Wanda and Dr. Strange

[x-scarletwitch.livejournal.com]

While on college campus, Wanda happens to meet Dr. Strange in the library. They hit it off immediately and start talking about Amanda. And she really manages to fluster the poor thing.



Walking slowly through the rows of books in Columbia's library, Wanda added another book to her growing pile. It was interesting to mix personal and business together. Not only was she here on Cambridge's request, they had switched her assignment to suit where she was living, but she was also here researching what she could on Amanda's name. Thankfully, once she had shown her credentials to those concerned, she had been allowed unlimited access to the library, including the archives if she so wished.

It had helped, of course, that she had worn the only business skirt and blouse she had packed with her. London was calling, if for a brief visit at least to get clothes. Murmuring slightly, she slipped down another row, flipping through the latest book. "~This is a start, I suppose...and I do have the rest of the library to explore...~"

In the row next to the one Wanda was in, Doctor Strange looked up, curious. Someone was speaking Romany? Here? Torn between the desire for knowledge and politeness, he wrestled with himself a few minutes before deciding on the former. It was a university, after all. Moving around to her aisle (taking note of the subject matter contained in it - hmm, another anthropologist type?) he hesitated when he got a good look at her. Oh my. Suddenly his tie seemed a little too tight.

At the footsteps, Wanda glanced up. The last time someone had ventured down an aisle she had been in, it had been one of the staff with a large collection of books to put away and she did not want to be in the way. Oh, not library staff. Well, he was a surprise. Rather handsome. "Am I in your way?" she said, offering him a brilliant smile.

"Ah, no, of course not..." She was very... tall. Yes, tall. Strange's mind focussed on that almost desperately. "You might find this terribly rude, but I overheard you, before, talking to yourself, and I recognised the language." Making an effort to try and regain some degree of dignity, he held out his hand. "Stephen Strange, I'm an archaeology professor here. Eastern cultures, largely, but I have studied fairly extensively. You were speaking Romany, were you not?"

"Oh, a fellow academic." Juggling the books, Wanda gripped his hand. "And yes, I was. Wanda Maximoff, anthropology professor back at Cambridge. Well, when I am not traveling for my work." Handsome and smart. This was her day. "General anthropology but I study moving groups the most. I tend to chatter to myself in my birth language before I chatter to myself in English. I apologize if I interrupted you with it." But there wasn't much shame in being caught talking to herself, she was used to that.

"Maximoff? That sounds familiar... I may have read some of your work. Travelling groups, am I right?" Back on the safe ground of academics, Strange relaxed a little. Only a little - the warm, firm grip of her hand was strangely enjoyable, and the contact had triggered his powers. He blinked, momentarily distracted by the strength of her aura. Here was someone very sure of herself. "I have a... student who speaks Romany. A slightly different dialect, possibly."

Taken by surprise that he had read anything she had done--Cambridge might be very prestegious but she was their traveling professor--she flushed slightly, pleased. "Yes. Concentrating especially on the Rom, the circus folk and the nomad tribes in Africa." Wanda paused at the mention of a student, eyes going bright with curiosity. "Well, that is interesting. It is unusual to find anyone outside of Europe who speaks it." Shifting slightly, her leg bumped her pack and sent a few papers tumbling out. Groaning, she knelt and started picking them up.

"Here, let me help..." Kneeling beside her, Strange held the bag open as she scooped the papers back up and dropped them in. He paused, recognising the X logo printed on the back of it. "Xavier's? Do you, ah know someone who attends there?"

Wanda glanced up, hands hovering over the bag, eyes widening a little. She hadn't expected anyone to recognize the symbol. "Actually...I've been living there for a little bit. Seems the stay is going to be a longer one." Peering at his face, she raised an eyebrow. "How do you know the school?" There was caution in her words, she didn't want to draw unwelcomed attention.

"My student, the one I mentioned... she attends there," Strange replied. "It's been some time since I've been at the school. I'm sure I would have remembered you had I met you there." Realising what he'd said, he coughed and straightened, surrendering the bag back to her.

