A/N: This is my first WandaVision story inspired by the idea what if the hex didn't happen and how things would play out if Peter from the X-Men universe still appeared.
Warnings: There is the occasional swear word. Also this story is unbeta'd so future apologies for any grammatical mistakes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Spiderman or the Avengers and make no money from writing this.
Peter honestly had no clue how it had happened. One second he was in Kenya looking for a birthday present for Ororo, and then the next he was falling through and out of a red portal that spat him hard to the ground. His back and head connected with it first, and he lay there for a few seconds in pain before muttering. "Ow...God that sucked." Whatever that was.
He probably would have laid there longer, but he was distracted by the sounds of someone nearby sobbing. Feeling his brow furrow slightly in concern Peter sat up and glanced over at a woman kneeling on the ground clutching a piece of paper shaking with her tears dripping down her face and onto the page. She didn't appear to have noticed his magical sudden appearance.
Dusting himself off he tentatively approached before taking a seat in front of her. Peter wondered why it looked like her world had just been destroyed. Although he was much better at comforting kids than adults, he felt he at least had to try. "Hey um...are you okay?"
She didn't answer him, just merely curled in tighter and clutched the paper even harder. Peter peered in slightly to see that the paper she was actually clutching was a property deed with a note in red 'To Grow Old In - V' outlined in a heart. He felt his heart lurch in sympathy. 'Poor woman must have just lost this V person.'
While he worked out what he should say next, she spoke in barely a whisper. "We were supposed to live here. We were supposed to be happy. And now..." Her voice choked as more tears sprang up. "I can't even bury him."
Peter wanted to ask 'Why couldn't she?' but decided now wasn't the right time to ask. He wished more than anything he could channel Charles' talent for the right words to say but could only come up with. "I'm really sorry to hear that. That blows." He internally cringed at his best comfort attempt which was clearly horrible. It's probably best he just doesn't say anything more.
She for the oddest reason seemed to choke out a laugh. "Grief the love that perseveres."
A very nice sentiment, very Charlesque. "I like that. It sounds like something my professor would say."
Offering a shaky smile before wiping her face Peter considered adding a silver handkerchief to his non walk-man pocket but the idea of reusing that over and over again immediately grossed him out. However he may give thought to keeping some extra Kleenex there for the future.
"You can tell me to buzz off any time, but if you want to talk about anything. I can listen or do my best to sit in silence in solidarity."
For the first time she actually glanced up and looked directly at him before gasping and pulling back in shock, which Peter felt confused by. Did he have something on his face? Touching it self consciously.
"Pietro?" She whispered in a tone of disbelief.
'What?' "Um...no sorry I'm Peter. Peter Maximoff."
This time she scrambled back in a hurry before completely pulling away and standing up, prompting him to stand uneasily as well still having no clue what reason saying his name would give to spook her.
"Where did you come from?"
"I'm not sure." He admitted taking off his goggles and fiddling with them. "One second I was looking for a present for my friend Storm, and the next I'm falling through a red portal and landing here. Which I've actually been meaning to ask where exactly is here?" It kinda actually looked like his old neighborhood.
The woman glanced down at her hands in confusion murmuring that she didn't understand. Well that definitely made two of them.
"Alright," Peter started again trying to hopefully get some answers. "Can I ask what your name is?"
"Wanda Maximoff." She answered watching his reaction. Now it was his turn to gawk in shock. He had a twin sister, true but she looked very different, and also went by Wendy just as he did Peter, preferring that to Pietro. She also didn't have powers that he knew of. This was far too bizarre. Also poor Erik if he had yet another kid that he didn't know about.
Peter rubbed his forehead aggressively. "I feel like I've fallen onto an episode of the Twilight zone, and no one told me or I'm being weirdly punk'd."
Stepping closer, Wanda appeared quite serious and focused clearly intending on finding answers. "Where are you from?"
"Well generally Earth but specifically? Washington DC but at the moment I live in Westchester New York at the Xavier mansion."
Not appearing satisfied as if that answered anything, she raised two fingers and stepped in his personal space. "Would you mind if I take a look?"
He stared uncomprehendingly, until it clicked. "Oh! Are you a telepath? The two fingers help you tap into my mind, kinda thing?"
"Of a sort." Her hand and eyes glowed a bright red and she gently connected her two fingers to his temple and felt the shock of rushing through all his memories hit him like flash forwarding his entire life in a matter of seconds. By the end of it they were both hunched over and gasping for air as if they'd just run a marathon sans super-speed.
