bringing the witch home
Natasha and Peter sat on the large couch in the Avengers tower, a bowl of popcorn between them as the opening credits for the movie rolled. Natasha grabbed a handful of popcorn and leaned back, ready to unwind after a long day of training and missions.
Peter however, couldn't seem to focus on the movie. His gaze kept drifting around the room, as if looking for something. Or someone.
"Hey Nat, have you seen Wanda around today?" he asked.
Natasha paused the movie and turned to look at Peter curiously. "No, I haven't. Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her for the past few days. Why do you ask?"
Peter fidgeted with the popcorn bowl. "I don't know. I guess I'm just worried about her. Ever since Vision...well, you know. She's been keeping to herself a lot more."
Natasha nodded, a wave of sadness washing over her. She knew all too well the grief of losing someone you loved. And for Wanda, the loss of Vision had cut especially deep.
"I know," she said softly. "She's been through so much. First her parents, then Pietro..."
At the mention of Pietro's name, a faraway look crossed Natasha's face. Peter could see her reliving the moment when Pietro had sacrificed himself to save Clint and a child during the battle against Ultron back in 2015. Natasha had taken losing Pietro hard. She had grown close to the Maximoff twins since bringing them into the Avengers fold. Losing Pietro had shaken her deeply.
And now, with Vision gone too, Natasha's heart ached for Wanda. She knew intimately the kind of grief the young woman was drowning in.
"We should look for her," Peter suggested, breaking Natasha's reverie. "She's been shut in her room whenever I see her around here. She shouldn't be alone right now."
Natasha nodded resolutely. "You're right, Peter. Come on, let's go find her."
She switched off the TV and headed out of the room, Peter following closely behind. They checked all around the Avengers living quarters, training areas and labs, but there was no sign of Wanda anywhere.
"F.R.I.D.A.Y., where is Wanda Maximoff currently located?" Natasha asked the AI system.
"I do not have a record of Wanda Maximoff being on the premises today," came the reply.
Natasha and Peter shared a worried glance.
"When did you last record her here?" Natasha pressed.
"My records indicate Wanda Maximoff was last logged as exiting the building four days ago. She has not returned since."
Natasha's concern deepened. It was very unlike Wanda to be away from the Avengers compound for so long without telling anyone.
"We need to find her," she told Peter grimly. "Something's not right."
"But she could be anywhere by now!" Peter said, throwing his arms up. "It's been four days."
Natasha pursed her lips, deep in thought. "Not necessarily. Grief can be paralyzing. She may not have gone far."
She headed briskly down to the intel room, Peter trailing behind. There, she started scanning through databases and surveillance records, searching for any shred that could point to Wanda's location.
After nearly an hour of digging, she finally uncovered a bit of security footage showing Wanda at a bus station four days prior. Natasha zoomed in on the footage,confirming it was her. She caught a glimpse of the bus schedule - the bus Wanda had boarded was headed for a small town in New Jersey called Westview.
"Got it!" Natasha said triumphantly. "Looks like she's in Westview."
"Westview, New Jersey?" Peter said. "Wow, didn't peg Wanda for the suburban type."
Natasha shot him a look. "This is serious, Peter. Something drew her there. We need to get to Westview as soon as possible and find her."
Peter nodded, the grin sliding off his face. "You're right, my bad. Let's go."
Within minutes they were geared up and aboard the Quinjet, setting the coordinates for Westview. As they flew, Natasha tried hailing Wanda on the communication system but got no response. The silence only deepened her worry.
Before long, they touched down on the outskirts of the small suburban town. As they cautiously made their way toward its center, nothing seemed amiss on the surface. It was quiet, with people going about their day. But Natasha and Peter remained on high alert.
"Keep your eyes open for anything suspicious," Natasha told Peter in a low voice.
They walked the streets, scanning for some sign of Wanda. Finally Natasha spotted a flash of red energy in the distance.
"There!" she exclaimed.
