When Wanda still didn't respond, Lexi stepped forward, her voice breaking. "Wanda please... just tell me." Wanda's hands trembled as she finally spoke. "He made me do it," she whispered, her voice cracking with shame. Lexi blinked, her face a mix of confusion and dread. "Made you do what?"

Wanda closed her eyes, the tears spilling over as she forced herself to continue. "Strucker... When your father came, he made me get inside his head. He made me make him see..." Her voice broke completely, but she forced the words out. "Your dead body."

The world seemed to tilt, and Lexi stepped back as though the air had been punched from her lungs. Her chest heaved as she tried to process the words, her mind screaming at her to reject them.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "No, you wouldn't...". "Lexi," Wanda said, her voice breaking as she stepped closer. Lexi flinched, holding up her hand to keep Wanda at bay. "Don't," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and heartbreak. "Don't touch me."

"Please," Wanda begged, her tears falling freely now. "I—I wanted to stop, but I was so angry, and I thought it was the only way to get back at him, to hurt him for everything. At the time, it felt like the right thing to do." She choked on a sob. "But now—now I can't take it back, and I wish I never did it, Lexi. I regret it. I didn't know it would hurt you like this".

"You knew how much he loved me," she whispered, barely able to breathe through the pain. "How could you do that to him—and to me?"" Lexi cried, her voice shattering as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her hands shook as she clutched at her own arms, her body trembling. "You let him see that! You let him think I was gone!"

Wanda stepped closer despite Lexi's protests, wrapping her arms around the brunette tightly. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with guilt. "I'm so, so sorry."

Lexi tried to pull away, her hands pushing weakly against Wanda's shoulders, but her strength gave out. She collapsed against Wanda, sobbing into her shoulder. Her fingers clung to Wanda's shirt, gripping it as though letting go would break her completely.

"Why would you do that to me?" Lexi choked out between sobs, her voice raw and filled with anguish. "Why would you do that to him?" "I hate myself for it," Wanda whispered, her tears soaking into Lexi's hair. "I never wanted to hurt you, Lexi. Please, believe me."

Lexi's sobs quieted slightly, but she didn't pull away. Her face remained buried against Wanda, her body trembling as she whispered, "I trusted you."

Wanda's grip on her tightened, as though trying to shield her from the pain she had caused. "I'll fix this," she promised, her voice shaking. "I swear I'll fix it. I'll make it right."

But Lexi didn't answer. She slowly pulled back, wiping the tears from her eyes, trying to regain control. Her heart felt shattered, pieces of trust and hope scattered on the floor. She looked at Wanda, and for a moment, the desire to stay in her arms almost consumed her.

"I don't know if you can," Lexi whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't know if I can ever trust you again. Wanda's face crumpled, her heart in her eyes. "Lexi, please—" But Lexi stepped back, her chest tight. "I need time. I need... space."

Wanda's lips trembled, but Lexi couldn't look at her any longer. With one last glance, full of sorrow and longing, Lexi turned and walked away, each step away from Wanda feeling like it was tearing her apart.

Wanda reached out, but Lexi didn't turn back. She couldn't. She watched her go, torn, before turning away to carry on with her task. Lexi moved with purpose, spotting Pietro's streak as he dashed through the chaos. Every instinct screamed at her to abandon this, to leave Wanda to face the consequences alone, but something deep within held her back.

As she made her way through the ship, she encountered Steve, who prepared to throw his shield. She raised a hand, forming a ball of purple energy and hurling it at him, knocking him to the ground. Moving closer, she reached toward his temple, letting the tendrils of energy latch onto his mind.

Once his eyes glowed with the purple hue of her influence she walked away, leaving him dazed and trapped in his own haunted memories. She soon spotted Wanda standing behind Clint, her hand raised to initiate another mind control, ready to pull him into her web of nightmares. But Clint, sensing her presence, turned around putting an arrow in Wanda's forehead. "I've done the whole mind control thing. Not a fan," he quipped, his tone sharp and defiant.

Lexi's eyes blazed purple once again, brighter and more intense than before. She extended her arm, fingers splayed, and a surge of energy burst from her hand, hitting Clint with a forceful blast. The impact sent him flying backward, his body slamming into the wall, knocking him out.

In that instant, Pietro zipped by in a blur of blue, pulling the arrow off Wanda's head just before it could do any damage. Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms spedding them both to safety. But even in his retreat, he shot a glare back at Clint, his eyes simmering with the unspoken promise of retaliation.

Lexi advanced toward Clint, her eyes still bright with a purple glow. She reached out, sending strands of energy into his mind, casting him into a deep, inescapable trance. His eyes began to flicker with the same colour hue, his will overpowered as he sank under the weight of her influence, leaving him sprawled on the floor, eyes distant and empty.

Lexi was about to walk away, her focus narrowing on finding Wanda, when Pietro reappeared beside her in a split-second blur. Without a word, he swept her into his arms, his grip firm yet gentle as he whisked her away from the ship. In mere seconds, they reached a small clearing just outside, where Wanda was waiting, pain in her expression.

Pietro knelt beside Wanda, his hand gently rubbing her back as she struggled to catch her breath. "What can I do?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, concern laced in every word.

"It hurts," Wanda replied, her voice trembling. Pietro clenched his jaw, a flash of anger igniting in his eyes. "I'm gonna kill him," he said firmly, standing up with a cold look. "I'll be right back." He looked at Lexi, his gaze unspoken but clear. He wanted her to take care of his sister.

But Wanda shook her head, holding up a hand. "No, I'm alright," she said, her breathing steadier now. She glanced over toward the Avengers' Quinjet parked nearby, its metallic frame against the green field. "I want to finish the plan. I want the big one."

