Chapter 204: Pair of Birdie. 

Mephisto: Learning something from my books I see. (noddedinapproval.gif)

GreenWitch: Dude, is everything alright at home? (worried.gif)

Mythic: … 

After Ryan told the chat group about what's going on in his life, he was met with a myriad of reactions. Mostly people asking him if he was okay. 

VampireKid: You're becoming manipulative. I guess @Mephisto is being a very good mentor. (grin.gif)

Mephisto: I tried my best ! (Workhard.gif)

KickBaal : Honestly, I have no idea what is going on. HAHAHA

QueenElf: Urgh, I can hear the stupid laugh till here. Let me explain. So @Hydra is being a manipulative bitch that would stop at nothing to accomplish his goals. Although his goals are quite noble. I guess this is a case of the ends justifying the means?

Ryan was quite flabbergasted after reading the comments about his actions. While he was monitoring the matters in Sokovia after sending the twins to his father's home, he decided it to be a good idea in telling the group about his actions. 

Hydra: It's just Zemo…. You're talking like I'd be enslaving the entire human race.

His brother from another universe decided to nag at him as usual.

Mythic: Your action may be logical, but I know you Ryan. You don't feel comfortable being this cold-blooded. You're not the mechanic that is devoid of all emotions.

RetiredMechanic: ? Why did my name come out? I don't even encourage him to do that…

Mythic: Sorry. Collateral damage.

Mythic: This is not the first time you did this. You have an issue with control. I know that in your universe, this type of behaviour is encouraged. But continue on this path and you'll find yourself alone with no one to trust. Don't be another Nick Fury.

OneEyedCyclop: ….

Mythic: Sorry, another collateral damage.

After getting to tier 3, most of them already knew each other's identity as their pictures were revealed by the creator of the system. 

VampireKid: He'll know what to do. He isn't a kid anymore. On another note, what does Wanda look like there?

Hydra: Like Elizabeth Olsen, but younger and prettier. And a bigger chest.

VampireKid: You already know what I'm going to ask next huh.

Hydra: Yup. (smirk.emoji)

VampireKid: Now the only thing I needed is ways to tell Gwen that you looked at another girl's chest.

Hydra: …..

The old vampire decided to save Ryan from getting scolded by Mythic as usual by changing the subject. For him, Ryan being manipulative was a necessary action for a leader. Despite his childishness, the vampire has a kingdom of his own. Redirecting the public's attention is a necessary skill for all leaders. 

The girls inside the chat group were more focused on another aspect of the battle. The star crossed lover – one was a hero, and another a villain. Even Ryan didn't expect the SHIELD/Avengers trainee to act this way while they were in a major battle. 

GreenWitch: Gimme more details! I want to know what happened!

RedWidow: What about your test?

Hydra: Let's see if she passes. If she does, then I will help her to the best that I can. But if she doesn't, then it's better to cut their relationship right then and now.

GreenWitch: Don't! You better not!

QueenElf: (eating-popcorn.gif)

-The Test-

Vicinity of Zemo's castle. During the battle.

"Melissa."

"Sam."

Melissa Gold and Sam Wilson faced each other in the battlefield for the second time. Sam smiled at her, but she had a look of vigilance on her face.

"Do you hate me now that you know who I am?" Sam asked with a bitter feeling in his mouth. 

"What about you?" Melissa replied curtly. She then took a deep breath to let out a supersonic scream. 

"Honestly, I still think that you're pretty cute."

Sam's reply caused Melissa to choke on her breath and coughed. "What the hell?! Is this your tactic for getting me to surrender? So that you can lock me back up for things I didn't do?" She growled and put her guard up.

Sam took out a file and read it in front of Melissa. "Melissa Gold. A.K.A the Screaming Mimi. A professional wrestler who was caught a few years back trying to break into a bank for a heist."

Melissa still kept silent as she wondered where Sam was going with this. 

