Perhaps most people would expect everything to go back to normal once Clint and I had settled our differences. Alas, they didn't. Some things were better than before; my relation with Clint was better than ever and still improving, and he had shown me some cool new tricks with his bow. He had even asked me to come over for Christmas this year, on behalf of Laura. It turned out it was her who had told Clint to come visit me - after she'd had some phone calls with Natasha. At the idea of celebrating Christmas in a real home my heart had almost exploded, while my enthusiasm couldn't even be dampened by the idea of the slight awkwardness.
On the other hand, there was Pietro. He had seemed genuinely happy that Clint and I had made up and I seemed happier, but his attempts to slowly approach me hadn't worked out very well; mostly because I had actually been hurt by his words. There still existed this wound, that I couldn't close.
Clint had asked if he should talk to Pietro - he was more than willing. I told him not to; this was something which wouldn't be fixed by a well-intentioned clarification talk. "Hey, Pietro. Yeah, remember I told you to keep away from my daughter? Well, turns out that's not necessary anymore. What'd you say? She still feels hurt? Gosh… sorry dude. I can't fix that."
And neither could I. It wasn't that I didn't want to revive the wonderful… friendship (had it been a friendship? I never really had friends, so I didn't really know if that was the proper term), contrary, I really wanted it back. But I had no idea how to fix the mess we'd made.
Considering this big, emotional mumbo-jumbo, I hadn't expected Pietro to do much to clear things up - not because he was too cowardice to try, just because I didn't think he would feel the need to do too much effort to try to restore it. So, imagine my surprise, when he stepped up to me, and began what sounded like a pre-prepared speech.
He came up to me as I was - again - reading one of my books, curled up on the sofa. There was a mug of tea beside me, and a plate of cookies Natasha had made for me right next to it. The lovely smell coming off it was a nice touch to the experience of solving murders in a fantasy world.
'Alexis, could I please have your attention? Please?'
A rough hand turned my inners upside down. Though determined to keep my emotions in check, I slowly lay a bookmark between the pages, and put away the book. Then I looked up to Pietro. 'Sure.'
'Great. Thank you.' He wrung his hands, and took seat on the most distanced corner of the sofa. My expression was fine tuned to kindly interested, but slightly reserved.
'Alexis…' he didn't know where to start. As I didn't know what he wanted to talk about, I couldn't help him either, though I gave him an encouraging nod and smile.
'Yes, Pietro?'
'I- I have said some things…'
'You've said many things,' I teased him. 'Though not recently.'
Guiltily, he looked down. 'I know. I'm sorry. But that's why I'm here. We've had some… trouble with… defining our… relationship, I think.' For a moment he looked me in the eyes, instead of looking vaguely in the directing of my face.
'I think that might me correct,' I agreed. It earned me a small, insecure smile.
I was yet again amazed at how shy and insecure Pietro could be compared to his "initial state" when I first met him. Again, I felt the guilt on my shoulders.
'And that's why I'm asking you,' he took a deep breath, and some of his confidence returned, 'if you want to go on a date with me.'
My stomach twisted. I instinctively tried to buy myself some more time. 'You sure you want to ask me? I'm not really a datable person.'
I guess the fact that he wasn't instantly rejected gave him even more courage.
'I thought you liked challenges? If you have patience, you might even be very good at it.'
'Oh,' I grinned, still a strange, bubbly feeling in my stomach, 'I see how it is. You probably think you are great at it, don't you?'
Pietro smirked. 'Not really. But I can learn too.'
I shook my head. 'Really Maximoff, I can't believe I am doing this.'
'So, that's a yes?'
The hopeful glow made me feel warm. 'I guess it is.'