"Defining Me"
Who am I? I am myself, no more, no less. I am lost and I am found. I am not a fabrication of your imagination. I am standing before you, sitting beside you, listening to your words, watching your expression; reading, gauging, trying to reach some understanding of why you are the way you are. I see all and know nothing. I am forever searching for a meaning to why we are here. I try to understand you, because then I may begin to understand myself.
They told me that they trusted me. Yet, how can people trust me when I am the way that I am? I can't see my heart to understand what it wants. How can I tell when I am living in this gray world of blandness? This place where the only thing that exists is neutrality. Neutral and forced. A world of simplicity and contradictions. A place where I hide, am trapped, drowning forever. I am falling backwards. I cannot see where I am. Faces are blurred into shadows.
Who am I?
I am myself.
No more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was about nine the next morning when the Brotherhood arrived at the Institute. They were in the middle of breakfast when Xavier looked up from his place at the head of the table. "Ah. It looks like they're here," he said, his eyes crinkled up in a smile. "Logan, why don't you go welcome our guests."
Logan scowled, deftly grabbing Kurt as he tried to snag the plate of sausages from across the table. "C'mon, Elf. You're com'n too."
"Aww. How come?" Kurt whined, trying to stuff a sausage in his mouth. Logan snatched it just as Kurt bit down. "Drop it, Elf," Logan growled. Kurt grinned around his mouthful, and bit down, releasing half the sausage as he chewed happily. Logan rolled his eyes and ate the other half as he stood, dragging the blue demon-elf out of the room. The table chuckled at them as they watched Kurt disappear around the corner, complaining happily.
"How come I have to, Logan?"
"Two reasons. One, if I left you alone, I'm sure there wouldn't be anything food left by the time I got back." Kurt protested, but Logan ignored him. "Second, they listened to you, not Jean, yesterday. So, you're coming, no argument, Elf."
"Ja, ja," Kurt sighed. Rubbing his collar from where Logan had gripped his shirt he followed as meekly as he could. Logan sighed as he watched Kurt prance around with boundless energy. They reached the door the same time as the Brotherhood walked up to the glass screen doors. Before they could knock, Logan wrenched the double doors open and glared. He was met by a look almost identical to his own. Lance scowled right back, his arms crossed in silent challenge.
"Uh, hey! You guys made it!" Kurt said, a little nervously. Lance turned his look on Kurt, who grinned goofily before looking at the others. The Toad and the Blob seemed to be hiding, somewhat unsuccessfully in the Blob's case, behind Lance, but still managed to look defiant under the intimidating shadow of their enemy's home. "Hey, vhere's Vanda?"
"She'll come later," Lance answered shortly. In fact, Wanda had to work until three and couldn't get off on such short notice. They continued to look at each other for several minutes before Logan growled at them to "get in or leave." They entered rather awkwardly, unused to such luxury that the X-men seemed to take for granted. Even the Blob looked surprisingly small in the size of the main entrance. Toad looked like one of those flies he flicked his tongue at periodically. He was hopping nervously from Blob to Lance, unable to sit still and barely able to keep from babbling in his nerves. If Lance was uncomfortable, he didn't show it. He sneered in disgust at the frivolities they indulged in while his family was left to starve. Finally, he turned away from the hideous tiny statues that the girls had purchased for fun (bears reading, owls perched, mice playing games, and other such dust-gatherers) to the business at hand. "Where's Pietro?"
"Ah, Mr. Alvers. I'm glad you and your friends could make it." The trio stiffened at the sound of the Professor's voice. Turning slightly, they saw him smiling benignly from the doorway to the dining room. Lance's scowl deepened. He knew that Xavier could most likely see his thoughts and he didn't put it past him to listen in without permission. Thus, he thought, in no uncertain terms, some very creative curses. Xavier didn't even flinch. "How about we go straight to business. Follow me, please," Xavier said, pressing a button in his armchair to wheel forward. Todd and Fred glanced at Lance, who kept his gaze at the bald spot on the back of Xavier's head. He nodded slowly and followed, the others falling in behind automatically.
They were silent as they passed under the bright lights leading to the elevator. Lance began to get unnerved by Baldy's silence. When they reached the metal door of the elevator he opened his mouth to speak when Todd broke in. "Damn, yo, not very subtle, are you?"
Xavier turned his chair and blinked at the Toad, who was examining the large X carved into the elevator doors. "Pardon?"
"I mean, it's almost like you're advertising, yo."
Lance felt just as confused as Fred usually was. It didn't help his temper. "What the hell are you on about, Todd?"
