Pietro sped past Wanda with a speed that nearly knocked her to the ground, both of them laughing out loud at the idea that he could be even faster than he already had become. She jogged over and stood behind you, watching her brother continue to sprint with the wind at his back; the winds that you were creating to push him further. Your hands were out in front of you, twisting and turning slightly to curve his trajectory so he stayed safe. Sometimes when Pietro ran too quickly, he became so lost in the moment that he didn't always pay attention to where his feet were taking him.

"He hasn't looked this happy in a long time. You're good for him, (Y/N)," she laughed as he approached, seeing him trip over his last few steps before stopping. His arms wrapped around your waist to maintain his balance, but he only succeeded in taking you down with him.

"Why? Why would you think that I could stop you?" you groaned, slowly pulling yourself up. "Or did you just think it was funny?"

"You're so beautiful when you're angry," he murmured, still lying on the ground by your feet but now looking up at you. "Perhaps that is why I'm always finding opportunities."

"Perhaps that will be why I'm leaving you down there." You winked at Wanda and began to walk away, but made it not even two steps before you found yourself in his arms and running with the wind blowing through your hair.

"I should think not, my love. It takes much more than that to keep me down."

~~~

"Send out the twins."

Wanda looked up at Pietro with a hint of fear in her eyes, her hand moving nervously within his. Yes, this is what they had signed up for, the doctor was right, but that made them no less anxious about what they were being asked to do. Adding to their hesitation was that they hadn't seen you in hours, when the three of you were normally inseparable.

"Did she say anything to you?" Wanda whispered.

"No," he replied, looking around the room past her. "I don't like it. What if they put her out there in this? She shouldn't be out there alone."

"Where is (Y/N)? Why isn't she next to us?" she asked aloud.

Strucker put a consoling hand on her arm and tried to give Wanda a reassuring look, but it did nothing to soothe her. "Don't worry, my dear. (Y/N) is doing exceptional. Look outside." He brought her to a nearby window and pointed to the scene outside, now filled with smoke and alight with explosions around them. "Did you see any snow here only an hour ago? She has made this to slow down their efforts. She is doing what she was trained for."

Strucker returned to Dr. List's side to discuss their plan, but the twins had completely different ideas. When the doctor turned back to face them, they were gone.

~~~

"(Y/N)!" they both yelled in unison, searching for any sign of you in the expansive woods around them, ducking behind trees at the sight of any of the Avengers that were on the attack.

"Go back to the shelter, sister. I will find her."

"I'm not leaving you," she argued.

"I can handle this," Pietro replied, running from her and out of sight. It didn't take him long to find you, though given his speed he thought it would have been faster. You were only a few feet away from a man with a bow and arrow, and he was taking aim in your direction. Pietro sped to your side and lifted you effortlessly to carry you to safety.

"So nice of you to join us, darling," you cooed, "I was worried that I was winning this one on my own."

"You shouldn't be out here, (Y/N). You could be killed."

"And you wouldn't be? What makes you infallible?" you asked, growing a little aggravated at his insinuation that you couldn't protect yourself. "Being fast isn't enough sometimes, you know. Have you seen who they have on their team?"

Pietro finally set you on the ground, his arms still around your waist, "Yes, I've seen them, and the archer over there was ready to shoot you. Did you even see him?"

"I did, yes. But this really isn't the time to argue about it," you conceded with a sigh, looking up at him with a soft smile. You knew that the best way for him to let this go would be to cater to his ego just a bit. "I think it would be only right for my boyfriend to protect my honor, don't you agree?"

He leaned down for a quick kiss before releasing you to speed away and towards Hawkeye, "I couldn't agree more, Ангел."

You quickly hid yourself behind a nearby tree and watched him knock the man to the ground, laughing quietly to yourself that one of the feared Avengers could be taken down so easily.

"You didn't see that coming?"

~~~

If on that day, the twins would have told you that the three of you would become a part of those same Avengers, you would have laughed in their faces. One of them had created a massive robot set on destroying the human race, and thanks to the twins and their interactions with it, you were all now working together to destroy it.

"This is why you should listen to me more often," you whispered to Pietro, sitting on the quinjet and listening to the Captain talk about the coming mission. "You didn't want me in the middle of a battle, yet now your own actions are giving me no choice."

"This is not how it was meant to happen, (Y/N). You know that." His voice was quiet and solemn, and his expression matched. He avoided your eyes but you weren't sure why; he looked at each member of the team and watched Wanda as she prepared, but he wouldn't look at you.

"Stop avoiding me," you scolded quietly, "you've never been afraid to talk to me before, so why now?"

Pietro finally but reluctantly looked to you with surprise, turning to face you and gripping your arms tightly. His hold was so firm that you winced slightly, but it did nothing to change his strength. "I am a part of this, (Y/N). I have helped to create this moment, and if you are injured, I will never forgive myself."

"Okay, and I probably won't forgive you either," you shrugged.

"This is not funny."

"I'm not laughing."

He released you and turned away again, taking a communicator from Natasha and securing it in his ear, waiting to speak again until you were done with your own. "I have asked that you stay at the Captain's side, and he has agreed."

"Are you joking? I don't need a babysitter, Pietro," you hissed through clenched teeth, trying to keep your voice down. "It's not your place to do that." You heard a small sound of someone clearing their throat as if to get your attention; to your side you saw Steve standing next to you now, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched.

"I'm not babysitting, (Y/N), trust me. We all have assigned pairs, and you're with me. It's standard practice for the team." He took a seat next to you and nodded at Pietro, who quickly obeyed and left to talk to Wanda. Steve watched him purposefully until he was out of earshot, then leaned in closer. "I didn't think it best to pair you with him, given your relationship."

He was right; watching over each other would be much more of a distraction than a benefit, and would likely end up with one or both of you injured. "I understand," you nodded, "that's a smart decision, Captain."

"If we're going to be working so closely together, you should call me Steve."

~~~

"Steve!"

You saw the jet coming, with bullets raining down and heading right for Steve and Thor. He had heard your warning just in time and was able to move out of the way, but your eyes followed the trajectory and saw that Clint was the next in line. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Pietro watching as well, taking the familiar stance that was readying himself to sprint.

"No, no, no, don't you dare," you whispered to yourself, now becoming frantic to stop him. He was fast, but not that fast. Your eyes darted from him and to Clint, gauging the distance and how strong you needed your own force to be. As Pietro became a blur, you raised your hands and forced the strongest wind that you could conjure towards him, thrusting him forward at speeds that he had never before reached. The amount of energy it took exhausted you, dropping you to your knees when you were certain that he had made it, seeing him now hurrying towards you.

"Why did you do that, (Y/N)? I was going to make it." He stopped next to you and pulled you close to him, holding you tightly while you regained your senses.

"Yeah, you're welcome, by the way."

"(Y/N), are you okay?" Steve panted, now also at your side. "We need to get to the boats before this rock drops. Can you walk?"

"I've got her," Pietro replied, easily lifting you and running to the waiting carrier with Steve just behind. Once again, his grasp was strong and almost too much, but you had never felt so safe. His face nestled into your neck as he ran, feeling his body relax out of relief as his feet landed safely on the boat. "I've always got you, my love."