Ciara had never seen him like this, she sat down and slipped her earrings off, "Um...ok."

Mastermind grumbled and sat between them as he got to work.



"... so you see it's actually better if you don't wash your hair every day, but more like, every other" Pietro was saying, talking to that brunette.

"Seriously, I never knew that" she smiled back at him.

"Little known facts. You should see my girlfriend's hair, since I got her to start using his new conditioner blend, it's like silk" Pietro chuckled.

"Girlfriend?" the girl raised a brow, "woah, wait a minute. So you know beauty supplies and you aren't gay?"

Pietro rolled his eyes, "Why does everybody think that? It's damned annoying."

The girl shifted in her seat thoughtfully, "sooo.... where is she?"

"Hm? Oh hey, that's a good question" Pietro looked over the dance floor, "I think she stepped out for some air"

"What a shame" the girl took a step closer, "So maybe you and I can hang out sometime?" a busty brunette was cozying up to Pietro at the bar.

Is she actually hitting on me? he wondered "weell...." Pietro seemed to be searching for what to say. I did mention the girlfriend thing right?

She took his hand and wrote down her number with a pen, She's gotta be drunk off her ass he thought, then she kissed him, it was so suddenly Pietro froze WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?!, "call me." she turned and did her best sexy walk away.

Pietro was speechless, his mouth slightly open in shock, what the... his eyes strayed to her butt as he hips swung back and forth, is she wearing Mika Goruchi jeans? Seriously? That guy's fashion line, or should I say fashionless line went out of style five years ago-OMG they're KNOCK-OFFS! Wow you little skank, not only did you lose my respect but you lost your own years ago. I should get my mouth checked for herpes-CIARA?! he caught sight of her taking off and rushed for the door, shitshitshit, can't speed in this crowd...

The memory faded from there and left Pietro sitting across the table from her.

Ciara was looking at her feet, embarrassed and rather overwhelmed at how much she'd over looked in the situation. She looked up timidly, "Sorry... Are you ok?" She asked softly.

"Honestly?" Pietro shook his head, "no. I'm used to people doubting me, used to people questioning my honesty or morality but not you... never you."

"... am I done here?" Mastermind interjected wearily.

"Yeah, fine" Pietro waved him off and the telepath meandered back to bed while Pietro stared at Ciara for awhile longer. Finally he sighed and stood, "I'll take you back now."

"I'm sorry. I panicked. It's not that I don't trust you Pietro.." She gripped her arm, "It's just... Sinister has really fucked up my trust issues and how secure I am an relationship. So when I saw her kiss you I...felt the way I did when I learned I was being used by Sinister..." She suddenly stood up waving her hands back and forth, "NotthatIthinkyou'relikeinhiminanywaybutthatfeargo tthebetterofmeandIjustfinishedtalkingtoB-manaboutmytimewithsinsterandthenIwalkintoseethat.. .I'mgladyou'realright." She rambled on. How stupid did she have to be? Guess she wasn't as far in her recoveray program as she thought she was.

"Look, I know how bad the Sinister thing was with you" Pietro replied, "I get it okay? I saw how it effected you but there comes a point when you need to let all that go. It's over, he's a dick but I never have and never will betray you like that. And that's not just a couple months talking, that's years, two years of our relationship and even before that-well before that I was a bit of a dick to but that was for completely different reasons. MY point is..." he sighed, running a hand through his hair, "I'm dead tired. Bed?"

She nodded, "Alright...sorry." She formed a water ray and shyly held her hand out, "I'll drive?"

"... I'd be faster, but I guess I've had a rough night" he hopped on the back.

When they got back, Ciara made up one of the cots for him in silence, "Is there anything I can get you?" She asked timidly.

"No, it's fine. Get some rest" Pietro shook his head and crawled into bed.

The next morning, Pietro would wake up to the smell of his favorite foods. They'd set a very rustic looking kitchen. Ciara had gotten up early and went down to the 24hr store and had made everything from scratch. A fresh loaf of french bread, croissants, muffins, sushi, miso soup, pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast, fruit salad, freshly squeezed orange juice, waffles, etc. It was a feast fit for a king of Breakfast.

Ciara stood over the plastic sink clearing dishes, in an apron, large bags under her eyes. "Yes dear, I'm fine." She replied when Miss Martian asked if she could help clean up.

"OOoooo, breakfast!" Kid Flash proclaimed excitedly.

"OI!" Ciara leaned back so Kid Flash could see her, "You put that muffin down. No one eats till Pietro is up, understand?" She barked, going over to the coffee maker and taking the pot to the table.

"Aaawwww" Kid Flash grumbled, then sped away, probably to wake up Pietro.

The table was a few of those plastic tables but Ciara had decorated it with a white sheet and flowers. She finished up cleaning the dishes, looking over as Aqua Lad walked in, "Good Morning."

"Good Morning Miss Ray. Is that today's newspaper?" He asked, pointing at the paper on the island.
"Mhmm. Go ahead."

He thanked her and sat down at the table, not touching the meal and started to read.

The others came to the table, including Pietro who was actually walking at a normal pace. He caught sight of the food and it was hard to hide his glee at the sight.

Ciara came out of the kitchen and encouraged them to begin once Pietro was at the table. When asked if she was going to join them, she said she wasn't very hungry and someone needed to keep an eye on Nightwing anyways.

She picked up a two bowls of Miso soup and sat down in front of Nightwing with. "Hungry?" She asked.

"How long are you going to persist treating me like this?" Nightwing replied.

"Till we remove that thing on your neck which should be soon." She stated, holding the bowl to his lips, "Drink."

He did at least drink for a moment before turning his head away, "removal of the device is impossible without death of both parties. Do you intend to kill us?"

"To your knowledge..." She said setting down the bowl and drinking the other. "Quite the opposite actually. Today we shall bring the alien woman who did this to you here... And she will fix you... Whether she wants to or not..." She finished her bowl of soup.

"Impossible. You have no knowledge of where she would be" he replied, watching Ciara skeptically.

"Or do we?" She raised an eyebrow, she stated without hesitation, leaning back against a supporting beam.

He cocked his head to the side, trying to discern if she was lying or not, "Regardless. There is no way of removing the device without killing your friend."

"That's ok... We have several mutants with healing powers on Genosha... We can just revive him once you're off him. " She said not really looking at him, pulling a book out of the pocket of the apron she was wearing titled: The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins. "6 mins is plenty of time to repair the damage enough to bring him back. Besides, Dick's strong. He'll keep fighting to the end." She licked her finger and flipped the page.