My eyes snapped open as I heard the door to our hideout opening, relaxing as Wanda walked in with a hum while carrying groceries in both hands.
"Morning. Sleep well?"
"Like a baby. How long has it been?"
"About three days, maybe four. You passed out once we got close to Novi Grad and I carried you the rest of the way."
"You carried me? Last I checked, you could barely carry more than two watermelons over long distances without complaining about the weight."
"Well, you're my brother, not watermelons. I think I can carry my brother to safety because your safety means more to me than watermelons. Now, I got some eggs, bacon, some jam and a fresh loaf."
"And I'm guessing you found other ways to get this food since we don't have money?"
"I do have my ways, yes," she responded and I chuckled as I stood up, wincing at the stabs in my legs before I shook them.
"You're okay?"
"Yeah, just phantom pains from going a bit too far in a short period of time."
"I'd say. You ran until you passed out and your heart was audible enough to where I thought it would jump out of your chest."
"Hey, at least we made it away from them. That's a win in my book," I answered with a shrug, smiling as she rolled her eyes while moving over to the stove.
"So, can I ask a question?"
"Since when have you asked to ask a question?"
"Since we became what we are," I said and she looked at me over her shoulder before nodding.
"Fine, what's the question?"
"How long was I out?"
"Like I said, maybe thr-"
"No. I mean, after they gave me this," I added and watched as she paused for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.
"Almost two months."
"What happened?"
"You…you were stable at some points. Then, you just flat-lined for a few seconds and up to a minute before your heartbeat returned back to being stable. Then, your heartbeat sped up so much that it was not even visible on the heart monitor before it settled down."
"Well, that sounds like a rough two months."
"That was all in one day," She spoke with a frown and I grimaced before nodding.
"Right. Was that how it was for the rest of the time?"
"For the first month. Then, for the second month, you were completely stable. Sure, your heartbeat was a lot faster than the average person's and your nervous system was in a frantic state according to the scientists, but you were stable and that's all that mattered."
'Well, the first month could explain that Pietro and I were struggling to keep alive and then the second month…that could be when my memories melded with his and tried to form a new mind to support us both.'
"What about you? How were you?"
"Good. They mostly left me alone after I showed that I could manipulate someone's mind. It's how I got these," She said while gesturing towards the food, to which I hummed as I grabbed the loaf and began to cut off slices for us.
"Can you do anything else? You know, lift stuff up with your mind or talk to others with your mind?"
"I can do the former, but the latter is a lot more work than you would expect. I find that I can control minds better than actually talking to them."
"I see. Well, you've seen what I can do."
"Yeah, covering hundreds of miles in the blink of an eye."
"Oh, it's not in the blink of an eye as I still have a top speed. However, my speed is a lot higher than what one would expect," I answered, watching as she simply hummed while stretching over to grab the jar of jam.
However, my eyes widened as I caught the red sparks on her hand, immediately ducking around to her other side as a hex bolt shot from her hand and put a hole in the ground where I stood.
"Uh, I think you have more than just manipulating minds and lifting things up, sister."
"Don't worry. That just…happens, I think."
"Just happens? You sure we shouldn't find someone that could perhaps teach you how to control it?"
"Oh really? Well, the only people I can think of are the Avengers and I do not wish to work in the same group as Tony Stark."
'I can think of one,' The group that came to mind was the Masters of the Mystic Arts, a group of sorcerers that could most definitely help her. Even if they don't, they could teach her methods of combat that she could use outside of just her Chaos Magic.
'Wanda and her Chaos Magic combined with the Mystic Arts. Wait, Steven is not a member of Kamar-Taj, so wouldn't she be the perfect fit for Sorcerer Supreme? Probably the best choice they have,' Was I doing this because I needed to have her get me a way to fight other than just using superspeed?
I know that the concept of Chi existed in both that Iron Fist series and the Shang Chi movie, but I don't understand the concept of either well enough to replicate its effects without help from someone who's experienced in using it.
'Though, in order to go with them, I'd need to figure out a way…I think I got one.'
"Well, you know when you were unconscious for those two days after you were exposed to the sceptre?"
"Yes?"
"Well, I overheard some of the agents talking about a group of people with mystical abilities. I think they said that the group is somewhere in Kathmandi, Nepal or Kathmandu, Nepal."
"Nepal is in Asia. We don't have the capabilities or the funds to get there and last I checked, those HYDRA guys might still be looking for us."
"Well, if we stay here, there's a bigger chance of them finding us here because many people would sell us out for the chance of having more money to feed the rebellion," Even now as the two of us were arguing, I could hear shouting and shooting in the far distance and I knew she heard it as well as she stared at me with a frown before letting out a frustrated sigh.