Laughing, delighted at the slipped compliment, she stood up, brushing off her legs. "Amanda," she murmured quietly. It wasn't a question, speaking Romany wasn't common, even at the mansion. Student... she glanced up at him, curious again. "Student, you said? Well, this is a pleasure. Anthropology and magic as well?" The words were said quietly enough that only they could hear it and her lips quirked slightly. "Handsome as well, this is an interesting day."

Reflexively he looked around, but they were alone in the row. "Yes," he admitted. "Well, yes to the first two, that is. The third... well... I ah..." Blushing was a terribly schoolboy thing to do, but here he was, blushing like a schoolboy. "Can I interest you in a cup of coffee, perhaps? Somewhere we can talk uninterrupted?" he managed to say, clearly aware she was highly amused by the effect she was having on him.

"Tea, actually, would be lovely right now. It has been a--trying couple of weeks. I'll follow your lead, Stephen--I hope you don't mind me calling you that--since you know the campus better than I."

"I understand. Even if Amanda had not told me, the amount of magic she has been doing lately, healing..." A flash of irritation crossed his face, but only for an instant. "Tea it shall be. My office isn't far, if you do not consider that too forward...?"

"Too forward? Certainly not." Wanda had certainly not missed the look that crossed his face but figured that would be brought up once they got to where they were going.

A few minutes later, it really was not that far from the library, and Stephen was ushering her into the room. A look of pure glee lit her face once she got a good look around. Keeping her hands firmly behind
her back as she had been taught when dealing with other people's antiques, and magic items she guessed, she peered around. "Oh, I could lose myself in here for hours," she murmured, looking intently at a mask. "Tribal mask...African, probably. From the area around Mali, I presume? A Shaman or a healer mask?"

"Shaman - it was a gift in exchange for some assistance with tracking down some other items of far more value to the tribe..." Occupied with making the tea, Strange couldn't help sneaking a glance or two at Wanda as she studied various items. She certainly knew her work. "I suppose this would be where I ask how it is you have knowledge of such things as magic, but I suspect I already know. You're Rom, yes?"

Abandoning the mask and the other treasures around the room, she wandered over to the couch and settled in at his nod. "Yes, rather obviously so to those who know what to look for. Community leader, actually, when I am home." The way she kept look around suggested that she was highly impressed by what she was seeing. "We have a healer, actually. More powerful than the old girl actually lets on so I've been exposed to magic since I was born."

Strange brought over a tray with two cups, a teapot, milk and sugar. "It's... refreshing, to find someone who understands the concept," he said, taking a seat in the easy chair next to the couch. "Community leader? Now it is my turn to be impressed."

She shrugged a little and accepted the cup, adding in only a little bit of sugar. "It was rumored that my family was the one who broke off from a larger caravan back in the days. A Maximoff has always been, in some form, a leader. Once my mother passed away and when my brother left...it is a good thing I was good at the job." Wanda sighed happily as she sipped at the warm tea. "How long has Amanda been your student?"

"Since... March, I believe. There were some difficulties when Amanda first came to the school, involving her mutation and a power source and I was contacted by one of her guardians to act as tutor for her. I've never had a student of the Arts before, but Ms Wisdom proved most persuasive. It's been an interesting experience, for both of us." His expression was unreadable as he raised his own cups to his lips. "Amanda can be rather headstrong, and her mutation potentially makes her more powerful than any magic user hsa been since the Industrial Age. I just hope the two are not a disastrous combination."

"And young and very determined. I was there the night the demon attacked on Halloween." Wanda shook her head. "First...no, excuse me, my second experience with their kind. I was also there when they came for Illyana. I..." She paused, biting her lip. "Amanda has been working herself pretty hard since then. Healing spells. I think the last one was Jubilation." It was almost hard to hear but there was a soft growl as she said her name. The girl had not endeared herself to her at all.

