Chapter One
The day it all comes together is the day after one man shocks the world. "Did you hear Stark Industries is pulling out of all weapons dealing?"
A foot frozen, a body in motion. A few people wince as a child trips and skins themselves on the pavement.
"Sister," Pietro hurries back and bends down. "Are you alright?"
A girl looks up, blinking a few times to right the few of her tilted thoughts. "I will be." She glances down to her bloody palms. "I will be. It barely hurts. You don't need to fuss."
Wanda Maximoff looks at her twin brother and smiles as he does fuss and help her along, back to their one-room apartment. She smiles as he helps clean the wounds and promises not to mention them to their parents. She smiles and lies when he asks if everything is alright. She smiles when he nods and lets it go.
She smiles for the rest of the day.
Because the person she was, Before? There is no smile at the realization just who could one day become the Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.
;;;
To be fair, she never learned her last name until she was two and speaking well enough to ask. Oh, she could speak by then. Before waking up as a tiny baby, she was considered a polyglot. She made sure this brother, Pietro, would be too. The problem came with learning Sokovia's official language. The Serbian Cyrillic Alphabet – even the Latin Alphabet – wasn't as hard to learn as was trying to correct the words with different meanings between Before and Now.
By four years old her reputation was destroyed because she asked to pet a dog, but what came out was, "May I skin your dog?"
So yes. Wanda does not speak much in fear of misunderstandings. Her brother is the only one to get everything she says, to know what she means, even if it comes out wrong.
Maybe it's a twin thing.
Maybe she should feel bad there isn't more than a keep him close, keep him in sight, he's my brother, he's MY brother, he's mi- possessive tether on her end. Sure, she can predict his movements and know what he thinks every now and then… but that's what happens when you grow up from the same cradle as someone, right? And anyways, she's had plenty of practice Before ignoring the unhealthy parts that itemize people. Her brother is his own person who can make his own choices, and her only right is to be there if he needs someone in his corner. That's what family is for, right?
Right?
(Do-they-miss-me?-I-didn't-want-to-leave-them.)
The one thing she never really shakes from Before is the apathy. She doesn't particularly care about the world, about those she hasn't spent years seeing every day, and the practiced sweet smiles of Before do well to hide her lack of interest as she catalogues everything. Her brother, her parents, and Ms. Aberdien next door are the only ones she'd jump off a cliff to save. Family is obvious, and their neighbor is included because that woman is the only role model and caring figure the twins have in their life.
So, at eight years old, Wanda looks up to the woman with big eyes and asks, "Ms. Aberdien, do you know a Mr. Tony Stark?"
And oh.
Doesn't the whole world know Mr. Tony Stark?
;;;
See, the thing is, Tony Stark is one of those names. It's a name like Bruce Wayne or Harry Potter. It's like Peter Parker, Katniss Everdeen, or – for the R-rated fans – Wade Wilson. Tony Stark isn't just a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. He is a universal marker. He defines the universe.
At least, Wanda had assumed he was only for most English-centric universes (and now she feels like such an a** for assuming). Before never thought Now had anything to do with a Marvel Universe. Seven people in their little city speak English, and two are the Maximoff twins. The closest Wanda got to any American references was joking Pietro was her Cosmo. Then Tony Stark goes and tilts the world with his announcement and suddenly Before realizes she is Now Wanda Maximoff. Before takes the time to go over the movies and remembers Wanda Maximoff becomes the Scarlet Witch.
Well shi-
She can handle this. Eight years old and staring unseeing at the wall, she can handle this. It's, what? Two years? Four years? A conservative estimate of six months before her parents are killed by a bomb that may or may not be a Stark weapon in her country's Civil War? Either way, this Wanda, the person who is she Now, is not holding some grudge against Tony Stark because his symbol might stare at her for three long days or outright kill her (though she doesn't want to die again). In fact, better to not let it happen at all. How to convince her parents to get them out of the country and to a safe place before it all goes to s**t?
"What are you thinking about?" Pietro breaks her thoughts as he slides up next to her, resting against her shoulder.
"Nothing, brother," she hums.
"I let it go on this far, but now it affects your sleep-"
She chuckles before she can help it. "Not much else can ruin my sleep."
For they are both small, pale, and gaunt for their age, but she has shadows under her eyes where as he is charming and bright. Her mind races too much with things unsaid and only complete exhaustion can pull and keep her under. The slightest noises wake her, and now the plans to avoid who she could become take up the long hours awake.
Wanda hates who she could become. Experiment. Hydra. Abuser.
"What would you do-" Wanda stares at the far wall, unseeing.
She hates telepathy. She does not want the option of mind control. Does not want to break free will. She wants to throw things with her mind.
