- CHAPTER NINE -
❝ THE GOD OF WAR ❞

The Avengers were no strangers to time travel. No, of course not, they had fucked up the multiverse by doing that once, and now Wanda had to do it too in order to fix their mess. Maybe if they left the sorcery to the sorcerer's, they wouldn't be in this stupid, stupid situation right now.

Searing hot liquid burnt her tongue as she flinched away, putting down a mug of coffee she had brewed as she declared it too hot. Amongst her thoughts, she had seemingly forgot how to function as a human. The day before, the team, mainly consisting of Tony and Thor, pieced together the semantics of throwing a party on a whole other planet, and had set the date for the next day. Somehow, most people were on board with it, practically wriggling in their seats at the prospect of being on Asgard.

Wanda supposed in any other circumstance, she herself would find more enjoyment in it, but instead, it sounded like a complete and utter waste of time, not to mention, a terrible suggestion from Loki. What was he playing at? He knew better than anyone that they didn't have time to waste, especially not over a party of all things. But despite herself, she had hesitantly agreed to get ready with Nat and Pepper later that evening, unwillingness seeping in her bones as she forced a smile as to disguise her internal turmoil.

But first, she had some interrogating to do. There was clearly an ulterior motive behind travelling to Asgard first, and despite her own hatred, she knew Loki wasn't stupid. It couldn't be a complete waste of time, but she needed to know whether the reason would benefit the universe and its broken state, or just himself.

Setting aside her scorching mug, she abandoned it onto the table as she strode with new determination set in her blood, fuelled with her own curiosity.

Walking past multiple doors she had no idea as to where led, she suddenly came to the realisation that she didn't exactly know where she was going, where do snakes usually reside?

Her attention was caught by a loud, hearty chuckle from a room behind her, and she recognised it to be that of Pietro. Realisation dawned over her. What else could the God of Mischief be doing if not stirring mischief. Cursing furiously under her breath, she twisted on her heel and made for the room she had passed.

The sight she found was not what she had been expecting.

Instead of Loki in there, brewing some type of mind game chaos with Pietro, it was a random platinum blonde girl, the same one she had seen with him on the jet a mere few days ago, who was smiling and blushing furiously from her seat.

Her seat being Pietro's lap.

"Oh- sorry for uhm- I'll just go," Wanda uttered out awkwardly, embarrassment sliding down her spine as she cringed, pursing her lips tightly. Not only had she not found who she had been looking for, she had discovered a sight that would no doubt be plastered in her mind for the rest of the day. Fuck's sake, Wanda.

Casting a glance up at a grand clock embroidered with what seemed to be rather expensive stones- diamonds perhaps?- she was sentenced with a startling reminder that they had to set out for Asgard soon, and she was due to Nat's room. Time to hurry this up.

Gaining speed in her stride, she scrounged up other ideas of where to find him, every other time she had stumbled across the God, his presence had been the last thing she wanted, but now that she did, he was nowhere to be found. At this point, his purpose may just be to live to annoy her. Stupid trickster, stupid Multiverse, stupid-

"Wanda?" Her head whipped around to find Vision approaching he with a gentle smile, head tilted slightly. So much for an interrogation, Wanda thought dryly, greeting Vision in response with a falsely cheerful, "Hey, Vis!"

"How are you?" the synthesoid asked politely, to which she waved off quickly with a lame answer, before reversing the sentiment. All the whilst, Wanda accepted that she wasn't going to get anymore information anytime soon, and she was just expected to go along with every little tweak Loki makes in their plan- no, not theirs- his plan. She had little to no contribution in this, he barely even gave her the light of day to explain it.

"Are you coming to Asgard?" Wanda questioned, suddenly feeling bad for her lack of engagement in the conversation, even though she was sure Vision didn't mind. He was so easy-going, so peaceful in that way, he didn't let a single event shake his world like she did, didn't have a temper, wasn't irritable or snarky, didn't always have an ulterior, selfish move that would only benefit himself- Okay, lets tone it down, Wanda.

"Well, I suppose I did not find reason to," Vis replied thoughtfully, looking at her with a questioning gaze. Snorting, she covered it up with a cough, Tony would force Vis to come anyways, and honestly, she hoped he did. Someone needed to be there to make sure she didn't go completely insane when Pietro eventually got whisked away by a man or woman of his choosing.

"You should come," she prompted, figuring that she may as well let him know she was looking forward to his presence, "I'm sure it'd be lovely to witness another planet."

