped on your gurney with a loud sigh of relief, and a whimper of fear as your arms welcomed him against you.

"Are you okay?" he asked, desperate for an answer despite his hold crushing the wind from your chest. "They told me that you were hurt, and I got so scared. Wanda told me that you were okay, but I needed to see."

"I'm okay," you reassured, pressing a kiss to his hair, "we're both going to be okay now." You lifted your confused gaze to meet Steve's, then Wanda's, waiting for one of them to explain before you realized that you hadn't actually yet asked the question. "How? How is he not trying to run?"

"It took some effort, but I was able to break through. Much as I had to do with you," Wanda replied. "Knowing that you were injured was his turning point."

"Buck," Steve nodded towards his friend, drawing the man's attention away from you for the first time since he had sat down at you side. Bucky gave you a quick pat of his hand over yours, almost in a protective manner that you welcomed; you had always been in the role of guardian and watcher over your brother, so to feel that he was taking the same task for you left you with a welcome sense of relief for the first time. The two of them stood at the door of the room, speaking quietly, close to each other so that their voices wouldn't carry; every few seconds, you would catch one of them glancing back your way, but you averted your eyes so that they didn't notice your observation until you finally heard them call out to you.

"(Y/N)," Steve began, "we've gotten the okay to send a team in to raid the base that held the two of you, to get intel on what they did to you and your brother, and if there are any more out there like you. Now, Bucky feels strongly about arguing with me, but I'd appreciate it if you would join us. You could lead us in the right direction faster than any of us could find it on our own."

"Yeah, and they could get their hands on you again too," Bucky argued, just as Steve had promised he would, "and I don't like it."

You looked down at the little boy in your arms, his own still tightly wrapped around you, gripping your shirt in his fists as if he were afraid that letting you go would be the last time he would have you so close again. You had no idea that they had begun to experiment on him, thinking that with each mission you had done for Hydra was stalling them; they had promised to leave him alone so long as you followed orders, but you felt foolish now for believing them for so long. It shamed you to think of what you had almost done to this team for those false promises, and that you could have killed the very people who truly cared about you in what felt like the first time in your life.

That night when you were so intent on ending them, you were right to think that Bucky would understand what you were going through, and that he would help you, but this wasn't what you had envisioned at the time. Even so, he was still your best bet at getting Hydra out of your lives once and for all. Before you had a chance to utter the first syllable, you could see his posture drop, defeated, at the look in your eyes that gave him the answer he didn't want to hear.

