"Please, no. No, please," Wanda whispered, her voice hoarse from hours of crying. Her body trembled uncontrollably as another guard entered her cell. The sound of the door clanging open sent a jolt of terror through her, and she instinctively pressed herself further into the corner.

"You behave, and I won't hurt you," the guard said coldly, but his tone dripped with malice. Wanda shook her head, pleading silently, her eyes wide with fear. The man ignored her entirely, grabbing her by the waist and hoisting her over his shoulder. Wanda lacked the strength to resist. Her limbs hung limp, her body too drained from days of isolation and torment.

She was carried out of sight, the sterile walls of the Raft blurring around her. Every step filled her with dread, the inevitability of what was coming gnawing at her. The guard walked her into a cold, empty room, barren except for two metal beds bolted to the floor. She was dropped roughly onto one, her wrists still bound in the unyielding straightjacket.

The door slammed shut behind them, and another guard entered. He turned Wanda onto her stomach, his grip like iron. "Please, don't do this," Wanda begged, her voice cracking.

Her plea was met with a sharp slap across her face, the sting burning against her pale skin. "Shut up," the guard hissed, grabbing her hair and forcing her head up. He sneered down at her. "So fragile. Like a flower. I wonder how easily you'll break."

Wanda gasped as the guard tugged at her restraints, his intent unmistakable. Panic consumed her as her mind screamed for help, but the dampening collar around her neck silenced her powers, leaving her defenceless.

"No!" she cried, thrashing weakly, her voice echoing off the cold walls. The guard laughed cruelly, his hands moving to her waist. A deep, guttural scream tore from Wanda's throat as fear and despair overtook her. It was the scream of someone broken, someone pushed beyond what they could endure.

Suddenly, a faint red glow flickered at her fingertips. The guard froze, staring at the faint light in confusion. Wanda's power surged unexpectedly, slipping through the cracks of the collar's suppression. With a burst of desperation, she let the energy lash out, sending the man flying across the room.

The other guard cursed, lunging toward her, but Wanda's powers flared again, stronger this time. She unleashed a chaotic wave of red energy that slammed into him, throwing him against the wall with a sickening thud.

She fell to her knees, her body convulsing with the effort. The dampening collar crackled angrily, shocking her violently in retaliation. She cried out, tears streaming down her face as the searing pain overwhelmed her.

Her body writhed helplessly as the electricity surged through her, every jolt searing like fire racing through her veins. Wanda's head fell back against the cold floor, her sobs breaking into ragged gasps. Each pulse drained her strength further, her vision swimming with spots. "Please," she whispered weakly to no one, her voice barely audible in the oppressive silence. The relentless pain was too much; her eyes rolled back, her body gave out, and she slipped into unconsciousness, the room fading to black.

═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══

Tony paced the length of the small room aboard the stealth jet, his left hand gripping a tablet while the other toyed nervously with a pen. His mind raced, calculating variables and potential setbacks. Lexi sat on a nearby bench, legs crossed, her sharp blue eyes fixed on him.

"Alright, Star," Tony began, setting the tablet down. "Here's the deal. This isn't gonna be a walk in the park, but I've got every confidence in you." He crouched slightly to meet her eye level, placing a small watch in her hand. "Friday's fully loaded in this little beauty. She'll feed you everything you need: camera locations, blind spots, entry points. You just need to get into their system and unlock the cells."

Lexi nodded, flipping the watch over in her hands, and studying the sleek design. "And after that?"

Tony's lips twitched into a small, wry smile. "After that, you're on your own for a bit, but only until backup gets here. Steve and the others will be in fifteen minutes tops. They'll handle the heavy lifting, but we need those cells open before they arrive. You're the only one who can pull this off without setting off every alarm in the Atlantic."

Lexi raised an eyebrow, her signature sarcasm slipping through. "No pressure or anything. Just the entire operation riding on me. Love that for me."

Tony smirked, despite the tension in the air. "You've got this, Lex. You're smarter than anyone in that prison, including Ross's goons. Friday's mapped out every detail. Cameras are positioned in the corners of the main corridors—standard field of view, nothing fancy. Blind spots are marked in red. The control room is on the east side, two levels up from the cells. That's where you'll find the main panel to override the locks."

Lexi nodded again, this time more focused. She leaned back, taking a deep breath as Tony continued.