It surely would, if she told young Wanda that she could visit another planet, she'd laugh in your face. God, teenage Wanda was a scandal in human form, but that wasn't the point right now. Besides, fully grown Wanda didn't have the time nor ability to be careless enough to recreate her young personality. Maybe that was for the better. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe she should stop dwelling on the past.

Another quick glance at the clock adorning the vast, white wall told her that she was getting late, and she was due to getting ready by now. With a sigh, she bid Vis goodbye, though, she was starting to believe it'd be much easier and enjoyable to just swing back with Vis instead of playing dress up and plastering herself in delicate fabrics and heaps of makeup. Right, that was a bit dramatic, she couldn't say she didn't enjoy dressing up at all, and she didn't cake her face that much. But still, it was the spirit of it that mattered.

Her gaze snapped to a door besides her, as she came to the realisation she didn't exactly know where she was supposed to be, and she wasn't going to go knocking on doors and disturbing everyone just to find a specific room. Instead, her solution was just to stroll through the many corridors until she stumbled across someone to lead her to Nat.

The first person she found, however, was not whom she wanted to see. Well, not anymore that is.

"Fancy seeing you around," Loki drawled sarcastically as she kept walking, urging her stupid body to move despite the desire to stop and snap back a snarky remark. She was better than that, totally. "No comeback? Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes actually," she couldn't help but blurt out, "I felt merciful today." She concluded her sentence with a dazzling smile baring all her teeth as she continued on her way, the tug on the side of her lips dropping immediately. So much for asking where Nat was, she supposed, but he wouldn't know anyways.

God knew that Loki was the last to care about any of the other avengers locations. Well, she thought dryly, perhaps apart from her, he always seemed to find her at the worst times. Groaning, she walked on, banishing all thoughts of him from her mind.

If she was to go to another planet, she may as well enjoy what she can.

Asgard, she noted dutifully, was completely and utterly breathtaking.

After a sped up lecture from Nat about her late arrival, the spy proceeded to assist her in readying herself, a scarlet, off the shoulders dress with lacy sleeves clinging to her frame, with red gloves stretching to her elbows and her neck adorned with a matching, golden choker. Her makeup was simple, a look she'd usually do, but slightly more glammed up, her features sharper, cheeks brighter, and a strong red lip to tie the look together.

With that, they followed outside, as per Thor's orders, only to be shot up by a strange, yet miraculously powerful force bolting them to Asgard. And God, was it a sight. A giddy smile was plastered over Thor's face as he surveyed his star-strucken friends in awe of the sight in front of them.

An empire, a shimmering, golden plated castle with towers shooting up to the amber skies besides it, statues and pillars infront embellished with that same, radiant glow as the castle. The ocean surrounding it was no less breath-taking, reflecting the skies ombre colours as the first cracks of white light broke through the horizon, and the waves crashed against the shore, again and again.

Wanda couldn't help but gape slightly at the sight.

"My friends!" Thor bellowed, arms out as he tilted his head up confidently, chest puffed up with pride, "I present to you, Asgard."

The corners of her lips quirked up instinctively, the soft breaths of air brushing against her face blowing wayward strands of hair away from her, drawing attention to her golden earings which twinkled beneath the suns attention. It was beautiful here- no, that was an understatement- it was stunning.

Thor had managed to usher them into the palace soon after, averting their prying eyes from the exterior beauty to the inside of the castle. Inside, if she daresay, was even more impressive.

The crystal chandeliers dangling from above, shimmering in the light as it reflected over golden walls as clear as an iced-over lake, her reflection imbedded on the walls. The place screamed expensive, and glamorous in all of its glory, fluorescent colours and bright lights blinding them

Wanda, in all her power, felt oddly unworthy standing amidst all the outer-wordly adornments blessing the palace with their beauty, she felt out of place. But the selfish desire in her didn't care, she would stay anyways, eyes greedily taking in the sights before her as she passed.

Asgard had done what she thought nothing was capable of doing at the moment, it had strayed her mind away from the one stress occupying it, haunting it. The beauty was hypnotising, and it had encaptured her in its enchanting depths.

And one thing was for certain, Asgardians certainly knew how to throw a party. Not only was the room filled to the brim with the most significant agents and people associated with the avengers from earth, but also a wide assortment of Asgardians, clad in their armour and most extravagant gowns.

She assumed all these people had arrived before them, as Stark declared that the most important should be 'fashionably late'. Well, she supposed thats why Loki had arrived earlier then, she thought wryly, disguising her snort with a cough.