"Well that was trippy not going to lie."
His next words died on his lips, when he saw how apologetic and devastated she looked back at him for some reason. "Peter...I'm so sorry. Somehow...I've managed to pull you from your universe and put you into mine. I don't even know how I did it."
What did she mean by his universe? Was there more than one? Oh Hank would die over this science stuff. Alright so to put it plainly he was stuck in an alternate universe with his alternate witch twin and potentially no way back home?' Awesome. His life really loved inventing new ways to make his life hilarious to someone out there.
Letting out a small sigh Peter didn't have it in him to take it out on a grief stricken woman who did this on accident and responded with. "Tell me you at least have a McDonald's or Burger King around here."
They found a diner first which served the fast food he wanted, taking it back to the property plot. They talked about their worlds and their pasts. Peter got the impression from time to time that Wanda was holding back a lot. She had another visibly grief-stricken reaction to his super-speed the first time he did it.
Apparently her twin brother also was a speedster but was shot down and killed in battle. It made him want to run and get her fruit basket or bear (something nice to help) He was still unable to believe all that she'd been through. It honestly reminded him of Erik with all of his losses. The same Erik who thankfully was away from the Mansion at the moment and possibly may never find out about this. Maybe this worked like Narnia? He could spend like twenty years in here, and by the time they figured out how to get him back. It would be like only a few minutes had passed in his universe.
Peter nearly dropped his food, as he watched her materialize an entire house out of nothing as if willing it into existence. It was probably the most impressive power he had ever seen bar with Jean's, Charles, and his dad's.
"Okay that's pretty cool."
Wanda's curled up into their first smile since he came there.
Examining every inch of the cozy interior Peter couldn't help but ask. "So do you mind if I crash with you until we can work out, if you can return me to my universe?"
"It's the least I can do, since it's my fault you're stuck here." Wanda admitted with self deprecation, staring up at him with familiar haunted eyes. "I'll figure out a way to make this right."
"Hey," He said, leaning down to give her a quick hug before moving to rest his hands on her shoulders. "I'm sure you'll work it out. I have total confidence in you."
Looking dubious she just responded. "You have total confidence in total stranger?"
"Nope. I believe in what I'm calling my AU twin. There's a difference. Now come on,``inclining his head toward the strange looking TV which was entirely flat. "I want to see how your television differs from mine."
It was many sitcoms and reality TV shows later that they retired to bed once Wanda had magic'd up some night threads for Peter. He didn't know who this poison was, but the design was pretty cool.
Waking up to find that yesterday wasn't a crazy alcohol induced dream was weird. Not that Peter could easily get drunk with his metabolism. From experience it took drinking like a third of a bar to get there. Peter just lay blinking at the unfamiliar ceiling, kinda wishing he could blink himself home.
Idly he wondered if anyone noticed his absence, although it was unlikely they'd be able to do anything about it even if they had. They may just think he ran off either back home or to take some time for himself. He hadn't quite committed himself to being a full time professor yet. Again, fingers crossed that Erik never finds out about this, or that was just not going to end well for anyone in his universe.
He didn't care to dwell on things long enough that he had no power to change. There was just no point, and maybe just maybe he was brought here for a reason. Maybe he was supposed to help Wanda in some way. At the very least she could use a friend especially after the recent loss of her robot husband.
Their "home" while nicely decorated was definitely lacking personal touches like picture frames or homemade stuff. He hoped not all houses in the future looked like this. Upgraded but impersonal. Or maybe Wanda was just trying to keep it fair so it wouldn't entirely be dedicated to her.
"Good Morning," He called out only to full stop once he discovered levitating kitchen utensils everywhere scrambling, pouring, or flipping some food. It was like a scene out of the sorcerer's apprentice. After a quick scan of the room it appeared Wanda wasn't in it. Peter found her on the couch curled up with some weird small rectangle device.
"Hey when did you wake up?" Trying to discreetly hide a yawn behind his hand. He could do with a sugar boost.
"I didn't go to bed." Came the reply not glancing away from the rectangle box. "But breakfast should almost be ready soon."
After a quick glance at the still steadily moving kitchen implements Peter bit back a sigh before moving to take a seat on the other side of the couch. When it didn't appear that Wanda was going to react , he carefully took the device from her grip and placed it on the coffee table ignoring her sharp look.
