Color scheme | Pietro Maximoff

Chapter 9

     It has been a few days since HYDRA reconnected itself with Elizabeth, and the guilt has been killing her since. Though she does not completely trust the Avengers, she hates the thought of killing any of them. Each individual person on the team has made an effort to talk to her, and has been nothing but kind. After living a half normal life with the Avengers, she wants nothing to do with HYDRA, but she still needs it as a backup plan. She doubts that the Avengers would betray her, but it is definitely a possibility. Right now, there are only two things Elizabeth is certain about. Number one, she refuses to kill the Avengers, she will have to figure something out. Number two, she can't tell them about her communication with HYDRA until she fully trusts them, then she can play it off as if HYDRA had just got in contact with her.

     Her device from HYDRA lit up, signaling that HYDRA is contacting her. She regretfully picked up the device.

"You have three months. Due to suspicious behavior, if you do not complete this mission, there will be consequences."

"Understood," she signals back to HYDRA. She knew by 'consequences', they meant death. That's the penalty if you can't complete a crucial mission. She tucked the device away, expertly hidden. She brushed her teeth and undressed, making her way to bed.

———

It was a normal day in the Avengers Tower. Elizabeth laughed as playful banter was exchanged between the teammates, mainly Sam and Bucky. Pietro flashed her a warm smile that she couldn't help but smile back in return.

"Do you want to go train together?" Pietro asked her.

"Sure, I definitely enjoy getting my ass kicked," Pietro laughed at her comment.

"I will be more fair this time."

"Ok, if you say so."

As the two were on their way to the training room, an agent stopped them.

"May I speak with Ms. Elizabeth?"

"Um, sure," Elizabeth followed the agent anxiously, he wore a very intimidating look. They reached an oddly familiar private room.

"You have not completed your mission."

"Excuse me?"

"You know what I'm talking about. I'm from HYDRA."

"Oh, I was working on it-"

"It's been over three months. Your deadline is up," she continued her attempt at lying.

"I'll get right on it, I've gained their trust."

"You'll get right on it, alright," he started chanting in a pattern of confusing words, Elizabeth's head began to hurt and her body started to tingle.

"What are you doing to me?"

"We'll get you to kill the Avengers, even if it means forcing you."

"But I don't want to kill them!"

"Neuronica, you must have misunderstood. Since when were you the one in control?"

Elizabeth was put into a trance, and completely lost control of her actions. Though she could not control herself, she could see and feel everything. It felt as if she was watching herself through a screen.

She grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and approached Steve with the weapon behind her back.

"Hey Elizabeth, how are you?-" she lunged at him, slitting his throat with the knife. His screams of pain attracted attention, she heard footsteps approaching the door. Sam turned the corner and she immediately threw the knife into his heart. A blast was fired at her, barely scraping her shoulder. Stark. She turned around to see Tony wearing a single glove to shoot with, he didn't have time to suit up. She slid past Captain America's dead body, grabbing his shield. She deflected Tony's attacks and chucked the shield into his neck, breaking it.

Next she took out Natasha, Rhodey, Wanda, Vision (who was extremely difficult), then Clint. Her last target was Pietro.

Pietro dashed towards her, but slowed to a stop in front of her.

"Eliza, why are you doing this?" He has tears streaming down his face. Elizabeth too, had tears running down her cheeks, but her face showed no emotion. However, on the inside, she was screaming at Pietro to run. She struck one of Natasha's knives across Pietro's chest, leaving a fatal blow. "I did not see this coming..." Was all he could manage before he collapsed to the ground.

———

Elizabeth woke up sweating and screaming. She tried to catch her breath, but her endless sobbing and panting wouldn't let her. She sat up hugging her legs, heavy tears rolling down her face. She felt like she was going to pass out from crying and hyperventilating. However, her broken sobs were interrupted by a quiet knock at her door.

"Come... come in."

Pietro opened the door, finding Elizabeth in a crying mess.

"возлюбленная, what happened? Did you have a nightmare?" Pietro was wearing only his underwear, and Elizabeth was wearing a crop top and underwear. Neither of them seemed to realize that they were half naked, or at least, neither of them seemed to care.

"Yeah... I had a nightmare," she spoke between sobs.

"Eliza, you are safe now," Pietro consoled her as he pulled her to the edge of the bed, he stood between her legs and placed his forehead on hers, their noses barely touching. "It was not real," he ran his thumb over her cheek.

"I know, but-" her voice broke. "It felt real. I typically don't remember my nightmares, but I remember everything from this one." she hugged him, burying her head into his chest.

"It is ok," he spoke gently while rubbing her back. "Was it about your parents? You do not have to tell me if you don't want to."

"No, it wasn't about my parents," she tried to stop crying, but her tears kept falling. "In the nightmare I... I killed the Avengers. All of you. A HYDRA agent took control of me and made me do it, I couldn't stop it-"

"It is ok, it's not real."

"I know," Pietro ran his fingers through Elizabeth's hair to calm her down. She silently cried on Pietro for a few minutes, until she finally collected herself.

"Since you are calm now, I should probably go back to my room. I hope you sleep well, Eliza," he walked towards her door to leave, but she hopped off of her bed to stop him.

"Wait," Pietro turned around to face her, and noticed she was much shorter than he remembered.

"Is this why you always wear those heeled boots? You are so small."

"Shut up," she laughed a little while playfully punching his arm. He chuckled along with her.

"So, what were you stopping me for?" She looked down awkwardly, messing with her fingers while she thought of the right words to say.

"Um, I was wondering if you could sleep with me."

"Oh, very straight forward now are we?" Pietro cocked an eyebrow at her, her face flushed red.

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. I was trying to ask if could you stay here with me," she laughed a little.

"Sure, though I do favor the first option."

"Pietro Maximoff, I swear!" The two crawled into her bed, laughing a little. Pietro wrapped his arms around her waist, expecting her to slap him for spooning her. But much to his surprise, Elizabeth leaned into him, willingly snuggling up. He rested his head along the crook of her neck, relaxing with a big exhale.

"Goodnight, Eliza."

"Goodnight, Pietro. Thank you for staying with me."

"Anytime," He moved her hair and landed an affectionate peck on the back of her neck. whether she wanted to admit it or not, a huge smile crossed Elizabeth's face.