Sweet Loneliness (Pietro)

[Laurie Collins]

Moving to a new town and a new school was hard enough. You had to make a new life, with new friends and new places. It was even harder though when you moved to a totally new country, away from your family and everyone you knew. And to top it all off your new school was filled with mutants who had great control over great powers and you were stuck with the stupid stuff that you couldn’t control.

These were the surface problems of one Laura-Lynn Collins, or just Laurie for short. Laurie was born to Sean and Gail Collins in Arad, Alabama. It was a little nothing town with a population of one hundred people, and only two other kids her age. She was used to being very close knit with everyone, knowing everyone by name and face, that’s what happens in such a small place. However, her world got turned upside down when her father accepted a job in Africa. You see, her father was a brilliant scientist and her mother was a wonderful doctor. Together they searched for cures for many diseases, and had been offered a rather intriguing job in Fez, Africa. They packed Laurie up when she was bout seven and moved there. Fez wasn’t that large of a place, but it took a while for Laurie to befriend people. She did though, and had a small group of close friends.

As she grew up she started to become more and more like her mother. She was shy and beautiful, meek and mild. She liked to take care of people, to help and nurture them. She was a very cheery person, a smile always soft and shy on her beautiful face. She also because a bit like her father as far as science goes. Everyone was sure she’d be a brilliant scientist just like her father. She was forever helping her parents care for sick villagers, and made strong bonds with many of them. She had found her place in the world, but yet again her world would be flipped.

When she was fifteen she met a nice British boy who had just moved into Fez. Their fathers were close friends, and his family had moved down to help with the Collin’s research. Laurie developed a little crush on the boy, and right about then she noticed that people were acting strangely around her. You see, the boy in question, Richard, didn’t really like Laurie at first, but when she started liking him he started liking her, but only when she was around him. When he was right there with her he liked her as much as she liked him, but when he was a good distance away he didn’t like her at all. It was strange, but nobody caught on. Also, when Laurie got mad or upset the people around her did as well, and nobody knew why. After a while her mother realized that Laurie was a mutant, one that produced pheromones. She had been controlling people around her to feel what she felt.

They tired to keep it a secret, from everyone, even her father. Laurie worked very hard to try and control her powers, and she learned how to, to an extent, but she still didn’t have full control. One day however, some of the villagers found out. They all got very angry and began to chase her. She just ran from them, as quickly as she could. All the sudden she felt this over whelming feeling. She could feel the arousal in her molecules, a soft pleasant tremble. She was scared at the feeling, but kept running. Her molecules grew more excited, pinging to be free of gravity. All the sudden she because invisible. Her molecules separated, allowing her to run out of her clothes and be gone from sight. When she finally realized this she quickly ducked into an alley and came back to full form, naked. She quickly found some clothes, and snuck back to her home. Her mother decided it was unsafe for her now, and sent her away, back to the US, to Xavier’s Institute for Gifted Youngsters.

And here she was. She didn’t like it here, she didn’t like the feeling of people always looking at her. It was hard for people not to notice her, she was very beautiful, and she couldn’t stand it. She wanted to be left alone, she didn’t trust herself, she didn’t trust her powers. She knew she could never have real friends or a real relationship. She could control her pheromones better now, but she still was never really sure when she was using them and when she wasn’t. She couldn’t have friends because if she wanted to befriend them and they didn’t like her then her pheromones would make a fake friendship, and she didn’t want that. And she defiantly couldn’t have a boyfriend because she may have been attracted to him, be he wasn’t to her and her pheromones would make a fake attraction.

As for her invisibility, well she was working on that still as well. She was trying her hardest to become invisible and keep her clothes on, make them invisible too. She could get it most of the time, but every once and a while something would startle her and she become invisible, her clothes would drop to the floor and she’d reappear with nothing on. Thank her lucky stars that so far she hadn’t been in public when something like this happened, but it was only a matter or time.

