Light At the End of the Tunnel

day ii

When he first came to the Avengers, they were at war with each other. The circumstances weren't great, but he was grateful for the opportunity he had gotten. He had proven himself time after time.

But then the team came together. And they were one team. He had been so excited about it. He got to interact with Black Widow, Falcon, and the Captain America. But the one person who had gotten his attention was Wanda Maximoff. Unlike everyone else (with the exception of Vision), she had no superhero name. When he asked, she said she didn't really care.

But there was something about her. She was older than him by two years. She was the other kid, from the other team. Every time she smiled, every time she laughed, Peter could see a hint of sadness behind her eyes. When he asked Mr. Stark about it, he just said she was probably still sad about her dead brother. Peter accepted the answer, but thought that there was more to it.

He learned more about Pietro Maximoff through research. He learned about how it was just him and Wanda since they were ten. They joined Hydra soon after. Wanda helped create Ultron, and when they switched sides, Pietro died saving Mr. Barton and a boy. Because of what she did, she lost the last person who knew the real her. And then he found about the raft. And how they'd kept her in line, even if she wasn't fighting it.

But he never told her knew. He didn't treat her any different. But he did see her differently. Even though he was younger, he felt the need to protect her. He didn't want anymore traumas to touch her, because he didn't think she'd be able to come back from it.

But he wasn't able to protect her. Not while they were both in cages. Not while she was still unconscious from the torture. Peter turned to Steve, who was trying to stay awake, and Tony, who had taken to talking to himself. He turned back to Wanda, who's hand twitched, as if she were waking up.

"Wanda?" Steve called out, his voice soft and filled with worry.

Wanda let out a whimper, screwing her eyes shut.

"It's okay, they aren't here," Steve told her, waiting for something.

Peter stared at Wanda, waiting for her to do something, sit up or talk.

"Wanda?" Peter whispered, stepping closer to Wanda's cell. The female enhanced turned her head to look at him. Peter felt his heart drop, seeing how empty her eyes were. "Wanda, it's going to be okay," Peter whispered, his eyes on his superhero best friend.

Before she could say anything, the door opened. The doctor and the same three soldiers walked in. The doctor grinned, his eyes on Wanda. "Ah, you're all awake. We can now start."

Wanda's eyes closed and she let out a whimper. Peter turned to glare at the doctor.

"Now, you two get to choose again, who will it be?"

Peter turned to Steve, his eyes urging him to pick. Tony's eyes were filled with pain as he stared at Peter, shaking his head.

"Time is ticking, I will punish both," the doctor threatened, turning to Wanda, who was trying to make herself small on the ground. "I'm sure she will love it."

"Peter," Steve said, the pain in his voice. He had his eyes closed. And Peter could see tears at the edges of his eyes.

"Perfect," the doctor said, turning to Peter. "We'll do this after breakfast. Can't have you dying."

He then walked away.

The door opened again and a soldier walked in pushing a cart. There were plates filled with food. Peter could smell it, and his stomach started to growl. He looked at Steve and Tony, who looked hungry but where fighting their hunger. Wanda hadn't realized what was happening.