"Cap, I'm in."

~~~

The stories that you had heard about the Avengers had always made them seem like more of an energetic bunch, a little more gregarious and maybe even annoying at their snide interactions, or at least that's how you had envisioned them. But now, sitting in the quinjet with Steve silently at the helm, Bucky at your side with wringing hands, and Tony glaring at you from the bench across from you, you had no idea what to make of them anymore. Sure, Stark had his reasons for the look he was giving you, but that was back when you wanted to murder him; you hadn't attempted that in days, so it was about time he let that go.

"Say it."

"Say what?" he answered flatly, though his eyes still burned with anger.

"Whatever it is that's going through your head and making you look at me like that. It's annoying."

"Oh, well I'm so sorry. I had no idea that you had feelings."

"Tony, come on," Bucky urged, but he may as well have been mute for the effect his voice had on either of you.

"I'm sorry that I said those things about you and your dad, okay? I don't believe them, it's what I was programmed to say if you had me cornered, which you did."

"That's supposed to make me feel all warm and fuzzy or what?" he scoffed. "I've heard my share of apologies in my day, sweetheart, and I've said a hell of a lot of my own that I knew were empty before they passed my lips. Your words mean shit."

"Then what the hell are you staring at me for?"

"Get used to it. I don't trust you and I'm keeping an eye on you every second that we're out here. That fancy trick of yours could get us all in trouble. I wasn't even supposed to be here, but as soon as I found out they were dumb enough to haul your ass along for the ride, I signed up. For all any of us know, you're just leading them in for capture."

"Tony, this was our idea," Steve joined in, "she had no clue that we had a plan."

"But now that she does, she could spin it to her advantage. Seriously, Steve, I didn't know that you were so naïve. But this is why I'm here, to keep the level head," he sneered, leaning forward from his seat to get closer to you, "and to take you down the second that I see something I don't like. So take this warning seriously. If you dare to look at any of us the wrong way, if you make a move that gives me even an inkling of being a threat...if you so much as fucking sneeze at the wrong time, you're done."

Part 6

How this moment came to be was all a blur; a convoluted mess of gunfire, thrown punches, repulsor blasts and loud voices blended together before you found yourself thrown from the Hydra base in an explosion that rocked the ground beneath your feet. You remembered that exact moment when your body smashed into the ground, unforgiving and jagged with rocks and shards of shattered glass, and the feeling as if every bone in your body had broken in the impact. Lifting your head was a monumental task, feeling as if it weighed a ton and with your ears deafened from the blast, but when Tony's frame rose from the ground next to you and stood over your struggling body, it cast a shadow over you that quickly caught your attention.

"What did you do?" he snarled, his gauntlet raised. "You walked us right into a trap, didn't you?"

"I didn't-"

"Don't lie to me!"

"Mr. Stark, I swear...I didn't know...we have to go back and find Steve and Bucky." You pushed your hand down to attempt to make yourself stand, despite the tremor within it that had no guarantee to hold you, but a violent shot of his repulsor at the ground right next to your head stopped you cold.

"If you think that I'm letting you move even an inch from that spot, you're crazy."

"You're the one who's crazy! What the hell was that?"

"Stay down."

You closed your eyes and searched your mind and body for an answer, for strength from anywhere that it could give, just to let you survive what you were about to do. If this worked, you just might be able to get past Tony to find Steve and Bucky within the rubble stacked behind him. If it didn't, then at least you would die trying to seek redemption for the years of wrongs that you had left as your legacy. Once again, you tried to push yourself up, hoping that he would take the bait, but as luck would have it, he only watched and took a step back.

"I said, stay down," he repeated uncertainly, his hand up, "final warning."

"We need to find them," you groaned and hissed at the pain in your body as you moved, "and you can believe me or not, but you can't stop me. Move."

"Move?" he scoffed. "Really? I said stay down, so can't say I didn't warn you." A quick burst of energy shot from his raised gauntlet, just as you hoped, turning yourself with hands raised to accept it. When he had struck you down in the hallway that first night, you weren't prepared; but now, you were ready to absorb all of the power he could give you, if only your beaten body could handle it. It didn't take long before it built up too much, knocking you back a few feet when you released your hold; it was a tremendous amount of energy to harness, and your mind was on fire.

"Okay, I'm done...I'm done. Just please...stop," you urged, begged, to Stark, your body curled into itself as you lay seemingly helplessly on the ground in front of him with your hand up to keep him back just a little longer so you could find your center.

"You gonna stay down like I said? Had enough?"

You could feel the crackles of energy in your skin, your nerves dancing beneath hair standing on end and pleading for you to move, but you weren't quite ready. "Take off the suit," you uttered quietly, still focusing on your control, "let's go a few rounds."

"I'm sorry?"

"Take off the suit."

"Yeah, hard pass, sweetheart. I don't get undressed for just anyone."

"Fine," you snarled, quickly finding yourself up and steady on your feet, "then I'll do this the hard way. You're going to move, Stark." Dropping a foot back, you steadied your balance in case he fired again so that you could intercept it, but he merely stood in place so that you could imagine the look of confusion and shock that must be hidden by his mask.

"Are you waiting for another one?"