"The last time I went forward with your idea, we ended up like this."
"Yes, that is true, but in exchange, we got some pretty cool abilities."
"Must you have such a childish mind?"
"More optimistic than childish, sister. Also, you're burning the bread," I spoke as I reached for the spatula, picking up the bread and placing it on a plate that I took from the cupboard.
"I'd say it's more childish than optimistic, but then you'd just repeat what you said."
"Well, considering that a child is taught to always be positive, I'd say we're doing a fantastic job right now, wouldn't you?", I asked as I placed the plate down, taking a slice and biting into it while smirking as she stared at me with narrowed eyes.
"Urgh~ Fine, we'll follow your plan, but if we do get there or die along the way-"
"You can tell me I told you so in the next life. Now, I'm going to have to ask you to go get more food, please."
"And why would I do that?", She asked and before I could talk, my stomach did the job by letting out a low rumble as I sighed.
"Super speed means a super metabolism."
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The world around me was a blur as I raced across the ground, each step propelling me further and further as Wanda and I crossed hundreds of miles in the span of minutes.
It was not long before I began to slow down, stopping right on the rooftop of what appeared to be an apartment before letting Wanda hop off. Sitting down to catch my breath, Wanda went to survey the area while I looked up at the scorching sun above.
It's been three days since we left Novi Grad and Sokovia behind, heading to Kathmandu, Nepal where we were going to try and find her a teacher to help her harness the power of both the Scarlet Witch and the Mystic Arts.
I would normally just try to figure out a way of power for my own, but considering that she's barely able to keep her power in check, it was better to let her train her power before I start training my own.
Not that I wasn't training my own as the constant running was more than enough to help me figure out what my abilities.
The first, and most obvious of the abilities is my superspeed, being able to get from Point A to Point B at a ridiculously faster speed than most people. Considering that I ran across an entire lake without falling in once and with the water feeling pretty solid under my feet, I'd say I'm well over 600 miles per hour if I'm remembering the Flash series correctly and it could even be higher.
Then again, the Flash series was known for its inconsistencies so that might not be the best choice.
The next were a combo, that being my superhuman reflexes and agility, which are also the reason why my mind is able to keep up with my superspeed.
The third was a bit more surprising and that was the fact that I could envelop people in the same blueish-white aura my body generates when I run. That is how I'm able to protect Wanda from the after-effects of running at near-supersonic speeds without turning her into the dust.
It is also be the reason why my clothes don't burn away when I run, which I am thankful for as running without clothes on might not set the best image.
The last was the most surprising and that is my enhanced body, which apparently has been stitched together to give me the perfect build for a speedster. Lean yet still muscular with some power to add on top of the force generated by my speed.
'That reminds me. If I can figure out how to add motion to my punches like Flash' supersonic punch as well as the vibration hands, I might not need a secondary power to fight even though I'll still learn them. After all, having a back-up is always good.'
"Anything?", I asked as I tuned back out of my thoughts, taking a sip from the water in my backpack while nodding as Wanda walked back and shook her head.
"No. Other than a few people looking around for the noise, no one seems to care."
"Good. You want to keep going or should we rest for the night?"
"Can you?"
"You kidding? Of course, I can…to get us to a better spot and then I'm done for the day," I added and she just smiled before gesturing to the tallest building in the town.
"There. Its rooftops are flat and if we lock the doorway, we might get a good night's sleep."
"Got it. Come on."
"Can't we just do another carry?", She asked with a hopeful look, looking pleased as I just rolled my eyes even as I picked her up in a bridal carry and shot off.
It did not take us long to run into the building and up the stairs, stopping us right in front of the exit to the roof before I pushed it open with a speed punch.
Pushing the dent back in, I pushed the door closed before Wanda welded it shut with a hex charge, a sigh escaping my lips as I leaned against the wall.
"Here you go," She said as she took out a large tupperware container, making me smile as I took it and opened the large bowl of mush.
Did it look appetizing? Not in the slightest considering it was numerous different kinds of foods and drinks blended together. However, considering it had about twelve thousand calories and that I liked to eat anything I can, it did not take me long to finish the entire thing with a blissful sigh.
"I still can't get how you eat that."
"I could make you one of your own."
"No thank you. Unlike you, some of us don't have a hyper-metabolism to help keep us slim."
"Don't worry, even with one, you'd still look the same."
"Are you calling me fat, brother?"
"Of course, I am. Someone has to keep you humble," I answered while stretching forward, dodging the weak punch swung at my head. Lying down, I smiled as she missed throwing her wrapper at me, chuckling at her glare even as I sat up straight and looked out at the city.