A few steps away, Lexi watched the twins, her heart heavy with all the emotions. Pietro stood with his usual protectiveness, but it was Wanda who caught her attention. Her gaze was steady, yet tired, and something in her expression made Lexi's chest ache. The unspoken hurt between them was undeniable, and Lexi couldn't shake the image of what Wanda had done.

"Lexi," Wanda called, her voice soft but urgent. Lexi looked up, locking eyes with her. Wanda was sitting on a rock now, her posture exhausted, but her eyes were filled with a quiet resolve. "Could you please help us finish this?" Wanda asked, the words sincere but carrying something deeper—an unspoken plea for understanding, perhaps for forgiveness.

"Ultron is our chance," Pietro interjected, stepping forward and turning toward Lexi. His words were sharp, but there was a hidden desperation in his eyes. "He's our chance to make things right."

Lexi felt her heart tighten at the weight of his words. The anger and frustration from earlier still burned inside her, but now it felt like something more—a deep sadness. She took a slow breath, her gaze shifting between the twins. "Ultron isn't anyone's chance". she replied, her voice steady, though her heart was breaking. "You both think this will fix things, but he'll only bring more pain. You have to see that."

Pietro's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing with frustration. "Why would you care anyway?" he spat, his tone laced with anger. "You're not even part of this plan!" His words stung, more than they should have, but Lexi didn't flinch.

She let out a quiet sigh, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she held back the overwhelming urge to cry. "Because I care about both of you," she said softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. She looked at Wanda one last time, the regret she saw in her eyes almost unbearable. "But I can't be part of this. Not after everything that's happened."

Without another word, she turned and walked away, her steps slow and heavy. The twins stood in stunned silence, their faces a mixture of confusion and hurt, but Lexi couldn't bring herself to look back.

As she approached the battlefield, her eyes locked on Ultron, who was in the midst of a brutal clash with Tony. She watched as the robot's arm struck her father squarely across the face, sending him hurtling backward. A surge of anger rose within her, intensifying her power until it was nearly palpable.

The energy coursed through her as she raised her hand, releasing a powerful blast that crashed into Ultron, forcing him to stagger back. She didn't let up, sending another blast that knocked him off balance. A small, crackling sphere of energy formed in her hand, growing as purple strands encircled Ultron's body. She raised him off the ground, holding him suspended as her other hand summoned even more power.

With a swift motion, she yanked Ultron to the side, tearing one of his arms from its socket. Sparks flew as the arm fell to the ground. Her eyes narrowed, her voice a low growl. "Get out of here."

Ultron glared at her, clutching the vibranium arm in his remaining hand, but Lexi's power was undeniable. He finally took off, retreating. Lexi watched him disappear before turning back to Tony, who lay sprawled on the ground, stunned. She reached out her hand.

Tony blinked, staring up at her with shock as she helped him to his feet. "That's definitely going to leave bruises," she said with a smirk she wasn't able to hold, her gaze on his battered face. "Pepper's not gonna be happy."

Tony's heart skips, torn between disbelief and the sudden, overwhelming need to reach her. For a moment, they just stand there, both stunned and locked in place by the situation. Then, almost instinctively, Tony grabbed her hand, pulling himself up and calling her name in a choked voice. She barely has time to brace herself before he wraps her tightly in his arms, as if afraid she might disappear again if he lets go.

Tony's voice cracks as he tries to speak. "Lexi... I thought—I thought..." He pulls back just enough to search her face, his eyes darting over her features, absorbing every detail to convince himself this is real. "I– I looked everywhere...is it – Is it really you?" His voice cracked, and she couldn't respond. She managed only a nod before Tony's arms were around her, pulling her tightly against him once more.

At that moment, every defence she'd built up crumbled. The shock, the fear, the loneliness—it all hit her at once. She gripped the back of his suit, holding on as if her life depended on it, and finally let herself break. Her shoulders shook as she buried her face in his chest, muffling the soft, broken sobs that escaped her. "I missed you... so much..." she whispered between gasps, her words barely audible through the tears.

Tony held her even tighter, one hand cradling her head as he rested his chin on top, trying to soothe her in any way he could. "I'm here, Star. I'm not going anywhere," he murmured, his own voice betraying him with the emotions, tears running down his face. "I've got you. You're safe."

For a few moments, they stayed like that, letting the world around them disappear. She wanted to stay there forever, grounded by him. But just as she felt a flicker of calm, a sudden shock jolted her body—a burning, electric pain.

The shock from an electric arrow spread through her muscles, forcing her to her knees as she cried out in agony. "Wait, wait! Stop it!" Tony yelled, yanking the arrow from her back before blasting it, shattering it into pieces. He looked up to see Clint approaching, his face unreadable.

Tony held Lexi protectively, but she flinched, unable to control her energy. She sent out an accidental blast, pushing Tony backwards. Clint seized the moment, wrapping his bow around her neck, pinning her to him as he tightened the hold. Lexi struggled, gasping for air as the weapon bit into her throat.

Clint leaned close, his voice cold. "This is what happens when you mess with my mind and threaten my best friend." Lexi's vision blurred, her strength fading. She tried to form words, to protest, but the pressure was too great.

Then, pieces of Tony's suit shot out, striking Clint and knocking him back. He released Lexi, staggering as Tony moved between them, ready to protect her. "Barton, when I tell you to stop, you stop!" Tony snapped, his voice harsh.

Clint's face twisted in confusion. "Tony, she's the enemy!" Tony pulled Lexi close, his tone unyielding. "She's not the enemy, Legolas. She's my daughter!"