"Mister Maximoff! You're alive!" A person at front desk in the lobby said.
"Um, yes?"
"Go on! The Avengers have been looking for you!" He opened the elevator and let me in. He smiled as the elevator doors closed.
Mister Maximoff? What the hell is going on?
Forget it. Focus on the mission.
As the elevator ascended, I could not take the image of that girl out of my mind. Her messy hair, forest green eyes. I knew her, I swear I knew her.
Mission. The mission.
I couldn't be seen by anyone. That was easy for me. I just needed to find out where Wanda Maximoff was and I was out of here. So I did what I did best. Run.
I searched the entire tower, floor by floor. I searched in every room, every crook and cranny. All was well, my head was on the mission. That is, until I reached the infirmary.
I saw her. Sleeping there, at peace. Her face was all bruised up, but it was her. I paced towards her, making not even a slight sound. The air was thin and anything could wake her. Right now, all I was focused on was her. I placed my cold hand on her forehead, covering my mouth with my other hand. I knew her, but at the same time, I didn't. I ran my fingers through her messy hair, untangling the knots. I had felt this hair before. I had seen those lips before. I just needed to see her eyes. If only she'd wake up. As though she had read my mind, her eyelids started moving. I panicked and stepped back into the shadows.
She slowly looked around, lifting her head. She ultimately spotted me and began staring in my direction.
"Who's there?" Her voice seemed soft and familiar.
It was her. The girl I had seen. Her eyes were the forest green eyes I had seen. Her voice was the soft but firm voice I had heard. Now, all I needed was her name.
"Come out. Now." Her tone turned firm, directed at me.
I slowly stepped forward, letting the light shine on my face. Her eyes widened, watering up. She covered her mouth, a tear streaming down her cheek. I continued to step towards her, slowly.
"Pietro..." She whispered. She knew my name. She knew me.
"Who are you?" I spoke, clearing my throat.
"What are you talking about? Pietro, you're here..." She slowly unwrapped herself from the blankets, setting her feet on the cold floor. She initially stood firm, but her legs gave in and she went tumbling down. I managed to catch her before she hit the ground.
"You're alive..." She placed her hands on my cheeks, pressing her forehead against mine.
"I do not know you." I muttered, catching her off guard. She knew me, she knew my name. But I didn't know hers.
"It's Laurel." Her soft fingers ran through my hair.
Laurel. Oh god, try to remember, Pietro. Just try.
"Laurel?" I questioned, setting her gently on the bed. I stepped back, running my hands through my hair. I tugged at my roots as I tried to remember. Just remember.
"Yes, Laurel Williams. Your girl. Remember? We met at a coffee shop. We went ice skating, we ate hotdogs, we ate sushi. We saw Jurassic World." She paused. She quickly took out a locket. "You gave me this." She put it forward.
I took it from her hand. I opened it and I read it.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
Those words. It all came to mind when I saw the photo. It was of me and her. We were sharing a kiss. She walked towards me and placed her hands on my face.
"What happened with you? Tell me, Pietro."
"I do not-"
A figure burst through the door, immediately running towards me.
"Pietro!" She was about to touch me, if I hadn't moved. She fell to the floor, hitting the cold floor with her face.
"Wanda!" Laurel yelled, helping the other girl up.
"Wanda?" I remembered my mission, and I immediately took hold of Wanda.
"Pietro, let go of me." She pushed me off with some red energy. I was pushed to the door. I groaned in discomfort, slowly getting up.
"I am sorry, but I need to take you to HYDRA. Right now."
"Over my dead body. Laurel, get behind me." Wanda's hands were surrounded by red swirls. Laurel had obeyed her, and was now behind Wanda.
"Laurel..." I muttered, getting pissed off. I ran towards Wanda, but she quickly retaliated by creating a forcefield around her. I hit the forcefield head on, receiving a shock across my body.
"What is wrong with you, Pietro?" Wanda took hold of my hands and legs with her powers. I couldn't move.
"I need to take you to HYDRA. But, I need her." My gaze shifted towards Laurel, whose head peered from behind Wanda.
"HYDRA? What did they do to you? Tell me, Pietro!" She slammed me against the wall with a flick of her hand.
"I do not know! I just know that I need to extract you. And that I know her."
"Let me refresh your memory." Wanda's eyes turned a dark red color. I blacked out after that.
-----------------
"Pietro...?"
"You think his memory's back...?"
"I hope this isn't another Bucky situation..."
"Shut up, Romanoff..."
I gained back consciousness, and at first glance, I saw all the Avengers surrounding me.
"What the hell happened?" I asked, rubbing my temples.
"How you feeling, roadrunner?" Tony asked.
"I am okay, Tony." I managed a smile. My head was still blurry, but I did remember. I remembered their names. I remembered.
"Then, when is my birthday?" He smirked, crossing his arms.
"Take it slow, Tony." I groaned.
Wanda stood at my doorway, looking directly at me. Everyone cleared the room without a word spoken. Now it was just me and her.
"Tell me everything." Her tone was serious.
"Wanda, my head is still remembering-"
"You are not a good liar." She stepped towards my bed. She sat on the edge of it. "What did they do to you?"
"Who? I do not know what you are talking about."
"Damn it, Pietro. I am serious." Her irises turned a dark red. She was legitimately concerned and she wasn't up for my shit.
"They did things."
"What kind of things?"
"Worse than when they gave us powers."
Her eyes widened in horror at my words. I bet she imagined what they did to me. But whatever she imagined, it was worse than that. Much worse.
"It does not matter anymore. You are safe now." She got up and placed a kiss on my forehead.
"Thank you, sister."
She nodded and left the room. I sat there, staring out the window at the falling snow. It was a sunny day, but it was snowing. The sky was unbalanced, and so was my mind. I looked around my room, which was the same way I had left it a couple of days ago. A knock on the door broke me out of my trance.
I shifted my gaze to the door, a figure leaning against the doorframe. Her slim body was completely covered. With long sweatpants and a long sleeved sweater, Laurel stared into my eyes. I just sat there, awkwardly.
"Is that my Pietro?"
"Yes, Laurel. It is me." I stood from the bed, putting on my hoodie. I stepped towards her. She took a step back.
"I am not going to hurt you." I stopped.
"I know. It's just..."
"The person you saw last night is gone. It is me. Your Pietro." I placed my hand on her shoulders. She immediately wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly and comfortably.
"God, I was worried about you."
"I am safe, Laurel." I kissed her forehead and wrapped my arms around her. "I am here."