We decided to leave the base right after the attack, we didn't want to be found by anyone who might come back looking for trouble.
It was my first time in 5 years leaving the compound, although in my mind it was the first time in my entire life.
It felt really good to get out. Walking down the streets. No handcuffs or electric shock collars.
Not to mention the sunlight. Staying inside all those years has made me very pale.
I didn't find it to be a very flashy city, like pictures I've seen of Los Angeles, or Paris, or Tokyo, or New York.
It was dirty and the people on the streets looked tired. But it was their home and sort of mine too, so I respected it.
Plus, I've never been anywhere before, so who was I to judge.
I remembered how for a time, I thought I was a Sokovian native too. But my lack of an original accent proved me wrong.
The more time went by however, the more I picked up on the accent. By this point I'm not even faking it anymore. It's just there.
Plus, the only memories I have are from Sokovia, so I consider myself to be Sokovian now.
Who's to tell me otherwise?
Wanda and Pietro had a small place where we stayed, keeping ourselves hidden. We didn't know what the world would think of us.
We kept ourselves busy though. I spent a lot of time on the computer.
I managed to learn a lot about the avengers, including all of their first and last names, where they were born, their abilities and talents, and more information that I probably didn't need to know.
In the meantime, I learned what pancakes are, and Pietro exposed me to his favorite music.
I've been living in a Hydra base my whole life. I have learned everything there is to know about technology. Culturally, I got nothin. I've basically been living under a rock, which isn't far from the truth.
Wanda was more focused on the Avengers than anything else though. She was more than sure that there would eventually be a sign for us. That Stark would screw up. So I looked everyday to make her happy.
And then I found it.
"Guys I got something!" I called out looking at my screen.
Pietro was by my side in a heartbeat looking over my shoulder at the message. "Meet me at the old Church. I'm coming to help you." Pietro read aloud.
Wanda walked in as Pietro was reading the message. "Who is this?" He asks.
"I have no idea. The message originated from the Avengers tower in New York City, but it didn't come from a device. Now I have no clue what kind of tech they have over there, but I'm impressed."
"Well let's find out who it is." Wanda spoke up.
"And how do we know that we are not walking into a trap?" Pietro complained.
"If it is a trap, they don't know half of what we can do. It'll be fine."
I nodded my head, agreeing with her.
I had felt how paranoid Stark was, how afraid Wanda had made him, there was no way he could just let it be.
This had to be the results.
* * *
We left at dusk and walked through the city as the sky grew darker and darker. Even though we weren't using our powers we still got looks from some of the people. I guess a few recognized Wanda and Pietro.
As we approached the old abandoned church, I let myself feel inside, to try to see who was in there. It came up empty though.
I quickly put a hand over Pietro's chest that made him stop. "Wanda!" I whisper screamed, making her turn around to face me.
"There's no one in there. What if this is just a hoax?" I say to her. She turns back around and peers in.
"I see someone sitting there though." She whispers and walks right on in anyway.
'What? Impossible! I don't feel anyone in there.' I think before jogging up after her, Pietro on my heels.
When we get in I see what Wanda had. The back of a man, completely covered in a cloak, sitting on the throne in the center.
"Talk. And if you're wasting our time-" Wanda began to threaten before being cut off.
"Did you know this church is in the exact center of the city?" A deep voice with a ring to it began to say. I could see the confused looks Wanda and Pietro both had. I again tried to feel the energy of this person but could not feel anything besides the twins standing next to me.
"The elders decreed it so that everyone could be equally close to God. I like that. The geometry of belief."
We began to walk around and I saw his arm completely covered in metal as well as his leg. 'Another Iron Man suit?' I thought. It looked nothing like the other ones though.
"You're wondering why you can't look inside my head, or feel my presence." The man said, bending his head further down. I look over to Wanda and see her eyes are glowing.
"Sometimes it's hard. But sooner or later every man shows himself."
As soon as she says that the man stands from the chair, turns and lets the cloak fall.
Wanda and Pietro both instinctively put their arms out in front of me as we began to see that the thing standing in front of us sure as hell wasn't a man.
"Oh I'm sure they do." He says facing us. We all start to back up a little as he walks closer.
"But you needed something more than a man." The robot says to Wanda.
Pietro pulled me away from Wanda and began walking towards her. I, of course, followed him and did not stay put.
This is why I couldn't feel anything. I can only really feel the energy that living things give off. That and really powerful items, like the scepter and Thor's hammer, other enhanced people, sometimes explosions if they're big enough. I bet I could learn to detect his mechanical energy if I worked hard enough at it.
'This is insane. He's not talking in code like he's been programmed. This is no robot like I've ever known. It's thinking.'
I'm not sure if it's the lighting, or the fact that he's a giant, but his entire body radiates creepy, especially his red dotted eyes. Like some horror movie.
"That's why you let Stark take the scepter." He says approaching Wanda.
"I didn't expect..." She stops and gives a nod at the robot that was now towering over her, gesturing to him with her eyes.
"But I saw Stark's fear. I knew it would control him. Make him self-destruct."
"And you, what did you see?" He says looking over to me.
My eyes widen at the robot but I try to ignore my own emotions and answer the question.
"I mean, I don't see images inside people's heads, but I get your confusion. It's a common mistake." I say bobbing my head.
"Then what did you feel in his head?" The robo man asks.
"Paranoia. Guilt. There was also quite a bit of fear."
I knew Stark would do something irrational, but this was about the last thing I expected.
"Everyone creates the thing they dread." He says turning and pacing.
While he was scary looking, I didn't think he was going to hurt us.
"Men of peace create engines of war, invaders create avengers, People create..." He turns and faces us like he's having issues coming up with the word. "Smaller People? Um.... Children!" He says pointing and...smiling? "Haha lost the word there."
Pietro gives him the strangest look while Wanda is completely fascinated by him. I would be too if I wasn't still so flustered by the fact that this robot thing seems to have emotions, but I can't feel them.
I know it's because he's technically not a living thing, but he's behaving like he should be.
'Is this artificial intelligence? Did Stark seriously crack the secret to developing artificial intelligence?'
"Children. Designed to surpass them. To help them...end." He says almost dreary, staring at me.
"I'm not changing your diaper in 50 years if that's what you're asking." I say throwing my hands up in a mock surrender. Pietro lightly elbows me in the chest and I look up to him a little annoyed.
"Is that why you've come? To end the Avengers?" Wanda asks. This shifts his attention away from me and he starts walking towards the door.
"I've come to save the world." He then turns and looks back at the three of us, "But also, yea." He says before walking off again.
I look between the two twins who look almost like they, trust him?
I don't know how I feel just yet. I know Wanda and Pietro want to end the Avengers, so they will go with him.
I'm not one to just randomly trust people, but if the twins are with this dude, I guess that means that I am too.
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