Age of Glory | Pietro Maximoff

Chapter Thirty-Three: You Keep Waiting For The Dust To Settle

Picture is the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Music is "My Immortal" cover by Lindsey Stirling.

All rights go to their rightful owners.

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"Everything is so fragile. There's so much conflict, so much pain... you keep waiting for the dust to settle and then you realize this is it; the dust is your life going on. If happy comes along--that weird unbearable delight that's actually happy--I think you have to grab it while you can. You take what you can get, 'cause it's here and then... gone." ~Kitty Pryde

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CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

"Aspen!" I say, commanding and calm. "Aspen, lower your hands, please."

She looks at me, confusingly. "Where am I?"

"You're safe. You're at Stephen Strange's house. I promise. You're safe."

"Where is Vlad? Vlad?" She keeps calling his name, but her voice is low and raspy.

"Go get Vlad," I whisper to Pietro. He nods and is off in a flash of blue light.

Aspen's eyes widen at his sudden departure. "He's... he's..."

"That was Pietro Maximoff, Aspen."

"The Quicksilver?" She looks shocked, but lowers her hands. "Are you dating freaking Quicksilver?"

"Really? We're going to talk about this now?"

"Yes!"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, I am."

"Since when?"

"Six months, maybe seven months ago?"

"And you didn't tell me?" Aspen's pretty eyes are nothing but cautious and disappointed, but really? Is this the time?

"Aspen, you really need to sort out your priorities."

Pietro returns with Vlad in tow. The dark haired mutant hurries to hug his wife as he sees her awake and sitting up. "Penzie!"

Aspen drops her death glare from Pietro and I and she looks at Vlad with happiness, a smile forming on her chapped lips. "Vlady!" He holds her close, careful not to hurt her, and they kiss each other as a greeting. "I'm so glad you're here. Are you okay?"

He nods. "I'm completely okay. Are you? You were out for a while."

Tony peaks in the room, and asks, "How is she?"

Aspen's eyes grow wider than ever before. "Mr. S-Stark..."

Tony groans. "Oh my god, if one more person calls me Mr. Stark, I'm going to start throwing punches."

She chuckles. "I'm sorry... Tony? Can I call you Tony?"

He nods. "Tony, yes. How are you feeling? Any dizziness, fatigue, urge to throw up your insides?"

Aspen laughs a little. "Just my voice feels weird."

"You're probably just dehydrated. I'll get some water." Tony waves as he leaves. "Glad to see you're okay. Oh, Glory, Pietro, the other kid is awake as well."

We both nod in response. "Thanks, Tony." I turn to Pietro. "They must mean Roran."

"Can someone please explain what's going on?" Aspen asks, exasperated.

We explain everything. How Pietro came to my world, how we got back, everything we know about Black Death, what he did to the people of Manhattan, what we plan to do, and how we need her help. Aspen listens, quiet and calm. Her face is a blanks slate, and I can't read her.