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No Strings

Chapter One

I've got no strings to hold me down, there are no strings on me. There are no strings on me.

Ever since he could remember, it was Wanda and him against the world. Two orphans, two twins all alone in the world. They were really two parts of a whole-but they had no family, that was taking away from them. And it was all to blame to Tony Stark. He held onto the hate, that same thirst for revenge had gotten him and Wanda through so much. It wasn't until they were both eighteen that a whole new world opened up, a new opportunity for both of them, a chance to be better, to help people, to end the reign of others like Tony Stark. So when the experiments started, he was eager to sign up, he convinced himself then her. He changed with Wanda. They entered the world together, and if they were to die, it would be together.

At first all he felt was agony and pain, he could feel Wanda's pain as well. There, in Strucker's lab there were a mass of people, the number closer to twenty or so. Twenty hopefuls with a grudge match and a hunger for peace. Maybe there was a way to revolutionize Sokovia and change things for the better, to be a hero. At least, that was what they were told. They were naive, Pietro knew that now. When the experiments happened, all he could remember was pain. So much pain, day in and day out with little rest. Soon the numbers started decreasing and where there once was twenty were now ten and rapidly dropping. It turned out people weren't made to be pulled apart and reattached differently. In ways only seen in horror films but this was real life.

He still asked himself what made them special. How did they last when others couldn't? Was it the little picture he saw everyday? The one he kept in his pocket near his heart? Was it the memory of those two days he and his sister survived by clinging to life, unknowing whether they were to see the next day? However it happened, they lived and he had changed. His love of hope had faded a bit, he was no longer the same boy that walked in. He was fast. And fast meant better. Fast meant a new life, fast meant going anywhere he wanted to go. Wanda lived through and she was power. So much power and together they were holding a shot to live happier, to avenge the deaths of their family and to be safe.

But safety was overrated anyways, he knew this now. Safety was the first thing that got thrown out the window when chaos came knocking at the door. This time, knocking was skipped altogether in favor of kicking the door open. The Avengers- Earth's mightiest heroes. When he first met them, he scoffed. This group of discord and freaks were supposed to save everyone? Egos the size of countries was what that ramshackle group had. Because that was all they were to him. Killers wrapped up in technology and shiny costumes pretending they were doing the world a favor. How? They couldn't even stick together. They only pretended to be a big happy family. They fought and they expected to get peace from that? He hated them all. They lied and killed but he joined them because the alternative was worse and because Wanda saw Ultron for what he really was.

Ultron was just as flawed as the Avengers, they were on the same spectrum for disregarding life, tossing it aside as if it meant nothing. As if life was no more than a game to be toyed with. Wanda saw the good in them, she saw room for improvement, to actually change the world. She was always better with people than he was. Her heart was purer, kinder, more eager to see the good in others.

The Avengers, as they turned out, weren't so bad. Pietro liked Hawkeye the best, but he still didn't like Stark. He didn't think he could ever like him. Tony Stark was the reason for his suffering in the first place, he played God with his silly suit and ruined just as many lives as he saved. The Captain was nice enough, a bit righteous, but he genuinely wanted to help people and save the world. It was utterly naive. The rest of them were a blur, important enough but he wasn't there to make friends. He was there to save the world, to help people. In a way, the Avengers were like Strucker. Not evil of course, but then again, no one ever thought they were evil, everyone thought they were doing the right thing.

The problem was monsters never realized they were the monster until it was too late. Strucker promised to make a better world, that they, the Maximoff twins were destined for greatness. All lies, lies, and more lies.

It wasn't until almost too late he realized how bad everything was. It was his fault. When he was still in Sokovia, he was the one that persuaded Wanda to join in the experiments. He could have gotten her killed. The riots were nothing compared to this-this war. He was completely unprepared for actual war. War meant destruction and scars, scars that couldn't be healed by medicine or time. The kind that sat under the surface, waiting to reopen.

