A/N: Welcome back to what could be considered "Season 2 of the Quicksilver tale"! Upon leaving the Avengers Quicksilver is now going to experience many more strange and exciting adventures, meeting new allies and making new enemies. In season 1 we explored heroism, in season 2...we'll be exploring love! (Don't worry I hate chic flicks and this story won't become sappy!) A reminder that I do not own Marvel and many of the characters that appear in this novel.

Enjoy! As usual, your feedback is always welcome!

Chapter 17

Oh, the Inhumanity Part I

It had been six months since Quicksilver left the Avengers. The speedster would be lying if he said he didn't miss the people, sometimes, but for the most part…he loved having his old life back. Pietro zipped around the world staying wherever he wanted for as long as he wanted. While he didn't fully return to his previous life of crime, he did occasionally entertain himself with small time thefts knowing there was absolutely no way he could be caught. Who was he stealing from anyway? Most companies are insured for when things go missing, so no harm done.

Immediately after departing from the Avengers mansion, Pietro spent some time traveling Canada and Mexico living off the land and doing whatever he wanted. Eventually growing bored with North America, Quicksilver whizzed off to Asia. He wanted to tour the Himalayas and see what it looked like at the top of Mount Everest. It was when he reached the highest peek, that Pietro ran into an old acquaintance.

The speedster sighed with almost immediate boredom after a few moments of taking in the breath taking sight. His mutation had been growing slightly in the recent months, allowing him to run faster but also causing him to get bored even quicker then he usually did. As Pietro was about to leave, he heard a familiar voice.

"I heard you left the Avengers months ago. I always wonder where a guy like you runs off too…but I never thought it'd be to a random place like this?"

Quicksilver turned around to see Johnny Storm, also known as the Human Torch. In the "Avengers world" Storm was a bit of a legend among the group, as the fantastic four were very well known for their power and effectiveness as heroes. Quicksilver, not at all impressed with heroism or the Human Torch, simply rolled his eyes upon noticing the man. Pietro knew it was only a matter of time before he ran into anyone from the Avengers. He knew that from their perspective, the speedster left out of discontent for "doing the right thing" or "accepting everyone". The silver man repeatively told himself he didn't care about these fool's opinions of him. Even in this moment, Quicksilver put up a good front.

"Oh it's you…" Quicksilver spoke, boredom seeping from his voice. "What's it they call you again? Fireboy? Flamer? Sparky?"

"Oh come on…" Human Torch gave a confident half smile and shrug, "You know who I am…everybody does!"

"Everyone does, and nobody cares." Quicksilver retorted turning his attention back to the beautiful scenary in front of him.

"So this is your thing now?" Johnny asked, examining the former Avenger. He observed that Pietro was no longer wearing his "Quicksilver" uniform, but simply a grey hoodie and blue jeans. "What are you some hermit on a mountain top nowadays? I heard you ditched the team cause your ego got the best of you…but come on man, this…this is a little pathetic?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you talk way to much?" Quicksilver barked back defensively. "You waste so much of your own oxygen sharing your thoughts sometimes, you know? For instance, I don't really give a damn what you think, so really…do you need to express yourself? It's kind of a waste of both our times, don't you think?"

"Whatever man." Human Torch shrugged, never much caring for the arrogant mutant speedster. "Hey as long as I got you here…what do you say we play a little game?"

"What did you bring your Yu-Gi-Oh cards or Dungeons and Dragons board with you to Mount Everest?" Quicksilver asked sarcastically. "I'm not interest, go play with yourself."

"I was thinking something more your style." Human Torch replied, "A race, if you're up for it."

Quicksilver paused and looked deep into Johnny Storm's eyes. The mutant never turned down an opportunity to show off his speed and let others now how slow they really are, but surely Storm knew this.

"You have to be kidding right?" Pietro asked, "I mean…you're challenging me to a race?"

"Yeah." Human Torch replied with a carefree tone. "I figure you've been out of the game for the past few months, so you're probably out of shape and slightly slower. That, combined with the fact that I've really been heating things up lately and trying hard be faster should give me at least a small advantage. What do you say Quicksilver? For old times sake?"

"There were never old times between us." Quicksilver replied callously, not liking Storm's "chummy" attitude. "And you're crazy if you think I'm out of shape. I'm at the top of my game, and embarrassing a hotshot like you would make my day. You're on Storm, just don't cry when I leave you in the dust. What kind of race are you thinking of?"

"Down the mountain, around China and Nepal, and back up again…that's about it. Sound good?"

"Sounds easy." Quicksilver spoke arrogantly. "I'll even give you a five second head start."

"Fine, but don't use that as an excuse when I win." Human Torch spoke as he lit his body up and began floating near Quicksilver.

"Oh trust me I won't." Quicksilver said with a smile, "Go ahead and start whenever you're ready."

Johnny Storm blasted off, leaving a trail of fire behind and Quicksilver slowly counted to five. Pietro watched the flaming figure flying from the mountain as fast as he could move, and the mutant knew he had nothing to worry about. After the five seconds were up, Quicksilver jolted forward leaving the peak of Mount Everest in a blue blur. In a matter of moments, the speedster passed the Human Torch. Quicksilver laughed joyfully as he watched Storm's face of complete and total shock. To add acid to the burn, Pietro turned around and begun running backwards waving at the Human Torch with arrogance. Quicksilver chuckled at the Fantastic Four member increasing his body heat to try to catch up to Pietro, who wasn't going nearly as fast as he could. That poor fool didn't stand a chance.

Quicksilver's expression of entertainment changed to confusion when he noticed Storm's eyes look past Pietro and his face expressed great concern. Pietro whirled around only to see a large blue blast of energy hit him hard. The same energy surged into Storm knocking him backwards as well. The two rivals laid on the ground unconscious as three figures approached their motionless bodies.

"Perhaps these are more of Maximus's forces?" One suggested, gently kicking Pietro's body.

"Or maybe there others like us with memory problems?" The second offered an alternate opinion.

"Either way they're coming in for examination." The obvious leader spoke, as one of his subordinates teleported the three figures, Quicksilver, and the Human Torch to their secret base of operations.

As Quicksilver came to, he cursed and rolled his eyes realizing that he was stuck in a prison cell with Johnny Storm. The speedster hated prison cells greatly, as they were never particularly easy to escape from. Pietro sighed as he begun to examine his surroundings. This jail most likely would be like every other one, unable to contain his power and brilliance.