They raced toward it, soon coming upon a fenced-off area on the edge of town. Beyond the fence, a red dome of swirling, pulsating energy engulfed a section of houses and buildings. Natasha and Peter froze, mouths agape. This was no normal suburban town.
"What the hell is that?" Peter gasped.
"Wanda," Natasha said gravely. "This has her powers written all over it."
As they observed in disbelief, people within the dome went about mundane tasks, completely unaware of the supernatural energy surrounding them. Natasha noted armed agents stationed around the perimeter, warily monitoring the situation.
She exchanged an alarmed look with Peter. "Come on, let's talk to them. We need more intel so we know what we're dealing with."
They approached three agents who looked to be in charge - two women and a man. As Natasha and Peter came near, one agent stepped forward.
"Agent Monica Rambeau," she introduced herself briskly. "And you are...?"
"Natasha Romanoff, Avenger," Natasha replied. "This is Peter Parker, also an Avenger. We have reason to believe our teammate Wanda Maximoff is in there." She nodded toward the swirling energy dome. "What's going on here?"
Monica's eyes widened slightly in recognition at their names. She quickly composed herself. "We don't know much yet. The energy field just appeared suddenly a few days ago, surrounding a section of Westview. We can't communicate with anyone inside. It seems they are unaware of us or what's happened to them."
"They're trapped in some sort of alternate reality," one of the other agents, a quirky-looking woman, piped up excitedly. "I'm astrophysicist Darcy Lewis, I'm studying the electromagnetic waves this thing is giving off. It's wild!"
Natasha and Peter absorbed this information grimly. The picture of what Wanda had done here was starting to take shape. Natasha's heart ached for the pain that had driven the young Avenger to construct this elaborate alternate world.
The remaining agent stepped forward. "I'm Agent Jimmy Woo. We've been trying to get eyes on what's happening in there but it's been difficult to glean much. If your teammate is the one generating this, maybe you can get through to her, stop this before it gets worse. We're not sure what will happen if this continues to expand."
Natasha and Peter shared a resolute look and nodded.
"We'll assemble the rest of the Avengers immediately." Natasha said. "We'll stop this, and help our friend."
Peter gave the agents a parting grin. "Nice meeting you all. We'll be back soon - with reinforcements."
The agents nodded, looking slightly relieved. Natasha and Peter quickly made their way back to the Quinjet to return to Avengers Headquarters. They had to move fast.
Within the hour, Natasha had gathered all available Avengers to the meeting room for a briefing. Steve, Thor, Sam, Bucky, Clint, Scott, Rhodey, Hope, Carol and Nebula sat around the table. Most looked puzzled, having been provided only minimal details, but they quieted down and looked to Natasha attentively as she entered with Peter.
"Thank you for assembling on short notice," Natasha began. "We have a developing situation that requires our immediate intervention. Peter and I just returned from a small town in New Jersey called Westview. We went there looking for Wanda."
The team muttered in surprise.
"Wanda has constructed some kind of powerful, alternate reality around part of the town," Peter explained. "She's altered reality for these people, and they have no idea."
"We believe this is related to her grief over losing Vision," Natasha added gently. "She's not stable right now. The situation is already escalating, and we need to contain it."
The Avengers nodded solemnly. They all cared deeply for Wanda, but recognized the danger of her unchecked powers in her current state.
"Whatever needs doing to help our girl, we'll make sure it gets done," Sam said. The others voiced their agreement.
"There are some federal agents already on site monitoring things," Natasha continued. "They provided intel and seem open to our help. But we'll need magic users on this too. Power like Wanda's - it's beyond anything the rest of us can counteract alone."
She looked to Doctor Strange and Wong who had entered quietly during the briefing. "That's where we'll need the assistance of the Masters of the Mystic Arts."
Doctor Strange nodded. "Wong and I sensed a disturbance. We're ready to help any way we can."
"Alright Avengers, let's move out," Steve said, standing up from the table. The team was already dressed for action, and briskly made their way to the hangar and loaded into the Quinjet.
Within half an hour, they were back in Westview. The agents looked surprised but pleased to see the new arrivals.
