"Good morning, Wanda."

Theresa watched the Sokovian girl turn her head towards the brunette, confusion in her eyes. Though that confusion was quick to disappear, the girl obviously wanting to make it seem as though she was unbothered by the Stark.

"My name is Theresa. I am here to check your vitals."

Theresa said those words, but remained behind the glass door, making no move to enter the cell.

It was obvious that she wanted to test the waters first before wading in deeper.

"Did you sleep well?"

There was a suspicious glint in Wandas eyes that the Stark didn't fail to notice.

After all, she knew of the girl's backstory and she knew what similarities she bore with her nephew, so she figured it wouldn't take much longer for the Sokovian to realize who she was.

"What kind of question is that?"

Wanda's accent was thick and those words only reflected her suspicion towards the woman.

Theresa assumed she also was not used to much kindness here.

"It's a genuine question, because I care for your wellbeing, unlike a lot of others I assume. You and your brother are the only ones left so far, so I want to ensure your wellbeing as much as I can, before the experiments should resume."

By the way the girl tilted her head, the Stark knew that she still held a considerable amount of suspicion against the woman behind the glass door and there was one question that slowly began to burn itself into her mind.

"You look familiar. Do I know you?"

The doctor knew this question was coming, so she sent a soft smile towards the teenager in response.

"No. We haven't met before. Although I know you have become quite familiar with someone else I know."

Now, Theresa noticed, she had caught not just only the full attention of Wanda, but also the interest of her twin brother Pietro in the cell next to her. The male came to stand in the nearest corner, right next to the wall that parted him from his sister and the glass wall that allowed him to come almost face to face with the Stark.

"I assure you two though that I do not have the same intentions as him."

Wanda's eyes widened and Pietro seemed to have the exact same realization, as he whispered out the name that had finally crossed both their minds.

"Stark."

Wanda stood in an instant and her hands already reached out, but the moment she tried to use her newfound powers on the Stark, she found she couldn't do anything.

Disbelief crossed her features as she tried to focus on using her powers, but nothing happened and instead, she began to feel weary, her limbs tiring, even though she had woken up as fully rested as she could just an hour ago.

Pietro could only hear Wanda slump to the ground, his eyes wide with worry. The sad smile on Theresa's face was enough for him to direct his anger on Theresa, although he couldn't do anything to harm her.

"As I knew that this would happen, I have already developed a countermeasure. You see, you are not the only gifted ones here. Besides you, the only other gifted person here is me. And though I haven't gone through exactly what you have gone through, I can imagine just how painful the procedures are. I want to make sure you make it, both of you."

"What are you doing to her?"

Pietro's accent was just as thick as his sister's, anger lacing his tone. 

The Stark could only imagine what he would do to her, if he had either Wanda's abilities or if he were free of his cell.

"I'm just helping her reach a state in which she can listen to me without being fueled by her anger and hatred towards my nephew."

Confusion now replaced the hatred on Pietro's face and he tilted his head, a similar motion she had seen on Wanda just moments before.

"Yes, the man you hate is my nephew. It's a long story to tell and right now we don't have the time, as I'm required to take your vitals and immediately report back to Strucker."

"I don't want you near me."

Theresa smiled at Wanda and shook her head at the girl.

"Don't worry, you won't. I tampered with your vitals, I will have someone else come for you. I just hope that at least your brother is at least a little more compliant."

Then she turned her attention towards the male, already knowing how she would get him to comply.

"I want both of you to know something important though, before I go ahead and continue with my job."

The twins watched the Stark curiously, both wondering what this woman would have to say.

"I am a blood manipulator. That's why you felt tired just now, Wanda, and were unable to use your abilities. I figured out where exactly I would have to attack and I used my chance before you even knew I was in there."

Theresa tapped a finger against where her heart was, to let the girl know where she had been taken.

"So, since I tampered with Wanda, I can't take her vitals anymore, as well as come near without fearing to be attacked in return. Therefore someone else will have to take care of you for a while. But you, Pietro..."

She turned her head just a tad bit so she could take a better look at the older twin and took a step closer to him, lowering her voice for only him to understand.