"Hey," He started gently giving her knee a nudge.
"What Peter."
"I don't blame you for this, so ease up on yourself okay? I know you didn't mean for this to happen and maybe there's a reason I was pulled here."
"Well I blame myself. I have been wracking my brain all night but I can't figure out the why and the how."
"Maybe you just needed the coolest person in any universe.?"
"But then in that case why are you here?" Playing along with him.
Peter mimed a fake hurt expression, even as he laughed. "Solid roast there bewitched." Shifting his position slightly he continued. "In all seriousness I can't answer the why me question but for the how question. What were you doing just before it happened? Were you thinking about anything in particular?"
"I don't know how I did it." An echo of what she told him before. She pulled her knees close to wrap her arms around them eyes no longer looking at him. "All I could remember was feeling...completely alone..endless nothing. Then the next thing I knew was you were there."
Again he was reminded of someone reaching out for a friend or anyone to starve off the loneliness like a person drowning and needing a life vest. Which in this case was him, so he would be an excellent life vest. It also kinda solidified his resolve that there was a reason for this. Fate was weird like that. Giving her a small smile he replied. "Then it was meant to be. In the meantime as your new roommate I'm going to ask you to get some sleep and no longer keep vampire hours capisce?"
She just gave him a look that read 'We'll see.'
A chime of the doorbell broke Wanda's concentration causing all the kitchen utensils to fall to the ground or counter-tops some things spilling over completely. Wanda and Peter exchanged looks before Peter zipped into his clothes from yesterday before answering the door, noticing Wanda had changed her outfit as well.
"Howdy Ho neighbors! My name's Agnes. I'm your neighbor to the right. My right! Not yours." The woman dressed in a purple sweater with gray slacks said with an airy laugh. "I wanted to be the first ones to welcome you." Handing over the plant she was carrying to Peter. "I have to say I couldn't believe it at first, when my husband Ralph told me. I first thought that he was a bit too deep in the sauce already, but wouldn't you know your house appeared just like magic!" She replied with another laugh. "Quite the stir for our little community with a well known avenger now living here."
Wanda attempted a smile but shifted uneasily. Peter decided to interject.
"Nice to meet you Agnes. I'm Peter," Setting down the plant next to him before gesturing to Wanda. "This is Wanda and we appreciate this very nice um fern here."
"Oh you're a hoot! It's not a fern dear but a Venus fly trap. You wouldn't believe how bad the flies around here get in July. It's practically a plague."
"Good to know." Wanda said moving to stand next to Peter. "I'm so sorry to cut your visit short Agnes but we were actually just about to have breakfast."
"Ah say no more." Agnes retorted in good humor. "I can see a to be continued when it's there. We're having a barbecue this Friday and would love it if you two could make it. Best smokey ribs this side of the county! Not to mention the pies there's a reason Ralph has gone up a pants size so bring your appetites and I'll see you soon. Toodles!" Sweeping out the door in a grand exit Peter was still warily eying the plant.
"She seemed nice." Wanda offered before moving to clean up the mess, but Peter gently pushed down her hands.
"Allow me" A second later Wanda hair swooshed up as Peter skidded next to her pretending to mime blowing a smoking finger before gesturing at the sparkling kitchen with salvaged food on the table. "Can't let you be showing me up all the time."
Wanda snorted with quirked lips at the corners
The first few weeks of living with Wanda were a bit of a journey and learning process about each other. She was still so clearly grieving for Vision and often would wake up sobbing in the middle of the night. Peter would stay with her and listen to his favorite rock/metal bands or just talk about his world, until she fell asleep. She didn't usually like to talk about it the next day, and sometimes he missed home so bad he would just run anywhere that was far just to try and ease the longing. But slowly they were working through it to form a beginning friendship.
At times it was even surprisingly fun, when one got used to her red wiggly woos. Peter got them a ping pong table and PAC man game that unfortunately much to his frustration couldn't beat Wanda at no matter how hard he tried.
Wanda shared her favorite sitcoms with him and stories of her life and the Avengers team. She was also his proverbial guide through figuring out things in her time period.
He didn't waste any time in checking out what living in the future is like. Two words: Freaking Awesome. Peter wanted to thank whoever invented IPods personally and sleek phones with touch screens. Also so much killer music he could only hope his universe would be coming into as well. Despite the additional trash that it comes with. Some of the bubblegum pop music he heard horrified him.