"-if I wanted to leave the country?" It really isn't worth staying. There are so many factors why the Mind Stone experiments only worked on the twins, but her favourite theory was because they hated Tony Stark as much as the stone. Without that hate, she'll probably die like the others. And she won't let herself or her brother be willing or unwilling experiments for anyone.
"I would go with you," Pietro's answer is immediate. "Why would you leave though? Where would you go?"
"Somewhere I feel safe," Wanda answers without thought.
"I can protect you."
She leans into his hug. "I have been feeling lost in my head lately. Go to sleep, Pietro."
"Not until I know what you are planning."
"I would never leave without you." He's satisfied, but it's only a matter of time and there are so many plans to be made.
;;;
It is almost too easy to start gathering items for at least her and Pietro's not-so-great escape. Without creepy-Wanda clinging to his every step, the young boy is popular with the children and charming to the adults. Wanda encourages this. Pietro is personable, a bit egotistical, and stands out with his bright white-blond hair and angelic blue eyes. Everyone likes him and isn't it too bad about his sister?
His sister, who doesn't have any friends and mixes up her words. Weird-Wanda. Creepy-Wanda. Witch-Wanda. Yet, the outcast does not get bullied because Pietro has people check up on her. A little following who know spit on Wanda and anger Pietro. So the tiny girl is invisible, staying in the background and keeping mid-high scores in class while ghosting between the playgrounds and the library.
(The girl who disappears from the streets some days, not that anyone ever notices besides her brother who knows beforehand.)
"What are you looking for?" Pietro asks as he slides into the chair across from her. His younger sister blinks a few times to refocus off the book. "It's been three days you've been here."
"And that's a problem?"
"Gliga has a broken nose," he says easily, watching as her face goes carefully blank. "Ignis has nothing to show for the brawl. Almost like someone held her still to punch her."
No one spits on Wanda, who ghosts between the playgrounds and the library. Lately she spends her free time reading what she can in the library, trying to find any clues to the universe situation, looking for solutions and a way out. This means no child minds themselves as the witch is not there to curse them if they cause a problem. Maybe she has been spending too much time in the library.
"I will put the book back and follow you, brother," Wanda says with a serene smile.
All she needs to do to strike fear is to haunt the areas Ignis and his group play around for a few days. Whatever ills them will be blamed on her, and when they ask she will say something mysterious about harming Gliga, who's parents are workers under Ignis' parents' management.
If Wanda didn't have to pick and choose who she stole from, she'd never remember this stuff. Honestly, when she doesn't have to play politics anymore she'll be the happiest reincarnated soul ever. Trying to be not-movie Wanda? Trying to be a thoughtful, considerate villain….
Ugh.
;;;
"I give up," Wanda finally hisses as Before throbs in her brain with no more information to help than when she started.
Pietro stirs to show he never really went to sleep. "Give up what?"
"Pietro, are mutants real?"
"No," he grunts and rolls over on his bed to face her. "Inhumans is the proper word."
Wanda groans. She should have asked ages ago. Thank goodness for legal issues defining universes once again. "Thank you-"
"Are you an inhuman?"
She pauses, startled. The words won't come as she stutters and tries to deny.
"It's okay if you are." He sits up and comes over to give her a hug. "You dream parallel worlds, correct? I saw the books. It is why you mix up words and events?"
Wanda pauses. No, that's not it, but she can use it. "Yes." It isn't the first time she's lied to him. "We are usually older." It is a great lie. She will make it a great lie. "I am almost never a nice person." She squeezes harder and imagines killing Ultron herself. "You are almost always dead."
He stills. "Is that why you want to leave?"
Not quite. "We don't die here, but it will start us to our death if we stay too long."
"Both of us?"
"I can not live without you." She is not movie-Wanda. She will do near whatever he asks and snap her fingers in a gauntlet to bring him back to life if she must. For both things, she will die trying to complete them. If he asked-
If he asked, she would grant him immortality, make him a king, and die for his cause.
But it will be from a good couple meters away where nothing creepy will be inferred. She is not movie-Wanda.
He sighs. "I feel like you have a plan."
She almost cackles. "When do I not?"
There just… may be too many plans to choose from, and so little resources to go around.
;;;
Her brother likes attention. Wanda does not. Not from strangers. Not from the public. She doesn't care about their opinions, but she's had a lifetime pretending to care about them. She's had practice putting on smiles and faking it until she's left the strangers behind and found friends. She's the one who taught Pietro to branch out and look for friends, as just having her is not a healthy relationship.
"Why would I care about leaving any of them?" he looks so earnestly confused that she sighs. "They aren't you."
