「17」

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Oh, no, no, no, no, no...

Alyssa was frozen in place as she saw Pietro fall to the ground. Blood was pooling around him and Clint had the same shocked look on his face, still tightly holding onto the child.

From the distance she could hear a scream, so blood-curdling that Alyssa wanted to cover her ears. She immediately knew it was Wanda.

Alyssa was shaking when she finally snapped out of it and she ran to Pietro as fast as she could. Kneeling next to him she frantically ran her hands over his shoulders; shaking him lightly.

"No, no, no..." hovering her shaking hands above his countless wounds. "You said you wouldn't die, idiot! Wake up!" she yelled, tears flowing down her cheeks. Her lip quivered and she bit down on it, trying not to sob.

No, I'm not letting this happen. You can't leave, Pietro!

She repeatedly shook her head, laying her forehead against his collarbone as a single cry left her lips.

He felt cold and his clothes were slowly getting soaked with his own blood. His blue eyes were open and lifeless; staring into nothingness as his hair moved with the wind.

How could this happen? This wasn't supposed to happen!

Alyssa's tears gently dropped down onto Pietro's shoulders, mixing with the blood on his neck. She closed her eyes and tenderly laid a hand on his chest with teary eyes. But she pulled away with a gasp when she felt the warmth within; her hands glowing in a faint orange as she looked at him with wide eyes.

He's still there. Okay, focus, Alyssa.

She gulped harshly, pressing her trembling palm more firmly on his chest. She laughed in a raspy voice when she felt him; an exciting white energy swirling around. But she felt that energy starting to slip, and she balled her hand into a fist, desperately holding onto his lifeline.

Just hold on, Sonic.

Alyssa's head shot up when Kendra threw herself on the ground next to her, a determined look on her face as she nodded at Alyssa.

"Kendra, I- I can still feel him but he's slipping!" Alyssa said, her nerves getting the best of her as she looked at her teacher for help.

"It's... it's okay. Don't panic. It's his wounds, Ally. Just... keep going," Kendra stretched her arms out, keeping them just a few inches above Pietro's body. Alyssa scrunched her brows together in concentration, sweat rolling down her temple. Pietro's soul was much harder to keep a hold of, and she was starting to breathe heavily. Her eyes widened when she saw Kendra's hands slowly starting to glow in a deep red, and her eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw the blood going back inside his body.

"This is so freaky... and so cool at the same time," she whispered, breathing heavily.

"Ally, concentrate."

"Yeah, sorry."

Squeezing her eyes shut, Alyssa gently put a hand in Pietro's hair, trying not to choke on her own breathing. Just like with Kendra, images and voices came together in her head, moving forward like an old cinema film.

"Mama, look!" a little boy shouted, pointing excitedly at the rushing river below the bridge. A woman joined him at the railing, chuckling when she saw the many fish jumping around in the water.

"Mama, come on!" the voice of a girl whined, hanging at her mother's hand. "I don't want to miss Van Dyke!"

"We won't, Wanda. Your brother is just appreciating nature," the woman replied. Pietro gave Wanda a pointed look, giggling when she stuck out her tongue.

Alyssa laughed, cherishing the fact that the twins' bickering seemed to go all the way back. Her temporary feeling of calm was destroyed, however, when Kendra's shouts snapped her out of it.

"Rogers! Anybody! We need help over here!" she yelled and immediately people rushed over to get Pietro on a stretcher. Alyssa and Kendra stood up with them, their hands still over his body, the concentration never leaving either one's face.

The moment he was safely carried onto the lifeboat, Clint ran over to them, a hand in his hair as he observed them.

"He- he just... ran in front of me. I- I didn't even see him," he panted, pressing his lips together into a straight line.

Alyssa looked at the archer for a second before looking at Pietro again. "Hawk, it's okay now. Focus. Is everyone on board?"

Clint was still staring at Pietro and Steve stepped in to answer Alyssa's question. But before he could, the city suddenly dropped, falling to the earth. Just like Ultron had planned.

Alyssa yelped when she hit the seat next to her, her focus still on Pietro. Steve jumped back on the ramp, running towards Kendra and holding onto her shoulders to keep her from falling.

Alyssa looked down at the falling city, her mouth flying open when she saw Tony flying underneath it.

She yelled into the comms, her hands still glowing, but she didn't get an answer from her father. Sobbing, she looked back at Pietro whose cheeks were slowly starting to gain back their colour. Kendra was heaving, sweat rolling down her face as she tried to keep his blood in place.

It was just now that Alyssa noticed Vision and Wanda, the girl jumping from his arms and running towards her brother. Her makeup was smeared and tears were falling down her face. She kneeled next to Pietro, combing through his silver hair with her hands.

She whispered some words in Sokovian to him, before turning to Alyssa and throwing her arms around her.

"Thank you, thank you," she cried, and Alyssa gently hugged her back when she was convinced that Pietro was somewhat stable. Her hands were still trembling and she smiled in relief, looking at her speedster over Wanda's shoulder.

ꕥ

The medical station was packed and Alyssa thought that every doctor in the country (or world) must've been called here. She was standing outside room 239, where Pietro was currently getting surgery. Kendra and Wanda were seated on the bench behind her, with Clint leaning on the wall next to them. She smiled when she remembered how the archer insisted on staying, even though he had a gaping wound on his arm, until he knew that Pietro was completely fine.

