Chapter 5: Left Behind
Alex lay on the cold, hard bed, his wrists still shackled, his body still recovering from the agonizing experiments Hydra had conducted on him. The pain had become a constant in his life, a companion that never left. But what hurt more than his broken body was the feeling of uselessness.
For weeks, he had been nothing more than a prisoner, chained like an animal, too weak to fight back. He had barely even walked since the experiments. Compared to Wanda and Pietro, who had already begun mastering their abilities, he was nothing. They could move, train, plan. He could only watch.
And now, he was about to be left behind.
The moment Ultron stepped into the base, everything changed.
Hydra's facility was in chaos. Alarms blared, soldiers ran in every direction, and the walls trembled as explosions rocked the underground base. Alex could hear gunfire in the distance—Hydra agents fighting against something far worse. Something even they couldn't control.
Ultron had arrived.
Alex had never seen the AI before, but he knew exactly who it was. He had been waiting for this moment. The Ultron Arc—the beginning of everything.
And now, Wanda and Pietro were being taken.
"You're coming with me," Ultron's robotic voice echoed through the dimly lit corridor as he towered over them. His cold, emotionless red eyes stared down at Wanda and Pietro, but when his gaze shifted to Alex, he barely even acknowledged him.
"Not him. He's useless."
The words cut deeper than any blade.
Wanda immediately stepped in front of Alex, her eyes glowing red as she glared at the machine. "Then I'm not going either."
Alex's heart clenched. He wasn't expecting that.
Ultron tilted his head slightly, his mechanical body making an eerie whirring sound. "You misunderstand. I don't need him. I need you." His red gaze turned toward Pietro. "And you."
Pietro tensed beside Wanda, fists clenching, but he didn't argue. He wasn't foolish—he knew they didn't have much choice.
Wanda, however, refused to move. She turned to Alex, her expression desperate. "Come with us."
Alex forced a bitter smile. "You know I can't."
His body was too weak. He couldn't even stand properly, let alone escape. And even if he could, what would he do? He wasn't strong like them. He wasn't fast like Pietro or powerful like Wanda. He was nothing.
"I won't leave you here," Wanda whispered, stepping closer.
Alex exhaled sharply, closing his eyes. He wanted to be selfish, to ask her to stay, to hold onto this strange bond they shared. But he knew better.
"You have to go, Wanda." He forced himself to look at her. "This is your chance. You'll be safer out there, away from me."
Her hands trembled at her sides, her jaw tightening. "Safe? With a machine? Alex, I—"
"I can't protect you, Wanda." His voice was barely above a whisper. "But I know you can protect yourself. And Pietro needs you. Just… go."
Wanda's breathing hitched. She clenched her fists, looking like she wanted to argue. But deep down, she knew he was right.
She turned toward Pietro, who looked uncomfortable but knew better than to interfere. Then, slowly, she turned back to Alex, her expression unreadable.
Then, without warning, she moved closer.
Before Alex could process what was happening, her soft lips pressed against his.
His mind went blank.
The kiss was brief—just a second, maybe two. But it felt like time had stopped.
When she pulled away, Alex's breath hitched, his heart hammering in his chest. He could only stare at her, stunned.
"I will return for you."
Her voice carried a weight Alex had never heard before.
It wasn't just a promise.
It was a vow.
And before Alex could say anything else, she turned and walked toward Ultron, Pietro following close behind.
Ultron didn't even spare Alex another glance.
The metal doors slid shut behind them.
And just like that, Alex was alone.