"The 'X,' yo. Ya know, the X-geeks. I mean, it's like they're screaming that we gotta enter here to get to their base, yo."
Lance closed his eyes and whacked Todd on the head. "It's an elevator, you moron."
"Ow! Jeez, so what, yo?"
A low rumble from behind them indicated that Fred was about to speak. They waited while the large boy gathered his words together. "The gates had a X onnem."
Lance waited, but apparently that was all he was going to say. "So?"
Todd grinned, revealing his straight, green teeth. "That's right! Like I said, it's like they're advertising that the X-men live here, yo."
"Tch, whatever." Lance turned away to find the Professor watching them with interest. "What?"
"Nothing. Why don't we go and I'll explain the situation." Xavier pressed a button and the doors dinged open. They piled in, tensing as Blob squeezed in. The elevator held. Lance was surprised at this. It must be pretty strong to hold all of them. It was pretty cramped, but no one even thought of splitting up. Not in the Institute. As their stomach dropped with the movement of the elevator, Xavier began to speak.
"Let me start at the beginning. Four days ago, Kurt and Kitty were walking back from school when something caught their eye. Obviously, it was Pietro. He was torn up and bleeding heavily. Not knowing what to do, they brought him here. I decided that it wasn't safe to take a Mutant to a hospital. It would cause too many complications. So, Hank and myself have been taking care of him."
"In other words, Pietro wasn't worth revealing yourselves," Lance translated with a growl. Xavier shook his head. "No. It wasn't safe for Pietro. We couldn't be sure that they would take good care of him like any normal person."
What's this? The ever-optimistic good-guys realizing that people are a heartless bunch? Lance thought.
"Pietro's condition is not good. He has several broken ribs and a sprained ankle. He has suffered from extreme blood-loss and lack of nourishment. He has dozens of scrapes, cuts, and bruises all over his body, and a large bump on his right temple. I hope I don't need to tell you how serious that could be..." he glanced up at Lance. Todd muttered that he did. Lance sighed and ran a hand through his unwashed hair, their water having been cut off for the month. "It means, Todd," he said, his voice deceptively calm. "That Pietro could have brain-damage. Anything from a severe head-ache to amnesia." He couldn't bring himself to describe anything worse, but temple injuries were some of the most dangerous injuries one could have. They could even result in death if hit in the right spot.
"And that's not the extent of his injuries. However, I think it would be best if you saw him yourself."
"The Fuzz-ball said that he's dying," Lance said bluntly. Xavier shot him a look, but Lance's face was blank.
"Yes. If his respiration continues to drop, then he will not survive. His heart-rate is irregular. It varies from beating at 189 beats per minute, to under twenty. Neither which are very good, even for someone with his mutation."
"Hmm." Xavier hid a grin at Lance. Even through the seriousness of the matter, the boy seemed as though he was solving a particular troublesome problem. One that he was determined to fix. Perhaps it was a mistake to leave them out of this for so long. Xavier hadn't really thought that the Brotherhood would harm one of their own, but he could never be sure. Not with Pietro's father being who he was.
The elevator dinged and opened. The hallway was bare and almost seemed plain compared to the Manor above. They shuffled out behind Xavier's wheelchair, glancing around, almost as if expecting the walls to start moving.
"Through here." Xavier motioned towards a half-open door at the end of the hallway. Lance nodded and stepped forward with Todd and Fred close behind.
Wanda scowled at the man in front of her as if daring him to say something. He trembled under her gaze but met here eyes squarely, challengingly. Wanda smirked. The human was brave, but she would triumph in the end. "So," she drawled, her hand hovering threateningly. "You'll have fries with that."
The man sighed in defeat. "Yeah...sure."
Nodding in satisfaction, she punched in the order. "That'll be $32.50."
The man groaned.
Pietro looked better than Lance expected. However, that didn't mean he looked good. His pallor was nearly translucent and he seemed to be struggling for breath. A large bandage wrapped around his head and left eye. A large, breathing mask was strapped onto his chin and nose, forcing oxygen to keep moving. Other than the pathetic motions of his sunken chest rise and fall, he was deathly still. Todd gasped as he caught sight of their house-mate. "Holy shit! What the hell happened to him?!" He was so shaken that his trademark "yo" was missing. Xavier came in last, moving to the other side of bed so he could watch the Brotherhood and Pietro at the same time.
"I was hoping you could tell us."