When all went to hell and the battle headed for home; he felt a sinking in his heart. It was just like when they were ten. He was certain that the Avengers were going to do the same, ignoring all the civilians and causing ultimate damage without a skip. Because that's what the world is. People die and there is hate and in order to get peace, death happens and war breaks out and destruction. But that didn't happen, well, not really, but there wasn't as much death as he predicted. When the fighting started and he was running and saving he felt a sense of completion. Was this what it was supposed to feel like? He was useful and it felt great.

He could tell the team enjoyed this as well, especially the Captain. He knew the Captain had a dark side to him, but he chose not to mention it. Wanda may have been able to read minds and connect with others, but he was good at reading people, he always was.

Pietro knew that saving people was his mission. He also knew that that was dangerous. Wanda was right, it was his- their job to save those that couldn't save themselves. So when the shooting happened and Barton had the boy, the boy he knew from the market, he had to do something. So he let himself be shot. He wasn't going to let the boy and the Hawkeye die when he could save them.

Wanda would have to forgive him. She had to. His only regret was that he had to break his promise and die without her. He remembered it hurt. When it was over, all he did was look them in the eye and say, "You didn't see that coming."

The he fell and he saw dark, the world faded around him when he heard his twin's scream of anguish.

He thought he was dead. That it was over. He thought he was in heaven, but he knew it couldn't be true because he was in so much pain. It hurt and it felt like his skin was stitching itself back together. Would he be in pain for all eternity, was this his punishment for his recklessness? It was cold and he was tied to something. He couldn't see very well, his vision was blurry and had random black spots everywhere. His eyes soon adjusted and he could see that the room he was in was a sterile white and it smelled clean. Too clean. Pietro's stomach churned at the scent. He turned his head at the sound of a small cough, which caused sharp pains to shoot up into his head. He had a massive headache that pounded.

There was another person next to him. Her back was to him and they were holding something, maybe a clipboard? Was she an angel? She could very well be the grim reaper, here to take his soul. The person turned their head slightly, she was beautiful. Her hair was massive and brown and everywhere. An idea came to mind, after all he wouldn't be him if he didn't do something like that. "Hello beautiful."

A slow half smile crept to his face when he saw her give a jump and let out a small scream.

She dropped her clipboard and swung her head towards him so rapidly he was impressed it didn't detach. Her eyes were wide as she picked up the clipboard before yelling out, "Dr. Cho! He's awake!" Pietro watched her walk over to him and check his pulse, he gave low groan at the pain in his head, but was pleasantly surprised at the small shock she gave him. How strange "Hello, I'm Dr. Granger, we're here to help you."

He was getting fainter and his sight was going again. He gave a weak nod and closed his eyes, he let the darkness surround him again. At least he was safe and alive. Wanda wouldn't have to forgive him after all.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Granger and we're here to help you." Hermione didn't know much about her patient. In her line of work, questions were rarely ever asked, more than likely, the answer wasn't very good. All she knew was that Clint dropped off the body, covered in multiple bullet wounds and demanded they help. Doctor Cho immediately started working, but Hermione wasn't sure of it. He was severely wounded, at death's door. How he was still breathing was a mystery to her.

Though, her patient seemed to heal faster, there were a few instances where his body rate seemed to give out and a number of steps would be taken to make sure he didn't die. Again. Magic certainly helped to stabilize him, but most of the time, muggle practices saved him. She only knew his age and his abilities. She didn't know his name or how he received his wounds, but she felt it was probably due to the spat between the Avengers and Ultron.

She had worked with S.H.I.E.L.D a few times, and those relations weren't warming and they were quickly severed when Nick Fury died. Apparently he was alive as well. Did no one stay dead anymore?

Still, working with Helen Cho was amazing and everything she ever wanted, nothing the magical world could provide her. She was making a difference, being a scientist and occasionally saving people. She was her own boss and had her agenda, something she didn't have before. She was free now. Free to do her own research and follow her passions, not just sit at a desk and file paperwork all day.

