  The cold concrete walls of the hydra facility were damp with the chill of the ocean that surrounded them, deep beneath the surface. Nighttime made the facility feel even more isolated, with only the quiet hum of machines and distant footsteps breaking the silence. Alec shifted in his seat, his wrists bound behind him in heavy cuffs that bit into his skin. His shoulders ached from the strain, but his expression remained calm, almost indifferent, as Oksana, one of hydra’s assistants, approached with his dinner.
  Oksana was quiet as she worked, setting a small tray on the ground next to him. She had done this for several nights now, feeding him while keeping a professional, distant demeanor. Tonight, however, Alec felt a shift in the air, a quiet opportunity hovering between them.
– You don’t have to do this, you know. – the boy began softly, his voice barely above a murmur as she crouched beside him, preparing to feed him – Feeding me like some kind of animal.
Oksana didn’t respond, her sharp eyes avoiding his as she lifted a spoonful of food toward his lips. Alec leaned forward slightly, taking the food without protest, but his gaze never left her.
– Do you ever wonder why they keep me locked up like this? – he continued, his tone smooth, casual – With my hands bound, trapped in a cell like I’m some kind of monster?
Her brow furrowed, and Alec could see her resolve flickering. She shook her head.
– You’re dangerous. Everyone knows what you can do. – the russian accent made its presence in her words.
Alec chuckled softly, a disarming sound that made Oksana glance at him, if only for a moment.
– I’m dangerous? I haven’t hurt anyone here. Have I hurt you, Oksana?
She hesitated, and for the first time, her eyes met his.
That was all he needed.
The moment their gazes locked, he reached out with his mind, letting the hypnotic pull of his power seep through his gaze, gentle and insistent. He could feel her mind yielding, her will weakening under the influence of his power.
– You don’t have to be afraid of me. – he said, his voice slipping into her mind like a whisper – You can trust me.
Oksana’s body stiffened slightly, her eyes widening before her expression relaxed. Her grip on the spoon faltered, and she blinked, as if struggling to understand the sudden sense of ease that washed over her.
– How many guards are here, Oksana? – he asked quietly.
– There are… sixty-six guards stationed throughout the facility. – she replied in a dull, obedient tone.
– Sixty-six. – he murmured, filing away the information – And… the facility itself? How big is it?
– It’s… large. There are three main sectors. Two for research and… one for containment.
– And we’re in the containment sector? – Alec prompted, keeping his voice soft, careful not to break the trance.
– Yes. – Oksana whispered. – Everything is reinforced with steel and designed to withstand immense pressure.
– Pressure? – he asked, his voice a gentle prod, even as his mind pushed her deeper under his sway.
– Yes. We’re beneath the ocean. At an underwater cave off the coast of the Mediterranean. – she whispered, her voice barely more than a murmur.
Alec’s mind whirred, processing the pieces falling into place.
– And how do I get out of here, dear? Is there a way?
She hesitated, her face clouded with uncertainty as her mind tried to resist. Alec’s gaze sharpened, his voice unwavering.
– You can tell me, Oksana. I’m your friend, remember?
The last bit of her resistance crumbled. She nodded slowly.
– There’s an access tunnel near the east wing. It leads to an escape pod in case of emergencies.
A faint smile touched Alec’s lips. He had what he needed, but he knew better than to celebrate just yet. He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering to a near whisper.
– You’re going to help me, aren’t you, Oksana? You’re going to unlock these cuffs when the time is right.
– Yes… – she agreed, her mind completely his now.
– Good. – Alec whispered – Now, forget this conversation happened. Leave, just like you always do.
Oksana blinked, a slow nod before she stood up, moving mechanically as she picked up the tray and stepped back toward the door.
Alec leaned back against the cold wall, his wrists still bound, but his mind was already free. He had the information he needed, and now, it was only a matter of time before he found a way out of this underwater prison.
•••
The kitchen was filled with the comforting aroma of herbs and spices as Wanda Maximoff moved gracefully around the counter, chopping vegetables with deft precision. The soft sound of sizzling echoed from the stovetop, but her focus was split, her thoughts heavy with concern. Pietro paced back and forth, his quicksilver energy evident in the rapid movements of his feet, his brow furrowed in agitation.
– You’re going to wear a hole in the floor. – she said, raising an eyebrow.
Pietro glanced at her, exasperated.
– How can you be so calm about this? Alec’s gone! Who knows what hydra’s doing to him?
Wanda shrugged, but there was a tension in her shoulders that betrayed her calm exterior.
– I’m worried, too, Pietro. But he’s tough. He can handle himself.
– Yeah, maybe. – Pietro muttered, dropping onto the couch beside her – But you know them. They won’t stop until they’ve broken him.
Wanda was silent for a moment, her gaze distant.
– He’s been through worse, you know. Hydra might think they’re in control, but Alec is… unpredictable. – Pietro frowned, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
– You sound like you know him better than I thought.
Wanda hesitated, stirring the pot before looking at her brother, her expression softening.
– Well… I guess I know him a little better than you do. – her brother’s brow furrowed.
– What does that mean?
– Alec and I… we’ve trained together a lot. We spent a more time together and we’ve gotten… closer. – she switched the language to sokovian and Pietro raised an eyebrow.
– Okay… how much more time are we talking about?
Wanda looked away, biting her lip for a second before letting out a breath.
– It wasn’t serious or anything, but we, uh… we slept together.