"Welcome back," Monica greeted Natasha and Peter before casting her gaze over the assembled heroes. "We really appreciate you bringing in your team."
Thor stepped forward suddenly, looking at Darcy in surprise. "Lady Darcy! It's been quite some time."
"Thor! Hey, long time no see big guy!" Darcy said with a grin. The others looked on in bemusement at this unexpected reunion.
Steve then addressed the agents. "What's the current situation? Anything new we should know?"
The agents quickly updated them on the latest developments, or lack thereof. The energy dome remained, as impenetrable as ever.
As the Avengers discussed their next steps with the agents, Peter and Natasha moved closer to observe the dome. At first glance, nothing inside seemed to have changed from their previous visit. But Natasha noticed a new presence - a nosy neighbor who kept peering around her curtains at the spectacle outside. Something about the woman set Natasha on edge.
"Peter, look," she murmured. "You see that neighbor? She wasn't there before. I don't like the look of her."
Peter followed Natasha's gaze and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. She's fishy. Think she could be working with Wanda?"
"Possibly. Come on, let's tell the others to be on guard about her. We don't know what we're dealing with in there."
They headed back to the group and relayed the new observation about the suspicious neighbor.
Doctor Strange gazed intently at the woman Natasha indicated. "She does seem to have a hint of mystical energy about her. We'll need to keep an eye on that one."
"Alright, here's the plan," Steve said, addressing the assembled heroes. "We're going in there, we're finding Wanda, and we're getting her out. Stay sharp and expect the unexpected."
The Avengers voiced their assent and began approaching the energy barrier. Doctor Strange and Wong prepared spells to enable entry. Just before crossing the threshold, Natasha cast one last wary look at the smiling neighbor peering out through her curtains.
Then, the heroes stepped as one into the shimmering red dome, unsure what lay ahead but determined to help their hurting friend.
The Avengers stood huddled together as they passed through the boundary of the scarlet energy dome. As soon as they crossed the threshold, the suburban neighborhood around them seemed to ripple and warp.
Doctor Strange and Wong immediately began surveying their surroundings, mystically analyzing the fabric of this warped reality.
"Fascinating," breathed Wong. "Wanda has intricately woven the strands of magic to construct this quasi-universe. It's an impressive feat."
"Yes, her power has grown exponentially," Doctor Strange remarked. "We must unravel the threads carefully if we're to free these people without causing them harm."
As the Masters of the Mystic Arts discussed the mystical angles, the other Avengers scouted the area around them, looking for any immediate threats. The neighborhood appeared frozen, its residents paused mid-action like mannequins in a store display.
Natasha spotted the nosy neighbor standing motionless at her window, curtains held back in paused curiosity. Her smile seemed more sinister now, viewed up close.
"That neighbor is giving me bad vibes," she said in a low voice to Steve. "We need to keep an eye on her."
Steve nodded. "Agreed. Let's do a perimeter sweep, make sure we know what we're dealing with before trying to extract Wanda."
The team fanned out, moving cautiously through the neighborhood while scanning for dangers or surprises. As Peter and Scott approached a intersecting street, a child on a bike suddenly zoomed past. Peter's spider sense buzzed urgently.
"Whoa, did you see that?" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, kiddo practically flew by," Scott said. "Thought these people were supposed to be frozen?"
Peter's eyes narrowed. "Something's not right here."
Elsewhere, as Bucky peered down another street, a ball abruptly bounced toward him. He whirled, arm raised defensively, to see a young boy chasing after the ball. The boy grabbed the ball and smiled innocently. "Sorry mister, got away from me."
Bucky lowered his arm slowly, watching the boy run back to resume his game. He called over the comms, "We got movement here. The neighborhood's waking up."
"Copy that, we see it too," Steve responded. "Everyone rally back to the entry point. Strange, Wong - can you conceal us?"
"Of course," Strange replied. With mystical gestures, he rendered the heroes invisible to the residents now milling about and resuming their routines. To the neighborhood's eyes, the street appeared empty once more.
Regrouped, the Avengers quickly strategized their next move.