Todd shook his head wildly. Fred was still as stone, staring at Pietro, waiting for him to jump up and announce it was all a joke. Lance bit the inside of his lip, trying to keep his cool in front of the mastermind behind the X-geeks. "Lance?" Xavier's voice cut into him. The simple voice sliced through his control cruelly, and the room trembled faintly.
"Hey, Lance! Cool it, yo! Don't forget we're underground!"
"Yes. Please try and control yourself here, Mr. Alvers," Xavier said disapprovingly. The room shook a little more, but Lance managed to rein in his temper. Taking a shaky breath, he ran a hand through his hair, as he always did when nervous.
"Perhaps you ought to start at the beginning," Xavier suggested. Todd glanced at Lance, unsure if Lance could speak without shaking the foundation. Lance nodded at him and Todd shrugged. "There was kinda a fight that night," Todd began uncomfortably. They weren't used to baring themselves to the rich, adults, and no to mention their long-timed enemies.
"What kind of fight?"
"None of your business," Lance snapped.
Todd shrugged at the Professor. "'Tsa yelling fight, yo. And, you know, stuff was said and Wanda got angry. Pietro left. He does that a lot, so we didn't really think much on it, yo. But it's been three months since and he never even dropped by or nothin.' He'd usually zip though for a second to piss us all off if he was still upset and leave again. But we never saw him 'till now, yo."
"So you don't know what happened to him either. No idea?"
Fred mumbled something, catching their attention, before saying softly, "It mightda been Maggie."
"Maggie's no where near that cruel unless Speedy's done something... But he wouldn't've done nothing, yo!"
"Mag's been rather touchy lately though," Lance put in, his voice thoughtful.
"'Maggie?'" Xavier asked. Lance glared at him for interrupting them. "Magneto," he answered shortly. Xavier couldn't hide a snort of laughter. Lance scowled and turned back to Fred and Todd. "What about Her?"
Todd blanched. "B-but, She's been missing for ages!"
"Wha'd She want with 'Tro?" Fred rumbled.
"She'd want revenge."
"Against Maggie, not Pietro, yo!"
"Can't get the lion, go for the cub," Lance sneered.
"But...why not Wanda, yo?! Well, not that I'd want someone after Wanda or nothin,' it's just..."
Lance snorted. "Would you try and attack Wanda?"
"Ah, no. Alright, yo. So, let's say it was Her. What then? She don't seem like she'd do this sorta thing, yo."
"No," Lance agreed. Xavier watched them with interest. He had a pretty good idea who 'Her' was, but Mistique never seem the type for extensive torture.
"Maybe she was working with someone..." Lance suggested.
"Who?" Todd challenged.
"How the hell should I know?! I'm just guessing! I have no idea what happened!"
"Fine, whatever, yo."
"....How'd they catch him?" Fred asked suddenly.
"Probably backed him into a corner. Though, he's not really easy to do that with."
"A net."
"A net?"
Todd shrugged. "Or something to trip him up with, yo. Once he's down they could inject him with knock-out drugs or something."
"Actually." They jumped at the new, amused voice by the door. Hank stood holding a clipboard and watching them with a mix of amusement and seriousness. "There are several knots on his arm that indicate that he had been injected several times. I cannot find any chemicals in his bloodstream though. He probably bled them out."
"Is that a good or bad thing, yo?"
Hank shrugged. "Small blessings in disguise are sometimes the most special."
Lance sniffed. "What, like getting sick and being able to stay home?"
"Something like that," Hank smiled.
"But you're still sick."
"But the glass is half-full."
"The hell?!"
"Hank means that in every situation that there is a good piece there if you look for it. The glass is half-full, not half-empty," Xavier explained.
"So, if Pietro dies, what's the good bit?" Lance shot at them.
Hank raised a furry eyebrow. "What if Pietro lives?"
"What?"
"Stop thinking as though he's going to die. Start thinking that he's going to live. It'll be good for all of you."
"That could be called going into denial," Lance mumbled. Hank opened his mouth to reply but Todd cut him off. "Oh just shut up! It don't matter, yo! What are we gonna do?!" The room's occupants, minus the unconscious, stared at him in surprise. Todd took a deep breath and glanced down at the body on the bed. Xavier took pity on the boy, stepping in then, "Okay. I believe that's enough for now. Why don't you three take turns to sit in with him, and Wanda as soon as she comes. People seem to improve faster and miracles happen when surrounded by those who care."
"So Pietro is in need of a miracle," Lance deadpanned.
