Coronation Of Flame (A Marvel Fanfic)

Flashback 16: Almost There

So this spam of chapters is done, so the final chapter may be coming sooner or later. I haven't started it considering it's past 11 o'clock at night and I have to be at school at 8:20 tomorrow sooooo

Enjoy,

LittlePond

Flashback 16: Almost There

Aurelia Tempest's stay at the Sokovian research base was drawing to a close. Today was her last training session with the Maximoffs, and tomorrow, tomorrow she would depart.

She didn't know if she'd ever see Pietro, Wanda, or even Hunter again. Whitehall was like that sometimes; unforgiving, and sometimes cruel, but over the years Aurelia learned it was for the best. But how could never seeing Wanda or Pietro again benefit her?

The trees of the forest seemed to bend over, weeping, and the wind that sprinted through their leaves seemed to scream in agony.

Sometimes Mother Nature is just such a pain.

"I'll miss you, you know," Aurelia sighed, kicking away the dead leaves, crinkling under her runners. Wanda appeared to not care about the landscape, even as a green leaf, newly plucked by the breeze brushed by her hair. "I know. It's a little obvious." The assassin had previously thought that her friend was practically incapable of sarcasm, unlike her twin.

"I'm sure you're a master at deduction," Aurelia answered, brushing away a stray branch. Wanda chuckled, and pulled at her dress, "Well, it comes along with having the mind manipulation."Aurelia clicked her fingers and pointed at her, "That. That is why we're friends."

Wanda raised an eyebrow, right hand releasing small strings of energy that tickled the branches above them, smirking, "The abilities?" The assassin shook her head, offering her spare hair tie now reserved for Wanda, as they began to tie up their hair. "No, the bantering. Always a good sign."

She didn't realise how much she was going to miss these talks of theirs. Or the little moments of girly synchronisation.

"So that's it then?" Wanda asked, any remnant of the red eyed hero Aurelia fought in the Fairy Glen had long since disappeared. She smiled, and leaned her head against the wall of her friend's cell, smiling at the cold solidity it provided. "No, I get to say goodbye tomorrow. Before I go," she sighed, sadness eclipsing the odd sense of fear.

"That's good," the younger Maximoff considered. The assassin pushed herself off the wall and sat beside her on her thin mattress. "It'll make for a nice flight back to the base though," she smirked. Wanda pulled at her grey dress, a dress that had never ceased to anger Aurelia. How could Strucker live with himself knowing his most prized people were barely looked after?

"What will happen to us after you go?" Wanda asked, fear vibrating though her words.

Of course the younger Maximoff was afraid. Who knew what HYDRA could do when she was gone. "I imagine that you'll continue training. Just not with me." Wanda put a hand on her shoulder, stating, "I prefer you." With a shaking, unsure hand, the assassin placed her hand on top of her friends'. "I know you do."

"Do you have to go?"

Trust me, Wanda, if I could, I'd stay here. But that's not how HYDRA works."

Silence fell between them, an odd occurrence thanks to the younger Maximoff's mind manipulation. "I'll miss you a lot. You know that right?" Aurelia scoffed, and shrugged, boasting their friendship in front of the cameras, "Of course." Wanda sighed, picking on the threads of her garment, "I haven't had anyone besides Pietro in while. I've forgotten how nice it is."

"How nice what is?"

"A friend."

"Me too. Though, I've technically, never had a friend outside my trainers and tutors," she let out a small laugh at the thought of her conversation with Hunter, "According to Hunter anyway."

~~~

Pietro and Aurelia's fights were dances, they kept in time to a beat, fists clapping to the percussion, feet stomping to the melody, breath humming along with the harmony.

One kick, two punches, a flip, a slam, whatever she did, Pietro managed to get back at her, keeping the spar even. She hated it, she loved it, it made her adrenaline ride her blood like a Hawaiian surfer.

Finally, Pietro disappeared and milliseconds later felt arms around her waist. Before she knew it, S.H.A.D.O lay on the ground. It was as if the tables had truly flipped; instead of Aurelia straddling him, it was the other way round. One hand lay firm across her neck and the other poised and ready to punch.

She was defeated.

There were worse ways to go.

"I beat you," Pietro grinned, the victory of an alpha wolf smeared across his face like war paint. "Shut up, and I might let you leave alive," she sneered, completely ignoring that last time they were in this position, it resulted in their first kiss.

The elder Maximoff's trademark grin widened further as he jumped off her and helped her up. "So that's it then? That session seemed shorter," Pietro remarked as she walked to her bottle and jacket. "Time goes by when you're having fun," she answered, looking over and winking.

Of course she ended the session early, it was their last training session, and therefore, their last hour together. She wasn't going to waste it.

"Wait a min...oh."

"Took you long enough, Speedy."

Within seconds, Pietro grabbed her bridal style and whizzed them to the path Hunter had formed.

Minutes later, Aurelia took a deep breath, rejoicing in the brief moment of oxygen. The tree's bark was surprisingly comforting against her back and the feeling of Pietro's hands on either side of her waist warmed her from the weeping wind above them.

It was as if the breeze was screaming at them to stop, that this whole escapade was doomed. But Aurelia didn't care, this could be the last time she had Pietro to herself. As the speedster leaned in for another kiss, the assassin leaned her head away and whispered, "We should probably go."

The older twin whined murmured into crook her neck, "Nooo." Aurelia smiled, and stroked his hair, which had grown still, "We have to, or they'll suspect."

He leaned back, regarding her as if she wasn't a girl drowning in the blood of her victims. She could never really get over those eyes though. They were like electrical circuits, sparking and whirring and constantly in motion. Always moving, always running, never resting, never still.

"Fine."

Back at Quicksilver's cell, he turned around, bracing an arm on the glass door. Aurelia was surprised it hadn't shattered under his weight. "I'll see you tomorrow then?" he asked, voice slightly trembling. She nodded, hoping there weren't too many HYDRA agents around, "Yep. I'll get to say goodbye before I leave." Pietro's gripped her hand like a toddler might a teddy bear during an earthquake.

"I'll miss you a lot, Aurelia. As in a lot a lot."

"I'll miss you too. It'll make for a nice trip home, drowning in tears," she laughed softly, trying to inject humour. "Don't do that, " he insisted, shaking his head, making his crown turn into an autumn storm. "What? Miss you?" Aurelia scoffed, squeezing his hand.

"Drown in tears. We're not worth it." Aurelia's heart would have melted, if that was physically possible. "Once again, easier said than done." Silence reigned before she decided to say, "I'll see you tomorrow, Pietro."

Truth be told, it was the last thing she wanted to do; to say goodbye to Pietro, but she was going to do it again tomorrow and a little practice couldn't hurt. Pietro sighed and let go of her hand, letting each of their fingers fall away. They looked so feeble, so easily broken.

"Same to you. Until then."