One Against the World

[Shade]

He insisted on an answer it seemed and as much as she hated to show him any of her emotions, she would not suffer to back down a question. "I would do what I did. Show my feelings. Hope for signs of affection. There is no gain in suppressed emotions."

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro considered that; he did not doubt for a moment that she spoke the truth. Not from trust of her character, but from a mutual understanding of what it was to love another. He imagined what would come should he reveal his feelings to Wanda...and came up against that brick wall, the threat of Wanda's breakdown. The situation seemed hopeless, and each day, he lost a bit more of his inner strength.:: "And if there were none or you couldn't? If every day you had to see him and feel that burning desire insideofyou?"

[Shade]

Shade could feel her hands ball to fists. How could he dare to pry with her privacy like that? He had no right to dig through her feelings like that. She clenched her jaw and was about to snap something at him, when she realised this was not meant to hurt, rather to provoke. An indirect cry of frustration. She said nothing for a moment. "Don´t tell me you´re interested in my love life." she said, her voice calmer than before although not completely relaxed, stressing the my. "this is about you, isn´t it?"

[Pietro Maximoff]

::She had finally caught on; had he a watch, Pietro would have timed her. He tossed the pebble away from them, watching as it rolled into the path and merged with the gravel there. He could not go into details, but his secret was already out. Trying to preserve what remained of his dignity, he spoke harshly, though he could not muster the same snap in his voice.:: "Of course it's about me."

[Shade]

Shade rolled her eyes inwardly. Way to go, she thought. She preferred people to be either direct or not telling at all, the in between where people would just hint and become accusing and partly hurtful, projecting their own problems on others, was annoying. "Even though I know you don´t think much of me and even though you most likely won´t tell me anyways," she said. Yeah, great, Shadey, what do you care? "is it something you want to talk about?" She had to bite back another remark after that. Her instincts were prompting her to at least offer, her dignity was revolting against it.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro actually considered her offer. Help him he actually considered confiding his troubles in the harlot's friend, and yet, he could not. If he were free to speak, he would have spoken to one of the X-Men, or Rossignol; they were his family and he did not have actual friends. He sighed heavily, remembering the consequences.:: "Want and ability are not the same thing."

[Shade]

His words actually surprised her, because they bore the confession of something troubling him. Admitting troubles meant opening up, showing vulnerability to some extent. She could tell a story or two about that and nearly smile. "I know." she said, serious now. "If you need an ear, I´ll keep silent as a grave." She turned her head to give him a look that told him she was serious about it not because she was nosy but because she felt he might need that.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro would not go into full details, simply because to speak against Uncle's lie would cause inconsistencies, and inconsistencies would harm Wanda's sanity. Instead, he spoke vaguely, not looking at her as he spoke. It was not rudeness on his part, simply an inability to admit weakness and face another at the same time.:: "I am in love, and I can never tell her."

[Shade]

Shade looked at him, slight surprise showing in her eyes. Not because Pietro would be in love - she did not doubt this was possible despite what he had pretended about her thoughts on him earlier - but because he actually said so. "Because you don´t dare to?" she asks. "or because she loves another?"

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro leaned forward, brushing back his own bangs with his fingers. He breathed an impatient sigh, not over her, but for the entire situation. He had said this much already...:: "She and the world would never understand."

[Shade]

Shade was actually taken aback at the fact that Pietro Maximoff was telling her all these things. He had to be really desperate if he chose to. Still, his words made her chuckle inwardly. "Oh come on, it can´t be that bad." she said, her voice half encouraging, half mirroring a crooked smile.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro's expression remained grim, hopelessness in his eyes. She did not understand. How could she?:: "It is that bad."

[Shade]

Shade shuffled her feet a little, propping her elbows on her knees and her chin on her hands. "Care to share and have me tell you it surely isn´t?" she asked.

[Pietro Maximoff]

::Pietro lifted his head momentarily, meeting her eyes with a steady gaze. She tested him. She thought that he had merely fallen in love with a taken woman, or one who disliked him. How he wished that were the case; how he wished it were that simple. Instead, he had this convoluted situation on hand. An incest taboo that was not real, yet he would bear the brunt of judgment for loving Wanda in such a way. However, better to be judged a deviant by a person whose opinion he completely disregarded than by Rossignol or Ororo. With a deep breath, he murmured his answer.:: "It's Wanda."

[Shade]

Shade had been looking at him, waiting whether he would actuall reply, not really thinking that he would. Pietro´s words again were something she totally had not expected and she noticed too late that her jaw dropped. "Oh... God." was all she managed to say.