Wanda catches wind of List’s idea…

Doctor List poured himself into a string of potentially game-changing projects in the wake of the Maximoff-gamete fiasco-of-a-meeting with Strucker. Testing out an experimental, new particle shield for the base; monitoring the poor, new, doomed volunteers for sceptre exposure; refining the base-interactive interface for the prototype AI program… List had plenty to keep him occupied.

And of course, the Twins were making huge strides. Not only did they finish recovering their speech and motor functions in days, but they helped each other’s memories return all the more quickly. The truly spectacular part of their progress though, was of course their mutations. Pietro’s super-speed defied what they thought possible; Wanda’s powers were even more staggering. Clearly she held telekinetic-like abilities, but as the weeks became months, her telepathic capabilities began manifesting more thoroughly— not just reading minds & emotions, but manipulating them as well!

Doctor List’s multitude of top-level research projects no doubt contributed to his distracted mindset.

It was 3 weeks before the Avengers wound up attacking the Sokovia Base.

List was observing the Twins work through the obstacle course HYDRA had prepared for them. Pietro had no problem evading the heavy barrage of bullets fired by the automatons; Wanda enclosed herself in a protective energy sphere before dismantling those attacking her, using her hex magic to wrench the metal creations as though they were tissue paper. As Pietro advanced to the next section of the course, he didn’t notice the hydraulic fluid spilled from the machine wreckage— his blur-of-a-sprint suddenly devolved into a slipping, sliding crash right into the next automated guns’ field of fire. His prone form was out-cold on the floor while the sentry guns took aim.

Doctor List knew he didn’t have time to turn off the simulation before Pietro would be filled full of holes!

— a flash of Red —

Wanda threw up a protective hex-orb around her brother, and proceeded to magically twist the barrels of the sentry guns into useless knots from across the course. As the final threats were handled, Wanda’s red-glowing eyes returned to normal and she ran over to the lightly moaning form of her twin.

Doctor List made his way down to the course where Wanda was kneeling by Pietro, stroking his hair while holding his head in her lap.

Pietro was still out of it, but from the looks of things, just a minor concussion; he’d be able to walk it off. Wanda’s concern for her brother was profuse however, and List didn’t bother removing Pietro from her care.

If anything, it was amazing how natural Wanda’s maternal instincts came to bear.

‘It really is too bad we weren’t permitted to make her a mother… And an aunt,’ Doctor List thought to himself. ‘She would have been a natural.’

Wanda’s head jerked up, and her wide eyes locked onto List’s, a tinge of red-hex energy lining her gaze.

‘Oh my god! She didn’t hear that, did she??’ List wondered to himself frantically. “Pietro looks like he’ll be fine, Wanda. Just a bump on the head. Get him up and walking and he’ll be back to normal in no time,” Doctor List said consolingly, hoping to hide any of his own worry with his comforting words.

Wanda looked back down at Pietro as he groaned lightly, and batted his eyes open.

Doctor List walked back to the observation room at a brisk pace while several aides came over to assist the Twins.

‘I need to be more careful about what I think around Wanda!’ List berated himself. ‘If she were to ever find out what we nearly did with her and Pietro’s DNA samples…’