AN: Enjoy!

Stark's Iron Creations was the finest Armor Store in the city of Westview. Stark's younger son, Peter, ran a small cafe with his girlfriend MJ, and his youngest daughter, Morgan, was a good many years away from stepping into the family business, so since his death a year previous, the day-to-day running of the store had fallen on his eldest son, Victor.

The store wasn't Victor's dream.. Not that he really had much clue what his own dreams were, apart from being different, bigger, than this. Until he worked it out, he was more than happy to keep his Father's dream alive a little longer. And he had to admit, the store did a roaring trade.. If 'trade' was actually the right word. An ongoing War between Asgard, the Kingdom in which Sokovia was located, and their neighboring Kingdom, Olympus, over the unknown fate of a missing Asgardian Prince, meant Victor and other armorers and swordsmiths were obligated to provide their services for little to no monetary compensation.

The War meant Victor often worked overtime to fill orders. His long hours alone in the store, as well as the fact that he also often had to get home on his own as well. This fact was often a source of concern to his Mother, Pepper, as she reiterated to him when she arrived at the store one day around Noon with Morgan to walk him to a planned family lunch at Peter's Cafe', only to learn he was not yet ready to leave.

"You promised you'd have lunch with us Today, Victor.."

"I still plan to, but I am so close to finishing this latest piece. I cannot leave just yet" He replied. "I will be right behind you, no more than thirty minutes.."

"You know how I hate you traveling the streets alone," Pepper huffed. "When I think of what could happen.."

Admittedly, her fears were not entirely unfounded. While some magic users used their talents for good, selling helpful spells and potions (One of these, the Witch Shaw, held a premises just a few streets away from Stark's Iron Creations) there were other less scrupulous individuals roaming the Wastes, a vast, desolate land between Asgard and Olympus, home to cursed souls and Dark Witches, the latter of whom were believed to enter towns and steal the hearts of lonely young people.

"I have my wits about me, Mother" Victor rolled his eyes, "I promise you, I will not fall victim to the wiles of the Scarlet Witch.."

Though the Scarlet Witch was supposed to be the most dangerous of them all, Victor often wondered if this was true. She never did much to hide her presence in town.. More than once, Victor had seen her stroll rather casually past his store, fiery hair and long red cloak billowing behind her.

"What about those two little boys who disappeared from the Workhouse?"

"We don't know that a witch took them.."

"Who else could have?"

"The Scarlet Witch doesn't target children, it's far more likely they have just run away.." Victor sighed. "Now please, Peter will be waiting for you, and I swear, I will be there soon.."

"Do you promise, big brother?" little Morgan asked him.

"Yes, Morgan" Victor ruffled his sister's hair, then glanced pointedly at his Mother. "I promise."

"Fine" Pepper sighed. "But if you do not arrive exactly thirty minutes behind us I am sending out a search party.."

–

After his Mother and sister's departure, Victor finished up his work, then switched the sign on the door to 'Closed', grabbed his Father's old helmet, which he had repaired as a gift for Pepper, and headed out, locking the door behind him.

Unfortunately, only a few steps away from the store, he ran into a passing soldier, who just as unfortunately, took a liking to Tony Stark's old helmet.

"That's a nice piece of work, armorer. Let me take a look.."

'Let me take a look' was more often than not a precursor to a Soldier claiming a piece for his own. Victor could not let that happen, so as the soldier extended his hand, Victor jerked the helmet out of his reach.

"Y-You can't have this one.. It's..

"Refusing an order from a soldier in a time of war?" The Soldier sneered, grabbing for Victor's arm. "That will buy you a day in the Stocks.."

Before Victor could argue, or the Soldier could make good on his threat, another voice spoke.

"Let him go."

"But.."

"Let him go" The voice repeated.

The Soldier's hand suddenly glowed red, and he yelped, releasing Victor's arm.

Victor's breath caught in his throat as he turned, looking right into the face of the Scarlet Witch. She smirked, winking at him, and the young armorer blushed.

"Witch" The Soldier spat. "You have no right to.."

"Shush" She raised her finger, and the Soldier's mouth shut. He panicked, trying to prise his lips open. "You think this stupid war gives you the right to do whatever you like, but don't think I don't know that your powers aren't endless. You can't lay claim to family heirlooms.. I believe your helmet is one of those?"

"Oh.. um.. yes" Victor jumped, having taken a moment to realize that her question was directed toward him. "It was my Father's. I intended to deliver it to my Mother as a gift."

"Well" The Witch turned back to the Soldier, releasing her spell over his mouth, "In that case, I am going to escort my new friend here to ensure that helmet reaches its intended destination, and you are going to let us pass without further trouble.."

