A much lighter chapter than what we've had in a while. No warnings except for brief mention of past self-harm.
When Pietro opened his eyes, Scott was next to him. He could have probably believed that it was only because they shared a room, if not for the fact that the other boy was sitting laying casually on his bed, reading The Once and Future King.
"Scottie," Pietro spoke softly. "I think we need to have a conversation about boundaries." Scott closed his book and set it down, smiling slightly.
"You? Boundaries? I don't think you even know the definition." Scott's banter faded away as his gaze turned serious. "How are you feeling, 'tro?"
"'m fine." He paused to contemplate how tough he looked. "My leg hurts… Everything hurts."
Scott chuckled. "Yeah, that's what the Professor said. Your leg is going to be in a cast for a while." Pietro already hated the immobility. "But I was more wondering how you were doing. Emotionally."
"Well, I was thrown through a car windshield, woke up in a Church to find out my Dad hired the guy who threw me through the windshield, and had both my leg broken and other bodily injuries that I'm sure I'll remember if I keep having to think about this, which I'd rather not. All in all, just peachy."
Scott reached his arm around Pietro in a half hug. "I'm not sure if you know yet, but the woman who was driving you… she didn't make it."
"Yeah." Pietro swallowed as his throat turned to sand. "Sabretooth may have mentioned that."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault." It's mine.
Scott opened his mouth to speak again, but was interrupted by Jean pushing the door opened. "What is that?" Pietro asked, pointing at the small, drying kitten in her hands.
"You haven't given him the letter yet?" The red-head asked Scott, setting the orange tabby on the already crowded bed.
"He just woke up," Scott protested. He pulled the envelope he had been using as his bookmark out of its place and handed it to Pietro.
"What's this?"
"Read." Jean sat knelt down to stroke the purring kitten. The silver-haired teen frowned and pulled out the letter.
Pietro Maximoff,
I know you haven't been having the best year, and I'm sorry that I couldn't help you. I think part of me figured that if I could show you how to help yourself, I would be saving you. I realize now that I was being selfish. I'm taking you home so that I can speak with whoever is in charge of the Institute that you live at about what you've been going through.
I know you may hate me now, and I know I've stepped over my bounds as a teacher, but you need help. I'm going to be leaving soon, I have a new job lined up two states over for next year, but before I leave I need to know you'll be okay. As it so happens, I won't be able to keep my new cat with me in my apartment. If you'd like, and if your Headmaster or whatever is alright with it, I'd love for you to have a new home with you.
It's your choice,
Angela Taylor
Pietro shoved the note into the envelope, his hands trembling. He eyed the cat with new perspective.
"You don't have to keep her if you don't want," Scott said. "I'm sure we could find her a good home." Pietro ignored him, watching the kitten rub itself against Jean. He reached forward, running a hand lightly over its back. Green eyes turned to meet his, and Pietro knew he couldn't let her go.
"I think we'll call you Wanda."
"When's your birthday, Pietro?"
"Why do you ask?" Pietro scratched Wanda's head as they basked in warm, summer sunshine on the lawn. Jean leaned over him, blocking out the sun.
"Well, my birthday is on June 23rd." Does she want me to get her something? Pietro still wasn't overly fond of his red-headed teammate. "And Scott's is September 10th. So I wanted to know when yours was."
"If you have to know," Pietro sighed. He'd been happy to let his Thirteenth birthday pass in peace. "March 10th."
"All the way back then?" Wanda left his chest, annoyed at the sudden lack of warmth. Jean looked unsatisfied. "Why didn't you say anything? We could have done something to celebrate."
"Not my style." Pietro stood up and stretched. "Birthdays are a waste of time."
"What-," He was gone before she finished the sentence. He scooped up his cat and ran into the surrounding woods. Summer is so boring. School was much worse though.
Wanda hissed, uncomfortable with the quick movement. The tabby pawed at him, and Pietro lightly set her down. He pulled up the sleeve where Wanda had attempted to scratch him. No scars. He'd promised after the Sabretooth fiasco that he wouldn't take a razor to himself again. He had to thank his superpowers for giving him such quick healing.
"Whatcha doin', Piety?" Warren called from up above. His gorgeous wings were spread wide as the young adult clung loosely to the top branches of an oak.
"Trying to avoid Jeanie." He would have lied if he were talking to anyone else, but Warren had never minded his hostile attitudes. The blonde heaved a dramatic sigh, drifting down to the woodland floor.
"You should be nicer to her," Warren said, wrapping an arm around Pietro's shoulder. "She's a sweet girl. And she thinks of you as friend." Pietro snorted. "I don't know where she got that idea." The two started a slow walk through the shrubbery. "You know, I won't be around much longer."
"You don't have to remind me," Pietro muttered. He tried to keep the anger out of his voice; he should be happy Warren was going to get to go to a nice college.
"It'll be okay, kid." Warren had always had that way of brushing everything off. "Even if I don't live here, we can still talk on the phone. And I'll make sure to come visit you and Scott. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you shouldn't hold this grudge against someone that cares about you for some imagined slight. Just give Jean the chance to prove how great she is to you, and I promise you she will."
"It's not like I hate her or anything," Pietro mumbled. I don't want you to leave though. "I just don't want to trust more people than I have to. But, I guess if you really want me too, I can try and be a little nicer to her."
"That's all I ask, little bro." Warren mussed his hair affectionately. The taller teen reached down and scooped Pietro up bridal style. "Let's fly home." Pietro rolled his eyes, but decided to indulge his friend.
It didn't take long to find Jean. When her and Scott weren't reading books together (the combined nerdiness of the two disgusted him), she spent time improving her telekinesis and cooking.
"Yo," The speedster said, entering the kitchen. Jean was placing a pan of cookie dough in the oven. "Can you use your mind magic to help me find Wanda?"
"Sure thing!" If Jean was surprised by the request she didn't say it. She quickly set a timer and took her apron off. "Hmm… Yup, I've found her. Let's go get your kitty."
"Lead the way." They walked side by side into the warmth outside.
"Did I do something to make you not like me?" Jean was quiet, not looking at him.
"Not really." Pietro bit his lip, mulling over his word options. "I… I just don't get along with people, generally speaking. I rub people the wrong way, and most snails aren't worth slowing down for."
"Do you know how I ended up here?" Jean tended to look at him in a way that made Pietro feel like he was invisible. "My powers were getting out of control. I would go to bed fine and wake up to the whole house shaking. I could hear what people were thinking. Not just one person, everyone. I thought I was going crazy. Then Professor Xavier found me, and he showed me that I wasn't crazy. I was a mutant. And more importantly, I realized I wasn't alone." She turned to him. "You're not alone either, Pietro. You don't have to be ever again. But it's your choice whether or not you choose to be."
"You remind me of my sister." Pietro wasn't sure what else to say.
"Is that a good or a bad thing?"
"Both." He grinned wildly. "Speaking of, where's Wanda?"
"Come here, girl," Jean called into the treeline. The orange tabby scampered happily over, rubbing against their legs. Pietro grabbed the purring mass in his arms. "Let's go get your cookies out of the oven."
"My cookies?" The speedster arched his eyebrow and Jean smiled in a roguish way he'd never seen before.
"For your birthday, of course. I feel bad about missing it."
Pietro followed lazily behind as she led the way back to the Mansion. She's not the worst person I've ever met. Wanda purred encouragingly, and they went to enjoy their belated birthday dessert.
I really felt we needed more stuff with Jean. She's a really nice girl, but I can't imagine Pietro being able to trust anyone with such seemingly similar powers to his sisters so soon after she'd left. And of course now he has a nice kitty to keep him company. Anyways...
~See you soon