conquer • wanda maximoff

「 FIVE 」

CHAPTER FIVE ; MONSTER

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SALVAGE YARD, AFRICAN COAST

AYANA SQUINTED AGAINST the darkness as she moved down a passageway. The pungent smell of metal and damp hung heavy in the air on the abandoned ship that Tony had managed to track Ulysses Klaue to.

She was holding up hope that if Ultron really was here for vibranium, then Wanda and Pietro would be there too. Her mind was running wild with what she would say to Wanda when she saw her again, especially after what had happened when they last met.

Ayana turned her attention to the scene on the deck below, where Ultron's robotic voice could be heard echoing through the ship. As she watched he stormed up the ramp and came into view, seemingly ranting about something as he clutched tightly onto Klaue's arm.

"You think I'm one of Stark's puppets, his hollow men? Look at me, do I look like Iron Man? Stark is -"

Ayana drew in a sharp breath as in a moment of fury, Ultron ripped Klaue's arm clean away from his body, leaving a gaping wound at his shoulder as he screamed out in pain.

"Oh...I'm sorry. I am sorry - oh, I'm sure that's going to be okay. I'm sorry, it's just - I don't understand. Don't compare me with Stark!" he cried, throwing Klaue down the metal stairs. "It's a thing with me - Stark's a sickness!"

"Aw, junior," Tony cooed, landing on the deck opposite Ultron as Thor and Steve followed, backing him up. "You're gonna break your old man's heart."

"We don't have to break anything," Thor said in his smooth, authoritative tone.

"Clearly you've never made an omelette," Ultron told him.

"He beat me by one second," Tony sighed. Thor shot him a sideways glance.

It was then that Wanda and Pietro moved into view, flanking Ultron on either side just as Thor and Steve were doing to Tony. Ayana felt her body tense as she saw Wanda, and her heart began beating rapidly.

"Ah, this is funny, Mr Stark. This is what, like old times?" Pietro taunted Tony, his gaze drifting towards the array of weapons which rested on the deck below.

"This was never my life," the billionaire denied, suddenly defensive.

"You two could still walk away from this," Steve said to the Maximoffs, who both looked back at him as if they'd never heard anything as ridiculous in their lives.

"Oh, we will," Wanda assured him, nodding with a scathing expression. Ayana watched her carefully. She wasn't used to hearing her speak in such a patronising way.

"I know you've suffered," Steve continued.

"Ah, Captain America. God's righteous man, pretending he can live without a war. I can't physically throw up in my mouth, but - " Ultron ranted.

"If you believe in peace, then let us keep it," Thor said.

"I think you're confusing peace with quiet."

"Uh-huh. What's the vibranium for?" Tony asked.

"I'm glad you asked that, because I wanted to take this time to explain my evil plan," Ultron drawled.