"Fine.." The Soldier huffed, annoyed, but chastened. "On your way, then.."

"Thank you.." The Witch grinned, her green eyes flashing red for a moment, before she linked arms with Victor, leading him away.

"You.. Y-You're.. The Sc-Scarlet.." Victor sputtered, although for some reason, did not try to pull away from her.

"I know what they call me" She replied nonchalantly. "What do they call you?"

"V-Victor. Victor Stark."

"Oh.." Her nose wrinkled.

"What?"

"Nothing. It just doesn't seem to fit you that well.."

"Oh.." Truth be told, he had often thought the same thing.

"Oh well.. Where are we heading, Victor?"

"My family is waiting for me at the Spider's Web cafe.." He told her. "It's just.."

"I know it.. Don't turn around.."

"Wha.." Of course, he now couldn't help but turn around, yelping when he saw odd, blobby purple creatures in pursuit.

"I did warn you" The Witch sighed, speeding up her pace. "Don't worry, it's not you they want.." They turned a corner, freezing when their way was blocked by more of the creatures.

"N-Now what?" Victor panicked.

"Hang on to me. We're going to have to go up.." The Witch suddenly stepped upwards, suddenly floating in mid-air, and Victor squeaked, his feet flailing. "I won't let you fall, Victor. Just move with me, like your climbing an invisible staircase. Step up, and up, up.."

Victor did as the Witch told him, even though this went against everything he had ever been taught about self preservation in Westview. Soon, they were in the air, skipping, almost dancing above the town.

"Oh.. oh gosh.. I'm doing it!"

"You are.. You're a bit of a natural. I wouldn't be surprised if you've got some magic in you" The Witch smiled, a rather sweet smile, and Victor couldn't help smiling back.. Until he remembered who exactly he was with.

"W-Why did you help me? Y-You're not going to steal my.."

"No.." Her face fell a little. "I'm not.. I'm not everything they say I am.."

"W-What are you, then?"

"Most days, I'm still trying to work that out.. Step down, Victor.. The Witch instructed. He turned, realizing they had reached the Spider's Web, or more accurately, the balcony of the apartment above it in which Peter and MJ lived, so again, did as she asked him. "Lay low here for a while, alright? And tell your Mother to carry the helmet out of sight."

"Of course. Thank you, Miss Scarlet, um.."

"Wanda" She chuckled, before turning to leave. "My name is Wanda.."

"W-Wait.. those things.."

"Oh, I can handle them. I just wanted to get you somewhere safe.." Without another word, she descended gracefully back into the crowd below, cloak billowing behind her.

Moments later, Victor's younger brother, who had come upstairs to fetch something, spotted him on the Balcony.

"Victor!" Peter rushed out to greet him, a mixture of confused and panicked. "When did you.. And how the hell did you get up here? Mom is seriously about to freak.."

"Ah. Well, I ran into a spot of trouble, and I was helped out of it by, um.. The Scarlet Witch.."

"The Scarlet Witch?! What the hell, bro? She could have stolen your heart!"

"You mean Wanda?" said another voice, causing both Stark brothers to jump, until they realized MJ had appeared behind him.

"MJ, when did you get here?.. And you know the Witch's name?!" Peter almost squeaked.

"Ned said he saw your brother get dropped off on the balcony.. And yeah, I know her name" MJ replied. "She comes in for a cup of tea on Monday mornings when you're off doing the market run. Sometimes she brings two little short guys with beards and buys them cookies.."

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Peter panicked. "It's the Scarlet Witch, she steals people's hearts.. She could have stolen Victor's literally minutes ago!"

"Are we sure that's even true?" MJ mused. "I certainly don't know anyone who knows anyone who's had their heart stolen.. Apart from Flash, who swears it happened to his Mother's cousin's roommate or some crap like.."

"Of course it's true!" Peter cried. "What do you think happened to those two kids who disappeared from the workhouse?"

"Story goes she steals hearts, not kids" MJ pointed out. "Besides, the Workhouse is.."

"I don't think it's worth worrying about" Victor cut her off, smiling a slightly forced smile. "The Scarlet Witch is only supposed to steal the hearts of lonely people. I am not lonely. I have Peter, and Morgan, and Mother, of course.."

"Oh, we absolutely cannot tell Mom about this.." Peter grabbed Vision's hand, dragging him away. "Let's sneak you back downstairs, tell her you came in the back way.."

"Yes.. of course.." Victor cast a look over his shoulder. He could just make out Wanda, a speck of red in the distance.

He had absolutely no idea how much his life was about to change.