Laurie didn’t like to be around people, which was hard to do when you lived in a city. She was used to small towns with few people, and this was all so overwhelming for her. The school was a hard place to be. Everyone was so nice, they all wanted to talk to her, but she just wanted to be alone. And out in the city there were too many people, it scared her. She had to get out of the Institute however, but she wasn’t liking being in the city either. She soon enough found refuge in the park. There weren’t too many people, but there were still enough for her not to feel too comfortable. She searched for a while, but soon enough found a small clearing, surrounded by trees on three sides, and a large lake on the other. There was nobody in sight, it was perfect. Stretching out across the lake was a small, wooded dock. She walked out to the end of it, sitting on the edge and letting her legs hang down, almost touching the water. She liked the water, because Fez was right on the coast. She would always sit and look out at the sea, it clamed her. Sure this lake wasn’t like the sea, but it was close enough to give her some comfort.

[Pietro Maximoff]

Drinking is very bad for you! You'd think that Pietro would know not to overdo it by now, but the young man never really learned his lesson that well. He was a partier, it was one of the things that he could do well. HE could easily get a girl, and for the most part he picked tramps, as his sister loved to remind him. He had his reasoning, though. He didn't want strings attatched. HE didn't give out his number, Pietro was essentially a player and he knew it. THe man could admit it easily. HE was a big player, and he didn't make up his mind. He was very indecisive, but he was different from his sister, he didn't make promises, he went for those who were easy for a reason. He didn't want to screw up.

It was true that mutants were superior, yes, but Pietro knew there were fewer mutants than there were humans. They outnumbered the superior. The chance of him actually getting with anyone was bad, but the chance that he could find someone who was a mutant was even worse. There wasn't a chance. HE was determined not to end up like his parents. There was reason behind everything he did, though much of it seemed to be his vices and faults. He knew they were there, most people would take them as a weakness and try to twist it against him, but Pietro was more prepared than anyone knew.

Anyway, after a night of fairly heavy drinking, Pietro could feel the headache looming and beating against his head. He knew it was a mistake to have drank that much, but really he could handle it. He wasn't completely drunk last night. Pietro's body took to healing quickly and everything for the most part. HE was quick in more than one aspect. Many more, though is that such a big surprise, really? He just held his cards where they were secret. Not many knew all the cards he held in his deck...

Anyway, Pietro had a fairly bad headache. HE had woken up with it and knew the cure for it. First, he had dressed in a pair of loos-fitting jeans and a black t-shirt, along with some comfortable sneakers, before he popped three or four asprin, and made his way out of the house. HE didn't want to drive, but he did drag his keys out and shove them into his pocket, along with his wallet, before he headed out. THough, he chuckled a bit upon seeing the way he had parked his car. IT was a bit cock-eyed and in the yard. He found it amusing.

Pietro knew what he wanted. He knew where he was going by now. The young man knew his way around pretty damned well by now, and he knew the best things for a hangover. First of all, he had to have caffeine either way, and he made his way to his favorite coffee place. It didn't take him long. He cut through the park, and bought his black coffee quickly before he made his way about the park. He knew everything around here, even if it didn't seem like it. Pietro made his way towards his favorite spot in the park.

IT was always secluded, and that was the way he liked it. The water was beautiful, and he could go and think, but he was also thinking about the things he had to do in the future, it had to happen sooner or later. He had to get plans into action and everything. HE was useful in different ways, and he wanted to keep it that way. Each of his thoughts looped to the next as he sipped placidly at his coffee, while he approached his favorite spot, but he wasn't alone like normal.

There was a figure at the end of the dock. What the hell? Pietro was almost tempted to leave, but a shot of lonliness hit him, and he figured he couldn't really go home yet. HE'd probably catch hell for being out too late or something, and for parking his car in the yard. What the hell! Pietro walked down the dock, silently, slowly. He wasn't using speed at the moment, though his body was still working faster. That was normal.

Standing right behind the figure, which was indeed female, Pietro sipped his coffee for a moment and sighed a bit.

"Nice spot, right?"

HE commented keeping his arms crossed, and keeping his hot coffee close.

"You come here often, or did you just happen to stumble upon the suclusion?"

[Laurie Collins]

Hearing a voice behind her she jumped slightly. She hadn’t heard anyone walking up the dock, she was too lost in her thoughts. She turned her head quickly, looking over her shoulder and up at the figure who stood behind her. With his second comment she quickly stood up. Her head immediately dropped down, like it always did when there was someone else around.

“Sorry, Ill leave.”

