Super-Speed. Google it.

Character Board: Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver { @thequickargint  }

“Together. We are stronger. Together. We sacrifice for those in need. Together. We engage the impossible. That is why we are a team. That is what it means to be an Avenger. Fighting together. Now… and… forevermore.”

ANXF was a treasure and I wish it wouldn't have been cancelled. It had so many interesting relationships, and it finally gave us some interaction between Pietro and his other sister, Lorna, after they discovered they were siblings and after House of M. There's a lot of things that I feel need addressed between these two, and we could see their relationship strengthen at a time when Pietro and Wanda's relationship was at one of it's weakest points.... We saw his relationship with Luna get repaired, only to see it dashed over again during the 2018 solo. We saw his relationship with other mutants like Gambit, Doug, and even Fatale and Reaper and how that's changed since M-Day. Tbh the series did more for Quicksilver's character than any Avengers title has ever done for him and it's basically confirmed what fans of the character have been saying for years: the Avengers don't care about Quicksilver except that he's sometimes convenient and his sister is mega-powerful.

First of all, Pietro's place in the team: Just like it's said in that panel Pietro has been constantly seen as the arrogant untrustworthy speedster, that it's only there to be useful during fight but not actually appreciated as a person.

In this panel he says it himself, during battle he has a place and something to do, but when they are being "normal"? When they are having fun? He is alone, feeling miserable for how things are with his family (Crystal and Luna are a total different issue), I don't see anyone from the team giving a fuck about it, addressing his issues and trying to support him...except Jarvis, God bless that man.

But what about a X-men title? More specifically All new X-Factor? Well...

This is right after that press conference where Pietro admitted publicly his mistakes of SoM and X-Factor, with him willing to face the consequences. Snow wanted him out of the team after a really vulnerable moment that needed a lot of courage and strength, what did his team do? Support him, because he is Lorna's brother and their teammate and they won't kick him out. He isn't only a speedster they can replace, he is important as an individual.

But the thing is this isn't only a problem of the characters, is a problem of books, is really common for Pietro to be put under a negative light when he is on Avengers titles.

He is the irrational guy that is so blinded by his hate against the Vision that only can get over it with someone violating his autonomy and forcing him to change his mind.

He is the jerk that only has one motivation: Wanda, Wanda, Wanda...

(I'm aware those are from Wanda's solo but since she is mostly an avenger lady my point stands) He is the manipulative sociopath, who forced Wanda to do things...even when that's not even true! Wanda has never been someone easy to boss around, she always has made her own decisions, the only exception was House of M where Pietro asked her to change the world but may I remind everyone it was because the Avengers and the X-men were going to kill Wanda?! It wasn't an "easy out", it was Pietro being desperate because they were going to kill his sister.

See? And this lead me to my third point, Pietro's is used as an accessory for Wanda's story. Most of the time this trope is used for female characters, but Pietro is one of those strange cases where him as a man is used for make Wanda look better; he is the brother full of hate against her marriage (that let's be clear ended up being right), he is the one looking for her like a lost puppy and that only can think about her, he is the evil manipulative brother while she is the good sister who is breaking free from it because feminism!

The narrative constantly treat Wanda as the good twin and Pietro as the bad twin, or at least make Pietro pay for his mistakes when Wanda? Oh well...

This is post disassembled, Pietro literally wasn't even around when it happened! He was taking some well deserved vacations, but we can see the "If I would have been here..." kind of guilt im his face, because apparently everything Wanda does is his responsibility...that's shitty. He apologizes but nothing of this was his fault, it wasn't even Wanda's fault, it's just this team can't deal with mental illness.

Then House of M happens and we all see what Pietro lived after that, he went through a long and painful redemption arc; he suffered of depression, tried to kilm himself, stole from the Inhumans, messed up pretty badly and became a villain/antagonist for a while even if he had good intentions, got divorced, had a lot of people and himself blaming him for M day (when it's not true! He made Wanda create a new world to not have her killed, but he never asked her to decimate mutants, he almost committed suicide because of M day!), he lied and lost his daughter's respect, confronted his father, went looking for Wanda, confronted Lorna, and finally after all of that and more...he admitted his mistakes, got his daughter back and started healing.

Meanwhile Wanda...went lost for a good while, came back, everything was Doom's fault because of reasons, I'm my own woman bye.

...Seriously? Look I'm not saying she was a villain and deserved to die or sufder horribly, but it's unfair! Pietro lived a hell when he only was trying to save his sister's life! At least the X-men keep calling her out for the M day, what is that Doctor Doom bullshit?

