Moonlight filtered through the dense forest canopy, painting silver patterns on the damp ground. Elric stood there, eyebrows slightly furrowed. This wasn't how he'd expected things to go.
Running into Wanda Maximoff in Sokovia? Sure, it was possible. But not like this. Not when his plans were still barely getting started.
Way too many things are connected to Wanda in this universe, he thought. Hell, not just this universe—the whole damn multiverse.
When Leo's fangs had been inches from tearing her apart, Elric had honestly considered just... not doing anything.
He mentally slapped himself. What the hell am I thinking? She's just an innocent girl. Yeah, she'll be crazy powerful later and maybe lose her mind, might even destroy this universe, but still—
No. No matter how logical it sounds, it's wrong.
Even if she becomes a crazy, powerful girl, why can't she be one of his crazy, powerful girls?
He convinced himself, and a natural smile crossed his face.
Wanda's breath caught. Her legs wouldn't move. Her whole body locked up like she'd been frozen solid. Every instinct screamed RUN, but her body straight-up refused to cooperate.
The golden-haired boy started walking toward her. Each step was slow, deliberate, echoing way too loud in the suddenly quiet forest.
And behind him? That thing.
A massive white tiger, moving silently across the forest floor. Its fur looked like fresh snow under the moonlight, and those emerald eyes? They practically glowed in the dark, locked right on her. Pure predator energy.
"I'm Elric," the boy said casually, like they were meeting at a coffee shop instead of surrounded by dead bodies. "Sorry about Leo earlier."
Wanda barely registered the apology. Her eyes darted to the corpses scattered around them. A shiver ran down her spine.
"You don't look like you're in a great situation," Elric continued, glancing at the bodies without even flinching. Like it was just an unfortunate accident or something. "And from what I can tell, you're not with these guys." He looked at her. "You can crash at my place. At least until this mess dies down."
Before she could even think of an answer, he just walked up and lifted her with one arm. Like she weighed nothing.
"Wha—!?"
She wanted to fight, to pull away, but then her eyes met the tiger's glowing stare. Those emerald eyes watched her, unblinking. Focused.
Yeah, her courage evaporated real quick.
Wanda went silent and stayed perfectly still in his arms. Humiliating? Absolutely. Embarrassing? Hell yes. But safe? For now, at least.
Then it hit her like a lightning bolt.
"Pietro!" she shouted, panic flooding her voice. "Where's Pietro!?"
Elric didn't even break stride. "He's fine. Just knocked out."
They reached Pietro, who was standing there like a statue, eyes unfocused, silver hair catching the dim light. Wanda's heart raced.
Wait—he was breathing. Pulse was there, though shallow. Elric gently tipped him backward, and Pietro just... toppled over like a mannequin.
"Speechless," Wanda muttered to herself with a hollow laugh.
Leo padded forward again. Elric nudged the tiger with his knee, and the massive beast actually lowered itself to the ground. Then Elric picked up Pietro like he was a bag of groceries and tossed him onto Leo's back.
The tiger let out a low, grumbling growl.
"Don't complain," Elric muttered, sounding slightly annoyed. "Just follow me."
And Leo did. The magnificent beast, grumbling like a reluctant dog, padded after its master with Pietro on its back.
Next Morning
Wanda woke up to soft, unfamiliar warmth on her cheek.
Golden-orange sunlight peeked through a slightly open door, lighting up the dark room with dawn colors. Everything was quiet—peacefully, comfortably quiet. Not a trace of last night's horror. Her body relaxed completely, all that desperate fear just... gone.
She yawned and stretched, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
What a night...
Weirdly enough, despite everything—the blood, the violence, the monster tiger, the creepy boy—she'd slept like a rock. Better than she had in years, actually. Like her exhausted body had just hit the reset button.
Then the memories came crashing back.
Her eyes snapped open.
"Pietro!"
She sat up fast, head spinning a bit, and whipped around to look at the sleeping form next to her.
Pietro was sprawled out, completely motionless, in the deepest sleep she'd ever seen. His silver hair fanned out around his head. Wanda frowned and reached over, tapping his forehead firmly.
"Wha—?!"
He shot upright, eyes wide and confused, blinking at the unfamiliar room. His hair stuck up at weird angles.
"Wanda...? Are we dead? Is this... heaven? Than where is my promise Hollywood models?" he mumbled, voice shaking.
Wanda rolled her eyes. She explained everything—the tiger, the massacre, the weird golden-haired boy who saved them, and now this random place they were staying in.
Pietro listened, his initial panic slowly turning into confused bewilderment. He calmed down, though he was still trembling slightly. Neither of them could shake how strange this comfortable room felt in the middle of a forest.
They got up cautiously and walked to the door. The dark interior had hidden most of the room before, but now with sunlight streaming in—
"What...?"
They both froze.
A massive flatscreen TV on the wall. The kind Pietro had only seen in fancy magazines. Below it, a brand new PS3 that looked like it'd just been unboxed. A huge, crazy-comfortable-looking sofa. A mini fridge humming quietly. And an AC unit actually working.
Wanda blinked. Then blinked again. This couldn't be real, right?
But it was. All solid. All real.
"I thought we were still in the forest..." she murmured, stepping outside.
And they were.
Despite the impossibly modern room behind them, they were completely surrounded by tall trees. Thick forest stretched in every direction. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting a soft glow over everything.
Wanda looked around, searching for him—the golden-haired boy from last night.
And there he was.
Elric sat on the porch's edge, sipping coffee from a mug, just chilling in the morning light.
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