The young man in front of her certainly was handsome and she wished him a speedy recovery, whoever he was, he was important to the Avengers. Helen walked in, holding a muffin and trying to eat it as quickly as possible. Due to the nature of their work, they rarely had time to eat. "He awoke?"

"Yes, but he quickly went unconscious again. His vitals are good, so he was probably just tired." Hermione gratefully took the offered muffin.

"Did he say anything?" Hermione felt her face heat up.

"Um, just hello. Nothing too important. I'm sure he's just disoriented."

Dr. Cho nodded. "Keep me updated, if he wakes up again, tell me, and we'll go from there okay?"

"Of course." Dr. Cho left and Hermione continued checking over the man. She left the magical community because she couldn't handle the pressure and the outdatedness that was so typical. So many expected her to go into Law Enforcement, but she had enough of that thinking so she left and made almost no contact at all. She still used magic, that was something that would never change-it was a part of her, just like books and breathing were.

Hours passed and she was getting ready to leave when he woke up again. She didn't so much as see him as she heard him. She was walking back from the bathroom when she heard a loud clutter in his room. She rushed in and saw him lying on the floor with the IV on the ground. "Err, excuse me, just what exactly are you doing?"

"I'm lying on the ground, as you can see." smartass.

"Yes, yes, but why?"

"The ground is so much nicer, don't you think?"

Hermione had to roll her eyes, it was like being around Malfoy again. "We're you trying to leave? Don't lie to me."

"I was. I tripped, normally, you wouldn't see me. I'm fast."

"Of course you are. You still are weak from whatever happened to you."

"I got shot. I'm fine now, I have to see her." A girlfriend maybe? Whatever it was, he was in no state

to be there.

"See who?"

"My sister, she's probably worried sick."

"Oh? Well, I am not allowed to let you go and she'll be more worried to see that you haven't healed all the way and insist on moving around."

"You're a doctor no?"

"Well yes. "

"So let me go." Like it was that easy. And did he really ignore my other words?

It wasn't that simple. She didn't even know his name, much less let him wander around South Korea. "I don't even know your name."

He looked surprised, "No one told you my name?" The intensity in his eyes made her want to blush.

"No, Barton just dropped you off a week ago and let you heal."

"Barton?" He looked skeptical.

"Yes, you should be fine now, we patched you up fine, but the problem was you not waking up. The pain you probably feel is the tenderness from the wounds. That you don't have. Anymore."

"My name is Pietro Maximoff." Merlin, even his name was hot. Get a grip on yourself Granger, he's your patient and he's probably hurt.

"Well, I'm Hermione Granger." She helped Pietro get up and sat him on the bed. She pulled out her stethoscope. "Take a few deep breaths for me." His heart was fine, and all his vitals checked out.

"Okay, you seem to be in perfect condition. I can get a hold of Clint tomorrow, and they can take you to your sister. Meanwhile, you can stay here overnight."

"Do I have to?"

"Have to what?" She was slightly confused. Was that not the standard procedure everywhere else?

"Stay here."

"Yes."

"Why?" Was he always like this? He asked more question then that Rita Skeeter.

"Because you can't just wander around, anything can happen, and you still can get hurt. For MErlin's sake, you just woke up after being nearly dead for a week."

"I dislike hospitals and clinics, besides, I need to shower in a place no so white." Hermione bit her lip. Maybe she could offer him to stay at her spare bedroom? She had multiple homes around the world, and currently, she was staying a few blocks from the lab. She spent her time between here and Stark Tower where she invented with Tony and Bruce. But she hadn't been there since before the Ultron attacks.

"Well..." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Well what?"

What could it hurt? Helen had left, Hermione checked him in a good physical state, and she was contacting the Avengers tomorrow. It wouldn't hurt. Besides, she was more than capable of protecting them if anyone were to attack. "If you wanted to, maybe, if you want, I only live a few blocks away from here, you can sleep in the spare bedroom just for tonight? While I make contact with Clint? Only if you want to. You don't have to."

