Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Vision does not know whether he was born as a human or hatched as a dragon. All he knows is that he is both, that he has blonde hair and a lanky human frame or that he has wings, deep red scales and silver stripes. All he knows is that his mother died by bringing him into this world and that his father loves and protects him at all costs.

Anthony Stark was a rather mad man, as the people from the little village up the Elburns River liked to say. If the people were more superstitious, they might have called him a witch and burned him at the stake. He created and tinkered and made inventions that people couldn’t even begin to grasp the meaning of. They avoided his home outside of the village, just up the hill.

Anthony had married young, full of love and happiness. When his wife told him she was carrying his baby, he was overjoyed. He had created the funniest and baby-proofed inventions right then, with his wife laughing, her red hair gleaming in the sun. But the day the baby came, he hadn’t been home. He went to the city of Karnasi, a half-a-day trip, to get more herbs for a tincture that was supposed to help his wife during labour. But exactly on that day his son had decided to come into this world. When Anthony came home, there were people around his house. They handed him a little baby that changed between human and dragon until it had settled into human form, after opening his eyes and looking at his father for the first time. The village people told him that his wife had died. That they were sorry; nevertheless that he couldn’t stay with his ‘bewitched’ son in their village, that they would rather burn the ‘demon creature’ than to let it stay here. That was the day Anthony decided to protect his son at all costs - to hide him from strangers, avoid conflicts, preferring to move when something smelled fishy.

That’s how Vision was raised; not staying in one place too long, keeping to his human form when people were around and not flying too far away when they were in one of their makeshift homes.There were only two times in which they had been discovered: the first time Vision can’t remember properly. He had to be around 3 years old and just learned how to fly. His father had followed him, laughing, a thin thread carefully wrapped around his right hind leg that led to his father so he wouldn’t fly off on his own. There were voices and Vision wanted to see. He remembered his father yelling and then he heard screams and rocks were thrown at him. He remembers flying to his father’s arms for safety and crying the whole way back to the camp.

The second time someone had discovered Vision’s secret he had been 16 years old. They had set up camp in the region of Oscesh, east of the city Phoit. Most of the region was covered by woods, except for the big lake called Carbowe Waters and the north-eastern part where the grasslands began.

Tony had injured his ankle during one of their trips and Vision had tended to him. But they were running low on food and hadn’t made enough money to buy something. So Vision decided to hunt. Normally his father would accompany him and distract any other hunters or persons that happened to be in their hunting grounds - but this time he had to go alone. While hunting for deer was as easy for a dragon as breathing fire (he had been able to hold his flame for a full minute now), Vision had not been careful to look out for any humans on the ground.

When he dove down to bite the deer’s head he heard a scream. Whipping his head around, he saw a young woman, maybe a bit older than himself, staring at him. Vision didn’t know what to do! Should he keep scaring the woman and stay in his dragon form, in the fear that the hunters she would ultimately draw out would start searching for just a dragon and leave him and his father alone; or should he change back in hopes that the woman might see that he was also human and not a raging monster?

In the end, Vision had chosen the latter option. Who would’ve guessed he’d be that lucky. The woman he had found in the woods turned out to be a witch. She had been looking for herbs when he crashed out of the sky onto the deer. When Vision apologised for scaring her and that he hadn’t seen her from above, she just smiled and said, “Well, I did use a camouflage spell so I wouldn’t be spotted directly.”

They talked for hours until the moon was up in the sky and they both had to part their ways with promises to come back to the same place the next day. As Vision flew home, he felt like he could fly without wings, a deer for his father in his claws and the name Wanda on his mind.

This is where we start our story.

The story of a human-dragon or maybe a dragon-human and a witch with curly red hair and green eyes who met under rather coincidental circumstances but who’s fates would be woven together in the days and years to come.

“Dammit, Vision! Where have you been?” Tony Stark sat upright in his makeshift bed and looked at his son. Vision carried the deer on his shoulder through the front entrance of the tent and tried to look guilty.

“I’m sorry…. I got… sidetracked.” Vision stared at his shoes, avoiding his father’s eyes with all the strength he could muster.

“What? What do you mean, sidetracked? Were you seen? Did someone see you?” Tony’s eyes were full of concern when Vision looked up.

“Well, yes. I did get seen.” Vision quickly continued, seeing the anxiety growing in his father’s eyes.

“ But it’s not as bad as it sounds.” Vision tried to assure his father.

“Not as bad as it- Vision! We have to pack up and leave immediately!” Tony tried to swing his legs out of bed but Vision was quick to hold his father back.

“No! Wait! Father, please listen to me!” He pleaded and Tony nodded slowly.

“Alright, I’m listening.” Vision took a deep breath and started.

