I do not own X-Men.

I do not own Evan Peters.

Grounded

Pietro Maximoff was, simply put, the fastest thing alive.

Ever since he was eleven and his baby sister had managed to crawl out into the street . . .

"Where's your sister?! Peter, where's the baby?!"

. . . in front of a moving car . . .

"No!"

. . . and he had raced . . .

Whoawhatthehell-

. . . like the Flash to save her.

"Peter, wha- how did you get over there so fast?"

"I don't . . . I don't know."

And he had been fast ever since.

Faster than fast.

Faster than the fastest Flash.

Heh heh.

And nobody . . .

"Hey man, what, where-"

. . . nobody at all . . .

"Hey man, do you- hey-"

. . . could catch him.

"Hey man-"

But now with his busted leg . . .

"Revving your kinetic energy will shatter it further. You have to go slow until it heals, Peter. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, sure. No problem."

. . . everybody could catch him.

"Peter, I'd like to speak with you regarding the shirking of your chore duties, please."

Every . . .

"Hey, Peter, listen to this new Conway Twitty song. It's great!"

. . . single . . .

Bamphf-

"Hey, Peter, what's a good word to rhyme with 'atmosphere'? I'm trying to write Ororo a poem, but . . ."

. . . person.

But it wasn't all bad.

"Hey, Peter, tell us about fighting Apocalypse!"

"Hey, Peter, is it true you really talked to Magneto?"

"Hey, Peter, what's Mystique like?"

Nodding his head, adjusting the itchy cast.

Boy, could I use a coat hanger-

And flashing his trademark smile.

"Gather 'round, young mutants, let old Papa Pietro spin you a tale."

So it wasn't all bad, he guessed.

Some of it . . .

"Hey, Peter, what's up?"

. . . was actually pretty good.

"Oh, nothing much, Jubilee, what's up with you?"

Big, bright, perky smile.

"Just finished my chem lab. Didn't blow up a single thing."

Plopping down casually on the couch next to him.

"Oh, come on, you didn't blow up a single thing in McCoy's lab? You're lettin' me down, Sparky."

Flirtatious, mischievous smirk.

"It's early in the day yet. I'm sure somebody will do you proud."

Sudden brandishing of sugary beverages.

"Here, pop a Pepsi, Maximoff, and tell me about your day."

So maybe it wasn't all bad.

"Have you ever heard of Conway Twitty?"

Mock-stricken face.

"Oh, gosh, no."

"Exactly."

Just a bit of fun really. I miss my X-Men fun.

And that was Flash from the 1980 movie, Flash Gordon, which Peter would have seen, I think. Not a D.C. crossover.

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