She said very softly. Her voice was very meek, and she had a thick country accent. Something about the way she spoke was just so soft, like a light breeze washing over you pleasantly, it was another thing that attracted people to her, and another thing she didn’t like about herself.

She quickly brushed past him, heading off the dock. She wouldn’t stick around if there was someone else around. She wanted to be alone. And she especially would stick around if said other person was trying to speak to her. Laurie wasn’t one for conversation, she didn’t want to make friends, she didn’t trust herself. It was hard to live like she did, but she had no other choice. She wished for a normal life, but it just wouldn’t happen. However, Laurie had yet to find out about the cure that was being developed. She’d probably be first in line after she figured it out. Being a mutant had ruined her whole life, and she didn’t want this so called ‘gift’.

[Pietro Maximoff]

"Whoa, whoa, slow down there, babe. I didn't mean you needed to leave. I was just trying to start a bit of conversation."

Pietro was smooth, smooth indeed. HE knew what he was doing, and he recognized her quickly enough as he grabbed her arm, gently, keeping her from leaving. He didn't want her to leave no matter what. If she wanted to be alone, that wasn't really going to happen. He had some goals to accomplish. Pietro was determined, especially since Wanda didn't think that he could do it!

"Stay a while if you want. I wasn't trying to chase you away."

Pietro was only beginning to turn on his charm. He was debonair, smooth, and slick. HE wasn't about to let her leave without him getting to try at least a bit. He'd try as long as it took. He was determined for the moment, he had a conquest and he was more than eager to try and conquer it. He was taking his attempt to try and charm her, but he was still trying not to scare her. He wasn't going to come on too strong.

"Name's Pietro. What's the name of my new seclusion spot buddy?"

HE was teasing. HE was also trying to make her relax. HE didn't feel any different, so he supposed she was under control, but she didn't know. Pietro had a few theories and everything. Either way, he was trying.... Attempt one!

[Laurie Collins]

When he took her arm she whipped around quickly looking at him. She must have looked like a dear caught in the headlights. She couldn’t really speak, she just looked at him. So many things barged through her head at once. The first, and most important, was that her molecules were buzzing with fear and surprise. Whenever she felt too strong of an emotion they wanted to fall apart. That was how her invisibility worked, her molecules separated and she could no longer be seem. Sometimes, they would only separate slightly, and things could pass right though her. She couldn’t phase through wall or anything, but things fell through her easily. Second was that she really need to get away. And third was that he was sort of, well really attractive. However, she tried to push this from her head so that her pheromones didn’t slip out, though the most likely wouldn’t.

After he asked her name she still didn’t speak, she just looked at him, but quickly regained her composer, figuratively at least. She had been working so hard to keep her molecules from coming apart any, for the main reason that his hand was still on her arm, and if they separated it would fall right though her. She didn’t like for people to know she was a mutant, it only got her in trouble. However, she couldn’t hold on any longer. They separated just enough for his hand to pass through her arm, and she turned again walking off quickly. That was a good thing about her powers, she could get away, but she couldn’t control when it happened. It just did, it was a bit unreliable.

If Pietro though that she would be just like any other woman he had gotten he was sadly mistaken. Even if he knew she would be a challenge he couldn’t even begin to know how hard it would be to get close to her. She just wouldn’t let it happen. Odds were he’d fail. Most likely then none he’d make many attempts, but never get through to her.

[Pietro Maximoff]

What was her problem? She acted as if she thought he was going to hurt her or something. He realized then and there it would be harder, especially when he felt his hand tighten quite a bit and whatnot. IT was just odd. She wasn't speaking at all and that was just odd. What could speaking to him do? She couldn't feel that bad and be that insecure, could she? Either way it surprised him when his hand went straight through where her arm had been. He was surprised quite a bit and when she took off he quirked a brow.

Sipping his coffee, Pietro gave her a bit of a head start. HE didn't want her to get too far, but he wanted to give her some space. He wasn't totally stupid. She wasn't like any of the other girls he was around at any point. She wasn't like any mutants, and she wasn't like any human girls either. IT didn't matter. Pietro knew that he wanted to know what was up and he wanted to complete this, or at least get her to talk to him.

