Chapter 9
Captain America Verses Quicksilver
Several months had gone by since Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch had joined the West Coast Avengers. Alongside Captain America and Hawkeye, the twins had become instrumental figures in stopping many villains and acts of terrorism against humanity. Both Pietro and Wanda agreed that as far as places that there life had taken them, no place seemed more like "home" then being with the Avengers.
Quicksilver had gained a great deal of respect for the Captain. Pietro had a hard time understanding how Steve Rogers could have such a strong, virtuous, and pure core. Never in his life, had the mutant met someone who had such a good heart. At first, the silver haired speed demon thought this may be a sign of Captain America's weakness. In his experience, those who held such highly to the belief of "truth, justice, and the American way" or the ideal that "good triumphs all" ended up using such idealism to make up for their weakness. Quicksilver vividly remembered the day he was proven wrong about Captain America's supposed weakness.
"I don't understand why you're so insistence on locking these psychos up always?" Quicksilver continued to argued with the team leader upon arriving at their Avengers headquarters and mansion in California, after apprehending the villains Bullseye and Deadpool who were hired for an senator assassination attempt. "I know some people are worth saving, and some people deserve second chances…but with some of these guys that we throw in prison time and time again, wouldn't it be easier and less dangerous for the world if we just put them out of misery?"
"I believe in the justice system." Captain America admitted, "If we keep fighting the good fight on our end, others will follow in their perspective roles. Prisons may not be perfect, but they'll continue to become more effective. Besides, we don't have the authority to end lives at our own discretion. We're heroes, not killers. Just because you and I have the power to kill, doesn't mean we always should."
"Whatever." Pietro shrugged his shoulders as he leaped onto a big comfy chair in the living room. "If all I did was throw a shield around and have slightly heightened senses compared to other people, I may believe the same thing. You know how it's always the lonely single guys that talk about not needing girlfriends, but everyone knows they're just full of it? Yeah, I think some people are the same way when it comes to justice. Those that can't take on the real baddies, just talk about how they fight the good fight by continuously giving them a second chance."
"Oh really?" Steve stopped what he was doing and turned around, raising an eyebrow. "I must confess that I don't have a lot of wisdom in the area of lonely single guys and girls, but I see a lot of flawed logic in your opinion about how my style of crime fighting is…mediocre at best."
"Look, don't have a hissy fit!" Quicksilver spoke with an arrogant chuckle, trying not to offend his leader. "You and Hawkeye do fine with your weapons, combat training, and such…but let's face it….I can move faster than any shield that is thrown at me, and my sister can control probability which usually ends in making things exploding, whether she means to or not. (Wanda rolled her eyes at this immature comment.) When it comes to getting the job done, mutants are just better. That's all I'm saying."
"Call me old fashioned, but I think there is a lot that can be said about the special training Clint and I have." Captain America replied calmly.
"I'm not calling you old fashioned." Quicksilver replied with a smug smirk, "Just wrong."
"Would you care to test out your theory in a sparring match, Pietro?" Captain America offered as he now smiled at his friend and team mate. "There's no doubt that you have extraordinary talent and amazing gifts…but after watching you "do your thing" for so long, I think you could benefit a lot from special combat training such as what Hawkeye and I have been given."
"You can't be serious!?" Quicksilver chuckled as he asked. "No disrespect, but me and you one on one? Really? I'd have your fancy shield out of your hand before you even thought about throwing it. With my speed, you couldn't touch me, Cap."
"I beg to differ. I'd also like to propose a gentleman's bet, if you're up for it, Speedy. Let's have a little spar downstairs in the training room and if I win, you have to agree to do daily combat training sessions with me for the next four months…without complaining, of course…If I win, I'll do all of your chores around the Avengers mansion for the next year. How's that sound, Maximoff?"
"It sounds like you really want to have some extra housework!" Quicksilver jumped up so fast with excitement, his movements were almost missed by the others in the room. "I'll be waiting downstairs, you take the next ten minutes to stretch, take a vitamin, or whatever it is you aged super soldiers do before battle."
"You're on, soldier." Captain America joked as Quicksilver sped away in a blue and white flash.
Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye entered the observation deck of the training room to watch the sparring match. Wanda turned to Hawkeye with a concerned look as she spoke.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Clint? My brother can get awfully competitive."
"If I were you, I'd be more worried about your brother then Captain America." Hawkeye spoke as he looked down at the two Avengers ready to have a match. "I've been with the Cap for a long time, and I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather go against the top three super villains in the world on my worst day then try to stand toe to toe with Steve on my best. He's not just a super solider because his great reflexes….Cap's got a very strategic mind. My guess is that if he made this bet with Pietro, he's already came up with a way to best your brother."
"Well, this wouldn't be the first time Quicksilver has rushed into something without fully thinking." Wanda admitted, "And it probably won't be the last."
"I'm ready to start whenever you are." Quicksilver said with a cocky grin on his face. "Just say the word, and I promise it will be over before it begins. Don't worry boss, I'll make it quick…I always do!"
"Go for it, then…tough guy." Captain America became very focused as he raised his shield and got into his fighting position.
Like a lightning bolt, Quicksilver charged forward and started to punch the super soldier in the face multiple times. Every time Pietro hit Captain America, he would run away, and then quickly return with another first. Wanda and Clint watched as Steve Rogers was struck several times in the face, grunting in pain as he stood his ground. The spectators could only see the blue and white coloring of Quicksilver, as he was moving so fast.
Finally Captain America grunted, tightened up, recovered from a punch, and pushed his shield forward intentionally. As he pushed forward, without seeing the speedster, the leader hit Pietro hard in the stomach with his shield. Upon momentarily taking the wind out of the mutant, Captain America, with one hand, threw Quicksilver over his shoulder and lunged on top of him, pinning down the speedster with his shield.
Pietro pushed upwards and side to side, struggling to break free of the stronger Captain America. The young adult cursed as he realized he was unable to break free. It become evident to Quicksilver that if this was a real fight, now would be when Captain America would hit him hard in the face, knocking him out. Pietro stopped moving with his pride taking a serious blow, as the Avenger realized he had lost the match.
"While you were hitting me, I began timing your punches." Captain America said with a smile as he helped Quicksilver up. "A little something the army taught me…and the throw I used to get you on the ground, that was a jujitsu move I learned years ago. Speed and power aren't everything, soldier. Sometimes you have to use your head."
After that, for the next several months Quicksilver studied under Captain America and learned a great many combat skills. More than that, he developed an even deeper respect for the team leader. From Pietro's point of view, the Captain was the real deal when it came to the ideal "good guy." He wasn't a faker, he was out fighting the good fight for the right reasons. Pietro admitted to himself that he'd probably never be that virtuous, but it was great being around. Somebody who was.
It worked out well that Quicksilver received some combat training and the team grew closer together through this little scuffle. Unknown to them at that moment, months later the West Coast Avengers would face a very difficult enemy and find themselves in very dangerous situations.