Avengers Compound, the next day.

Wanda Maximoff's POV

"Did you pack everything?" Wanda stood in the doorway with crossed arms. Her eyes were fixed on Victor as he meticulously packed his belongings. She couldn't help but feel anxious, since this would be the first time they would separate since finding each other.

"Yes, mommy." Victor smirked at her while closing his bag. Wanda's lips twitched, but the feeling of her insides twisting remained. She came closer, playing with the rings on her fingers.

"I just want to make sure you're prepared for whatever you'll face out there." Victor closed the bag and took her hands in his.

"I know, Wanda. And I appreciate this, but I have everything I ever needed." He placed a long kiss on her hands while looking into her eyes. "Right in front of me."

"You are getting better with your words, darling." Her eyes blinked red, and a warm feeling washed over her as their minds connected. It really can't be described, just how amazing it is to be with someone who can fall in love with you the same way she can. She looked at his hands. The glowing red veins were there as always. "Promise you will come back and that we will stay in touch."

"I promise Wanda."

"Sorry, I know we've talked about this already." Victor kissed her lips briefly.

"And I will promise this as often as you wish, my sweet." Wanda smiled and hugged him, inhaling his aroma, which smelled like a lush forest.

"I will take care of your plants."

"Thank you, remember that Bob loves lots of water."

"Of course, and singing too."

"Yeah, be careful with that, he is used to my screeching. He might go into a shock when he hears someone actually singing." Wanda just smiled and shook her head. "So, Steve mentioned you are still looking for this Rumlow guy?"

"Yes, that's the primary objective." She licked her lips. "Natasha told me she would start to teach me about espionage. I will meet her as soon as you leave."

"Oh? That's great, Wanda. You did great at creating distractions back in Warsaw. I think you will be great."

"Thank you, darling." She smirked. "I suspect it will be a more pleasant experience than what she put you through."

"Ugh, don't get me started. She put bruises on my bones." Victor then moved to his desk and quickly pulled out something, hiding it in his pocket.

"What do you have there?"

"I have something for you, honey." Wanda tilted her head. "Well, since I have these to remember you," Victor waved his arms with glowing red veins. "Which I love, please don't forget that. I thought you might like something to remind you about me." He pulled out from his pocket a gorgeous silver bracelet with silver leaves and tiny sapphires.

"Oh my God, Vic, you did have to."

"But I wanted to. May I?" She nodded, feeling her cheeks get warmer. After Victor was done, Wanda grabbed his neck and kissed him deeply.

"I love you." She whispered in his mind.

"And I love you."

Their kiss intensified. Victor gently licked her lips, and with a smile, Wanda opened her mouth. Their tongues danced with each other. Wanda grabbed his neck harder, feeling her leg raise. They were disturbed by a cough.

"Good morning, Mister Faust, Miss Maximoff. I believe it's time for us to go." The Ancient One spoke, hearing their quiet whine.

"Please keep in touch, ok?" Wanda hugged Victor. "And come back soon."

"Watch out for yourself, love." And so, with the bag on his shoulder, he disappeared through the orange portal.

Wanda was alone.

Kamar-Taj, three days later

Victor Faust POV

No matter how much time he spends there, the mirror dimension always gives him nausea.

"Come on, mister Faust! Surely you can do more than that." The voice of the Ancient One taunted him and echoed all around him. The world spun again, and the chamber walls twisted and shifted. Suddenly, a rain of orange needles dropped on him from all sides. With a growl, Victor raised his hands high and formed a deep blue barrier that stopped them all in place. The needles started to change color and break, but another wave dropped. The barrier started to crack, as some passed through, only to disappear inside his body. With a scream, the shield dropped completely, which caused the remaining needles to hit their target, causing another scream from Victor.

"Blood sadists..." He had to quickly get up and take control of a yellow beam of energy that almost hit his face. Victor's order magic reshaped the beam into a ball that was launched in the general vicinity where he heard The Ancient One. He did not have a chance to see the results as thin orange strings held his arms and legs holding him in place. From the left, a man in green robes punched the ground and turned it into a wave of rocks. With a loud groan, Victor hit the wall and slumped to the ground.

"Still not good enough, Mister Faust." The Ancient one appeared before him with a smirk. Victor took the offered hand and grimaced at the Sorcerer Supreme.

"You are enjoying this."

"We all enjoy tutoring promising young magic-wielders." From behind the ever-twisting walls emerged Wong and Mordo who stood next to her.

