Wanda stood on top of Avengers Tower, looking out over the city. A city so familiar, yet so foreign. Everything is the same, but completely different. Different smells, different lights, different arrangement to the skyline… But the same Nathan.

He's standing beside her, his T.O. skin reflecting the light of the city, his face lit by the pale yellow glow of his left eye. There's a smile, or at least his version of it, playing on his lips making the corners of his eyes crinkle as he looks at her. They used to do this some nights, go to the top of the tallest building and enjoy a view only experienced by birds and annoying billionaires with flying suits.

The last time Wanda saw Nate, it was on top of Avengers Tower. It was a strange day, the day he died. Not strange so much as it was incredibly normal, except for the part where Nate didn't come back. Routine mission, it was supposed to be. A garden variety villain who happened to have just the right weapon to counteract Nate's telekinesis. One bullet through the heart. No chance of healing. No time to save him. Just one moment he was alive, the next he was gone. And all Wanda could do was watch it happen.

But he was here, and Wanda tried to force that memory out of her head. Tried to forget the way she ended the day caked in blood, waking in medical after blowing her brains out. Nate was here, even if it was just a dream.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" he said softly, his hand reaching out to twine his fingers with hers. The metallic skin was cool to the touch and smooth as polished stone. Wanda always loved when he touched her with his TO hand, but she craved the feel of his warm palm that came up to cup her cheek. Nate was smiling so bright when his sapphire eyes met hers. "Not as beautiful as you, though."

"Tell me another lie," she said, fighting back the tears. Nate always told Wanda she was beautiful, ever since they encountered each other at the One World Church. She didn't believe him then, couldn't fathom how someone could look at her hideous scars and see beauty. But Nathan saw people differently. Wanda especially.

Their lips met, and her knees went weak as his massive arms enveloped her and lifted her off the ground. Wanda was tall for a woman-6'2 (188cm for our European friends)-but Nathan was a good half-foot taller, and had a way of making her feel tiny in his embrace. She loved that feeling, knowing that he could rip her to pieces and still be so perfectly gentle. Like she was made of glass.

"I've missed you so much," Wanda whispered against his lips, nuzzling her nose to his.

"You don't have to miss me, love," Nate said softly. "I'm right here."

Wanda nodded, feeling the sting of tears. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

"You don't have to save me," he said. "I'm right here."

Nate kissed her forehead, the bridge of her nose, the curve of her cheekbones. He trailed kisses to the juncture of her jaw, nibbling on her earlobe making her gasp and latch on to his shoulders. Meanwhile, his hands busied themselves untying the belt of her robe and rucking up the sheet-like material of her hospital gown, and finally coming to rest on her hips. She could feel the tingle of TK rippling over her skin, sparking to life nerves that scar tissue had tangled and hidden ages ago. Nate was the only one who could touch her that way.

There had been so many dreams, so many nights when Wanda would see him in her mind. But this was the first time she could actually feel him, really feel him. It was just like he was with her, just like he really was on his knees in front of her with two metal fingers inside her slick opening, and her cock hardening in his mouth. Everything about him was warm and alive, everything she was missing for so many months. It wasn't long before her orgasm hit and she had to brace herself on his shoulders to keep from falling.

A moment later she was on her back on the ground, staring up at him as he braced himself above her still thrumming body. Wanda wrapped her legs around his hips, arching just right to guide him inside. She let out a moan of pure pleasure, her head falling back and eyes drifting shut as he began to thrust. Wanda dug her fingers into his shoulders, reaching up to thread her fingers through his stark white hair. She closed her fist in it, giving it a solid tug, exposing the thick cords of muscle of his neck for her mouth to nip and suck.

With a quick motion, Nate flipped her over on her hands and knees. One hand gripped her hip, the other her shoulder as he fucked her hard and relentless. Each snap of his hips jarred her from head to toe. It was rough. It was brutal. It was exactly how she liked it, rendering her only capable of inarticulate gasps with each thrust. And she knew he was getting close by the deep, rumbling growl that vibrated the air around them.

