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Leap of Faith

Erik Lehnsherr was walking down the street in Poland, alone, metal fidgets spinning in his pockets as he smiled to himself in confidence. He was here to help the refugees. God was witness he knew well how stress like this could trigger mutations. And he wanted to be there to make the discovery less scary.

"You do it well."

Suddenly he was not so alone when a young woman started walking beside him.

"I don't do it for service," Erik sighed as he remembered his first experience of leading new mutants.

"He does it better," she smuggly corrected him.

True, he thought. Charles did do it better. That's why he left the Barton kid there. Shoulda taken Wanda there first, too, instead of helping her himself. So much good that had done.

"Then why are you bothering me?" Erik rolled his eyes. A waste of both their time.

"Because he can help you, too."

Erik finally stopped walking. He got the feeling she wasn't talking about Charles.

"Who can?"

He needed her. Her abilities were not yet something he had. She could help him achieve his goal to create a new world. And after watching the TV screen in Egypt, he knew exactly how to show her a gift of good faith. Having him on board would help get her to work with him.

Wanda was happy. She was living a happy life. A good Life. A fair life. Where everyone lived in harmony.

"But something is wrong," a voice said, one only she seemed to hear.

"Go away," Wanda yelled at the voice before tuning in to her life again.

"It is a lie. It is not real," the voice forced her to acknowledge the red hue of everything.

"Your brother; look at him," Wanda looked at Pietro running track at school. "He could be the fastest man alive, but he has to pretend to be happy, hiding with the humans. He wasn't using even the slightest of his enhanced speed."

"He... he is happy. Here," Wanda replied, trying to convince herself to stay.

"But here is not real. He is not real," as the voice said, Pietro vanished in sand. She collapsed with him and her made up world was starting to fall apart.

"But you can make it a reality," someone was approaching her. "I can show you how."

Wanda looked up at the man kneeling in front of her.

"You can't help me. I'm a monster," she whimpered.

"You are not a monster, my child. You are
a goddess." He took her hand and helped her to her feet.

"Who are you?" Wanda asked as a calm flushed through her when he held her hand.

"I am just like you. A god, buried by the real monsters. Who stole this world from us. You and I, we will get it back."

"How do I believe you?" She yanked her hands out from his. "How do I know you're not just using me like everyone else?"

"I anticipated your apprehension," he raised his hand, aiming it behind her, "That is why I picked up a friend, first."

Wanda turned in the direction of his guidance and smiled.

"Erik!" She ran to him.

Erik met her halfway and enclosed her in a hug.

"You're okay!" She cried, and he kissed her head.

"Of course I'm okay," he pushed her away and held her face to read her expression.

"I thought Clint, and the others would hurt you! Because..."

Erik gazed into her face with a pitied expression. "You ran away to protect me?"

"I couldn't... I couldn't let you get hurt because of me. If dad had found me with you and, and..."

Erik hugged her again and then smiled. "You could never hurt me, kochanie."

"So you're okay?" She held on to reassure herself. "Dad didn't kick you out?"

"No. Your father didn't make me leave. He actually came to get you back. And apologize," he sighed. "They're looking for you, Wanda."

"And you can reunite with them, in your real, new world," Sabah Nur cut in.

Wanda looked to Erik to see his reaction to the new guy, if he was trustworthy.

"I helped your mentor realize his true potential," he of course knew their real relationship, but it wasn't relevant now. It would just add emotion, which he didn't have time for. "And I can do the same for you if you will just, trust me."