Chapter Text
We all remember that one movie, you know, Captain America: The First Avenger. Where Captain Steve Rodgers— Captain America of the Avengers— had thought he had destroyed whats left of HYDRA, successfully defeating the Red Skull, but losing his friend Bucky Barnes in the process.
HYDRA was an organisation consisting of monsters upon monsters on the planet. They tortured, killed, manipulated, and brainwashed people into doing anything and everything that they wanted. HYDRA was not a mark for beginning or hope. It was the mark of death and destruction. And still, even in the present day, HYDRA had traces of followers who were trying to revive the name and make the world under its vision of a fascist supremacy.
In the process, HYDRA started a project, a living experiment; undergoing the process of building and developing stronger and more enhanced genes for two twins, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, who were born with an unfamiliar genetic ability not seen before in any human before: the X-Gene.
The project wasn’t intentional, with HYDRA’s hands on Loki’s sceptre and the mind stone, it seemed to affect the twin’s mutations in such a way it made them rabid.
Captured after their parents died from bombs in Sokovia. Easy to break and manipulate at a very young age, HYDRA found Wanda and Pietro and deemed the two to be useful assets for the project.
The two twins were treated like animals: experimented on, tortured with extensive amounts of training, and being induced with doses of drugs meant to keep the powers from their genes to be more strong and dangerous. Later on, it would be figured out that the two twins were called the Enhanced.
In upstate New York, there is a safe haven for those who inhibit the X-gene called Charles Xavier’s school for Gifted Youngsters. Mutants alike go to the school in hopes. for a better future, a safe haven, a place of refuge, or simply just for means of education.
There, in Professor X’s study sat the headmaster himself, pondering. His expression was stoic yet inviting and insightful, ready to lend an open ear to anyone who wished to speak with him.
And there it was, a knock on the door, Professor X already knew who was behind the door without even having to think twice: Ororo Munroe, Storm. Goddess of the weather— anything better than whatever ‘god’ the Avengers boasted that they had. The professor greeted the other with a faint smile; and Storm proceeded to follow in.
“Professor, I believe that this should be brought to your attention.” Storm said firmly. She opened up her computer, and placed it on Xavier’s desk.
“We are requesting a mission,” she elaborated.
The screen contained alleged information about two mutants under the control of HYDRA in an underground base. Two pictures of a brother and sister were shown on the device, and Charles had an unusual feeling about the boy.
He looked like Erik.
The girl? He hadn’t seen the woman himself, but he could only assume Wanda had the looks of her mother.
Charles rubbed his temple, a slight anxious habit of his.
“Troubled mutants, yes, being demutantized of their own self and being broken of their will.” he mumbled. His eyes scanned over the screen again, each ounce of translated information made him feel something inside.
No one, mutant or human alike should experience the tourtière the Maximoff twins went though. He ripped his eyes apart from the computer, reconnecting eye contact with Storm.
“You have my permission to go and investigate, no mutant should ever be exposed to the brutality of genetic recoding and other forms of drug-enhanced experiments.” he finalised.
Storm nodded and closed the computer, tucking it under her arm and silently exited Xavier’s study.
Charles couldn’t but help think about the white-haired boy that he saw in the photos. Same stark platinum hair as his. Same eyes, those were unmistaken, and that terrible poker face that he had that Charles could break through within seconds. It was all but undeniable. Too much of a coincidence to even think about.
No, it couldn’t be.
Erik Lehnsherr, leader of the Brotherhood, (a team he created after disagreeing with Charles’ diplomatic ways of getting peace with humankind) sat at his office. Most of the time, people came in his office anytime they wanted, Erik would either dismiss them immediately or give them twenty seconds to explain what they have for him.
This time, it was St. John Allerdyce’s turn. No words spoken, he came in the room, ruffling out an envelope from his jacket.
“I don’t find interest in reading petty field-trip-permission slips.” Magneto grumbled.
John laughed. “No,‘it’s not that, it’s actually from Charles Xavier.” he smirked, retracting the paper from the desk. “I mean, if you don’t want to read it, then fine by me.”
Erik’s expression hardened. “No. don’t play games with me right now John. Give me the envelope.”
John huffed, extending the letter back to Magneto’s hand. “Yeah, yeah. You know I’m always kidding old man. I’m not reading through your love letters.”
“What?”
“I said I’m not eating your dough batters. John said, quickly leaving Magneto’a office.
Magneto curled his palm as he observed the unopened letter on the desk in front of him. Charles Xavier, yes, let’s skip the niceties, no titles, no nicknames, just Charles Xavier. Erik hated how he missed seeing the curled cursive name on forms and notes, and now it was addressed to him.
He carefully took the letter out of the envelope, it read:
‘My dearest Lehnsherr. Tomorrow through the next I wish we continue to strive for a better world for our mutants. Through this time, I hope you know that I am here for you through thick and thin and I will be here with you no matter the situation.