While they didn't end up going to that barbecue, Agnes was becoming a steady presence at their house and closer to Wanda. Peter didn't mind her, but he didn't like her nearly to the degree Wanda did. Because Peter thought it was kinda in poor taste to always be inviting yourself over to someone's house nearly every day. He may have lived in his mom's basement for a decade, but at least he had standards.
Then they come to find out that nosy neighbor Agnes was actually a witch. One who had been a witch for hundreds of years.
After that Peter now feels like he barely ever sees Wanda. She's always over in Agatha's basement practicing or learning something in hopes to help send him home. However he could admit to himself he was becoming worried. Not for himself but for Wanda.
"She knows dozens of spells and she's been teaching me incantations. Her Darkhold has so much in it, even time traveling spells." She told him over dinner one night that consisted of sub-par Chinese food. They would need to find a new place.
"The evil magic book? Wait I thought you didn't need to use those." He asked poking his chopstick at an over-sized piece of orange chicken but referring to the incantations.
"Well no but it's nice to know that I can use them if I need to, and the book's not evil. But she thinks she can help me bring you home with a spell from one of her books. I'm helping her tomorrow to practice and try it out." The excitement and optimism was unfortunately doing little to sway his uncertainty. He tried to school his face, so his unease wasn't obvious.
"Is it dangerous? To either you or me?"
Wanda shook her head. "I'll make sure it's not, or I won't use it. I promise I wouldn't risk you like that, but at least this is something after weeks of dead ends."
While Wanda was reveling in the potential answer to their problem, Peter was more focused on studying her. Ever since finding out Agnes was a witch, Wanda had been spending more and more time over there. In turn she had been looking more and more exhausted and pale every time she came back.
At first he thought of the nightmares which he knew she had, but she had been sleeping soundly through the night lately, so maybe this type of magic just required a lot more energy or maybe she was just getting sick? Whatever it was it wasn't good as the other night Wanda actually fell asleep at the dinner table. He had to carry her up to her bedroom.
"Just...be careful and if it looks too risky don't do it."
"I'll be fine but deal."
The next night Wanda didn't come home, so Peter called her. After a dozen unanswered texts and a few voice-mails Peter rushed over to knock on Agnes' door which opened after a few long moments.
"Oh hello Peter. What brings you by?"
"Hey Agnes is Wanda still there? She didn't come home last night."
Agnes' face turned to a frown. "Oh dear, do you mean she didn't tell you?"
Peter felt his face shift into confusion. "Tell me what?"
"That she was leaving dear. The poor thing has been messed up for weeks over this whole Vision thing and what happened to you .She couldn't handle it. Last night when she tried the spell she couldn't do it and couldn't face your disappointment at messing up the one chance to send you home. I told her she was making a fuss over nothing, and that you'd understand. But she wouldn't listen and took off in the first bus this morning."
It felt like he experienced a range of emotions within just a few moments before his entire body had hollowed out, and he could only croak out. "Did she say where she was going?"
Agnes shook her head, tone dosed in sympathy. "Afraid not dear just that she had to leave."
"Oh well um...thanks for letting me know."
"Of course Peter, take care now." Moving to close the door behind her.
Peter didn't move for a few minutes before slowly walking back to the house to eventually the couch to sink down into it like a stone. This didn't make any sense. Why would she leave without saying anything? She had to know that while he would be somewhat disappointed and understandably so. He wouldn't blame or hold it against her. He'd forgive her and move on. How did she not know this after the dozens of times he'd said it?
But then again how well did he really know her? Maybe the Wanda he'd spent the last few weeks getting to know was actually an act and not genuine. Tonight was looking like a more and more tempting night to drink a liquor store dry and actually get drunk, but he just didn't have the energy.
The next morning he woke up angry and started blowing up her phone trying to find out what had happened and changed to cause her to just take off and bail on him like this. He never got a response.
The more the week went by the more Peter thought about it, deciding something was up with absolutely no response back from Wanda. Not even so much as an 'hey I'm sorry for leaving I just couldn't face seeing you.' Since the last known place he knew she'd been was Agnes' place he went back to revisit it. Oddly enough when he approached the front entryway the door was open.
"Hello," He called out tentatively, walking inside. "Agnes? You're front door was just open so I'm closing it and kinda hoping to talk to you again."
