R͟u͟t͟h͟l͟e͟s͟s͟ {Q͟u͟i͟c͟k͟s͟i͟l͟v͟e͟r͟/ A͟v͟e͟n͟g͟e͟r͟s͟}

Chapter 24: Progression

I woke up with my face squished uncomfortably between the bars of the cell, which were tightly packed and made round cylindrical marks on my face, and the hard steel wall of the cell. I tried rubbing my face to get the marks out, but it was no use. I knew I had to wait it out. I glanced toward the opposite wall. Was Tony awake? What did he think about me- and Pietro- now? A cold chill went down my back just thinking about what would happen if he, in his right state of mind, chose to fight against us. He may be only a man now, but get his suit on... I prayed we wouldn't have to face that. There was a reason he was part of the Avengers.

"Tony," Pietro's voice said softly from across the cell. My eyes widened. No. No, no, no, never talk to Tony when he's angry. Ever. I made gestures, trying to get the message across to him. Pietro glanced at me and laughed. I couldn't tell if it was because of the marks on my face or the crazy negative gestures I was trying to communicate to him silently with.

"What?" Tony said, sounding hurt, but somehow pulling it off to sound arrogant. Of course, even when he in some of the worst emotional pain in the last decade of his life, he managed so sound like he was better than us. I rolled my eyes, the pit in my stomach telling me this was wrong still there.

Pietro seemed relieved Tony had even answered. "Tony, honestly, I am so sorry about Pepper. I'm sorry about not stopping my sister. I'm sorry about all of this. Please just-"

"Sorry's not going to bring her back!" Tony snapped, interrupting Pietro's apology. Pietro drew back silently.

"I know," Pietro said slowly, "I realize that. I just want you to know... I couldn't have stopped it anyway. I wasn't even there when it happened, she was just on the list of the people who were," Pietro took a shaky breath, "finished. I would do anything to bring her back for you, because I know how you feel. My sister is killing and taking over people's bodies. My best friend left me when I was fifteen in a H.Y.D.R.A. experimentation facility, and my parents were murdered in cold blood when I was seven." Pain laced his words sincerely, "Please. I don't expect the pain to be any less, but please forgive me. We need to get out of this together. And, if you need revenge, Wanda is probably the best target."

It became deadly quiet. I looked at Pietro carefully. I had never heard him use the words, 'I'm sorry'. Not in Russian, English, or any language possible. He was always headstrong, impatient, only showing his broken side to the people closest to him. The last person I expected him to use that phrase to is Stark. I mean... He's male. Boys have a reputation for being narrow-minded, dull, and stubborn. I thought I would have to prompt him to apologize. Instead he did it all on his own. I was tempted to applaud him.

The silence stretched on, and I wondered if Stark was even there, or was planning on replying. "I need time," Tony said intensely, with a tinge of sadness. "But... Thanks."

Wow, this was monumental. Tony Stark was saying thanks. "But don't you dare tell anyone I said that," Tony expressed exactly what I thought he would say in a sharp tone. A laugh escaped my lips. It got quiet again, and I covered my mouth.

"Sorry," I managed, "Just thought it was funny."

Pietro gave me a half-smile, looking tired. "We need to get out of here preferably in the next two days. At the rate Wanda was going when I left, she was getting about one hundred thousand people a day, and she was already at two billion, which is most of the US, China, Russia, and a few places in between-"

"Two billion?" I exclaimed in awe, "How in the world did she pull that off?"

"It's actually simple. Once in somebody's body, she can use her magic inside of them, therefore giving her access to the people around them. It just multiplies and divides from there."