[lamialee]

It’s always a challenge…  Work inspired by a wonderful picture book 'Something Good' by Robert Munsch, Michael Martchenko 

[magnetisedcatharsis]

(She was having the most wonderful dream. It’s full of sunshine and lapping waves, of smiles and frolicking about amidst sand and serenity. She’s dreaming of Summer, or perhaps it’s just late Spring, in any case it’s warmer than here, and enough of a happy thought to etch a smile across otherwise dormant features.)

“— Remind me again why I can’t just hibernate for Winter?”

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

There's a sudden crash and the porcelain washbasin that's rested on the bookshelf for forever is suddenly in pieces on the floor. Someone swears, or perhaps it's just the wind outside rattling through the bare aspen trees. One instant there are shards everywhere and the next they're gone, accompanied by a suspicious banging downstairs.

"Because," says a voice, Pietro blitzing into existence next to the bed. The washbasin is in his hand, barely visible cracks spidered across it's surface. "Then no one would be here to take care of your pride and joy."

He grins and holds up the porcelain knickknack, spinning it between his palms. "S'gotta dry, tried my best, sorry, won't run in the house anymore I promise."

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

I'll Know Where You'll Go (Even in Communist Russia)

If there's one sure sign that this is the ass end of nowhere it's the fact that there is not a single taxi to be found. There's not even anything resembling one and, frankly, right now Peter would be willing to cough up a fair amount of money to a shady black market mobster with a rusted Lada if it meant being able to take shelter for a few moments. There's a common misconception that his speed can outrun anything. That's not only wrong, it's just plain idiotic. Peter cannot outrun death for example (though he's willing to give it one hell of a shot) and it doesn't matter how quick on his feet he is, 50 below is still 50 below.

 - actually, he's not sure if it's 50 below. It feels like it, though, a precise and sharp chill that slices through his skin and sinks into the marrow of his bones, gnawing at him as he wonders what it is he thinks he's going to accomplish here. The windchill is exacerbated by his running, drives the cold like needles against his body, and he thinks to himself: why couldn't he have hidden out in, like, Bermuda?

Sadly, this is about as far away from a tropical island as one can get. Peter's not exactly sure how to pronounce the name of the country, that's how middle-of-nowhere they've gone, and all he's managed to piece together is that it's definitely not Russia but it probably used to be Russia because there's an awful lot of... grey. Everything feels thin and bleak and lost.

Peter wishes he'd remembered his jacket. And about a thousand more pairs of socks.

But it doesn't really matter because he's willing to shoulder the discomfort, if only on the grounds that he's not going to let this guy get away with... well, any of it.

He doesn't bother knocking. Just dramatically bursts through the thin hotel door (oh man, he's always wanted to do that, this is like Magnum P.I) and spits out, "What the fuck, man?!"

[mutatiiion-archive-deactivated2]

"We are different and special, but every living breathing thing is.”                             [ Charles smiled and reached out, wiping away the line of milk on the boy’s upper lip. ]  "Optimistic…It means I’m hopeful and hope is so powerful.”

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

Pietro's face scrunched up as Charles' thumb scrubbed across his face but the boy didn't flit away, used to the absent attention of his uncle.

"If everyone's special, then special doesn't mean anything," Pietro huffed. It was clear that the boy idolized his father and was reluctant to question anything that the man said. A sudden tickle in his nose made the boy pause and draw in a breath, which he dispelled in 12 rapid-fire sneezes that sounded (to normal ears) like just one.

Shaking his head, Pietro made do with his shirt sleeve as a tissue. "Charles? Is hope more powerful than a mutation? Is it, like, is-is-is-is it stronger than being able to read minds?"

[mutatiiion-archive-deactivated2]

"How are they inferior, Pietro? Humans are just like us. We are them.”                                          [ Charles handed the carton to Pietro catching his lip between his teeth as he mused over what to say next ]  "They’re simply afraid, they don’t understand us yet, but they will.”

