Chapter 2: Locke Mastif

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(General P.O.V)

(The Avengers Compound)

(Upstate New York)

"Data suggests her powers begun as little more than telekinesis and some form of mind control."

Tony stated, pulling up video clips of Wanda during the fight against Ultron and the practice sessions afterwards.

"So how was she able to learn magic?"

Clint asked, doing maintenance on his bow.

"If, magic is even a real thing."

"Oh it's real alright. Remember Loki?"

Tony asked, sliding his hand over the plasma interface, producing files that showed the Asgardian prince performing magic.

"Illusions, the same mind control, energy blasts...it all matches. What we scanned in that warehouse shares the same vibrational frequency as most of what Loki could do."

Tony turned to face the rest.

"It was magic. Through and through. And if that isn't convincing enough, there's the-"

"Book."

Cap finished for him, entering the room with a black man dressed in all black and wearing an eye patch in town.

"Its called the Darkhold."

Nick Fury, director of Shield, revealed.

"A nasty piece of work. Two of my guys studying the motherfucking thing had a meltdown and started screaming about the end of all days."

He stepped up closer to the console. On one of the screens, Wanda was floating above the ground in a cell made of hard light. Her body was shrouded in scarlet energy.

"So, how is she?"

"She's doing fine."

Vision stated.

"Her biometrics are in flux but healthwise, she is at peak functionality."

"Right."

Fury nodded, throwing a weird look Vision's way.

"I've arrived with transport. Hand her over and I'll be out of your hair Avengers."

At his words, Tony and the others looked at each other.

"No can do Spyman."

The billionaire refused.

Fury frowned.

"Tony, you do realize she killed 2 people right? And from the statement you gave, it was not in self defense. She had a fucking demonic pentagram on the ground! And a book that has been making people crazy for centuries. So why oh why, is she exempt from justice? Or is it because she's an Avenger?"

"You're bloody righ-"

Tony begun, only for Cap to stop him by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"That's not what he meant Fury. No one's above the law. Least of all us."

The Super Soldier pointedly stared at his teammates.

"However, before we can hand her over, we need to know why she did what she did. Natasha and I will go in to talk to her."

Seeing that no one was objecting, Steve nodded before adding,

"Tony, you and Vision interrogate our other...guest."

"Other guest?"

Fury muttered in question.

"What other guest?"

-Locke Mastif-

Dreams.

My third psychiatrist thought I was lying, when I told her I had been dreaming about the same thing for the last 10 years of my life.

It had started just as I hit puberty.

Every night, I would find myself in a desolate world, the ground blackened, cracked and scalding hot.

The air- a cloying smoke filled atmosphere under a blood red sky with a half destroyed moon hanging overhead.

And I'm walking alone in this hellish landscape. Not knowing where I'm going or where I'm coming from.

And right before the dream ends, I look up and see her, a figure draped in a torn gown made of feathers, a black and red crown on her head and red eyes watching me intently.

Her face is beautiful. Too beautiful in fact. Yet it's a deadly kind of beauty.

I know, like I've always known that this woman, this thing, is dangerous.

She opens her lips and let's out a bloodcurdling scream full of hate, righteous anger and so much pain.

The pain is what overwhelms me and I wake up either on my bed or on the floor below it, covered in sweat.

The Psychiatrist like the two before her, prescribed me with anti-depressants that made me sluggish and sleepy and called it a day.

Yesterday I tried to kill myself.

Today I don't know where I am.

Or who these people are. Though, they look eerily familiar.

-0-

"I know this must be confusing and shocking to you, but I need to know, who are you?"

The Man asking the question had a pair of yellow tinted glasses, light stuble on his chin, a thin moustache and his black hair was smoothed out.

The bags under his eyes showed he hadn't had a good night sleep in a while. I could relate.

"Locke. Locke Mastif."

I answered, realizing that he and his partner were waiting on my reply.

"What is the last thing you remember Mr. Mastif?"

His partner asked. He had a clean shaven face and moved with a smoothness I had never noticed on anyone.

