Lexi kept her arms securely around Wanda as she helped her to her feet. Wanda was still shaky, her legs unsteady beneath her. Every few steps, her knees threatened to buckle, and Lexi tightened her grip.

"We need to get you out of here," Lexi murmured, her voice firm but soft, her blue eyes darting around for any incoming threats. Wanda nodded weakly, leaning heavily against Lexi. "I'm fine, I—I can keep going," she muttered, though her body betrayed her words.

"You're not fine, Wanda," Lexi replied, her tone brooking no argument. "And I'm not letting you push yourself anymore." But before they could take another step, the sound of boots pounding against the ground drew their attention. A squad of guards swarmed in from all directions, their weapons raised.

"Freeze!" one of them barked. Lexi tensed, her heart racing as her arms instinctively tightened around Wanda. The guards moved swiftly, and within seconds, Clint, Sam, and Scott were surrounded, forced to their knees as restraints were slapped onto their wrists.

"Run!" Clint yelled, struggling against the guards. "Get her out of here, Lexi!" Lexi tried to follow the command, but Wanda stumbled again, dragging them both down. "Wanda!" Lexi cried, kneeling beside her. She desperately looked at the guards advancing toward them.

"Get up!" one of the guards ordered. Wanda tried to summon her powers, her hands glowing faintly red, but her strength faltered. The guards seized the opportunity, one of them rushing forward with a syringe in hand.

"No!" Lexi screamed, lunging forward, but she wasn't fast enough. The guard jabbed the needle into Wanda's neck, and her powers fizzled out as her body went limp. "Wanda!" Lexi yelled, her voice breaking. She turned back to the guards, her eyes blazing with anger. Her hands lit up with a soft glow as she raised them.

"She's another enhanced!" one of the guards shouted, raising his weapon. Before Lexi could attack, another guard charged her with a syringe. She twisted away, knocking one of them back with a burst of energy, but a third one grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms.

"Let me go!" she screamed, thrashing against their hold. The guard jabbed the needle toward her, but before it could reach her skin, a blast of energy sent him flying backward. "Get away from her!" Tony's voice roared as he landed in his Iron Man suit, his palm raised for another repulsor blast. His helmet retracted, revealing his furious face, his eyes ablaze with protective rage.

The guards hesitated, looking between Tony and their captured targets. "You lay one more hand on her, and I'll make sure you regret it," Tony growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"Stand down," one of the guards ordered, though his voice wavered. Tony stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Lexi as she struggled in the grip of the remaining guards. "Let her go. Now."

"Mr. Stark, we have orders—" "You think I give a damn about your orders?" Tony snapped, his voice rising. His suit's weapons hummed to life, the threat unmistakable. "That's my daughter you're holding. And you're not taking her anywhere."

The guards exchanged uneasy glances before reluctantly releasing Lexi. She stumbled forward into Tony's arms, her face pale and her breathing ragged.

"Dad," she gasped, clinging to him. Tony's arms wrapped around her protectively, his hand cradling the back of her head as he glared at the guards. "If you even look at her again, I'll make sure not having a job is the least of your worries."

The guards moved to retreat, leaving Lexi and Tony standing in the middle of the chaos. Wanda, however, was still unconscious in their custody. Tony's gaze shifted to her, his jaw tightening. "Lex, stay behind me," he said, his voice softer now but still edged with tension.

"They have Wanda," Lexi said, her voice trembling as she grabbed his arm. "We can't leave her, Dad." Tony looked at the van where the unconscious Wanda was being loaded alongside Clint, Sam, and Scott. His expression hardened. "We're not leaving her," he assured her.

The guards backed off momentarily, but their retreat was short-lived. As more reinforcements arrived, the situation grew dire. Despite Lexi's protests, the remaining members of Team Cap were loaded into a transport van, including Wanda, still unconscious from the injection.

"Dad!" Lexi yelled as Tony wrapped his arms around her, holding her back from running after the van. "We can't let them take her! Please, do something!" Tony's expression twisted with frustration and guilt, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. "Lexi, stop! Not here, not now."

"They're taking her!" Lexi sobbed, struggling against his hold. "You can't just let them—". "I won't," Tony cut her off, his voice firm but low, as if trying to keep her calm. "But right now, I need to get you somewhere safe."

Lexi's hands trembled, her blue eyes blazing with emotion. "Safe? What about Wanda? What about Clint, Sam, and Scott? You're just letting them—". "Lexi!" Tony said sharply, turning her to face him. His gaze softened, though his voice remained steady. "Listen to me. I have a plan. I'm not abandoning them. Trust me, okay?"

