A/N– Just noticed I never said where Pietro picked up the code name Victoria. Well, to put it simply, he decided on that because he thought it sounded nice with Wanda. Wanda and Victoria Maximoff. Enh. He's always been a bit of a character, no pun intended.

By the way, the reason Lance and Fred hadn't come up with cute girlie names like their speedy counterpart is that neither of them feel right lying like that to their good friend Brit or, now, Jeff.

In Toad's case, he doesn't think things through and merely told Wally everything.

As a side note: This one turned out shorter then I'd have liked, but whatever.

That's all. Enjoy. Love, Sai-Chan.

The day had finally come when the twins were sitting in a diner with their dates, Adam and Steven, respectively. Pietro glowered down at the table, his arms bandaged up tight but hidden beneath the sleeves of his blood red loose shirt. Steven had seemed concerned that his beloved Vicky didn't want to loop arms. However, he dropped his protests upon seeing those narrowed, dangerous blue eyes leering in his direction. He'd simply settled for helping the blond into his chair and clamming up nicely. Pietro continued to glance venomously in the boy's direction, as though it was him who'd had the spikes that'd torn up his formerly flawless skin. The once pearly perfection, as the doctor said, would forever be littered with gruesome scars once they healed. As for now, the skin was held together with plenty of stitches and bandages under the sleeves of his shirt.

" Do you want me to b-butter your b-bread, Vicky?" Steven's voice came out as a small whisper, his eyes scared. Pietro looked at him as a snake would it's prey, saying nothing close to a yes or a no. He barred his teeth in warning, before whipping away and glaring out the window.

" Victoria, stop acting like a child. You're the one who asked Steven here," Wanda reminded him, her own voice holding a touch of the infamous Maximoff bite.

" Fine, dammit. Yes, I would like you to butter my damned bread," he spat out, slamming his palms down on the table. The humans jumped. The twins merely locked eyes and stared each other down. Pietro looked away first, causing a smile to creep across Wanda's red lips, " Thank you, Steven, for buttering my bread. I greatly appreciate it,"

" You're welcome!" he rushed to say, nearly dropping the plate. Pietro caught it in a split second, " It's so cool that you can do that, Vicky,"

" Yeah, yeah, I'm amazing and awe inspiring. Can we order some food now?" he cut Steven off, leaning around him and waving his hand at the waitress. Steven weakly smiled, his face burning red.

" Your sister is... quite... um..." Adam found himself a lack for words as he watched the blond dictate the ordering. Wanda grinned a little behind her menu, " Bossy, I guess. Is she always like this?"

" Yes,"

" Are you?"

" Yes,"

" A woman of few words. I find that mysterious and intriguing," he cooed into her ear as he leaned close. Her blush matched her scarlet outfit and Adam couldn't keep the pleasure out of his pale face at the sight of it. He moved a bit closer, trying to make eye contact with her fleeting nervous gems.

" Hey! Love birds! Pay attention! Order or I'll do it for you!" Pietro snatched their menus away and unsheathed them from their privacy.

" You're not making this easy, Victoria, I must say," Adam sighed out, rubbing his forehead as he sank down in his chair. Pietro flashed his teeth in a mocking manner.

" We'll both have the grilled chicken salad. Dressing on the side," Wanda told the waitress. The order was written and soon the four were on their own once again, " Do you have to act like a brat, Victoria?"

" Yeah. And?"

" Grow up,"

" Adam, why don't you and Steven go and pick a song on the juke box for us ladies? I have something I need to ask my dear sister," Pietro's voice was so poison filled, the boys immediately got up and bolted from the table, " Wanda, I don't think I can do this. I just... I feel so annoyed and I can't keep my temper under control,"

" I wouldn't of guessed,"

" Look, what I'm saying is... I think I'm just going to get the food and ask Steven to take me home. I can't... my head hurts," he sank down, forehead on his arms on the table. Wanda petted his hair, more concerned then she'd ever figured possible.

" Does it bother you so much that Daniels was being sexist towards you?"

" I've never been told 'no' in such a fucking rude way! I'm not used to it! And then for Lance to forbid me from going back and kicking his ass! Oh, it makes my blood boil," he smacked the table once again, for good measure. She frowned at his manners, " I just wish I could... could... fucking slit his throat or something. Just... just... beat him at something! Anything!! Fair and square!! Dammit!!"

" So this just has to do with beating that boy?"

" What else would it be?"

" Why is it so important, Pietro?"

" Because I have to be perfect or it's not good enough," he answered without thought. There was a pause, " For him,"

" I think you're a perfectionist and you should seek help," the witch's voice lowered, her hands reaching over and stroking her brother's. He stared at her in absolute shock, perhaps even horror, " Your obsession with perfection is going to come crashing down on you one day, Pietro, and when it does, I don't think you'll do anything to stop it. I'm afraid... you'll let it happen and it'll drag you down with it... you don't do well in stressful situations. You just... run away and keep going until you can't go any farther and then everything's too far go-"

" Stop. I'm not like that," he broke in, although his words shook and his body had gone stiff. Wanda raised somber eyes to meet his.

