Gauntlet || Maximoff Younger Brother

Prologue

Hydra Research Base, Sokovia
2013

Gabriel Maximoff sat on his bed, hunched over and bearing a pensive expression. The bed wasn't too hard, but he'd certainly felt comfier before. Its sheets bore a soft brown and stretched down from the edge, grazing the cold concrete floor. At least the pillow is fluffy, he thought. The room was filled with the echoes of his foot nervously tapping the ground.

Tap

Tap

Tap

"Gabe, stop tapping your foot." said a voice with a thick eastern European accent, belonging to the man sitting to his right. He had short and messy ash blonde hair. His face carried an annoyed, but slightly amused expression that was barely hidden by a thin beard, well-trimmed beard.

"O-Oh, uh, sorry Pietro. I'm just really stressed out." answered the boy, in a much softer eastern European accent.

An awkward silence plagued the room. Gabriel looked to his left. The bunk bed that stood against the wall caught his attention, or rather the picture frame that sat on the bedside table. The picture in it had Pietro ruffling Gabriel's hair, who was busy trying to push him away. Next to them stood a girl Pietro's age, crowned with a head of long brown hair.

"Do you think Wanda's alright?" Gabriel broke the silence, a mix of hope and fear intertwined in his voice.

"I'm sure she's fine, any minute now she'll walk in through that door and hug the life out of you." Pietro answered, feigning a feeling of certainty. He wasn't sure if she'd actually come back, and the thought of his little brother going before him was terrifying. What if they both don't come back? What if the guards tell me they won't do the experiment on me? What if I have to live out my days without them? What if-

Pietro's grim train of thought was cut short by the large metal door swinging on its hinges.

"Gabriel Maximoff, get up, it's your turn." spoke a deep voice from the hallway.

"Y-Yes sir!" answered Gabriel, somewhat confidently.

"Hey Gabe, promise me you'll come ba-." Pietro started in a hushed tone, before being interrupted by Gabriel pulling him into a hug. Wow, this feels nice.

"I promise."

"Maximoff!" bellowed the voice.

"Y-Yes sir! Sorry sir!"

Gabriel let go of Pietro and stepped out into the corridor. The guard waiting for him, who he suspected was the one talking earlier, took out a pair of large handcuffs. The chains were dotted with small spots of rust. Its shackles were wide and bulky, they shone a low orange glow in the light of the dim lamps dotting the ceilings. Gabriel put out his arms in front of him, signaling the guard to handcuff him.

The guard then blindfolded and led him through what he had assumed was a long system of tunnels. He understood that he was deprived of sight for the sake of secrecy, but he doubted he would remember even a fraction of the path he'd taken. A dozen minutes later he was blinded by the bright lights of the room he was put in. He rubbed his wrists where the cuffs were placed, a little too tightly in his opinion. The loud sound of the door closing behind him made him turn. It was reinforced, and he knew he wouldn't be able to exit judging by the fact he heard large gears spinning as it locked.

"For our notes, Mister Maximoff, we'd like you to state your name, age and status." Gabriel looked forward once again as a voice spoke to him through the loudspeaker. He took in his surroundings for a moment. The room had old concrete walls, lined with pillars on each side. On the side opposite to him was a large mirror, which he guessed was a one way mirror.

Through the mirror he saw himself. I look terrible. His hazelnut hair laid as an unkept tuft of fluff, haphazardly combed to one side in an effort to stay somewhat dignified, longer strands reaching to the bottom of his neck, some ending in small braids. His eyes looked into the mirror, reflecting a deep green hue. His arms were skinny, malnourished, one could say he was more bone than flesh. The beige shirt he wore turned a reddish brown at the hem, a mix of blood, filth and sweat.

In the center of the room, a few feet away from him, was a long, golden scepter, with at its heart a blue gem. The scepter was held upright by a stand, and it cast a dim blue glow all throughout the room.

"Gabriel Maximoff, twelve years old. Volunteer." Gabriel answered, in the most courageous tone he could muster, although the fear in his voice was noticeable.

"Touch the sample" the man answered sharply through the loudspeaker.

Gabriel looked to the gem in the scepter. Its blue glow mesmerized him, instilling a strange feeling of curiosity, admiration, and pure terror. However the cold sweat that suddenly rushed through his body, as well as the shiver that went down his spine only beckoned him to step closer. To look closer. To feel the gem's presence. To touch it. To hold it. Only when he snapped out of it had he realized the scepter now stood before him.

His arm stretched forward towards the gem. Gabriel's hand was mere inches away from it, he could feel the brisk air dancing around its surface, weaving its way between his outstretched fingers. He flinched. He felt his heart beating loudly in his skull, the steady beat of it now irregular and erratic. What if I don't come back? What if Wanda doesn't come back? What if-

He then felt the gem's cold, smooth surface on his hand.

And the beating stopped.