The silence that followed was heavy and immediate. Pietro froze in place, his blue eyes going wide as he processed her words.
– What!?
Wanda rolled her eyes at his dramatic reaction, but a small smirk tugged at her lips.
– It was just casual, Pietro. No feelings, no attachment. It just… happened.
– Just happened? – Pietro sputtered, throwing his hands up in disbelief – You and Alec and- what!?
Wanda shrugged, her expression far too casual for Pietro’s liking.
– It wasn’t a big deal. We’re both adults, and it didn’t change anything between us.
Pietro stared at her, slack-jawed.
– Are you serious right now? My baby sister and Alec Stark? – Wanda snorted at that, rolling her eyes.
– I’m not a baby, Pietro. And you barely even know him.
– That’s not the point! – Pietro exclaimed, still trying to wrap his head around the revelation – I mean… Alec? He’s… I don’t even know what to say. I thought you two didn’t really-
– We didn’t. – Wanda interrupted, her voice firm but not defensive – It wasn’t about feelings. We’re not… together, if that’s what you’re worried about.
Pietro dropped into a chair, rubbing his face with both hands as if trying to wipe away the surprise.
– Wow. Okay. That’s like, a lot to process.
Wanda chuckled lightly.
– You’re making this a much bigger deal than it is.
– Well, excuse me. – Pietro said, his voice muffled behind his hands – I didn’t expect you to casually drop a bomb on me like that.
Wanda leaned forward, her tone softening.
– Look, it didn’t mean anything, but he’s still a friend. And I’m worried about him, just like you are.
Pietro let out a long breath, sitting back in the chair as he looked at his sister.
– Yeah. I guess. I just… didn’t see this coming.
– Neither did I. – Wanda admitted, giving him a small smile – But you know what? Alec is tough. He’ll find a way back.
Pietro looked at her for a long moment before shaking his head in disbelief, a hint of a grin finally breaking through his shock.
– You and Alec… who would’ve thought? – Wanda’s smile widened.
– Don’t get any ideas. It was a one-time thing. – Pietro chuckled.
– Oh, trust me, I don’t want to think about it. But still… wow.
Wanda shrugged, leaning back into the counter, the tension between them easing into something lighter.
– Yeah. Wow.
•••
Peter Parker sat in the waiting room of the Xavier Institute, his legs bouncing with nervous energy. He had been anxiously waiting for news about Alec since his last conversation with Professor Xavier. The walls were adorned with various pieces of art, and the atmosphere was both tranquil and charged with the promise of hope.
When the door opened, Charles Xavier appeared, his wheelchair gliding smoothly into the room. He wore a thoughtful expression, and Peter immediately stood up, his heart racing.
– Peter, – the man said, gesturing for him to sit back down – I have some information about Alec.
– You found him? Where is he? – Peter felt a surge of anticipation.
– Cerebro has allowed me to partially locate his presence. – Xavier explained, his tone steady but cautious – He’s being held in a Hydra facility hidden under the ocean, not far from the Mediterranean coast. It’s heavily guarded, but we have a starting point.
– Under the ocean? – Peter echoed, a mix of relief and dread washing over him – How deep?
– About two miles down. – Xavier replied – It’s a well-concealed base, and there are numerous security measures in place. You will need a solid plan to get him out. – Peter nodded, determination setting in.
– Thank you, Professor. This is huge. I’m going to tell Tony and the others right away.
Xavier offered a reassuring smile.
– You’re welcome, Peter. Just be careful. Hydra will be on high alert, especially if they suspect anyone is looking for Alec.
– I will. – Peter promised, already moving toward the door – I appreciate everything you’ve done. We won’t let them keep him for long.
As he stepped outside, Peter’s mind raced with possibilities and strategies. He needed to assemble the team, and they had to act fast. The cool air hit his face as he made his way to the train station, determination fueling his steps.
With his web-shooters, he activated the communications system and sent a message to Tony, calling for an urgent meeting. “Tony, we need to talk. It’s about Alec. Meet me at the avengers’ compoundASAP!”. Within minutes, Peter received a response. “On my way. Make it quick, kid.”
Peter arrived at the facility, his heart pounding as he burst through the doors. Tony and the other avengers were already gathered, a mixture of concern and curiosity evident on their faces.
– Peter! – Tony called, rushing over – What’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.
– I’ve got news about Alec. – Peter said, drawing in a deep breath – Xavier was able to locate him through Cerebro. He’s being held in a hydra facility, two miles underwater, in the Mediterranean Sea.
The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Natasha Romanoff leaned forward, her expression intense.
– Two miles underwater? That’s going to be tricky.
– Yeah, and it’s heavily guarded. – Peter continued, his voice steadying – But we finally have a lead. We need to come up with a solid plan to get him out before they realize we’re onto them.
Steve Rogers, standing beside Natasha, nodded resolutely.
– Then we’ll need to gather intel on the facility. We can’t rush in blindly.
– I’ll work on tech to breach their security. – Tony said, his mind already racing with ideas – We’ll need a distraction to draw attention away while someone gets Alec out.
– Count me in for the rescue. – Clint added, crossing his arms – We can’t leave him down there.
– Exactly. – Peter said, a renewed sense of hope blossoming within him – We can do this. Alec is counting on us.
As the avengers began to strategize, Peter felt a surge of determination. They were a team, and together, they would bring Alec back, no matter the odds.
•••
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