"You, I haven't tampered with, and I believe you and I prefer for it to stay that way. Because one of the 'side effects' of me being able to take a grip on your hearts could also be a stroke. And, my dear Pietro, I don't think you'd be happy if your sister were to pass away because of a mistake you made, would you?"

Pietro stared at the woman before him with wide eyes, subtly shaking his head in response, unable to form any words as the thought of Wanda dying seemed to cross his mind.

"That's what I thought."

Pietro took a step back so Theresa could open the glass door and enter, closing the door behind her right after.

The boy was a little taller than her, his hair falling into his eyes just slightly as his head hung low, obviously having chosen not to do anything dumb, to keep his sister safe.

"Could you sit down please?"

The Sokovian nodded and sat down silently, holding out his arm already for Theresa to start with the few things she needed to do.

And that she did, in peace.

–

Time flew by incredibly when one had enough things to do.

In the time that Theresa spent in the compound in Sokovia, she had grown closer to the twins. Of course it had taken a lot of time to get their trust, but when they figured that she wasn't like her nephew, that she was on their side and only wanted their best, not caring for the other HYDRA agents, they gave in.

After all, after a dispute with Strucker in front of the twins' eyes, they realized that Theresa was ready to lay her life on the line for the two Sokovians.

"We will continue with the procedures as scheduled."

Theresa stared at Strucker in disbelief. She had a slight feeling of a deja vu, as if this had happened once before and she knew it had, not even a year ago with Alexander Pierce and the Winter Soldier.

"No, you can't expect me to agree to this."

Strucker turned his head to look at the doctor and came to a stop, raising his eyebrow at her.

"Excuse me, but when did I ask for your opinion?"

"I am their assigned doctor, as you have told me and them. You ordered me to take care of them and make sure they are ready for everything coming to them. You also told me that I should tell you when they aren't fit to continue. This is the exact moment in which I am telling you to stop."

The German scientist only looked at the Stark as though she were speaking some language he had never heard before nor could understand.

"This is too soon. You've last set them out to the influence of the stone four hours ago, they need time to recover. They are nowhere near ready to already continue."

"I did not ask for your opinion. Time is scarce and I want to continue this as fast as we can. They survived this far, why can't they a little longer?"

Strucker continued making his way towards the cells of the twins.

The two had heard the conversation and already knew they were coming, their gazes fixed on the two arguing figures as they made their way towards the twins.

"This is the age of miracles, doctor, and I say how and when we continue. Accept it."

Theresa though was quick to shove past him and stand in his way, her gaze cold and hard. She wouldn't let the man pass her so easily.

"Move aside."

The woman shook her head. Wanda could already see her hands tightening into fists, which was a habit of hers, before she'd raise them and use her abilities on someone else. 

This motion was often done if she wanted to intimidate her opponent further, but the siblings had learned early on that she didn't have to do that – a simple thought being enough.

"No. I said they aren't ready yet and I stay with my words."

"Oh Theresa, I hope you know you're trying to go up against the wrong person."

"I don't care. Turn around and leave them be. Only come back when I tell you they're safe to continue."

Strucker huffed a laugh, though that laugh was muted quickly and his features froze into nonchalance and it became obvious that Theresa was using her ability on him, a light glimmer coming from her fingers.

This was also the moment in which the twins realized that the experiments on the Stark had never stopped since she had come here.

"Leave."

Although Theresa could easily make him leave, she waited for him to comply on his own.

She could wait forever though. All of them present knew that Strucker wouldn't budge.

So did the agent that pressed a gun against her head, but he paid for that mistake when he dropped to the floor, the twins only able to assume whether the agent was dead or not.

"Oops."

"Fine. I will turn and leave. But we will continue with you, instead."

And as the base now turned out to be under attack, it was obvious that Theresa wasn't willing to leave the twins' side.

The Stark woman stood beside them, her gaze not leaving the other agents who were running around the base.

"They will want to send you away."

Pietro and Wanda looked at her, as if they knew she would say this.

"But we want to help."

Theresa nodded and turned her gaze back to the twins, muttering an "I know."

"Then we will stay."

"They will try to send you away nevertheless."

"Then let them try. If they won't send us out theirselves, I will get us out there on my own."

Pietro looked so energized, ready to help, and Theresa could her his heartbeat racing, almost as fast as he could run, for lack of better metaphor.

"If you say so."