Arrival
There wasn't much to do at Boarding House. Wanda couldn't understand how Brotherhood boys hadn't died of boredom before she arrived. Then she wondered what this thought was about Before she arrived? Where was she before? Wasn't she always with Brotherhood? She tried to remember but it only resulted in a headache. It was like the headache was trying to prevent her from remembering. This time she tried to fight it. A vision of a monkey man and a girl eating at the dungeon came into her mind again. She stopped fighting with the headache when ampule and the wardrobe got crashed.
She opened her eyes and exhaled. This time there wasn't much harm. Considering she caused a rail accident last time. Maybe headaches were weakening. Still, she searched for an aspirin. When she realized there was none, she went to market.
Wanda arrived at the market. She looked at shelves and picked a packet of aspirin. She had also planned to buy a notebook to write or draw about her nightmares-dreams. She had heard from somewhere that the more you write about them the more you remember your dreams. Perhaps she should have asked boys if they needed anything. A voice interrupted her thoughts.
"If I had that much money, I would buy more medical supplies. These are troubled times."
It was the voice of a black-skinned young man. Wanda looked at him and remembered that he was X-man. Or at least he used to be. Who would leave their good aunt and family to join Morlocks anyway? Wanda listened to his warning anyway. There weren't many medical supplies at Boarding House, at least she could spend money to buy something useful.
Porcupine boy headed to cash-point. Wanda noticed he had a bag of food in his hand. Underground must have been crowded. While he was at the cashpoint, he searched his pockets and apparently couldn't find enough money.
"Here," said Wanda paying the rest of the money. Porcupine boy tried to stop her but the answer he got was "It is fine."
They got out of the market.
"Thanks. You are… Magneto's daughter, right?"
This made Wanda scowl. "Wanda."
"Evan."
"When I last saw you on the news you looked a bit different, Evan."
Suddenly his size doubled and his thorns were exposed. It only lasted for five seconds though it was enough for some little to scream and run.
"I can only suppress it for short periods. Like times I go to store. The last time I went to a store with my thorns, bad things happened." He looked at his surroundings as if to check there was any danger. "Be careful. Last night, some FOH agents searched the underground. Boarding House might be the next target.
"Thanks, I inform the others." She offered some of the medical supplies. Evan didn't accept them at first. But when Wanda insisted with a serious expression at her face (almost threatening) it was hard to refuse.
"Thanks, say hi to Pietro for me."
When she responded with a simple nod, she saw a blond man staring at her. He had a "D" on his t-shirt. Then he whispered things to the other men who were with him. She ignored their stare and headed to the bookshop. Maybe she could find a notebook with red leather.
She heard footsteps from her back. Several people. More than one, that was for sure. She couldn't help but panic. Pietro had told her about FOH agents. She didn't want to be locked up in any kind of facility or getting experimented or being thrown in front of sentinels.
Calm down Wanda she told herself. Those boys aren't FOH. They were just a bunch of stupid kids.
"You are one of them, aren't you?" said the blond. Three people gathered around her.
Wanda remembered him. She hadn't met him until this time. His name was Duncan. And from what Lance told her, he was an anti-mutant douchebag.
The street was…. but there were people at the end of the road. She could still attract attention if she does something. She wasn't sure the cops would care about her safety if they see her powers.
Her voice came out more controlled than she thought it would be.
"One of whom? If you are looking for one of your cheer-leaders then you need to look elsewhere."
"Oh, a sharp tongue you have. You are certainly one of them."
Since she hadn't gone to High school, he couldn't know who she was. He probably didn't even realize she was a Brotherhood member. Duncan continued:
"You know; I think I know you from somewhere. Oh, that is right from the news. Rail accident. Maybe you were one of those who caused it."
Great. The news. She forgot about them. This guy was getting on her nerves. She needed to go before losing control. She pushed one of Duncan's friends. He fell on to the floor but slowly got up. Meanwhile, the other one pulled Wanda to the corner again. She pushed his hand out on her arm. That move only made her angrier. Some street lights flickered and lamps shook. That seemed to amuse Duncan.
"Moving objects and flickering lights? You almost remind me of my ex-girlfriend."
When Duncan's hand reached for her face and touched her cheek, this was the last straw. I am going to blast you out of this galaxy Wanda thought. She grabbed his wrist and said, "I break that hand of yours." Before she could hex him a female voice was heard.
"Leave her alone you creeps!" Rogue grabbed one of the guys and cleared Wanda's way. At the very moment, one old woman came with two cops and said: "Officer, these holigoons were harassing these two girls."