There was no answer, so it appeared no one was home. Peter hesitated. For all intents and purposes he should leave what would he hope to find from snooping, and if Agnes was lying about what happened to Wanda what motive could she have for doing that? Peter nearly hummed the Jaws theme song, as he felt his unease prickling, This amplified as he heard a noise that sounded like it came from a basement.
Apparently Peter could add trespassing to his list of offenses, as he carefully made his way to a wooden door that opened to contain a staircase. Making his way down the creaky stairs at first he didn't notice anything out of the ordinary...up until the large ominous vines creeping along the wall. The small part of common sense that Peter didn't often listen to was screaming at him to Get Out Now. But he felt like, he needed to know what else was down here.
A dark cinder-block and vine adorned hallway later, and Peter finally figured out the mystery of what happened to Wanda. For there she was straight in front of him in the middle of the room chained on the floor and lying unconscious.
"Oh God," He breathed rushing over to her gently shaking her awake. It didn't take much before she stirred looking at him in confusion.
"Peter?"
"Yeah it's me. What the hell?"
Then she snapped more alert looking around. "You have to leave before she comes back."
"Who? Agnes?"
"Actually," A voice rich with smug satisfaction called from behind him forcing him to turn slowly, while Wanda wearily glared. "The name's Agatha Harkness." She smiled a winning smile at them. "Lovely to finally meet you too. The very reason that drew me here in the first place." The woman was holding and petting her rabbit like a Bond villain stroking her cat. It was cliche so much so that Peter hated that he had missed obvious signs. And smaller ones after all no one who double dipped could be considered good in his book.
"What do you mean I drew you here?"
"Oh well not you specifically silver top. But the magic Wanda used to bring you here? Tugging you so far into an alternate universe? Well I'd be hard pressed not to take note of that. I had to find out what else she was capable of."
Standing up so he was positioned protectively in front of her, Peter questioned. "Why? What's that matter to you?"
Agnes no Agatha's lips pulled into a smirk. "I take power from the undeserving. It's kinda my thing. So at first I merely wanted to know how she did it, and what else she could do. But after our trip down memory lane I realized that Wanda doesn't have ordinary magic. She was born with chaos magic. She is the Scarlet witch. A witch that has no coven nor need of incantations. A witch that was supposed to be a myth and yet. Here she is with so much power and barely even scratches the surface of her capabilities."
Peter tensed as Agatha moved to put the rabbit back in it's terrarium trying to think of a way out for both him and Wanda. "Let me guess. You'd use it better? World domination perhaps? A touch too predictable don't you think?"
"Ah, perhaps in time I'll get there but for now. I want to be known as the greatest sorceress to ever have existed, and I'll continue taking power from those I don't feel deserve to have it."
'What a surprise. Villain on an ego trip. Wonder if it was some type of kink to other evil villains.'
"You're a fine one to call my predictable Peter. Considering you both were SO dreadfully easy to manipulate."
He straightened at the fact that she could read his thoughts. Before he could say anything Wanda shouted behind him.
"Peter run!"
"Not so fast!" Agatha countered with a quick move of her hand; she had encased him in a purple cocoon freezing him in place. Raising that same hand even higher she stretched it out with splayed fingers in purple slowly nearing his temple. Peter shut his eyes bracing himself for the rush of magic which always felt like someone had poured ice water into his blood. "I have plans for this one."
Being shoved into the back of your own head was one of the worst experiences Peter had ever experienced. It was like being shoved into a glass box inside your mind and seeing a giant theater screen that allowed you to watch everything that was going on around you and what his body was doing and saying but having absolutely no control over any of it. And to make matters worse Agatha monologues to Wanda. A lot. And she was stuck as a prisoner just like him, forced to listen to it.
At least so far Agatha hasn't forced him to do anything too horrible. He hadn't hurt or been forced to kill anyone...well yet at least. Peter was sure once she finished amusing herself tapping into Wanda she'd have him grab other witches, so she could take their power, draining them to husks just like she did to her own mother.
Though for right now the most she'd had him done was gather potion ingredients to increase her stock (which was a disgusting amount of animal parts, blood, and eyeballs) and steal books to expand her library. He would also feed Wanda just enough to survive but that was it. No matter how many times Peter banged relentlessly against the glass box and screamed, he was still a victim to her string pulling.
