Right as Veronica entered the store, Natasha grabbed Pietros arm to stop him from following.

"You like her," she stated and nodded her head towards the girl walking over to the counter behind the glass.

"I do not. You sound just like my sister," Pietro complained.

"She knows too?" Natasha asked surprised. Pietro sighed.

"She can read minds," Natasha realised as she let go of the tight grip.

"Does Veronica know?" she asked quietly. Pietro shook his head, making Natasha sigh.

"Can I give you a tip?" she offered, but continued before getting a reply; "That in there isn't any girl. It's Veronica Stark. Her dad is Tony Stark, and her family pretty much consists of the Avengers. Is she really worth it?"

Pietro looked fiercely into Natashas green eyes.

"It doesn't matter anyway, Quicksilver. I'm pretty sure that guy Liam is into her," she mentioned.

"He is into her..." Pietro repeated before continuing; "But is she into him?"

"Thin ice, Pietro. Don't think Cap won't kill you because you're an Avenger. Or that Bruce won't go green guy, or that Hawkeye won't put an arrow in your skull. You seem like a good kid, but you need to get over her," Natasha advised. Pietro nodded slowly, knowing she spoke the truth.

"I need to go get her gift, I can meet you guys here in an hour or so," Natasha decided before turning around to leave. This time, her arm was the one being grabbed. However, Pietro quickly let go when he realised who he was dealing with.

"Gift? Why are you getting her a gift?" he asked confused.

"Her birthdays coming up. They're throwing this huge party, a proper Stark party, over 300 guests last I asked, and I think most guests will be bringing a gift, if nothing else then to show off or hoping to get Daddy Starks attention," she added with a knowing smile; "I'll see you guys later."

As she left, Pietro couldn't help but wonder...

Why hadn't he gotten an invite like Natasha or the 300 other people?

"Hey," I greeted as I unloaded two of the boxes into Pietro's hands; "Where's Natasha?"

"She had an errain to run. Told us to meet her here at five," Pietro explained. I looked at my Jaeger-LeCoultre watch to see the time.

"That's 54 minutes away!" I complained; "We're not gonna stand here for an hour to wait for her."

"No?" Pietro asked as I looked around. I noticed a café across the street.

"Come on, let's wait there," I suggested as I pulled him along.

"She will not know where to find us," he argued unsurely.

"I'll send a text," I promised him in an attempt to convince him. A successful attempt, I might add.

Babyavenger: NAT!!!! U LEFT US! TO FREEZE TO DEATH! IN THE COLD! COLD! WEATHER!

Auntie Assassin🕷: It's 18 degrees. Calm down.

Babyavenger: I WILL NOT CALM DOWN I AM DYING THANKS TO YOU

Babyavenger: YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE DO TO BLACK WIDOWS

Babyavenger: THEY KILL THEM

Babyavenger: WITH PAPER

Babyavenger: HAVENT YOU EVVER PLAYED ROCK PAPER SCISSORS PAPERS LIKE THE LAMEST ONE AND EVEN THAT BEATS BLACK WIDOW

Auntie Assassin🕷: Geez Vee, maybe you should consider taking a deep breath.

Babyavenger: Pietro and I are hiding now

Babyavenger: We're deep underground

Babyavenger: Never to be found

Auntie Assassin🕷: Where are you?

Babyavenger: Chaiwalla Café

Babyavenger: See u in an hour🙃

"So, coffee?" I offered as I put the Stark phone back into my pocket and looked at Pietro, who was curiously looking around Chaiwalla from his seat.

"I will go get it us some, then," I quickly decided.

"No no, I will go get it, draga mea," he replied and stood up faster than would've been possible for someone who was, let's say normal.

As he left I quickly pulled my phone back up and went into the Avengers groupchat.

Starkling: yoooo avengerrrrs

Ant🐜: This chat is for emergencies, Vee

Starkling: Noones gonna use a group chat on facebook in case of an emergency chill down

Starkling: Except me

Starkling: I have an emergency.