"You've got three guards stationed at the entrance to the control room," Tony said, tapping on the tablet to show her their locations. "Timing is everything. Friday will give you the go-ahead when the shift changes in—" he glanced at his watch, "—seven minutes. Once you're in, it's just a matter of hacking into their system and sending a signal to disengage the collars and the locks. The software's old. Shouldn't take you more than two minutes."

Lexi gave him a sly grin. "Two minutes? Give me thirty seconds." Tony chuckled, the sound carrying a hint of pride. He ruffled her brunette hair lightly. "That's my girl. Just don't get cocky, alright?"

"Me? Never," Lexi shot back, her tone dripping with mock innocence.

Tony's smile faded slightly, and he turned serious. He crouched in front of her, his hands resting on her knees. "Lexi... listen." His voice softened, and for the first time since laying out the plan, she saw the hesitation in his eyes.

Her smile wavered. "Dad?". "This isn't just about today," Tony said, his voice lower. "Once we pull this off, Ross and his cronies are gonna hunt us down like criminals. You can't come back—not for a while, at least.". Lexi blinked, her heart sinking. "What? What do you mean?"

Tony inhaled deeply, fighting to keep his composure. "I mean, it's gonna be safer for you to stay with Steve and the others. They've got a better shot at keeping you off Ross's radar. If you come back with me, you're a sitting duck. And I can't protect you the way I need to."

"Dad, I can handle myself. I'm not a kid anymore.". "I know, Star. Believe me, I know." He reached up, cupping her cheek gently. "But you're still my kid. And I'm not risking you for anything—not even this.". Tears welled up in Lexi's eyes, but she bit her lip to keep them from falling. "So... this is goodbye?"

Tony nodded, his own voice breaking slightly. "For a little while, yeah. But I'll come back for you. I swear. You're my everything, Lex.". She swallowed hard, gripping the watch tighter. "You better. Because if you don't, I'm hacking every satellite on this planet to find you."

That brought a small laugh from Tony, even as his eyes glistened. "That's my girl.". He pulled her into a tight hug, holding on like he didn't want to let go. "Stay safe. Trust Steve and the others—they'll keep you safe until we figure this out. And for the love of God just tell Wanda you love her."

Lexi nodded against his shoulder. "I will. And you stay safe too. I'm serious. Call Pepper and apologize, someone needs to keep you in check". Tony chuckled and kissed the top of her head before pulling back. "Always. Now go be the genius I raised you to be."

Lexi wiped her eyes, straightened her shoulders, and gave him a confident nod. "I love you, Dad." Tony stepped back, watching her go, his heart heavy but filled with pride. "I love you more, Star."

As she disappeared into the corridor, Tony turned back to the controls, forcing himself to focus on the mission. He had to believe this wasn't the end—it was just the beginning of the fight to bring his family back together.

═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══

The cold, sterile halls of the Raft hummed with a tension that only Lexi could feel. She moved with precision, her nerves like live wires under her skin. Every step was calculated, every breath measured. Tony had shown her the blueprints, but she had memorized them herself. This wasn't a gamble—it was strategy.

The slim watch on her wrist buzzed lightly as the camera feeds cycled through. Lexi swiped quickly, scanning for key locations. Block B clear. Guard shift in two minutes. Stick to the plan.

She slipped into a control room, the flickering monitors casting sharp shadows across her face. Her fingers danced over the keyboard, bypassing layers of security protocols faster than most seasoned hackers could dream of.

Access granted.

The prison's surveillance feeds lit up, row after row of cells revealing their grim occupants. Her heart twisted when she spotted the Avengers. Sam leaned against the far wall of his cell, Clint paced restlessly, and Scott sat cross-legged, his head resting on his hands. But no Wanda.

Lexi frowned, her fingers tightening around the edge of the keyboard. She toggled through more feeds, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach. Then she saw her. Wanda was crumpled on the cold floor of her cell, her body convulsing. The shock collar around her neck lit up with each pulse, and her eyes rolled back, the whites stark against her pale face.

"No," Lexi hissed, her teeth gritting. Rage surged through her veins, hot and unrelenting.

