The Girl in Purple (Pietro Maximoff) #Wattys2015

The Girl Who Said "Pietro"

One of Bruce's fears had been confirmed.

Initially he had considered the possibility that Arrabella was also suffering from Acute Porphyria, which would have explained the fit. The collective of rare diseases affects the Nervous System, causing flare-ups. Some of the symptoms of these attacks are: vomiting, hallucinating, hypertension and tachycardia (where the heartbeat raises above a normal rate). Sound familiar?

Except it wasn't that.

So, he had also tested for Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a condition which was usually brought on by an infection and causes a dysfunction to the immune-mediated nerves. It is often mistaken for MS, due to it also damaging the Myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves. If acute, Guillain-Barre Syndrome can be life-threatening, causing sufferers to be taken to an ICU ward and needing a ventilation machine. If a patient suffers from fluctuations in the Autonomic Nervous System, then problems linked to blood pressure and heart rate can manifest.

But it wasn't that either. So what was it?

Bruce didn't know, that was what was so terrifying. Whatever HYDRA had done to Arrabella, he couldn't identify it. The samples he had taken from the mysterious female had primarily confirmed Multiple Sclerosis but now, the results came back negative. SO, she didn't have MS. The following scans had shown no lesions or myelin tissue scarring. So what exactly was wrong with her?

He was puzzled, unable to figure out the problem. All he knew was that they needed to find Bucky and soon. He was desperate to know what HYDRA had done to Arrabella.

XOX

Pietro and Arrabella were curled up together in the entertainment room, watching Love Actually. The female was happily sat on his lap, encircled by his arms . She rested her head upon his right shoulder, the soft material brushing against her cheek. Tears still fell down her face. She closed her eyes, listening to the dialogue to the film, instead of watching it.

"Are you okay?" her favourite avenger asked, worried about her tears.

She simply nodded, smiling. Trying to convey to him that nothing was wrong.

One of his hands travelled to her hair, playing absent-mindedly with a strand. "You know, I lay next you a bit like this when you were unconscious."

Arrabella snuggled against him, which Pietro took as a thank you.

The male chuckled. "You're welcome. Could you hear me when you were...out of it?"

She nodded, placing a kiss on his shoulder.

"Did I annoy you?"

The female shook her head in response.

The was a brief silence between the two adults. Arrabella gazed up at the silver-haired male and reached up. Gently with her fingers, she guided his chin, turning his head slightly to look at her. With her other hand, she wiped her tears. She regarded him for moment and he remained silent. "Pietro." the words left her lips in a breathy whisper, sending a shiver of joy down his spin.

He smiled, warmly. Leaning down, his lips caught hers. This time their embrace was tender, calm, controlled. Not firey and urgent like their previous encounter together. His lips travelled down her jaw, until he reached her neck. She melted completely at his touch, as did he with hers. Her cooler fingers traced the curve of his neck until they reached the nape. Here her fingers curled the softer, finer curls around her fingers. Pietro groaned in response, his lips pressed against her collarbone.

The silver-haired male made his way back up to the her lips. They were soft, warm, just as she had expected them to be. She felt his tongue run along her top lip, asking for entrance. She complied.

The make out session was slowly becoming more and more heated. Pietro's hands searched her hospital gown-clad body. He was sure he could feel her heart beat race through the thin material against his body. He wondered if his was beating just as fast?

His left hand ran up the length of her right leg, until it settled on her thigh. Her rounded figure felt deliciously soft beneath his fingers.

Suddenly they had to pull away to catch their breath. Her head was tilted slightly back, pink lips slightly parted and eyes closed. Her discoloured hair sat messily around her shoulders. She was utterly beautiful.

He leant down and kissed the hollow of her throat. Her breath hitched as he did. "Pietro." she sighed.

They resumed their embrace.