Sometimes she's forgotten how much she's taught him. For now, it is good he does not have anyone close he will pine after when they eventually leave. This will need to be corrected later.
She will need some friends of her own later.
(I-will-pretend-you-don't-hate-who-I-become.-I-already-hate-myself.)
;;;
So…
Good news?
Good news first. If she doesn't start listing the good news as the few tears slip down her face, she might give into the desolation of the situation.
Good point one, they are alive. Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, alive and ready to take on the world. Ten years of age, so two years after the whole revelation that Tony Stark is her Lord and Saviour. Not bad. Wanda practically carries her comatose brother towards the alive and in-shock Ms. Aberdien who they were out helping buy groceries while their parents finished making a late dinner.
(Their very dead parents.)
The little girl gathers up the fallen items and determinedly doesn't stare at the giant bomb that's crushed their apartment building. Point two: thank goodness she doesn't keep anything important under the floorboards.
(There are no floorboards anymore.)
Still, she will need to backtrack and get her things from where they are safe and buried in an untouched area of forest outside of town.
(What's left of town. What- what is left of town?)
The ten-year-old girl adds to her reputation as a sociopath as she leads around her distraught brother and the shaking old woman, all the while keeping a blank face and keeping calm to the relief guards.
"Don't you care?" Pietro finally snaps. "They're gone! Everyone is-" he chokes and his face slackens at her unmoveable expression. He leans in quietly. "You knew it was going to happen. You knew this was going to happen."
Wanda stays quiet.
He blows up. "Why did you never say anything?!"
"What would I say?" Wanda whispers. She manipulates.
"We could have warned someone."
"No." Wanda is already shaking her head. "You don't know. You don't see. The bombs are one outcome. I don't know what happens in this universe, Pietro. But I've seen more than the bombs." If only Before had read the comics, seen a TV show, or anything besides just the movies. Then this wouldn't be such B. S.
"We could have run."
Wanda falls silent, mouth opening and closing for a bit. Pietro, haggard, looks a spark smug even when she shakes her head. "Let me finish my planning, Pietro. Then we can run."
"You don't know what will happen, though."
"But I will be smart about how we'll survive."
He looks at her with a dark emotion. "What about mum and dad?"
Wanda closes her eyes and hangs her head. A few tears slip as she tries to reign in her breathing and talk to him. "I wish I could have saved them." But she doesn't regret not being trapped for three days, staring down the logo of her Lord. "I-" her throat closes and the tears start falling as she grits her teeth and her heart starts to break.
"Who killed them?" his voice is cold.
"Pietro-"
"Who, sister?"
Lie, her mind whispers with urgency as she does not know the answer. What are the theories she's spent so long pondering over? The names of who could have caused this? Before digs up an easy answer, twisting it to an even better one. "97% of all our parents dying have been Hydra's fault."
"The other three percent?"
She stalls while her emotions run like knives and Before pulls up some long-night theories. "Don't ask me now. Please, Pietro. There are so many names. So much less than one-percent. Over and over. I can't-"
"The names, sister," is the cold cut-in.
Wanda shakes and cries silently and mutters the best she can, saying names she can pull out of thin air as evil. The louder she is, the higher the decimal percentage they get until she's muttering into her knees.
Never once does she dare utter Tony Stark.
;;;
"They say the bomb was made by Stark Industries," Pietro tells Wanda.
The little girl sits her brother down and holds his hands. "There are many possibilities to have lead to the Stark logo being on it."
He watches her for awhile. She blinks very few times. "In any of these possibilities, does Tony Stark send this weapon on our house?"
Wanda will never admit to not knowing if Tony Stark actually did kill the Maximoffs' parents in some timeline. "No. Lord Stark does not kill our parents."
Pietro's eyebrows jump up. "Lord Stark? As in-" he chokes a laugh. A hysterical, not at all funny for the situation, laugh. "You worship a weapons dealer."
"Ex-weapons dealer."
"Sister," Pietro slips his hands from her grip and places them on her shoulders, "I love you, no matter who you worship. Do not bring up your religion around here. I will not be enough to stop the angry mob who will form if they here you say Lord Stark."
"I know, brother," Wanda pats his hand and shakes him off. She stands and smiles in the little sunlight of the hovel they've been staying in. "It was a slip of the tongue and won't happen again."
It only happened because at night she prays her Lord and Saviour discovers a new element, survives poisoning, and lives through the latest villain in his movie trilogy. He can't save anyone if he's dead, after all.
;;;
Staring…
Staring…
St- hah!
"Fine," Ms. Aberdien scowls and leans back like she didn't just lose a staring contest with a ten-year-old. Jokes on her, Wanda started practicing creepy tactics once her reputation as normal was in shreds. "I'll get the three of us out of the country if you get us the funds."
