"Veronica," Pietro breathed out.

"Hey," I whispered quietly, looking at him as his eyes glanced over me.

"W-what are you doing here?" he questioned, not moving away from the door.

"I.. I don't know," I admitted, quickly turning around to leave.

Pietro did nothing.

I turned around again to look him in the eyes.

"I'm sorry," I stated strongly before turning on my heels and leaving.

"Veronica," Pietro said, stopping me.

"Why did you do it?" he asked. I bit my lip before turning around.

"I had to," I told. Resentment formed in his eyes.

"You didn't have to lie," he spit out.

"I.. Wait, what? When did I lie?" I questioned.

"When you said what he did! Why on earth would you be back together if it was true?" he asked angrily, his voice raising with every word.

"I never lied," I whispered quietly.

"Why are you with him?" he asked, crossing his arms. His accent sounded stronger than it usually did.

"I have to," I repeated.

"Why?"

"Because of you!" Pietro slowly shook his head.

"You cannot blame me for this," he said, a hidden warning in his voice.

"No, I'm not blaming you! I just, I'm doing this because I have to, for you," I cried out, taking a step closer.

"Why?"

"Because, Pietro! You attacked a civilian for crying out loud!" I said loudly; "James isn't doing anything about it. He agreed to let it go if I stayed with him. And to not tell anyone about... What happened," I added, not facing Pietro's intense eyes.

"You're ashamed," he realised suddenly. I looked down.

"Why are you ashamed?" he continued. I shrugged.

"Because it's embarrassing," I claimed quietly.

"Yes. For him. It is embarrassing that he must reach so low, that he must..." Pietro silenced when he noticed the tears in my eyes.

"You did nothing wrong."

"Do you.. Wanna do something, maybe?" I suggested instead. Pietro thought for a second.

"It's late," he stated. I nodded while looking down.

"We should probably stay here then," he added, a calming smile appearing on his lips.

I could feel Pietro's smile as our lips moved in sync, holding himself above me on his bed.

"This is awesome," I stated.

"What is?" Pietro asked from his office chair.

"We just kissed!" I said excitedly; "Our first kiss!"

"We... Wait, what?" Pietro looked up from the book in his lap.

"I'm reading a book about us," I admitted, scrolling down further with my thumb.

"A book about us?" he questioned, moving up from his chair to come next to me and look at the screen.

"Is.. is that a fanfiction?" he asked in surprise. I nodded, even though it was difficult with my neck in it's awkward position. I was lying in Pietro's bed, the back of my head resting against the wall.

"Yes."

"You're... You're reading fanfiction about yourself?" he asked, suppressing a laugh.

"More interesting than your fanfictions," I claimed offendedly.

"I have fanfictions?" he questioned, taking the phone from my hand.

"Yes, and I am reading one, so gimme," I said, reaching for the phone now in Pietro's hands.

"We're kissing," he stated as his eyes scanned the screen.

"Yes, and it's very romantic, because I think you might be dying," I replied.

"Ohh, why?" Pietro asked, suddenly sitting in his office chair again - still with my phone in his hand. I quickly got up and tried to make my way over there to take it back.

"Because you're sick," I replied quickly, reaching for the phone. Suddenly Pietro was in the bed again.

"Or, because I'm gonna kill you if you don't give me my phone back," I continued, quickly pursuing him as he kept moving further away from me.

"Pietro!" I exclaimed angrily, following him into the hallway.

"Pietro you d*ick!" I cried out as I started chasing him.

"Language!" I heard him say loudly behind me.

"That's not even your line!" I complained as I turned around.

"Fine. If you want it that way," I complained, closing my eyes. I took a deep breath and imagined time before me before stepping into it. I quickly did as I had before and slowed it down.

I'm in control, I reminded myself, this is my power.

I let go of time as I opened my eyes again, suddenly seeing Pietro running... Actually, below average speed. I smiled as I jogged over to him and grabbed my phone right out of his hands, smiling brightly.

"You're too slow," I stated, running backwards away from him.

"And you're too fast, watch ou-" that's the last thing he said before I felt myself hit the wall and fall down.

"Ouch," I muttered, gently massaging my head with my free hand.

"Are you okay?" Pietro asked, reaching a hand down to help me up.

"I'm fine," I promised, getting on my feet.

"This is.. You broke the wall," he stated, gesturing behind me. I turned around to see a Veronica shaped hole.

"I wasn't even running that fast!" I cried out as I considered which country I'd have most success in hiding from my dad in.

"You were running very fast," Pietro disagreed; "You still are."

