Strings Attached

Call Them

Peter jerked awake before promptly falling off the side of the cot. It hadn't been a dream per see. More like a once, fuzzy memory, now crystal clear.

"Wanda," he whispered, the name falling off his lips. He sat there in silence trying to put the pieces together. How did she escape? He had just assumed she was undercover or had died after that day. He had learned from a young age to forget about people who won't ever come back. He didn't go back to sleep. Not when all he could think about the girl he had met years prior. Peter thought back to the last day he ever saw her...

A rough hand gripped his upper arm tightly and high. He winced, but stayed otherwise quiet, his eyes glued to the female figure strapped to the cold metal table that he was on, once upon a time.

"Today friends 3 things happen. John Garrett has passed" Ward began, "Two, these two twins are about to be the first of the Infinity exploration, and 3, Werner Von Strucker is our new head of Hydra"

A roar of applause erupted from the small group of men in the Gallery. The hand on Peter's arm got tighter. "And now, the Maximoff's" more applause. Peter watched Wanda's small smile fade along with the sparkling anticipation as the needle slipped easily into her vein. The doctor pushed the syringe down before slipping the needle back out and stepping away to work on the boy.

Then the screams started. Tearing throughout the rooms like a knife. Pietro started struggling against the stapes, but the doctor was already there injecting him with the same poison. Peter longed to help them, to undo their straps and set them free, but the hand on his arm didn't let up and Whitehall had the remote, and he couldn't help anyone if he was dead, so he watched. Watched as their screams grew hoarse, and the doctors dragged their now unconscious bodies out the double metal door. Never once did the hand go away, not once during the operation did anyone care.

Peter blinked, waking up slowly this time. He didn't remember going to sleep in the first place. All he could see were those hazelnut eyes boring into his, pleading, and begging. Eyes filled with agony. and the familiar feeling of hopelessness filled his chest. That's when it hit him!

"Wanda Maximoff was an Avenger" he whispered before going to bang on the glass walls of his containment cell. "Tony" He called.

Said man came running in, glassy-eyed with a white t-shirt and flannel pajama pants. "Peter? What's wrong?"

"Wanda Maximoff, where is she?" Peter asked, frantically tapping on the glass. Her screams were stuck in his head.

"Wanda...?" Tony trailed off, his once tired face turning into one of hurt, longing, and despair. Peter wasn't told much of anything at HYDRA, recent news, and such. Something had happened though he could tell. 

"What happened?" Peter asked scooting over a bit when Tony moved to sit next to him.

"A year back the Avengers split up" Tony inhaled a long deep breath, the weariness in his face showing through, "Then the Sokovia incident happened. That's when a man named Theoduss Ross made The Accords. The accords were a series of rules that would keep the Avengers in check. Would hold us responsible for the casualties, and the occasional destruction of New York City. I wanted to sign. Of course, it wasn't final, needed a few changes, but they all do. It showed we weren't above the law"

"Well, HYDRA's best friend, Captain Rogers didn't approve of it either, and neither did, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton. Scott Lang, Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes, and later Natasha Romanoff who switched sides last minute. Anyway, most of them went to a raft, a prison in the water, but Steve and Bucky went to Siberia, and I cornered them there. Explained how I would help with Zemo yada yada, turns out Bucky killed my parents. That didn't go well."

"We stopped talking for 10 months and got together 2 months ago because the world deserves our protection, despite our petty issues" Tony placed his hands in his lap. A sign of conclusion. Even after everything with HYDRA he couldn't but still, feel a connection to the group. HYDRA had hurt him, tortured him, how could he miss them?
Tony must've taken Peter's silence in another way, "of course I can probably get you in contact..."

Peter bit his lip, contemplating. There was obviously some not-so-good history, but he needed to see Wanda, to... well he didn't really know. There was an awkward silence between the two as he thought.

"If you let me out..." Peter trailed off gu aging the older man's reaction. Tony seemed to consider this.

"No," Tony said. His voice didn't waver once. "I'm sorry, but it's either I call them, or nothing"

Peter scowled his sympathy fading. "Call them," He said annoyed. Tony only nodded before leaving the room, his footsteps light padding on the floor. Peter sighed this time and sat against the cool glass.

"Stupid HYDRA" he muttered, "stupid Parker luck"

Tony sighed frustrated as he once again took out the flip, phone. He opened it about to dial before F. R. 1. D. A. Y alerted him to an unwelcome visitor.

"Sir, the Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross has entered the premises" Her robot voice informed. The flip phone slammed shut, hidden in his pocket.

"What does he want'' Tony muttered heading for the conference room. "tell Ross where to meet me" He told his A. I.

The conference room was in fact the only room Ross had ever been in, and Tony was determined to keep it that way. Tony noticed the frazzled look on Ross's face and barely held back his fit of laughter.

"Stark" Ross said angrily. quickly turning around and looking Tony straight in his eyes. "I know you are in contact with the rogues-"

"Other Avengers" Tony smirked. He willed himself to stay lighthearted "And no I haven't"

Ross groaned still giving Tony a death glare "And that you are harboring yet another, HYDRA fugitive."

Tony tensed at this, racking his mind for a plausible answer, "I never 'harbored' Barnes." Tony growled.

Silently thanking his mind for the near-miss. "Not after all they've done "Tony said sadly, dropping his gaze to the red and gold carpet under the conference table. He'd had practice with persuasion, acting if you will. He knew how to feign any reaction for the press for their targeted reaction. Ross sighed. long and heavy.

"sign the papers, Stark," He said slowly. Tony rolled his eyes. They'd had debate after debate about the justifications needed in order for all the Avengers to sign.

"Agree to my conditions" Tony stated.

"Like hell, I will," Ross whispered menacing, not enough to scare Tony though who'd had his fair share of angry older men.

"Bye secretary" Tony dismissed. motioning with his hand for Ross to leave. Which he did, but no without a scowl thrown over his shoulder. Tony instantly relaxed, waiting another 20 minutes to be sure Ross left. After that he got the flip phone dialing the memorizednumber. I ring. 2 rings. 3 rings...

"Tony?"

"Rogers... We need to talk."