Finally one day when he was placing Wanda's lunch in front of her, she completely shocked him as she grabbed the sides of his face and completely broke through Agatha's enchantment with tendrils of red magic. Peter panted in short breaths, as he felt control flood back to his limbs and body again.
"Wanda...how did you...do that?" Knowing that Agatha's dungeon had a protection spell on it to prevent anyone else she didn't want from doing magic.
Laboriously pulling herself up from where she collapsed, Wanda explained. "I carved a line through one of the symbols." Peter now sees in the corner the one behind them with the tiniest scratch there on the wall. The tiniest thing but rendering the whole thing ineffective. "We don't have a whole lot of time. I don't know when she'll be back, so you need to listen to me. You need to get out of here and go find help."
"I think you're insane, if you think I'm going to just leave you with her." Peter said, already trying to pull at the chains and searching for a key.
Wanda shook her head slowly. "They're vibranium." She started wearily using the last of her strength before slumping back down. "And they're spelled to keep me here. You won't be able to break me out of them on your own."
Wanting to argue that point came instinctively but while he hated it, he knew that Wanda was right. And they also didn't have a whole lot of time. "You're the only person I know in this universe. So who am I looking for that can help?"
"Peter Parker. If you can find Peter Parker then he can. "She broke off with a wince, as she shifted eyelids , getting heavy once more. "He's in New York. He can help you get in contact with Doctor Strange." She gave him one last determined trusting glance that showed she was clearly putting all of her faith in him to come through on this one. "Good luck."
"Right no sweat sis. I'll be back before you know it. I promise." Touching his forehead to hers a quick moment before sprinting out of there. The only question he had in his mind was how the hell he was supposed to find one person in an entire state?
Yellow pages weren't really a thing nowadays, and he also had absolutely no clue what this Parker looked like. (He had to refer to him like that or it gave him a really weird speaking in the third person sense) He did a couple of Google searches, but they yielded too many hits. Apparently it was a really common name. Turning over the phone Wanda had gifted him in his hands, Peter was stuck with inspiration. Social Media. If Wanda was on it, then she had to at least be friends with him if he was.
Bingo! He cheered as he found a Peter Parker in her friend list and searched his profile before coming across his photos where in one of them he was wearing a Midtown High School sweatshirt. Zipping over to the school he broke into one of the photography and journalism labs, after he disabled the school's security cameras to find the most recent copy of the yearbook and make sure he was still a student.
Unfortunately the yearbook didn't give him any real contact info and he was barely skilled at the computers in his time period then to be able to try and hack into one searching for that information. Peter blew out a frustrated sigh that he'd have to wait until tomorrow morning to grab this guy. Well first things first he needed to stock up on calories. So when he hit the first grocery store he could find he nearly cleaned out the packaged food aisle, leaving a note and extra money. Finding a cheap motel he passed the time listening to his IPod and getting small snatches of sleep here and there.
The next morning he impatiently waited for the first bell to start. Once it did Peter got down to business cracking his knuckles and sliding on his goggles. If he moved fast enough then everything else slowed as if it were standing still. This would allow him to search the entire school without anyone seeing him. He found Parker in a homeroom classroom, attention caught by the boy seated next to him suspended in time. Grabbing him in his typical pull people fashion he yanked him out of the classroom all the way to the edge of New York. Parker looked very disoriented.
"What...what's happening?" He asked before groaning and shutting his eyes, looking like he was doing his best to stay upright.
"Sorry about that but I need your help. My name's Peter and I was sent by Wanda. Because I need your help finding some guy named Doctor Strange." Which to him kinda sounds like a stripper name but is most likely not.
Despite looking like he just came off the world's roughest roller coaster, this guy was quick on the draw Peter would give him that.
"Wanda's in trouble?"
Peter nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah she's being held in this evil witch's basement and getting drained like a battery. I'm not sure how much longer she has before Agatha drains her dry."
"Then let's go. I can tell you how to get to the secret sanctum. Just one sec." Parker quickly shed all of his outer layers to reveal a skin-tight spandex red and blue suit with a black spider and webs all over it. Peter's brow furrowed in puzzlement. "Are you a mutant who controls spiders or something?"
"What? No I'm. That's not. Never mind, I'll tell you later. Are you a teleporter? Is that how we got here so fast?"
He wasn't the first person to guess that and certainly wouldn't be the last. "No, I'm a speedster. I just run fast."
