Н“‚Н“Ž Н’¹Ð‘’Н’¶Ð“‡ Н“ˆð“…Н’¾Ð’¹Ð‘’Н“Ž – Н“…. Н“…Н’¶Ð“‡Ð“€Ð‘’Н“‡ chapter 13

The early morning sunlight streamed faintly into Alec’s bedroom when the door creaked open, followed by the unmistakable click of Tony Stark’s footsteps. Alec stirred slightly, eyes still closed, but his lips curled into a lazy smile. Lying on either side of him were a girl with bright pink hair and a guy with a tattooed sleeve, both fast asleep. Tony crossed his arms, taking in the scene with a heavy sigh.

– Alright, Romeos and Juliet, rise and shine. – he announced.

The strangers jolted awake, confusion quickly shifting to horror as they realized who stood before them. Alec propped himself up on his elbows, rubbing his eyes with a smirk.

– Sorry, loves. – he said with an amused shrug, glancing at Tony’s unimpressed expression.

– Alec, we need to talk. – Tony said through gritted teeth, gesturing for the pair to make their exit. They gathered their things hastily, offering Alec awkward waves before hurrying past Tony and out of the room – Do you have any idea what you’re doing?

Alec rolled his eyes, already putting on sweatpants.

– Yeah, dad, it’s called having a social life.

– This isn’t a college dorm, Alec. You’ve turned the compound into your personal playground!

– Uh-huh. – Alec shrugged nonchalantly, slipping out of bed. He knew where this conversation was heading, and he had no intention of sticking around to hear it – Look, I’m gonna get some coffee. You coming?

– Oh, I’m not done talking, Alec. – Tony snapped as Alec strolled past him. He followed Alec down the hall, still giving his stern lecture, but the boy barely reacted, muttering a quiet “yep, yep,” under his breath as he headed straight for the kitchen.

As they entered, Natasha and Clint were casually sipping their coffee, watching the scene unfold with barely contained smirks.

– Morning. – Natasha said, raising an eyebrow at the sight of the two, clearly picking up on the argument.

– Morning, Nat, Clint. – Alec replied with a grin.

– Do you have any idea how much it costs to keep this place secure? And you’re bringing random strangers to the compound every night? – Tony keeps talking, not bothering to talk to the other two adults – You’ve brought a new person in here almost every night for two weeks. Do you know what kind of security risk that is?

– Relax, dad. It’s not like they’re hydra agents. – Alec casually opened the fridge, fishing for something to eat while Tony continued his lecture behind him – Oh, give me a break. – he says, leaning casually against the counter – You just stopped being like this ’cause you married Pepper.

Natasha nearly choked on her coffee, and Clint let out a low whistle, glancing sideways at Tony to gauge his reaction. Tony’s face was a mix of shock, disbelief, and – though he would never admit it – a slight embarrassment.

– That was different. That was… years ago! – Tony protested, clearly caught off guard by Alec’s accusation.

– Oh, please. I’m just a Stark doing what Starks do best. – Alec quipped, giving Tony a cheeky grin.

– This isn’t about sleeping around, it’s about responsibility, something you clearly know nothing about.

Alec shrugged, grabbing a glass and pouring some orange juice, completely unbothered.

– Responsibility is overrated. Besides, it’s not like I’m causing world-ending problems. – he flashed a grin – That’s more your thing.

   Tony glared, but couldn’t quite find a retort, much to Alec’s amusement. The boy left, sensing his father wouldn’t argue anymore. Natasha gave Tony a sly grin.

– Looks like someone inherited your charm, Tony.

– Yeah. – Clint added with a grin – And your troublemaking tendencies.

•••

   The music pulsed through Alec’s veins, the beat of the nightclub a chaotic symphony of lights, bodies, and sound. He was lost in the rhythm, dancing with strangers, carefree as ever, a drink in one hand and the lingering touch of a stranger’s lips on his. It was a usual night for him – drinking, hooking up, the usual. Until suddenly, he felt weird.

   The weight came on slowly at first, a faint dizziness. Alec swayed, thinking maybe it was just the alcohol hitting a bit too hard, even though he never gets drunk. But then, his vision blurred, and his limbs grew heavy, like his body was sinking into quicksand. His mind screamed at him, “Something’s wrong”.

