> Quick note: As I said before, this story will be posted weekly from now on. This is largely because I'm no longer enjoying writing it, so I don't want to procrastinate on it as much as my other story. So I'll be posting one chapter a week, so that I can focus on both without having to rush and write any rubbish. So, I'm counting on your patience and cooperation.

Pietro frowned as he watched the sad expression on his sister's face.

"Why do you look like that? Has something happened that I don't know about?"

Pietro asked, looking at his sister with a confused face.

Wanda, for her part, forced a smile, trying to dispel her brother's concern.

"Nothing happened, I'm fine. I just wanted to clear my head."

Wanda replied, forcing a slight smile onto her lips as she tried to reassure her brother.

Despite his sister's response, Pietro wasn't so easily convinced. But since he didn't know what was going on, he decided not to dwell on the subject.

"Leaving that aside, the guys are downstairs waiting for us for dinner."

Pietro said, staring at his sister before continuing.

"I was about to call you, but I saw you standing there like a stone in front of the door and I forgot that little detail."

Wanda glanced back at her brother and once again sent him a forced smile.

"Good, back to what really matters. Can we go now?"

Pietro asked, as he pointed in the direction of the elevator.

"Sure, let's go."

Wanda replied, still with her forced smile, trying to hide her anguish as she followed her brother towards the elevator.

As soon as they entered the elevator, Pietro pressed the button for the floor where everyone was gathered for dinner. Inside, most of the time ended up being filled with an awkward silence, but that same silence was dispelled by Pietro's comment.

"What about Peter? Isn't he going with us?"

Pietro asked, a little curious, because at no time had he seen or heard Peter's voice, and that was a bit of a foregone conclusion, not least because their rooms were literally next door to each other.

Wanda, still a little embarrassed by everything that was going on and by the conversation she'd had with Natt earlier, answered her brother sincerely, trying to disguise any trace of insecurity she might have shown.

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"I don't know about that."

Wanda explained, choosing her words carefully so as not to reveal too much.

"Unfortunately, for some reason that I still don't know, we haven't spoken since training."

Pietro nodded, understanding what his sister was saying, but at some point, he ended up getting lost in his own thoughts as he tried to find an answer between the lines of what wasn't said.

"Did something happen to you during training?"

Pietro asked, his gaze fixed on Wanda in search of any sign that might reveal the truth.

Wanda looked at her brother seriously.

"Pietro, I told you, nothing happened."

Wanda answered seriously, keeping much of the truth hidden, revealing only what he thought was necessary at the time.

"At least, not that I know of."

After that, Wanda looked away. After all, even she was aware that if her brother continued to pressure her like that, she would give in at some point.

Pietro, having noticed the hesitation in his sister's eyes, had confirmed for himself that there was something else behind her answer. Sensing the tension in the air, he decided not to press her any further and, as an alternative, changed the focus of the conversation to something lighter.

"Okay. You don't have to talk about it now."

Pietro said, softening his tone.

"But when you're ready and need someone, you can count on your brother."

Wanda nodded, grateful for her brother's understanding and patience.

"Thank you. That means a lot to me."

Wanda murmured, as she showed her sincerest gratitude for her brother.

Before Pietro could add anything else, the sound of the elevator interrupted the conversation.

"Looks like we're here."

Pietro commented, breaking the brief silence that had settled between them.

Wanda, determined, chose not to say anything and instead simply nodded to confirm her brother's comment.

After the elevator stopped, the door soon opened, leading into a well-lit corridor.

"Shall we go in there?"

Pietro asked, looking at his sister and then making way for her to pass.

Wanda said nothing and nodded again, only this time stepping out of the elevator and heading towards the kitchen, with her brother right behind her, his hand on his head in a nonchalant manner.

IN THE KITCHEN

As they entered the kitchen, Wanda and Pietro found Natasha leaning over the sink, staring at Steve who was on the other side, leafing through a cookbook, probably looking for something to make for dinner. A little further away, literally with their faces to the TV, were Rhode and Sam.

"Hi, guys."

Wanda and Pietro said in unison.

After Wanda and Pietro said that, Natasha looked up to see who had entered the kitchen and noticed that it was Wanda and Pietro, who had entered the kitchen. With a warm smile forming on her lips, Nat said something in a calm and serene manner, very different from Steve, who said nothing as he was concentrating hard on the pages of the recipe book.

Natasha, with her friendly smile, welcomed the brothers.

"How nice of you to show up!"

Steve, who had interrupted his search in the cookbook, turned to greet the apprentices.

"Good evening."

Said Steve, greeting the twins and then turning his attention back to the book.

After that brief greeting between them, Pietro turned to his sister and said, in a friendly tone, while pointing in Sam and Rhode's direction.

"From what I can see, this dinner is going to take a while to be ready. In the meantime, I'll be over there with them watching TV. And you, if you want, you can stay with me or join the two of them."

Said Pietro, pointing to Steve and Natasha.

Wanda, with a shy nod, replied:

"I'll stay in the kitchen."

After his sister's confirmation, Pietro started towards where Rhode and Sam were.

"What's up, guys!"

Pietro greeted as he approached the sofa, where Sam and Rhode were still watching TV.

"Hey."

Sam greeted with an excited smile, while Rhode waved in greeting.

"Good to see you here."

Said Rhode, adjusting himself on the sofa to make room for Pietro.