"It's your first time offence and you only did it because you and your friend, Titania, were blackmailed by the wrestling coach."

"Your point. Get to it." Melissa snapped, not wanting to remember the painful times she had experienced. 

"My point is that, with a proper trial, you should only receive probation from the court. Until SHIELD took over and brought you into their prison."

That was her turning point in her path toward villany. Sam read all of her files that Ryan had given to him as his instinct was telling him something was amiss during his last meeting with Melissa. 

"You then found out that Titania, the one who did the heist with you, got away scots free." 

A major injustice had fallen onto Melissa. The more Sam read about it, the angrier he felt toward the previous SHIELD (HYDRA). 

"To reduce your sentence, you participated in SHIELD's research as their test subject, giving you enhanced strength as a result. But the experiment wasn't perfect was it?"

"SHUT UP SAM!" Melissa screamed and lunged toward him.

"The experiment messed with your mind didn't it!" Sam yelled and grabbed Melissa by her shoulder.  However, Melissa was a professional wrestler with an enhanced body. She dislocated her shoulder and gave a heel kick toward Sam's knee. 

He fell on one knee, and automatically activated his flight suit, taking the battle toward the sky. Melissa loses her distance with Sam as he takes flight. 

"You become obsessive. You become rageful. You break out of the restraints during prison change and what do you do next?" Sam asked, forcefully trying to make Melissa remember.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

"You hurt your friend!" Sam yelled at her. 

After she broke out, she cornered her friend Titania and almost killed her only friend in the world in a fit of rage.

"SHE BETRAYED ME!" Melissa let out a supersonic scream, but Sam was prepared this time. A translucent energy shield appeared on his body, protecting him from the destructive sound waves.

The shield was produced by a Holfmans generator and could block every type of attack except a close quarter cold weapon being stabbed into it. The SHIELD from the DUNE movie was bought by Ryan in the trading site and he had equipped the most outstanding team of agents with it for their safety.

"But she never did betray you didn't she?" Sam asked in a calming tone. Melissa gritted her teeth in anger and tried to attack Sam again, but he continued, "So your deal with Zemo. What is it? Did he promise you to kill Titania?"

"NO!" 

"Then, why do you follow him then?"

"Shut up! I don't have to tell you!" 

Fuming in anger, Mellisa flew at her highest speed to try and catch Sam. Not once did Sam try to attack her and only dodged her tackle. Their battle slowly led them away from the castle and into the Sokovia city airspace. 

It appeared as he was ignoring the battle in Zemo's castle, however, Sam received permission to do so from the director of SHIELD himself to correct the previous organisation's wrong doings.  

(A/N: Sam is a SHIELD trainee, not an Avenger yet in my fic.)

"Tell me Melissa. I'm trying to help you!" Sam said in frustration. 

"No one ever tried to help me. Not then. Not now." Melissa replied with venom in her tone. "If you don't want to fight. Then don't bother me!" She said and tried to retreat from there. 

The conversation she had with Sam had allowed parts of the memories inside her – that she had repressed to bubble up to the surface. 

"No. I still need to talk to you." Sam said, stopping Melissa from leaving. 

Gritting her teeth, Melissa shouted at Sam with everything she had, but it couldn't breach the shield he was using. 

'Don't bother me! You're going to leave me. Just like everyone else.' 

Her heart screamed in frustration, but Sam wasn't listening. 

'She had saved me before. It's time for me to return the favour.'

Sam tried to brainwash himself of his motive in doing this. He couldn't get her out of his mind, but he wasn't sure why. He told himself it's to pay a debt. It's to rectify SHIELD's wrongdoing. To offer her a hand out of the abyss.

Ryan was monitoring both Sam and Melissa as they had their conversation. He sighed and thought, ' A bipolar girl and a man with a heart of justice. Weird pairing, but I guess this is the real world.'

