Age of Glory | Pietro Maximoff

Chapter Seven: I Have No Place In The World

I turn around before he looks up, blushing madly and walking towards the door. "Where should I out these clothes?" Pietro asks.

"Um... hamper. There's a hamper by the uh... by the closet." I point in the closet direction without looking back.

I hear Pietro mumble, "Ну, то, что имеет свой язык?" and my English mind wonders what it means.

I go back for my laptop, and I print off one of the professors that we found that might have some knowledge of this phenomenon.

Professor Matthias J. Mortimer, M.D. Expert on quantum physics, quantum mechanics, and renowned astrophysicist from Maryland University. It's only a short drive from my city, and he is free for questions on Sunday and Monday at the University campus.

Whether or not he will believe us, that is the question.

Pietro comes out, fully dressed this time (sadly), and I show him the name and address. "We need to see this guy."

He reads the address, and without saying another word, picks me up and runs at full speed towards the University.

We get a couple blocks out when Pietro starts to slow down. "What is it?" I ask, thinking maybe he needs to ask something or get something.

"That is not me," he says, almost frantic. He comes to a stop, and puts me down. He tries running at full speed again, only to slow to a hundred miles an hour or so. It might still seem fast, but for someone who can run at the speed of sound, that is very slow.

"Pietro," I say, worrying. "What's wrong?"

"I do not know!" he exclaims, frustrated. "I cannot go any faster, no matter how hard I try!"

I place a hand on his arm, trying to calm him down. His eyes are starting to turn the bright blue again. "Calm down, Pietro. Let's go back and get my car. I'll drive us to the University. Something tells me we need to figure this out soon."

Pietro's eyes fade back to pale blue as he nods.

· ~ · ~ · ~ ·

"Mr. and Miss Northern?" the Professor's secretary calls us from the waiting room and gestures us towards the door. "Professor Mortimer will see you now."

After we're out of earshot, Pietro gives me a funny look with one eyebrow raised. "What?" I ask. "Quit freaking me out. Lots of people have seen the movie lately. I didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention. More than you're already getting," I grumble.

"What unnecessary attention?"

I roll my eyes. "Seriously? That secretary looks like she was gonna eat you alive. Didn't you notice?"

"Sorry, I was focused on you."

I paused, taken back. "Well, that's what happens when you out an attractive guy in front of air head girls."

"So you think I am attractive?" he asks, teasing me.

Extremly.

We continue through the door to the Professor's office. "Ah, yes!" An elderly man, probably sixty or so, ushers us in. He has hair the color of Pietro's, and his whacky clothing catches me off guard. He wears a purple dress shirt with a orange coat and tan pants. A purple and green polka dot bow tie brings the whole outfit to a ten on the what-realm-are-you-from? scale. "Come in, come in."

"Thank you for seeing us on such short notice," I tell him. "We have lots of questions."

"Sure, sure. Do you take any of my classes," he asks. "Hmmm, no. You," he points to me, "don't look old enough. You," he gestures to Pietro, "might be."