A Walk in the Dog Park
***SEVEN MONTHS AFTER SOKOVIA
Date being December 4th, 2015.***
“Will you stop that!” She glared, pushing the speedster away.
“What it’s funny!” He defended himself. Pietro had been hanging mistletoe over people’s heads all day and he finally made her his target, seeing as no one else was in the compound to bother. Due to most of them being on a mission, but all the while she kept pushing him away.
“You and I have very different views of funny Silver. Leave me alone, some of us are actually trying to be ready for what we have to do.”
“All you do is train and play with your dog, and as of right now just messing with your computer. Have some fun Prințesă. It’s going to be Christmas, and Hanukkah.” He smiled, waving the mistletoe again.
“I am having fun. I’m trying to buy toys for my dog for Christmas and you keep putting that plant over my head!” she glared.
“A plant!? How rude to rank it just ‘a plant’.” He smirked at his own ideocracy. “It’s a tradition frumoasă thought you’d find it fun.”
“You know what would be fun? Watching you run after Artemis again, that was fun.” She smirked and started walking away. He followed her.
“I thought we promised never to mention that.” he said as she started to go to her room.
“We did? Don’t recall. Now excuse me.” She smiled a semi-fake smile, “I have work to do.” She pushed him back away from her door slightly and closed the door.
He chuckled to himself and ran to his room. Going in and laid across his bed.
She sat on hers and was typing away on her computer for things she wanted to get everyone.
Christmas was coming closer, and these were just her last buys. Wanda, Sam, Tony, and Pietro’s (yes, she bought him something, she doesn’t hate him that much;)), gifts were set and ready. Her parent’s gifts were the only ones left. She has a difficult time with that because they’ve given her everything and the life she never got, they loved her and took care of her. What do you get someone to thank them for giving you hope, and love?
She couldn’t figure it out. Staring at her screen and around her room now and again she tried to come to a conclusion of the gifts. Aimlessly petting Artemis’ head. Sitting there for a good hour when Artemis started barking at her from the floor.
“When did you get-” She started but soon remembered her pup’s speed is abnormal. “Never mind, I remember now.” She laughed, closing her laptop, put it beside her and turned to her pup. “What do you want, girl?” The pup barked and ran towards where Veronika had placed her leash. Barking at it again. Veronika laughed and looked at the clock on her nightstand, 3p.m. she walked to the pup.
“A walk is what you want?”
Bark.
“Alright,” Veronika said and hooked her up but as they were leaving, she realized she couldn’t go alone, just in case her powers didn’t get her, she needed someone with superspeed to get her pup. “Dammit we have to get Silver first pup.” She sighed but Artemis seemed excited, she rushed to Pietro’s room and into it.
That’s when she heard laughing. She tilted her head as she stepped towards his room.
“Hey Artemis, hey girl!” He laughed as the pup jumped on and licked him. “What do you want?” he petted the pup lovingly laughing until he saw white hair in his door frame. “Oh, I see,” he whispered, then looking at the door said, “come in Prințesă.”
She walked in slowly and waved slightly.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” He smirked, still petting Artemis. “Need something, or is there more yelling going to happen?”
She narrowed her eyes. “No, I’m not going to yell again.”
“Then what is it frumoasa?”
“I need help walking Artemis. And seeing she likes you, maybe if you follow, she’ll stay close.”
He looked at Veronika, then to Artemis who was sitting across his lap wagging her tail. He smiled. “Alright I’ll come but I’m grabbing a sweatshirt.” He held Artemis, walking with her to his closet which Veronika obviously didn’t love so she followed to watch him. Seeing Artemis bark as if talking to him. He laughed and picked a hoodie they’d all seen him wear many times. Then walked out handing the puppy to Veronika who was glaring at him slightly. “Alright, I’m ready.”
“Great, also don’t pick up MY dog.”
“The TEAM’S dog.” he corrected.
“MY dog. Now let’s go Silver.” She put Artemis on the ground and led her out to the living area, Pietro following behind. He stared at the back of Veronika’s head as they walked. Thoughts raced through his head as they walked outside to the cold and snow of the December month. They walked on the sidewalk, and he stayed close to Veronika’s side as Artemis walked ahead of them.
“You know since she likes you wouldn’t she stay with you just as easily?”
“Yes, she does like me Silver, but sometimes she sees a bird or something that catches her interest, and I can’t go after her.”
He nodded. “What about with your powers can’t you catch her with those?”
“You know I can’t do that all the time.” She looked at him.
“Oh yeah,” he shrugged as they continued to walk. She looked at him and saw he just kept looking around. His hands stuffed in his jean pockets, his hood on his head. But something jumped out to her, the dark circles under his eyes. She didn’t notice that earlier, probably because she was too busy avoiding the plant he was dangling over her head. But she could just feel that he was tired.