Smitten. That's what Sam was. Ever since she offered to injure himself in letting him go, he couldn't get her out of his mind. After learning about her past, he sympathised with her and became angry at the one who did this to her. 

The Kingpin who planned the heist, and the Hydra agents who captured Melissa to become an experimental subject. Even Titania wasn't spared after Melissa was captured. The moment Titania opened her eyes in the hospital bed after she was beaten up by Melissa, she was brought to an abandoned warehouse and the same procedure was inflicted upon her. 

Granted, the serum that was injected in Titania was more stable, and she managed to escape from the compound directly after, but it was undeniable that both girls were plotted against just because the wrestling coach wanted them out of his gym. A simple reason that led to Titania becoming an icon in social media from her enhanced appearance, and Melissa who lost everything she ever held dear. 

Suddenly, Melissa received a call from one of her teammates. 

"Song. Retreat. Zemo is dead. Beetle and I will go to the hideout. You're my friend. You're part of us. Come with me." Karla Sofen persuaded Melissa gently. 

As a former psychologist, Karla knew how to manipulate emotionally unstable individuals as she used to toy with them for her pleasure. With Songbird joining them, Karla planned to create her own group to get revenge on the Avengers. 

'Let's see what happens when I redirect a big ass asteroid on Earth.' Karla schemed in her mind. The thought of everyone in the Avengers dead because of her filled her with an intense pleasure. 

But then she ignored the thought as; 'Forget it. If the Earth is destroyed, then where will I go? What food will I eat? Where will I find some handsome men? I still haven't had my share of fun yet in this life.'

Literally whispering in Melissa's ears, Karla's words had caused Melissa to change her expression. From the anger she has on Sam for revealing her secrets, to a more calm and happy expression as Karla called her one of her friends. 

'Uh-oh.' Sam realised what was happening and flew toward Melissa. As she was distracted, Sam grabbed her wrist to prevent her from getting away. It was an extremely risky move as she is a master in close quarter combat. The energy shield won't be able to help him if she breaks his limbs or maintains pressure on his body.

"Melissa. Listen to me. I want to help you. Right now, there is still a chance for you to rectify the entire situation, and I can help you get a proper trial."

Melissa punched Sam in his abdomen, causing him to grimace. 

"You just want me back into a cage! You're not my friend Sam." Melissa said, trying to pull his hand into an armlock. But then, he pulled her by her waist and hugged her tightly. Melissa was stunned and stopped moving as she tried to understand what was happening. 

"I am sorry. For everything that had happened to you. I can't change the past. But Melissa…"

He was met with a punch again, but he didn't let her go. She punched multiple times, causing Sam to be in intense pain… Sam continued with a weak voice.. "I want to help you Melissa. You're not a bad person in my book. I will make sure that the world will see that too. You're just a victim of a bad person's manipulation and are now lost. I will help you and be at your side, for as long as it is needed…for you to let me help you."

He almost lost consciousness from the pain. Melissa widened her eyes, and burst into tears. 

"Lie."

"I am not lying." Sam replied weakly.

"You're going to abandon me." 

"I am not going to abandon you."

"You're going to put me in jail."

"I will come to meet you every single day. I will also kneel in front of the president to have him pardon you."

"Really? You'll do that for me?" Melissa unclenched her fist and wrapped her arms around Sam.

"Yes. I will. I will stay with you until you're better."

The director of SHIELD watched the scene with a complicated thought. What he wanted was for Melissa to continue being inside the Masters of Evil and become an enemy of the Avengers. Not only would he have a helping hand in getting the countries to fall in line, but he would also be able to monitor them. 

Sam continued to hug Melissa while Karla Sofen whispered into her ears. Melissa finally made a decision and took out the earpiece from her ear. She dropped it on the ground and decided to put her trust on Sam. 

Inside of the Marduk's temple, Ryan watched Zemo writhe in pain after he had signed the devil's contract. ChenLu ignored Zemo and waited for Ryan to inform him what he needed him to do. 

