Chapter Text
Maeve shut of the pain burning through her veins. Imagined the dial in her mind, turned it down, dulled her perception of the injuries that littered her body. She always paid for it, whenever she impacted her own pain levels, but she needed nothing to stop her. Maeve ducked the fist that flew towards her, swiping low, dragging her leg across the floor. The soldier in front of her collapsed, winded. Maeve knew she had spent too long in this location, knew she needed to move away. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to.
Maeve hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. She had a job at a library, had some friends, was even in the routine of feeding a cat that seemed to linger outside her apartment. She had felt at home. However, as always, she had to leave.
Maeve had been running for a long time. When she was young, she had discovered her abilities, her unnatural sense of detecting when others were in pain. Then the following power to manipulate the pain of others, change their threshold, their consciousness, increase it, decrease it, or turn it off entirely. When Maeve had first discovered her abilities, she couldn’t really comprehend them, didn’t fully understand them and accidentally killed a mouse in their basement. Maeve had been so afraid, so startled that her control slipped, pain had rippled out in waves, and she didn’t know how to stop it. The mouse had been screaming, wailing and writhing on the cold floor. Then silence. Maeve had run back upstairs crying, her father had wiped her tears and held her hand as they walked back into the basement. “It’s just a dead mouse” he had whispered to her gently.
“It wasn’t dead before” Maeve had whispered, her voice weak and tired. Her father smiled, patting her on the head. He led them back out of the basement, away from the dead mouse, back into the warmth of their house. Maeve had apprehensively gone back into the basement the next morning, but the mouse was gone. Her father had disposed of it that night.
Since that incident, Maeve had slowly learnt to understand her powers, willing herself to control them. Maeve imagined a dial in her mind, viewed pain on some scale, learning how to visualise her abilities offered her some semblance of control. The conversion of pain into something more identifiable and concrete enabled Maeve to slowly understand them, and she taught herself as best as she could. Becoming pretty competent in pain manipulation.
Yet this understanding may have been her downfall. Maeve was unsure how, but she was discovered, she always tried to be subtle, to hide her differences. However, something had brought her to Hydra’s attention. The organisation had attacked her on a run one night. Being able to sense pain allowed Maeve some indication of the presence of others. She became aware of the people around her, turning just as one tried to pull a bag over her head. Maeve weaved out of the way, ripping the pain dial up and up before she fled. The symbol the soldiers wore was burned into her memory, a red mark, in its centre a skull. Maeve would research this, desperately scouring books and websites until she found a name – Hydra. She heard the thuds and the shouts of pain as the agents collapsed, distance always dulled her powers, but by the time they recovered, she would be safe.
Knowing she couldn’t stay at home in fear of putting her family at risk, Maeve left. Maeve told her parents she was going on a trip, knowing they would worry if her apartment was barren if they went to visit. She cancelled the lease as quickly as she could and drove until she felt calmer.
Just as she began to build a community, to spread her roots and find comfort, she would have to run again. Maeve was being hunted, but she did not want to be helpless. So, she signed up to as many self-defence classes as she could, learning as many fighting styles as possible once she had a grasp of the basics. Then she moved onto learning how to use certain weapons. Desperation drove her, and she picked up the skills pretty quickly. She had always been athletic, doing many sports throughout her childhood, but now she had a need to be strong, to be fit, so she trained. Maeve also learnt that she had some level of enhanced strength and endurance, realising this may have been the reason she was always so athletic. Maeve spent her time working whatever jobs she could to scrape together the money she needed to eat and then spent any remaining time preparing for another attack.
Over the years Maeve had gotten stronger, had learnt how to fight much more effectively, how to best use her abilities. She was much more capable of dealing with the attacks form Hydra, much more willing to defend herself rather than flee. Yet the end result was always returning to the shadows again, building a new identity in a new place where she could breathe, if only for a moment.
