Chapter 3

Pietro was woken up by an annoying beeping. His eyes fluttered open.

He was laying in a white bed, with white sheets, in a white room. The thick wrappings on his pale wrists were white. Everything was white. The only patch of color was Lance, sitting next to Pietro's bed. When he saw that speedster woke up, he sighed with relief and, as if knowing what Pietro was thinking, passed him a cup of water. The younger boy drank in silnce, avoiding Lance's gaze.

"Are they here?" Pietro meant the rest of the Brotherhood.

"No, I sent them home."

"You know," continued Lance. "I thought we've lost you."

"Yeah, so did I."

"Can I ask why?"

"I don't know. I mean, I thought you didn't care. At least since Magneto..."

Lance stood up abruptly. For a second Pietro thought he was going to hit him. But no, the earth-mover simply sighed deeply and gently tucked a strand of silver hair behind Pietro's ear, his fingertips brushing pale cheek as he pulled his hand away.

"Forget about it 'Tro. You're one of us, you'll always will be."

Pietro smiled weakly. Such tender gesture was very unlike Lance. Suddenly he remembered a dream he had just before beeping of hospital machines woke him up. The memory of it was already fuzzy around the edges, but he remembered the photograph and those five short words that made his heart beat faster. He had to ask.

"Lance?"

"What?"

"Do you love me?"

"What kind of a question is that?"

Pietro shrugged. "Random."

But the amused look wasn't gone from brunette's face.

"OK, it's something that was in my dream and I... Or you know, forget it."

Lance laughed shorty, walked over to Pietro's bed and sat on the edge. He looked into speedster's eyes. Pietro found himself contemplating how beautiful were his brown eyes. Somehow, Lance's face got closer and his lips locked with Pietro's. It was a gentle kiss, like one received from a long loved person, not a new lover. It seemed like eternity, when Lance finally pulled away.

"Is that enough for an answer?"