"Oh.. I should probably slow down," I realised." Pietro nodded slowly. Or, quickly, I suppose.

"Gimme a sec," I muttered as I closed my eyes and with practised movements made my way into time.

"I can't get a hold of it," I informed as I watched the thousands of images move around slowly.

"Shit, I can't catch it!" I continued, starting to get slightly anxious as I tried again.

"Come out for a sec, we'll find a way to relax you first," Pietro decided.

I turned around to find the hole in the pictures I'd entered through.

"I.. I can't find it," I realised, my breath getting quicker by the second.

"Pietro, I.. I'm stuck here," I realised.

"No, you're not. Feel your hand, draga mea, I'm holding it," he informed. I looked down myself and noticed a slight tug in my hand. I closed my eyes and let Pietro lead me out.

As soon as I stepped out, I felt my legs collapse under me. I felt Pietro's strong arms around me, catching me as I held onto him.

"Am I done?" I whimpered, not letting go.

"No, draga mea. Soon," he promised.

"I shouldn't have done it," I sniffled; "I didn't mean for this to happen."

"Nothing happened, draga, we were just playing around, that's all. You're okay," he promised.

"Just relax, we'll hang out until you've calmed enough to slow down," he continued, running his thumb over my hand.

"I can't," I admitted; "I'm not even supposed to be here, I have to get back before James suddenly turns u-""You're rambling," Pietro interrupted.

"And forgetting that you and I are now the fastest people alive. We have all the time in the world," he pointed out.

"I have an idea."

"I don't think this is gonna relax you, Veronica!" Pietro whisper-yelled angrily as he hastily followed my steady pace.

"Sure it will."

"God, your dad is gonna kill me," Pietro realised with a cry.

"Probably not," I shrugged it off; "Steve might."

"That's what I said," Pietro muttered quietly behind me as I pulled the can of spraypaint out of the bag.

"This is probably the stupidest thing you've ever done," he continued as I shook the can of purple paint.

"Stupidest thing we've ever done," I corrected with a smirk.

"No, stupidest thing you've ever done," he insisted. I looked at him with my eyebrows raised.

"I've done some pretty stupid stuff," he admitted.

"I don't doubt it."

"Who would do that," Steve asked, shaking his head in disappointment as he muted the tv.

"I don't know, I think it's pretty cool," I added in, shrugging as I ate another spoonful of cereal.

"I'm more concerned about how they did it," Natasha mentioned; "I mean, security must be pretty high there."

"What are you guys talking about?" my dad asked as he entered, pouring himself some coffee.

"Some vandalisers graffitied the white house," Steve told him.

"First of all, it's vandalists," I corrected, putting my bowl in the sink; "Second, I wouldn't call them that. And not just because I know how to speak proper English."

"What would you call them?" Steve asked, ignoring my rude comments.

"...Cool people," I decided.

"Morning," Pietro greeted tiredly as he suddenly appeared, pouring coffee in a white mug.

"You look tired. How much did you sleep?" Steve asked curiously.

"Not a lot," Pietro admitted; "I was up doing... Something."

"Must've been something that takes a long time if it took long for you," Natasha commented.

"Speaking of things that take a long time - how did they even manage to do it in one night?" Steve continued.

"What are you guys talking about?" Bruce asked as he entered. Pietro lifted his cup to take a sip.

"Someone spray painted the pride flag on the white house," Steve explained, making Bruce make a surprised look before Pietro literally spat coffee out in front of him.

"You okay there, Pietro?" Natasha asked suspiciously.

"It's in the paper, too," my dad continued unaffected.

"Lemme see," I ordered, snapping the paper from his hand while Natasha eyed Pietro.

The six rainbow colours clearly covered the previously 'white' house, from top to bottom.

It actually seemed a lot better in daylight, I had to admit.

"This is so great," I muttered to myself with a light chuckle.

"It's not great. It's disrespecting our President," Steve lectured me.

"He should just be happy. Now he's not the only orange thing around there anymore," I pointed out.

"Is this something we should be attentive to?" my dad questioned, looking at Steve.

"I mean, if someone can break into the white house and paint it entirely in one night, they surely must be kind of... Super," he explained.

"Surely they're really super," I agreed with a smile.

"Unless Fury tells us to, it's not our job," Steve decided, taking a sip of his coffee.

"How did they manage to do it, though? I mean, even I couldn't do that," Natasha wondered; "Neither could you Bruce. Steve couldn't."

"I could," my dad claimed.

"Not without getting caught," Natasha shot back quickly.