"Wanda's likely in the center of this place, wherever she's residing," Natasha reasoned. "We get to her house, get her out quickly and quietly before this illusion shatters."
"And we keep an eye on that nosy lady watching us," Peter added with a glance at the nosy neighbor's window.
Steve nodded firmly. "Let's move."
Staying invisible, the heroes moved through the neighborhood toward Wanda's location at its heart. The return of activity around them kept the Avengers on high alert.
Finally, they approached a pleasant suburban home with a driveway bearing Wanda's car. Natasha went ahead, stealthily peering through windows until she spotted Wanda inside, quietly reading a book. She seemed calm, almost content. Natasha's heart twinged at having to disrupt whatever fleeting peace her friend had found here. But it had to be done.
She signaled the team, and they swiftly entered the house, Strange dropping the invisibility enchantment. Wanda jumped up, eyes wide with shock and betrayal.
"What are you doing here?" she cried. Before the Avengers could even try to reason with her, the room began shaking. Wanda's power reacting to her distress.
"Wanda, listen, we're here to help you," Steve said in a gentle but urgent tone. "This world you've made...I know you're hurting, but it's too dangerous."
"You don't understand!" Wanda yelled, hands fuming with energy. Natasha's eyes widened as through the window, she saw figures approaching. The nosy neighbor, and many more closing in.
"We've got incoming!" she warned the team. "Wanda, you need to stop this, now!"
But Wanda was beyond hearing as the home and neighborhood trembled under the weight of her anguish. The Avengers steeled themselves for the confrontation to come.
The Avengers sprang into action as more of Westview's residents approached the house, their eyes glowing an unnatural red.
"They're being controlled!" Steve yelled, throwing his shield to block the door from the advancing horde.
"Wanda, you have to stop this!" Natasha urged, but Wanda stood rigid, magic swirling violently around her.
Doctor Strange quickly cast a protective circle around Wanda to contain her powers. It quelled the shaking house but Wanda screamed, lashing out to try and break the magical bonds.
"Let me go!" she cried.
"Wanda please, we want to help you!" Peter pleaded, but his words couldn't penetrate her anguish.
The mind controlled civilians battered relentlessly at the house's defenses. Spiderwebs cracked, mystical shields strained.
Bucky grabbed Peter's shoulder. "We're not getting through to her here. We need to get out and regroup."
Steve surveyed their deteriorating position and nodded. "Avengers, retreat for extraction!"
Doctor Strange opened a portal through which the heroes quickly leapt, Wong dragging the still-thrashing Wanda along by her magical bonds. The portal snapped shut just as the front door splintered open, the mob pouring into the now-empty house.
Safe for the moment, the Avengers found themselves on a random Westview side street. Neighbors wandered past, returning to their pre-programmed routines now that the threat had vanished from view.
Wanda finally stopped struggling, collapsing in exhaustion and despair. Natasha rushed to cradle her.
"Shh, it's okay," she soothed, though her heart grieved to see Wanda's anguish.
Steve crouched down beside them. "Wanda, talk to us. Why did you make this place?"
Wanda lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears. "I just wanted him back. I wanted us to have the life we dreamed of."
The Avengers exchanged pained glances, understanding washing over them. She had constructed this elaborate fantasy just to be with Vision again.
"You can't stay here," Steve said gently. "I know how much it hurts to lose someone. But this isn't real, and it's putting people in danger."
Wanda just shook her head bitterly. Natasha hugged her tighter.
"Wanda, we know you're in unimaginable pain," she said softly. "But you have to be strong. It's what Vision would want."
At that, Wanda finally broke down, sobbing into Natasha's shoulder. The Avengers stood by solemnly as their grieving teammate unleashed her anguish and heartache.
After some time, Wanda's sobs faded to shaky breaths. Natasha helped her stand, keeping a supportive arm around her. Wanda looked around at her friends, seeing the care and understanding in their faces.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "You're right, Vision would want me to be strong...Thank you for stopping me."
Relieved smiles broke out among the heroes.