That brings her to now, fighting for her life once more. Maeve ripped out the knife embedded in her shoulder and threw it at the next soldier that charged towards her. She would need to remember to turn her ability to register pain back on later. The man crumbled. Maeve increased the pain of those around her, adding just enough to impact their strength without causing herself any harm. Using her abilities too much led to her own pain being exacerbated, as if the pain she was controlling could ricochet back onto her tenfold.
Maeve managed to knock out the agents in her apartment, the insignia on their uniform caught her eye, the monster that haunted her. That symbol polluted her dreams, caused a panic that wrapped around her chest. Anxiety stabbed at her, its talons ripping at her flesh, but Maeve tried her best to push the fear away. She organised her thoughts, grabbing everything she needed, her bags always packed ready, and drove off once more.
Maeve’s thumb tapped the wheel rhythmically, the pattern a futile attempt to quell the panic that rose in her. She would miss this town. Miss these people. She would have to find some excuse as to why she could never return to work again, but for now she just drove, embracing the darkness of the winter’s night. Since Maeve had started fighting back, these direct attacks against her became more frequent, more men would arrive and she would suffer more injuries. Along with fighting styles, Maeve had also needed to learn some hacking abilities, some new technological traits she never would have thought of otherwise. Maeve had discovered ways of using the technology, like radios and devices that the soldiers wore, to find the origin of the signal or databases that led her to Hydra shelters and command centres. Maeve would fight her way through, incapacitating the guards and gathering more details in the hopes that she could discover a way to be free again. Maeve needed a purpose, and taking down these bases offered her one.
The blood from Maeve’s shoulder injury dripped down her arm, reminding her to let herself feel again. Maeve parked up, and turned the dial back slowly, letting her pain return. Maeve stifled a gasp, overwhelmed. She steadily assessed her injuries, some scrapes on her hand, bruises on her left leg and eyebrow from when she was caught off guard, and the stab wound to her shoulder. Maeve had reacted too slowly to the knife, unable to dodge fast enough to escape the blade. Wrestling the first aid kit out of her glove compartment, Maeve treated her injuries. She was very versed in handling wounds, and first aid was another skill she acquired.
Once satisfied she would not bleed out, Maeve continued her drive. She had another Hydra facility on her radar in this direction, what better time to take it down and gather more intel.
Maeve decided she would herself a week to recover and would sleep in her car until her injuries were bearable and her shoulder had the correct range of motion. Delaying her attack made more sense, the guards would swap every few months, exchanging across bases, but for this base there was about an hour where they were short on members. Yet Maeve was suspicious, the files giving information on this base had felt too easy, the software vulnerable, leaving the information exposed to anyone looking for it. But maybe she was being paranoid.
Avenger’s Compound
Loud. That was how the compound felt to Natasha, the lead up to the mission had them all on edge. Yet the Avengers compensated for that, trying to mask the fear as confidence or comradery. Currently the team sat in the briefing room, a large screen at the head of the table while the rest of them sat dotted around the large table in the centre of the space. Steve stood at the front, the leader of the group and the captain delivering the meeting. Natasha, Wanda, Sam, Tony and Bucky would be the ones visiting the base this time. Everyone else had other tasks, Yelena, Kate and Vision were on other missions. Peter was swamped with schoolwork, and Tony did not want him on another dangerous mission since he was recently injured on their latest one, so he would keep Bruce company in the lab. Clint was with his family, having some deserved rest and Thor was on Asgard with Loki, who was still on precarious terms with the team. It had been discovered that Loki was being controlled when he invaded New York, and the God had tried to make some amends, but did not particularly like staying on earth for too long, so he and Thor when on frequent trips back to Asgard for some galivanting before returning again.
“So, we only have an hour or so until the usual number of guards are back at the base. This means we need to be as efficient as possible. We will all enter from the same point, and then splinter off to the difference databank rooms, search the facility or ensure other agents are controlled. Wanda and Sam, you two will go to the first data room, Bucky and Nat, you two have the second. Me and Tony will search the facility while taking out other agents” Steve expressed, his voice stern and his expression tense. “Remember, primary goal is to take down the facility, collapse operations and destroy the base but it would be useful if we can gather more information. Hydra is still much more active than it should be, and we still need to dismantle it”
“Got it Rogers, we have been through this mission repeatedly already. I’m getting coffee. Anyone?”
