Author's Note: The first chapter went really well, and made me put pen to paper in a fast pace and get writing another chapter. I have a day off finally too, after working so long at the office on one case and after 8 months, the case is finally over. Perks of working at a law office, is that the lawyer I work for gave me a few days off paid! Well, I still have a few diner shifts but it's nothing compared to my normal days. I'm just so happy not to have any more terribly long days in court, at least until the next big case. Serious, ever work on another human beings life for eight months? To anyone going into law, let me tell you it has its ups and downs. And remember criminal law while interesting is exhausting, and takes forever to have an action in it.
Another thing to celebrate is that I just reached 50 stories on my account. It's been a lot of long years, but my passions will never cease. Let say it's the 50 shades of fanfiction celebration. And on top of this, with this very chapter I broke 250,000 words! June has been a great month for me, with all kinds of milestones. Here's to the next 250k.
He awoke again on what Pietro could only image being the next day. His muscles felt heavy, but at least he was able to move them. Everything felt a lot better in fact, and it barely even hurt anymore. He was impressed with himself, as he slowly sat up. This was looking a whole lot better than it did yesterday.
Feet placed firmly on the ground and hand gripping the wall almost desperately, he pulled himself up and tried to steady himself. Though he wasn't exactly successful, someone had wondered into his room and a tray for food hit the ground with a loud splat as the nurse from yesterday rushed forward to hook under his arm. She supported his weight with difficultly but ultimately he was able to stay standing because of her. He couldn't help but think how short and small she was beside him. He knew that he was quite tall, but this woman could possibly be shorter than his sister. He used to tease Wanda that that wasn't possible. Guess he needed to apologize.
The poor yet still so beautiful woman huffed at his weight and tried to push him back towards the bed. Pietro felt sort of bad for having to resist, but was still on a mission. "Where are you going?!" She was frustrated and he loves it more then he thought he would. This was kind of like there first fight, he would have to get her flowers to make it up to her. Would her face light up when he presented them? Pietro could still remember his father bringing his mother home flowers. She would cuff him over the head then pull him in for a kiss. Pietro could only hope for the same kind of result.
"Bathroom." Pietro winced for two separated reasons at once, one his voice sounded raspy and terrible, and he couldn't help but wonder if she even understood what he said under that thick accent, and two that had happened to be the first thing he had said to her. Not great thing to be able to tell the grandkids when asked. His sister will for sure laugh at him for that, but at least his nurse was more compliant after that.
They walked together with a bit of a struggle, her having nearly as much trouble as himself. Pietro could almost laugh at that because while he had never been able to get enough food growing up he still managed to be bulk and muscly. Or maybe it had been the serum, changing his DNA for the better. Though, he hadn't actually grown all that much with the experimentation, not like he had heard the Captain America had.
They made it there in minutes and he nearly fell over when she tried to push him to sit in the toilet. He once again wouldn't be strayed. "Sit down Pietro, it will be easier for you." He was going to go with he sat down because he agreed she was right and was a good listener; not his legs crumpled under him because that was the first time she had said his name. His name sounded like heaven from her lips.
"Thank you for your help." He nearly slurred, and his accent dragged on every word. Looks like it would take a little while to get used to talking again. His mouth felt kind of numb, but that probably had something to do with the healing. He sounded drunk, though he didn't feel it at all; Pietro found himself completely alert and one hundred percent focused on his nurse. It wasn't polite to stare like he was, but he had a hard time making himself look away from the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
She nodded with that smile that lit up the room before answering him. "Do you need any more help in here, or do you want me to wait outside? You can just call when you're done." He winced yet felt thoughtful all at once; was it part of her job to help people in the bathroom, or did she just really like him? Men would take advantage of an unmarried woman such as herself if she offered that to a lot of them.
He clenched his teeth together at that last bad thought. "And what do I call you?" It was easy to call her his nurse, but he wanted name. Though if he thought about it, maybe now wasn't really the best time to ask. He could picture that in the future. (Yes, I asked for your mother's name while sitting on the toilet in a hospital, I already knew then that it was love.) Not exactly the love story his parents had had, but nothing really seemed to go the correct way in his life. He could only hope that this would have a different result.
He liked the way she tilted her head to the side slightly, and the way she always seemed to smile when he spoke. "My name is Annie, it's nice to meet you Pietro." She stepped outside after that and closed the door behind her. Pietro's eyes trailed after her as she went; right up until she closed the door behind her.