Nate came with a guttural moan, his body tensed as Wanda continued to stroke his cock, moving her hips to milk every bit of his orgasm until he fell forward, one arm wrapped around her waist to still her, the other bracing himself up. He was sweating, his body trembling as he panted for breath. Finally, he withdrew with a sigh, and rolled down to the ground, pulling her with him.

"I don't want to wake up," Wanda said softly, her face nuzzling into his side. He was so warm and pliant, her head in the fog of afterglow. Dreams were never this good. And it was so strange that her eyes felt heavy, and her body felt like it was made of putty, like she was about to fall asleep. Maybe it was one of those Inception dreams, and she was about to go to a dream within a dream within a dream…

And maybe she was already there, because Wanda started to notice things were off. Like she was certain she was on Nate's left side, but her face was pressed against flesh instead of metal skin. When she looked up, she could see that Nate's hair was longer than it should be. And the scar that criss crossed his right eye was just...wrong.

Wanda got to her feet in a rush, backing away from him. She was shaking, staring down at him as he sat up, resting on his left elbow that had no trace of TO. "You...You're not Nathan."

"Yes, actually, I am," he responded calmly. "I am the real Nathan Summers."

Wanda shook her head. "No. Not my Nate. You're Stryfe. That's what Wade calls you."

He nodded. "I've gone by many names, love."

She gritted her teeth and growled, "Don't call me that."

Stryfe got to his feet, pulling on his pants as he did. "You loved my clone very much, didn't you? And judging from your memories, the feeling was mutual. Reliving this...moment...with you. It was quite moving for me."

"Get out of my head," Wanda demanded. "Stay the fuck away from me and Wade, or I swear to Bea Arthur, I will end you."

"I don't think you really mean that," Stryfe said with a smirk. Wanda hated that smirk. Hated his face, because it was the same look Nathan would give her when he was particularly amused by something she did. It was a look that on Nate's face meant affection. On Stryfe's… It meant something very dark.

"Let me wake up," Wanda said, her voice darkening.

Stryfe laughed, and Wanda wanted to plug her ears because it was Nate's laugh. "What makes you think you're not awake right now?"

Wanda backed towards the ledge, and said, "Guess there's one way to find out."

Then she was falling, plummeting through the air, heading towards the unforgiving sidewalk. The wind rushed past her face, her vision blurred by tears and air. The concrete was fast approaching, the world silenced by the roaring of her pulse as she awaited the blissful darkness of death…

Wanda sat up with a shout. She barely had time to take a breath before light came on. A moment later, Wade was at the edge of the bed. Wanda latched onto him. She was shaking and sweating. And she was very aware of the sticky wetness between her legs and in her lap. Thankfully that was hidden by the sheet and blanket.

"It's okay, sis," Wade said softly, stroking the back of her head. "Fuckin' nightmares got me up too."

She swallowed hard, her voice small when she asked, "What were yours about?"

"The usual," Wade answered. "Doctors, needles, involuntary organ donations."

Wanda breathed out, strangely relieved that the dream had been hers alone. Though it sounded like a lie to her own ears, she said, "Yeah. Same here. M-must be being in this place. Never liked medical."

"Me neither," Wade said as he let her go. "You wanna go get breakfast? It's like...uh… 4 o'clock. There's bound to be someone with donuts. I actually think there's a bakery in the Tower."

"Yeah. Sounds good. I just…" She squirmed a little, and said, "I really need to take a shower first. Regeneration funk, you know."

"Go for it," Wade said as he stood up. "I'll break into the supply closet for something with a back to it."

Once Wade was out of the room, Wanda got into the small hospital style shower, turning the water all the way to hot. She scrubbed every inch of her body until her skin felt raw, then scrubbed some more. If not for the fact that she woke in her bed, Wanda would have thought that the dream was in fact real. Everything about it felt real, down to the way she quivered between her legs at the memory of Nate-Stryfe-fucking her from behind.