   He tried to shake it off, but his legs buckled beneath him, and he stumbled forward, crashing into the bar. The stranger he’d been with said something, their voice muffled, distant. Alec’s head pounded, the world around him spinning faster with every second. He tried to summon his telepathy, to reach out for help, but it was like hitting a wall in his own mind. His powers were dulled, suppressed, like something was blocking him.

   “No… this isn’t just alcohol”, Alec thought as panic rose in his chest. His breaths came in shallow gasps, his vision darkening. He barely registered the hands gripping his arms as two large figures emerged from the crowd, too deliberate to be just club security. They were dragging him away, and Alec couldn’t fight back. His body felt like lead, every effort to move futile.

   The cold night air hit his face as they pulled him out of the club and into an alleyway. He blinked through his fading consciousness, catching glimpses of a black van with tinted windows. Hydra.

   That single word sparked a shot of adrenaline through him, but his body was unresponsive. They’d found a way to neutralize his powers, weaken him. As they forced him into the van, his mind raced. How had they gotten to him? The drinks? The stranger? It didn’t matter. He was trapped now, and whatever hydra had planned for him, it wasn’t good.

   The van’s door slammed shut, and he heard the engine roar to life. His head lolled back, vision fading entirely as the van sped off into the night.

•••

   Far away, in a dark underground hydra facility, a figure watched the live footage from the nightclub, smirking as the van disappeared from view. The plan had worked perfectly. Alec Stark, one of the most powerful mutants alive, was now in their hands.

   Phase one of the plan had been simple: weaken Alec, make him vulnerable. A synthetic drug, undetectable to his enhanced physiology, had been slipped into his drink hours ago by one of hydra’s agents at the club. It was designed to disrupt his telepathic powers, dull his mind, and paralyze his body long enough for their extraction team to move in.

   When Alec woke up, he was in a stark, sterile room. The harsh fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, and the metallic scent of the facility filled his nostrils. He realizes he’s strapped to a chair, really tightly. Panic surged again, but he forced himself to breathe, grounding himself in the present. He was alone, but that didn’t last long. The door slid open, and a woman in a lab coat stepped inside, her expression unreadable.

– Good, you’re awake. – she said coolly – I’m Dr. Irina Volkov. – her thick accent evident.

   Alec narrowed his eyes, trying to assess his situation.

– Well, this isn’t how I expected my night to go. I usually pay for VIP treatment, not… whatever this is. – he gestured vaguely to the room, trying to keep his voice steady.

   Irina smirked, unfazed by his words.

– You think this is a joke, don’t you? You have no idea how valuable you are to us. Your abilities… they can be harnessed, controlled. We can make you stronger, more powerful than you can even imagine.

– Sure, sure. – Alec replied, rolling his eyes – And I supposed you’re just doing it out of the goodness of your heart.

   Irina’s smile widened, and she stepped closer to the glass, her eyes glinting with a predatory excitement.

– We’ve been studying you, Alec. The extent of your abilities is fascinating. If we can siphon your powers and weaponize them, we could create an army that no one could contend with.

– Wow, so you guys really are still stuck in the ‘make an army’ phase? So cliché. – Alec scoffed, but inside, he was strategizing. He could feel the energy in his body pulsing, a reminder of his capabilities, but he knew he had to bide his time.

– You won’t be able to escape, Alec. We have your friends monitored, and they won’t know you’re gone until it’s too late. – Irina continued, her tone dripping with confidence.

– Cute, but that’s where you’re wrong. – Alec said, a smirk playing on his lips – I don’t need to escape. I just need to figure out what you’re up to and make sure you don’t get away with it.

   Irina’s expression shifted slightly, irritation flashing in her eyes.

– You think you’re clever, don’t you? But this facility is impenetrable, your friends won’t ever find you. We have the best security technology-

– Wow, really? – Alec said with mock sincerity – Then I hate to break it to you, I’m not exactly a damsel in distress. If anything, you should be worried about what I can do to you when I get out of here. – his eyes darkened as he threatens.

– Bold words for someone who’s about to lose everything. – she replied and left, allowing him a moment of solitude.

   The door clicked shut, and Alec took a deep breath. He needed to think, to plan. As thoughts swirled in his mind, he focused on the sound of the facility; the low hum of machinery, the distant echoes of footsteps. He would use this time to gather information, to learn their routines, and most importantly, to find a way to signal for help.

   Hydra might have had their plans, but Alec had his own. “Fucking mad scientists“, he thought, rolling his eyes.

•••