“So, I have not been very careful when I was looking for deer, I have to admit that. When I lounged down to bite it’s head, there was a scream.”

Tony audibly sighed but Vision kept going.

“I turned and saw a woman, maybe a bit older than me? Then, to keep her from being scared of me, I came to the conclusion that the logical solution would be to show her my human form.”

“You… decided to show your face ? And you think she won’t lead the hunters to us now, even though she knows what you look like in both forms?” Tony stared at his son.

“No, you see, I felt… safe . I can’t really explain it. It was as if something inside me said: it’s okay, she is good. She is safe . You know I would never try to bring any harm to us, father! And I was right, as it turned out - because she is a witch !” Vision gleamed proudly.

“A witch ?” Tony blinked a few times, unbelieving his eyes burning minuscule holes in Vision’s confidence.

“Yes. She showed me some of her magic.”

“When you say magic, do you mean she started stripping out of her clothes or-”

“ Father! ” Vision started to turn almost as red as his scales. “We were proper and were simply talking! When I say magic, I mean it. The way I can change between my forms she can just… make stuff! She has a camouflage spell, that’s why I was not able to spot her from above!”

“Son, witches tend to keep to themselves and never stray far from their covens. There is a reason why you mostly never get to see any proper witches.”

“ Aaand it was also said that dragons have long been dead. But here I am, the only one of my kind. Why is it so unbelievable that I’ve met a witch and she enjoyed my company even though she knew who I was?”

Tony sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“It’s just… you know we have to be careful, Vision. If someone were to grab you I-“ He swallowed thickly and gazed intensely at the campfire in the middle of the tent.

Vision stared at his father for a few moments until he got up and went over to the makeshift bed to cuddle close to him.

“I know that it has been hard for you without mother… And I am sorry that I took her from you-”

“It wasn’t your fault, Vision. You know that. It never has been your fault.”

“Still,” Vision continued, “I can fend for myself if necessary.”

Tony looked down at the blonde mop of hair on his chest and pressed a light kiss to it.

“I know. I just worry so much. If I could, I would fight every single battle, no matter how small, you ever have to face for you.”

Vision smiled slightly and closed his eyes, absorbing the warm, content feeling of his father at his side. “I know.”

It was quiet for a few minutes.

“Are you planning on seeing this witch again?”

“We planned on meeting in the same spot again tomorrow.”

Tony nodded.

“Alright. But please come back before nightfall. You almost gave me a heart attack today.”

“I’m sorry.”

“And you should take a bath. You stink. No witch wants to meet up with a stinky dragon.”

-

“Wanda?” Vision yelled her name before he even touched the ground. He shook his wings before folding them neatly along his back and looked around.

“Now, that wasn’t as scary as the first time.” He heard her voice from the tree line and turned around to see the beautiful witch walking towards him.

“Hello.” Vision greeted her and turned into his human form.

“Was your father angry that you came home late? You were worried when you left in a hurry yesterday.”

Vision shook his head.

“He was only concerned for me. He can be overprotective from time to time, but he has good reasons, I’d say. People haven’t been very… kind to us. Even though most did not know of my… other body.”

They sat together in a mildly soggy log in comfortable silence for a few minutes until Vision spoke up again.

"I told my father about you."

Wanda looked up at him with an intrigued expression.

"I am sorry, I should have asked first. It’s just that he was worried and I really can't lie to him. I'm the worst liar you're ever going to meet. But you don't have to fear him!" Vision hastily explained.

Wanda was his first friend ever, he was desperate to not scare her off, as he had done so, albeit accidentally, to other humans.

"No, it's okay. I trust you. I also told my brother about you."

"Oh, yes. You mentioned him yesterday. He is your twin, right?"

Wanda nodded and smiled wistfully.

"Yeah, and while I am a good liar it doesn’t feel right to lie to him. He would most likely see right through me all the same - he knows me far too well. But you also don't need to worry."

Vision nodded then, sighing with a breath of relief.

"So, I guess our families won’t rat us out and neither of us will burn at the stake then."

"Or just together." Wanda laughed, deadpanned.

"Oh well, they may try to burn me at the stake but I'm afraid that won't do them any good. You can't burn a dragon."

"Do the flames not affect you?"

Vision nodded, "Yes, my scales are too thick and the fire within is hotter than any human made flame. All the people would get in return for their efforts would be the smell of a steak they would never be able to consume.” Vision stated, happy to finally talk to someone else about his unique abilities, not just to his father.

“I can also absorb fire." He added after a few beats.

Wanda blinked.

"You can absorb it?"

Vision blushed a bit.

"Yeah, I kind of.... breathe it in?"

Wanda stood up, suddenly.

