Ghost of a Chance

[x-scarletwitch.livejournal.com]

Such a beautiful morning should never go to waste and Wanda is making the most of it. While wandering through the trails in the woods, she sees something that's out of place but doesn't get many answers.



Tired and exhausted from packing and boxing, Wanda found herself wandering through the woods on the Mansion grounds. It was amazing how much stuff someone could fit into one suite and an office and that was only over the course of while she'd been in the US.

But the sun was shining and the temperature had not risen very far yet so she was making herself enjoy it before she had to finish up inside. The early morning joggers probably would have already completed their runs and Wanda had wandered far enough away that the sounds of daily mansion life didn't drift on the wind.

Walking around a slight curve in the trail, she paused when she caught a flash of movement in the wood line a little ways away.

It was looking like there was at least one jogger still on the paths. Calling out a hello so not to startle anyone--more than not they had an iPod or a CD player going--she frowned when she didn't get a response.

The trail curved a little more and then straightened out before disappearing once more into the trees. Edging onto the straight away, Wanda waited for the person coming to see her. It was never wise to startle anyone who lived on the grounds, you were more than likely to be sent flying.

Another flash and then another announced the persons immediate arrival and Wanda opened her mouth to tease them about how loud they were playing their music.

But the words died in her throat when she saw who was running the trails before the day became too hot to run outside.

"P...Pietro?" Wanda choked out, shocked to the point of being speechless. A feat for anyone, really.

Pietro, moving horrendously slow for what his normal speeds were like, kept up a smooth jog. She'd been right about the iPod, seeing the line for the ear piece swinging with every step he took. He hadn't even broken out into a sweat yet despite the light weight Xavier's jacket he was sporting.

An Xavier's jacket? What on earth...?


"Pietro, what are you doing here?" she asked, snapping out of her stupor, hands on her hips. "No one told me..."

But that made no sense. Even with Scott away, Ororo or the Professor would have gotten in touch with her immediately to tell her that Pietro had finally either been found out or left on his own. Not only because he was her brother but because of the underlying danger of Magneto's anger at the betrayal from his own son.

Wanda was stewing so much over what was going on that she hadn't noticed that Pietro hadn't slowed down, even after she'd spoken. Glancing up, she stared. Not only had he not slowed down or acknowledged her presence but even though he was looking right in her direction, his gaze seemed to pass right through her.

As if she wasn't even there.

"~Pietro, snap out of it!~" Wanda said sharply, taking one step backwards in alarm, attempting to put some space between them.

But by then it had already been too late and she braced for impact, taking a deep breath to scold him or to break him out of whatever trance he seemed to be in...

And instantly regretted even opening her mouth.

Instead of solid body mass hitting her, possibly sending them both to the ground, Pietro kept on going. Or most of him did.

There was a minimal amount of impact and then a shudder ran through both of them. Or, more precisely, a shudder ran through Wanda and a slight whoosh, like a water balloon letting go, ran through 'Pietro'.

And Wanda found herself inhaling a mouth full of warmish, wet goo. Leaning over, she gagged and spat out distinctly colored--Xavier colors mixed in with the distinctive color of Pietro's hair--hands reaching up to get it off her tongue.

That's when she realized that her hands were covered in it--as well as the entire front of her body. Once she'd gotten most of it out of her mouth, though she would need a great deal of water to wash away the slightly bitter taste left, Wanda straightened and looked down.

It was honestly like being covered in liquid dish soap that had happened to have been used as someone's snot. It clung to her and dripped down to the forest floor, where it congealed in disgusting little piles. Leaves and sticks were clinging to her shoes and she seemed to pick up more every time she took a step.

"What the hell was that?" she demanded and spat again as the liquid dripped from cheek and back into her mouth.

Whatever it was had not been Pietro, that was for sure. Turning around, Wanda marched back to the Mansion. Someone would need to be warned about this.

But first she had to take a shower, a really hot shower.

Who knew what this stuff would do to her hair?