Ryan had shared his plans with ChenLu, and also promised him to find a way to remove the radiation in his cells. Willingly, ChenLu signed a contract with Ryan to help him in controlling Zemo.

"Your first mission. Bring the Masters of Evil back under your control." Ryan ordered in a cold tone. "Including…Songbird." 

…

-Sokovia-

"Tony. Ryan asks us to retreat." Natasha said carefully in the communication line. As she expected, Tony declined the order almost instinctively. 

"No. Zemo is still out here with the sceptre. We can't leave now."

"Tony! CITY CENTER. NOW!" Banner almost screamed in the communication line. After turning back, he entered the Avengers jet to help the team with tracking the sceptre. There, he saw something terrible. 

"Sam is surrounded by the villains!" Banner said anxiously. The Avengers had split into multiple directions as they had to find traces of Zemo. Thor's injury was worse than he thought and he's resting inside the Avenger jet to heal. 

Ryan monitored the scene, his palm was sweating from his anxiety. "This is your last test Sam. Complete it." He muttered his wish out loud. 

"Melissa. Let's go." Zemo held his palm out for Melissa to hold. She retreated a few steps back and stood beside Sam. 

"She isn't going with you." Sam interjected and took out his machine guns. He was outnumbered and outgunned. Karla Sofen looked at Sam with bloodlust, while ChenLu had no expression on his face. 

"Oh. Since when did you speak for her?" Zemo mused himself. Melissa was quaking in her boots as Zemo was here. Zemo had manipulated Melissa into thinking that his words were absolute. Every disobedience was met with a torturous punishment which has become ingrained in Melissa's mind.

Sam grabbed her shaky hand and shook his head slightly. "Go. I will hold them off." Sam said unexpectedly and pushed Melissa behind him.

"Are you an idiot?" Karla Sofen barked toward Sam. Even facing his demise, he still wanted to help Melissa to escape. That was just plain stupid for Karla. If it was her, she would have just sent Melissa away toward the abyss to save her life.

"Go Melissa." Sam pushed her away. Helpless, Melissa decided to retreat with tears in her eyes. Her mind was blank, devoid of any thoughts. It was only her trust in Sam that led her to follow his words. 

"Maybe I am. But more than that. I am a believer."

"On what? Jesus?" Karla mocked. 

"On people always doing the right thing." Sam replied and shot multiple bullets toward the Masters of Evil. The Beetle lunged forward to protect Zemo from the bullet while Karla Sofen kicked Sam's in his ribs, breaking a few of them. She grabbed his wings and ripped them off. Holding him by the collar, she punched him in the head multiple times. 

"You're going to be the first one I kill." Karla said in a cold tone. Falcon wasn't the Moonstone's opponent as the girl could even take on Thor. 

"Haha…" Sam laughed, his mouth bloody from the beating he endured. He felt satisfied inwardly, not because he enjoys getting beaten up by a girl, but because he already explained Melissa's circumstances toward Ryan and got his agreement to help.

Melissa who was running away stopped mid-air. "No. Sam.." She muttered and her entire body was shaking. Should she run away, and finally receive her redemption? Or should she go back to Zemo and beg him to let Sam live. The only reason she ran away was because Sam told her too. 

"Enough Karla." Zemo said to stop Karla from continuing her beat down. Dissatisfied, Karla glared at Zemo. However, ChenLu stepped forward, causing her to frown. 

"I know you want to kill him. But I got a better idea." Zemo chuckled. 

"The sceptre could control a person's mind. I finally understand how to use it." Zemo said eerily. "We've lost a birdy. It's makes sense to get another one."

Alarmed, Karla stared at the sceptre wondering when Zemo would use it on her. But now, her cautiousness had been pushed to the side as her sick mind wanted to see Sam being controlled by the sceptre and be ordered to do everything that was against his morality. 