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

"Papa says we're different. Special." And it was clear from the way the boy emphasized the word that he meant better. Pietro shrugged again and took a slurp of milk. When he looked up to fix Charles with very earnest blue eyes, there was a chocolate milk mustache across his upper lip. "And Papa says they won't ever understand us, which is why we gotta stake our claim, whatever that means. He says that you're optimistic. What's that mean?"

[mutatiiion-archive-deactivated2]

[ Charles lets out a gentle sigh, taking the carton from smaller hands, he thought Erik may have something to do with this, without even having direct contact with his son. ]                                   “Why is that a bad thing? To be like a human?”

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

Charles was just about the smartest man that Pietro knew but sometimes he could be incredibly thick.

"'Cause they're in-in-in-in," Pietro paused and took a breath, growling a little in frustration as the words got stuck in his mouth. "Inferior. Like, um, for example, I can run faster'n any of 'em without hardly trying, even if I don't really know how to stop real good yet."

[buricdwith-deactivated20170611]

"Pietro —— " Erik closed his eyes. The child was  looking at him with an expression that so desperately said, ‘love me, please.’ and shaking the child off him  like he was breathing disease would be terribly cruel, so simply he opened his eyes and ruffled the child’s sliver hair, “Okay, okay.” 

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

It took a lot to make Pietro stay in one place. The boy was always flickering from here to there, bouncing left and right with an energy that was boundless.

But Erik's hand on his head made the child go suddenly, utterly still. Even his breath stopped, every last bit of him straining to absorb the exact weight of his father's touch. This was the closest the man had gotten to hugging him in... well, Pietro didn't like to keep track of how long it had been.

The movement was short and over far too quickly, but Pietro looked up at Erik as if he'd just given him a million dollars.

"Okay," the boy breathed, nodding so hard his teeth clicked together. "Papa, you want - d'you want a drink? I know where Auntie Val keeps the good stuff. You want some? I'll get it for you, I can totally get it for you."

[dasvidaniyafuckboy-archives]

“ Nyet, Pietro…You did not. I am so sorry— “

Should she tell him? Her fears? She knew he’d brush it off, claim he’d never get caught. In the end, she opted to move closer to him, wrapping her arms around his small frame, pulling him close.

“ They were very bad men…They could have hurt us all then. I…I was frightened, and lashed out…I did not mean to be so mean. I couldn’t be Auntie in front of them. “

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

It's warm here, in the embrace of Valeria's arms, and Pietro is glad of the company because Wanda's still sick and he always feels safer with weight of someone next to him. He's sleepy and only half-awake, though slumber's not got such a hold on him that he doesn't feel a shiver of apprehension race down his spine.

"They could, um, they could have hurt you?" Pietro's voice is scratchy and he curls closer to Val, hand gripping the front of her soft shirt.

[mutatiiion-archive-deactivated2]

"Why do you feel the need to push yourself so hard?”            [ It’s concerning and Charles thinks it may be to impress Erik. ]

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

Pietro's narrow shoulders jerk up in a shrug. The boy doesn't appear to move but all of a sudden he's got a carton of chocolate milk in his hands and he holds it up toward Charles, shaking it impatiently as he waits for the man to open it for him. He's never been able to slowly fuss with the tricky cardboard opening, always ends up tearing at it and getting milk everywhere, so this is a neater compromise.

"So I can get better," Pietro finally answers. He's hopping from one foot to the other, shoelaces untied and once-neat shirt crumpled from activity. "I don't wanna be com-pla-cent like a human."

[mutatiiion-archive-deactivated2]

"You can practise your ‘runs’ after you sleep. You need all your strength to do that, don’t you?”                   [ The child needs gentle encouragement to get him to bed. Gentle encouragement meaning bribing him with the idea of strength after a good nap. ]

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

The thing is, Pietro could run away at any second and Charles can't do anything about it. And the boy knows it. He huffs and shakes his head.

"Sleep is for the weak. I'm not a baby," Pietro's lip curls in offense and he arches a brow. "Besides, how'm I gonna know how much m'capable of if I stop every two seconds to rest?"