"Are you ready to try?"

"Don't have to ask me twice," he answered flatly, and the familiar glow began.

Your eyes darted to the rubble behind him for a mere second, but it was enough to see a Hydra assailant moving forward with a missile rifle that looked like it could cut through Tony's suit like it were no more than a cheap tin can. You were fighting him, and oh, how you hated him in this moment, but you weren't here to kill the guy. In fact, if nothing else, you wanted to prove to him that you were here for just the opposite. You charged forward, right into the blast that had just begun, the heat and intensity burning the skin from your hands as you tried to hold it long enough to get to him. Each step pushed you into the pulse, but your feet continued on until you could free a hand to grab his arm, yelling out with your rage as you put everything you had into turning his suited body to strike the gunman down with the repulsor fire meant for you. "Look out," you gasped, dropping to the ground at his feet in a weakened heap when the glow died away.

"What the hell was that? (Y/N)? Did you just-"

"There...there wasn't time...to tell you..."

"(Y/N), that kind of energy could have killed you," he answered softly, and the regret in his tone wasn't lost on you. It was the regret that he was too familiar with, and there wasn't a drop of relief anywhere in sight; there was no comfort of a bottle in his hand to quell his remorse this time. "That's not what...I wouldn't do that..."

"I know, Mr. Stark, it's okay."

A moment in silence passed by before you heard the suit opening to see his foot land in the dirt next to you, and then his knee at your side as he reached down to take your arm. His touch was strangely gentle in comparison to the attitude and anger that he had been spitting at you for days now. "Hey, you're breathing really fast and your heart rate is super high. You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah...I just get worked up sometimes...my mind just kind of takes off."

"Right," he nodded, taking a quick look around to be sure that you were still alone before sitting fully on the ground with you, "I get that way too. You just need to focus on something else and slow it all down." A blast or a shift in the rubble or some other terrifying sound cracked through the air around you, making you startle and jump from his grip, but he took a hold again quickly. "Look at me."

"Mr. Stark, I'm fine. I've done this before," you argued, "go find them."

"The name's Tony."

"Hmm, I don't think we're there yet," you offered with a faint grin, "we just passed through murderous rage. Long way to go before we reach friendly."

He sat without saying any more after that, just watching you and thinking; thinking about what he had almost let his fury do and how he didn't want to be that man who was so unforgiving. He had been that man for too long and he had worked so hard to change, and yes, you pushed him to his limits, and that only made him feel worse. Maybe he wasn't as strong and as rehabilitated as he once believed himself to be. "I...uh...I'm sorry. I may have...overreacted."

"I did try to murder you and your entire team."

"All of those things you did...it wasn't you. You didn't have a choice."

"I know," you nodded along, dropping your gaze away from his, feeling smaller in his presence, "but I did it."

"Then let's undo it once and for all," he agreed, much more emphatically this time, bringing himself up to stand. He reached down to help you up, holding his hand extended in your direction for as long as it took for you to feel secure that he could be trusted; he knew that trust between the two of you would be strained at best, but he was willing to do the work to fix it if you were. "Come on, kid. Job's not finished."

You took his hand and allowed him to lift you, even though you could have easily stood on your own again; it was a tiny gesture, but allowing him to feel that he was helping you was all you could offer right now to begin to build security with him. With a quick check to be sure that you had any weapons still on you after surviving the blasts, you paused at the sound of voices coming towards you from beyond the destroyed mass of steel and concrete that used to be your Hydra home base. Tony heard them too, his stance rigid and his arm in front of you protectively.

"We're okay, by the way," came the clarity of Steve's voice as they got closer. "Thanks for checking up on us."

"We were just about to head in, smartass," Tony chuckled, releasing you to approach his friend with a solid handshake. "It's good to see you, Cap."

"You too, Tony."

"Hey, you okay?" Bucky hurried to your side, his eyes searching you almost frantically to check for injury. He quickly found the burns on your hands and in your clothing from the hits you survived from the Iron Man suit. "What the hell happened?"

"I'm fine, Bucky. Did you get any intel before the building blew?"

"Yeah, we got some," Steve answered, "not sure if it was all of it, but we can take a look when we get home. Are you two..." he paused, pointing between you and Tony, "you getting along now, or what?"

"We reached a stalemate, and that's just boring, so we figured we'll try getting along for something new," Tony said, looking at you with a gentleness that he hadn't shown you before. "We're working on it."

"You're working on it by trying to kill her?" Bucky snapped, turning to Stark. "These are repulsor burns. Mind explaining to me what the hell went on out here?"

"Bucky, really, I'm fine, okay? Let's just get out of here." You pulled one of your hands from his hold and reached out to Tony, allowing him to take it. You nodded to Steve to get him to take Bucky's other hand, but he wasn't immediately catching on. "Cap, if you want to take the expressway home, you're gonna need to hang on."

"Yeah pal, it's a bumpy ride," Bucky agreed readily, "so I hope you didn't eat before the trip."

Steve looked around the group, confusion in his eyes, though he didn't hesitate and grabbed Bucky's hand before it could become a mistake not to do so. "(Y/N), what do you mean, take the express-"