Loud cheers erupted as they entered the room, bellows and whoops, mostly for Thor and Tony, as they were welcomed and greeted with glasses of the strongest Asgardian mead. Rolling her eyes, Wanda slipt away into the corner, hoping not to undergo any of the extra, unwanted attention the others were receiving. Instead, she found herself drifting towards the bar in hopes to find herself a full glass of something strong enough to numb her mind into a haze for the rest of the night.

"What can I get for you, my Lady?" the supposedly Asgardian bartender asked politely, brandishing a cloth as he slid it across to the table to a coworker before turning back to her and leaning his elbows on the table.

"Strongest you got," she blurted off-handedly, shrugging it off as he chuckled deeply, taking a step back as he took down a bottle with rich, red liquid from the top shelf. "And I'm not titled."

"Hard day?" He questioned suddenly, ignoring her statement and drawing her eyes back to him as she raised a brow, surveying his seemingly amused expression, "It has just started, no?"

"I feel I may be in for one," she responded warily, mainly to herself as she sighed quietly, and he furrowed his brow in response. Pouring the liquid, he ensured to fill it as much as possible, prompting a thankful smile out of her, as relief flooded her irises. The witch took a large swig from the glass, blood-red nails clinking against it.

He watched her intently, the amusement not shifting from his face as he watched her gulp the liquid down greedily, before placing it down again half-empty.

"Wow, you were not kidding. What has you so stressed?" He asked curiously, but at her raised brows, he shot her a sheepish look, "I apologise, that sounded nosy."

"Its fine," she drawled, lifting the cup to her lips again as her teeth grazed the glass, "Perhaps I.. am just really busy? Lets go with that."

"Yes.. lets," he agreed with an easygoing smile, a twinkle in his eye as he wordelessly pried her glass from her grasp, before refilling it with the same liquid as before and continuing to pour himself one. Instinctively, she clinked the glasses together before he lifted his own to his lips, suppressing a smile.

"Did I ever get your name?" He asked after taking a small sip, and she shook her head gently, the alcohol softening her up as she waved out a hand playfully for him to shake.

"Wanda Maximoff, pleasure to meet you," she announced jokingly, a smile plastered over her face. "And yourself?"

Something so captivating shone behind his irises, and her smile froze on her face as she watched his lips quirk up into a small smile to match her own, warm hand taking hers that she had offered up for a handshake, and instead twisting it to place a polite kiss to her gloved knuckles.

"Hadrian Lars," he responded, lips parted slightly, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Are you a soldier?" She asked suddenly, deciding it was her turn to question him now, "Or just a bartender?"

"Bar?" He inquired, brows furrowed slightly in confusion as she clarified with a flourish of her hands, supposing it was called something else on Asgard. "Ah, neither, I'm afraid."

Raising her brows as if to ask, 'What are you then?', he took a long, drawn out swig of his drink, pursing his lips slightly before releasing them, eyes lingering on her face.

"The God of War, my Lady."

Her jaw slackened slightly, all this time she had been treating this man like a normal, average human, completely oblivious to the respect she probably should've been providing. Usually, this would not be an issue, but considering the fact that she had arrived on his own planet and began treating him like no one significant, she felt slightly more guilty.

"Oh- I am so sorry," she was hasty to amend, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand to remove any dampness surrounding her lips as she sent him a sheepish smile.

"Worry not, I prefer being viewed as normal, do not allow this to alter your view of me," he assured, adjusting his rolled up sleeves as he fiddled with the collar of the black shirt- which now that she looked at it, looked terribly expensive- and sent a glance across the room.

As she opened her mouth to break the silence, she was interrupted by a loud cheer of excitement.

"Ah, Hadrian! My dear friend, how have you been?" Thor beamed, clasping a hand on the back of the man in question as Hadrian returned the grin just as strong, baring all his teeth, and Wanda suddenly felt slightly overwhelmed in his presence.

"Good, good, I must say Thor, it is awfully selfish of you to keep the people of this realm to yourself, I would have loved to visit much sooner myself otherwise," Hadrian, as she had recently discovered, announced, sending her a sly look from the corner of his eye which Thor seemed to miss as he barked out a laugh.

Flushing to the roots of her hair, Wanda turned away for a second, her stupid body not working with her as a trembling hand lifted her glass to her lips and she supressed a smile around the rim of it. What the fuck, Wanda, get it together.