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

"But I'm not - I'm not - I'm not even tired, Charles," Pietro protested heatedly, splaying a small hand out on the table in emphatic protest. "I gotta practice my runs."

[dasvidaniyafuckboy-archives]

“ I f-feel bad for being so mean to you earlier, малютка, Little One. “

She didn’t want to tell him the rest of her reasoning— The fear…Oh, the fear. She just needed to sleep it off.

“ Can I sleep here tonight? “

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

"...course." Pietro said, too stunned to address the other bit. The confession bit. The boy wriggled over a little to make more room and then tugged a corner of blanket over Valeria's shoulder. Quiet fell into the space between them and as he listened to the hitched rhythm of her breathing, Pietro tried to remember the last time an adult had (almost) apologized to him.

Huffing softly, the boy patted a hand up along the line of Val's shoulder until he came to her face. His palm framed her cheek.

"You weren't mean." Well. Pietro frowned. "I - ok, you were, but-but0but prob'ly I deserved it. I always do."

[dasvidaniyafuckboy-archives]

Shit…She woke him.

“ Нет, Моя Лапушка, No, My Darling, e-everything is fine—”

To her, it wasn’t. She felt wrong. Acting in such a manner towards her dear nephew was something she never imagined doing, and yet, just a few hours ago she was acting just like her brother.

“ Go back to sleep, P-Pietro. “

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

"S'not fine, you're," Pietro yawned widely and then pawed at his eyes with a small fist. This time they stayed somewhat open. He squinted through the dark at the outline of his aunt. "You're crying. S'matter?"

[dasvidaniyafuckboy-archives]

Once her nephew was out of the room, the matriarch was able to compose herself again.

However, it was difficult to bounce back after what went down. The ‘head’ of the small group looked so smug about it— But she’d delay any form of ‘venting’. As furious as she was with the boy, the guilt from acting so harsh towards him grew as the meeting came to an end.

For now, she’d have the men tracked. She just needed to calm down, maybe plan out some more safety precautions.

Later on, the woman would find herself stumbling towards her nephews room. The guilt, mixed in with the paralyzing fear of them stealing her happiness away again, caused her to break down a few or more times.

She didn’t want him to view her as a monster.

When she arrived, Valeria carefully made her way inside— Thankfully, Pietro was still asleep. It was late, she did not want to ruin his sleep cycle, however she couldn’t handle the guilt eating away at her.

She nestled herself next to him, tears still streaming down her face. She didn’t mean to be so harsh. Val didn’t want him to be a target—

If felt like all she could do to was hold him close, gently nuzzling into his silver locks.

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

Falling asleep did not come easily to Pietro. It never had, his mind too busy flicking from one thought to the next to quiet down without hours of preparation. Eventually though, even he had to succumb. The boy's outrage gave way to boredom and, when the clock crept ever further into the realm of Past His Bedtime and still no one appeared, he reluctantly changed into his pajamas and clambered underneath the covers. For a brief while, he kept himself awake, glancing hopefully at the door as if he could will someone (someone particularly Val-shaped) to appear.

But she didn't. And eventually the boy drifted off, expanding in his sleep in the way of small children until he was lying starfished across his bed.

He found himself groggily being prised from his sleep by a dampness against his temple and a hold that felt like he was being wrapped up in forever. Pietro made a soft, disgruntled noise and scrunched his face up.

"mrhs'not... Aun'y Val?" Was she crying? Pietro felt a jolt of fear pierce through the fog of sluggishness. "What happened? Did somebody die? Did you die? Are you a ghost?!"

[dasvidaniyafuckboy-archives]

“ Pietro. “

For once, she said his name in a near threatening tone. She never sounded like that before—

The largest of the group was laughing. It wasn’t a humor filled laugh, no, it sounded more triumphant than anything.

They had found something she held close to her heart— Something that could very much break the Mighty Valeria Kaidonovsky.

She wanted to gut the man like a pig, but not in front of her nephew.

“ Andrei— “

She turned towards her brother, nodding roughly towards Pietro.

