Chapter 8: Date Alive

"Is it delicious?" Crystal asked, her chin resting in her hands as she watched Pietro.

"Yeah, it's pretty good," Pietro replied, his tone casual but sincere.

Beside them, the massive dog happily munched on its own meal, occasionally glancing up as if to join in the conversation.

Crystal, always curious, leaned forward slightly. "So, what do you like to do in your free time?"

Pietro thought for a moment before answering, "Reading."

"What kind of books?" Crystal probed, clearly intrigued.

"Anything that piques my interest," he said, noncommittally.

Crystal pressed further, "Like what?"

"Books that expand my knowledge," Pietro replied.

A small frown tugged at Crystal's lips, a hint of disappointment in her voice as she teased, "You're boring."

Pietro shrugged, unfazed. "I guess I am. What about you?"

"Sightseeing," Crystal said, her face lighting up with the mention of her favorite pastime.

Unbeknownst to them, a man with a tattooed face, hidden beneath a hood, watched them intently from a distance, his eyes never leaving Crystal.

After finishing their meal, Pietro and Crystal strolled through the city, the weight of their earlier conversation giving way to a more relaxed atmosphere.

"What's your power?" Crystal asked as they walked.

"Superspeed," Pietro replied simply.

"So, do you hear my voice in slow motion, or can you control that?" Crystal asked, her curiosity evident.

"A bit of both," Pietro said, smiling. "It's not as much of a drag as you'd think."

"And what's your job?" Crystal continued, clearly interested in learning more about him.

Pietro hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "How should I put this? I'm sort of a bodyguard." It wasn't a lie—after all, his role as a sorcerer in training was to protect Earth from otherworldly threats, even if he wasn't yet fully initiated.

Crystal nodded, sensing there was more to the story but deciding not to press further. When she glanced at the watch on her wrist, her eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, I'm late!"

"Go on," Pietro urged, not wanting to keep her.

But before she left, Crystal turned back to him, her expression hopeful. "Can we meet again?"

"If you want to," Pietro said, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Then let's meet at Wisdom Bridge tomorrow at 9 a.m.," she said, her smile bright.

"I'll be there," Pietro promised.

With that, Crystal placed her hand on the dog, and in an instant, they teleported away.

Pietro watched them disappear, the city suddenly feeling a little emptier. "Well, that was unexpected," he muttered to himself, ready to head back home.

He continued walking until he reached a secluded alleyway. Without hesitation, he opened a portal and stepped through it. The man hurried to catch up, only to find nothing.

"That doesn't make any sense," the man whispered to himself, puzzled by Pietro's sudden disappearance.

Palace of Royal Family,

Crystal and Lockjaw had just teleported in, their surroundings still shimmering from the journey, when a voice cut through the air. Medusa Amaquelin, her fiery red hair flowing like a living cascade, caught sight of them immediately.

"Where have you been?" Medusa's tone was sharp, though a hint of concern lingered beneath the surface.

Crystal glanced at her sister, attempting a casual shrug. "Just sightseeing."

Medusa's eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced. "Sightseeing, huh?" She paused, weighing Crystal's words before deciding to let it go, at least for now. "Whatever you were up to, it's time to train. Gorgon's been waiting for you."

Crystal nodded, already turning toward the training room. "Right. I'm on my way."

Medusa's gaze softened slightly as she watched her sister leave, but then she turned her attention to the massive dog beside her. "And Lockjaw, come here."

"Woof, woof," Lockjaw barked in response, his tone cheerful as he trotted over to Medusa's side, his massive form a comforting presence.

With a last glance at Crystal's retreating figure, Medusa sighed, leading Lockjaw away. Whatever her sister was getting into, it was clear she had her own suspicions.

Kamar-Taj,

Pietro unloaded the last piece of Chitauri metal from his Hummer, laying it out alongside the scattered remnants of alien tech. He rolled up his sleeves, already anticipating the challenge ahead. "Alright," he muttered to himself, "time to start on this Gravity Modifier before I forget what I'm even doing."

As he dismantled the tech, Pietro quickly realized just how complex the Chitauri technology was. It wasn't just advanced; it was alien, unlike anything. Every component seemed to defy the usual logic of engineering.

"What the hell is this?" he grumbled, turning a piece over in his hands. The mess of parts on the ground seemed to mock him with their indecipherable intricacies.

