heretherebemuses | CUDDLE MEME

[It's ironic that for all her power over the mind she has no ability to twist her own dreams into something tolerable. Not-so-occasional nightmares, many of which aren't even properly hers have become an unfortunate side effect of her abilities.

This one was really bad, the kind you wake up from in a start and have to wonder if you actually screamed in the real world. There's no easily getting back to sleep after that, so after a few minutes of laying there paralyzed she wraps a blanket around herself and pads to the room next door.

(How convenient that they scored rooms next to each other in the new compound.)

Wanda knocks three times, softly.]

Pietro?

[He's awake already. Of course he is. There's some validity to the stories about twins with a connection, after all, and while he doesn't know specifically what's keeping Wanda up, he knows that she's not sleeping. He's not surprised at all when she knocks on his door.]

It's open.

[Wanda slips in and doesn't hesitate to make herself at home beside Pietro on the bed, leaning against him. Personal space isn't really a thing for them.]

Can't sleep?

[His mind felt too aware for that.]

[He expected nothing else from her, and he doesn't mind at all. He'd much rather spend time with her than any of the rest of them anyway.]

You're not sleeping, so I'm not sleeping.

But you were not there, and now you are.

[She always sleeps a little better if he's close, no matter how weird that might seem to other people.]

...I had a nightmare.

I thought you might have.

[They know each other so well, after all.]

Tell me about it.

We were on a mission with the others, but...

[She winds her arms around him. There aren't really that many things that legitimately frighten Wanda, so Pietro can probably guess where this is heading.]

You died. And there was nothing I could do.

[Woe to anyone who ever wants to date either one of them. They'll have to be okay with forever being number two in someone's life.

He returns the gesture, pulling her in against his chest.]

I didn't though. I'm right here.

I know that now. But it felt so real...

[He can probably feel the tension in her muscles. She won't ever forget what almost losing him felt like, and it's not too far of a leap for her brain to extrapolate further.

Wanda will calm down eventually, but it will take a little time. Distractions are good.]

What were you dreaming about?

Edited 2017-08-17 13:41 (UTC)

You aren't getting rid of me that easily.

[He can joke about it now, when he knows he's not going to die. Ask him again though the next time they're preparing to face an enemy.]

That trip we took when we were eight. Do you remember? You wanted the ice cream.

[Her fingers dig in briefly.] Never.

[It doesn't matter who she frightens in the aftermath - she'd do anything to keep him safe (and anyone who knows her should expect nothing less).]

I always want ice cream. [She manages a small smile.] But of course I remember.

[And now she's kind of hungry. Whoops.]

...you know, there's ice cream in the kitchen.

[Just like he'd do anything to keep her safe, and others too. Especially children. Even if it jeopardizes his own safety. (Sorry, Wanda.)]

I could go down there and get it before anyone even knew I was there.

[There are advantages to superhuman speed.]

[Wanda's grin widens.]

Milk is supposed to be good for getting back to sleep, yes? And you need to make sure you have enough sugar.

[She's not going to say 'let's eat an entire carton of ice cream,' but he's definitely got her seal of approval.]

[She doesn't have to tell him twice.]

Wait here. I'll be right back.

[Sure enough, almost before the sentence is finished, Pietro is sitting back on the bed with a carton of ice cream and two spoons.

Like Wanda said. He needs the sugar.]

[To Wanda it just feels like she's shifting a little and settling back into him again, even though Pietro's just pulled off the world's fastest grand theft ice cream.]

Chocolate cookie dough? At least some people here have good taste.

[It feels a little like when they used to sneak into the kitchen as kids.]

And this time no one can catch us.

I don't think it was Mr. Stark who picked the ice cream.

[This might be Stark's facility, and they might be on the same side now, but that doesn't mean Pietro's particularly fond of him.]

If they don't want us eating it, they shouldn't let us know it's there.

Obviously not.

[It was probably either Nat (hopefully not) or Sam, to be honest.]

We needed it. [She shrugs.] It's their fault for not getting enough to share.

It doesn't have his name on it.

[If it turns out that it was Nat's ice cream, they can replace it. So long as there aren't too many questions asked.]

They'll know better next time.

It might be one of the only things here that doesn't. And if they think Stark ate their ice cream, I am not going to correct them.

[They may be on the same team now but she also doesn't care if he ends up in a socially awkward position.

In fact, isn't that all the more reason to dig in with extra gusto?]

I for one have no idea what happened to the ice cream in the freezer.

[Which doesn't mean he's not going to enjoy eating it. He'll leave some for Wanda.]

What ice cream in the freezer?

[She'll let him have most of it - she only wanted a snack and Pietro actually needs it.]

There is no ice cream in the freezer.

[Because they're eating it, but there's no need to be technical about it.

It doesn't take him long to finish off the ice cream.]

Feeling better?

There never was any ice cream.

[Now that the carton's empty, Wanda gestures and scarlet energy obliterates it. Now the only evidence is the spoons, but that's easily taken care of and smuggled back to the kitchen with other dishes.

Wanda feels better for now, but somehow it feels like 'for now' might be the operative term. She wraps her arms around Pietro again, settling close. He's still alive. It was just a nightmare.]

Can I stay here tonight?

[Good. They can't get in trouble for something that never happened, right?]

Of course. Anything for my little sister.

[He's going to milk that twelve minutes for all it's worth.]

[Of course not. Where's the proof? Sounds a lot like someone else dreamed up that ice cream...]

Hush.

[And with that, she flops back on the bed. It's a performance with no true annoyance behind it, but she doesn't even crack an 'old man' joke this time. It's proof she's still somewhere between rattled and exhausted. The ice cream helped, but it can't make the nightmare go away entirely.]

[The fact that she doesn't make an "old man" joke tells him exactly how troubled she is about this, but he doesn't know what else he can do to make her feel better about it.]

I'll be here when you wake up.

CUDDLE MEME

For Pietro! in an AU where he lives

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