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The drums of some pop song playing loudly from somewhere in the Sanctum jolted Strange awake. He was nestled in one of the armchairs in the library, still in the same awkward position in which he fell asleep the previous night. Stretching and rolling his shoulders to alleviate the tension created from the weird angle he found himself in, he was reminiscing on the source of the noise.
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It has been a few months since Wanda decided to join him in New York. In the fallout of Westview, he and the other masters at Kamar-Taj thought it was best that Wanda Maximoff should be supervised and trained now that she adopted the moniker of Scarlet Witch. However, that was not top priority. Retrieving the Darkhold and storing it somewhere safe, preferably tucked away in the astral plane was of upmost importance. Seeing that Strange had already interacted with her before during the Battle of Earth, he was send to retrieve her and the Darkhold.
Strange had the impression that she was waiting for him the moment he arrived in the orchard. “You are here because of Westview, right?” she had asked him, eyeing him with no small amount of distrust. “What you did in Westview was quite the magical feat. From what I gathered, you didn’t even realized what had happened at first” he answered her, studying her face in hopes of picking up changes in her behaviour early. She still had the Darkhold after all, who knows how much it has corrupted her already. “Chaos magic is immensely powerful, I would like to help you study it, control it.” She seemed to have an answer ready, but before she could give her reply, he quickly add “And even if you don’t want any magical help, I just want to check in on you.” It was clear she did not expect that, as she narrowed her eyes at him. “Just checking in on me?” she asked quite sceptical. “What you have been through, it is enough to break people. The losses you’ve experienced, no one should live through that.”
He could see it in her eyes that she didn’t believe him. “Didn’t most of that already happened before Westview, hmm? Where was your so called concern then? Such a coincidence, you showing up, offering help, only after I obtained the Darkhold” she sneered at him. Strange sighed, he had hoped to convince her before the Darkhold would be mentioned. “Look, Wanda, that book is dangerous. Seeing your emotional instability after..” he started before she interrupted him, eyes filled with fire. “Emotional instability? Poor emotional unstable Wanda, she’ll fall prey to the book of the damned. Is that how you see it?”. Strange took a step back and hold his hands up, praying she would accept it as a sign that he didn’t want to cause further grievances. She crossed the distance between them. “Tell me Stephen, did you volunteer to come here, or were you the poor unfortunate soul that was sent to bring back the Darkhold? Because that’s the only reason you are here, isn’t that right? You couldn’t care less what happened to me or how I feel”.
“It is true that the retrieving and keeping the Darkhold safe is the reason I came here. However, that does not change my offer to help you. I would really like for you to join me at the Sanctum. You shouldn’t be alone with the grief you are going through. And I would also like to apologize, somebody should have been there for you after the Battle”. Her demeanour seemed a little less Scarlet Witch and more Wanda Maximoff at that moment. It seemed she had an internal fight, as if she didn’t want to be alone anymore, but also not trusting anyone at the moment. It seems that that accursed book already had a grip on the young woman.
“You wouldn’t be confined to the Sanctum” he said. Knowing that she was once was kept on house arrest in the Avengers compound. She looked him dead in the eye. “You couldn’t keep me there even if you tried” was her answer. Though still a threat, a small hint of a smile graced her lips. “Am I correct then in assuming you will join me?” Strange asked hopeful. “Whatever gave you that impression? By being a decent human, telling me I wouldn’t be caged. Did you honestly believe that would win me over. I have what I need here, unbothered and unsupervised by anyone. Why give that up to be guarded by the former Sorcerer Supreme?” she asked tilting her head a little.
Strange rolled his eyes at the jab. “I lost that title to a mere technicality, being blipped for 5 years”. “A blip that you caused yourself” she quickly reminded him. “Giving away so freely what you swore to protect”. “It was the only way, I did what I had to do to keep everyone safe” he defended himself agitatedly. “But did you though? All you did was keep them alive.” she asked genuinely. Strange didn’t like the shift in atmosphere, feeling the clutches of the Darkhold on the lonely witch.
“What does it promise you?” he suddenly asked her. This was once more something she did not saw coming. “I have absolutely no idea what you mean?” she answered, trying to sound convincing and directing the conversation away from that topic. “Don’t play dumb Wanda, it doesn’t suit you. We both know how the Darkhold operates. It must have whispered to you. What did it promise?” He knew the next few minutes would determine whether a fight was in the cards for them. And he prayed to any benevolent entity that that wouldn’t happen. After all, nobody can stand up against a full strength Scarlet Witch. She suddenly looked more fragile than usual. “My boys” she almost whispered. “They are out there, strung across the Multiverse. I’ve seen them in every universe I’ve was shown. All I want is to get my family back”.
Strange understood how she felt. After all, had he not felt the same in the aftermath of Donna’s untimely demise. He carefully chose his response, trying not to wake a grieving mother’s rage. After all, those children were purely created from her chaos magic and therefore were technically not even real. But only a fool would tell her that at this time. Mustering up some courage, he had placed a hand on Wanda’s shoulder. She was clearly startled by that small gesture of kindness, quickly moving her body away from him. “I know what it’s like to lose someone you love…” he started. “Although not at the same scale that you had to endure. Necromancy however,” “Who said anything about raising them from the dead? They no longer have a physical body in this universe.” She interrupted, staring straight into his eyes.
