The Mimic (HE/HIM VERSION)

6

"This might hurt a bit..." Bruce murmured, preparing a needle so he could take some of y/n's blood. Y/n was sat on the edge of the bed in Bruce's lab, trying his hardest to stay as still as possible. He had wires stuck to him that seemed to be attached to several different monitoring machines around the room. They weren't very comfortable, especially the ones on his head, but he knew Bruce was just trying to understand his powers more. Y/n didn't even understand his powers fully, so he was quite curious.

Natasha had told him that he didn't have to let Bruce take tests, but y/n reassured her that it was fine. He couldn't avoid his mind forever, even if it would bring back bad memories. Plus, y/n was holding out hope that it would help piece things together. His mind was still so jumbled. Any sort of clarity would help.

Bruce carefully put a plaster over the area he took blood from, giving y/n a slight smile before he made his way back over to his work station. Bruce set the vial of blood in what seemed to be a high tech machine, but y/n had no idea what half of the tech was in the lab. "Whilst we wait for the results of that, do you want to test out your powers?" He suggested, hoping that the monitoring machines would pick up some signals. Y/n looked at Bruce hesitantly, not wanting to destroy anything. He hadn't used his powers since the night Wanda came to visit his cell - too scared to lose the team's trust. "I can try?" He murmured, glancing around the lab just in case anyone else was nearby. After a few moments of thinking, a red orb of energy appeared in y/n's palm. Y/n kept his eyes on his hand as the energy danced around his fingers, seeming to be completely focused on it. Bruce tensed a little, but stopped himself from properly reacting - he probably already felt like a monster, he didn't need the team being scared of him. The machines seemed to spike as y/n begun to mimic Wanda's powers, some beginning to beep due to the amount of energy coursing through y/n. The sudden, constant beeping caused y/n to freeze. His eyes wide with what seemed like terror. "Y/n?" Bruce asked hesitantly, making his way toward him. He waved a hand in front of his eyes a few times, but gained no response.

The beeping had triggered a memory that y/n didn't even know existed.

He was only a child.

Music played distantly on the record player out in the kitchen, it was his father's favourite song. Every morning y/n would dance with him in the kitchen to it. It was a happy song. Y/n was sat in his room, playing with a new teddy bear that he'd gotten for his birthday. He adored the doll, despite only having it for a few days. "Y/n!" His father's voice suddenly called from the living room. Y/n sighed, holding his bear's hand as he walked out of his room to figure out why he was called. The small boy wandered in to the kitchen first, but didn't find anything but some half-chopped vegetables. That was weird, his father was always cooking dinner at this time. But, y/n didn't worry just yet, his bare feet pattering against the wood as he made his way to the living room. However, as he pushed open the door, he froze.

His mother and father were tied to two of the dining chairs, a blinking object strapped to both of their chests. Both were pretty roughed up, with a black eye prominent on his father's face. Several strangers with guns and batons were stood in the room, but a man in a suit stood between his parents. Y/n hugged his bear tightly, looking at his parents with wide eyes. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know what was going on. "Don't be shy, bud. Come over here." The man in the suit smiled. But y/n didn't move. The man knelt down so he was closer to y/n's height, reaching slowly in to his pocket. Y/n watched curiously from the doorway, holding on to his bear as tight as possible. The man in the suit held out his hand, opening his palm to reveal a few chocolates. "Come, take some. I just want to be your friend." He cooed. Y/n seemed to hesitate a little, glancing over to his mother for approval. His mother nodded quickly, but y/n didn't notice the tears in his mother's eyes. The small boy slowly stepped forward, glancing around at all the other strangers. The floorboards creaked under his feet as he stepped closer to the man in the suit. "Papa says no sweeties before dinner." He murmured nervously, staring at the chocolate in the man's palm. The man chuckled a little, shrugging at the little boy. "Well, I think you can have one. I bought them especially for you." The man hummed, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. Y/n smiled nervously, carefully taking one of the chocolates and putting it in his mouth. Taking a few more when he realised how good they were. As the little boy ate, the man in the suit pointed at the blinking objects on his parents' chests. "Do you know what these are, little one?" He asked in a calm tone, ignoring the mother's crying. Y/n shook his head curiously as he ate, pretending to feed one to his bear. "These are bombs."

The mention of bombs shocked y/n. Causing the fear to come rushing back as he quickly backed away from the man in the suit, only to back in to one of the strangers, who seemed to push him back in to the centre of the room. The man in the suit seemed to press a few buttons on each of the bombs, causing the beeping to begin, and the timers to count down. "When these timers run out, the bombs will explode." The man hummed calmly. Tears begun to fill y/n's eyes, hugging his bear as tight as possible as he watched in fear. "But, those little powers of yours can save them, can't they? This is your time to shine, bud." The man in the suit cooed. He gave a signal to the strangers in the room, and they all begun to leave the apartment. The man in the suit was last, ruffling y/n's hair as he walked past. "Good luck." He hummed, leaving the little boy in the room with his parents, locking the door behind him.

Y/n was frozen in pure terror as the bombs continued to beep. Watching both parents with wide eyes. He reached a hand out, the other still holding on to his bear. The little boy closed his eyes, trying his hardest to stop the bombs. But nothing happened. His father tried his hardest to remain calm as he watched his son. "C'mon, y/n. Deep breaths..." He cooed, nodding to his wife who begun to take deep breaths for y/n to copy. "It's just like before, alright? Easy peasy..." He whispered with a reassuring smile. Y/n nodded, copying his mother's deep breaths, keeping his hand held out.

But, nothing was happening. The timer was ticking farther and farther down, and beeping became more aggressive. "Time for you to use your powers, honey!" His mother said in desperation, well aware of how little time they had left. But y/n couldn't do it. His back was pressed up against the door, watching his parents in fear. His hand was still held out, trying his hardest to stop the bombs, but he seemed to be stopping anything but that. The record player kept glitching and taking the same song back to the start, the lights kept turning on and off, the fireplace kept going from roaring with fire to no fire at all, but the bombs didn't stop. "C'mon y/n! Deep breaths!" His father exclaimed. The terrified boy nodded, taking deep, shaky breaths. He copied his mother by closing his eyes, trying his hardest to focus.

That was when the bombs exploded.

Y/n was suddenly snapped back into reality. His hands rushing to cover his ears as he screamed. The scream sent out a blast of Wanda's powers, sending Bruce, and anything nearby, flying. The lights in the lab smashed, the monitoring equipment exploded, and so much more. Y/n felt as if he was still back in the apartment, his eyes stayed scrunched shut, his hands over his ears.

Steve, Tony, Natasha, and Wanda burst into the destroyed lab. All frozen at the sight of all the smoking, sparking equipment. Y/n with her hands over her ears was the only thing not damaged. "What the hell just happened?!" Steve asked in shock, not even sure where to start with all of the mess. Bruce grunted in pain, coughing a little from the smoke. Natasha had rushed over to help him up, carefully taking his hand to help him stand back up. "I have no idea!" He exclaimed with wide eyes. "He just froze, and next thing I know he's screaming and sending out a shockwave through the lab..."