Rupture // P.P

Chapter 28

After watching Peter being hit over and over again for nearly an hour Riley decided for them to take a little break, more for his sake than her own. Riley huffed and sat down next to Peter as he leant against the tree. He winced slightly when he pushed himself up and Riley glanced at him "I told you to tell me if it was getting too much"

Peter shook his head softly and sent her a small smile "I wasn't going to stop until you could do it with no help"

Riley looked at him confused as to what he was suggesting but he only pointed to where Riley recently stood before she made her way over. Riley looked over only to see Wanda was no longer there. She had no idea that Wanda had left them on their own however Peter saw her back away after receiving a text and when she looked up at him he sent her a reassuring nod before she fast walked back to the compound.

Riley huffed and leant back on the tree causing he shoulder to brush onto Peter's. Peter's face flushed red at the close proximity and he was glad that Riley was looking ahead and not at him. They haven't talked about their almost kiss yet which made Peter slightly nervous but he was glad it's not awkward between them because it was nice to have someone his age around the compound.

Peter looked at next to him at Riley when she let out a soft sigh only to see her looking down at her hands in her lap "They're going to come after me now aren't they?"

Peter frowned knowing who she was talking about "They will eventually"

Riley bit her lip and still refused to look up at him "I read about what they did to Steve's friend, that they turned him into some crazy assassin" Riley felt a shiver down her spine just at the thought of what he went through and what she potentially could if they got their hands on her "I don't want that to happen to me"

Peter's frown deepened at the shakiness in her voice and before he realised what he was doing he placed his hand on top of hers that was resting in her lap. Riley stared at their hands in surprise at the contact and once she felt the gentle squeeze she looked up at him only to see a determined look on Peter's face "It won't. We're not going to let anything happen to you, okay?"

Riley was surprised to see how serious Peter was as he spoke and knowing he meant every word Riley slowly nodded and sent him a small smile which he returned.

It fell silent between the two of them for a few minutes before Peter asked the question he was wanting to ask "If you don't mind me asking but what helped you gain control?"

Riley looked ahead as she thought the right thing to say because she wasn't one hundred percent sure she knew herself  "I have this memory" Riley shook her head slightly "Actually I don't think it's a memory but I have this dream every now and then of a little girl in a dark room. There is banging and shouting on the other side of the door but the sound is blocked out by a some woman singing a lullaby"

Peter looked down at her just as she chuckled lightly "I know deep down that the little girl is me and I assume the woman is my mom but for some reason even after being abandoned I find comfort in it"

Peter frowned when she lifted up her right hand to quickly brush a tear away before he noticed it "I thought of that at first but I then felt angry that she abandoned me and I felt myself losing control but then..." Riley stopped talking and let out a shaky breath before finally looking up at him "But then I heard your voice and I don't know what happened but it calmed me down"

Peter's eyes widened not expecting an answer like that. He thought he had seen her vulnerable before but he's now seeing a completely different side to Riley, one that he is starting to adore.

Dylan gripped the tablet tightly as he read over what Natasha just found. He scoffed and shook his head in disbelief "This has got to be some twisted joke"

Steve noticed Dylan was seconds away from breaking the tablet and yanked it out of his hands to take a look for himself. He glanced over the details and his eyes stopped when he saw the familiar analysis.

The Winter Solider.

His breath got caught in his throat as he read the name. All that was written on the file was his name at the bottom but no details on the connection.

Natasha frowned seeing the look on her friend's face "Steve I know this is hard for you but if we have any chance to find out what Hydra want with Riley we need to speak to him. He may not listen to us but he'll talk to you" Steve wasn't ready to confront his best friend, not after Washington but if it meant helping figure out who Riley really was then he was ready.