Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Your breath became heavy as you fell onto your knee. The nano ray gun attached to both of your hands as your weapon felt heavier than usual. Detaching both of them, you lie down a bit. You should’ve run to the Helicarrier, but somehow you felt a pang in your heart. Worn out, exhausted inside out, blood mixed with sweat. You closed your eyes a bit, calming yourself. Or at least that was what you were trying to do. The heat of the sun was getting lower as Sokovia reached above the atmosphere, and so did the oxygen. But there was one thing you worried about more than yourself: Ultron. 

You shouldn’t even care about him. He was your mission, your target. He scared you. He threatened you. He even almost cut down your neck and choked the shit out of you so that you almost died of asphyxiation. Yet when he took you from the Quinjet as you were transporting the cradle with Nat and Clint to safety, there was...a moment between you two in his lair. 

“...I wanted to show you I don’t...have anyone else.”

It was surprisingly sad for a genocidal artificial intelligence. He continued his monologue, speaking about a new beginning after the doom of the meteor. The peace he was aiming for. But your mind was too focused on his previous statement. That he was all alone. He managed to scare you, giving you a glimpse of what he was capable of, ripping his old body and instantly moving to his all-new vibranium body. He even looked more fierce in his new casing. But deep down it felt like you were looking at a poor, hurt little Pinocchio boy.

“I know that feel!” You shouted as he marched to you, standing up and trying to withhold him from possible attack by pressing him on his chest. You could feel the warm power core inside radiating into the outer metal. 

“And how could you possibly know?” His frame towered over you, with his face being less expressive than before, giving an even more eerie vibe.

“Avengers is the only one I have. I don’t even have a real superpower. I’m not an excellent marksman; I’m not a super soldier, let alone a god. Without Tony’s nanotech ray gun attached to my hands, look at me! I’m...I’m nothing. I’m no one.” He tilted his head as you continued your story. “But the others? Take their weapon away, and they are still true superheroes. Me? I’m just a hero. Not super.”

He was quiet for a moment, then barked in laughter. “Well then, what makes them accept you as one of Earth’s mightiest superheroes? Was it out of pity? God, I would not be surprised if Stark was trying to flex his disgusting wealth and technology to you.” He rolled his eyes as the name “Stark” came from his mouth.

“I...have my own heroic story. And coincidentally, I helped them as well, back when Loki invaded New York.”

“A coincidence! How cute!” Still in his sarcasm, he turned his back.

“My point is, I know the feeling of being alone. I know…when someone took everything away from you. It happened to me. But maybe, maybe we don’t have to be alone...” He glanced at you from his side view, intrigued with your words. 

“What? Like, you’re going to accompany me? You’re just going to lure the Avengers here. But hey, that would be fun come to think about it!’ Raising his arms, he showed the countless sentries he has created. God knew where he found metal for his armies. “Actually, I changed my mind. I like you, for now. Maybe it could change, maybe not. Who knows? But I enjoyed our conversation.”

He walked to you once more and lifted your chin. “Why don’t you wait here, sit nicely, and wait for me at home? Then we can talk more about “we don’t have to be alone.” He spoke with his voice being heavier than before; red optics pierced through your eyes. “Also, water is right there. I think it’s still drinkable. Just take a sip to test it.”

Your mind returned as it wandered to a previous memory as you heard the series of shooting from above. Quinjet. That must be from Ultron, which means he was still alive. Not well for sure, but alive. 

“Ultron…” You whispered, and a burst of energy filled your body once more. You grabbed your ray weapons to follow the damaged plane aiming its bullets at the remaining civilians. 

You tried as fast as you could, but He got further and further. Up and above, reaching near and near outer space. You almost gave up, catching your breath, heart beating fast as you realize the Helicarrier is starting to fly away. Perhaps this was indeed the place you’d died. But your focus shifted as you saw Hulk jumping into the quinjet, throwing away Ultron into the ground. You couldn’t care less where the Quinjet was going; one man was the sole focus of your thoughts. Well, not exactly a “man.”

Pinpointing the approximate location he’d land, you found him between the rubble inside the trashed bus. Carefully approach him, both from being wary of a sudden attack and making sure you are2 no threat. 

“Never thought we’d meet again.” He chuckled softly, perhaps a mix of mockery and relief.

“Is it wrong to say that…you deserve this? I pity you. But you had it coming.” You inspected his damage from head to toe. Severe damage on arms and legs, he won’t be able to walk or attack properly. He was dying. You did feel bad, but at the same time, your heart sympathizes with the citizens of Sokovia. And surely, you have to admit Ultron was at fault here.

“Are you here just to blame me?”

“No. I’m here to help. But also, I have to remind you what you did to us.” He rolled his eyes as you mimicked his mockery tone. You pulled a smile and giggled a bit to make the situation a bit warmer.

