Flashback 3: Metal Pillows

Hello! So, I quickly edited this flashback for the millionth time whilst doing homework, so it's shortened a little and ready to go.

I also believe I broke the replay button on 'Emperor's New Clothes' by Panic! At The Disco because it is SO GOOOOOD! Hope you enjoy the flashback!

Flashback 3: Metal Pillows

"What do you mean, sprained?" Aurelia Tempest asked Doctor List after he inspected her left wrist.

After Pietro left for his cell, she had immediately made her way to the epicentre where the scientists tended to stay. List had made his way to her, creepily enough, she still hadn't forgiven him for that little run-in before.

"I mean sprained. As in, you'll have to take a week off," List insisted for the third time, hands content in his lab coat's large pockets. Aurelia didn't think the doctor knew just how much a week could impact on the twins.

"But so much could be done in 1 week!"

"You could do more damage to your wrist should you not rest it for a week. Agent Tempest, you have given your wrist a Grade 1 sprain-" "I know what a Grade 1 sprain is; it can cause extensive damage to ligaments if not rested."

Doctor List nodded again, slightly taken aback, "So you understand possible consequences?" Aurelia nodded, and left the room without a second glance.

Serves him right.

The HYDRA agent started out her hiatus by opening the twins' files. If she was going to be out of action for the next week, she was going to be productive.

