Marvel Oneshots

Followed (Pietro Maximoff)

I've always been fast—too fast for my own good, sometimes. But there are moments when even speed doesn't prepare you for what's coming.

Tonight was one of those nights.

It was late, and the city had already settled into its usual hum of distant car horns and muffled voices. I was at our apartment, pacing, restless as ever. Y/N had gone out to grab a few things from the corner store, insisting she didn't need my help. I hadn't wanted to let her go alone, but she'd shot me one of those looks—the kind that said she didn't need me hovering, and I relented.

I should've insisted.

As I moved from one side of the room to the other, I glanced at my phone. No messages. Not that I was worried—it was just a quick trip. She'd be back any minute.

But then, as if summoned by my unease, my phone buzzed in my hand. It wasn't a call or a text, but the notification from the tracker app I'd reluctantly put on her phone as a precaution. Normally, I'd only check it if something felt off, and right now, something did.

I opened the app and watched as the dot marking her location moved slowly down the street. Too slow. She should've been home by now. Frowning, I studied the screen more closely.

Why's she going that way?

I knew her usual route home. She wouldn't have taken this street unless something was wrong. My heart began to race, though I knew I could reach her in seconds. Still, I held back, forcing myself to wait for some kind of signal from her, some explanation.

Then my phone buzzed again, and this time it was a text.

Y/N: Pietro, I think someone's following me.

I didn't waste a second. I was out the door, a gust of wind in my wake. Every muscle in my body fired as I sprinted through the streets, the world around me blurring. I pushed harder, the buildings flashing past in a rush of color and light.

Someone's following her.

I couldn't breathe until I saw her—until I knew she was safe.

It took me all of five seconds to reach the street where she was walking. I slowed down just enough to avoid drawing too much attention as I scanned the area. My eyes zeroed in on her immediately, her familiar figure moving quickly but carefully, glancing over her shoulder every few steps.

There was fear in her eyes, even from this distance.

I spotted him next—the guy trailing a few feet behind her. He was dressed in dark clothes, moving too deliberately, too close for comfort. My blood boiled at the sight.

I caught up to her in an instant, appearing at her side as if out of thin air.

"Y/N," I whispered, falling into step beside her. "I'm here."

She startled, her eyes widening in relief when she saw me. "Pietro," she breathed, her voice shaky. "He's been following me for a few blocks now. I didn't know what to do."

I glanced back at the guy without turning my head too much. He was still there, oblivious to my sudden arrival. That only made it easier to deal with him.

"You're okay now," I said softly, slipping my hand into hers. Her grip was tight, her fingers cold against mine.

I quickened our pace, guiding her toward a busier street. My mind raced through possibilities. I could lose the guy in an instant, but I didn't want him to slip away so easily. Not after what he'd done. He needed to know what happened when you tried to mess with someone like Y/N.

We reached the corner of the block, and I pulled her closer, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Go inside the café," I said, nodding toward the brightly lit building across the street. "I'll be right behind you."

"Pietro, no—" she started to protest, but I squeezed her hand gently.

"Trust me," I said, giving her a small smile. "I'll handle this. You're safe now."

She hesitated, her eyes searching mine, before finally nodding. I watched her cross the street, entering the café as I stayed behind. Once I was sure she was safe, I turned back to our little problem.

The guy was still following, completely unaware of the danger he was in.

Idiot.

I moved faster than he could blink, cutting him off before he even realized what was happening. One second, I was a blur; the next, I was standing in front of him, blocking his path. His eyes went wide, startled, but he didn't have time to react before I shoved him back into the nearest alleyway, pinning him against the wall in the blink of an eye.

"Following someone who isn't interested in you, huh?" I growled, my face inches from his. "You picked the wrong person to mess with."

He stammered, trying to speak, but I wasn't interested in hearing his excuses.

"Let me make something very clear," I continued, my voice low and cold. "If I ever see you near her again, you won't have time to regret it. Do you understand?"

He nodded frantically, his eyes wide with terror. I let him go, stepping back just enough to give him room to scramble to his feet. He didn't look back as he ran down the alley, disappearing into the shadows.

I didn't need to chase him. He wouldn't be a problem again.

Taking a deep breath, I turned and jogged back toward the café, my heart rate slowly returning to normal. As soon as I stepped inside, I spotted Y/N sitting at a small table by the window, her hands still shaking slightly as she sipped a glass of water. When she saw me, her face lit up with relief, and I crossed the room in an instant, sitting down beside her.

"Is he gone?" she asked quietly, her voice still a little unsteady.

"Yeah," I nodded, reaching for her hand. "He's gone. He won't bother you again."

She exhaled shakily, leaning into me as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. I could feel the tension slowly leaving her body, the fear beginning to fade.

"I didn't know what to do," she whispered. "I was so scared."

I kissed the top of her head gently. "You did the right thing, Y/N. You called me. That's all you had to do."

She smiled up at me, her eyes still watery but filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Pietro. I don't know what I'd do without you."

I brushed a strand of hair from her face, cupping her cheek in my hand. "You'll never have to find out."

And in that moment, with her safe in my arms, I knew that no matter how fast I could run, my place was always going to be right here—protecting her. Always.

4o