Chapter 42: Strange Embrace

[Third Person's PoV] 

From his throne, Cyttorak's immense form loomed over the scene, his crimson aura crackling with raw power. His eyes gleamed with a malevolent satisfaction as he lazily extended one finger toward the towering Crimson Crystal that imprisoned the Scarlet Witch. At his silent command, cracks began to snake across the surface of the crystal, each fissure sounding like a thunderclap in the oppressive silence of the dimension. The crystal, once solid and unyielding, groaned under the strain until it finally shattered into a thousand shards, scattering across the ground like deadly, glittering glass.

Before she could hit the cold, hard surface below, Stephen Strange was there, his arms outstretched. He caught Wanda just in time, cradling her against him as her limp body sagged with exhaustion. "Whoa there..." Stephen muttered softly, his voice barely above a whisper as he steadied her.

Straightening up, Stephen turned to face Cyttorak, his expression a mixture of cautious gratitude and weariness. "We are grateful," he said, his voice firm. 

Cyttorak's gaze remained cold, indifferent to the pleasantries. "Just remember your part of the deal, Young Sorcerer," his voice boomed, carrying a dangerous edge that made the very air vibrate.

Stephen nodded solemnly. "A sorcerer's word is his bond," he replied, his tone unwavering as he reached for his sling ring. "We will now be on our way and disturb you no further," he added, creating a shimmering portal back to the Mirror Dimension. With Wanda still leaning against him, the two stepped through, leaving the Crimson Dimension behind as the portal snapped shut with a crackle of energy.

As the warmth of his own room in the Mirror Dimension surrounded them, Stephen felt Wanda stir in his arms. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking as if trying to adjust to the reality around her. She pulled herself away from Stephen's support, looking down at her hands in disbelief. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her pale cheeks before she suddenly lunged forward, tackling Stephen to the ground.

"Whoa!" Stephen exclaimed, caught off guard as they tumbled to the floor, with Wanda now on top of him. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, her body trembling. Stephen instinctively raised his hands in surrender, his palms open and facing her as if to show he meant no harm.

He was about to say something but stopped when he heard the faint sound of her sobs, felt the tremors running through her. "Thank you... Thank you..." Wanda whispered, her voice barely audible through her tears.

Stephen sighed deeply, lowering his arms as he shifted beneath her. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug, his hand resting against the back of her head, cradling her like a fragile thing. He said nothing, simply held her, offering the comfort she so desperately needed.

For a while, Wanda clung to him, her grip tight, her face buried against his neck. The warmth of their shared embrace seemed to ease the weight of her sorrow, but her face flushed with embarrassment as she realized what she was doing. She hadn't experienced human contact in so long—centuries, perhaps. She had forgotten the simple joys of touch, of warmth, of the reassurance that another person could bring. And yet, even as the realization sank in, she couldn't bring herself to let go. Instead, she tightened her hold, burying her face deeper into his neck as if trying to soak in every last drop of comfort.

"Can we... can we stay like this for a little bit?" Wanda's voice was small, hesitant, as if she feared he might reject her.

"Yeah," Stephen said softly, not moving. "Take your time."

Despite the moment, despite the closeness of the Scarlet Witch in his arms, all Stephen felt was pity. He could sense the depth of her loneliness, the years of isolation that had weighed on her spirit like a leaden chain. It broke his heart to think of the pain she had endured.

After what felt like an eternity, Wanda finally began to withdraw from the hug, though she still remained seated by his stomach, her auburn hair hanging loose around her face. She looked down at Stephen, her eyes softened by vulnerability, yet there was a flicker of joy in her gaze. "So... this is what you look like," she said with a shy smile, gently brushing his hair away from his face.

Stephen chuckled awkwardly, still lying on the floor. "Yup. This is me."

Wanda giggled, a sound that seemed almost foreign to her after so much time spent in solitude. But then her expression changed as her eyes drifted to the Eye of Agamotto hanging around Stephen's neck. Her brows furrowed, and before he could stop her, she reached out to touch it.

"Wanda, no—!" Stephen began, but it was too late.

The moment her fingers grazed the Eye, it flared with a blinding golden light. Wanda let out a pained cry, recoiling as her hand burned from the touch. "Ahh!" she gasped, clutching her hand, a fresh burn marking her palm.

"Are you alright?" Stephen asked urgently, scrambling to his feet and grabbing her hand. He quickly made a hand gesture with his other hand as healing magic flowed from his fingertips into her burn.

Wanda grimaced but gave him a small, apologetic smile. "I didn't miss the feeling of pain," she muttered, her voice wry despite the situation.

"Why would you just grab it like that?" Stephen asked, his tone scolding but more concerned than angry.

Wanda's expression darkened as she stared at the Eye, her mind clearly elsewhere. "The man who trapped me in that crystal... He wore this around his neck, along with a red cloak."

Stephen's eyes widened. "What?!"

Wanda nodded, her voice breaking as old memories resurfaced. "I was once living in a village with both my Brother and Mother, when suddenly bandits attacked… They came in the middle of the night. We didn't stand a chance. My brother fought back and he was strong, but they..." Wanda paused, her voice cracking as she struggled to continue. "They killed him in front of me. Then my mother tried to protect me, and they... they took her too."

She closed her eyes, her fists clenching as the memories overwhelmed her. "I was so angry. I couldn't control it. All that rage... I just felt something snap inside me, and then... I unleashed it. It was like an explosion of magic, a wave that swallowed everything. The bandits, the entire village—everything just disintegrated. One moment, they were there... and then they were gone. It was just me, standing in a wasteland of ash and rubble."

Wanda looked up at Stephen, her eyes brimming with tears. "I didn't understand what I had done. And then... he appeared. The man in the red cloak floating, with that pendant around his neck."

Stephen's breath hitched. "Both The Cloak of Levitation and The Eye of Agamotto."

"He told me I was too dangerous to be left alone. That my power would destroy everything if I wasn't stopped. But he didn't want to kill me because, according to him, someone else with my power would be born. So, he said he had no choice but to seal me—lock me away in that crystal, to keep me from causing the world's destruction."

Stephen's face hardened. "He had no right to do that."

"I tried to fight him," Wanda continued, her voice trembling. "I used every bit of magic I had. But he was too strong. I couldn't stop him. And then... Everything went dark. When I woke up, I was trapped. Alone. For centuries Until you found me."

Wanda's eyes were locked on the pendant again, her expression tense. "I thought... maybe... maybe you knew something about him. That's why I grabbed it."

Stephen sighed and gently released her hand, the burn now healed, "I wish I could tell you more but I was left at an orphanage with this thing alongside the Cloak" Stephen said as he touched the eye pendant.

Wanda nodded slowly, remorse shadowing her face. "I'm sorry for grabbing it so suddenly."

"It's alright," Stephen said, his tone softening. "Just... be more careful next time."

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