"I didn't mean it like that. Who wishes to stay first?" Xavier looked from boy to boy, expecting one to step forward. Todd and Fred glanced at Pietro one last time and silently left the room. Xavier raised his eyebrows slightly. These boys were a lot closer than he'd realized, he found. They each had a place and knew what the others needed from him. They could be a very formidable team under the right motivation. The X-men would need to be careful and not push them too far. He didn't want to see any of his students in place of Pietro. Xavier nodded at Hank and they headed to the door. "We'll give you a few minutes alone, then Hank needs to change the bandages and run some tests. You can help with that," he told the unresponsive brunette.
As soon as the door shut, Lance sank to his knees and buried his head in his hands. "Dammit, 'Tro!" he growled. His voice was dull, empty. "Why did you say that? You know how Wanda gets." He hesitated, his voice taking a manic edge as he continued. "You know I didn't mean anything, right?! ...dammit... It's my fault, I know. I should of looked for you sooner. I shouldn't have lost my temper again! God!" His breathing hitched as he struggled to remain in control. Tears hovered in his burning eyes, never to fall, only to haunt him with their existence. "I don't care anymore, 'Tro. Just, you'd better wake up. If you don't, I'll... I'll... I'll send Wanda after you! Just wake up! Please..."
Kurt was watching television upside-down from his perch on the chandelier. When Kitty had asked him why he was up there he had said that there had to be some way to make the reruns more interesting. Yet, if anything, it was just something to do. The atmosphere in the Institute was tense. Everyone knew that beneath their very feet that the Brotherhood were traipsing around. It made them uncomfortable. At one point they had felt the foundation shake and they all froze. It shook a second time before ceasing completely. No one had moved for a good five minutes after. Kurt knew it was only a matter of time before Wanda arrived, then, who knew what would happen. At least with those three they knew where they stood. After what seemed an eternity, Kurt heard the distinctive footsteps of the Blob. Releasing his hold on the chandelier, Kurt landed easily and peeked out the door. The two boys were ashen and speaking in soft voices. Well, Toad was speaking and Fred had his forehead furrowed in an effort to keep up. Every once in a while, he would mumble something in return, but what they were speaking about Kurt had no idea.
Kurt, the Professor's psychic voice startled Kurt slightly and he jumped. "Uh, ja?" He asked softly. The boys will be staying a while. Why don't you keep them entertained for a time. I'll contact you when Lance is finished.
"Uh, sure." Finished? Finished what? And entertain them how?! Realizing that they were about to pass by, Kurt jumped out in front of them. They stopped, looking at him suspiciously. Kurt rubbed a hand to the back of his head. "Uh, hey, guys. Um, what's up?" Gah, stupid question, Kurt! he chastised himself. Toad eyed him with obvious misgivings.
"Well, we just found out that one of our family members is very likely to die and there is nothing we can do but wait and see. What's up with you, yo?"
Kurt flinched. "Yeah, uh, sorry. Wanna do something to pass the time?"
"Like what, yo?"
"...um. You like video games?"
"..Whaddya got, yo?"
"Lotsa stuff.." Kurt ran through a quick list of some of the games they owned. Toad and Blob's eyes bulged. "You've got the new Twisted Metal?!"
"Um, yeah. For a while, actually. You want to play?"
"Hell yeah!" Toad grinned while Blob nodded beside him. Kurt smirked, "I warn you. I'm the master of Twisted Metal."
"You just wait, yo! There ain't no one that can beat the Toad at video games!"
"'Cept 'Tro," Blob said sadly. Toad stumbled, his face suddenly serious.
"Yeah..." he sighed. "But that's only cuz his reflexes are incredible, yo. He never had the patience though. Always said that the damn controls are too slow, yo." He grinned nostalgically. "Do you remember when he was so bored that he painted Lance's room baby pink?" he laughed and Fred grinned.
Kurt snorted. "He didn't!"
"He did, yo! Lance didn't notice for a week, though. Cuz he always comes home so late, yo. But, boy was he pissed, yo! He nearly knocked the house down. Pietro thought it was the funniest thing. He always had...has.. a twisted sense of humor, yo."
Fred grinned. "I remember when he caught you peeking in on Wanda in the shower."
Todd went pale. "Oh right." Kurt gaped, "No way! You peeked on Wanda?! Did he tell her?"
"Naw. 'Tro's cool like that, yo. Besides," he suppressed a shudder, "he said he didn't want to have to share the pleasure of torturing me."
"What he do?" Kurt asked.
"Oh, varying degrees of pranks. Pietro's forte, yo."
"He pulled pranks on you?"