He was silent and Hermione groaned internally. She probably freaked him out. She didn't even know him. Was she just going to start inviting random strangers to her home? Albeit handsome strangers, but still! But he couldn't be a bad person, Clint wouldn't have brought him if he was a villain. "Okay."

"Okay what?"

"I will sleep at your place. Thank you."

"Oh! Well, okay. Here, let's get you some clothes." She turned around and pulled out the clothes he was brought in, she muttered an inconspicuous reparo on his torn clothes and handed them to him.

"The bathroom is right there if you-" She widened her eyes as he just pulled his pants on and peeled off the hospital gown to pull on his shirt. She blushed and turned away from his very, very nice body. She was a doctor for Merlin's sake.

"Yes?" He turned towards her.

"Er, never mind. Well, that's it. Are you ready?" He nodded and she turned to the door and started walking. Hopefully, he was right behind her. She left the lab and started walking down the street.

"So, what do you do?" She looked at Pietro.

"Well, I'm a scientist."

"What do you study?" She wondered whether she should tell him she mainly studied in muggle/magical advances in technology.

"Things." She almost immediately slapped herself in her mind. Could she sound any more rude?

"Oh? Anything I would know of? I too know things." Was he? Was he flirting? Hermione shook her head, she really needed to make more human interactions.

"I doubt it. My study of things is extremely complex and volatile. Really high level stuff." He was smiling now.

"I would like to see that. Maybe someday."

"Uh, yeah." They walked in a slightly awkward silence and Hermione felt relief when she saw her little house coming up. "Okay, so this is my neighborhood, be a bit quiet, Mrs. Tran is a huge gossip and she'll take joy in seeing you." She ignored his raised eyebrow and walked up to her porch. She opened the door and stepped inside. "So, this is it. This is my house, it's not much, but it's home."

"I like it. It's cozy and more than I ever had."

"Oh. Where did you grow up?"

"Sokovia. It's not much, but it's home." He said, repeating her words back to her. He scanned the room. Ah, that explains it-Sokovia was just recently attacked. He must have gotten hurt there.

This Hermione was surprisingly nice. He wasn't very used to nice people. People weren't just nice, they all wanted something in return. He wondered what exactly she wanted. She offered him her home without even knowing him. So either she was welcoming or stupid. And he didn't think she was the latter. He liked her house well enough. It was cozy and very distinct. The first thing he noticed were the books.

There were books everywhere. They lined the walls and some were on the coffee table. The house felt welcoming and- Something caught Pietro's eyes, was that picture moving? They weren't on a loop, the people kept doing different faces. Come to think of it, the house felt different. Not bad, just powerful. It radiated something. That brought him to the thought of his clothes.

He was shot. He remembered that clearly, yet his clothes should have holes on them, they were still a bit bloody from where he had bled, so they couldn't be new clothes. There were no stich marks he could see. Hermione was over by the kitchen boiling water for tea. He looked around the house and noticed the strange titles on some of the books. Was she a mutant? Was she an Enhanced like him? He saw one of the dishes float to her.

"What are you?" He had to restrain a smile when the pretty doctor jumped about a foot into the air.

"Quit doing that! What do you mean?"

"I noticed the pictures and the books. I noticed the dish float towards you, and I noticed my clothes don't have holes on them. So what are you? Are you an Enhanced?" She stared at him blankly.

"I'm sorry, a what?"

"What I am." She shook her head at him.

"No, I am not like you, I'm a witch."

"What?" Now he was confused. What did she mean by that?

"Well, more like a sorceress. I was born it and there's a whole magical community. But, I don't belong there, so I do some freelance work." That made more sense.

"Okay."

She gaped at him. "Okay? Just like that?"

"I'm not following, just like what?"

"Most of the time people call me crazy and expect me to do some spell. You have no idea the tests the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D put me through."

