Chương 101: Best Hugs In The Verse 5
The dust had barely settled from the last tense exchange when the walls of the crumbling room began to vibrate with a low, ominous hum.
The air crackled with the unmistakable pull of electromagnetic energy, causing every metallic object to shudder and twitch.
The heroes turned as one toward the gaping hole where Magneto had stormed in earlier, sensing a familiar presence approaching with palpable anger.
Magneto hovered in the doorway, his eyes blazing with fury as he took in the sight of his daughter surrounded by Avengers, X-Men, and a particularly odd blob perched on her shoulder.
He raised his hands, and the very structure of the building seemed to respond, metal beams and debris ripping free and coiling around him like snakes ready to strike.
"Wanda!" Magneto's voice boomed through the room, echoing off the battered walls. "Step away from them! I will not let you be threatened or used again!"
Wanda rose from the bed, hands outstretched in a placating gesture. "Dad, it's okay—"
But Magneto was already in motion. He thrust his hands forward, and a tidal wave of twisted metal hurtled toward the group, deadly and unstoppable.
The Avengers and X-Men braced for impact, Steve with his shield raised, Tony's repulsors flaring, and Strange summoning a shimmering barrier, but before anyone could react further, the ooze leapt from Wanda's shoulder, eager and enthusiastic.
With a delighted gurgle, the blob launched itself directly into the path of the oncoming attack. It opened its tiny mouth wide, and in a series of rapid gulps, it devoured the entire assault. Steel beams, shattered rebar, and chunks of metal vanished into its gelatinous body, each swallowed piece causing the ooze to jiggle with glee.
The entire room fell silent, save for the wet slurping sounds of the ooze finishing its meal. Thousands of pounds of metal that had once formed the backbone of the building were now gone, leaving the structure teetering precariously, held up only by the stubbornness of concrete and luck.
Magneto floated in mid-air, his outstretched hands still posed for an attack that was now thoroughly consumed. He blinked, then slowly lowered himself to the ground, his expression shifting from fury to bewilderment. "What… what is this?"
Wanda couldn't help but stifle a laugh as she watched the ooze bounce back to her, clearly proud of itself. "Dad, this is my friend," she said, patting the blob, which was now wiggling happily. "And apparently, he really likes metal."
The ooze, oblivious to the tension, gave a playful jiggle and turned its gaze towards Doctor Strange's cloak again, eyeing it like a child eyeing a forbidden cookie jar.
It lunged, aiming to take a bite of the flowing fabric, but the cloak snapped out of reach, flapping indignantly as it dodged the ooze's persistent advances. The ooze tried again, hopping with determination, but the cloak darted away, swatting the ooze like a bothersome fly.
"Will you stop trying to eat my cloak!" Strange exclaimed, yanking the fabric away and throwing an exasperated glance at Wanda. "It's not on the menu!"
Magneto, still processing the bizarre sight of the ooze's relentless pursuit of the cloak, finally snapped out of his stupor. "Wanda, that thing just… ate my attack. It devoured metal like it was nothing! How can you be so calm?"
The ooze, noticing Magneto's lingering hostility, blinked up at him with wide, unblinking eyes. Then, with a gleeful squelch, it surged forward and engulfed Magneto in a squishy, transparent hug, its gelatinous form rippling as it trapped him harmlessly inside. Magneto flailed slightly, his helmet wobbling as he was held firmly within the blob's embrace.
"Wanda!" Magneto's voice was muffled, his movements restricted as he floated within the ooze. "Tell this creature to release me immediately!" Soon, enough, however, Magneto began to laugh as if the entire blob was tickling him.
"Get this thing hahaha off me!" Magneto's attempts to escape the ooze only seemed to worsen the situation as the blob seems to think of this as a game as it continues to hug the master of magnetism.
Wanda stepped forward, her expression caught between amusement and exasperation. "Buddy, you really have to stop trying to eat people," she said, gently tapping the blob. "That's my dad, not lunch."
The ooze looked at her, its form shifting as if contemplating her words. It tilted its head, forming a tiny question mark on its surface before reluctantly releasing Magneto. The mutant leader staggered out, glaring at the blob as he tried to shake off the goo that clung stubbornly to his uniform.
"Thank you," Wanda said, ruffling the ooze's 'head' with a fond smile. "You did great. But seriously, no eating family members, okay?"
The ooze gave a forlorn burble, as if disappointed by the restrictive dietary guidelines. It slumped back onto Wanda's shoulder, puffing itself up into the shape of a sad face before slowly morphing back into a blob. But not before motioning in a way that almost says, "Alright, I won't eat your family, but other others are on the table yeah?"
Magneto, regaining his composure, wiped the remaining ooze from his helmet. "This… this thing just disarmed me like it was nothing," he said, half in awe, half in irritation. "Wanda, are you sure it's safe to keep around?"
Wanda nodded confidently. "He's harmless as long as you don't have any evil elder gods or… you know, metal lying around."
Tony, who had been watching with barely contained laughter, finally let it out. "So let me get this straight, we've got a blob that eats metal, disarms the Master of Magnetism, and is just hungry for more? This is priceless. Make sure to keep away from him Logan don't want him eating your skeleton like a Kitcat."
"I will hurt you Stark." Wolverine says while brandishing his claws.
Strange sighed, rubbing his temples. "This blob is going to give me gray hair, I swear."
The ooze, picking up on the lightened mood, bounced gleefully and shaped itself into a pair of floating sunglasses, mimicking Tony's signature style.
It jiggled in place, clearly basking in the absurdity it had just caused, while Wanda chuckled and gave it an approving nod.
Magneto, still adjusting his helmet, finally nodded, albeit reluctantly. "If this creature is truly here for you, Wanda, then I'll trust your judgment. But if it ever becomes a threat—"
"It won't," Wanda assured him, scratching the ooze's side as it made a happy, purring sound. "He's learning. We're all figuring it out together."
