Chapter Text
Tony, Steve, and Strange stepped out of the portal on a hill facing what looked like a deserted city. They had collectively decided that it would be best to not arrive as a large group. The last thing they needed was for the witch to feel threatened. The rest of the Avengers promised to be on call if necessary while they went to check on their families, and Pepper returned to Morgan.
Stephen dusted himself off, discarding the piece of Wanda’s red jacket that he had used in his locator spell.
“Protection symbol”, Strange explained, pointing at the symbol in the distance, just close enough that Steve could make out what it was.
Thick red rows of magic flowed hundreds of feet overhead, forming a beautifully glowing triquetra shape. The triquetra itself was so large Steve estimated it was a couple of blocks wide.
“So, she has her own batman signal” cuts in Tony, in his typical trying-to-lighten-the-mood way. Even he looked shocked when Stephen approved with a nod.
“Well, it certainly shows us where she is. Come on. The spell won’t hurt us if we don’t hurt her. We can still enter.”
They started forward, walking towards the dark, deserted city. As they got closer, Steve noted that everything was cast in an eerie, red glow. It was the only noticeable sign of light in the dusky-lit town. He felt his hair stand on end like every inch of him was touching a low-voltage electricity outlet. Next to him, Tony shivered.
Strange pointed ahead. “There. That’s where it's coming from.”
Sure enough, thick ropes of red billowed from the tall building ahead and reached towards the sky. Looking up, Steve watched as the magic split itself, separating to flow into the rows of magic that formed the triquetra. It was transfixing.
Tony yanked on his arm. Steve stumbled and snapped back to reality, realizing he’d been about to walk into a pole. Sheepishly, he glanced at Tony in thanks and Tony lifted the corner of his mouth in silent laughter.
Stephen walked forward decisively and opened the doors. They stepped into the lobby and glanced around. It wasn’t exactly like a horror movie, Steve decided. The room was too put together for that. It was just dark and deserted, and….. glowing red. Totally normal.
“Oh you have GOT to be kidding me,” complained Tony from beside him. He pointed to an elevator. “Couldn’t she have magic’d up some stairs? Seriously, what good are all-powerful witches if you have to use a death trap elevator!”
“Stop complaining”, sighed Stephen, pushing past him and entering the death elevator.
Tony stuck out his tongue at Stephen’s back.
Tony and Steve entered the elevator, and Strange’s cloak reached out and pressed the button for the top. The door creakily slid closed and jolted as it started its ascent.
“Is this real life, is this just fantasy, caught in a landslide, no escape from reality” warbled the elevator.
“On the noooooossssse”, Tony singsonged quietly. Stephen rolled his eyes.
With a ding, the elevator opened and the trio stepped out into a tastefully decorated living room.
“Hello,” said Wanda, without turning around. She was dressed in a simple ensemble of black pants and a grey v-neck shirt. There was movement behind her, but her body blocked Steve from getting a clear view.
“Wanda?” asked Steve, tentatively.
Wanda turned and smiled warmly, leaning to the side to reveal two small boys.
"Steve, hello. Hello Tony, Stephen. This is Tommy and Billy. They're twins."
Awkwardly, Tony waved. The boys looked at him, unimpressed. They turned back to their trains. Tony lowered his arm.
“They look like you,” Steve noted, aloud.
“They should,” Wanda chucked, fondly. “They’re mine.”
“How?” interrupted Stephen. He was not as tentative as Steve, he was straight to the point. Steve admired and hated that about him.
“How….?” responded Wanda, uncomprehending.
“How did you do this, Wanda? How did you create them, how are they here?” Stephen pressed.
"I don't… I don't know how I did it." Wanda looked noticeably uncomfortable, frowning and biting her lip.
"What do you mean?*
“I could hear them. I-In my head”. Wanda gulped and closed her eyes, struggling against the words spilling from her lips. “They were begging for my help, begging me to set them free. I didn't do anything, I came here and there they were. I knew they were mine."
“But…you don’t have kids, right? You’ve had the birds and the bees talk. There’s no bee and there was no time for you to grow-”
Wanda’s eyes flashed red. Tony gulped and shut up. Steve shoved an elbow into his ribs.
She took a deep breath and seemed to calm herself.
“It’s okay. He didn’t mean any harm. I know this doesn’t make sense. But these are my children. I know they are. I can feel myself inside of them, I can feel Vision. I don’t know how I did this….but this might be the only thing I’ve ever done right”. A tear slipped down her face.
“I’m happy for you, Wanda,” Steve said sincerely.
“Then why are you here?” she asked calmly, Sokovian slipping into her tone.
“Well, to be quite honest, we’re worried about you. You were snapped, you came back to war, and you won it single-handedly. And Vision-” Steve stopped himself as a lump came into his throat. He pushed it back down. Wanda was watching him, lips quivering and tears slowly dripping but otherwise composed. She conjured a tiny red flame between her fingers.
“I never wanted this,” she whispered.
“I know.” He replied, quietly.
She closed her eyes and took a slow breath, turning to stroke the heads of her two sons. The two boys paid her no mind, containing to push trains around the small carpet.
“Wanda, I don’t think this should go on,” Stephen stepped in, fixing her with a calculating frown.
Wanda curled her legs around her and looked back at them, tilting her head.
"Don't you see? I finally have what I want. I can't let you take that from me. I can't lose another family."
“Wanda, every second you hold on to this… this fantasy, the more unstable the multiverse becomes. Your kids…. they don’t exist. You are messing with the delicate balance of things. As the sorcerer supreme, I made a promise when I took over this position. I cannot allow you to do this.”
The air around them turned cold. Wanda slowly turned her head towards the group. Her eyes were blazing.
“.....Allow?”
She pushed her kids behind her and stood, eyes flaming and body leaning protectively to hide the children behind her. Red power bloomed into her hands. Her body shook, lip curled in fury and she stared the group down.
“Get out of here. Now. I cannot promise your life if you stay. Leave.”
Orange rings grew around Strange's hands but he was shoved back by Tony, who was certainly not jovial anymore. His mouth was set in a grim line as he looked warningly at Strange.
Steve stepped forward, hands out placatingly, desperately. This was their only shot, there was no other plan. If they couldn’t get through to her now, they probably never would.
“Wanda, please, I-”
“NOW!” she screamed, raising her hands into the air and throwing them towards the group, tossing a ball of scarlet energy towards them. Steve barely had time to close his eyes before he was hurtling backwards, flying through the air with such force he lost his breath.
Well, shit.