"This would be different If I could fight back."

"The use of order magic must become your second nature, and you will only do that through such continuous exercises." Said the Ancient One patiently.

"There will be time for actual combat." Said Wong.

"I'm looking forward to it."

"So am I, Victor." Mordo smirked.

"All right, everyone, we start from the top. Wong, Mordo back to your positions."

"Fuck my life." Victor groaned.

Two weeks later.

"So yeah, it comes down to me getting my ass kicked and hitting the floor."

"Surely there is more to it than that."

"It is. I'm just venting." Wanda's sweet giggle echoed through his phone.

"You can vent as much as you wish, darling."

"To be perfectly honest, the order magic is fascinating. In theory, I could take control and reshape any spell. Furthermore, this place is like a gold mine for the dark arts. I've nicked a few spells that I am eager to show you."

"I can hardly wait, my teacher." Wanda practically purred the last word.

"Mhm... I miss you."

"I miss you too." After a pause, she added. "We have a trail of Rumlow."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, soon we should be able to catch him."

"That's good to hear, Wanda. I'll keep my fingers crossed. What's happening in the headquarters, by the way?"

"Nothing unusual. Natasha and Steve keep pushing us in the training. Even Stark and Rhodey joined in for a few sessions."

"That must have been fun... You, ok?"

"I try to focus on the present; otherwise, I might go crazy. It doesn't help that the man can be incredibly obnoxious and loud. Sam is being Sam, and Vision did not phase through any walls this week. He even stopped doing his cold, creepy gaze."

"He's not that bad of a guy, all things considered. For an android, that is."

"Actually, I want to ask you something about him."

"Yeah?"

"Did you threaten to strangle him with his wires if he bothers me again?"

"I may or may not have said something along those lines... Are you mad?"

"Mad? No, that was very sweet, Vic. You stood up for me, even if I didn't ask you to. I'm happy to have someone like you in my life."

They continued to talk well past midnight. Their conversation covered both mundane and serious topics. This has quickly turned into their little tradition. Every evening they talked till they dropped asleep.

Kamar-Taj May 2016

Victor Faust POV

TV was showing reports of the recent explosion in Lagos that destroyed a big chunk of a building with civilians inside. The Avengers did catch Rumlow, but now without a cost.

"Oh my God." Victor whispered, seeing the hate that was pouring on his team, especially Wanda. He clenched his teeth. He would love to see these politicians and reporters trying to contain such an explosion. Or just fight Rumlow hand-to-hand. Victor packed his bag and rushed through Kamar-Taj. Ignoring the curious looks and questions, he practically kicked down the doors to the library.

"Wong!" The man jumped from his seat.

"Victor, what are you doing?" Faust just rushed over and gripped his shoulders.

"I need you to cast that teleport of yours and get me back to the Avengers."

"But your training is still ongoing."

"I don't care! Wanda needs me right now!"

"Victor, compose yourself!"

"If you won't open up the portal right now." Victor generated a ball of blue fire in his hand. "I will burn every book in this place."

"You can't be serious. You would risk our wrath just like that?"

"Yes." The fire grew bigger, and Victor started to take it closer to the nearest book.

"All right, fine!" Wong released himself from Victor's grasp and straightened his robes. "You do realize you are wasting a chance of a lifetime. The Sorcerer Supreme won't approach you a second time."

Victor only tapped his foot on the wooden floor. Wong sighed and created a portal. In a second, he was back in his room. He dropped the bag on the ground and went outside. After a gentle knock on the door, he entered Wanda's room, only to see her sitting with Steve Rogers on the bed. She immediately jumped and rushed to his arms. As the pair embraced in a fierce hug, he felt Wanda speaking into his mind.

"How are you here?"

"I've heard what happened and had to be with you."

"I've made a mistake, Vic."

"And how many more people would die if you weren't there? If you didn't contain the explosion, far more people would die, including Steve."

"I... I don't know." Victor kissed her head and nodded at Rogers.

"Captain. Good to see you."

"You too, Victor." They heard a knock on the door, and a second later, Vision entered the room.

"I'm sorry, but I came to inform you that Mister Stark has arrived... With the Secretary of State." He then smiled slightly at Victor, who was still hugging Wanda. "It's good to see you again, Victor."

"You to Vision."

"Let's go, everyone. Although I suspect the following conversation won't be pleasant." Steve sighed, and they all went to the conference room.