Steve Rogers, ever the leader, stepped forward, clearing his throat to gather the room's attention. "Alright, everyone. We've got to address the elephant in the room." He glanced at Wanda, his expression a mix of compassion and concern. "Wanda, we're glad you're safe, but… we can't ignore what's happened. We need to figure out what's next."
The room went quiet, each hero caught in the gravity of Steve's words. It was impossible to forget the chaos Wanda had unleashed not so long ago.
The losses of Scott Lang and Hawkeye still hung heavy over the Avengers, a wound that had only just begun to scab over. Now, seeing her so calm and collected, with the ooze radiating a quiet sense of peace, was almost surreal.
Wanda nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor as she ran her fingers through the ooze's soft, gelatinous surface. "I know," she said quietly, her voice laced with remorse. "I've hurt people. Good people. I don't expect forgiveness. I don't expect… anything, really. But I'm trying to get better. I am."
Emma Frost, who had been watching the scene unfold with her usual icy composure, stepped closer, her expression softening ever so slightly. "Wanda, we're not here to punish you. But given your past… incidents, it's not just about what you've done. It's about what you might do. We need to know that you're not a threat, to yourself or to others."
Wanda nodded, her grip tightening on the ooze, which seemed to pulse gently, almost as if in response to her emotions. "I understand that," she said, meeting Emma's gaze. "But I'm different now. I've got control. I'm not hearing the voices. The anger… it's quieter." She looked down at the ooze, which blinked up at her with innocent, glowing eyes. "I think he's helping me." Emma Frost, however, doesn't seem to be very convinced, but slightly annoyed look from Cyclops silences her.
Doctor Strange, still wary, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's clear the creature has some sort of calming effect. I can feel it, too. But we still don't fully understand its nature or its powers. If we're going to consider allowing you to stay out here, we need to know more. This… healing aura it projects, how far does it go? How reliable is it?"
Wanda hesitated, looking at the ooze, which seemed to wiggle with contentment. "I don't know exactly," she admitted. "But it's more than just a feeling. It's like… a weight lifting off my chest. I think it affects anyone close enough. It doesn't take away the pain or the memories, but it makes them… easier to handle."
Professor Xavier, his expression kind but firm, rolled his chair forward. "We can't ignore the fact that you've been through a great deal, Wanda. And your powers, combined with this creature's influence, are not something we can dismiss lightly. But I sense there's a sincerity in you now, a desire to change. The question is, can we trust that this change is lasting?"
Magneto, having composed himself after his brief imprisonment in the ooze, stood by his daughter's side. "Wanda has been manipulated and controlled by forces beyond her understanding. She's suffered for it more than any of you know." He glanced at Wanda, his gaze softening. "She deserves a chance to find peace, even if that means trusting… this creature."
Tony crossed his arms, his face a mix of skepticism and reluctant acceptance. "I get it, Erik. But it's not just about what Wanda wants. We've got to think about the safety of everyone involved. This isn't just a personal issue, it's a global one. We can't afford another… incident."
Wanda's expression tightened, the weight of Tony's words settling over her like a heavy blanket. She knew he was right. The world had seen what she was capable of at her worst. It had every reason to fear her at her best.
Natasha stepped forward, her gaze warm but piercing. "Wanda, you have to understand our position. We want to help you, but there are limits. If something goes wrong again, if you lose control…"
Wanda nodded, her eyes glistening as she met Natasha's gaze. "I know. I'm not asking for anyone to take that risk lightly. But I'm willing to prove myself, however long it takes."
The ooze, sensing Wanda's rising emotions, emitted a soft, rhythmic pulse, like the faint beat of a comforting lullaby.
The atmosphere in the room shifted, the tension easing slightly as the blob's calming aura spread through the gathered heroes. It was as if the room itself took a collective breath, the heaviness lifting just a fraction.
Steve took a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright," he said, his tone measured but resolute. "We move forward with caution. Wanda, you'll stay under observation. We'll need regular updates on your condition, both physical and mental. And that means understanding more about your new friend here."
Wanda nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Steve. I promise. I won't let you down."
Strange raised an eyebrow, still unconvinced. "We'll also need to keep a close eye on the ooze. If it starts to exhibit any behavior that suggests a shift—anything that might compromise safety—we'll have to act accordingly."
"Agreed," Wanda said, her voice steady. "But please… just give us a chance."
Tony glanced at the ooze, which was now forming tiny bubbles on its surface, floating them up like miniature balloons before popping them in a quiet burst of light. "Yeah, well," Tony said, smirking despite himself, "guess we've got our work cut out for us. Babysitting a sentient blob wasn't exactly in the job description."
The room filled with light chuckles, the first genuine moment of levity since Magneto's dramatic entrance. Even Magneto allowed himself a wry smile, though it quickly faded as he looked back at Wanda. "You have my support, Wanda. Always."
" Since this place seems to be coming down due to our resident master of magnetism. I offer to keep Wanda safe within my home. I shall allow magneto and Quicksilver access to her but no one else." Strangers offer from Magneto and a thankful sigh from Wanda.
" That's a great idea. Strange, now you might want to turn around." Stark says, pointing behind him.
" Why would I need to turn around? Not again!" Strange then sees his cape, almost enveloped by the ooze as all of the Avengers, and the X-Men attempt to keep a straight face to which Doctor Strange uses a spatial distortion spell to teleport himself away from it, but the blob simply stretches across the room, still holding onto the cape.
" Don't just stand there! Help me!" Strange's pleas are met with laughter from nearly everyone in the room while the more composed members simply chuckle.
Wanda then gets up from the bed and tries to pull off her new friend.
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