"Can you show me?" She asked and produced a flame in her hand.

"Uhm... sure." Vision got up as well and breathed in loudly, sucking the flame from Wanda’s hand. Smoke started to come out of his nose as he seemed to swallow heavily.

"You're steaming like a kettle!" Wanda giggled and touched his nose lightly, which started to turn red immediately with the rest of his face as he flushed furiously.

“It’s a- a kind- a kind of side effect.” He mumbled, going a bit cross eyed to look at Wanda’s delicate fingers. She moved her hand from his nose to cup his jaw slightly and smiled brighter. Her thumb traced his cheek as she said, “You’re cute; and funny.”

Vision wished he could see his face at this moment, because he was sure he must look like a fool. Tomato red and a dumb-struck smile on his face as he looked into Wanda’s eyes. She seemed to realise that she was still touching his face because she lowered her arm hastily and her cheeks glowed rosily.

They looked at each other through glances and started giggling which soon turned into full laughter. While laughing Vision realised that he felt so at ease with Wanda as if he’d known her longer than just for a day. As if something inside him said: she is good. She is safe.

The day went on but the two magical people never moved much from their spot. 

They talked through the hours of the day and saw the sun begin to set.

Wanda, so Vision had learned, had no coven. She was alone with her brother, as they had fled the unrest in Novi Grad in the region of Sokovia. Now it was just the two of them, since their parents had died three years ago, when they had been 15. 

Wanda was a wonder, a witch born by ordinary, un-magical people. No records have ever said something like that. Then again, no records had ever said something about a human dragon, able to change between the two forms.

Wanda’s magic, so she informed him, was called chaos magic. It was different from most witch's magic, but she couldn’t explain how it was different since she only ever had met one other witch. She had been a witch without a coven as well, a traveller that had helped their parents and took Wanda under her wing and taught her spells and how to channel her magic. The mysterious witch had disappeared one night, never to be seen again. 

“Her name was Agatha.” Wanda poked the stick she had broken off a branch earlier deeper into the ground. 

“I thought she was gonna make me a big, powerful witch. Like the ones from the sage. But I guess not. It’s been five years since I last saw her and I have only trained myself since then. She left me one book, but I’ve almost mastered every spell out of it.”

Vision looked at the lines Wanda had drawn into the sand; they resembled two larger stick figures, hand in hand with two smaller ones, and what appeared to be a dog (or a cat, he could not be sure) sitting at their feet. It reminded him of a family, or at least what a family should be. Together. Loving. Alive.

“That sounds like you’re already a fine witch to me.” He smiled at her.

Wanda ducked her head and blushed a bit, fiddling with the rings which adorned her incredibly dexterous fingers.

“I mean… There are supposedly hundreds of books on magic. I might never become a proper witch. I can only do the most basic magic.”

“You have to remember that unlike the other witches, you never grew up in a coven and never went to- to- witch- witching school ?” Vision flailed his arms a bit at the last part. 

Wanda began to chortle again.

“Witching school? What is that?”

Vision shuffled his feet a bit. 

“I don’t know, it sounded better in my head. But what I meant is that I think that your magic is great, even given the circumstances. And, for what it’s worth, I think that you did a fine job teaching yourself.”

Wanda smiled brightly at his words and Vision felt warmth spread through him.

“Thank you, Vision. But you’re one to talk. The only dragon in existence, how did you manage?”

“Oh, that’s mostly thanks to my father. He… well he is a genius, to be fair. He understands so much of the universe. Father sounds mad to - well - almost everyone we’ve ever met. But he’s really smart and can explain so much. Through him I was able to understand gravity and how it affects my body when I fly and land.”

“What is… Gravity?” Wanda asked, head slightly bent to the side. 

“Well, you see, my father makes a lot of new scientific discoveries. And gravity is one of them. You know how when you let something fall, it lands on the ground? That’s gravity. Or that’s what my father calls it anyway. That everything lands on the ground. The ground has a certain pull. So it takes strength and well…. Wings to escape gravity.”

“What would happen if there wasn’t this gravity?”

“My father says that we would all float. However, due to the planet’s mass and inner core-”

“What’s a planet?” Wanda scrunched her nose at him.

“Oh… well basically it’s what he calls a big ball… of dirt and stones? And a big magma core. We are living on a planet, actually.”

“So, if we live on a big ball… would that mean if I kept heading east, at one point I’d be approaching this side but from the west.”

“Yes, exactly!” Vision beamed. 

“Though I’d probably have to climb mountains and swim through seas.” She theorised and Vision nodded in excitement.

“Yes, this is how my father explained it to me.”

“I like these scientific talks.” Wanda smiled.

