Chapter 3

A/N: haha... hey... haha.. don't hate me guys I know its been 5 months but I still love you. TBH I lost my will to read/write for a while there and I'm just starting to get back into it. I was randomly struck by this inspiration and pumped out 2k words.

Enjoy the character interaction :))))

We sat on a wrought iron outdoor table, underneath a shady umbrella with the restaurant's name on it. The sounds of the mid-morning city seemed distant: people chatting and walking, cars starting and stopping at traffic lights. The faint noise of the kitchen drifted out from within the restaurant. The waitress had come and taken our brunch orders some time ago.

Pietro had showered and changed in record time, into a smart pair of grey-washed jeans and a pale blue t-shirt. I was still in the same clothes as earlier; I wore an oversized pink shirt with the words 'Koolest Kid' written with purple sequins (a joke gift from Tony) and a pair of black shorts. The shirt kept slipping off my shoulder, but I had long ago given up re-adjusting it.

While Pietro let his wild silver curls out freely, I pushed my long, dark hair to the right side, and I had a navy cap pulled low over my face. I was in a good mood today, and I didn't want the stares of others to ruin it.

"…And then she tripped on the cat and fell on the floor!" Pietro finished his story, chuckling fondly at the memory.

I laughed out loud (read: cackled), and put a hand over my mouth in a futile attempt to calm myself. Pietro's face broke into a dazzling smile as he watched me laugh whole-heartedly.

After several moments of deep breathing I managed to calm down. "I can't believe that actually happened. Was she okay?"

Pietro waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, she was fine. It was a soft landing." He chuckled to himself again. "She was more worried about the cat than anything."

His hand was resting on the table, and I put my own hand atop his. "I'm happy for you, Peach. Olivia's such a great girl, and I really think you guys are perfect for each other."

He gave a small smile and then placed his other hand on mine, pressing it between his own two – a silent thank you.

I pulled my hand out from under his and sat back in my chair. "So is Liv coming over for dinner tomorrow night?"

Pietro crossed his forearms in front of him on the table. "No, she's visiting her mother for a few days. She'll be over next week, though."

At that moment the waitress returned with our orders.

She put down the plates in front of us. I looked down at the plate, subconsciously lifting my fingers to the brim of my cap and pulling it further down. "Thank you."

Pietro also gave his thanks before the waitress departed. Then he turned to me. "Okay, the jig is up, Little Rose."

I looked up at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," he said as he moved his plate to the side, "You're usually a lot more confident about your scars than this. You get better with them every day, so what's the matter?"

I shook my head quickly, "It's nothin', Peach, it's nothin'."

He sighed and tilted his head at me, giving me a look that meant I wasn't getting out of this until he got his answer.

"It's just, I don't know, I guess between you spending time with Olivia, and that being on top of our different training schedules, it just feels like we aren't hanging out as much anymore. Just you and me, you know?" I explained in defeat. "And I guess I'm worried that maybe… one day… you're going to spend all your time with Olivia and none with me."

Pietro frowned deeply in concern. "Oh, no. No, my sweet little Riley Rose. Just because Liv and I are becoming serious does not mean I will leave you behind. You are my best friend, and I am yours, no?"

I nodded.

"You have nothing to worry about, I promise you. But," he said as he leant onto his forearms on the table, "That does not explain why you try to hide your face today."

I pursed my lips, giving a half-hearted shrug. "I have the whole day with you Pietro, that doesn't happen often and I don't want anything to ruin it."

The silver-haired man smiled and rubbed the stubble on his jaw. "You don't have to worry about what other people say. Only what I say." He leaned over the table, reaching a hand up for my cap. When I didn't object, he gently removed it, placing it on the table. "And I say…" He pushed a few strands of my hair back, exposing the half of my face covered in scar tissue. "That you're beautiful."

I smiled at Pietro as he sat back in his chair, and with a stroke of confidence I pulled my hair up out of my face and tied it.

"You're right, Peach, I shouldn't've let today be about them. Now, let's eat before it gets cold, huh?"

Pietro smiled and pulled his plate in front of him. "You're going to eat all that, no?"

I let my mouth fall open in mock offense. "It's like you don't even know me."

He popped his fork into his mouth, and then, with a mouthful of food, said, "No, I do know you. That's why after we eat I'm taking you for ice cream and then a walk in the park."

"Well I suppose this just about makes up for the sandwich."

"Just about."

I couldn't stop running, not as my muscles ached, not as my lungs screamed for air, not as my heart pounded against my chest in utter terror. I could feel him tailing me, gaining on me with every step. I whipped my head around, but all I saw was ominous figure in black. My heart rate spiked at the sight of… whatever he was.

I tried to run faster, faster, but it felt like I was running through mud. Within moments I could feel his presence at my back. I tried to summon the energy up my spine - to ghost, to hit with a mighty punch - but I was helpless. My powers were gone.

I felt his grip on my shoulder, I knew the figure in black was a man, but his grip felt like steel. My bones cracked under the pressure and I tried to scream out in my agony but I couldn't summon my own voice. His other hand snaked gently around my throat. I felt skin; real, organic, human skin brush against my own, and for a moment I felt relief.