"What," Duncan exclaimed "You don't understand they are…"
"Young men, you are coming with us…"
"But…"
"Let's go," said Rogue taking Wanda's arm and dragging her to book store. Wanda managed to look at the woman say thank you. The old woman smiled. Rogue pulled Wanda to the corner of the bookstore where nobody can see them. Suddenly, the old woman appeared in front of them. Wanda looked at the woman with a shocked expression on her face. Rogue smiled.
"You are welcome. Just give me a sec." The old woman gazed at her left hand and played with her watch. Suddenly the old woman turned into a young man.
"Kurt, did they take them?" asked Rogue.
"Yeah, but they are probably not going to hold them for long." Kurt took small steps towards Wanda. "Are you okay?"
"I am fine. I was gonna blast him, maybe I should of."
"No, you did the right thing. If you had done something else, they would throw blame to you and you would be the one who had been taken."
"This is the third time in a week, the police takes them and then just lets them go." Huffed Rogue."
As if he was trying to take Wanda's stress, Kurt tried to change the subject. "I heard you guys are coming tomorrow."
Wanda looked at him. She lifted one of her eyebrows.
"Tomorrow?"
Kurt and Rogue gazed at each other. She hadn't known and Kurt gave it away. There was no use hiding it now.
"Tomorrow" continued Rogue. "Magneto and Professor had been planning it for days."
"I don't understand why he would want us at the Institute" Wanda blurted out. She didn't want to sound rude. Kurt, however, wasn't affected by the harsh statement.
"There have been rumors about FOH that they are going to run Mutant registration act. Your father and Professor want everyone to be together" said he.
That was why Pietro kept disappearing all the time. Lance and Toad told me today but they were planning it for a while she thought herself.
"I am sorry" Wanda turned to Kurt and Rogue who was pouting at her after her last statement. "It is just annoying that I am the last person who gets the news." Kurt smiled and Rogue's face softened. Wanda's phone ringed. It was Pietro. Speaking of the devil.
"Hello, Pietro."
"Wanda, is Lance with you? Toad said he was heading town."
No, I am the one who headed town and I haven't seen Lance."
Pietro's voice was stressful, probably it was true that they were going to leave Boarding House tomorrow. Wanda asked in a fake and sweet manner. Pietro realized the sudden change in her voice. This meant trouble. "Wanda, listen."
"How could you not tell me" Wanda whispered.
"Wanda…."
"You and dad always making decisions and doing things behind my back."
"Wanda, listen. It is serious. This town is getting dangerous and we must take precautions. I just want to keep you and boys safe." He had Wanda there. She knew her brother cared for her and boys but he never showed it.
"Oh, Pietro;" said Wanda surprised by her brother's show of affection.
"And I have packed your stuff if you don't come take all of them to Institute myself and I will give your nightgown to Toad."
Emotional Quicksilver. Like she would see that day. "You. Won' .That." said Wanda hissing each word. "I will come but this isn't over," she ended the call.
She returned to the place where Rogue and Kurt were after and she ended the call.
"So it is true?" asked Rogue
"It is true Wanda" confirmed. She hated being the last one learning everything.
"You know maybe I should teleport you home," Kurt said. Rogue looked at him as if her eyes were saying Hey what about me. Even though they were going to Xavier Institute soon Wanda thought she still had a reputation. She didn't want them to think she was afraid of a bunch of idiot boys.
"No, I can walk to Boarding House."
"Are you sure what if Duncan and others are out?"
"Then I'll hex them this time."
This answer didn't seemed to make Kurt any better.
"I'll live, " added Wanda. She tried to smile at them to reassure them. "I should get going."
...
Nothing happened when she was on her way to Boarding House and the house was almost quiet. She expected Toad to jump from somewhere, but surprisingly he hadn't. The house was uncharacteristically quiet. "Pietro" Wanda called out.
She couldn't believe the next person she called out was...
"Toad!"
A sudden wind brushed her hair.
"Hey sis, is Lance with you?"
"I told you I haven't seen him. Where is everybody?"
"Toad and Fred are on their way to Institute. Come on, I packed your stuff."
"What is the rush? Is it because of FOH?"
"How do you know that," her brother asked quickly. Wanda tried not to smile and answered with a serious and cool tone.
"Since you and dad keep everything from me, I had to find my own resources."
Pietro snickered. "Yeah right."
Wanda resisted the urge to slap him.
"How did you convinced Fred and Toad?"
"Don't underestimate my manipulation skills, sis. The promise of free food as much as he can be enough for Fred. As for Toad, I just told him you were coming."
"Fine," Wanda huffed with defeat. "Let's go."
Suddenly a small red light appeared on her coat and with her coat being red it was almost unrecognizable. Before she could eve react Pietro shoved her aside. "Watch it!"
Suddenly they were under ladders.
"Pietro!" Wanda looked at him with worried eyes. "Are you hurt?"