"Why would I want to avoid that? Whoever painted the pride flag on the white house deserves a parade," my dad claimed.

I should tell him.

"Hey dad," I began, but stopped when I felt Pietro's panicky look on me.

"Yes, Vee?"

"I was just saying hi," I lied awkwardly.

"It's vandalism," Steve continued; "They should step forward and take their punishment. It doesn't even make sense. Who would be fast enough to do that in one night?!"

Natasha slowly looked up, finally realising it.

"Wait-" she begun, however getting interrupted by a loud yell.

"PIETRO!" Angry Wanda™ shouted as she entered the kitchen, pointing an accusing finger at Pietro

"That was the stupidest thing you've ever done," she hissed.

"He said it wasn't," I mentioned.

"What's going on?" Steve asked, standing up.

"Oh, you haven't heard?" Wanda asked, her accent sounding stronger than ever; "My brother decided to go to Washington last night."

"Wait - Pietro! Did you do this?" Steve hissed, holding the paper up.

"Hey, no, why does he get all the credit!" I cried; "It was my idea!"

"Oh, you were in on it, too?" Natasha joined in, sending me her deadliest glance.

"...No," I lied.

"This is so great," dad laughed quietly behind them; "My daughter graffitied the white house."

"Guess the apple doesn't yeet far from the tree," I muttered.

"Hey, I never did anything to the white house!" my dad argued.

"I know," I agreed with a sigh; "My acts of rebellion are so much cooler than yours ever were."

"Why would you do this? HOW did you do this?" Steve continued.

"Well, Pietro stole my phone and ran away and to catch him I slowed time down-""You what?" Bruce interrupted.

"Bruce, I ju-""No, Veronica! Do you have any idea how dangerous that be? What if you hadn't been able to slow down again?"

"Well, I sort of wasn't..."

"This just gets better by the minute," Natasha sighed while pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Okay, just hear me out!" I yelled; "I slowed down time - yes, stupidly - and I couldn't speed it up because I got too upset because I tried to and I got trapped in there until Pietro helped me out and then to cheer me up he said we'd do something fun and I suggested either this or stealing the decleration of independance but that's kind of cliche and also hey gay rights so I decided on this and when we got home I was calm again and I managed to come back in this speed so hey, all is well!"

"Wow, that was a lot of words in a very short amount of time," my dad commented impressed.

"All is not well, you grafittied the white house!" Steve argued.

"And you endangered yourself," Bruce added.

"No, I didn't, because I know I can come out again if I just have Pietro there," I argued.

"What do you mean?"

"When I hold Pietro's hand... It's like an anchor, and he can pull me back out," I explained.

"Right, and you two just started holding hands when, exactly?" My dad asked while Steve said nothing.

"Only when it's Pietro? Maybe it's your nerves because you can feel bodyheat. We might be able to mimic that," Bruce pondered out loud.

"I - I don't know, I haven't tested it with anyone else," I said with a shrug.

I heard a pop text in my phone.

James: Hey there😘 I'm outside - tell your doorman to let me in

I bit my lip nervously as I tapped my response in.

Vee❤️: Yeah

Vee❤️: I'll be right there

James: ❤️

I closed the app, slid my phone in my back pocket as I headed towards the door.

"Not that I wouldn't really love to have you guys lecture me, but I have to go," I explained to them as I reached the door.

"Wait, where do you think you're going?" Natasha questioned me, folding her arms above her chest.

"James just messaged. He's downstairs," I informed. That shut her up. She looked between Bruce and Pietro, who after a momentarily look of panic sped after me.

"Veronica," he breathed out as he caught up with me.

"Hey," I muttered, not looking at him as I leaned my back against the wall.

"You're going to see him?" he questioned me after a seconds silence.

"I don't have a choice." I repeated the words that'd ran over my brain for days now.

"There's always a choice, Veronica," Pietro shot back. I looked him in the eyes.

"And I have to make the right one," I ended the conversation, arching my back off the wall as I prepared to leave.

"And you think this is it?" Pietro asked, suddenly standing right in front of me, his hands against the wall locking me in between him and it.

"This is the only option I have," I breathed out.

Why were my chest feeling so heavy?

"You're choosing him?" Pietro rephrased, his eyes observing my every movement.

"What do you mean?" I asked quietly.

"For someone so smart, you really can be an idiot," Pietro stated. As I blinked, I felt a gust of wind hit my lips. I opened my eyes in surprise, noticing that I once again was standing alone in the hallway.

My fingers ran up to my lips, tracing their shape.

I pushed myself off the wall and ran my hands through my hair before leaving.