Blue Streak

16

Just...
Just hold me...

"Alice!" Wanda's delighted shriek filled the room, she was first to look up.

Everyone else turned and were filled with equal gasps of shock and delight, they came rushing forward to give her hugs and other sorts of affection. Thor was first to reach her and lifted her in such a tight hug that she was worried she would snap in his arms.

"Th- Thor..." She struggled in his grasp and he finally let her down.

"Be careful guys, she's fragile." Tony laughed, his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall.

"I am not fragile!" Alice snapped and aimed to throw a light punch but her arms were weak, and she realised Tony had some truth.

Wanda and Natarsha hugged her both enthusiastically and Steve must have held onto her for ages before Clint finally pried his arms off of her. Clint then embraced as well, and ran his fingers through her hair.

"Good to have you back, kiddo." He smiled and she smiled back.

Despite her not knowing everyone else too well, she was greeted by other people. They weren't as affectionate and she got firm handshakes from them all, even The Vision, with whom she didn't entirely like. When everyone stood back so that they could see her standing once more, did Alice realise someone was not there to see her.

Looking over Wanda's shoulders she saw him. He was still sitting at the table his eyes wide with shock and his expression unattractive. Scarlet fully took in his appearance, he had bags under his eyes and looked paler. She also noted that with his super speed he would have been first to reach her, all the while he sat there stationery.

Alice looked at Wanda, puzzled written in her eyes. Wanda walked forwards, sighed and then whispered in her ear, "He hasn't been himself since you were taken away..."

Alice nodded, she didn't expect this from him, but she strode forward, as confidently as she could muster in her condition.

"Pietro, you're staring." she rolled her lips into a faint smirk, and he was snapped back into reality.

"Don't ever do that again. I thought- I-" he stammered, his voice harsh with light anger.

"Don't save your life again? Pietro, do you have any idea how I felt- what went through my mind when- when-" she was held back by Tony as he had pulled his arms around her waist.

"Alrighty, that's enough activity for our little fragile doll, you need rest. Back to bed." Tony lifted her up, which was easy considering she had lost so much weight, "We need to put you back on charge too..." And putting up a pathetic excuse for a fight, Alice was dragged back out of the dining room.

Steve had also exited the room after her, and when Pietro rised to go after them he was held back by Clint. He looked at him with a stern gaze and tugged at his arm, forcing him back into his chair.

Pietro threw his arm out of Clint's hold and glared daggers at the man, he looked to his sister, but she would not meet his gaze. "I need to see her." He demanded.

"Yeah, but you can wait." Clint started and Pietro snorted with anger, "You will wait. What about what she needs? She needs rest and some peace. All you gave her was a heart attack, so put someone else first for once!" Clint snapped, Pietro was about to retaliate when a hand rested on his shoulder.

"Pietro, he's right." Wanda was holding him down. Although he was stronger than her, the tone of her voice stopped him from his advancements.

Sighing, Pietro lapsed into silence, deciding for once he will think before he speaks. He waited for Tony and Steve to arrive as well, as his next words were to be aimed more so at them.

"Can I please see her?" He rested his eyes for mere moments on the two adults before him. They looked at him quizzically, and then a wide smirk rolled onto Tony's face.

"I don't know, can you?" Tony raised his eyebrows and Steve face palmed himself.

"Stark." Steve started but was cut off when Tony raised his hand to silence him.

"Can you really see her mate? She's not the same after what happened in Sokovia, I hope you can at least see that. She's been through a lot and has destroyed herself in the process. The girl has given you, your life back, she'd expect some gratitude and you go yell at her. So do you even think she wants to see you, do you even deserve to see her?"

"I- I..." Pietro stammered, Tony's words were the truth and they hurt.

"You can see her, but she's on charge so she mightn't remember anything, and if you even raise your voice I'll see to it personally you never see her again." Steve threatened, despite their issues, there was some bond between Alice and him that would never die.

Pietro walked slowly towards Alice's room, he steadied his breathing and paused to see his reflection. Thinking it'd be best to at lease a little more presentable he smoother his hair and tried to smirk, but maybe humour wasn't the best option in this scenario. Alice was sitting up and had a large tube in her arm that channeled electrical pulses at programmed times, she was at her hands as they fingered with the rim her shirt.

"Alice?" Pietro spoke softly at the door, awaiting her invitation into the room.

She looked up at the sound of his voice, and if looks could kill, Pietro would have died at least twice under her eyes. Her glare caught him off guard and he was frozen with apprehensiveness and shock, but in a moment her visual threat passed and tears spelt from her eyes. Not knowing what to do as she silently sobbed before him, he was slow to eventually rush to her and hold her to him. Despite their situation, Pietro could've wished that, that moment could have lasted a lifetime.

"Alice, I'm so sorry... I-" he tried to find her eyes as they were hidden behind her hair but he was cut off by her actions as she rearranged herself on the hospital bed.

"Just... Just hold me." The words escaped her lips in an almost silent whisper.

He did as he was told and held onto their embrace. He held her tightly, safely and warmly in all the ways he hoped she wanted. Her tears stained his shoulder and her hands clutched the front of his shirt as though if she let go shed fall forever. Eventually her sniffles stopped and she fell asleep in his arms. Not daring to move he rested his chin on her head and rubbed her back soothingly, hoping with all his might that this would make up for all the harm he had done to her.