"I'd noticed. When she's attened for her classes with me, she's had barely any power left." Strange frowned.
"I had thought we'd settled this before, back in May, but it seems not. However, it is not my place to dictate to her teachers..." There was a slight tinge of bitterness in the tone. "And yes, I've met
Jubilation. After Halloween..." His look was disapproving. "She jeopardised so much, on a foolish
schoolgirl fued. I hope I have put sufficient fear into her regarding the use of magic to avoid her
taking that path again."

"This? Is me biting my tongue and _trying_ to be good." The look on her face said that she would rather be bad. "Any amount of sense that could be put into that child is for the better. Oh dear...I said I was trying to be good. I do not know Amanda very well yet but I can sense that she's trying her best to put things right again. With friends hurt...I can see why she would push herself."

"She needs to learn her limits. Or remember that she has them for a good reason." Strange frowned down at
his cup, then made an effort to regain his good humour. Besides, he shouldn't be discussing the
difficulties he was having with Amanda with someone else, and certainly not someone who admitted she
didn't know the girl well. "What brings you to our library? Research for a new project?"

Wanda nodded and settled back into the couch. "Yes. My supervisors were apparently going to be sending me to the States on my next run anyway. They were more than happy to switch my assignment early. Native America studies, not something I have had much chance to explore as of yet. And I am also here for something I told Amanda I would do for her." Her face had lit up at the topic of her new study, it was obvious she loved what she was doing.

"There's certainly a wealth of information out there. You should visit New Mexico and Nevada - there's some
ancient sites out there you would find fascinating." It was easy to see how much she loved her work, and
Strange smiled to himself. "And you're helping Amanda? With what, if I may ask?" This was new - then again,
his student hadn't exactly been forthcoming with a lot of things lately. Part of the difficulties.

She hesitated, staring into the tea that was left in her cup. "If I tell you, can I trust you not to mention it to her?" she asked, looking back up at him, imploringly. Wanda liked him and felt that she could trust him, especially with this, but it was a delicate matter at best.

"Of course. I am the very model of discretion." He looked faintly worried, though. "Is she in some sort
of trouble? Danger? I was unable to prevent the events of Halloween, and for that I am truly regretful."

"Oh! No, no trouble or danger. If she was, I would have alerted Professor Xavier by now. And would have told you the second I found out who you were." Wanda thought for a second. "The night of Halloween, I was one of the few that heard what the demon was saying. I understood nothing except for one thing. Her name. I do not know if she mentioned it to you are not, it was why I wanted to be careful. I know that names carry power. But the name is...familiar to me, in a sense and I told her I would do some research on it for her."

"She told me that was how the demon took her powers, that it knew her name. I didn't realise that someone
else would recognise it..." Strange's brow furrowed. "Of course, you would. It is Romany, is it not? I had
thought it was familiar, but Amanda never expressed any desire to know further, so I did not push."

"Amanda was...not exactly thrilled but she seemed willing to let me dig," Wanda murmured, crossing her legs as she shifted. "And yes, it is Romany. A little outdated even for us but I do recognize the name. I am very big on family." Her eyes sharpened slightly. "Selling children is not unheard of but it is not exactly common either. And I have heard a little of this Rack person. Personally, I would trust him as far as I could throw our Mr. Marko."

It was perhaps a good thing she mentioned Rack, as the name countered the sudden increase in blood pressure
at the leg-crossing. The skirt wasn't overly short, but Wanda had very impressive legs. Swallowing, Strange nodded. "It is very fortunate that the man is now very profoundly dead. A most unpleasant individual, by all accounts. And I have wondered about the truth of Amanda's origins, but it is, ultimately, a matter for her to persue." There was almost a businesslike tone to the words. Family obviously didn't rate highly with Strange.

The change in tone didn't pass her by and she smiled a little. "Some family are better left alone," Wanda said, jaw twitching slightly as she thought of her father. "Others are those you find along the way. I put more stock in family you decide to keep than blood relatives. But Amanda seemed willing to let me help. I would not pursue this without her agreement. Right now, she is very well loved. Or at least she is from what I have seen of how she is treated."

