M o t i v a t i o n

Chapter 6


Pietro had snuck downstairs when Laura fell asleep. He was sure that she was a light sleeper and would wake up any minute, so he hurried down to get something to eat. Wanda was sitting at the table, eating cereal.

"Wanda," he told his sister, "eating again?"

Wanda looked over her shoulder to stare at her brother. She swallowed a mouthful of cereal before speaking.

"I'm hungry, okay?"

Pietro held his hands up in mock surrender and went to the cupboard.

"Is she still here?"

Pietro looked over at his sister.

"Who?"

"Don't be difficult, brother."

He turned away and grabbed to glasses; one day they would have to snatch nice fancy ones. Pietro sighed.

"She should be sleeping right now."

"In your room?"

Pietro blinked and paused his movements, then continued gathering food.

"I didn't sleep with her, if that's what you're trying to ask," he said, his voice taking an edge. Magneto did the same thing; asked questions in a attempt to trap him into saying something he might regret. It was stupid, in his opinion. If they wanted to know something, then they should go for a direct approach. Especially if it's on a person who's well use to their methods.

"I have to make sure, Pietro," his sister replied, voice soft. He frowned, realizing that he might have hurt her feelings on that one. Good, maybe she'll stop asking questions like that.

"Am I really that bad of a person, Wanda," he asked, opening the fridge.

"That didn't come out right," she muttered to herself. And Pietro sighed, closing the fridge and going over to his sister. He kneeled by his sister and took her hands. Wanda's blue eyes met his and Pietro gave her a comforting smile.

"Look, I don't really know what's going on in your head," Pietro lied, "but there's nothing going on between me and her that you should worry about."

Pietro shrugged when Wanda gave him a skeptical look.

"It's really too soon to have anything going on between us," he added.

Wanda nodded and took her spoon, twirling the silver object in her bowl. Pietro stood up and went to the fridge and grabbed some of the containers from it. There was still some tzatiziki left and he was about to take some kofta before he remembered the event surrounding that particular dish. He instead grabbed some cake instead.

He picked up all the stuff and turned to Wanda. Wanda looked from his arms to him with a raised eyebrow.

"What? No drinks?"

"I have a small reserve upstairs," Pietro said with a grin. His sister looked away shaking her head.

OoOoO

Pietro tried not to flinch when Laura popped the cork for the wine. But her claws just came out like that (and so close to his face), he couldn't help it. He could see from the corner of his eye that Laura was trying to hold back a grin. His hand took hers as he decided to inspect her claws. He really didn't know how they could be so shiny. There was two of them instead of three, unlike her predecessor and they were very sharp.

"Do they hurt when they come out?"

Laura put the wine bottle on his counter (the neat freak in him made him panic a bit, and he made a note to get a coaster next time), and gave him her full attention.

"Every time," she answered.

She didn't move as Pietro carefully inspected her claws, lightly drawing his fingers up and down them.

"Cool," he whispered, and Laura smiled.

"How fast can you run," Laura asked, and Pietro caught the slight tremble as he drifted his fingers on the skin in between her claws.

"Dunno... I reached Mach 10 three times," he said as he turned her hand so he could look at her palm, "but Magneto said that it isn't safe to go that fast after my powers got stuck."

"Stuck?" She was staring at their hands now.

"Couldn't turn my powers off. That was the second time," he said, pulling away as Laura's claws sunk back in.

"And the third?"

Pietro smiled, "Worked perfectly. But I don't wanna get stuck like that again."

Laura looked at Pietro for a moment before lowering her gaze to her lap.

"Huh."

"I know."

Pietro reached over Laura to take the bottle of wine and cringed a bit at the ring stain on it. He handed one of the glasses to Laura and held the other in his free hand.

"It won't get us drunk," he said, shrugging as he poured the drink, "but it's good enough."

The clinked their glasses together and drank.

OoOoO

Pietro knew that Laura would have to go home sometime. But she was so relaxed here. He realized that she must have left the institute at a very early time and it was nearing afternoon now. They had been in his room this entire time.

Pietro sighed and stretched.

"It's almost afternoon," he pointed out.

Laura looked at the sun shining through the window.

"So it is."

"Aren't the guys at your little institute gonna freak or something?"

Laura shrugged, but climbed off the bed anyway. She stretched for a moment and Pietro's mouth went dry.

"I should go though," she said and slipped on her shoes.

"Do you want me to drop you off," he asked, trying to look nonchalant. Something told him that the act wasn't working.

"It's okay," she smiled at him, "I need the fresh air."

"Do you want me to walk with you or something," he asked, and mentally shook his head at him asking the question.

Laura looked like she was thinking about it but then she shook her head.

"It's okay."

The pair walked downstairs to the door. He could see the rest of his housemates sitting in the living room, trying not to look like they were eavesdropping.

"Again," Pietro said, ignoring them, "you can come over when ever you like."

"And again," she replied, looking up at him, "I'll hold you to that."

Pietro shook his head with a slight grin.

"Sure you will."


A/N: Ack, this chapter. I was writing this one while watching TV and thinking of ways I could get money for school supplies this year (unemployed, y'all). So if it's not that great.... my apologies. I've got to do registration soon. Wish me luck; I'm hoping they didn't screw up my schedule.

Okay, so I was watching the very ep of XME where Wanda gets her memory wiped. Dude... I love that ep so much. That Toad-Kurt fight is sooo awesome. I love that ep so much. Lol, that's all. Next chap is going to have to be in Wanda's pov... 'cause I just had the best inspiration for the Jonda (finally!). Is that cool with you guys?