"Aagh... is just my shoulder," said Pietro.
Another red light appeared. Before they could shot them, Wanda aimed her hex bolt to the direction of the red streak. One was hit ut there was more.
"We are surrounded," Wanda said. She let blue lights tickle her fingers.
"Hold on to me," Pietro said, "I can get us out here."
"With a wound on your shoulder, you can't carry me, I slow you down. Go, I keep them occupied."
"No," Pietro said with a determined expression on his face. "I won't leave you again."
Again? Wanda asked herself. Pietro held her up and ran. He lost his balance when another bullet found his leg.
"This bullet was made only for you, Maximoff. And there is another one coming."
The familiar voice brought a chill to Wanda's spine. She threw another hex bolt and carried Pietro under the ladder.
"I am sorry," Pietro whispered with pain in his voice.
"Hang on," said Wanda. "We will get out of here."
The familiar voice talked again. "Come on sweetheart, is this the best you can do?"
As soon as she heard the word sweetheart, she understood it was that Douchebag. Wanda prepared another hex bolt. This time much bigger and stronger. She sent it to where Duncan's voice came from and hoped that it would his mouth. Duncan's eyes widened when he saw the bolt. He couldn't dodge it and fell to the floor.
She kept her guard on. Then their attacker threw something like a little ball at them. Wanda sent it away before it could do any harm. But while she was throwing it away she hadn't noticed another came. The little ball opened and released gas. The gas reached her lung, Wanda knew she was about to faint.
"I am sorry," Wanda tried to say Pietro but everything turned to black.
...
In her dream, she was skateboarding. She saw some sort of base in the snow. She knew she was supposed to get there. But her plans turned upside down when a flying metal sphere showed up.
Wanda opened her eyes, for a moment she expected her hands to be bound. Instead, she was in a much comfortable bed than Boarding House with a soft pillow under her head. Panicked,she quickly got up and looked at her surroundings.
"Easy," said her father. She instinctively yanked away from him. "Noone is going to hurt you, Wanda" her father tried to calm her down.
Come on Wanda she said to herself. Inhale, exhale.
"Where is Pietro?"
"He is fine, turns out the bullet was poisonous but it was nothing couldn't handle, he is getting stitches," said Master of Magnetism with reassuring voice.
"How did I get here?" Wanda asked with curiosity.
"Kurt Wagner and Rogue informed us about your encounter with Duncan Matthews. I went to Boarding House to make sure you and Pietro arrived here safely."
"Thank you," said Wanda with a low voice "but what did you do to them?"
"Many things can fuel a mutant's power. Anger. Fear. When I saw you and Pietro lying there I had both. None of them are dead. But they aren't in good shape eighter. I'll go to Hank and tell him you woke up."
"Wait, dad!"
Wanda rarely called him "dad". After getting separated from Maximoffs, she hadn't warmed up to him. This was a result of Mastermind. As much as he knew all that was fake, he wasn't willing to lose it just yet.
"Something has happened to me," Wanda continued. "It was just a suspicion at first but now I am sure. My memories had been altered. They are all coming in pieces."
Magneto looked her in the eye.
"Dreams again, what do you remember?"
"Not a dream, a Deja vu.," Wanda corrected. " I was following someone and I arrived a snowy- sphere like base. Then a flying ball showed up and knocked me out with gas. Whatever happened to, it happened right afterward."
Magneto didn't look at her, tried to hide his shock. She was getting closer, so close.
"I'll leave you to your rest."
"You don't believe me?"
"I believe you but you need to rest."
"I am not sick, I was attacked. I want to see Pietro."
Magneto and Wanda went downstairs to Hank's medical bay. For a moment, Wanda was glad they didn't put her there, she hated places like hospitals. Lance was still nowhere to be found. Toad told her how good it was to see her alive uttering one of the cheesy nicknames he gave it to her. She ignored him and ran to Pietro's side. She hugged him much to his surprise. Pietro and Magneto exchanged a look. Then, Jean and Scott came. Jean told her she was her new roommate. Wanda noticed she looked paler and wearier than her usual self. Kurt, Rogue, and Kitty arrived. Kitty had made them a welcome to a group meal. It was a sausage with weird spices in it. Rogue looked at Wanda shaking her head to both sides, warning her not to eat. Kurt offered wellbeings. Wanda was glad that he didn't bring up if she had let him come with her all, these things could be avoided. Bobby and Scott started a contest for finding an insult that fits Duncan starting with the letter "D".
Douchebag
Dumbass
Dollaphead
In the end, they voted that "Dickhead" was the best. Wanda guessed that Jean was the Dickhead's ex-girlfriend. This day was the beginning of a new dawn.