Her hand shot to her comms, connecting to Steve. "Steve, you better hurry the hell up," she snapped, her voice trembling with urgency. "I've got everything ready, but Wanda—Wanda's not okay. I'm going in." "Lexi, wait!" Steve's voice crackled through the line. "We're almost there. Just—"

She ripped the earpiece out and tossed it aside, cutting him off. She didn't have time to argue. The sight of Wanda convulsing on the floor, shock collar sparking violently, froze Lexi in her tracks. Her fists clenched as the guards surrounding her laughed cruelly, one of them holding the remote like a trophy.

"She's a real fighter, huh?" one guard sneered, pressing the button again. Wanda's body jerked, her eyes fluttering before rolling back, and a weak gasp escaped her lips. "Pathetic," another scoffed. "All that power and she's still nothing without us keeping her in check."

Lexi's chest heaved, her breath turning shallow as fury coiled deep inside her. The guards didn't even notice her presence at first, too focused on their sick amusement. One of them gave the remote another tap, and Wanda's body seized again, a small cry slipping from her before she fell completely limp.

"Oh, no," Lexi said, her voice deadly calm, her words slicing through the air like a knife. "You shouldn't have done that."

The guards turned to her, confused at first, but the moment their eyes met hers, confusion turned to fear. Lexi's once-blue eyes now burned an electric purple, glowing so intensely they illuminated the darkened cell.

"What are you gonna do about it, sweetheart?" one guard taunted, holding the remote high like a trophy. Lexi didn't answer. She didn't need to. The air around her shimmered, her purple energy sparking to life, growing and crackling around her fists. With a turn of her head, the remote flew out of the guard's grip and shattered midair.

"Bad idea," she growled.

The first guard lunged at her, but he didn't get far. Lexi's energy surged forward, slamming him into the wall with enough force to crack the concrete. He crumpled to the floor, unmoving. The others hesitated for a moment, then charged together.

Lexi's rage erupted. She tore through them like a storm, her energy creating violent shockwaves that rattled the room. A guard tried to flank her, but she turned on him with terrifying speed, her glowing fists slamming into his chest and sending him flying backward.

"You think it's funny?" she shouted, her voice echoing with power. She grabbed another guard by his vest, her strength lifting him effortlessly off the ground. "Hurting her? Laughing at her?". The man stammered, terror in his eyes. Before he could respond, she hurled him across the room, his body colliding with two others trying to approach.

The remaining guards opened fire, but the bullets never reached her. They disintegrated against the wall of energy surrounding her, sparks flying as her powers grew more volatile. The purple glow engulfed her completely, swirling around her like a living force.

"You don't get to touch her. You don't get to look at her," Lexi snarled, her eyes blazing brighter. She raised both hands, and a massive pulse of energy exploded from her body, ripping through the room. The walls cracked, alarms blaring as the entire cellblock shook.

When the dust settled, Lexi stood alone amidst the wreckage. The guards lay scattered, unconscious or groaning in pain, their weapons destroyed. Her chest heaved with exertion, her eyes still glowing with raw energy.

Lexi turned back to Wanda, her anger fading into desperate urgency. She knelt beside her, shrugging off her jacket and carefully draping it over Wanda's limp body. Her hands trembled as she gently brushed the hair away from Wanda's face, her fingers lingering for a moment on her pale cheek.

Her gaze dropped to the straightjacket and collar that bound Wanda, and a fresh wave of fury surged through her. She wasted no time, her fingers working swiftly to unbuckle and tear at the restraints.

"You're okay," Lexi murmured softly, more to reassure herself as she pulled the straightjacket off and tossed it aside. "I've got you."

The collar was next. Its metal surface still sparked faintly, and just the sight of it sent a shiver of rage through her. Her glowing blue eyes narrowed as she wrapped her hands around the device. Purple energy coursed through her fingers, heating the collar until it melted and fell apart in her hands. She hurled the broken pieces across the room, the sound of them clattering on the floor oddly satisfying.

Finally free of the restraints, Wanda slumped further into Lexi's arms, her head lolling lifelessly against Lexi's shoulder. Her neck was a mess—burned and bloody from the collar's relentless shocks, the raw skin a brutal reminder of what she had endured. Lexi's heart clenched as she tightened her hold, pulling Wanda close against her chest. "They'll never touch you again," she whispered fiercely, her voice shaking as she pressed her cheek to Wanda's hair. "I promise."