"How much more do we have to go?"
"Well, we're currently in Tabriz in North-Western Iran and it took us only three days to get here. I'd say we have about another three days or four if you want to take it easy."
'Halfway? Yeah, something is definitely happening today,' It was almost cliché for something to happen on the second half of the journey, whether it's at the point where we start the second half or just as we get close to the finish.
I'm going to have to be on guard with every point that we stop in order to make sure that no one is following us.
"Okay, I'll take first watch. You rest up," Wanda spoke and I raised an eyebrow at that, smiling as she just rolled her eyes while crossing her arms.
"You're tired from the constant running so you need to replenish your stamina. Now, sleep."
'Well, I'll sleep, but I won't be asleep.'
"Make sure to wake me up when it's my turn," I muttered even as I closed my eyes, letting my body sag in relief while my senses were still wide awake and feeling out for anything nearby.
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'Something's wrong,' I thought with a frown as I sat with my eyes closed, not changing my breathing or moving a muscle as I heard footsteps drawing closer. They were barely audible and I would have missed them if not for the vibrations that came from the people moving towards us.
'One…five…twelve…seventeen…twenty-three…twenty-nine…thirty-four. Damn, definitely either HYDRA or a branch of theirs.'
"Do we take them alive?"
"Yes. Sedate the male and shock the female."
"Well, what if they were to…lose some clothing? I know a few females at the base that would love to take him for a ride."
"…Very well, but make sure they're still usable at the end."
'Well, you're all about to die,' I thought as my eyes opened, the world around me slowing to a crawl while I stared at the thirty-four agents of HYDRA gathered on the rooftop.
With the first step, I was gone, appearing in front of the first and punching clean through their chest. The blood had barely begin moving when I stopped in front of the second and third, swinging my arms out and cutting clean through their heads.
The fourth only saw a pair of fingers piercing through his eyes and into his brain, his brain matter still on my fingers as I rushed at the fifth and charged straight through him.
Blood and organs flew everywhere as I grabbed sixth, using him as a flail by swinging him head first into seven's chest and most likely breaking shattering a few ribs.
Throwing sixth into eight at full force, I raced to ninth and tenth, grabbing their guns and rushing over to put a bullet into the brains of the others. When I had emptied the magazines in both guns, I simply grabbed another gun and emptied it, doing so over and over while watching as blood slowly moved and everyone's eyes widened with every passing second.
The last gun was in my hands as I stopped in front of the leader, snapping his head with ease and turning his head towards me before emptying the magazine into his head.
Walking over to Wanda, I picked her up and leapt off the side of the rooftop, my twin blinking in surprise before she looked past me at where numerous shockwaves and gunshots went off.
"W-What?"
"Don't worry about it. Just go back to sleep," I spoke softly as I continued to running, to which she looked at me before shaking her head as she snuggled deeper into my shoulder.
Don't worry about nothing, little sister. Big brother is here to protect you.
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"You're not going to tell me what happened last night? Or why you're covered in blood?", Wanda asked with a raised eyebrow, but I continued to clean myself of the blood while raising an eyebrow of my own.
"You really want to know?"
"No, Pietro. I've just been asking for the past hour to amuse myself."
"Fine, it was just some HYDRA guys."
"How many?"
"Thirty-four."
"And you didn't think to wake me up?"
"Why? I had it under contr-Damnit. Come on, blood. Just get off," I grunted as I continued scrubbing my hands in the river, grimacing at the blood sticking before frowning as Wanda pulled my hands out.
"Pietro, they're clean," She spoke and I looked at my hands again to see them crystal clean, blinking once again and staring at the blood on them.
'Hah, I'm getting fucked-up. Deep breaths, Pietro. Deep breaths,' I don't even think my mind has processed the fact that I was in a universe that I thought to be fictional before. I can't add a bit of PTSD and a phobia for blood on top of that.
I'm just twenty-five years old. I'm far too young and too cool to be this paranoid.
"Sorry about that. I just-", I stopped talking as I saw golden sparks behind her, my eyes widening a bit and drawing Wanda's attention as she turned around as well.
Both of us stared in shock as a golden-orange portal formed in front of us, the inside of it being far too dark for us to see for a moment before my eyes widened even further as a dark-skinned man dressed in a dark-brown cloak and a staff peeking over his right shoulder walked out of the portal.
"Hello there. I have someone who is expecting you, if you wish to follow me through the portal."
'Well, Lady Luck. I could just kiss you right now.'
A/N: A bit of showcase of Pietro's speed when he pushes himself and forgets about his limits as well as a few quick cuts to put this story on the road.
Next chapter: Mystic Arts and…Chi? No?
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Ba-Bye~~!