Wanda was still sniffling, her head on Kendra's shoulder as she fiddled with her rings. Alyssa had her arms crossed, looking at the ground. She thought of all that had happened, and how it must've felt for Wanda to feel the loss of her twin. Still, she admired her friend for how she dealt with Ultron after Pietro was shot.

She looked at Wanda for a moment, before her head whipped to the right at the sound of a familiar voice.

"Alyssa Stark. Please, just tell me if she's fine. What- three hours? Do you even know who I am? I saved the earth from getting obliterated! Twice!"

Alyssa smiled, running towards the man who was standing in the entrance hall, one hand on his hip and the other in his hair.

"Dad?" she asked, immediately jumping into his arms when he turned around.

"Oh my god, Ally. You don't even know how relieved I am right now," he whispered, holding his daughter's head as he held her tightly to his chest.

He then pulled away, looking her up and down for any kind of injury. She had a couple of bruises and nasty cuts but overall, she was fine.

"I'm okay, dad. Are- are you? I saw you diving after that godforsaken rock, and I- I didn't know-"

"Shh, it's fine. Just c'mere."

They hugged for a long time, people bumping into them with annoyed faces. But they didn't care. After they pulled away again, Tony wiped Alyssa's tears away with a sad smile.

"It's gonna be okay," he said, and Alyssa smiled at him.

"Is it?" she asked, a frown replacing her smile as she looked at her hands. Tony gently grabbed them, pulling her into a hug again.

"It is. I'll make sure of it."

"Alyssa? Tony?" a woman's voice called frantically, and they both looked around. Alyssa gasped when she saw the familiar red hair and was immediately greeted with a bone-crushing hug.

"Mama..." sniffled Alyssa, laughing gently when Pepper pulled away to plant a kiss on her head. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think?! A piece of the earth rips out and you don't think I'd hear about it? Oh my god, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Alyssa chuckled tearfully.

Pepper sighed softly looking at Tony and kissing him on the lips once before pulling away again. "I'm sorry I blew Abu Dhabi, sweetie. But I just had to come back."

"It's okay. Never liked that place anyways. Way too hot. And a camel bit me there once. It was awful," Tony smiled, pulling Pepper into his side.

Alyssa grinned, letting out a relieved sigh. Her name was called by a doctor from Pietro's room, and she excused herself before running back to where the others were still waiting.

"He wanted to see you first," the doctor said softly, checking something on his clipboard before strolling away.

Alyssa took a deep breath before walking into the room, going to the left where the recovery area was. There she saw Pietro, laying on the steel blue hospital bed with his upper body propped up.

He was awake, observing the IV he was plugged into, when he saw Alyssa hesitantly approaching his bed.

"Hey," he rasped, a smirk on his face.

"Hey," Alyssa smiled back, sitting down on the chair next to him. "How on earth are you already up?"

Pietro just grinned, waving his IV-attached arm around. "Superpowers, remember?"

Alyssa laughed, scooting closer. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was shot by a hail of bullets," he responded, raising his eyebrows mockingly.

"No, really? How'd that happen?" Alyssa asked, letting out an exaggerated gasp.

Pietro laughed, scrunching his eyes together for a second. "Don't make me laugh," he groaned.
When he opened them again he was still smiling, but in a different way.

"No, seriously. Thank you, Alyssa."

"Really? A thank you? That's all I get for saving your life-"

She was cut off by Pietro yanking her hand towards him, smashing her lips to his. Alyssa's eyes widened but she quickly gave into the kiss, leaning forward with her hand still in his.

They pulled away after a moment, breathless, as Pietro looked into Alyssa's eyes.

"That's what you get, принцесса," he smirked.

Alyssa narrowed her eyes with a smile, pulling him in again, her hands gently weaving into his silver hair. They could hear a surprised squeak coming from the door as they parted again, looking at Wanda who slapped a hand over her mouth.

Pietro rolled his eyes, smiling. "You can be excited, Wanda."

At that Wanda pulled her hand away, squealing as she ran towards her brother. "I knew it! I don't want to say I told you so... but I told you so."

Alyssa tilted her head with a confused look. "Wait- how did you know?"

Wanda just shrugged, sitting down on the other side of the bed. "Your thoughts are very loud."

Alyssa blushed while Pietro rolled his eyes again, reassuring Wanda that he was fine when she started asking.

After a few minutes, Clint and Kendra rolled in, and Clint thanked Pietro for saving his life. After that he left, presumably to go back to his family. Everyone talked to Pietro for a while before leaving again to let him rest. Wanda stated that she had to go find Vision, and soon only Alyssa was left with Pietro.

She was still holding his hand, fiddling with his fingers. Pietro let out a sigh, causing Alyssa to look up.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Alyssa nodded, a small smile on her lips. "I'm fine. It's just... I was really scared that you were gonna die. It's stupid, I know. But in that moment..." she trailed off, spacing out as she looked at his arm and the healing wounds.

"It's not stupid. And besides, you're not getting rid of me that easily, aнгел," he smirked, gently brushing some dust off Alyssa's shoulder.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Sonic."