And like...this narrative is constant, allow me to show it with the recent Uncanny Avengers. During a good while Pietro was the only Maximoff in the team and in general was a nice title for him, maybe a little OoC but it was fun to read, his interactions with the team were cute and heartwarming, it was obvious they cared about him.

Then Wanda came in the team after Secret Empire, right after she was controlled by Chthon. Rogue doesn't want her in the team because of this, and what does Pietro do?

He supported her, because that's what siblings do...even if she attacked him while being mind controlled (which is not her fault, that's why Pietro defends her).

Now what happened when he needed her? When he was the one being unfairly treated because of what happened with Emily? Because please, there is no way he could have known the guy had another helmet! It was a mistake but not to kick him out of the team! Well Wanda...

Really Wanda?! May I remind you Pietro was totally against using magic in the first place? I don't see you being like this with Jericho who brought the danger in the first place (he didn't know, love to Jericho).

Like it can't be more obvious, when Pietro is in an Avengers title and specially with Wanda his flaws are extremely remarked, the narrative is unfair or he is only the fast guy. There are some few exceptions like Avengers Academy that is a blessing, but more than that? Not much...which is why he should be a X-men character again, the retcon was a curse.

Wanda tried to bring back a smile, squeezing her brother’s hand back. She’d missed this when he was away. The natural sense of having her greatest support always right there. 

She wasn’t really looking for him to say anything in particular. It wasn’t really something that she wanted to talk about either. Rather, just the assurance that her brother was there and that she was not alone was probably enough for the moment. 

“Yes. It is.” She needed to move on at some point, right? Even if it was hard. “Any suggestions, brother?”

Pietro paused to think a moment, stretching his long legs out before crossing them. 

“You’re really asking me for advice?” Pietro smirked. “I would suggest coffee but...” He held up his paper cup, tipping it to her before taking a sip. Pietro didn’t have very many hobbies surprisingly enough. Inbetween superhero work, all he really did was read or write, take care of Dibbles, and occasionally swipe through Tinder. He’d gotten used to being bored most of the time, and this hadn’t bothered to really fill his day with any activities.  

While Billy could fix his apartment if something went wrong sometimes it was a good idea to practice a few things outside.   Avoid potential questions from neighbors.  He also really didn’t want to mess up Teddy’s place.  Even if it offered a bit more privacy and understanding people.  

Easier said than done when moments didn’t last a lifetime. Pietro fidgeted as he sat cross-legged under a tree. Nature was supposed to be calming and inspiring right? What else did that stupid book say?

‘Breathe in, calming body and mind. Breathe out, ignoring that glowing bird.’

Wait, that can’t be right! Pietro stared at the bird as it plucked up leaf before flying back in the direction it came in. The little ball of energy seemed to be on a mission. The bird has a familiar glow to it, one that very much felt like home to the speedster. However, something was different about it. He couldn’t place it exactly, other than it wasn’t his sister...could it? 

At any rate, it was something to do that wasn’t wasting his time with these stupid self-help books. In an instant, he was up and following the bird. He followed it to its ‘owner’ A raven-haired young man. 

That definitely not his sibling. 

He’d never met someone with a power set so similar to Wanda’s. He had to talk to him. He moved faster than Billy could perceive, leaning against a tree to Billy’s left. Slowly down enough to speak. 

“Interesting talent you’ve got there.”

-This is so dumb. Sweeden should’ve won this year.

“Well, that doesn’t sound harsh of you at all, Brother.” Wanda rolled her eyes, leaning back against the bench. “I think I have great taste. You’re just weird.” She nudged him again, glad for the teasing between them if for no other reason than a sense of normalcy. 

“Yes, you and everyone else I think. I guess I kind of shut myself away a bit after, uh –” She stopped, looking down and giving a shrug, not able to bring herself to say Clint’s name.

Pietro wordlessly pawed at her hand, forcing his hand into hers and intertwining their fingers. The action was effortless and natural, something he’s done probably thousands of times. 

“Must be some sort of twin thing.” Wanda said with a laugh. “We do have a fair bit of time to make up for still.” 

Wanda slid onto the bench beside her brother, eyes following the book in his hands. His expressions he said the title amused her. Of course her brother would react that way to an Austen novel. “Oh come now, brother. Pride & Prejudice is great. Though if you’re going to react like that, perhaps you should n’t look to my shelves for reading material.” She teased, nudging him slightly. 

“Nothing in particular. Just out for the walk. Working on getting out of the tower more again.”