(AN: Although Wanda is my planned pair. I am in a dilemma. Because right now MC invested with blipped Wanda while the Wanda in his own timeline has no progress yet besides knowing each other. I've thought of sharing the memories between the two Wanda but then what will happen? He gets two Wanda? A matured version and a teen version? Is it Harem? My other thought was to combine both into one Wanda thereby erasing the Wanda in future timeline, no more Multiverse of madness there, the timeline there is in shit anyway since Ironman is alive. Unable to decide, i would like your thoughts. Maybe it might help.
Which would you prefer?
1. Two Wanda sharing memories.
2. Two Wanda not sharing memories
3. Combine two Wanda into one
4. Open suggestions
Your thoughts might help me later. Thanks and enjoy another slice of life chappie, or maybe romance chappie.)
The door closed behind her with a soft click.
For a moment, Wanda Maximoff simply stood there, her back pressed against the wooden surface.
The hallway outside was silent.
Inside the room… even more so.
Her hand slowly rose to her cheek.
The same cheek she had kissed earlier.
And immediately, her mind replayed the moment.
The brief hug.
Her thanking him.
That sudden impulse.
The kiss on his cheek.
And the,
Her heart skipped.
His lips on hers.
Her breath caught again as the memory continued.
Not just the surprise.
But the moment after.
When she had kissed him back.
Wanda closed her eyes tightly.
"Why…?"
Her fingers curled slightly as she pressed them against her temple.
An emotional voice inside her spoke first.
You betrayed him.
The thought hit like a blade.
Vision trusted you.
Images of Vision flashed across her mind.
His calm voice.
His gentle smile.
The quiet moments they shared while hiding from the world.
The way he always tried to understand her.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"I didn't mean to…" she whispered.
But another voice rose inside her.
Quieter.
Colder.
Logical.
Vision is gone.
Wanda's breathing faltered.
Her mind flashed back to Wakanda.
The battlefield.
The moment she had destroyed the Mind Stone with her own power.
Only for it to be undone moments later.
Only for Thanos to take Vision from her anyway.
Her throat tightened.
"He's dead…"
The logical voice continued.
You loved him.
But loving someone who is gone only leaves pain.
Wanda pressed her palms against her eyes.
"That doesn't mean I should…"
Her voice trembled.
"…move on like that."
Another memory flashed.
Not Vision this time.
Elias smiling like a fool while asking for photos.
His ridiculous excitement over dragon skulls in New Asgard.
The way he talked about his bakery like it was the most important place in the universe.
And the way he had gently comforted her when she talked about Pietro Maximoff.
Wanda's hands slowly fell from her face.
"Why did I kiss him…?"
The question slipped out quietly.
Her heart pounded as another thought followed.
"Why did I kiss him back…?"
Her fingers trembled slightly.
And then the most confusing thought of all appeared.
Why did it feel so good?
Her breath caught.
Before she could stop herself—
Another comparison appeared in her mind.
It felt… better than when I kissed Vision.
Her eyes snapped open in horror.
"No!"
She pushed herself away from the door instinctively.
"Why am I comparing them?!"
Her voice echoed faintly in the quiet room.
Vision and Elias.
Those two people were completely different.
Different personalities.
Different lives.
Different worlds.
Yet somehow, for the past few days…
She had felt lighter than she had in months.
No hiding.
No fear of being hunted.
No constant weight on her chest.
Just simple moments.
Laughing. Traveling. Watching sunsets.
Wanda slowly slid down the door until she was sitting on the floor.
Her back pressed against it.
Her knees pulled slightly toward her chest.
"Why is this happening to me…?"
The question came out as a whisper.
She didn't know who she was asking.
God.
Fate.
Herself.
Maybe none of them had the answer.
After a long while, Wanda slowly stood up.
Her movements felt heavy.
Exhausted. Emotionally drained.
She walked quietly toward the bed and sat down.
Her mind still replayed the kiss.
The warmth. The confusion. The guilt.
And something else she didn't want to name yet.
Wanda lay down slowly, staring at the ceiling.
Tomorrow…
Elias would leave.
And everything would return to how it was before.
The thought should have comforted her.
Instead, it made her chest feel strangely empty.
Eventually, exhaustion won.
And Wanda closed her eyes.
.
.
.
Day 7
Morning came quietly.
For a few seconds after waking up, Wanda Maximoff simply stared at the ceiling, her mind still hazy from sleep.
Then she smelled it.
Something sweet.
Warm.
Comforting.
Her nose twitched slightly.