It instantly became clear what the implication was. She would use the Darkhold to find a way to travel through the Multiverse. “Have you found an universe where they no longer have a mother? Or was the plan to kill an alternate version of yourself? Because that sound extremely stable, doesn’t it” He deadpanned. She glared at him, a scarlet glow emanating from her fingers. More signs that this conversation was going the wrong way. “I can’t claim to know you well, but this does not sounds like something you would ever consider. Ending a life to gain what you want. Is that really who you want to be” he tried to reason with her. “You have no idea of what I would consider to get my boys back”.
“Is that why you let the people of Westview go? You gave up your own happiness to give those people, who you did not even know, their life and autonomy back. And how long ago was that? You want me to believe that you changed your entire view in just a few weeks?” he said raising his eyebrows. “And what if I have?” “Then you would either have suffered serious neurological damage, which I highly doubt, or you are being manipulated into the worst version of yourself.” No response came from the woman in front of him, it was clear to him that cracks were beginning to be formed into the Darkhold’s control over Wanda. Touching her arm to ground her, he tried to reason with her. “Come on Wanda, this isn’t you. And even if it was, would you honestly let your boys go to the trauma of having the Scarlet Witch take their mother’s place?”
Her eyes snapped up to his. He could see the emotional turmoil behind her green eyes. Green eyes… This was Wanda before him. The Darhold’s control was waning. “Come to New York with me, honour your boys by remaining the gentle soul they knew. Don’t let the Darkhold take that from you too, not after you lost so much already” he coaxed her. Silent tears started to roll down her face and she hung her head low. The corruption of the Darkhold stood no change to the love she had for her children. Strange recognised how cruel and unfair the universe had been to her. From a young age, all she had known was loss and still she had such a gentle heart.
She started to tremble. He knew that it all became too much for her. And even though Strange wasn’t that big on physical affection, he still hold her, hoping to be a small piece of comfort to the aching soul in front of him. After a few moment, the tears now flowing freely, she was holding him as well. More holding onto him, as the emotion rocked her whole body. Minutes passed and Strange was wondering if he should say something, when Wanda let go. She looked up at him, took a few steps back and summoned the Darkhold. “Take it” here voice hoarse with emotion. “Don’t let it consume me again”. Tears were still streaming down her face.
Strange took the book, opened a portal to the Sanctum, turned around to face her. “Ladies first”, he said trying to keep a more light-hearted tone. Teary eyes looked up at him. She nodded slowly and stepped to the portal. Not knowing what the future would hold for her. But what she did know is that she would face it as herself, the pain be damned.
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At times like these, with the music blaring through the Sanctum, he wished she would have chosen to stay in Kamar-Taj. Still sore from falling asleep in the library yet again, he stumbled his way to the source of the music. It took him to the kitchen, where he saw Wanda, dancing in nothing but an men’s shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Her hair was tied into a messy braid. She was in the middle of making breakfast when she noticed him entering the kitchen. He pointed at his ears, indicating she should lower the volume. Wanda stopped the music. “Fell asleep in the library again?” she asked with annoyed, but worried look. “What gave it away, the crumpled up clothes or my charming, yet moody expression? You ought to know by now that loud music in the morning does not go well with me. Speaking of clothes, or rather lack thereof”.
She looked down at her attire, looked back at Strange and shrugged. Snapping her fingers, her outfit changed into a simple jeans and shirt combo. “Better?” she asked with a small smile, flipping the pancake. “Haven’t seen that one before, was it one of..?” he asked. “A copy” she answered, a loving smile upon her face. “I conjured one that Vis used to wear in Westview.” A moment of silence fell. “I still miss them dearly” she said, voice a little smaller than moments ago. Strange felt even more of an asshole than he does on regular basis. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned it” he said taking a seat. “No it’s quite alright, part of the healing process isn’t it, doctor?” she playfully said, lifting the mood a bit.
“I haven’t properly thanked you yet, if I’m not mistaken” she said placing 2 plates of pancakes on the table. “Thank me? I’m not sure I’m following” he said before digging in to the breakfast. He still isn’t used to having someone cook here in the Sanctum, his usual breakfast consisting of tea and contemplation. “For what you did, back at the orchard” she said. “Well obviously, I had to do something the take the Darkhold from you” he said with a little wink. “As true as that may be, you still could have left me there all alone. Speaking of the Darkhold, where did you put it Stephen” she said with an obviously playful glint in her eyes. It was enough to get a little snicker out of Strange. “As much as I trust you Wanda dear, I’d never tell you”. “I hold you up on that one, I never want to see that damned book” she said with a look on her face as if she just ate an entire lemon.
“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t risk all that progress you made in the past months. And although I’m happy that locking yourself up in your room while blasting music as loudly as possible, something you still make a habit of, helped you. I would rather not hear the entire discography of Taylor Swift over and over again.” That made her actually laugh out. “Say what you want, she made some serious heartache healing music”. She stood up clearing the plates of the table. “What on the planning today, doc?” she asked him while cleaning up after breakfast. He stood up from the table. “I think it’s about time we went to Kamar-Taj, there’s a lot more material on the Scarlet Witch in the library over there than here. Time to help you understand your powers some more”.