shards - pietro maximoff

chapter twenty-one ; panic and planning

"So you're telling me that Pietro just appeared in your bed?"

Natasha didn't believe her daughter's rushed lie, not for one second. She had lived on this Earth for thirty-four years, and she had experienced her fair share of men and women 'appearing' in bedrooms.

"Uh..." Dahlia scratched the back of her neck sheepishly, having given up on her attempt to hide Pietro from sight with her arm. "Yes?"

"You know what, whatever, this is irrelevant at the moment. Suit up, the fight's coming," Nat awkwardly glanced at Pietro, who was shirtless. "You too, Maximoff."

The door shut behind her, and Dahlia buried her head in her pillow in embarrassment. "That was the worst thing ever."

He chuckled, ruffling her hair. "You'll survive. Probably."

"Leave my bedhead alone, meanie."

The two made their way to the courtyard, fully equipped and dressed for a fight. Well, to say they made their way would be a bit presumptuous, seeing as it was basically just Pietro dragging Dahlia by the wrist.

"Ugh, it's too early for this. I haven't had my hot chocolate yet." She whined, doing her best puppy eyes on Pietro.

The group of Avengers all snorted as they watched them make their way other.

"Anelace, Maximoff. You sure took your sweet time." Steve crossed his arms.

"Well, I don't expect you to have known this, but looking this fabulous takes time." Dahlia flicked her hair over her shoulder.

"That really means that she shoved three donuts in her mouth at once, then spent fifteen minutes trying not to choke on it." Pietro said with a shake of his head.

Rhodey started cracking up, and was only ceased three minutes later when Okoye's urgent tone interrupted.

"Something's entered the atmosphere."

The team looked up at the sky just as the defense shield above the city destroyed one of the alien vessels, which had approached the force field at full acceleration.

"God, I love this place." Bucky whistled as he watched the alien spaceship explode.

"Yeah, don't start celebrating yet, guys. We got more incoming outside the dome." Rhodey said, his voice a bit more electronic sounding, since he closed his helmet.

The debris from the ship landed outside the shield, sending vibrations through the ground.

Cap spoke to Wanda, who was in Shuri's lab with Vision, through the comms. "Wanda, as soon as the stone's out of his head... you blow it to hell."

T'Challa started giving out orders. "Evacuate the city. Engage all defense procedures," He stopped at turned to Steve. "And someone get this man a shield."

"And some star-spangled tights! C'mon, people!" Dahlia called out, putting on a mock-stern voice and clapping her hands together to rush them.

"Alright, stupid, let's get on the carrier." Pietro laughed and helped her up into one.

As it started speeding off to the border of the city, she turned to her boyfriend. "Why are you riding on this thing? You literally have super speed, what's the point?"

"To spend time with you, obviously."

Dahlia raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "And?"

"Fine, and I was tired. Happy?"

"Very."

Bruce, who was keeping pace with the flying carriers in a Hulkbuster suit, was having the time of his life.