[He knows what it's like to watch someone die. In his case, because he couldn't do what was asked (told) of him. Because he'd just had his powers awaken and didn't even know at first that it was him doing this, that the gate was bending because he was trying to get back to his mother, much less what he was doing when it came to using them, or controlling them. Because he couldn't yet call them up will; it was only the second time he'd used them. He couldn't do what he was supposed to do, and his mother died because of it.
Ich will meine Mama sehen. Not like that. Not if it's going to end that way. Little comfort that she probably would have died anyway, and in some manner less instantaneous than a bullet.
If only he'd known how to move bullets then.
Then he'd watched it again, forty years later, only the family members and the weapon were different.]
[The smile that crosses his face is a brief, wan thing. He'd like to believe Erik is right, that she would have- silly tea parties and cartoon re-runs and Peter pretending to complain when she forced him to paint her nails. Like his other little sister had been.
But he thinks that he'll never really know, and the news is too recent and shocking for him to settle into the idea. Part of him wants to run away to Wanda, have her sort out how he feels for him. Or start a fuss with J so he'll have something else to think about. Run away from it, like he's always been so good at.
Peter keeps his feet planted firmly.]
Thank you. For telling me about her.
[He hopes Erik knows he's being sincere even if he can't muster any warmth to his voice.]
And if you ever wanted to talk about her more. Or your wife. Or just about, I don't know, whatever. I'd listen. I mean, we're in the same house so not hard to track me down.
[It's an offer, as much as one he can make, and an acceptance. Peter might be wary of Erik, might still not know what he means for Peter's life, but blood is blood. He might as well start trying.]
You have a right to know. [More than anyone else does, which is why he'd even said anything in the first place. It doesn't feel right to shut Peter out from this, even if he'll never get to meet either of them. Maybe that's exactly the reason why he should hear about them.]
Maybe one day. [He hadn't come into this planning on having that conversation, but the fact that he didn't shut down the idea automatically is a big point in Peter's favor. Just about anyone else would have gotten an immediate denial of the offer.]
[And what's there to say to that? Erik's right, so Peter feels. He would have insisted to know everything about Wanda within moments of learning of her existence; had done just that, actually. Family were the only ties he'd ever felt strongly.
So he nods. Bites his tongue against thanking Erik again.]
Okay. [One day is good enough for him. Baby steps, he tells himself. Baby steps.] And next time you and Lorna mess around with your powers, if she won't mind- well. I'm fast enough to make for pretty good target practice.
I can't promise I won't say anything to Wanda. Twin privilege, you know? That and her- [He puts his hands up near his temples, wiggling his fingers.] She'd know if she wanted to.
I wouldn't want to be the one to keep you from telling Wanda something. [He doesn't know what the twin thing is like. He doesn't even know what having a sibling is like. But he has noticed how much time the two of them spend together.]
Some of them might not approve of that method of practice.
[He wouldn't be able to if he tried and normally Peter would be the first to point that out. Still, the good faith in the answer made Peter smile. A little respect toward Wanda was always the quickest way to worm past Peter's defenses.] Cool. Sure she'll appreciate that.
I don't need their approval. [He shrugs. Before he'd more or less only told big stuff to family. And J.] There's plenty I don't tell them. They just got to live with it.
Edited (missing some words) 2017-08-25 02:37 (UTC)
[He looks momentarily surprised.] Sure! Cool, I mean. I'll ask.
[His expression wavers, like he can't decide what to think about that. Instead of getting defensive, he just grumbles at the ground.] I don't think that's the first time.
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Ich will meine Mama sehen. Not like that. Not if it's going to end that way. Little comfort that she probably would have died anyway, and in some manner less instantaneous than a bullet.
If only he'd known how to move bullets then.
Then he'd watched it again, forty years later, only the family members and the weapon were different.]
She would have liked that.
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But he thinks that he'll never really know, and the news is too recent and shocking for him to settle into the idea. Part of him wants to run away to Wanda, have her sort out how he feels for him. Or start a fuss with J so he'll have something else to think about. Run away from it, like he's always been so good at.
Peter keeps his feet planted firmly.]
Thank you. For telling me about her.
[He hopes Erik knows he's being sincere even if he can't muster any warmth to his voice.]
And if you ever wanted to talk about her more. Or your wife. Or just about, I don't know, whatever. I'd listen. I mean, we're in the same house so not hard to track me down.
[It's an offer, as much as one he can make, and an acceptance. Peter might be wary of Erik, might still not know what he means for Peter's life, but blood is blood. He might as well start trying.]
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Maybe one day. [He hadn't come into this planning on having that conversation, but the fact that he didn't shut down the idea automatically is a big point in Peter's favor. Just about anyone else would have gotten an immediate denial of the offer.]
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So he nods. Bites his tongue against thanking Erik again.]
Okay. [One day is good enough for him. Baby steps, he tells himself. Baby steps.] And next time you and Lorna mess around with your powers, if she won't mind- well. I'm fast enough to make for pretty good target practice.
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If you're sure you want to take that risk.
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[He shrugs. It's no stupider than half the things he's done in his life.]
You've seen me outrun bullets, dude. I think I can handle you two.
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You just probably shouldn't mention it to anyone else.
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But I can keep my mouth shut to everyone else.
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Some of them might not approve of that method of practice.
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I don't need their approval. [He shrugs. Before he'd more or less only told big stuff to family. And J.] There's plenty I don't tell them. They just got to live with it.
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You sound a bit like me. [Don't take that the wrong way.]
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[His expression wavers, like he can't decide what to think about that. Instead of getting defensive, he just grumbles at the ground.] I don't think that's the first time.
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[He knows what the opinions of him are.]
Unless you want to, of course.
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I'm not sure what I want to sound like. The only person I've ever been accused of being like is Wanda's Pietro.