"How soon for passports?" Wanda slides over enough loose change to keep them fed for a week.
"Six months at least," at least the woman is kind enough not to say it isn't enough.
Wanda smiles serenely. "You aren't Hydra, are you, Ms. Aberdien?"
The older woman chokes and gives a tsking laugh. "No, and you are never to ask another person again."
"One request on where we go."
"Oh?"
"An English-speaking country."
Ms. Aberdien grunts and rebuttals that she doesn't speak English. Wanda replies that she better learn if she wants to get out. An empty threat that gets her a fond hair rustle and a sharp whack to the ankle. Wanda smiles and hands over the major portion of her funds. "Now that's more like it, child."
So nice to have at least one adult looking out for them
;;;
The Maximoff are twelve years old when they leave their home country. Ms. Aberdien keeps it as legal as possible as the three of them slip out of Sokovia while the world contemplates chaos about aliens and people with superpowers being real. It's a shock to the world, but it also narrows down the places to end up as countries keep an extra eye open for anyone in their boarders with supernatural abilities.
Wanda Maximoff is twelve years old and stays silent as their guardian takes them through all the right channels and calmly gives all the right answers. The process of their immigration, which could have taken them years in addition to all they've done since their parent's death, is sped up just a little when Ms. Aberdien takes on nursing job and the children do well in school. There is a small set-back when small, quiet little Wanda takes a job, but she just smiles and assures everyone else that they are doing fine. She just wants some extra money coming into the house. She's made sure to befriend other twelve and thirteen year old's who work, so she can name drop.
And their new place? The new apartment they spend winter and where Wanda frets silently about the coming New Year?
It's in London, England.
"Sister? What's wrong? What's-" and Pietro sees the news reel about Tony Stark's destroyed home and holds the ball of a girl while she mutters about a male angel named Harley.
;;;
Before has seen some Marvel movies and Now has twisted the favourite characters into heroes they could never hope to be in real life. Likewise, villains are cruel delusions. The shades of grey she may have once felt sorry for, but Wanda Maximoff cares not for the problems of those she does not treasure. She does not care for the lost or broken. Wanda Maximoff cares for:
Her Brother, Pietro Maximoff.
Her Guardian, Linda Aberdien.
The Smol, Peter Parker.
The Goddess, Pepper Potts.
The Saviour, Tony Stark.
The Queen, Darcy Lewis.
… Wanda sighs late at night and thinks about how she really needs to get some real friends and stop going through lists. If only she cared more to make a real connection with people.
Wanda Maximoff does not care.
(And-that's-the-biggest-lie-of-all.)
;;;
The year is 2013.
Wanda Maximoff is a bright young girl. Always doing research online. Working, reading, and doing just below exceeds expectations in all her classes. Quiet, yet friendly. Always willing to ask for help and help others in turn.
Pietro Maximoff is an energetic young man. Always on the move. Exercising, playing, and doing well in all his classes. Very sociable. Has convinced his group of friends to try out for the track team with him this year.
They are children.
Wanda realizes this one day after reading through Ms. Lewis' newest post on the political climate's idea of having an Americanized faction created with the sole purpose to fight alien threats. Wanda is a child and no matter how much Before loves reading this stuff, she is in no place to be for or against any of it now. Her words hold no sway, because she is thirteen this year and far, far away from any Sokovia base that could experiment on her. In this world, it is likely no one will ever know the name Wanda Maxmioff.
Wanda smiles.
She wonders who the Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch will be, if not them. Yet, it doesn't matter until it happens. Let the public fear or worship others who are not them. If Wanda wants power, then she will gather it through normal means. She holds no regrets, straying from the plot and leaving others to fill the holes left behind.
Wanda Maximoff is a small, almost thirteen-year-old girl. She has a great older brother as her twin and an amazing guardian who has saved the children from delving into their country's civil war. She works a part-time job and does well in school. She may not have friends, but she has enough acquaintances that she isn't ever lonely. She has memories of another life, and only Pietro has ever guessed that she sees glimpses of alternate universes. She lives in London, England; a city which will become the epicenter of the next Thor debacle.
As she counts down the days until the planets align, Wanda doesn't notice the chaos coming to her.
And then it's too late to stop it.
;;;
["Who are you?"]
(I-am-) "-Wanda."
Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers or anything affiliated with it. All rights belong to their respective owners.
A/N: I really wanted to like someone with the power to move things with their minds, but wow did I ever hate Wanda so it's time to see what would happen if she turned out Team Tony Stark. Also, crack. As in, Infinity Stones have some sentience and the Mind Stone is in love with Wanda.
Thanks for reading. I hope the chapter was enjoyable