Zemo held the sceptre toward Sam's chest. Tony saw the scene from afar and shot out a few missiles toward the area, not minding the property damage he would create. 

The world slowed down for Sam. He knew there wasn't a way out for him. Even at the highest speed, the missiles would be too late. And with ChenLu already on guard, there wasn't any point in shooting it. 

"Rather than being controlled by you. I'd rather die." Sam said and lunged toward the blade of the scepter. There was only a 1 meter distance between him and the scepter, so it would only take less than a second for him to stab himself. He closed his eyes and prepared himself.

But then, what Sam pictured didn't happen. Instead of the blade, he was met with a warm embrace. 

"...Melissa." 

"Sam.  It's okay." 

Tony flew in extreme speed, turned his direction, and kicked Zemo with everything that he got! The sceptre on Zemo's hand was full of blood as he and the rest of the team had been knocked away by Iron Man. Steve appeared a second later, so did Natasha and the rest of the Avengers! Even the Avenger's jet was there. 

"SAM!" Tony yelled, but Sam couldn't hear it. 

"It's okay Sam." Melissa assured him again. Behind her back, the sceptre had stabbed into her body, straight to her heart. 

"No. No No NO NONO!!!" Sam yelled. Melissa gently placed her hand on his face. "Live Sam. Live to save people like me." Her breath becomes irregular, and pupils become dim.

"Thank you Sam." Melissa muttered. 

"NO! Don't give up! MELISSA!" 

Suddenly for Sam, the whole world stopped. 

Marduk, the sleeping dragon appeared in front of Sam with a grin on his face.

"Even when the world tells you no. When the odds are against you. Always stand up to do what is right. That is what makes a person into a hero." 

Marduk controlled the sceptre on Zemo's hand to fly toward him in front of Sam. 

He turned his sight on the battling city, the eye of Agamotto that he borrowed kept shining a green light. 

"Their battle today will destroy the entire city." Marduk said and snapped his finger. Both the Masters of Evil and the Avengers disappeared from the city centre and reappeared at the opposite ends of the city.

Marduk put his hand on Melissa's body, and also on Sam's body. 

"Remember that Sam Wilson." Marduk said and disappeared into nothingness. Time restarted, and the battle between the Master's of Evil and the Avenger was over.

In New York, Tim Knight's mansion, Ryan Knight smiled softly as he introduced the Maximoff twins to his father. 

"He passed the test." Ryan muttered softly. Gwen was confused, "What did you say?" 

"Nothing. Dad. This is Wanda and Pietro Maximoff." 

Ryan had concocted the test to teach Sam what it meant to be a hero. He would understand it when he took the mantle of Captain America, but that would be later in the future. 

(A/N: For me, the series Falcon and the winter soldier is the only one that showed his character development. The earlier one he is just Captain America's sidekick. So I changed it for him to truly be a hero on his own earlier. Not as Captain America, but as Falcon.) 

"Nice to meet you Wanda. Pietro." Tim Knight said with a nostalgic expression on his face. "You looked just like your mother Wanda." 

After learning the twin's circumstances, tears could be seen inside of Tim's eyes. "It must have been hard on you." he said and hugged both of the twins at the same time.

Wanda and Pietro looked at each other, wondering what was happening. 

…

In Sokovia, Sam suddenly found himself devoid of his injuries. But that wasn't his main concern now. 

"Melissa!" Sam exclaimed in excitement as he saw that the wound of Melissa's back had been healed. She opened her eyes in wonder as she didn't see Marduk before. 

"I'm glad Melissa. PLEASE don't…never do that…ever again!" Sam said and hugged her tightly, not wanting to let go.

"Uhhh…What just happened?" Tony asked in the communication line. 

"Marduk was here. And, he took the sceptre." Sam explained after calming himself. 

Ryan purposely teleported the Master's of Evil to a place where the cameras would have a clear shot on them. Tony and any other Avengers could confirm the facts themselves after the incident.