Westview
"Finn, what's the matter?"
Wanda, standing beside him, noticed Finn staring at the dead leaves in silence. She tugged on his sleeve, her brows furrowed in concern.
"It's nothing," Finn replied, tossing the withered leaf in his hand. As it drifted to the ground, it crumbled into dust. "I just think she's incredibly strong. And it seems like she's been working tirelessly to master the Darkhold."
"I'm also studying the Darkhold tomorrow," Wanda shot back stubbornly, a faint hint of defensiveness in her tone. At the same time, her expression dimmed slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Finn, don't worry. No matter what happens in the future, I won't let anything happen to you."
Finn scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Idiot, what kind of woman says that to a man? And if you put it like that, are you secretly cursing me?"
He reached out and pinched her cheek, his large hand cradling her face playfully. He knew exactly what she was thinking. The multiverse had been weighing on her mind again—because, in another universe, he was already gone.
But that had nothing to do with him.
Even so, hearing those words from her warmed something in his chest.
"I'm a witch," Wanda huffed, giving him a sidelong glance. "If I really cursed you, do you think we'd still be standing here together?"
Finn chuckled. She had a point.
She studied him for a moment, her frustration fading into something softer. He always carried himself with that same unbothered attitude, as if nothing around him truly affected him.
The bus arrived, and Finn shifted the suitcase in his grip, giving her a relaxed smile.
"Let's go."
"Wait for me!"
Wanda hurried to catch up with him, her long strides closing the distance between them.
Together, they passed through security—one tall, one shorter, one leading, the other following.
---
Aboard the Train
The train hummed as it pulled into the station. Passengers disembarked, scattering into the night, while others boarded, settling into their compartments.
Before long, beneath the vast, starlit sky, the train departed, slipping into the quiet woods along the track. The rhythmic hum of its movement faded into the stillness of the night.
"I never realized Westview looks so beautiful at night," Wanda murmured.
In the sleeper car, she curled up next to Finn on the small bed, pulling open the curtain. Through the glass, the star-studded sky stretched endlessly beyond the window.
"That's because we never go out at night," Finn said, his gaze locked on the deep, cloudless sky. He exhaled slowly, feeling an inexplicable sense of comfort as his furrowed brows relaxed.
"Hmm... neither of us really have a nightlife habit, do we?" Wanda mused.
She hesitated, then added, "I just remembered... When Pete and I first came here, we had no money, no place to stay. We just laid on the grass with cardboard over us and watched the stars at night..."
Her voice grew softer, her eyelids heavy with drowsiness. She licked her lips absentmindedly, her tone carrying a sleepy warmth.
"Sometimes I just lie there, doing nothing... but there's something unspoken in it..."
Finn didn't respond. The way she spoke, her voice carrying that naturally hypnotic lilt, had an almost spell-like effect. Especially when she whispered—it was practically magnetic.
Before long, he gave in, wrapping an arm around her and closing his eyes.
Wanda mumbled a few final words, then drifted off, her breathing evening out against him.
---
Manhattan, New York – Outside the Train Station
Morning had barely broken. The early dawn sky remained dark, with only a faint glow at the horizon. The cold wind swept through the empty streets, thick with a visible mist.
Wanda shivered. "It's freezing..."
She pulled her coat tighter around herself and instinctively moved closer to Finn, seeking warmth.
Finn glanced at his phone. "Why don't we grab some coffee first? Stephen's probably still asleep—it's barely past six."
Wanda shook her head. "Stephen hasn't slept. With the multiverse distorting reality, there's no way he'd have time for that. And we can't afford to delay."
She paused, her voice quieting. "That imposter... she might come for you at any moment. I can feel it."
It wasn't like her to admit weakness.
But she knew.
The Scarlet Witch from another universe wasn't just a threat—she was an inevitability.
And if she came for Finn, Wanda wasn't sure she'd be strong enough to stop her.
Buzz—!
Before Finn could respond, golden sparks flared in the empty space before them. The swirling circle of light illuminated the dark street, casting a faint golden hue over the fog.
A voice rang out, thick with an accent.
"Wanda's right. I'm still up. And I'm busy as hell."
Through the portal, Doctor Stephen Strange stepped forward, looking as exhausted as he sounded. Dark circles sat heavy beneath his eyes, and fatigue lined his features.
Still, he gestured them forward. "Come on. Follow me."
Without hesitation, Finn and Wanda stepped through.
---
The Sanctum Sanctorum – Underground Hall
The dimly lit underground hall was as grand as Finn remembered. Though it had been restored—damaged walls repaired, missing sections rebuilt—the atmosphere remained the same.
Timeless. Unwavering.
"This is a nice place," Finn remarked, feigning surprise. "Warm in the winter, cool in the summer. Perfect for sleeping."
Wanda's gaze swept the room, emotions flickering in her expression. "It has a long history, doesn't it?"
Stephen ignored them, cutting straight to the point. "Why are you here?"
His voice carried a tired edge, but there was something expectant about it—like he already had an idea.
Wanda didn't hesitate.
"We ran into another version of me."
Stephen, previously half-distracted, suddenly snapped to attention.
"The Scarlet Witch from another universe?"
His eyes flicked toward Finn, a teasing smirk forming. "Brother, you're lucky. Did she come looking for you personally?"
"???"
Wanda's gaze darkened, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes.
I trusted you, and you stab me in the back like this?
"Ahem—don't talk nonsense," Finn coughed, tightening his grip around Wanda's clenched fist before she could hex Strange into next week. "I turned her down, obviously."
Stephen chuckled but didn't press further. "I've been dealing with multiversal visitors all night," he admitted. "But the numbers are higher than I expected."
He waved his hand, motioning them to follow. As they moved deeper into the hall, candles flickered to life, illuminating the space.
Grooves lined the walls. Three of them, sealed by energy barriers, held figures inside.
Wanda's gaze landed on one of them.
"Eddie?"
Inside the first barrier, Eddie Brock lay curled up, a blanket draped over him. Even in containment, he looked absurdly comfortable.
At the sound of Wanda's voice, he stirred slightly but didn't wake, rolling over instead.
"You know him?" Stephen asked.
"Yeah," Wanda sighed. "Yesterday, I told him to come find you. Why'd you lock him up?"
"Relax," Stephen said, conjuring three cups of hot coffee. "Didn't want him running off. I'll send him back when I deal with the others."
Finn accepted the cup, warming his hands as he eyed the other prisoners. One had his back turned, features obscured.
The last was unmistakable.
Dr. Curt Connors—better known as the Lizard.
"Looks like we're getting visitors from multiple timelines," Finn mused. "If he's here... the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield Spider-Men might not be far behind."
Stephen exhaled. "Tell me about the other Wanda. How strong is she?"
"She didn't take Finn immediately," Wanda admitted. "But before leaving, she said something strange."
Finn's grip tightened around his cup.
"She said she was going to take me home."
Stephen's expression darkened. "She's not planning to keep you here. She wants to bring you back to her universe."
Wanda frowned. "Then why didn't she just take him?"
Before Stephen could answer, Finn did.
"Because she has no way back. The only place in this world capable of returning her to her original universe..."
His eyes met Strange's.
"...is Kamar-Taj."
"And she's looking for you."
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