"It seems I've forgotten to ask, have you seen Loki around? I've been meaning to greet him after his- what is it now- third escape from death," Hadrian asked, peaking Wanda's attention as she cringed at the sound of his name. Yeah, this was her cue to leave. 

"Oh! He was around here just a second ago- ah, there he is," Thor narrated as he craned his neck and scanned the room with eagle eyes, before softening as he caught sight of his victim, beckoning Loki over with a loud bellow. The man in question rolled his eyes, prepared to plainly ignore Thor before his eyes landed on Hadrian and lit up with recognition and he manoeuvred through the crowd towards them.

Yep, definitely her cue to leave.

But unfortunately, Loki's arrival prompted a few of the other avengers to join them, including Tony, Steve, Nat, and the rest of the core six, and all of a sudden she felt compelled to stay, like she owed it to them.

Nat sat upon a stool besides her, whistling lowly as she sent a glance to Hadrian before a smirk crept on her lips and she turned to Wanda, "I was wondering who you were talking to hanging around here, Wans. You get it girl."

Scoffing, she felt blood rush to her cheeks as she cursed her stupid body before attempting to cover it up by letting out a little slither of the complaining, whining red from her hands to do her bidding. "Oh, don't be ridiculous, we were just talking."

"I'm sure Pietro won't be too pleased, but who cares, a man who looks like that should not be given up for an overprotective brother."

Wanda couldn't help the surprised burst of laughter erupting from her lips at how quickly Nat had jumped to conclusions.

"Well, Pietro seems.. pleasantly distracted himself," Wanda informed, a smirk playing on her lips as Natasha gasped in surprise, her hand landing on the redheads arm as she whispered, 'no way', under her breath, leading the two into another bout of laughter.

"Loki! Oh, you bastard, you did it again," Hadrian declared, voice deep as she clasped Loki into an unwilling hug, "You never fail to amaze me."

Patting the taller man on the back awkwardly, Loki mumbled something under his breath before pulling away from the hug, a smile so genuine on his face that it slightly disturbed Wanda from her seat calmly surveying the scene with Nat, who clearly only had eyes on Hadrian to test if she approved of him for the witch. Wanda wasn't aware Loki was capable of sincerity she realised with amusement. But it didn't matter.

"Why are you working here?" Loki asked, a disgusted snarl in his lip as he scanned the bar in a condescending manner, prompting Hadrian to send him a judgemental look, eyebrows raised.

"You never change, do you?"

"Of course not."

Shaking his head fondly with a laugh, Hadrian's eyes met Wanda's again from where she was staring, and she hastily averted her gaze, knocking the glass over in her swift movement before catching it with a waft of scarlet energy. Oh, for goodness sake, she really couldn't go four seconds without utterly embarrassing herself  could she.

Loki followed the God of War's gaze to where it lay on her, surprised by the evident amused curiosity in Hadrian's eyes, leading Loki to frown in disappointment as he discovered who it was, scoffing.

"What do you see in her?" Loki scoffed with a dry laugh, and she sent him a deadly glare, her magic enhancing her hearing as she caught the snarky remark and couldn't help but shoot back.

"Not all of us are as narrow-minded as you, prince," she seethed, the pulsating anger that always flared up in his presence returning as Hadrian glanced between the two with a concerned gaze.

"Really? I'd beg to differ."

"Yes, of course you would, because you insist on straying from every crowd, don't you? It certainly makes you less likeable."

"Likeable? Like you? Forgive me if I choose against taking advice from the witch who leaves destruction in her wake," he snarled.

"Oh, for God's sake, its a party. Will you two just loosen up for one night?"

Her eyes snapped to Steve who had just spoken, guilt suddenly crawling up her spine at the uncomfortable look inscribed on everyone's faces as she bit her stupid tongue and opted to stop for their good, despite how angering Loki was.

After that, the conversation moved on hesitantly, but picked up fairly swiftly as everyone began to loosen up, the conversation moving on with laughter and smiles.

Sometime amidst it all, her eyes snapped up to meet Hadrian's, who simply shot her a wink, brewing an odd feeling in her stomach as she bit her lip, thanking the dim light of the bar for disguising her redenning face.

She almost reeled back in shock at how quickly that small, nonchalant motion had affected her.

Oh shit.

a/n:

i said this was coming out tomorrow, but it was so fun to write, and i just wanted to get it posted so here you go, and its def one of the longest chapters

lmk if you want hadrian to stay for your imagination or if you want me to add a face claim for him

hope you enjoyed it, see you in the next one <3