" You're standards are too high. You're going to break yourself trying to reach them. That's what I'm afraid of," she patted his hand, letting go and cowering in her chair. Pietro continued to watch her closely until the boys came back and a happy 80s song started up.

" There you go. How does that help your mood, Vicky?" Adam clapped Pietro on the shoulder when he said it. Both twins looked at the boys, breaking into equally fake smiles and compliments that bounced of the unnoticing boys skin

" Much better. Thanks," he chirped, laughing so innocently that Steven turned the shade of a cherry, " Now," he rubbed his hands together in an almost normal fashion, " When's that food gonna get here? I'm starving,"

" Oh, dear... sister, you never change," Wanda exclaimed, covering her face.

Lance gazed at all the baby pictures on the walls, of nieces and nephews of Brit Simmons. They were all so adorable that he found himself grinning and wishing he had a sister who had babies for him to spoil. When he heard the clicking of glasses, though, he was brought back to reality. There were only pictures hanging on the walls of the foyer in a large house he'd never stepped foot in before that very moment, all of children he didn't know and probably never would. Seeing that truth, he left the hallway and peered into the living room where the owner of the house was pouring two glasses of wine.

The house was Brit's. As it turned out, she'd inherited the place when her parents up and died. Instead of selling it like she'd been told to by so many family members, she hung on to it and warped it into a modern rocker type place that not only suited her, but Lance as well. That made him feel at home, and he liked that feeling when in the company of this particular woman.

" You coming over here, Avalanche? Or you gonna stand over there in your I'm-so-too-cool-for-you baggy jeans and that killer Fuck-You T-Shirt and look cute?" she teased, laughing at his expense. He sneered at her, strolling over as slowly as humanly possible.

" I borrowed the shirt from my friend. She never wears it," he answered, tugging on the end of the extra tight, modified shirt with 'Misguided Youth' printed over his chest. Brit arched an eyebrow, " Toad. She said the shirt was too big,"

" That puny thing? Never,"

" Don't make fun. She ain't skinny by choice," he shrugged as he said it, taking a seat next to her on the plush cream colored couch, " Besides, it looks good on me,"

" Are you dating Ms. Toad?"

" Fuck no," he declared a bit too fast. Brit gave him another look, " She's just a friend... and a roommate. She... she's sensitive and I defend her on default. I wouldn't date her, though, so don't worry. She's not even gay,"

" Who's worried?"

" Well, I was kinda hoping you were," he inched closer, running a finger over her bare thigh, shown off so nicely in her jean shorts. Brit puckered her lips seductively. The mutant felt himself being drawn in like a moth to flame, feeling those lips on his all over again. Feeling that curvy body against his, melting into his frame, surrounded by the smell and taste of vanilla and peppermint. He took in a shallow breath.

Vanilla and peppermint.

Brit gently kissed his lips, her hands touching his loose hair. He kissed back, rougher and forcing her mouth open. Their tongues danced over the other's, their hands racing up and down the body before them. He arched her back, her breasts squished against his and then they were stretched out on the couch as they had been the back seat of the car. She wrapped her legs around his waist, causing his shirt to ride up. Lance didn't pull it down. He just caressed her cheek with one hand, the other firmly pressed to her hip. Her nails lightly ran over his arms, a gasp coming out as he bit her lower lip and pulled.

One of her hands slipped under his shirt and found his silk bra, the one he'd worn just for her. She squeezed the soft flesh of the breast, moving the bra up. He moaned into her mouth, utterly lost in the warmth of her body and the pressure of her hand on him. One of his hands found the one on him and pushed it down even harder. Nails dug in and he gasped. She kissed him harder and harder as she squeezed and squeezed, drawing sounds from him he hadn't thought were possible. It was almost overwhelming and made him cry out in ecstacy.

The motions made him lightheaded and out of breath and he couldn't get enough. He'd heard about this feeling from the mouth of the ever pleasure seeking Quicksilver and the always head over heels Toad and the passion struck Blob. But never, never, had he felt as he did as he melted with Brit. The earth was moving around them, the sky was on fire, the air was growing thin. And the near death feeling in his heart was so desirable, he'd kill for it to continue. There was nothing that could've torn him away from the girl who was gasping and breathing just below him, her back bending her curves against his own.

Lance finally had the love of his life in his arms. He finally had what he'd always wanted. And there was no way he was giving it up. He'd keep this passion in him, this woman with him, for the rest of his life. He swore it as he cried out as Brit snuck her teeth into his collar bone and his body shook as violently as an earthquake.