Pancakes…?
Another smell followed immediately.
Rich. Savory. Bacon?
Wanda blinked.
"…What?"
She slowly sat up on the bed, confused.
The apartment under Stark's wallet had many strange things, but breakfast cooking itself was definitely not one of them.
Curiosity pushed her out of bed.
Still wearing her loose sleep shirt, Wanda quietly opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
The smell became stronger.
She followed it.
When she reached the kitchen, she froze.
Standing in front of the stove was Elias, casually flipping pancakes in a pan.
He was wearing…
An apron.
A very bright one.
Wanda stared at it.
As if sensing her presence, Elias turned around.
"Morning."
He smiled casually like this was the most normal thing in the world.
"Oh, perfect timing."
He pointed toward the table.
"Sit down. Breakfast is almost ready."
Wanda stood there for another second, trying to process the scene.
Then silently walked to the table and sat down.
Elias went back to the stove, humming quietly as he flipped another pancake.
Soon plates were placed on the table.
Golden pancakes. Crispy bacon.
And a small bowl of syrup.
Elias sat across from her and picked up his fork.
"Alright."
"Let's eat."
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The room was quiet except for the soft clinking of utensils.
But it wasn't awkward.
Just… warm.
Elias occasionally glanced at her and smiled.
He didn't ask if she liked the food.
Didn't ask if it tasted good.
He just kept eating like he already knew the answer.
Wanda took another bite of the pancake.
It was fluffy.
Perfectly sweet.
The bacon was crispy.
She hated admitting it…
But it was a really good combination.
Still, she didn't say anything.
Instead, she asked quietly,
"When will you leave?"
The words left her mouth before she could stop them.
Immediately, Wanda froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That sounded wrong."
She quickly waved her hands slightly.
"I mean—not that I want you to leave immediately."
Her words started coming out faster.
"I just meant the exact time. Like… when specifically."
"So I know. No offense."
She stopped talking.
Her cheeks turned slightly red.
Elias looked at her for a second.
Then he chuckled softly.
"Relax. None taken."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Actually…"
He held up one finger.
"Today is just the seventh day."
Wanda blinked.
"…Seventh?"
"Yeah."
He shrugged.
"Doctor wizard guy said a week."
"Which means…"
He pointed his fork toward her.
"I leave tomorrow."
Wanda paused mid-bite.
"…Tomorrow?"
"Yep."
He smiled casually.
"So technically…"
He gestured around.
"I still have one more full day here."
Then he grinned.
"Meaning I can still go somewhere fun today."
"And of course…"
He pointed his fork again.
"You're coming with me."
Wanda quickly looked down at her plate.
"Of course."
But inside, relief exploded through her chest.
One more day.
She finished her food quickly.
Then stood up.
"I'll get ready."
She walked toward the hallway almost immediately.
Elias blinked.
"…That was fast."
A few seconds later her bedroom door closed.
Elias sat at the table still holding his fork.
He scratched his head slightly.
"One moment she looks like someone who lost all her toys…"
He leaned back in the chair.
"Then the next moment she looks like someone who just got a brand new one."
He shrugged.
"…Women."
Then he went back to eating pancakes.
.
.
.
The rest of the day passed quickly.
Too quickly.
It started with a simple plan: visit the places they hadn't seen during the past six days.
Which, according to Elias, meant "anything that looks fun."
Their first stop was a small pizza place in Manhattan.
Not a fancy one.
Just a crowded corner shop that smelled like melted cheese and fresh dough.
Elias carried the tray back to the table triumphantly.
"Behold," he announced, placing the pizza down.
"The pinnacle of human civilization."
Across from him, Wanda Maximoff stared at the slice in her hand.
"…It's just pizza."
"You say that now," Elias replied seriously, "but wait until you taste it."
Wanda took a bite.
Then another.
She blinked.
"…Okay, this is good."
Elias smirked.
"I know."
A few minutes later Wanda reached the edge of the slice and paused.
She looked at the crust.
Then at him.
"Do people actually eat this part?"
"The crust?"
"Yes."
"Of course."
She frowned slightly.
"It's just bread."
"That's the point."
She shook her head.
"I don't think I like it."
Elias leaned forward.
"Alright."
"What if…"
He raised a finger dramatically.
"…there was cheese inside the crust?"
Wanda blinked.
"…That exists?"
"Oh absolutely."
"That changes everything."
After lunch they walked through the city.
Tourist spots.
Street performers.
Shops filled with souvenirs.