He sat there for many long minutes, just going over her name in his head. Annie, what a charming and cute name for a beautiful girl. He didn't get a last name, but it didn't really matter to him as he inserted the first thing on his mind. Annie Maximoff sounded dangerous and beautiful and powerful and many other words that he couldn't even think of in that moment.
With a huff, he pulled himself back up and did what he had to do, leveraging himself over to the sink next. The mirror showed him that his hair looked more silver than ever, with those mysterious roots that remained his beginning colour. It had been a side effect of the experimentation that he had gone through for his hair to be coloured like that. He had thought it was cool, but now wondered exactly what Annie thought about it. Pietro worried about it for a few moments while splashing water over his rugged face; he had more beard then he ever let himself grow in his life. Like some kind of scruffy cave man, he had dared to present himself to the lovely maiden Annie.
Life was cruel, giving him a glimpse of who was his one and making a fool of himself in every way in front of her. He wanted to shave but didn't have the supplies here and also didn't trust himself to do so right now; healed as he might be, his vision was still slightly on the blurry side and his hands would probably still be shaky. Not a good thing when holding a blade to his face and neck.
A knock came quietly to the door and Pietro could only guess that he'd been staring at himself in front of the mirror for far longer than he had originally thought. "Come in, Annie." Her name sounded amazing coming off his tongue, and he found himself wanting to say it again and again. Never stopping and maybe saying it in different settings; with laughter in his voice, pride, joy and maybe a groan. Pietro shook his head at that, those kind of thoughts were in no way appropriate and no matter how much he liked her, he refused to dishonor her like that. To objectify her like she wasn't a woman, whom was wise and beautiful? The thought alone made him sort of angry.
She was timid when entering the room, and his thoughts returned again to people taking advantage of her kindness. His mind was cruel and supplied him with how easy it would be for him to grab her, and pull her up against him. That would be highly inappropriate, but the thought alone was enough to make his cheeks heat up. He wouldn't dare degrade a woman like that though, Wanda would beat him senseless if she knew that he had thought about it. He would deserved to be beat for it too.
"You're gaining some balance already it looks like." Annie spoke with a teasing tone that warmed Pietro's heart. He wanted to be able to tease her right back, but found he didn't know her well enough to know what to say. He saw her eyes sweep over his face and had to stop himself from wincing; he didn't want for her to see him in this unkempt state. Pietro knew it was bad and he would prefer for her not to have to see him like this. Especially on their second meeting. (Not that he would have looked any better on the first one.)
He didn't have to lean on her on the way back to the hospital bed, but when Annie had reached her hand out for him to grab he couldn't resist. Wait until he told Wanda that he hadn't already held her hand; his twin was going to freak out. That was not a thing that would have happened back in Sokovia, but perhaps in this instance it was okay to embrace the American way.
He sat carefully and Annie looked confused when he didn't let go of her hand. It made him let go; Pietro wasn't trying to make her uncomfortable. He ran a hand through his unkempt scruff again and sighed, besides not looking good it was also itchy. "Would you like me to help you shave?" Pietro was not going to say just how red his face was; he didn't have the English words for it anyhow. First she had given him a bath, now she wanted to help him trim his beard? Would it be appropriate to propose
first, or should he bring her flowers and recite her his vows beforehand? Shit, he couldn't even think of English words at the moment, everything was just coming up in his mind in a horribly jumbled mess.
At least unlike yesterday he wasn't absolutely exhausted today, he wouldn't be falling asleep while she did this for him. He nodded cautiously, and looked at her just in time to see her face light up with another delighted smile. Like she was pleased that he would let her help him. "Okay, just sit tight there and I'll grab some supplies and be right back for you." Annie patted him lightly on the leg while speaking and his gaze wouldn't leave the spot of where she had touched him.
He watched her move from the room in a hurry, and couldn't help but wonder how he was going to explain his feelings to her without seeming like a pushy creep. In Sokovia he would have asked her father for her hand and then asked with approval but he doubted that would fly here. Besides how would he get in contact with her father here; back home it would've been easy. Everyone knew everyone there. Shit, he knew what he wanted but wasn't sure how to achieve that, Pietro felt like that orphaned kid in the slums again; unable to do anything and powerless.