A recent occurrence regarding mutants being held for the purpose of experimentation has been drawn to my attention; and I believe that it should be brought to yours as well.
Adding on to the aforementioned, HYDRA has been keeping two mutants, twins. One boy, one girl. The girl has some sort of mutation as if she can manipulate magic as well as telekinesis. The boy has super-speed.
Their names are Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, Sokovian-born citizens.
The last names are not a mere coincidence.
And I already know it’s concerning enough that there are mutants being experimented on by humans, but there has been something else that’s caught my attention. The boy has striking similarities to your appearance, I could see some of the same features in the girl, but more-so in the young gentleman. The same hair, eyes, and even that terrible poker face that you always had. Of course, you’re more uptight, but I believe that.
The girl looks like Natalya, I can only guess about the same striking features that Wanda has represents her.
I hope I’m not beating around the bush, but what I’m trying to say to you is that I believe—and do not take this the wrong way— that your children are being captive under HYDRA in a Sokovian base.
I apologise in advance if I’m wrong. Please do not let your Brotherhood handle this situation, my X-Men are already on their way to Sokovia. If you would like to see the twins, perhaps, let me know.
Best of wishes,
Charles Xavier.”
Quinjet, 8:38 PM.
The goal was to obtain Loki’s sceptre. Get in, get out, easy enough. Just don’t let HYDRA have their grubby hands on an infinity stone and everything would be alright. Right?
The Avengers were going to land in Sokovia shortly, Tony was already suited up when Jarvis called for him.
“Mister Stark.” JARVIS rang.
“Get out of my ears.” Tony said occupied, looking at the numerous screens in his helmet.
“…”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Mister Stark. It seems that there’s other occurring heat signatures that I’m detecting to be within the perimeter.”
Tony signed.
“Well… Yes, Jarvis. We’re at a HYDRA base. Of course there’s going to be tons of heat signatures,” he remarked.
“You are correct. But it seems that I’m tracking some sort of humans with different… I suppose ‘genes’ in their blood. Those are not regular people, Mister Stark.”
“Alright, uh... That’s odd. So, what do you think? They’re working for HYDRA?”
“That can be a possibility, sir, but as I was detecting their movements I can say that they did not come from the HYDRA base itself. But we cannot fully assume that their motives are harmless.”
“Uh-huh. And are they like a third party involved or… or like what? You know what? Run me a scan.”
“Indeed.”
One face detected, then two, then five. No, seven.
“I see…”
“See what?”
“Mutants, that’s what they call themselves. Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Ororo Munroe, James Howlett, and Anna-Marie and Remy Lebeau.
Another sigh.
“That’s six, Jarvis. Who’s seven?”
…
“Erik Lehnsherr?”
Remy— Gambit— stood agape, looking at the distance of the flowing silhouette. “Oh, nah, cut me out’da this. Nobody ever tol’me Gambit here that we was going up against Charles’ ex.”
They stared at the Master of Magnetism. Walking almost calmly through the forest of the base.
A almost stressed-exhale came from one of the X-Men.
“Because we weren’t.” Ororo— Storm— replied. “The professor didn’t tell any of us that he was going to be here.”
“So, what is this? Like… a set up?” Gambit asked. “Why would the Professor ever make us go up against Magneto? Besides we stan’no chance against him.”
“Remy.” Rogue eyed him.
“What, jus’ saying.”
“Okay, let’s hypothetically just say that even if the professor didn’t know Erik was even here, why is he here in the first place? Does he want the twins and what for?” Scott added.
“Stop asking questions nobody can answer, Scott.” Storm sighed.
Once again in silence they stared at Magneto. The air felt uneasy, as if he knew they were there.
Then he turned.
“What the fuck? Is he looking at us?” Logan grumbled.
Scott snorted. “No, he’s looking at the trees.”
“Yeah, right, bub.”
Then he came closer, almost within earshot.
Nobody moved. He seemed almost… diplomatic?
The rest of the X-Men simply stared at him as he came closer. He raised his hands and let them drop to the side.
“Is this is joke?” Rogue questioned.
“No.” Erik announced. He let his eyes wander across the area, from the trees to the mutants.
“My friends… Please do not fear, I am not a threat to you… As of right now anyways.” Erik mumbled. “I am not here in means of violence, or in the gruesome ways you expect me to make myself known.” he told.
“Get to the point.” Logan huffed.
“I am here for the twins.”
He glanced at everyone, gauging their reactions.
“How are we supposed to believe you?” Jean questioned.
Magneto stood in silence, running a hand through his hair. He knew being present here without being hostile was already confusing enough to the X-Men already. He wasn’t sure how he was going to approach this, but if they didn’t want him to beat around the bush then he might as well come to their wishes.
“Because they’re my children.”