“I’ll have one Stark, and Mr Mopey over here will have one too” Sam smirked, gesturing to Bucky who sat with his arms crossed, muscles pulled taut.
“Mopey? Sam this is- “
“Yeah, yeah, we all know your resting expression is that angry looking glare” Sam added, Steve rolled his eyes at the pair, their bickering a daily occurrence and normally instigated by Sam.
Steve dragged everyone’s focus back “You all know the importance of ensuring we are all clear on the plan. Missions always run so much smoother that way. We leave in two days, so make sure you don’t train too hard and prepare whatever you need”
“We’ve got it Steve, thanks” Natasha smirked, very familiar with Steve’s meticulous planning. Standing, Natasha took the wad of files Steve had allocated to her and left, nodding to him as she did so. Red Tendrils wrapped around the rest of the stacks, distributing the files out to everyone. Sam, Bucky and Steve smiled in appreciation to Wanda.
“I’ve put Tony’s files with yours Steve, he’s probably already got a digital copy anyway though” Wanda explained, Tony did not appreciate the ‘outdated’ way the team handled their data. Yet the group found it useful to have paper copies, especially Bucky and Steve, who were still slowly getting used to technology. They did not need any added complication to their mission planning.
“Thank you, Wanda,” Steve offered her a small smile; he was very worried. This mission needed to go well.
The group splintered off, Bucky and Sam followed Tony to the kitchen, Steve and Natasha ended up in the gym and Wanda went to her room. “Want to spar?” Natasha offered Steve as he drank. He had been using one of the punching bags that Tony had made for him, but following his own advice of not training to hard, was having a rest.
“Okay” Steve nodded, stepping onto the sparring mat. The two nodded at each other, signalling they were ready and Natasha pounced. She went to deliver a strong kick to his stomach, but Steve caught the blow, batting her leg aside. Nat smirked, spinning herself round and ducking a punch from Steve. The pair exchanged blows, Steve strength balanced against Nat’s agility.
Steve managed to pin Natasha by the shoulders. Nat spun, twisting her hips and jabbing her heel into Steve’s ankle. The knock to his balance was enough for Natasha to free herself. “Draw?” Steve offered, the match left them both breathless.
“If that’s what you need” Natasha grinned at him, Steve only sighed. “I need to find Wanda anyway”
“Yeah, I should check on Bucky” They were both aware of their teammate’s history with Hydra and always tried to make sure the pair were comfortable with missions like this.
Two days later
The group piled onto the jet, everyone was in their gear and sat anxiously awaiting as Steve reminded them once more about the mission. “Okay, don’t split up, and use the comms please” Steve turned, the last point direct at Bucky.
Bucky smirked “Understood Stevie.” The group chuckled at the nickname, the tension fading from the jet as they laughed.
Meanwhile, Maeve was also preparing, sorting her bags out, putting her knives across her belt. Maeve’s injuries had sorted themselves out in the past week, she had taken the stitches out of her shoulder and could move it relatively comfortably. Recovery had been slow, Maeve hated being patient, hated the waiting, but there was nothing else she could do.
And finally, the day had arrived.
Maeve needed to run into the base, gather the information she needed, take down the generator and run back out. That was her plan. Pulling her black half mask up over her mouth and nose, Maeve closed her eyes and visualised her pain dial, she turned it down just enough to let any impression of pain fade, but to also alert her to any injuries that could risk being fatal.
Maeve steadily walked towards the facility, trying to keep herself as quiet as possible and avoid detection. Maeve tailed another soldier as they entered, giving him enough pain to make him uncomfortable enough to become lazy and neglect the correct checks. This trick had worked a few times for Maeve, allowing her entry to a handful of bases. Other times the guards were more resistant, but this one swiped his card and dragged himself back into the building, not bothered with pulling the door tightly behind him and checking around as he should have. Taking her opportunity Maeve darted in behind him. She tried to blend in with the shadows, her dark suit similar enough to the agent’s that they didn’t always notice her straight away.