Lexi blinked up at him, her tears glistening in the dim light. "You do?" Tony cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing away a tear. "I always have a plan, Star. You know that. Right now, I need you to stay with me and let me handle this. Can you do that for me?"

She hesitated but finally nodded, her hands clutching at the front of his suit. "Okay," she whispered, her voice shaky. Tony exhaled in relief and guided her toward the Quinjet, his arm protectively around her shoulders.

═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══

At the hospital, Lexi sat on the edge of a chair, her hands balled into fists on her lap. She glanced toward the medical bay, where Rhodey was being tended to. The doctors worked methodically, setting his fractured arm into a cast while Tony paced the hallway nearby.

"They're not coming back, are they?" Lexi said softly, her voice barely audible. Tony stopped mid-step, turning to face her. "What?". "You're not going after them," she said, her eyes glued to the floor. "You're just going to leave them there... leave her there."

Tony's heart twisted at the tremor in her voice. He crouched in front of her, his hands resting on her knees. "Hey. Look at me." Lexi reluctantly lifted her gaze, tears brimming in her eyes. "You know me better than that," Tony said, his voice gentle but firm. "I'd never leave them behind. Ever. But rushing in right now? It'll only make things worse—for them and for us."

Lexi sniffled, her bottom lip trembling. "Then what are we going to do?". Tony offered her a small, reassuring smile. "We're going to do this smart. Strategic. I promise you, Star, I have a plan. You just have to trust me."

She studied his face, searching for any hint of doubt. But all she saw was the unwavering determination that had carried them through so many impossible situations before. "I trust you, Dad," she said softly, though her voice still wavered with uncertainty.

Tony nodded, brushing a strand of hair that fell from her braid behind her ear. "Good. Now, let's focus on one thing at a time. We need to get Rhodey patched up. Then, we'll figure out the next move." As if on cue, the doctor stepped out, signalling that Rhodey was stable. Tony helped Lexi to her feet, keeping her close as they walked toward their injured friend.

Though Lexi's heart ached for Wanda, Clint, and the others, she held on to Tony's words, clinging to the hope that he truly did have a plan to bring them back. Later that night, Tony stood outside the hospital room where Rhodey rested, his arm now in a cast. Lexi had finally fallen asleep in the chair beside the bed, her head resting on her folded arms. Despite everything, she hadn't let go of Rhodey's hand. Tony's chest tightened as he watched them, guilt settling like a heavy stone in his gut.

He'd promised Lexi he had a plan, but he hadn't told her the full extent of it yet. Not until he was sure it would work. He had to check on the Raft—to see what condition the team was in and to make sure Wanda was safe.

Quietly, he stepped out of the room, pulling his phone from his pocket. "FRIDAY, prep the jet. And get me access to the Raft's security system." "Yes, boss. Shall I alert Miss Stark?" Tony hesitated, glancing back at the room where Lexi slept. "No," he said softly. "Not this time."

═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══

The chopper descended through the broiling sea mist. The massive, circular Raft prison rose from the waves like a fortress from the depths, its lights small but piercing through the gray haze. The semi-circular doors of the landing pad slid open with a grinding hum as the craft touched down.

Tony stepped out, his expression hard and unreadable, though fatigue was evident in the way he carried himself. He barely spared a glance at the rows of armed guards stationed near the helipad. Instead, his focus landed on Secretary Ross, waiting for him with a clipboard in hand and his usual air of disdain.

"So?" Ross's voice carried over the wind and machinery. "You got the files? Let's reroute the satellites, and start facial scanning for Zemo." Tony didn't break stride as he brushed past him. "We'll get to that later," he said curtly. "I'm here to see my people."

Ross scoffed, his boots echoing as he followed Tony through the steel doors leading into the prison. "You seriously think I'm going to let you play visitor after the Leipzig mess? You're lucky you're not in one of these cells yourself."

Tony didn't answer, his jaw tightening as he approached the operations room. The monitors displayed various camera feeds from the cells below, each one stark and sterile. His gaze immediately found Wanda.

She sat hunched and restrained in the small confines of her cell, a straightjacket pinning her arms tightly to her sides. Her shoulders trembled faintly, though she didn't look up. Tony could see the dark circles under her eyes, the rawness in her expression. Every movement she made, even the slightest shift, caused the embedded shocks of the collar to flicker in warning.

"I need access," Tony said, his voice clipped. Ross raised an eyebrow. "To what? Her? Stark, she's more dangerous than the rest of them combined. You're the one who said we needed to contain her after Lagos."