Parker's eyes lit up in intrigue and looked like he had to physically reign himself back from asking a million questions trying to stay on task. "Right well if I tell you how to get there. Can you get us both to Dr Strange as fast as you can?"
"Of course," Placing a hand on the back of Parker's head. "And before you ask, this is preparing you so you don't get whiplash. Trust me it's a thing that will happen."
After Parker had given him a rough outline of where to go, they eventually made it to stand before the doors of New York's secret sanctum whatever the heck that meant.
"Ugh thanks for the heads up about the whiplash."
"No problem dude."
The doors suddenly opened and a strangely dressed man in a red cape stepped out with a deep voice and eyebrow raised. 'Peter Parker and guest '' Casting him a curious, passing look over. "I trust there's a good reason you brought a stranger to the Sanctum."
"There is. Please we need your help Doctor Strange because Wanda's being held prisoner by a witch in Westview and we could use someone with magic to help.." Parker explained in a rush.
Strange didn't appear entirely convinced if his silence and expression were anything to go by.
"Hey," Peter said waving a hand before snapping his fingers. "Time sensitive situation here doc. If you need to search my mind or whatever you need to figure out that I'm telling the truth then do it. But if we don't hurry Wanda may not be alive by the time I get back."
Strange turned to Parker for feedback. "How much do you know about him?"
"Me? Um not much, I just met him."
"I see."
"But I think he's telling the truth! I mean why would he lie about that?"
"A trap never crossed your mind? To do us both in."
'I could do you both in right now in a millicent, if I wanted to.'Peter couldn't help but think as he rubbed his temple in irritation before walking away mumbling to himself. 'Holy shit this was utterly pointless.' "Well nice meeting you. I'm going to go back and figure a way to rescue Wanda alone. Thanks bye." Preparing to take off just as soon as he could find a better song to head back to.
"No wait! I'll come with you!" Parker piped up from behind clearly loyal AF. The doc could take some lessons there. I mean he got he was a stranger, but Wanda wasn't and she was counting on him.
Strange appeared to be swayed to their side at that finally. "Alright as quickly as you can tell us who you are and exactly what happened, so we know what we're dealing with."
The plan involved the four of them including some guy named Wong with Strange and Wong tag teaming to engage with Agatha directly, bringing in some old artifacts from the sanctum to help trap and neutralize her, while the Peters were tasked with the mission of finding and breaking Wanda out. They used one of Strange's gold circle portals to get to the house but once down there. It was completely empty.
"Great now where did she take her?" Peter muttered to himself, head swiveling around the room. He checked the entire house quickly before running outside. Agatha was up in the sky flying or levitating or something in full witch threads. The only thing missing was the broom and the pointy hat.
"Where's Wanda?! What did you do with her?!" 'Please let her be alive' he thought to himself.
She cackled to herself before responding with a question of her own. "Peter what did they do to witches in the 1600's in Salem?"
"Most of them were hung." Parker answered from the front doorway, coming in to join them along with Wong and Strange.
"In America yes." Agatha said, looking marginally impressed. "But that wasn't the only way. There was often a series of tests you needed to pass, if suspicion happened to be cast on you. One such one was the water test.
He heard Parker inhale a breath, and Strange looked oddly worried.
"It was here where accused witches were dragged to the nearest body of water, bound and then tossed into to see if they would sink or float. Since witches were believed to have spurned the sacrament of baptism, it was thought that the water would reject their body and prevent them from submerging. Therefore by their logic an innocent person would sink like a stone, but a witch would simply bob on the surface." Another cackle broke out as she advised. "Happy hunting!"
Grabbing Parker, Peter zipped off to the nearest body of water which happened to be a large lake at the edge of town. They immediately cast their gazes over the water.
"Do you see her?"
"No I. No wait! I do. Right in the middle there?"
Peter felt blind because he couldn't see anything trying to squint all over the lake.
"It must be due to my enhanced senses." Parker crouched low to the ground and aimed his hand palm side up before firing off some stringy material that made contact with something far away as it pulled taut. Oh it's a web. So that's what he does!'
Parker started tugging continuously, reeling in something that was off in the distance. Finally Peter could see her tied to some driftwood completely out cold once more. Peter wanted to help but running would only disrupt the water causing large waves, and Parker seemed oddly strong pulling in Wanda's weight against the current like it was nothing.