I stared down at my hands, they were bound by handcuffs attached to the table before me.

"Look, I realize I tried to off myself, but sending in two actors to talk to me is a bit extreme don't you think? I mean, who even put you up to this?"

The two of them shared a strange look, making me less confident in my initial assessment.

"Unless, the two of you aren't the real RDJ and Paul Bettany and I'm having another episode where I'm dreaming I'm in Marvel."

I chuckled at the absurd notion.

That kind of shit belonged in shitty fanfics. Though even a shitty fanfic was better than my real life.

Their silence was telling.

And then,

"I am flattered that you think I could be an actor, I do have the looks for it after all but," The Robert Downey Junior lookalike, pulled the chair on the other side of the table and sat down.

"Hate to burst your bubble kid, but this is real. I don't know what the hell Marvel is, but this, you, in this room in handcuffs is real. And so is this..."

Saying that, he tapped the side of his glasses and a holographic panel appeared in the air between us, floating in place.

A video file started playing.

It showed me, lying naked on a strange circle painted on the floor of an unfamiliar building.

And a woman, covered in a red energy standing before said circle. The second I saw her, I felt a jolt pass through my spine.

I knew her. I don't know how, but I KNEW her.

"What are you doing Wanda?"

The words came from a blonde haired man in a red, blue and white costume, with an A symbol on his forehead. Strapped to his arm was a star sprangled round shield.

The feed cut off.

I couldn't help but rub the sides of my temple in agitation.

"So, you mean to tell me, that that was Captain America?"

"Last I checked."

The RDJ lookalike shrugged.

"Which would make you Tony Stark, The billionaire."

I guessed.

"There's Philanthropist and Playboy somewhere in there but Bingo."

He confirmed, making my headache fully bloom.

What the fuck. Did I pass out drunk again?

I mean...looking around the room I was in, it didn't seem as if this was one giant nightmare like I was hoping.

So that means, this is actually real.

This is happening. And I'm starting to hyperventilate. Fuck.

Okay. I need to calm down.

My breath evened out as I repeated the Mantra I had learned from my brief stint in India. My family heard there were spiritual gurus who could help me with my condition, and financed the trip.

The dreams didn't stop but I did find a way to center myself whenever it got worse.

'I am here. With the ground. With the air. With life, I find a center. I am here. With the ground. With the air. With life, I find a center.'

And I could feel it working. Better than I was expecting infact. It felt as if there was something within me, a sort of anchor right above my chest that was pulsing, sending fiery red warmth across my body with every breath I took.

It was so strange. I could feel it lure me to someth-

"-Mr. Mastif!"

"What?-"

I looked around, realizing that I was on the floor and the handcuffs on my hands seemed to have been melted off, the end of the chain links still glowing red.

I looked up and my eyes widened like saucers.

Tony was still in his seat, hands folded on his chest while staring at me with a curious glint.

Beside him however, was what I would describe as a red skinned man in a blue body suit and yellow cape levitating inches above the ground.

"Vision put away the comicon cosplay, you're scaring our friend, Mr. Mastif."

Tony ordered and in the blink of an eye, Paul Bettany was back.

There's a saying, When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Gulping, I turned to face To- Iron Man.

"I'm guessing you want answers to something. Most likely why I appeared in that...building?"

He nodded, making me sigh in relief.

"As long as you don't hand me over to the authorities...I'll answer any and all questions you have."

I was especially worried about Shield/Hydra. If this was another world, I wanted Fury and his people as far away from me as possible.

Tony and Vision stared at each other.

"Okay. It's a deal."

The Iron-Man held out a hand for me to shake. I did, only for him to pull me up to my feet with surprising strength.

That's when I realized I wasn't wearing any shoes and the floor was cold. I was also hungry.

"Could I also get some food? If it's not too much trouble."

I requested.

Tony was just about to answer when a loud rumble rocked the building, throwing me against the table.

Alarms immediately begun to blare out, and Vision without a word, sank through the ground.

"Stay here."

Tony ordered before leaving through the door and closing it shut behind him.