Maximoff Anomalies

Billy V

Charlie waited for the cover of the night, trying not to look at his phone, which was blowing up with texts from Nick. He felt bad about not telling his boyfriend, but it couldn't wait. He needed his brother back. That's all that mattered. Nick would forgive him... right?

When the sky was black and the street was quiet, Charlie got out of the car and walked towards Agatha's property, pulling his hood up and lifting a bandana over his mouth and nose. He peeked into the living room window to see Agatha talking to herself while holding two mugs. 

"So I say 'has the suspect been seen in the last twenty-four hours'? And she says 'only on TikTok'," Agatha was laughing.

Now or never. Charlie hefted himself onto the roof and climbed through an open window into a random bedroom. He turned on a lamp and began searching through the drawers. "Personal item, personal item," he muttered, eyes widening when he spotted a familiar pendant in a plastic bag. Agatha had been wearing it in Westview when she was fighting Wanda. It had to be what he needed.

When Charlie turned back to the window, the lamp crashed to the ground. Charlie winced, and panic flooded as Agatha let out a shout from behind him, "Hey!"

Charlie ran for the window, climbing onto the roof. He couldn't do this right now. It would be easier if he'd just walked into Agatha's and done the spell, but she'd likely take the pendant if she caught him.

For the first time, Charlie noticed just how high Agatha's roof was. "Okay, that's really high," he whispered as he staggered forward. 

Agatha crawled out of the window behind him, carefully following. "Stop!" 

They managed to last a couple of seconds in an anticlimactic chase before Agatha slid down the roof, clinging to the drainpipe. Charlie slipped through the slits above the porch, holding onto the planks before falling onto Agatha's doorstep and tumbling down the stairs.

"Oh my god that hurt." Charlie scrambled to his feet, glancing back to see Agatha roll onto the concrete. "Are you okay?" he couldn't help but ask. 

"Stop!" Agatha shouted back at him, uncaring about her injuries.

"I'm trying to help," Charlie shouted back.

"Police!" Agatha shouted.

Charlie started to leave. "Please don't call the police, I can't have a criminal record!" he climbed the fence and started to run, knocking over trash cans.

"You picked the wrong house kid," Agatha called as she followed him. "Hold your horses! Stop!"

"I'll stop if you stop!" Charlie knew full well that Agatha wouldn't stop coming after him, but this was getting exhausting. 

Agatha however, stopped to catch a breather. Charlie turned to look behind at her and ran into an open car door, falling to the ground in pain. Mrs Hart stepped out of the car, glaring at him. "Hooligan."

Agatha dragged Charlie back to her house, sitting him down on an armchair. The living room was set up like an interrogation, with the coffee table in between Charlie's chair and another armchair. Agatha was silent, dropping some rope, a roll of tape, and a binder on the table.

"Agatha, I didn't mean for that to be so chaotic," Charlie tried, but Agatha ignored him, adjusting the hose attached to her belt. "I panicked, so I ran. But I am very glad I can have this opportunity to fully explain myself to you."

Agatha sat herself down and folded her arms slowly. "So I'm curious. What compelled you to break into the home of a decorated detective?" she asked.

"Detective?" Charlie mused. "That's not what I was expecting but I can totally see that for you."