However, these guards seemed ready, they attacked. A swift punch to the temple knocked the first agent out, and a knife to the throat took out the next. Maeve was a hurricane, mixing between exaggerating pain and attacking the soldiers around her. She always tried to be careful about managing her abilities, knowing if she overused them, she would be helpless with no one around to have her back. When enough guards had been taken out, Maeve ran, she could spend an endless amount of time fighting them, she needed to be strategic.
Maeve darted through the corridors sprinting to their main database room and inserting the drive, knowing she didn’t have long before emergency reinforcements arrived along with the correct numbers. Once Maeve had started the transfer, she ducked behind some of the computers and turned her pain back to normal. No new injuries it seemed. Okay, going well so far, Maeve thought. Adrenaline had her hands shaky as she rose to pull out the drive once the transfer was complete. Maeve pocketed the drive and headed towards her next target - the generator room.
Entering the corridor once more, Maeve was met by soldiers. Maeve tried to fight her way through the corridor, but there were so many, even with their numbers reduced from changeover.
Whirring caught Maeve’s attention. Between punches and dodges, she looked around but couldn’t spot anything that would make that sound. Maeve tuned out the sound as she fought, the soldiers seemed endless. Dodging another kick, Maeve spun herself round, pulling out another knife and embedded it into a soldier’s thigh before ripping it out and slashing towards the next one. A punch to the gut had Maeve turning down her pain perception and more footsteps had her tensing.
Shouts caught her attention “Wanda clear a path!” A voice ordered. Red mist wrapped around Maeve’s ankle and her leg was swiped out from under her. Maeve groaned as she hit the floor, even with her dulled senses. She turned the dial down further and moved to slowly get up.
“Wanda – you missed one!” Another male voice shouted. More red mist drifted towards Maeve.
“Wait, she’s in a different uniform. No Hydra symbol!” A female voice offered this time. Maeve managed to get herself back on her feet, glancing at the people in front of her.
“Well shit” Maeve mumbled to herself. “The Avengers, just what I needed.” Sarcasm coated her words as she punched a rising soldier across the head. The group approached her, all armed and ready to attack any more guards, but The Maximoff had taken out all the ones in their vicinity.
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” Iron Man asked her, his repulsor pointed in her direction.
“I’m here for information” Maeve replied, taking the USB drive out, flashing it in front of them, and putting it back in her pocket.
“Why would you need information?” The authoritative tone she had heard earlier belonged to Captain America “Wanda?” He added, turning to the Maximoff. Red tendrils danced around Wanda’s fingertips and darted towards Maeve’s temples.
Maeve’s head burned, she lost her grip on her pain dial and the agony of her injuries rushed back. Doubling over, Maeve whispered, “You didn’t even give me chance to answer” In the silence of the corridor, her voice carried, Wanda’s powers withdrew and Maeve regained her control.
“Hydra’s been after her” Wanda explained concisely. She hadn’t been able to see much, mainly getting the impression of Maeve’s fear, and her constant fleeing. Wanda looked gently at Maeve, “I’m sorry, we don’t usually meet anyone friendly in a Hydra base”
Maeve sighed, “Yeah, me neither”. Steve slowly walked over the Maeve, offering her his hand. Maeve hesitantly accepted it, allowing him to help her up.
“Did you get all the files? Is everything on that drive?” A man Maeve knew as The Falcon asked her.
“Yeah, I was on my way to take out the generator before leaving”
“Bucky and I will go with…” The red head started, gesturing to Maeve.
“Maeve”
“With Maeve to the generator then. You guys can handle any more agents and go through some of the other rooms” The woman continued. The team around her nodded and Maeve came to realise this was black widow. The team moved fluidly, following Natasha’s direction and went off, some offered Maeve wary looks as they left but they were sure Natasha and Bucky could deal with her if they needed to.