Who: Pietro and Wanda When: Early Saturday morning Where: Their kitchen What: Wanda's having visions Rating/Warnings: not really Status: complete gdoc
Pietro was cooking breakfast like most days, humming to himself as he prepared pancakes and waffles, things which could be reheated for those who rose a lot later. When his sister walked into the room he smiled, “You are early this morning, I can make you anything you like...” he trailed off as he saw the look on her face, “What is it? What’s happened?” he asked dropping what he was doing and moving to her side concern on his face.
***
Nightmares weren’t completely unusual in the farm house, but Wanda’s had become much fewer and further between since John moved in and they started sharing a bed every night. His presence provided some kind of unconscious measure of safety that kept the bad dreams at bay.
Usually.
Today, she’d woken up from an incredibly vivid nightmare only to discover that her husband had left for work already and she’d somehow managed to sleep through it. The images that remained were so unsettling she was afraid to close her eyes again, so she made her way down to the kitchen. Her face paled when she saw her brother at the stove, the images from her nightmare springing to mind again.
“I… do not know,” she said, making her way over to the kitchen table and sitting down weakly.
***
Pietro knew that helping Wanda after her dreams had become John’s job since they’d married and while it wasn’t easy to step back, he had. Because he loved his sister more than anything and wanted her to be happy. But John wasn’t here so Pietro stepped back into his old role without even a blink of an eye.
He brought her a cup of tea and sat down next to her, hand on top of hers and he waited for her to gather her thoughts and talk to him.
***
Wanda flinched when he touched her, expecting his hand to be cold for some reason and surprised when it was warm as usual. Why would she be afraid of her twin? Nothing made sense right now.
“Sorry,” she said, cradling the mug in her hands and trying to calm herself. “The dreams last night were… vivid. And unsettling.”
***
Pietro frowned when she flinched, no matter how bad things got she had never shied away from him before. It was...disconcerting to say the least.
“Tell me” he asked gently, keeping his hands on his lap though his fingers tapped against them restlessly. He was starting to feel on edge.
***
“There’s no farm,” she said slowly. It was hard to explain when Wanda didn’t quite understand what she was seeing. “John is living with a blonde woman. Alex is afraid of you.” She shuddered thinking about the images she’d gotten of Pietro and Clint.
She sipped her tea before continuing. “You and Clint are… not yourselves. You’re both... “ she paused again. Evil was the word that was springing to mind, but she didn’t want to say it. “I feel an overwhelming malevolence.”
*** Pietro’s frown deepened, “You’re seeing an alternate world?” he asked, “I would never hurt Alex. It must truly be an evil place, I cannot imagine Clint hurting anybody. But why are you seeing these things now? Is somebody making you see them?” his hands balled into fists at the idea, he would not let anybody use his sister.
***
If she had the answers to his questions, Wanda wouldn’t be quite so unsettled. “I don’t know. I suppose it could be an alternate Madison Valley, but I don’t know why I’m seeing it now.” Or why she didn’t see herself at all, just the people she was close to.
“It’s all very odd. The bits and pieces I’m seeing don’t make sense.”
***
Nodding Pietro ran a hand through his hair, “Sorry” he said, realising she didn’t know anything. Which was why she was so shaken.
“Maybe you should go to the clinic? They might be able to help. It is not good that you are seeing these things” And they might be able to tell her if others were being affected.
***
Wanda shook her head. “No, I do not believe they would be able to help me,” she said. “Perhaps I will reach out to Erik’s friend, Charles. He is a powerful telepath. Maybe he can provide some guidance.”
It didn’t help that she’d never really learned the full capacity of what her abilities could do.
***
Pietro thought there were a range of people at the clinic with all kinds of abilities but if Wanda didn't think it was any good he wouldn't push it.
“That is a good idea” he nodded, he knew he was of little help. His own abilities were so different to hers.
***
His abilities were a lot more straightforward than hers, something that made Wanda a tiny bit jealous on occasions like this. Not that she would ever say as much to her brother. It wasn’t his fault that he’d gotten more practical powers from their experiments.
She sighed and took another drink of her tea. “I hate not understanding what is going on in my head.”
***
Pietro himself often wondered what exactly the difference had been between them that made their powers develop as they had. He knew the scientists had expected similar results given that they were twins, but that had not happened.
“You will work it out little sister” he said, reaching out slowly to stroke her hair, trying not to startle her or make her flinch from him again.
***
Wanda sighed and let herself lean into his touch this time. No matter what her dreams and visions showed her, she loved and trusted her brother and appreciated the comfort he provided. “Thank you,” she said.
After allowing herself to wallow for a moment, she sat up straight and gave him a smile. “I think I’m ready for breakfast now,” she said.
*** “Always” Pietro said, meaning it. There was never going to be a time when he would not be there for his sister, she meant the world to him and he would always protect her. They’d been all each other had for a long time.
“As you wish” he smiled, “Any special requests? I will make you whatever you like”
***
“Pancakes,” she said without hesitation. They were comfort food and that’s what she needed this morning. “I’ll put on some coffee.”
Not that caffeine really helped him with his insanely fast metabolism, but Wanda needed it to brush off the cobwebs.
***
“Pancakes it is” he said, which would be easy enough since he already had the batter made and ready to go. While it was true that his metabolism reduced the effects of most things like coffee and alcohol he still appreciated them. Especially the flavoured coffees, he liked those the most.
As they moved around the kitchen preparing breakfast Pietro couldn’t help but smile, it was nice to be able to do this. Very different from their past and even different from their present back home but he wouldn’t give it up for anything.