"I wasn't insinuating you would pursue it without her consent," Strange hasted to say. "Merely that it is
something I have not considered a priority. However, if she wishes to do so now, well, she has my support,
of course. And you're correct, about the school - she has made quite the family for herself there, although
sometimes I fear some of the inluences on her are not always beneficial. The summoning and unbinding spells,
for example. I would have much preferred she wait another few years, until she had the emotional
stability, the maturity, to handle such an incantation. At the very least, she should have done
it with my supervision."

"And unfortunatly magic is not one of those cases that the words 'it turned out alright in the end' bring any comfort?" she asked, sympathy in her voice. It was very obvious that he cared for Amanda and was simply very frustrated with the entire situation.

"Precisely." Strange's tone was dry. "The summoning of the dead... it's a very volatile spell, and skating
the edges of what should and shouldn't be done. That's the lesson I'm having difficulty impressing on Amanda
- that because you have the power to do something, does not mean you should do it. At least at the moment, with the need to restrict her power sources, we can control that, but she has the potential to have so very much power when she overcomes that problem."

"Mmm, that is something I can greatly understand. Having to learn to control mutant abilities is one thing. Have to control powerful, dangerous power can sometimes be incredibly different. And she is so young and did not have the support when she manifested. I manifested roughly sixteen years ago and I still have to keep a nearly constant eye on my powers. I can only imagine how hard it is for her."

"I'm afraid for her," Strange confessed. "I do my best for her, but we are so very different people, and she
doesn't trust me, not completely. I didn't know about the unbinding spell until after the fact, and that's
not the first time she's kept something from me."

"It seems she has a hard time opening to people," she guessed. "And with her background is it any wonder she has trouble opening up to certain people? Like...well, male magic users?" Wanda's tone was gentle, not meaning any insult in the least.

"But she knows I would never..." Strange protested, but trailed off. "Doesn't she?" The look of... hurt was the only word for it, on his face would have been comical if it hadn't been so genuine. "I never thought... And I've failed to protect her, twice already. Once when Rack summoned her, and then when Nathan was attacked, here. Just down in that parking lot." He nodded towards one of the windows, where a corner of a parking lot, edged by lawn now brown and dead. "I didn't realise," he continued sadly. "I have never had a student before, and I fear I'm making mistakes. Mistakes that could prove costly."

"Knowing and feeling are sometimes very different things." Putting the now empty tea cup down, she reached over and placed a hand on top of his. "Last time I checked, Stephen, we are all human. Mutant genes or magical abilities aside. We all make mistakes, especially in areas that we are new to. Amanda is alive, whole, and starting to thrive. You have had a hand in that. The rest...I think as she begins to find herself, she will open up. You are the only person right now that could turn that possible perception of male spellcasters around. And you are probably doing a better job of it than you are _letting_ yourself realize."

He started at the contact, blushing again furiously at the warmth of her hand. "I.. ah... I hope that you are right. I do try my best..." he stammered.

Oh, he really was _too_ cute. She withdrew her hand with a smile. "Everything will work out in the end," Wanda said, suddenly glancing at the clock with a groan. "Is it so late already? I hate to go but unfortunatly I have a plane to catch later this evening."

His face fell a little, but he rallied, reminding himself that he had only just met the woman. "I sincerely hope so. And of course, I've kept you too long. Could I walk you to your car? Like you said, the campus can be rather confusing..."

She beamed at that as she stood, brushing off her skirt slightly. "I would love that. It will take me some time to become used to this campus," she said, lightly, bending over to pick up the bag. "The Cambridge scholars might be doing something to set up something between the school and myself, so I can use the resources I need."

"Well, any assistance I can offer in that regard..." Strange rose, a rare smile crossing his face. "And thank you, for the words. I'll bear them in mind."

As he opened the door and allowed her to walk in front of him, she turned her head, smile still there, and said, "I guess I will just have to check in again, see if my words bear any truth."

"I would very much look forward to it," Strange replied.