“You, okay?” She asked.
He looked at her and then at Artemis again. “Yeah, I’m fine, why?” He was walking faster a little more, but then again that was normal for him.
“You seem tired.”
“I’m fine, let's just keep walking,” he said, picking up more speed.
She tilted her head and with Artemis who wanted to stay close to the boy moved into a jog. Once she got to his side she put a hand on his bicep.
Woah…
She shook her head at the thought of surprise. “Slow down a bit, I’m just trying to talk.”
“I don’t feel like it.” He said, pulling his arm away.
“Wow you change up quickly don’t you.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean!?” He said stopping to look at her, she stopped too.
“That you change your mood literally every five minutes, this morning throughout the afternoon you’re chasing me and from youtube, random people with mistletoe. Now you’re sour. What wake up on wrong side of bed?” She joked.
“Oh cute, pointing out someone else for something YOU also do.”
“What is your problem!?” She glared. “I’m concerned for you, and you’re trashing me!?”
“Bullshit.”
“What?”
“Bullshit, you’re not concerned for me. You were literally making a joke about it! You were pinning me for something, and you don’t even know the actual issue!”
“Then tell me! You know what they say, communication is key darling.”
He went rigid but quickly fended it off as he looked at her. “Don’t call me that.”
“Why not it’s just like your little Prințesă, or frumoasă! What’s the difference?”
“Those are compliments. ‘Darling’ is a nickname.”
“GAH You’re insufferable!” she threw a hand up. “I can never tell what to do around you,” she stopped in front of him.
“Dito.” he said irritatedly at her.
“Oh, don’t start.”
“You started this!”
“Just tell me what’s going on.”
“Just read my mind and you'll get all your information. Won’t you?” He said with a glare.
“I don’t want to-”
“Oh, respecting privacy now?”
“I’ve respected your privacy since you’ve joined the Avengers.”
“Because it’s not an advantage to you anymore you mean?”
“Now who’s pinning who?” she quirked a brow.
“You’d love me to-” he smirked, stepping closer.
“You're so immature!” She glared. "I hate you."
“Mhmm, same here-” They're both obviously lying but neither of them will admit it.
Until...
Bark!
Veronika looked to her dog but then felt something around her legs before she could turn to Pietro. Then he suddenly grabbed her just as she felt herself falling when they fell into the snow behind them. She held onto him oddly enough when her back hit a pillow-like surface. But a heavy form on her holding her close cause that was all it could do seeing as their legs were tied together by a leash with a puppy sitting close near at the end.
She felt a vibration against her chest. He was laughing. “What’s so funny? We just got tied up by my dog?”
“Exactly. It’s funny.” he kept laughing and lifted his head still laughing until he looked at her. “What you don’t think it’s funny.”
She looked at his eyes and smiled a little, they were so bright she couldn’t help a little laugh that left her lips. “It’s a little funny.” She whispered as the two kept their eyes connected.
“Yeah, it is…” he whispered. His head tilted a little bit.
Veronika felt her heart racing and her breathing getting heavier. Maybe it was because he's on top of her, but she felt so odd. She tilted her head up kissing him. He reacted quickly, kissing her back. She'd kissed people before, but this felt REAL, and passionate, but mainly it felt strangely LOVING. He moved a hand he had holding around her to just resting on her chin seeing as their hands weren't tied together. She kept hers where they were because they were in fact stuck between them. She moved away slightly.
“Wh-what was that for?” he asked, stuttering slightly from shock that SHE kissed HIM first. Though he was extremely excited about what happened.
She looked at him and her eyes searched his eyes. “I- uhm-” she surprised herself with her loss of words. She kissed him. Why is she so surprised? Maybe because she doubted that decision, her thoughts halted when they heard a bark. “Artemis, she wrapped us up, let's get her to unwrap us.”
The little pup was jumping at their feet excitedly, barking happily.
“Unwrap us Artemis.” Veronika said to her pup who just as fast as she had wrapped them, unwrapped them. With a bark they both stood Pietro helping Veronika stand and she looked at him. Just as he opened his mouth to speak again. She started. “Well seeing as we both just fell into the snow, thank you Artemis, I think it’s time to go inside and put something warmer on would you agree Silver?” she suggested.
He paused, but just nodded in agreement. “Yes, I agree.” he watched her waiting for her to talk, say ANYTHING about what just happened. But she just nodded and picked up Artemis and he picked her up running to the compound. He put her down and she almost lost her footing, so he held her up. Shaking her head she looked at him.
“Warn me next time before you do that.”
“Sorry.” he said before she put Artemis back down who nudged her leg. “So…” he said, making her look at him.
“Yeah…?” she asked.
He gave her a look. She knew what he wanted to say, but she let her fear overtake her.