“ Get him out— This is no place for children. “

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

There's no warmth behind Val's eyes. Normally, even when she's cross (like when he wakes her up at five on a Saturday morning just because the day's beginning and they're missing it), he can see the humour lurking there like a stubborn cat waiting for the right moment to come out again. This time there is only a glittering, sharp chill and he feels a weight like dread grim his lungs and squeeze.

"But," Pietro starts, much quieter, only then his voice jerks off into a little twist of surprise as strong hands settle on his waist and heft him up. He wriggles for a moment out of instinct, but then Andrei taps his hip and Pietro settles, lets himself be carried out and looks over the man's shoulder at the fury on Valeria's face until the door closes and blocks it from his sight.

Only when they're out in the hallway does Andrei let out a long, deep breath and suddenly he's pressing a hand to the back of Pietro's head and tugging him close.

"Stupid boy," he mutters, taking the stairs. He brushes what might be a kiss to Pietro's temple and Pietro is too startled to say anything, just clings until the man finally sets him down on his bed. Andrei points a warning finger in Pietro's face. "Stay. Understand?"

Pietro nods, eyes cast down and sullen expression on his fce. He could have helped. He could have.

[dasvidaniyafuckboy-archives]

Blue eyes lock onto the form of her beloved little nephew, and like that, her cold, snake like demenor drops.

The Hui Fengs can fucking see it, too. Weakness. Her, weakness.

Her eyes were wide with horror, the mere thought of them even managing to capture the child caused a new type of fury to boil up inside the matriarch.

Immediately, she shoots up from her seat, the mixture of fear and anger bleeds through her useless attempt to regain that cool demenor she once had. Valeria locks eyes with her nephew for a second.

“ My sincere apologies for this interruption— “

God, she’s trying so hard to make them ignore him. Even Serge and Andrei are startled by her sudden change. It was difficult for her to bounce back and forth from the personas she wore. On one hand, she wanted to revert to her motherly, loving side and gently scold her nephew…However, considering the situation, she was not able to do that at that moment.

Her voice drops to a cold, furious, tone as she turned towards her nephew.

“ Return to your room, Pietro. I will tend to you later. “

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

Valeria sounds like his father. That alone ought to immediately set off warning bells, since 99 percent of the time his aunt does everything she can to be the polar opposite of Erik. There's only room for one person like him in the world, she always says with a roll of her eyes that would probably earn Pietro a boxed ear if he ever tried that in front of Papa.

There's too much going on here, though, and it's overwhelming his ability to be discerning. The room is clogged, thick with danger and intrigue and excitement but mostly danger, and Pietro can't just abandon ship now. He looks hurt as he stares up at his aunt, almost offended that she would even suggest him capable of leaving her behind in such a predicament as this.

"But I'm your wingman," the boy protests. "I can, I can, I can help."

[buricdwith-deactivated20170611]

"You were a surprise,” And that isn’t a lie. He’s still  holding that stern gaze and trying to avoid the question without being so firm about it, Erik sometimes forgets Pietro is still only a child after all. ”Why are you asking?” 

[thequickestsilvr-blog]

For a moment, Pietro says nothing. He simply stares at Erik, waiting for the man to take his words back. But as the seconds tick by, his father doesn't. Pietro's grin broadens into something real and solid, warmth swooping in his belly. They were a surprise. They surprised Papa and everyone knows that the best sort of presents are the ones that catch you off guard. It's the closest his father has ever come to saying I love you.

"I dunno, I guess I just-just-just, um, I just wanted to know. Aunty Val is really happy," Pietro studies his father's face (everyone says that he looks like the man's shadow, a tiny carbon copy) and then, more cautiously than is in his nature, the boy wraps his arms around Erik's leg. It feels strange and daring and his heart is in his throat.

"It's okay if you weren't happy like her back then, Papa," he whispers. When he tilts his head back, silver hair spilling across his brow, there's a soft expression of loneliness etched into the boy's face. "Because babies don't even know about stuff. You can be excited now. You can be happy now."