"No. He made me do them, yo. I believe one of them was putting bleach in a red-head's shampoo bottle during gym, yo."
"Oh god! I remember that! That was you guys?!" Kurt snorted into his hand. "Aw, man, Jean was so pissed!"
"Uh, yeah. Don't tell her, yo. I kinda wanna keep my neck."
"Don't worry. Your secret's safe," Kurt said, giggling uncontrollably.
Todd eyed him carefully as Kurt laughed. He didn't trust the blue boy, but...
"Come on! Let's go play. I can't wait to whoop you," Kurt said, waving them into the living room.
"Ha! Brag while you still can, Fuzz-ball! I- Shit!" Kurt whirled to stare at Todd, who's eyes were wide. "Vhat is it? Vhat's wrong?" Kurt asked.
"Holy shit! Is that a Plasma!?" Kurt followed Todd's pointing finger to the TV.
"Oh, that. Ja. It was a Christmas present to all of us from the Professor."
"Goddamn!"
Kurt shrugged. Sure, it was a nice television, but it still had some bugs. It wasn't that big of deal, was it? Then he remembered their house. Perhaps such expensive things were a big deal to them.
"Whaddya waiting for, Fuzz-ball! You not gonna chickening out on me, yo!"
Kurt laughed and waved a digit tauntingly. "I am furry not feathered! I'm not going to back out when I know I'm going to win!"
"Put your money where your mouth is, yo!"
"A bet?"
Todd hesitated. He meant it just a phrase, but... they could use some extra cash. If he lost it, then Lance would be pissed... But if he won... "Ten dollars!" he decided. Not a large sum, but all they could possibly spare. Kurt nodded in agreement and they shook on it. "Fred, you're our witness, yo!"
"Always," Fred rumbled. Todd grinned crookedly. "Let's play!"
Since Todd was busy with Kurt, Fred went to visit Pietro next. Lance lounged on the couch and watched with detached interest at the furious battle on the ridiculously expensive television. Todd starting yelling, "Nononononono!" as his fingers flew on the controls. They had gathered quite the crowd by this time. It had been a while since Kurt had had some new competition, and Toad turned out to be very good. Lunch had been a distracted affair, eating in a half-hazard manner while the combatants' eyes never left the screen. Lance, at least, had eaten his fill, and saved some for Todd for when he finished. It wasn't often that they got good food like this.
"Yess!"
"No!"
"Well," Lance drawled. "It looks like Kurt's the winner." Todd was ripping his hair out in frustration. Kurt whooped in celebration. Finally, he turned to Todd who was looking almost panicky. "Pay up!" he crowed.
Lance went still.
Todd laughed nervously and glanced at Lance and back to Kurt.
"You. Bet. Money?" Lance asked with terrible slowness. Kurt, unaware at the danger, shrugged. "Only ten bucks."
"TEN?! Toad," he growled. Todd flinched. Kurt began to look confused. "Is that a problem?" he asked. Realization dawned. "Oh, uh, if you can't pay-" he started, but Lance cut him off.
"No. Toad. Pay him." Todd nodded and dug out a balled-up bill. There went his lunch money for a week. Damn. He was really regretting the bet now. He offered it to Kurt who hesitated.
"Um, you really don't havta pay. It was only a friendly bet."
"A bet's a bet. Take it." He shoved the money into Kurt's hands and turned away. Shame burned into his cheeks. A hand pressed on his shoulder and he looked up, startled. Lance gave him a hard look, before saying shortly, "Go eat, Todd," and turning away. Todd let out a silent sigh. If Lance was using his name then he wasn't really angry. Thank God.
"Now, Fuzz-ball. I'll play you. For twenty dollars," Lance said to Kurt. Todd tripped on his way to the food. Wha-what?! Even Kurt looked startled.
"A-are you sure?"
"What, don't think you can beat me?"
"N-no, but..."
"Chicken."
Kurt scowled. "Fine! I'd love to have some extra cash! You're on!"
Twenty minutes later.
"Ha!"
"Shit!"
Lance was scowling fit to put a normal man into cardiac arrest as he paid Kurt. Collapsing into the seat next to Todd, he sighed. "If we keep this up, we will leave completely broke."
"Wanda'll kill us, yo."
"Yeah."
"And why should I kill you? Besides the obvious, I mean," asked someone behind him. They froze. Todd let out a frightened squeak, before switching over to his "Wanda" mode.