Tony turned on him, his eyes flashing. "Contain her, not torture her. This?" He jabbed a finger at the monitor. "This isn't containment—it's barbaric. Get her out of that thing." Ross crossed his arms. "Not happening. Every breath she takes is a potential threat, Stark. I'm not taking chances because you're feeling sentimental."

"Your daughter should be here in the first place," Ross said coldly, leaning toward him. "You brought her into a battlefield. That makes her fair game, Stark." Tony's heart stilled for a moment, but when he spoke, his voice was icy, laced with fury. "Fair game? She's not a soldier, Ross. She's a kid. And if you so much as breathe in her direction, I will burn this entire prison into the ground. Understand?"

Ross folded his arms, unfazed. "She's an adult, Stark. She's a genius adult, trained under your wing, and from the reports, she's got... abilities. Powers. Powers we need to monitor. She's a potential threat."

Tony stepped closer, his voice dropping to a near growl. "The only threat here is me, Ross. Lexi's not going anywhere except home with me. You want someone to arrest? Put yourself in those cuffs because the only thing threatening her right now is your incompetence."

Ross smirked, though unease flickered in his eyes. "You think you can intimidate your way out of this? We have laws for a reason—". "Laws you've twisted to suit your agenda," Tony snapped, his patience wearing thin. He jabbed a finger toward the monitors. "You want to use her to justify your mistakes? Over my dead body."

Before Ross could argue further, one of the guards approached, looking nervous. "Sir, Raft control is reporting system interference—". Tony raised a hand, cutting him off. "Of course, there is. Don't worry. I'm handling it."

Ross glared at him. "You're skating on thin ice, Stark." Tony turned his back, ignoring the warning. His eyes drifted back to the cell feed, where Wanda remained still, the faint rise and fall of her chest the only sign she was conscious.

"Tony..." Ross called after him, his tone shifting. "You have no allies left here. You keep this up, and Lexi becomes my problem whether you like it or not.". Tony froze mid-step, his hands curling into fists. He didn't bother looking back, his voice sharp and unwavering. "Touch her, and you'll find out exactly how much of a problem I can be."

Ross's answering silence spoke volumes. Tony didn't bother arguing. Instead, he strode toward the next set of doors, the guards parting with wary glances. As they descended into the cell block, Clint's voice rang out from behind the bars.

"The Futurist, gentlemen!" Clint announced mockingly. "The Futurist is here! He sees all! Knows what's best for you, whether you like it or not." "Give me a break, Barton," Tony muttered, not in the mood.

Clint's sneer deepened. "Yeah, well, you knew they'd put us somewhere, Tony." Tony glanced at him. "Not here. Not some super-max floating ocean pokey. This place is for maniacs." "Criminals," Clint corrected, standing. "Think that's the word you're looking for. Right? That didn't used to mean me. Or Sam. Or Wanda. But here we are."

"Hank Pym always said you can't trust a Stark," Scott quipped. Tony's brow furrowed. "Who are you?" Scott threw up his hands, exasperated. "How's Rhodes?" Sam Wilson interjected from his cell. Tony hesitated, the memory of Rhodey's fall still fresh. "They're flying him to Columbia Medical tomorrow. Fingers crossed." Sam raised an eyebrow. "You're the good cop now?" Tony ignored the jab, his gaze briefly flicking toward Wanda's cell again.

Ross's voice drew Tony's attention back to the operations room as alarms blared on the monitors. "I know that look, Stark. What did you do?" Ross demanded, suspicion flaring. Tony raised his hands mockingly. "Who, me? Just trying to help." Ross wasn't convinced. "Get the system back online!" he barked at the guards.

He entered Wanda's cell block, the dim light cast deep shadows over her features. Her head lifted slightly at the sound of the door, but her expression remained guarded. He disabled the cameras with a subtle flick of his wrist device, the feed cutting out before he approached her.

"Wanda," Tony started, his voice softer than before. She stared at him, her eyes dull. "You can talk, it's okay". "Is she okay?" Tony stilled. "Lexi's fine." Wanda closed her eyes briefly, her relief palpable even through her restraints. "I didn't mean for her to—"

"She made her choice," Tony interrupted. "Just like you made yours. Doesn't mean I'm letting you rot in here." Wanda's gaze sharpened. "Why are you here, Tony?". "Because you're not the monster they think you are. And because you mean the world to my kid. I've got a plan. Just... hold tight."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she gave a faint nod. Tony turned, his shoulders set, the determination in his stride unmistakable. As he left the cell, his mind was already racing. He had a promise to keep—and no one, not Ross, not the Raft, would stop him.