"Do I really need to know which part does what?" he sighed, but he knew the answer. Of course, he did. This wasn't something he could just brute-force his way through.

Three hours passed in a blur of trial and error, each piece slowly revealing its purpose, yet still forming a puzzle that felt impossible to complete. Pietro's stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten. Reluctantly, he stepped away from the mess and grabbed some food.

As he was eating, he felt someone approach from behind, followed by a familiar warmth encircling him in a hug.

"Wanda," Pietro said, recognizing the embrace.

"Who else would it be?" Wanda teased, her voice light.

"You smell," Pietro said, scrunching up his nose playfully.

"Ay, I do not!" Wanda patted his shoulder, then leaned in to inspect the mess of Chitauri parts. "So, what are you planning to do with all this?"

"Trying to build a Gravity Modifier," Pietro replied between bites.

"What for?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"To help with my training," he said simply, as if that explained everything.

Wanda settled down beside him, her interest piqued. "How's your progress with the Mystic Arts?"

Pietro's expression darkened slightly. "Still terrible," he admitted. "The dimension I've been trying to harness energy from keeps rejecting me. It's like it's pushing back every time I reach out."

"Why is it rejecting you?" Wanda asked, concern threading her voice.

"I wish I knew," Pietro said, his frustration palpable. "For now, I'm stuck relying on my own energy. Without it, I can't even attempt advanced spells."

Wanda frowned, sensing her brother's inner turmoil. "You'll figure it out," she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "You always do."

Pietro gave a small, weary smile. "I hope so, Wanda. I really do."

Fast forward a bit, Pietro found himself deep in meditation, focusing on harnessing the Earth's energy. He had done this countless times before, but today, he was determined to push further, to finally break through. Just as he felt the energy within reach, a voice, ancient and powerful, echoed in his mind.

"Get your dirty hands off me," the Earth herself seemed to hiss, her tone laced with disdain.

Pietro's eyes snapped open, his concentration shattered. "So that's why," he muttered, taken aback by the sheer hostility. "Bitch."

Undeterred, he decided to shift his focus, reaching out to the Vishanti, hoping their divine energy would be more welcoming. But as he reached for their power, he was met with a cold, dismissive voice.

"We don't want you reaching out to us again," the voice declared, as if slamming a door in his face.

"Motherfucking bitches," Pietro growled, frustration bubbling over. It felt like the entire cosmos was conspiring to keep him from advancing, every path he tried blocked by forces beyond his control.

Palace of Royal Family, Attilan

As Medusa walked toward the throne room, she noticed the ever-watchful Karnak lingering nearby, his expression as unreadable as always.

"Karnak, do you have anything to report?" Medusa inquired, her voice steady but curious.

"Your sister met a man today," Karnak replied, his tone measured.

Medusa raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips. "No wonder she seemed so excited. If he has a respectable background, perhaps we can allow her a bit of fun."

"The issue isn't with their meeting, Your Majesty," Karnak continued, his gaze sharpening. "The issue is that this man doesn't exist in our database. He's a ghost in our system. I searched for his face, but nothing came up."

Medusa frowned, confusion etching lines on her forehead. "How is that possible? Our system is unbreachable."

Karnak's voice lowered, tinged with frustration. "When I followed him, he vanished into thin air."

Medusa considered this, her mind working through the implications. "He must possess a teleportation ability or perhaps invisibility. Before jumping to conclusions, gather more evidence."

Karnak nodded, his resolve clear. "Understood."

After Karnak departed, Medusa continued her walk down the grand corridors, her thoughts lingering on his unsettling report. The intricate patterns on the walls of Attilan seemed to blur as she focused on the task ahead. When she finally reached the towering doors of the throne room, she paused for a moment, gathering herself before pushing them open.

Inside, the vast space was dominated by an air of quiet authority. Her husband, Blackagar Boltagon—known to the world as Black Bolt, King of Attilan and ruler of the Inhumans—stood at the center, his presence commanding even in silence. His gaze met hers, a thousand unspoken words passing between them.

Medusa approached, her stride unwavering, but she couldn't shake the undercurrent of tension that had settled in her chest. Black Bolt, with his deep, contemplative eyes, offered her a silent question.

She took her place beside him, the weight of her role pressing against her shoulders. "There's something we need to discuss," she began, her voice echoing softly in the expansive chamber, aware that every word in his presence carried the gravity of decisions yet to be made.