They both jumped in once she was close enough then grabbed her before dragging her to the shore bank, he shakily pressed two fingers to her neck and let out a relieved sound at a pulse. Parker was already working on untying her from the driftwood.
"We should get back to Dr Strange. Either he may need help or he can help take a look at Wanda."
"Copy that webs." Peter said gently, picking up Wanda and sprinting off again.
"Hey wait up!"
When they regrouped, Strange was alone and standing in front of Agatha's house holding the Darkhold. His expression didn't exactly look pleased.
"Hey doc can we get a hand here!" Skidding in front of him before laying Wanda down on the ground, so he could check on her. Strange did a complicated hand movement, while Peter waited with bated breath in silence.
"If she hadn't been touched by the mind stone, I would say that she would have been completely drained of magic and life force under normal circumstances. Frankly it's a miracle that she's even alive at this point. But I can still see flickers of magic within. It'll take some time to recover and she'll be extremely weak while it happens, but there are things we can do to help regain the life force that Agatha stole."
"What happened to Agatha?"
"She is sealed and secured inside a prison of our own design." Strange paused before voicing his next question. "The bigger question is how to send you back without risk of damaging the multiverse. The longer you stay the bigger risk I fear it poses. However, considering Wanda brought you here by accident and I've never attempted this type of magic. Further study will be needed."
Peter considered this before voicing his next question. "Can we stay at our house in the meantime or do we need to head back to your mystical magic lair?"
Strange looked like he preferred Peter to keep his distance from all of his stuff, responding. "Here is fine. I'll check in on you both amidst my research. Peter." Turning to Parker who had finally joined them. "I can send you back home, when you're ready."
"Really? Thank you! Walking all the way back would have sucked. Let me just say goodbye first." He knelt down and briefly squeezed Wanda's hand. "Glad you're okay." He whispered with warm affection. "I'll call you later to check in." He stood up before facing Peter to shake his hand. Peter side fived it. "It was really nice to meet you, other Peter. Your speed is really impressive. Do you mind if I ask what the highest that you clock per hour is?"
"Yeah you too and thanks. I'm not really too sure but I think the last time Hank checked it was like 225 mph? Maybe eh something like that it might be up to 250. I often zone out, when Hank goes super in depth into analyzing our powers."
Parker opened his mouth likely to ask a million questions before Strange interjected. "Time's up Peter." Creating one of his golden circles underneath him causing him to vanish from view with the words "Ah man!" coming back to them.
With Strange advising, he'd check on them tomorrow and would be bringing something to help Wanda, Peter set about bringing her inside before trying to take care of her. Drying her off being the first thing. Once she was in warm dry clothes, he tried to get her to eat something with marginal success; she wasn't really with it enough to comply. This carried on for a few days until finally she woke up, when he fell asleep on the floor.
"Hey,"
Hey!" He said sitting up in excitement. Who knew one could get so excited just to see someone wake up. "Look who's awake."
"You came back for me."
"I told you I would and keeping my word is kinda a big deal for me."
Gracing him with a smile she climbed out of bed before joining him on the floor. Peter was tempted to make a joke that the bed was shangri la compared to the floor but kept quiet having a feeling she was going to say something.
"You know when all of this started I felt so alone that I didn't know what to do. I didn't really know how to keep going, but now...after everything that's happened I think I'm finally ready to try to move forward. And you helped to show me that it is possible. I can't thank you enough for that."
Rolling to her side so she was facing him, she continued. "I know that you're not my brother but you remind me of some of the best parts of him. And you're family whoever they are? Well they are really lucky to have you."
Oh God was he really going to start tearing up? Yep 100% he was. Well if they were baring their souls now. "You know even when I leave I'll still consider you family right? Like you're the only AU witch twin that I know of and have. I honestly couldn't forget you, if I tried." Turning his head so he could look at her, he stressed. "You have some pretty cool people here, and if you give them a chance I'm sure they'd support you too. And if for whatever reason you need me again or my help I'll be there. We'll find a way."
Sharing one last smile Wanda linked her arm around his before casting a sky projection on the ceiling. It was definitely a weaker one then she would normally make, but as usual Peter still found it impressive.
"I thought you were supposed to be saving your strength."
"Shh..."
Peter rolled his eyes but offered her the other ear-bud so they could listen to the several decades of music that he would have to wait to hear when he got sent back. But still if anyone asked he didn't regret a thing.