"Of course, that's what friends are for," Peter said brightly.
"But there's still the problem of Westview," Bucky interjected seriously. "These people are still trapped, and that magic neighbor lady is lurking."
Wanda's face darkened. "Agnes. She's been manipulating things from the beginning. I foolishly trusted her but you're right, she has her own agenda."
Doctor Strange stepped forward. "Wanda's power originated all this, so only she can truly unravel it. But we can assist." He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "Are you ready?"
Wanda took a deep breath, drawing strength from her friends' support. Finally, she nodded.
"Let's do it."
Wanda took a moment to center herself, preparing to dissolve the false reality she had constructed in her grief. Though part of her heart clung to the comfort of this imaginary life with Vision, she knew it wasn't right to imprison innocent people, no matter how alluring the fantasy.
With Doctor Strange and Wong's assistance, Wanda began weaving intricate incantations to dismantle the hex energies sustaining Westview's alternate reality. As she worked, sparks of scarlet lifted from the streets and buildings, dissipating into the air.
Slowly at first, then gaining momentum, the fabricated world started to crumble. Neighbors blinked in confusion as the roles they had been playing suddenly vanished from their minds. Fake buildings peeled away to reveal the small town's true nature.
As the layers unraveled, the Avengers protectsively encircled Wanda, shielding her from interference. They had also spotted Agnes in the distance, her facade fading to reveal the witch Agatha Harkness beneath. She looked dismayed as Westview transformed against her will.
"No, not yet, I'm not through with you!" Agatha cried, firing blasts of purple energy toward Wanda that fizzled out against the heroes' defenses.
"Give it up, lady! It's over!" Peter quipped, sending Agatha flying back with a well-aimed web shot.
With the Avengers holding the line, Wanda was able to focus her full attention on the intricate work of unraveling the hex. Sweat beaded on her brow from exertion, but she kept chanting, guiding Westview's release.
By now, most of the false realities overlaying the town had burned away, leaving ordinary, shaken citizens wandering the streets. The final threads hovered around Wanda herself - the home and life with Vision she had manifested.
Wanda gazed sorrowfully at the simple suburban house that had harbored her most heartbreaking hopes and dreams. Then, with a few final words of magic, she let it fade into the ether.
The scarlet dome encasing the town flickered and dissolved. The hex was lifted. Westview's ordeal was over.
Wanda dropped to her knees, utterly spent. The other Avengers gathered around her, offering congratulations and support. Though she was exhausted, Wanda also felt a burden lift from her soul. She had done the right thing for both the people of Westview and for herself.
Steve helped Wanda to her feet. "You did good. I know that couldn't have been easy."
Wanda managed a small, bittersweet smile. "Thank you all. I don't know if I could've gotten through this alone."
Natasha squeezed her shoulder comfortingly. Nearby, the federal agents were already converging on the scene now that the danger had passed, preparing to handle Westview's recovery.
"Let's go home," Natasha suggested gently. Wanda nodded, casting one last lingering glance over her shoulder at what might have been as she allowed her friends to guide her away.
Though visions of that imagined life with Vision would haunt her dreams for many nights to come, Wanda took comfort in the support of her found family among the Avengers. She knew that together, they would help bear the burden of her grief and find light again.
For now, she was content to return with them, leaving the quiet town of Westview to heal from its ordeal. Her own healing would be a longer road, but with her friends beside her, she would survive the necessary journey one day at a time.
As the Avengers turned to leave Westview, Agatha reappeared in their path, eyes blazing purple.
"You didn't really think I'd let you just walk away, did you?" she sneered. Dark magic swirled around her fingers. "Your power is wasted on these so-called heroes, Wanda. Join me, and we can rule all realities!"
Wanda stepped forward, scarlet energy rising around her hands. "I don't want to rule anything. Westview was a fantasy, but it's time to face reality now."
Agatha cackled. "You still don't understand your full potential. But I'll show you who is the greater witch!"
Bolts of violet magic erupted toward Wanda, but she deflected them with glowing hex shields. The air crackled with colliding mystical energy.