She wrapped her bandages tightly and, once thoroughly examining them, jumped on the bed, messing up her files in the process. Giddy from her own impudent childishness, she got the files back and read.

~~~

By the time Aurelia finished reading Wanda's evaluation, she decided to make her way for lunch as her brain felt like it'd been fried.

Compared to the crisp white of the HYDRA base back at home, this cafeteria was dark and grimy.

She expected scientists to have better hygiene, or at least put it into practice.

The cafeteria, much like the observation room, was coated in orange light, the walls were dark brown painted with HYDRA's symbol, whose empty eye sockets seemed to watch over her incessantly.

"Altwasser! Get the twins' meals to them now!"

The twins' meals?

Knowing she'd regret it, Aurelia left the long line for food to trail behind Altwasser, carrying 2 plates in the direction of the Maximoffs.

To be honest, she was surprised they were even given them plates, but she decided to ignore that, in fear of jinxing it.

As the agent turned a right corner towards the observation rooms, Aurelia saw just what the Enhanced were living off; a piece of bread, cheese and a glass of polluted water.

Whilst it was generous compared to HYDRA's standards, the assassin had to clench her fists.

The food they were being given was most definitely not sufficient nor healthy. Wishing she had something like a taser, Aurelia sped up her pace whilst still keeping her footfalls silent, and pinched his vulcan nerve.

The agent slumped to the ground.

Keeping one foot under his falling frame, the assassin caught the two plates without so much as a whisper.

Taking this agent down was too easy- as usual.

Luckily, she was in the area of many spare cupboards, so hiding Altwasser for the time being was simple.

All she had to do now was to get Pietro and Wanda decent food.

When Aurelia arrived at the cafeteria, the line had shortened significantlty and no one had noticed Altwasser's lateness.

Despite it's shortness, however, there was still plenty of food left in the buffet.

Aurelia received many questionable looks as she piled all types of dishes onto two plates, but the agent didn't care; the twins deserved to have proper food after all they'd been through.

Besides, they should see her when she was on her period.

"That's quite a lot of food, Agent," a male voice smirked behind her, "You need any help with that?"

Aurelia turned around, making sure she had several witty comebacks ready to use. The agent himself must've been a new recruit; he seemed young, without the muscle most agents acquired after at least a year in training.

Young and stupid as most newbies were.

"I'm sure I don't need any help," Aurelia sighed, leaving the smorgasbord of food.

The agent followed.

If he continued, the HYDRA agent might find himself in the same place as Altwasser; unconscious and locked in a cupboard.

"You sure? Where are you even going?" the agent insisted. Aurelia had to admit; this kid was getting on her nerves. Either he was trying to catch a date, or was just plain annoying.

She hoped it was the latter.

"If you know what's good for you, stay out of my way," she threatened, making sure to give him a murderous cobalt stare. The threat did work to some degree, as the black haired man flinched, but pressed on. "Oh really?"

Aurelia nodded, formulating ways to knock him unconscious without too much noise, "Yes, really. This is business about the twins. I'm running an errand for Strucker."

It was a lie, but more of a twisted truth. Twisted enough to get him off her tail.

"Good luck," was all he said before they parted ways.

Aurelia hoped that curiosity of his wouldn't get him killed one day.

Finally, the observation rooms graced the assassin as she approached the twins with their meals. Not the idiotic crumbs of bread and cheese.

"What the hell is this?" Von Strucker yelled across the room. Her heart sank- Aurelia was counting that he wasn't going to be present.

"I'm giving the Maximoff's their meal. Altwasser fell sick," she inwardly smirked. Though Von Strucker did not find it as funny, he didn't get the inside joke she shared with herself.

"You think I'm going to allow you to fatten them up?"

With her courage way too high, the assassin laughed as the room fell silent with her bad manners.

"Fatten them up?" she managed get out between laughs, "You think I'm fattening them up?"

Behind the assassin, she could swear she felt the green and blue stares of the twins, either at her or at the piles of food, it didn't matter.

"Yes, I do."

Aurelia stopped laughing.

"They're going to need the extra energy if they're going to make it through my training. So, if you don't want to end up like the 100 victims I've slaughtered, get out of my way, so I can do my job."

As if the HYDRA assassin didn't hate the man enough, Von Strucker only squared his shoulders, and crossed his arms, blocking her way into the cells. Funnily enough, it didn't have the same effect on her as it did when Pietro did it.

"Whitehall will not be pleased."

"Damn what Whitehall thinks. I'm doing my mission. And as he said himself, there is nothing more important than the job at hand." A flash of recognition shone on Von Strucker's face, making her assume he had been taught the same ideology.

"Fine. Do what you will."

"Thank you, Agent Strucker. Your cooperation is much appreciated."

At the sight of the mountain of food Aurelia brought for lunch, Wanda's eyes widened. "What is that?" The agent placed the plate down beside her friend, her wrist, which was still wrapped in bandages, protested against the strain.

"This," she grinned proudly at the lunch she'd concocted, "is a decent meal."

The telekinetic nodded, eyes turning to the familiar shade of vermillion, and Aurelia registered a feeling of hands riffling through her memories.

"You did a great deal to feed us," she whispered and looked at her dead in the eyes, no doubt thinking negatively of what she'd done to poor Altwasser.

Aurelia sat down beside her, and answered sincerely, "It's what friends do."

Wanda laughed softly, and her gaze fell on the second dish. The agent knew what the twin was going to say before it even was spoken; her brother's wellbeing was her priority. "Can you give that to Pietro?"

Aurelia stood up, and began to move towards her brother's cell. It wasn't as if she was going to feed the younger Maximoff and starve her sibling. That would be worse than what HYDRA was originally doing.

"Of course. Who else would this plate be for?" she grinned, opening the glass door. The Enhanced's smile was growing familiar and common already, which the assassin took as a good sign.

"Go," Wanda motioned with her thin hand for her to leave.

When she exited her friend's room, Aurelia found the observation rooms were still silent from the way she shut down Von Strucker.

And with good reason.

Grinning a smile the exterminator reserved for looking down upon dead victims, Aurelia moved on to Pietro's cell.

For the first time at the Sokovian base, the door creaked when the assassin entered, and Pietro stopped running circles around the room.

"What the hell is that?" he asked once his eyes fell on the plate she had almost lost her reputation over.

Some people just aren't grateful.

"You're welcome," she smirked, "This is a meal that will fill you up for once."

"That is a lot of food," Pietro held the plate in his hands, awestruck. The poor Maximoff mustn't have seen such amounts of food in a long while.

Too long.

The speedster looked up, his electric stare glued her in place, "Thank you."

"It was the least I could do. You can sit down you know."

As if remembering where he was, the elder twin sat on the narrow bed and motioned for her to accompany him. "If this is the least you can do, I'd love to see the best," he joked.

Aurelia laughed, at least Pietro's sharp tongue had come in handy.

"Good to know that you're not underestimating me," she laughed, smiling when she saw Pietro dig into the meal.

Suddenly, Aurelia felt as if this was not the place to creepily watch her 'student' eat his lunch, so she stood up and made her way to the door.

"All of this....why did you do it?" Pietro asked her once he swallowed what must have been a heap of food.

Aurelia wasn't sure exactly why she'd gone to all of this trouble to make sure they got a decent meal. But her answer was out before the assassin could register it.

"Even the least cruel thing can set me off. I just had to make it right. Besides, you and Wanda are the closest things I have to friends."

The Enhanced nodded, placing his well earned plate on his lap.

"The assassin considers me a friend. That is a good thing?" 

"Very."