"I wouldn't mind seeing a magic trick or two." He gave her a smirk and watched her flush slightly. It was fun to rile her up. "Do you have a wand too?"

"Yes I do." She turned to the cabinets to get some tea, "here." She pulled a thin stick and waved it slightly. Some clothes flew into her hands. "These are pajamas, they're Harry's but I think they should fit." Who was Harry? Was it her lover? Pietro felt oddly strange about the fact that she might have another person in her life. Which was odd, he only just met her. His little guardian angel. He took the clothes from her. "So the bathroom is right- do you always do that?"

"Do what?" Pietro asked as he pulled off his shirt and pulled on the t-shirt she handed him. He made to pull off his pants when she gave a small eep! and turned away from him.

"Strip right in front of people?" Pietro moved to shrug but then realized she couldn't see him. He pulled on the pants.

"You can look." It was humorous to see Hermione so flustered, "It's something I don't even realize I'm doing. The shirt fits fine, but the pants are a little short." As soon as he said that, the pants became longer when she waved her wand.

"Good?"

"It's good." Her power was pretty convenient and he wondered whether it could do other things, was there a limit and what else could she do?

"Great, so follow me, your bedroom is over this way." Pietro followed Hermione down the narrow hallway and into the small bedroom. There was a bed and not much in it, but he didn't need anything else. Tomorrow he was going to see Wanda. He proved her wrong, his promise to her was unbroken. He would live to die with her. Suddenly tomorrow couldn't come by faster.

"Thank you Hermione, for your kindness."

He noticed her cheeks tint a bit. "I- You're welcome. If you need anything, I'm right down the hall. I'll leave you to it. Good night."

"Good night." He plopped on the bed and wondered if he ran, he could make it to Wanda and the rest of the Avengers if he started now and ran all night. He quickly scrapped the idea; he had no idea where they even were, Hermione had the only true link to them, there was no reason for him to leave and be impatient. Besides, it would be rude to Hermione, she offered him her home when he didn't have anywhere to stay.

He decided that staying would be the best action to take, so he went to sleep.

Pietro was something. That much Hermione could tell. He was charming and sarcastic, but she could tell he cared about his sister. She knew he wanted to get to the Avengers as fast as possible, but that just wasn't possible right now. She was in no mood to go barging in in the middle of the night to deliver him to his little team. It would just have to wait.

Having him in her home made her a bit nervous, it had been a long time since she had a male in her home. Harry stopped visiting her when he got married to Ginny. She suspected that was Ginny's doing. She occasionally floo called him, but it was nothing like before. She hadn't spoken to him in months now. No one ever told her that being an adult was so lonely. They all told her she was destined for greatness, but they never said she would be all alone if she didn't follow the path they planned out for her. She was all alone in this world. Getting out of the Wizarding World made your friends slowly but surely lose contact with you.

But for all its imperfections, it was once home. She once belonged there, there were Weasley Sunday dinners, there were eager Hogwarts students at Diagon Alley, magic creatures ready to learn about, places to explore. There were warm, friendly, interactions with fellow witches and wizards. But that was only if you were the same. People like Luna were treated differently because they weren't the same. She, had once treated Luna the same, like a second rate citizen simply because she read The Quibbler. She still felt so ashamed of that. Now, she was treated the same.

She didn't belong anywhere.

Wanda didn't know how to work or do anything anymore. When Pietro died, she died along with him. Working with the Avengers helped just a little bit. She could focus all her anger on hurting bad people, she could make them hurt and she could make them scared, just like she was. Pietro was all she had and he was gone. She didn't attend the funeral, she didn't even know if there was a funeral. It was never mentioned and she never asked. That would make it too real-acknowledging his death was the last thing she wanted to do.

She was a witch, people feared her and her abilities. They watched her like she was a ticking time bomb. Ignoring the whispers and the scared looks had always been easier with her twin. For the first time, she would have to face them herself

Her powers were great and she hated them. All these things she could do, all these things she could make others see, she couldn't save him, she couldn't bring him back and he was just gone. One minute they were joking and the next, he was dead. She wanted to be angry at the Archer for letting that happen, but she knew Pietro wouldn't like it. It was his choice to sacrifice himself.