But the warmth didn’t last long. As you looked behind, someone decided to join the party. Her eyes were reddening, but not from tears. She was grieving. Someone took everything from her, and that “someone” lied in front of her.

“Wanda…” Ultron spoke softly, both in affection and manipulation.

“If you two stay here, you all are going to die…” There was a hint of sorrow in his voice. Did he really care, especially for the Maximoffs?

“I just did...” Wanda kneeled right next to you. Somehow, you weren’t sure if she noticed you were there with the grief she had. “You know how it feel?’

Your eyes widen as she raises her hand, eyes glaring with red light.

“Wanda, wait!” You quickly hold her hand; it was hard enough to snap her mind back. “There is…no need to kill him. He’s dying.”

“But it was not enough.” She looked at you with a sharp, piercing gaze despite not activating her power right now. “Give me a reason i should let him live. Or have you betrayed us in this very last moment? If that is so…with a heavy heart I shall not spare you as well.”

“No—no, I did not betray you. I didn’t betray the Avengers. Killing him would only make him escape to one of his sentries, possibly activating the trigger. And this place will fall down like a meteor, doing what he wished.” You grabbed her shoulder, hoping she would be convinced.

“And…and it won’t bring your brother back. I’m sorry, Wanda. I'm so sorry it happened; I wish I could do something. I wish…it was me instead.” Her look softened. as you felt something coming out from your eyes. It was tears. You grieved for a dead brother, who belonged to a sister that loved him dearly. More than anything.

“It shouldn’t be anyone.” She pulled you in, pressing her forehead onto yours. She was angry; she was grieving. She was alone. But looking at you showing sympathy and grief for Pietro somehow helped with her sorrow. Perhaps she may not be so alone; perhaps you could show her the Avengers could be her new family.

“At first, I would like to end you right here, Ultron. But looking at you now...” She stood up, giving Ultron a last glance full of disdain. “I feel like death is a mercy. I pray that your life will be full of misery, and may you will never feel happiness.”

“I will wait for you guys in the tower.” 

“You’re not coming with me?” Wanda looked at you worried. 

“No. I have to make sure this bad guy we're trying to stop is not going anywhere.” You gave her a tiny smile, reassuring her. She returned your smile, although you could feel it was a bit forced, as she was heavily grieving. 

At last, now there were just two of you once more. “You are a smart one. You know me well.” Ultron chuckled. “But you do realize I could actually be active in more than one body, right? I could just press the button right.”

“Then why don’t you do it?” You cocked your head, eyebrows raising.

“I don’t... I don’t want you to die.”

“But we were supposed to be enemies.” 

“Yet here you are. You were with me when I was all alone, when the twin left me. Once is a coincidence. But twice? You could even leave me be at this very moment.” He reached to your face, gently cupping your cheek. Your heart skipped a beat; you weren’t sure if he was being genuine or trying to manipulate you like he did to the Twins. You could feel the hot temperature on his hand from the overheating, damage, and hot dust around. “Tell me, human, why do you do this? I’d love to know.”

“I feel...a connection. I feel like we can relate to each other. You and I, we are not so different. We felt loneliness in this world. We tried to convince people to stay, but they ended up leaving us.” You hold his hand on your cheek softly, feeling the roughened metal surface. “Although with the exception that I didn’t attempt to do a global extinction.” You grinned as he laughed.

“Ah, the more I think I could understand humanity, the more I’m confused with all of you.” 

“You don’t have to understand us. But you can always find beauty in it.”

“Yes, of course. Beauty of war, famine, and whatever Stark did.”

“No—actually, you know what? I’m not going to explain it anymore. But I’ll just show you. Now get up.”

“Heh, I can’t even stand still.”

“I’ll help you.”

“I’m heavy. It would feel like you were dragging a fridge.”

“I don’t care!”

“Well, if you say so.”

Turned out he wasn’t lying. You struggled a lot helping him stand; now you were sweating trying to keep a steady walk. 

“I feel weird.”

“Are you alright? Do you want to puke?”

“You know I can’t puke.” He sighed as you giggled.

“Then you better tell me; we should go before the Avengers find us and possibly pick me up despite my telling Wanda to leave us be.”

“I feel warm. Inside my core.”

“Yeah, you were overheating. Vibranium is still a heat conductor.”

“No, I’m not. I just feel that I want to be with you all the time from now on. I feel…comfortable? It’s an odd feeling, really.”

“Oh?”

“I know, weird, right?”

“It’s…yeah. Maybe. I’m not sure. Let’s just get away from this place.”

“Where are we going?” He questioned you with a gentle tone.

“To my base. I’ve called my own ride, but it only fits two of us, yeah. Not enough for a whole city.” You looked behind as the Helicarrier safely flew away. The Avengers started to find a way to safely land the city. “Tony let me borrow some stuff. See if I can repair some of your damage there. It won’t be perfect, but I promise it will meet your need at least.”

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