But then the hand started squeezing, harder and harder, and the steel-like grip on my shoulder squeezed too. I tried again to scream but nothing came from my mouth. My lungs heaved for the breath it was denied, my mind grew foggy. As I felt myself slip away into the abyss, I thought I heard a man's voice, muffled and distorted…

"I don't want this."

My eyes opened to the sound of a desperate scream and a great amount of crashing. It was dark. I couldn't see. Where was I? Where was I?!

The man. The man in black, was he here? I curled in on myself as the tears started to fall. "Please," I whimpered, holding back broken sobs, "Please don't hurt me anymore."

"Friday, lights on, now!"

Wait, I knew that voice. Suddenly I wasn't in the dark anymore, and Tony was standing against the wall, his hand covered by a red and gold repulsor, looking ready for a fight.

My eyes scanned the surroundings. It was my bedroom, but it was a mess. The dressers, chairs, and decor were all tipped over, on the floor, splintered or cracked. It looked like Bruce had lost control in here.

Terrified, I leapt from my bed and into Stark's arms. "What happened here?"

"Shh, shh. It's alright." I felt a soothing hand run over my hair. "You were having a nightmare."

I pulled back and looked at the catastrophe that was my bedroom. My heart sank. "I-I did this?"

"I think you did, kiddo. One minute I was asleep on the floor and the next it felt a shockwave had thrown me into the wall." He grabbed my face in his now repulsor-free hands and looked into my eyes with an unmasked concern I'd never seen before. "You were screaming bloody murder, begging him not to hurt you."

I pursed my lips as more tears fell. "It felt so real."

"I know," he crooned, "I know how real it feels, but Ultron's dead, you made sure of that. He can never hurt you again."

I gently took his hands from my face and held them between us. "That's just it, Tony. It wasn't Ultron. My trauma manifesting as nightmares, I can handle that now, but this… this man in my dream…" I shook my head sullenly. "I don't know what that was, but it wasn't just a nightmare."

Tony let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair as he looked around at the destruction. "Well, you've never subconsciously used your powers during a nightmare before, not even in your Ultron dreams." He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "The man in your dream, did you know him?"

I shook my head. "No, no, I didn't even see his face. He was behind me, chasing me, hurting me. When I looked back I only saw a dark, blurry figure." I took a deep breath and rested my head back against the wall in defeat. "Maybe it was just a nightmare."

Tony picked up his things from the floor where he had slept and jerked his head towards the door. "C'mon, kid. Let's go crash in the living room. I'll have someone clean this up in the morning."

I gathered my blanket into my arms and followed him silently. I tired to forget the dream; the fear, the pain, helplessness. Tried to put it behind me and focus on the real world.

But my mind just kept straying back the voice, distant and muffled, "I don't want this."

When I woke there was sunlight in the room. I blinked a few times and pulled myself into a sitting position. I was on the couch, but Tony was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, Natasha was sitting at the foot of the couch, watching the muted television screen with disinterest. At the sound of me waking, she switched off the screen and turned to me. "Morning, sleepy head."

I groaned as my tired body objected to my movements. "Morning." I rubbed my eyes a little and then paused, dropping my hands from my face and giving the woman a suspicious stare. "Wait, why are you in sitting in the living room and not bugging Steve about a mission?"

She rolled her eyes playfully. "First of all, I do not bug Steve. And second of all, I decided to take the day off."

My suspicion only grew then. "Natasha Romanoff doesn't just 'take the day off'. What are you up to?"

"Well, I've been busy lately with assignments, and aside from training I hardly see you anymore. I thought we could spend today together and just, you know, hang out." She gave me a soothing smile, using her years of expertise to pull of the flawless lie she just told.

I pulled the covers off and scooted closer to her. "Okay, you and I both know that we haven't missed even one Tuesday night dinner in the last four months. Do you miss me, is that it?" I chuckled as I teased her, but right before she could respond my brain clicked everything into place.

"Tony told you about last night, didn't he?" My voice was quiet.

Nat put a comforting hand on my knee. "After you fell back asleep last night, Stark found me and filled me in." She turned in her place to face me completely. "Sweetie, I thought your meetings with Sam were helping you?"

I placed my hand atop hers. "They are helping, really, but last night was different."

"Do you think something could have triggered this? Could have brought some of the trauma back up?"

"No, everything's been good lately. Great, even. Feels like this came outta nowhere."

Nat nodded in understanding. "Okay. I asked Sam to have a chat with you this afternoon, just you and him. Hopefully you can figure out what's causing this."

"You didn't have to do that, Nat."

She gave me her signature smirk. "Well, as your legal guardian, and someone who cares about you, it's my responsibility to make sure you're safe and healthy." I smiled as she tugged me off the couch by my hand and led me to the kitchen. "C'mon, lets make some breakfast. I'm in the mood for waffles."

I laughed as I followed behind her, still in my pyjamas. "Waffles sound great."

A/N: poor Riley :( I am a cruel god. on an important side note, I do not have PTSD but I try my best to write her trauma as best as I can. Instead I use my own anxiety disorder factors such as nightmares being triggered by new stressors, that way I can understand her feelings better. but I apologise to anyone that suffers from PTSD if I have written Riley's trauma in a disrespectful way.

on a more mysterious note, any guesses about the man from Riley's nightmares? ;) im gonna have sooo much fun with this plot line

until next time (whenever that may be) love you all!