I shouldn't have done that...he- how do I know he wants this? How do I know he won't play me.
“Alright, if you’re just gonna stand there looking at me like I’m crazy. I’m just going to go get dressed.” She started walking away.
He sighed and just waved his hand “Alright. Be quick.” He said and ran to his room.
She sighed and looked at his door as she went into her room with Artemis. Thinking about the kiss but something flashed her mind.
He is a bit of a flirt…how do I know if he actually cares?
She shook her head of the thought. That kiss just felt so real and loving. It’s crazy she knew that, but she never felt something like that before. But she didn’t want to become another conquest, she refused to. After putting on warm clothes she walked out of her room to see Pietro leaning against his door frame in new hoodie and sweatpants.
“Hello.”
She nodded and looked at her hands.
“Are we gonna talk about what happened outside?” He asked almost immediately.
“...Sure.” She shrugged not looking at him.
“You kissed me."
"No shit captain obvious-"
" Don't get sarcastic." He gave a semi-pointed look. Then a thought occurred to him. "Have you never kissed anyone before? Is that why you act all weird?”
“No! I’ve kissed a few men before.” She doesn't know why she says it and forces it to be known she hated those kisses, they were...icky.
None were like yours. She wanted to say but didn't.
“Then why are you acting strange?”
“How do I know I can trust you Maximoff?” She finally looked at him.
“What?”
“You know what I mean! How do I know I’m not going to be a conquest, yes I kissed you first but…” she looked down. “How do I know that I’m not going to end up like every other person you’ve been with?”
“You really think THAT little of me?” He stared at her. She sighed.
“I don’t think little of you-”
“Don’t lie now.”
“Why are you assuming I’m lying?”
“To avoid the truth.”
“I’m not avoiding anything.”
“Yeah okay. Why are you so complicated? Just TALK and maybe we can figure out that kiss. Just tell me do you like me or no? Because I’ll leave you alone if you want. We can hate each other’s guts if you want, just talk!” he said looking at her. “I don’t want to be haunted by a kiss that was just empty. Please,” he almost begged, almost.
She stared at him for a second and looking at a scar on her wrist she sighed. “Fine, want truth?”
“Yes! Please.”
“I do like you.”
More than you’ll ever know.
“Yes, I gave you that kiss because I WANTED to. But, I’m avoiding getting hurt, I’m avoiding a game I’ve seen you play. I don’t want that.”
“So you just assume I’d do that to you? Veronika…look I know what I am and yes I’m flirt but I’m not that much of a jerk. Not as big as everyone thinks…”
“Every guy says that in the rom-com movies. Wanda showed me.” she glared slightly.
“They make it look so easy… Okay, look I’m not going to play with emotions…”
“But that’s all you’ve ever done with those people-”
“I wouldn’t to YOUR emotions, or anyone else’s after what happened in North Carolina.”
She raised a brow. “After you went with Chelsea?” he gave her a questioning look “Yes I remember her name, don't ask me why. But to the main point. After her is when you started caring about my feelings? How does that make sense?”
“Even if you don’t admit it I know what jealousy looks like and at the time that look you gave me made me feel bad I made you jealous. So I’m sorry.”
“I wasn’t jealous, I was just overwhelmed.”
He laughed, “okay sure. I’m being serious Veronika. I just…” He looked around them and at her again. “Give me a chance please?”
She looked up at him, her eyes questioning and with everything in her head fighting her. The pounding in her heart made her want to trust him. The look in his eyes…it made her want to trust him. She sighed and closed the gap between them a little more. “On a few conditions…”
He raised a brow looking at her eyes. “What are they?”
“We move at MY pace.”
“Okay I can live with that.”
"If you want me to talk, you have to talk too. But at a pace too, okay?"
"I can handle that. As long as it fair."
“We keep this to ourselves until I’m sure…”
“Don’t want Rogers killing me so I guess it’s a deal.”
“And finally, don’t make me change my mind, you slip up, I’m done, got that? Please don’t make me not trust you. I don't want a night in your bed, so, I either have all of you or I give you none of me hear me?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it frumoasă.” He smirked, but with the look she gave him he just nodded, “I promise I won’t make you regret this…” He said looking into her eyes directly. The last sentence stuck in his ears...she wants him but he's so happy to take things slow for a change, though he won't admit that. She kept her eyes locked and tilted her head.
“I really hope you don’t” She took his face in her hands and kissed him again, this one feeling even more erupting than the first. Their lips moving in sync with one another. He held her close, a smile she could feel from his lips onto hers. She pulled away slowly and smiled at him. “Keep your promise, Silver.” She smiled and turned away.
His face looked like a lost puppy as she did. He chuckled slightly. “Sly one she is, very sly.” Once he calmed himself down, he walked following the girl into the living room.