R͟u͟t͟h͟l͟e͟s͟s͟ {Q͟u͟i͟c͟k͟s͟i͟l͟v͟e͟r͟/ A͟v͟e͟n͟g͟e͟r͟s͟}

Chapter 22: Training

Everything was shaking around me, and my head felt wobbly on my neck. Pain seared on the back of my skull as I teetered to my feet unsteadily. "Are we done yet?" I whined, rubbing the back of my skull.

"We just started," Pietro said, his silvery blue eyes glinting in the darkness, as if it was obvious, "Of course we're not stopping."

"Well, fine then." I grumbled, "Have any tips on how to control my body when it's moving at the speed of light?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yes," Pietro nodded, either not reading or choosing to ignore my sarcasm, "I assume you've felt the pushing feeling that makes you go a certain way?"

"You mean...." I hesitated, "That pulling sensation?"

Pietro nodded. "Yes. The key to mastering your speed is to be able to control the pulling sensation-"

I heard Tony yawn loudly and shuffle around in his cell. I rolled my eyes.

Pietro glared at Tony's cell and looked back at me. "If you can control the feeling, then you will be able to control your direction, and eventually, your speed."

"Ok, how do I control it?" I asked him curiously, my head still throbbing from my first try.

"You have to be able to create it on your own, by focusing on a direction. And," He looked at me carefully in the blackness of the cell, but I could still see his figure in the shadows. "When you're emotional, it heightens your abilities, but it also makes it harder to control."

"Okay. So I focus on a direction, close my eyes, um, wait for the pulling sensation...." I looked up from my thoughts, "Wait, but my cell's not all that big. Won't I... Crash into the wall?"

Pietro nodded. He almost seemed pleased, which annoyed me. "Of course. Once you can master your direction, eventually I'll teach you how to go in circles."

I looked at the bars in front of me, and decided I didn't want to run into that wall. I stood in my cell thoughtfully, looking around decisively, and eventually, I realized I didn't want to run into any of the walls. Hoping to make Pietro angry, or possibly impressed, if this worked out, I chose to focus on going in a circle. If I could pull this off... A smug expression crept onto my expression as I pulled into myself, and whispered to my insides to go into a circle. I took a deep breath, trying to put all my feelings and desires into my direction. A dark pressure began in my chest, pushing into me slowly. Right when I wondered if I was going to choke on myself, I surged forward, my feet pulling me in a tight circle, faster, faster, and faster until I felt like time itself had stopped because I was making a thousand rotations a second. I couldn't hear anything except the sound of wind in my ears.

Now, I just needed to stop. I dug deep inside of myself and grabbed ahold of the dark pressure I'd felt before, the feeling that was pulling me forward, and collapsed it. Out of breath, I stopped all at once, collapsing to the floor.

"How was that?" I asked weakly, pulling myself up to look at Pietro. I laid my head back on the floor, my heart racing. I felt like I'd just finished a free fall.

He gawked at me, obviously impressed. "That was only your second time trying?" He asked incredulously, gripping the bars of his cell and looking at me.

"That was impressive," Tony said, "And I can't even really see you. Just a really big purple light."

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. I'd never really tried to control the sensation until now, and now I realized how easy it was. I just had to focus, and it was as easy as walking. "Thank you...?" I replied quietly. "What's next?"

"Next, you break us out of here." Tony insisted. I rolled my eyes.

"It's not that easy," I said with a sigh. He was getting really annoying.