The Girl in Purple (Pietro Maximoff) #Wattys2015

The Girl Who Was Muzzled

She was undeniably exhausted. Her body ached, her eyes felt heavy and puffy as tears continued to pour and her brain like cotton wool. She hadn't slept in days. She couldn't.

Everything was just so wrong. It wasn't meant to be this way.

She lay back on her soft pillows, attempting to get comfortable but no amount of pillows were going to help her sleep. How could someone too depressed to sleep?

The snow fell steadily outside of her window, she had always loved the snow.

Arrabella sighed, the sound absorbed by the muzzle that was clasped tightly around her mouth. It prevented her from being able to scream. It was the only thing that could stop her.

She was grateful for the peace and quite but Arrabella's one wish was that the mask didn't have to be so uncomfortable. How had Loki looked so calm wearing it? Yes, the mask was an exact replica to the muzzle that Loki had been forced to wear after the battle of New York by the Avengers.

She could feel the metal digging into her face, causing the tore flesh below to sting. Hadn't she suffered enough already? The unwanted pain just added to her growing discomfort and unhappiness. She wondered if her torment would ever end.

The female recalled Pietro's initial reaction to her new look. He had wept. Bitterly. Cursing HYDRA. Cursing whoever had turned Arrabella into the failed creation she was today. The memory of his tears broke her already shattered heart into smaller fragments. She hastily pushed her saddening thoughts away.

Looking out of the window, the female lay in her bed, watching the snow, she had always loved the snow.

She heard the bedroom door creak open and the hallway light flooded into the room. It was carefully shut and in a blink of an eye. Pietro was suddenly sitting by her side. His added weight caused the bed to dip slightly. "Hey." he whispered.

If there was one thing she was truly grateful for, it was that she no longer had to sleep in a hospital bed. At least now, she could be Pietro's room mate.

Just having him near made her cry harder. Pietro carefully gathered her into his arms as she wept into his chest. He noted that Arrabella was wearing one of Steve's shirts. It was baby blue, a favourite one of Bucky's, leant to the female as a temporary item of clothing.

He kissed the top of her head, rocking Arrabella comfortingly back and fourth. "I know, little love, I know." his own voice broke. "I know."

She was so tired but could not sleep. All she did now was stay awake all night, curled up in his warm embrace as he dreamed. At night, she allowed herself to be comforted by Pietro, as he spoke about how brave she was being. Arrabella did not feel brave, in fact she felt so, so weak. As if HYDRA had won. This was no battle for her, only a string of constant defeats.

What could possibly be next instore for Arrabella?