At one point Elias suddenly grabbed a random passerby.
"Excuse me!"
The confused man looked at them.
"Can you take a picture for us?"
Before Wanda could protest—
Elias had already placed his phone in the man's hands.
Then stood beside her.
"Smile."
Wanda sighed.
But smiled anyway.
Click.
A few hours later…
Another picture.
This time in front of a street mural.
Then another in a park.
And another near the waterfront.
Eventually Wanda crossed her arms.
"How many pictures do you actually need?"
Elias checked the phone.
"Currently?"
"…Twenty-seven."
She stared at him.
"You're ridiculous."
"Maybe."
He grinned.
"But now we have evidence this vacation actually happened."
She rolled her eyes.
But didn't complain when he asked another stranger to take their photo.
By afternoon they reached an amusement park.
The bright lights and loud music made Elias look like a child discovering candy for the first time.
"Okay," he said excitedly.
"We're riding everything."
Wanda raised an eyebrow.
"Everything?"
"Everything."
And somehow…
They did.
Roller coasters.
Arcade games.
Ridiculous spinning rides.
At one point Wanda laughed so hard she had to hold the railing for balance.
The feeling surprised her.
It felt… Light. Free. Not heavy. Not guilty.
Not like she was betraying Vision.
Just…
Warm.
As the sun began setting, they boarded the Ferris wheel.
The ride slowly lifted them above the park.
The city stretched out beneath them.
Lights flickering to life as night arrived.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Elias reached over.
And gently took her hand.
Wanda glanced at him.
He didn't say anything.
Just held it.
And strangely…
It didn't feel wrong.
Her chest didn't tighten.
Her thoughts didn't spiral.
It simply felt…
Comforting.
So she held his hand back.
Later that evening they returned to the apartment.
Both tired.
Both quiet.
At the doorway, Wanda suddenly spoke.
"…Are you really leaving tomorrow?"
Elias nodded.
"Yeah."
She looked down slightly.
Then muttered very quietly—
"…I might miss you."
Elias blinked.
"…Wait."
He leaned closer.
"Did you just say you might miss me?"
Wanda's face immediately turned red.
"I didn't say that."
"You absolutely did."
"Forget it."
She turned away quickly.
But Elias spoke again.
"This time it's real."
She stopped.
He continued.
"If you're really going to miss me…"
He shrugged casually.
"I could visit again."
Her head slowly turned.
"Or…"
He added,
"You could visit my timeline."
"Take a vacation there whenever you want."
Wanda's brain immediately froze.
"…What?"
"You heard me."
"But… that's…"
Her thoughts tangled instantly.
"…You can actually do that?"
Elias scratched his head.
"Yeah."
"I've had the ability since the first day."
Silence.
Wanda narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Was that your plan from the beginning?"
Elias blinked.
"…What?"
"Was that your intention?"
Instead of anger—
Wanda suddenly looked even more embarrassed.
Her suspicion mixed with the realization of what she just implied.
Elias rubbed his temple.
"…I feel a headache coming."
He sighed.
"Let me explain."
"I felt bad leaving you alone during what was supposed to be a vacation."
He gestured around the apartment.
"Even if technically you were just my tour guide."
He hesitated for a moment.
Then continued honestly.
"Being with you was… great."
"I could forget all the negative things happening in my life for a while."
He smiled faintly.
"And just enjoy things."
Wanda listened quietly.
Then Elias added something that made her blink.
"…Also."
"That kiss last night?"
"That was my first."
She stared at him.
"…Your first?"
"Yeah."
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"And honestly…"
"I'd like to know more about you."
The room grew quiet again.
After a moment, Wanda nodded slowly.
"…I'd like to know more about you too."
They stood there for another second.
Then silently went their separate ways toward their rooms.
Tomorrow they would go to the Avengers compound.
Where Doctor Strange would give Elias the spell he requested.
Steve Rogers had already returned the borrowed stones to their timelines.
The Time Stone would be returned by Elias himself after his brief detour.
Those were the arrangements.
For now—
Elias simply went to bed.
And slept.
Meanwhile…
Inside her room…
Wanda sat on the edge of the bed.
Her mind replaying everything he said.
From confusion…
To hesitation.
To memories of Vision.
Then back to Elias.
Eventually she exhaled softly.
"I want to know more about him."
The decision settled quietly in her heart.
After that…
She would decide what to do.
At least…
That was what she told herself.
But deep down—
Maybe she had already decided.
And just didn't know it yet.
Women, right?
End of Chapter 54