Pietro quickly rushed forward, after her as quick as he could be. Few people could get away from him. Pietro's speed was unmatched by many and he knew that. There weren't that many people with a power like him. He was in front of her after a moment and he held out one hand while keeping the coffee close with the other. Why did this have to be so difficult? He didn't like this at all. A conquest was good and all, but this was going to be difficult like Wanda had said...

"You know running is quite rude, especially when I was only trying to make conversation. Did I do something to offend you?"

Smooth, Quicky, smooth...

[Scarlet Witch]

When he stopped in front of her she jumped again, feeling her molecules going crazy, pinging to be free, but she held them in. Most people just gave up when she walked away and deamed her rude or crazy and left it at that. This one was going to be harder to shake, she could tell, but it didnt matter. If it got too bad she'd just turn invisable and it would be done. However, this was a risky move. The last thing she wanted was for someone to see her use her powers.

"Well I dont want a conversation."

She said rather firmly, which was rare for her. She could feel that a hint of her pheromones had slipped out. She had let out a little anger, which wasnt a good thing. She quickly moved around him, heading into the trees that would lead out back into the park. She did her best to weave in an out of the trees, making herself harder to follow.

She wouldnt just talk to him, she didnt know him first of all, and she didnt wanrt to get to know him. it was a hard way for a teenager to live, but she had to do it. She didnt want a false life, false friends and false relationships. She could never trust herself enough with her powers to know that she wasnt effecting people around her.

[Scarlet Witch]

(Wrong sn!)

[Pietro Maximoff]

Pietro was different at times. HE knew for a fact that he was going to have problems here, but he knew that he had to keep calm and handle this in a way that wouldn't upset her or really hurt anything easily. He had felt a bit of anger boil in him, but then again, seeing how his body worked quicker than anyone elses, it wasn't there but a moment, as she spoke finally, and ran off. Pietro sighed, Wanda was really right about this one. Gulping down the last of his coffee, Pietro watched her dart through trees and shook his head. She couldn't loose him that easily, come on?

Dropping his empty coffee cup into the trash bin, Pietro peered back in the direction she had headed before he took off after her, disappearing quicker than any eye could see. HE was eager to try this more, and he could follow her easier than any normal person. His mutant ability helped quite a bit with that. He darted by the exact trees she had taken before racing ahead of her and then turning around, getting in her way yet again.

"If you didn't want to talk to me, being polite and saying something of an explination would have been a bit better than running. Running away only eggs me on, babe."

IT really did, if anyone was made for the chase, it was Pietro. He knew he was grating at her. It was one way to get her to realize that he wasn't normal. Maybe if she realized that he was practically immune to her phermones, and that he was a mutant, that might make things easier to handle for her. Right away, Pietro could tell that this chick needed a friend, among other things, she had to be far too lonely. Everyone needs people in their life. Pietro was set upon this.

"If you jut tell me your name, and we have a proper introduction, I suppose that I'll let you alone. Just an introduction can't hurt, can it?"

He was still calm, and everything. HE didn't let anything on. It was odd how he could be arrogant and hot headed quite a bit of the time, but when he wanted to accomplish something that badly, he could act much better. Hopefully this would work.

[Laurie Collins]

She gasped again when he appeared in front of her once more. Now she was begining to suspect something. She knew that he hadnt been even close to her right before he popped in front of her, she had glanced back and could still see him very far away. There was something off about that. Also, he wasnt angry, and she knew she let her pheromones slip out. She wasnt liking this one bit, or thats what she was telling herself. The fact that her powers didnt seem to effect him excited her a bit, in fact, enough to let out another little puff, this time of attraction, a little happiness mixed in there too.

However, the feeling quickly ran away when the word 'babe' came from his lips. She frowned, a glint of anger flashing in her eyes. She couldnt stand being called that, it was degrading. She sighed and looked away from him, off to the side and down a bit. She shook her head, listening to his next words. After he finished speaking she picked up her head.

"Laurie, bye."

She said quickly, again moving around him. She was now out in the open area of the park. She glanced around and froze. There were suddently a lot of people around. Apparently some musician was playing in the park that day and there was a huge crowd. She again looked like a deer caugh in the head lights. People were blocking the way out of the park, and she deffinatly wasnt going to walk through them.

