Argument leads to breakup

Pietro decided to go visit Artemis. They had been dating for about a month, and been keeping the fact that it was more then sex quiet from the villains. Pietro had even started thinking about taking this relationship to the next level. He had bought a ring and was hiding it in his room. He figured he should wait until he asked her another important question first. Something that had been nagging at him since he saw the match between Music Mister and Flash.


When Pietro got to the door Artemis answered, he always called to let her know when he was coming.

"Hey Babe." Pietro kissed Artemis passionately. "Lets go for a walk in that garden of yours." Pietro began leading Artemis toward the gardens. He had learned the layout of both mansions by now.

Artemis smiled as she kissed him back, closing the door when he walked off with her, "Okay." She said, following him to the garden, "What's up?" She asked.

"There's this thing that's been bugging me since I saw that death match last month." Pietro wrapped his arm around Artemis's waist. "If I'm in one of those matches against one of your hero friend... and I kill them... What are you going to do?"

"If I'm in one of those matches against one of your hero friend... and I kill them... What are you going to do?"

"I don't know..I'd be upset cause my friend just died." She said, looking up at him, "And..I would be a little mad at you, cause you did kill my friend..Just because that person was my friend."

Pietro brushed his hand over her check. "Thank you, For understanding." Pietro kissed her forehead and smiled softly.

Artemis smiled softly, before she looked up at him, "Would you feel sorry that you killed the person though?"

Pietro pulled back and looked at Artemis with confusion. "No. Why should I?" Pietro ask, with genuine confusion.

Artemis's eyes narrowed softly, "Because you just killed someone..someone who also wanted to live..You wouldn't feel sorry?" She asked, getting serious.

Pietro's eyes scrunched in confusion. He tilted his head. "Artemis, I'm not the one that put them in that arena. Why should I feel sorry that I did everything I could to make sure I walked out?" Pietro was trained to take his emotions out when it came to battle. He lost it when he protected Lorna against Joker but the arena was a different.

"Because..you killed someone." She stated, walking away a little now. It annoyed her how he wasn't going to feel sorry.

Pietro was still confused by Artemis's reaction.


"Artemis," Pietro spoke slower trying to understand. It was like they had suddenly started speaking two different languages. "If it's not them, it me. And I'm not going to feel guilty about staying alive."

"But you should at least feel sorry that the person died. I was raised up to be a survivor..But..even If I have to kill someone to stay alive here..I'd still feel sorry that I killed the person.."

"Maybe that's the way you were raised. But not me." Pietro's eyes narrowed slightly. "I was trained, that in a life and death situation all that matters is you and what you are trying to do. Which in this case is staying alive. This is like war. You can't let yourself feel guilt in war, if you do you'll either kill yourself on purpose or get yourself killed by going crazy."

"But what if that person had a loved one." She said, "Remember that black haired girl that cried in agony when her love died from his heart getting exploded!?" She raised her voice, "You still wouldn't feel sorry, or the tad bit of guilt!? Those two probably had a life planned out with the way she cried for him!"

"Artemis!" Pietro yelled. "Everyone has loved ones. I do, they do. The point is I am not going to feel guilty when I do what I can to make sure I go back to my loved one. And you know what," Pietro waved his hand angrily, "I do feel sad for those left behind but not for going back to those I care about."

Artemis looked at him, she couldn't believe what he was saying. She never wanted to kill, and she never had to..And now he was saying this stuff. She looked down, crossing hers arms, "I just don't agree with that."

"Artemis that's life. And you don't have to agree with me Artemis. But we can figure this out." Pietro stepped toward Artemis extending his hand to her check.


"Artemis I lov..." Pietro was cut off.

"Stop.." She said, not even listening to what he was saying, oblivious to the fact he was going to say those three words, "I can't agree with you..I'm sorry..I can't be with someone who won't feel at least some guilt about killing.." She said lowly, before she walked away.

Pietro stood there, shocked. She had just walked away from him. His eyes widened. He had just about to say he loved her. He had never said that to any woman outside his family, and she had just ignored him. Like it didn't matter to her at all, like he didn't matter. Just like when his father had walked away.


Pietro pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes to hold off tears. Pietro then scowled and punched the tree that was beside him as hard as he could. He dented the tree and up rooted the tree slightly. His collar gave him a sharp electric shock.

"AAHH!!" Pietro grabbed his neck.


Pietro then calmly and stiffly walked out of the X-Mansion.