Chapter 29: Breaking

"They're alive?"

Pietro could hardly believe his ears. Wanda, Tony, and Bruce had somehow all survived the explosion. But only just. According to the doctors, they were all in critical condition, and it was very likely they wouldn't all make it out of this. But they were alive. Wanda was alive. Pietro sank to the waiting room floor under the weight of a fresh wave of tears. He wasn't sure why he was crying when he'd just found out his sister wasn't dead after all. Whatever part of his brain controlled emotions must have broken under pressure and now all his reactions were muddled up. It wasn't just his emotions that were muddled up. His entire brain seemed to have short circuited. When his mom had arrived at the hospital, it had taken him nearly a minute to recognize the arms holding him close. His ears had finally stopped ringing from the explosion, which helped clear up his muddled brain a little, and Wanda was alive and just might make it through this, and he thought maybe he saw a light at the end of the tunnel that had become his life.


Pietro spent most of the next two days at the hospital. It was New Years Eve, but he wouldn't have even known if the waiting room hadn't been decked out in banners. He had gone to the hospital that morning and sat by Wanda's bedside until after he knew their mother would be off work. He didn't want to be alone in the apartment right now – it felt too empty and joyless and he was scared of what he might do if he was stuck there for too long. So he stayed with Wanda, because even though she didn't know he was there, just her presence comforted him. He had wanted to visit Tony and Bruce too, but they weren't family, so it wasn't allowed. The doctor had been kind enough to update him on their conditions however. It was still uncertain whether either of them would survive, and if they did, it would not be without consequences – it didn't seem likely that Bruce would be able to walk again, and Tony would be deaf in his right ear. All three of them would be severely scarred from the burns and cuts they had received from the explosion and flying debris.

It was late afternoon when Pietro finally left the hospital and returned home. He climbed the stairs with slow, tired steps and unlocked the door to the apartment.

"Mom, I'm home!" he called, hanging his key on the hook.

No answer. He paused for a moment. The shower wasn't running. Maybe she was taking a nap.

"Mom?" he called again.

Still no answer. He walked down the hall into the living room and froze. His mom was lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling.

"Mom?"

She didn't respond. Pietro went over to her and knelt down. He checked her pulse: nothing. He put a hand above her mouth to see if she was breathing: nothing. He grabbed her shoulder and shook her gently, trying to wake her: nothing.

"Mom? Please wake up. Come on, wake up," he said in a small voice. "Mom?"

She was completely still, but the truth of the situation refused to sink in. Pietro shook her again, a bit less gently.

"Mom, please... help," he said, too quiet for anyone to possibly hear and come to his aid. "Someone help. Please. Mom, please..."

Finally something clicked in his brain and he got out his phone and dialed 911.

"911, what's your emergency?" the woman on the line said.

"It's my mom, I-I found her on the floor and she won't wake up," Pietro said.

"Is she breathing?" the woman asked.

"No, and I can't find her pulse either."

"Stay where you are and don't move the body," said the woman. "Someone is on their way."

Pietro hung up and dropped the phone, curling himself into a ball next to the couch. Still the truth refused to sink in; his brain had rejected it and wouldn't let him believe it, not until they told him it was real. The emptiness of the apartment began to press down on him again and he grabbed his phone, calling the first person that came to mind.

"Hey, buddy, what's up?" Sam said when he picked up at last.

"I... I need you. It's my mom... can you come over?" Pietro said.

"I'm on my way," said Sam.

He hung up and Pietro dropped the phone again. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. He stood up on shaking legs and went to answer it. A pair of paramedics stood outside. Pietro let them in and led them to the living room. They knelt next to his mom and examined her. It wasn't long before one of them stood and came over to Pietro.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid your mother is dead," he said gently.

It was real. He had known it deep down but still the words came crashing down around his head.

"Are you gonna be okay?" the medic asked.

Pietro didn't answer. As though from a great distance, he heard the other medic call for a body bag. It was real. Too real. Pietro ran into the kitchen and threw up in the sink. He turned on the faucet to rinse away the mess and left it running as he sank onto the cold tile floor, clutching his knees to his chest. Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice.

"Where is he?"

"In the kitchen."

There were footsteps, and then Sam was sitting on the floor beside him.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Pietro shook his head.

"What happened?"

"I don't know."

"They're gonna take her to the hospital to find out how it happened," said Sam. "Do you want me to drive you there?"

Pietro nodded.

"Okay. Do you need a moment first?"

Pietro nodded. For some reason, he hadn't cried yet. He just felt empty. He took a shaky breath and pushed himself up, using the counter to steady himself. Sam turned off the still-running faucet and placed a hand on Pietro's back, gently leading him outside.


Pietro had spent far too much time in hospitals lately. He and Sam sat in the waiting room in silence. He still hadn't cried and he didn't know why. His mother was dead. Dead. They'd been at the hospital about twenty minutes when Steve, Bucky, and Thor showed up and five minutes after that, Natasha and Rhodey. Pietro stood up when they arrived and Natasha immediately pulled him into a hug. That was when he finally started to cry. Natasha just held him tighter and stroked his hair like Wanda would have. Oh God, Wanda. She didn't know. She would wake up only to find out her mother was dead. That is, if she even woke up at all. He had no idea how long he cried into Natasha's shoulder before he finally managed to calm down.

"Sorry," he mumbled, drying his eyes on his jacket sleeve.

"Don't be," said Natasha.

Just then, the coroner came out to the waiting room.

"Which of you is Pietro Maximoff?" he asked.

Pietro stepped forward.

"Do you know what happened?" he asked.

"I'm afraid your mother was murdered," said the coroner. "She was strangled to death."

Pietro felt nauseous.

"Who did this?" Thor asked. "Who would want to kill that sweet woman?"

"We don't know yet. I've called the police detective, they're going to start investigating," said the coroner. "Pietro, do you have any idea who might have wanted to hurt her? Did she have any enemies?"

Pietro shook his head.

"No. Everyone liked her," he said. "I have enemies though. And it wouldn't be the first time they've hurt someone else to get to me."

"The detective will be here soon. I hope you're ready to answer his questions," said the coroner.

Then he left.

"Pietro... do you really think this was Hydra?" Steve asked.

"Who else would do this?" Pietro said. "Who else would want to tear my life apart?"