[Pietro Maximoff]

Evidently, she was catching on a bit. Pietro was glad about that. She seemed to be calming down a bit, hell, he felt the phermones hit, but they didn't really affect him. He wasn't even phased by them. Though, he heard her huff and quirked a brow. This was amusing him. HE didn't really have anything else to do. This was actually going well for him, for the most part. AT least she seemed to be getting the point so far. HE just smirked when she gave her name and took off. He had seen the crowd, not to mention he had already known it was going on. HE followed after her and leaned against a tree wiggling his finger at her.

"IF you don't like me, Laurie, you're not going to like that crowd. If you go the opposite way, and take the senic route around the park you can probably avoid any sort of a crowd."

He pushed himself up from the tree and smiled a bit. He was more than willing to walk her around, but he wasn't sure how to go about that. HE really wanted to know that, and he really wanted to go and try with her, but that didn't seem to matter. Pietro wanted to do this, and he was more than ready for Laurie, he was going to try!

"If you don't mind I can show you the route and then leave when you want me to, I suppose, Laurie."

The word babe had to have gotten her too. Pietro was quick, he knew that. His whole body was quicker than anyone really knew. His body would work quickly. The phermones wouldn't effect him, and the sooner Laurie figure that out the sooner he could actually befriend her and go from there.

[Laurie Collins]

She kept her eyes on the crowd for a moment, letting out a soft sigh. She wasnt sure where she was safer, if she was safe either way. Just toughing through the crowd would be dangerous because she would be easy to scare, she could just fall apart for everyone to see, or not see really. Or anything could set her off and let her release pheromones into the crowd, which wouldnt be a pretty site. On the other hand, she could just let this Pietro fellow show her out, which didnt seem so bad, but she didnt want to get to know him or anything, and she had a feeling he'd want to talk. Laurie couldnt take the chances of meeting someone who could be a friend, she couldnt be close to people, it was dangerous.

After a few moments she looked over at him. Unintentionally she let her bright blue eyes fall right into his, which made her quickly look away. She was forever avoiding eye contact with people, it was too personal.

“Fine, show me another way out, but just keep a distance ok?”

She looked up at him once more, then down again turning her back to the crowd. Just as she turned however a loud noise sounded through the park from the speaker, there was a soft gasp, then giggle from the crowd at the noise, but Laurie wasn’t giggling. It had caught her completely off guard, and she had already been on edge. Her molecules darted apart, scattering in all directions quickly, looking like a soft, hardly noticeable mist at first and reforming quickly. She had a very shocked look on her face, and quickly looked down to make sure her clothing was still on. Sometimes she couldn’t always make them come with her, however, she had this time, half way. Her pants were still on, but her shirt floated calmly down to the ground. She gasped quickly turning away from him and picking it up, sliding it over her head. Her face was hot and beat red, she was so embarrassed, she couldn’t think of anything to say.

[Pietro Maximoff]

Pietro shifted his weight from foot to foot and crossed his arms. He wasn't really that patient. Though, in the end this should pay off. He knew this was for good, he would be making a friend and helping the Brotherhood. Pietro figured she had to be slow if she hadn't figured out his mutant ability yet. She had to have caught it the first time she had let out phermones. Then again, she seemed to be very finnicky. She paniced easily and Pietro wasn't sure if she was going to make it. Though, he smiled when she made up her mind.

He didn't have time to answer her, though because there was a rather loud sound, and it seemed to have scared Laurie. Pietro seemed fairly unphased by this. HE was used to noises of the sort, Mystique did live in the same house as him, as well as Wanda, who hadn't always been in full control over her powers. Pietro had met her eyes before and everything, and when she was scared and her shirt came off he didn't allow his eyes to stray from her eyes, well, her head, seeing as how she was so bashful. Pietro leaned down, not looking at anything he shouldn't, and picked up her shirt holding it out, as he turned around. HE was a gentleman when he felt like it.

"I'll keep my distance, Laurie, as long as you'll keep your shirt on."

HE was poking fun, yes, but he couldn't help it. HE did smile, and he was trying not to mess with her so much. He waited patiently, with his back to her, his hand holding the shirt out to her, and yawned a bit.

"That's a cool power, wish I could do something neat like that, but then again....the ladies would enjoy that too much, I don't think I'd want to loose my clothes."

He was trying to make her feel better, and get her to realize that he had a mutant ability. Come on, bite the bait!