So she wasn't angry at him. She was angry at everyone else, mostly at Strucker. If she had known, she would have killed him slower. It was all his fault. He was the reason the riots happened, he was the reason they had powers, and he was the reason Pietro was dead.

Hermione woke up to screams. She jolted out of her bed and wildly looked around before pulling out her wand. She ran out to the hall and went the direction the screams were coming from. They were coming from the guest room-Pietro's screams. She burst into the room and saw no one but him in the bed. He was having a nightmare. Pietro was shaking and clutching the sheet in his hands.

Her own nightmares were pushed aside and she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

She dropped her wand and made her way to the bed and sat down next to him. It's just like when Harry had nightmares, she thought, her heart twisting. "Pietro." She lightly touched his hand. "Pietro? Wake up." She said gently. She went to touch him a little firmer and he suddenly woke up and pinned her under him with his arm at her throat. Hermione let out a scream before the air was slowly getting squeezed out of her. "Pietro!" She wheezed and tried to pry his arm off her throat.

He seemed to come to himself. "Hermione? What's going on?" His accent was thicker in his sleep. "What are you doing here?"

"I can't breathe!" Pietro's eyes widened. He quickly released his hold on her and sat up, straddling her legs. "Ugh, Thanks, you were having a nightmare. I heard the screams and came to help." Hermione gave a weak cough and gave him a reassuring smile.

Pietro avoided her gazed and turned his face away, seemingly upset. "Oh. I'm sorry I woke you."

"No! It's fine. I used to get them, well I still do, I'm just surprised you didn't hear them tonight. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, not really. Maybe another time." She was surprised to see that he looked lost and a bit sad.

"Okay. Do you want me to stay?" Why would I say that? I don't even know him that well! Granger, what is going through your head? She completely regretted that now.

"What?"

"Nothing! I just thought, since human contact made it easier for me when I had a nightmare that it might be the same for you?"

"Wouldn't your boyfriend get mad?"

What was he talking about? "What boyfriend?"

"Harry."

She wanted to laugh so bad, and she thought he knew that because his eyebrows crinkled in annoyance. "Harry is not my boyfriend. He was my best friend. We went our separate ways. I don't have a boyfriend."

"Oh."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No. Stay."

Her heart beat faster. "Are you sure?"

"Maybe it will help me sleep. It's worth a shot."

"Okay." Hermione gestured for him to get off her legs and he flushed when he realized he was still on her. Hermione scooted over to the left side of the bed anNo d he settled next to her. She was rigid and afraid of touching her until he pulled her right against his chest and she willed her heart to stop beating so fast. It wasn't until she felt his heart rate slow down that she knew he was asleep. She relaxed a bit more and allowed his arms tighten around her.

It was...nice. Yes, it was nice to finally allow herself some much needed human contact. All she needed to convince herself that this was entirely selfless. Just a way to help someone in need.

Tomorrow she would contact Clint, but tonight, she hoped Pietro would have no more nightmares.

This is yet another crossover. I love crossovers. I recently watched Avengers the Age of Ultron and fell completely in love with it. I loved the dialogue and the characters, especially the twins. So this is more of an What if? Type of story. What if Hermione was low key working with the Avengers and Shield. This is honestly more of a crack-fic and crack-ship more than anything. But I really hope you guys like it, I'm branching out, and this is probably going to be five chapters. Very quick and simple.

And yeah, their relationship is probably progressing super fucking fast, but eh, I like the pace and it's not even a real relationship at this point. All Pietro cares about is getting to Wanda, and though he may find Hermione attractive, she's not a huge aspect of his life right now. Hermione doesn't know him and I feel like she wouldn't just jump into a relationship without thinking shit through, you know?

So Read, review, follow, favorite, whatever you want.