I sat at a cafe table across from my sister, Wanda Maximoff. We were on a mission, undercover. I stirred sugar into my tea, mirroring Wanda’s own gesture. A glance to my left confirmed Natasha’s presence, a few tables away, sunglasses concealing her focus.
“Alright, what do you see?” Steve’s voice crackled over the comms.
“Standard beat cops. Small station. Quiet street,” Wanda reported, glancing over her shoulder. “A good target.”
“There’s an ATM on the south corner,” Steve continued. “Which means—”
“Cameras,” Wanda interrupted, her voice sharp.
“Both cross streets are one-way,” Steve stated.
“Compromised escape routes,” Wanda replied.
“Means our guy isn’t afraid of being seen. He doesn’t hesitate to make a mess on the way out,” Steve elaborated. “See that range over halfway up the block?”
“Near the red one?” Wanda asked.
“It’s cute,” she added.
“It’s also bulletproof. Which means private security,” I countered, my eyes scanning the building.
“Which means more guns. Which means more headaches for somebody,” Natasha added, her gaze meeting ours through her sunglasses.
“Probably us,” she added, taking a sip of her tea.
“You guys know we can move things with our minds, right?” I said, setting my cup down.
“But you don’t use that power much, Isabelle. Looking over your shoulder needs to be second nature,” Natasha reproached.
“Anybody ever tell you you’re a little paranoid, Belle?” Sam’s voice came through the comms, laced with a teasing edge.
“Not to my face. Why, did you hear something?” I asked, a grin playing on my lips.
“Eyes on target, folks. This is the best lead we’ve had in six months. I don’t want to lose him,” Steve commanded, a hint of frustration in his tone. Sam chuckled softly.
“If he sees us coming, that won’t be a problem. He kinda hates us,” Sam said.
“Sam. See that garbage truck? Tank it,” Steve instructed.
“That truck’s loaded to max weight. And the driver is armed. It’s a battering ram,” Natasha said.
“Go now,” Steve ordered.
“Why?” Wanda asked.
“He’s not hitting the police,” Steve explained.
Wanda and I stood up, preparing to move. I hadn’t yet engaged my speed.
“Body armor. AR15. I make seven hostiles,” Steve reported.
“I make five,” Sam replied. I saw Wanda surge forward.
Someone opened fire on her, and she reacted instantly, forming an energy shield in front of her before choking the attacker.
“Belle!” Wanda called out. She threw the man toward me, and I caught him, pinning him with a gut shot.
“Four,” I said, glancing at Red Wing as it scanned the building.
“Rumlow’s in the third floor,” Sam reported.
“Wanda. Just like we practiced,” Steve instructed, walking toward her. “What about the gas?”
“Take it out,” he said, and Wanda used her powers to propel Steve toward the third floor.
I saw guys behind a truck shooting at me, so I quickly used an energy force around me to protect me from the gun shots.
I speed over to one and dodge the bullets and punch him. Then I Shoot an energy ball to one of the other guys and grab his gun and shoot the third guy.
Then there were two explosions near me killing off some other guys that were near me.
“Sam. Be more careful, you could have killed me” I said and walked over to him. “Sorry, Belle. But you should have been more careful” He said and I rolled eyes and punch him on the shoulder.
“Ow!” He says and I laugh. I look over my shoulder and see that Wanda got the gas out.
“Nice job, sis” I said. “Rumlow has the biological weapon,” Steve said, and Nat responded, “I’m on it.”
I sped over to where the truck had stopped. “I’ve got four. They’re splitting up,” Sam said.
“I got the two on the left,” Natasha said.
“They ditched their gear. One of them has it,” Steve said, and then an explosion rocked the building.
“Steve? You good?” I asked, speeding toward him, but there was no answer.
I stood in front of him, my hand on my hip. He tried punching me but I ducked down and kicked his legs causing him to fall.
I look through his bag and here was nothing. “I’m empty” I said and looked around.
I speed over to Nat. “You got it?” I asked and she nodded. “What a long day” I said and saw Red Wing hovering next to her.
“Hey red wing” I said and pet him a bit. “See, someone likes red wing” Sam said and Nat rolled her eyes.
Then I heard an explosion and saw a building on fire.
I sped over to Wanda and Steve, finding Wanda on her knees, hand over her mouth. I looked at the burning building, then back at her, kneeling down beside her.
“Sam. We need fire and rescue. On the south side of the building,” Steve said.
I placed my hands on Wanda’s shoulders, looking into her eyes. “It’s okay. It’s okay,” I repeated, even though we both knew it wasn’t.
---
I was in Wanda’s room, watching her watch the news.
“Wanda. Turn that off,” I sighed, but she just kept staring at the screen.
The screen suddenly went black. I glanced at the doorway and saw Steve enter.
“It’s my fault,” Wanda said.
I shook my head. “That’s not true.”
“Turn the TV back on. They were being very specific,” Wanda said. I placed my hand on her shoulder.
“I’m going to read,” I said, standing up. “Try convincing her that it’s not her fault,” I whispered to Steve, and he nodded.
I walked out and went to my room, grabbing a book. I sighed as I toyed with a small black energy ball between my fingers.
For the next few minutes, I just sat on my bed, staring at the ground, until Sam entered my room.
“Come on,” he said.
“Why?” I asked, standing up.
I followed him to a room where everyone was sitting around a table. Tony Stark sat in a chair behind them. A man stood in front of the table.
“Oh no,” I muttered under my breath, knowing this wouldn’t be good.