⚜️ Saga 0: The Ash Years
📍 Location: Abandoned Safehouse | Slovakia
🕯 Year: Winter 2006 – Post-Rift Combat
🎯 POV: Mixed — Dante / Jean / Wanda
🛡 Sin System Status: Post-Ascension Return Sequence Logged
⚠ Anchor Phase: "Emotional Mismatch Drift"
❝He still looked like Dante.
But even silence flinched now when he entered the room.❞
—
The wind had softened, but the frost remained.
Pines bent slightly in reverence as the threshold cracked open — and Dante returned.
His coat hung shredded over one shoulder, boots lined with Rift-dust. Bare skin across his right arm glowed with inlaid demonic etchings, like molten runes carved by survival. Red steam pulsed from wounds that refused to fully close.
[Sin System Flag: Aura Dampening Failure]
→ Anchor Aura Leakage: Unstable
→ Battle Residue Detected | Emotional Trace Embedded in Skin
He stepped fully into the light.
The hunter was home.
But this version carried thunder in his spine and calm that wouldn't be touched.
▫▫▫
Jean spoke first—not from memory, but from instinct. Beneath the firelight she stood, hair unbound, arms wrapped protectively across her ribs.
"Who did you burn?"
Wanda emerged barefoot from the other room, her red cotton dress rumpled, a half-forgotten tune lingering on her lips.
And when she saw his face?
She stopped breathing.
Because something had filled him hollow.
And wouldn't let go.
[Sin System Alert – Anchor Recognition Clash Detected]
▶ Wanda Maximoff Sync Surge: 81.4% → 83.1%
▶ Jean Grey Sync Spike: 59.9% → 63.4%
➤ Emotional Response: "He Returned / But Not To Be Held"
➤ System Status: Dissonant Anchor Field – Phase Drifting
Dante didn't glance between them.
He let Ruin Reaver fall onto the bench — blade sheathed, its steel still breathing Rift-heat.
"Two are dead," he said. "The rest will dream before they crawl."
Jean flinched.
Wanda stepped forward. "You're still burning."
"I know."
He said it like it didn't matter.
Or worse… like he liked it.
▫▫▫
Jean reached first, cautious fingers stretching for his arm —
but Wanda slid in ahead of her.
She caught Dante's wrist as if gripping a spell she refused to let dissolve.
"No," Wanda whispered.
Jean's chin lifted. "You don't speak for him."
Wanda's magic fluttered faintly along her collarbone — defensive, reflexive chaos.
"Neither do you."
Dante didn't resist either hand.
But he didn't soften.
He looked between them with eyes full of memory and ash.
Eyes that saw them… but already knew what they couldn't yet admit.
Something else had climbed inside his soul during the fight.
[Sin System Dual Anchor Clash Latency Detected]
▶ Wanda → Affection Type: "Sanctuary Pull – Reconnect by Ritual Grounding"
▶ Jean → Affection Type: "Feral Recognition – Reclaim by Flame Pull"
❖ Dante Emotion: Suppressed Attachment Render – Stalled Yield
Wanda stepped closer, still gentle.
"Let me draw the heat out."
Jean's hand flared gold. "Maybe he needs the fire left in."
Dante exhaled — long and halting.
"I brought death," he said, "and I liked it."
That silence? It wasn't recoil.
It was grief wearing armor.
"I let the demon grow," he added. "Not because I lost control. But because for once… I wanted them to fear me. Not you. Not the things I love."
Jean tilted her head, voice quieter:
"And do we frighten you now?"
Wanda didn't speak.
They were close enough to touch his scars.
He didn't answer.
Because part of him didn't know anymore.
▫▫▫
Later, in soft light and running water—
Dante stood shirtless before fogged mirror glass.
Snowmelt dripped down collarbone fissures etched in branded demonic runes.
Wanda watched from the doorway.
Two fingers lifted. Touched scar.
The brand pulsed once — angry, sacred.
"You didn't have these," she said hollowly.
"They gave them to me," he replied.
"For surviving wrong."
Behind her, in mirror reflection — Jean, silent in the hall.
"Demons mark what they fear. Or wish they could break."
Wanda turned, chaos flickering.
"I'll undo them."
Jean looked up.
"Maybe they were always there. We just never looked close enough."
His shoulders dropped slightly.
"You both dream of loving something half-fire, half-calm."
Pause.
"What if I'm neither now?"
[Sin System Thread Drift Updated]
Dante Integration: 54.2%
Wanda Sync: 84.8%
Jean Sync: 66.0%
Status – "Anchor Confidence Suppressed" / Core Alignment Inactive
▫▫▫
At dinner?
He didn't deny food. But barely touched it.
Didn't speak unless questioned.
Didn't flirt.
Even his sarcasm cut too sharp now.
It was Pietro who broke the mirage.
Ripping bread in his knuckles like mortal commentary on myth.
"So…" he grinned. "You look like you just did therapy with a hellmouth and punched it in the lungs."
No one laughed.
Until Dante actually did.
Just once.
Short. Sharp. Like edged steel across velvet.
"That wasn't therapy," he said. "That was who I am — just without filters this time."
Pietro blinked.
"…Cool. Don't burn dessert."
▫▫▫
Wanda dreamed of children again.
But they were farther away this time.
Snow muffled their voices before she could reach.
Jean dreamed of Dante — but he didn't touch her.
He only turned and said:
"One of you chooses me like I'm human.
The other like I'm fire."
She didn't know which he meant.
Dante walked the frost barefoot that night.
Letting steam rise from the soles of his feet.
Letting his demon blood cool.
Letting two names beat against his memory.
Neither one sharp enough to claim him.
Both too familiar to forget.
—
[System Log: CHAPTER 26 COMPLETE]
❖ Wanda Maximoff: 84.8%
❖ Jean Grey: 66.0%
❖ Dante Sparda – Anchor Integration: 54.2%
❖ Stability Status: "Fluctuating—What Returned… May Not Stay Without Being Reseen"
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