Ant🐜: 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Starkling: Chill ok I just need someone who speaks a language I think is rumanian

Ant🐜: Ok I'm out

Bruce: Veronica?

Starkling: Hey Brucy! What does 'Draga mea' mean?

Bruce: My dear. Feminine form

Starkling: I knew you were my favorite bruce😘

Official Stark: Guys

Official Stark: Shut the hell up.

Official Stark: Where are those invites Veronica???

Starkling: Woops gotta go byeeee

I muted my phone and put it in my pocket before looking up to see Pietro smiling to a waitress handing him two cups of coffee. As he turned to me, I quickly pretended to be very focused on a spot on the table. A small mark.

I looked up as Pietro handed me a blue cup.

"Thanks," I mumbled as I received it. I looked at the dark colour.

"Is something wrong, Veronica?" Pietro asked gently.

"No, not at all," I quickly replied - probably a little too quickly, to be honest. Pietro eyed me suspiciously, but let it go. I wasn't sure what to say, and instead sipped the coffee.

"Natasha will be here in 30 minutes," Pietro mentioned nonchalantly. I nodded.

Well, this is awkward, I thought to myself.

"I'm actually kind of happy you and your sister is here," I admitted. Pietro looked up from his coffee, practically scanning every inch of my face.

"Yes?"

"Yeah. I only just became an Avenger, and my dad isn't too fond of it. I think Cap is actually proud of me for it, but he's worried too," I continued; "It's nice to have someone on the team who isn't biased." I sent him a small smile.

"They should be worried. It is dangerous to be an Avenger," Pietro stated.

"You're still breathing," I mentioned and smiled crookedly.

"Only because no one has killed me yet. And there has been time where I have wished that they wanted to kill me," he admitted seriously. I looked him in the eyes, begging for him to continue.

"I was tortured. Experimented on," he explained shortly. I felt my mouth open shortly, but quickly closed it.

"I.. I am so sorry," I said and reached out for his hand on the table.

"It is fine. I am here now, even if only because of my abilities," he added quietly.

"What do you mean?" I asked slowly.

"I am merely here, merely alive, because of what I can do. I am fast," he added.

"So? We're all just here because of thatI have my own little party trick, and I'm Tony Starks daughter. If I had any other father, I'd probably be living in a trailer park in Winslow," I admitted. This time, Pietro looked at me with confusion. I shrugged.

"I just met my mom for the first time not long ago. She lives with her abusive boyfriend in an old trailer," I explained; "Aaaand my dad is suing her."

Pietro gathered his eyebrows, and wrinkled the small space between.

"She was the one who signed for me. So I could become an Avenger. He wants me kicked out, so he wants to make her signature irrelevant. The things is, that'll probably make her lose what little she has."

"And you want to protect her?" Pietro asked in an understanding voice.

"Kind of," I admitted; "I mean, she had a fine life before I tracked her down, and now... My dad has a team of lawyers ready to destroy her. I actually offered to buy her a house.

"A house? What did she say?"

"Hasn't replied yet. But I'd keep it in my name, that way my dad couldn't take it from her," I explained with a sad smile.

"You are... Very caring, Veronica," Pietro said with a small smile.

"So are you. I've seen how you are with your sister," I added, and finally let his hand go to grab my cup and bring it to my mouth. I let the bitter liquid in my mouth as I listened to him talk.

"My sister, yes. She is all I have, and most of what I care about," He told mysteriously.

"Most of?" I asked, trying to get him to continue.

"Lately, I have found... My heart, it seems to want to care for more than just her," he explained with a sigh. I thought for a second.

"I think that's a good sign," I admitted.

"How so?" I shrugged as I tried to work out how to properly explain it.

"Well, caring about people is good. Letting people in your heart... I've found that when times are tough, it's hard to let people are close. It gets easier as you, your mind, as it gets healthier. It has more love to share," I added. Pietro smiled.

"That is... A nice way of thinking about it," he finally decided.