"Wanda-darling! You're here! You're looking as hot as ever, I see!" Todd said, bounding over the couch to greet her. There was no way that Wanda would come to the Institute in her yellow and white striped work clothes, so she had stopped at home to change. She wore her black combat boots and torn, red tights under black shorts. Her shirt was small and showed off her belly button in the hottest way, in Todd's mind, and topped the ensemble with her traditional red trench coat. She glared at him, but Todd didn't let that phase him. He hopped around her, spouting some very bad pick-up lines.
Lance glanced at the clock on the wall, surprised to find it after four in the afternoon. Time was certainly passing a lot faster than he'd expected.
"How's the idiot?" Wanda asked suddenly. Todd stopped his excited hopping and looked at the ground.
"Not good," Lance said. "We're taking turns sitting with him."
"You can go after Fred gets back," Todd offered. Wanda nodded silently, her gaze flicking over the watching audience. "Got something to say?" she snapped. The students shook their heads and drifted off. Of course, they'd heard about Wanda. None of them wanted to mess with her. Well, actually, even if they did, Logan had been very explicit about the punishment if they started, or participated, in a fight against their guests. Some of the more impressionable students would probably have nightmares. Kurt jumped suddenly, then looked as though he were listening to something.
"Ah, Vanda. You're up," he announced. Wanda blinked. Todd hopped though the door. "C'mon, Wanda-honey! I'll show you the way, yo!"
"Stop calling me that, Toad," Wanda replied as she followed him.
Todd left her with Pietro, following a silent Fred back upstairs. Glancing back just as he passed through the door, he saw Wanda staring down at the immobile body of her twin brother. Shaking his head, he shut the door softly behind him.
This could not be happening. Wanda couldn't believe that this was happening. This was the sort of thing that happened to loving families, to people who never did any wrong. Not to Pietro, never to her brother. Not that she ever allowed herself to think of him as such. Pietro was a traitor. He always was and he always will. He'd left her to go insane inside that place. Ignored her when she had called out to him, begging him to help her. Never even looked at her as they carried her away. Denied her. Betrayed her.
But now...
He had been trying. Albeit, rather clumsily. He had been trying to be a brother to her. To do what is best for her, even when he didn't even know her anymore. He had still clung to her, pretending as if the past never happened. He had been trying to start on a clean slate, but Wanda couldn't. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't forget the look of denial on his face when they took her away. Him. Him or their father. But she wouldn't kill him. No. Pietro's efforts had allowed him that much. Pietro would not die by her hand, but nor will she forgive him. Not while he remained loyal to Magneto. Not while Magneto still lived. Not while the scene still replayed itself in her mind whenever she looked at his face.
His face. That gaunt, sunken in face did not belong on Pietro. Not on him. He was always so cool and confidence. A look that held an all-knowing expression commonplace on his face. His face. That face that changed so quickly, from happy to sad, pleading puppy-dog-eyes to acid stare. Each emotion flickered by so quickly that Wanda was never sure what he was thinking, or even if those emotions were real. Betrayal.
"Pietro..." Hesitantly, Wanda placed a hand on Pietro's, watching his throat work for air. "Damn you, Pietro," she hissed, clenching her hand tight around his. "You're not allowed to die! I'm supposed to be the one to kill you, remember?! How can I do that if you die first?!" But she wouldn't kill him. Not while he still tried. He wasn't allowed to die. In that case, he must just be sleeping. Yes. That was it. So, all she had to do was wake him up. He had to open his eyes. He must wake up. "Pietro..." Her voice was hoarse and trembling. "Pietro... time to wake up." she shook him gently. "Wake up...Wake up!" The beeping of the machine sped up briefly. Wanda didn't even notice as she shook him violently. "WAKE UP DAMMIT!" Her fists where balled on his chest, shaking him with all her might, her powers sending the room crackling. Wanda didn't even notice the doors slamming open as Hank ran in. "OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES YOU MORON!" Wanda screamed. The machines squealed. The room shook. Hank rushed forward, pulling Wanda off Pietro while she continued shrieking. "YOU BASTARD! OPEN YOUR EYES! GODDAMN YOU! OPEN YOUR EYES!" Hank held her tightly as she thrashed against him, shushing gently. Wanda screamed, but Hank's grip was like iron. Finally, eventually, she collapsed, sobbing in great heaves. Hank lowered her to the ground, holding her gently now as she cried. "You'd better not leave me again, Pietro," she whispered between sobs. I don't think I could stand loosing you again.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Will Pietro awaken? Will he succum to his wounds? Will this story EVER move on? Well, these answers, and more, will be in the VERY NEXT CHAPTER! Stay tuned! ^^
TBC......