"We need to contain their fight before they bring down the whole town!" Doctor Strange urgently told the other heroes.
Together, he and Wong quickly cast a containment spell around Wanda and Agatha, hemming them inside a translucent, mystic bubble. Within, the witches continued hurling fiery blasts at each other, neither gaining ground.
Safe from the magical onslaught, the Avengers could only watch helplessly as Wanda matched Agatha's ferocity, the very ground quaking beneath them. But Wanda's face remained fiercely determined, focused.
"You can't overpower me, Agatha!" she yelled over the maelstrom. "Westview has suffered enough because of us."
"Foolish girl, you've barely touched your power's depths!" Agatha shouted back. "But I have centuries of knowledge. Face it, you will only ever be my failed apprentice!"
"No." Eyes blazing red, Wanda made a pulling motion with her hands. The witches' feet began to glow, rooted by Wanda's magic. "I saw what you truly are, Agatha. An endless void of wanting. But I've filled my voids with people who care for me."
The Avengers watched in awe as Wanda fully unleashed her Chaos Magic, binding Agatha despite her struggles.
"You won't take anything more from Westview. Or from me," Wanda declared. With a final burst of power, Agatha was exiled, disappearing through a portal with an echoing wail.
The containment bubble flickered away. Wanda stood tall amidst settling dust, Agatha's spell broken. Doctor Strange gave a nod of deep respect toward Wanda for her victory.
Wordlessly, the Avengers embraced their teammate, pride and relief on their faces. Leaving Agatha's destruction behind, they boarded the Quinjet together, spirits lifted by Wanda's hard-won redemption.
The Quinjet soared smoothly through the sky carrying the Avengers back to headquarters after their ordeal in Westview. Despite their success in freeing the town from Wanda and Agatha’s supernatural confinement, a somber mood hung over the group as they sat together in the passenger area.
Wanda stared blankly ahead, the enormity of all that had happened crushing down on her now that the adrenaline had faded. Everything in Westview had been a beautiful, horrible lie. Vision was still gone, and her brother...hot tears welled in her eyes.
Natasha slid over on the bench to wrap a comforting arm around Wanda’s shoulders. “I know it hurts. But we’re here for you,” she said softly.
On Wanda’s other side, Steve grasped her hand supportively. “You’re not alone in this. We’ve all lost people we love. It’s the hardest thing in the world.”
Wanda glanced up with watery eyes to see the compassion on their faces, on all her friends' faces - Peter, Clint, Bucky, Hope, Carol, Thor. After being immersed in Agatha's manipulations, their genuine care was a balm to her shattered spirit.
She took a shaky breath. “I just wanted him back. I wanted my family back, even an imaginary one.” Her tears escaped down her cheeks.
Peter gave her a gentle hug. “You still have family. We’re your family.”
“Real families stick together, no matter what,” added Clint, his steadfast gaze meeting hers. The others nodded, echoing his sentiment.
Wanda gave a small but grateful smile through her tears. She knew Clint spoke from his own experiences of loss. But he had made it through, as she would too.
As her tears finally slowed, a question occurred to Wanda that helped distract from her swirling emotions. “How did you all even know to come find me in Westview?” she asked.
Natasha exchanged a glance with Peter before replying. “It was Peter who first realized something was wrong. He noticed you hadn’t been around the Tower for a few days.”
“Yeah, I got worried when I didn’t see you anymore,” Peter explained with an encouraging smile. “So I asked Nat, and she was concerned too, and then we started investigating where you might’ve gone.”
“It was really just thanks to Peter speaking up that we figured out you needed help,” Natasha added, giving him an appreciative look.
Wanda turned to Peter, managing a small but heartfelt “Thank you.”
He waved it off graciously. “Of course, no need to thank me. I’m just glad we found you.”
Wanda settled back against the seat as the Quinjet carried them forward, comforted knowing she had people who cared so sincerely about her wellbeing, who would come find her when she was lost. With their support, perhaps in time, her wounded heart could heal.