Checking for bruises or any other evidence was useless due to her healing factor, and it was obvious that the only come on her body was her own. Still, it felt real. He felt real. And it was so damn good… At least up to the part where she realized it wasn't her Nate.

Fucking dreams…

Peter was still sleeping when Wade and Wanda left the room. Wade left him a note telling him they were headed down to the little bakery on the first floor. The scent of the place filled Wanda's head, and for the first time she managed to banish the dream from the forefront of her mind.

They ordered a dozen each, both still feeling the post-regeneration hunger pangs. Wade had half jelly-filled, the rest regular glazed. Wanda opted for a bit more variety, but all with cake icing. The clerk didn't seem to be surprised to see the two Deadpools, but then again, it was common to see gods and monsters roaming the halls of Avengers Tower.

As they ate, Wanda and Wade fell into conversation. They talked about teleportation, the many inventive uses for a spatula, whether or not a donut could be used as a weapon, debating the amount of napkins that would be needed to mop up an entire cup of coffee, and whether or not the barista got hazard pay. Both of them were happy to have someone who literally knew how the other's mind worked, and Wanda knew deep down that she didn't want to go back to her own Universe.

Really, this universe was at least exciting. Things were different. And there was...Stryfe.

Just thinking his name made Wanda squirm a little in her seat.

"You okay?" Wade said, noticing the odd look that passed over her face.

Wanda swallowed her bite of donut, and said, "Can I ask you something that might dive into the realm of unpleasant memories?"

"Sure," Wade said with a shrug. "Kinda helps to talk about the bad shit sometimes. What's on your mind?"

"Stryfe," Wanda said.

Wade nodded and took a drink of his frappe. "What do you want to know? I mean… My memories are kinda weird, considering that most of them never happened. Or at least were reset."

"Just…" She bit her lip, frowning as she poked her last cruller. She looked him in the eyes for a moment, before returning her gaze to the donut and asking, "Other than the physical appearance...How was he different from Nate?"

"He was an evil sonofabitch," Wade answered. He picked up a Boston cream, and said, "He was more powerful than Nathan, for one. And that shit went straight to his head. Fucker beat Apocalypse where Nathan never could." He took a bite, his staticy mind swirling with timelines and confusion. He swallowed and tapped the side of his head. "Dude could get in here. Nobody else could do that. Nobody. I can't be mind controlled, but Stryfe… He could. He could see what I saw, and I could hear his voice in my head. He could control me no matter where I was."

Wanda suddenly felt very cold inside. She was silent for a moment as she picked apart the cruller, intending to dip it in her coffee but never getting to that step. "Did he…" She took a deep breath before starting again. "Did you ever mistake him for Nate?"

"No," Wade answered. "No. He was full-on crazy ruler of the world when I came into the picture. He might have looked like Cable, but he wasn't even close. There were a couple times he forced me to…" Wade paused, swishing the whipped cream around his cup a moment. "He made me relive things. Memories. But he would rewrite them. Torture me with them."

Wanda wanted to ask if Stryfe manipulated Wade's dreams, but she couldn't. She knew if she asked that question, Wade would know the reason.

"Don't worry," Wade said, seeing the look on her face. "We'll get all this shit sorted out. If Stryfe is really here, we know how to deal with him this time." Wade shrugged, and added, "Fact is, the timeline has changed. All that stuff that happened before, it's not part of the future now. Which means that if Stryfe exists, he's not the same. And he saved our asses, right? So he can't be completely evil."

"Maybe," Wanda said softly before stuffing half a cruller in her mouth. It was dry and sweet, and did a good job of ending the conversation. Wade had hinted at Stryfe's malevolence the night before. Projection, she imagined. Her sleeping mind created a worst-case scenario for her to live out. Her brain was kind of a dick like that at times.

Except this time, Wanda wasn't on the verge of tears. She didn't wake up wanting to cry or kill herself. She woke up covered in sweat and her own jizz, and very confused. Especially since part of her wanted to go back to sleep to see if she had the same dream again.

Another part of her wanted to find Stryfe and rip him apart piece by piece, starting with his imposter's face.