Blurred Bloodlines

Steve was shocked.

"She's blind?"

Wanda frowned.

"She could not see as we do. The closest thing I can compare it to is night vision goggles, where you only see the green lights? Only she sees in different colors of light. It is how she was able to beat Pietro even with his speed."

Steve nodded. "So Strucker experimented on her too?"

She shook her head.

"No. She received no injections. Not that we could see of her. She was kept in a high security room with one of those vault doors."

Scott held up a hand.

"Hold on a second. Are you saying that they kept the kid locked up in a safe?"

"Similar enough. There was ventilation and she got fed twice a day through a hole. There were cameras all around her room and two guards posted at the door. They were watching her every move."

Sam snorted.

"Like a caged animal."

"To them, Sam, we were animals."

Steve crossed his arms.

"I have a question. Why did saying Pietro's name stop her?"

Wanda smiled.

"I think she liked him. She even started to go easy on him during training. Me too."

"Well, that settles it."

Falcon smirked and shook his head.

"So, we're going to rescue her?"

"This is Bucky's daughter we're talking about Sam. I have to try and convince her to leave HYDRA."

"I don't know, Cap. Bucky had lived a life before becoming the Winter Soldier. This kid didn't. She was raised by them, molded by them to be whatever they wanted her to be. Its' not going to be easy."

"It's worth a shot, Sam."

"And what if things go south?"

Cap turned to Wanda and smiled.

"That's why I am hoping Pietro will help us, if he's up to the task, of course."

Wanda smiled back.

"Pietro has been enjoying his quiet little vacation, but I think mentioning his 'malen'kaya luna' would bring him back."

Sam quirked an eyebrow at her.

"What?"

Wanda giggled, "It means 'little moon'."

Scott laughed.

"Man, your brother really had it bad for her, didn't he?"

"He still does. I am always finding little moons and stars scribbled on his letters to me. It is quite adorable really."

"Mushy stuff."

T'Challa laughed."It is not mushy to remember one that has given you light when all you had was darkness. That is affection."

Steve rubbed the back of his neck.

"King T'Challa, I do want to ask you a favor. A favor that you have every right to refuse, of course."

"If it is pertaining to taking Barnes out of cryo, consider it done."

The others in the room were floored by what he said.

With wide eyes, Cap spoke."Why did you say yes so quickly?"

The Black Panther brought his fists up and held them together."If it were my child, I would want to rescue them myself and make those monsters pay for their actions. Slowly."

"Thank you, King T'Challa."

T'Challa nodded his head in answer.

"I will go now and make the arrangements with the lab staff."

When the Wakandian king left, he turned to Wanda.

"Go call your brother. I'm sure he would like to hear your voice."

She nodded and left the room.

For the first time, Wanda felt nervous about calling her brother.

Even more so telling him about 'Little moon'.

Notes