“I can try to replicate my fathers lectures. Or maybe I can take one of his papers with me the next time we meet.” Vision stated until he stopped, wide eyed.

“That is… if you would like to meet up again?” Vision speedily pushed onwards, despite his own insecurities. “Or not, if I’m overstepping.”

“I’d like that. I would like that a lot.” She smiles at him and Vision can’t help but give Wanda a toothy grin in return. 

Chapter Text

Over the course of the next weeks, Wanda and Vision would meet up in their little spot in the woods; they would talk about their lives and the things they have encountered. Wanda would show Vision the different spells she had learned over the years and Vision would show Wanda his different fire breathing techniques and flight tactics. 

The nights after Vision met with Wanda, Tony would wait at home, grinning at his son and clearly seeing the signs of him falling in love with the witch. 

“I’d like to meet your Wanda one day,” he told his son one morning, when they were having breakfast and Vision was already preparing for his flight into the woods.

“She’s- She’s not my Wanda!” Vision's cheeks turned pink, which he quickly tried to hide by turning into his dragon form.

Tony bellowed out a laugh and patted his son's flank. 

“I know, I know. But you do fancy her, I can tell. That’s my secret ability as a father.”

“No, that’s your secret ability as an obnoxious know-it-all.” Vision shot back, smiling toothily. He knew that his grin as a dragon wasn’t the funniest or easiest to look at. All teeth and fangs, some might think he would get ready to eat them. But not his father. His father always knew how to read his face, no matter which form Vision was in. He also knew how to make his body react in certain ways, because before Vision could stop him Tony had snuck his hand behind his right horn that was sprouting from his head and started scratching and Vision directly belly flopped onto the ground.

“Father, no stop!” Vision yelled under laughter as his father tickled him. 

“You started it!” Tony grinned as he watched his son, who was already at a considerable size in his dragon (and to be fair- also in his human) form, roll on the grass, tumbling down a light hill and coming to a stand at the foot of it, laughing. 

“I just called you a know-it-all. From a certain standpoint, that meaning holds true.” Vision said as he trotted back to his fathers side, blowing hot air in his face.

Tony waved a hand around (dragon breath is not the easiest on the nose) and answered:”No, the know-it-all was on point. I just took offence at the obnoxious part.”

That day Vision asked Wanda if it was alright with her if he could take his father with them the next time, “Just to say hello and to meet you. Afterwards he can find his way back out of the woods, he knows the way.” He stated as he brushed a thumb over Wanda’s hand. 

They did that a lot recently, holding hands. It had started around four days ago, when Vision wanted to prove to Wanda that flames could not hurt him. Wanda had produced a flame and took his hand, fascinated by the unburnt flesh. After she had let the flame die, they kept a hold of each other's hands and returned to holding them in the days afterwards. It was nice, Vision found. Wanda’s hands were quite a bit smaller than his - softer and more delicate. 

“I would like to meet your father,” Wanda said, smiling at their joined hands and watching his thumb trace mindless patterns over the back of her hand. 

“Could I ask my brother to come as well? He might come off as a bit protective but he would like to meet you as well.”

“I think that would be a fine idea. Just a small family gathering.”

“Yes, just us.” Wanda beamed at him and in a rush of adrenaline Vision bent forwards slightly and kissed her cheek. Then he froze, unsure whether he had crossed a line. 

“I’m - sorry. I shouldn’t- I shouldn’t have just assumed…” Before Vision could stammer on though Wanda bent forward to give him a kiss as well, mirroring his action. 

“It’s okay. I’ve wanted to do that since the day you steamed out of your nose.” 

“Really?” Vision asked, surprised.

“Yes. I just didn’t know if you wanted to or not. But now I do.”

Yes, now Wanda knew. That Vision seemed to like her as much as she liked him. 

“Father, come. We’ll be late!” Vision flapped his wings impatiently and he stood outside their tent.

Tony stumbled outside and Vision spotted something big and leather in his father’s hands.

“What is that?”

“This, my son, is a saddle. For you.”

“A saddle? I’m not a horse!” Vision eyed the saddle suspiciously.

“No, that you are not. But whenever I rode with you my legs were bruised and chafed. You have diamond-hard scales and I’ve been working on this saddle way too long for you to not at least try it.”

“Alright,” Vision breathed. “Put it on.”

Vision crouched beside him and Tony began his work. He heaved the heavy leather onto the dragon’s back and started to fasten the straps.

“I made the straps long enough so that when your next growth spurt comes, it should still fit you. If you want I can show you the schematics later, so you know how it’s done.”

“I would like that,” Vision looked down at his chest, where four leather straps came together and made a cross.

“Does it itch or press too hard down onto your scales?”

“No, the leather is fine. But my back spikes feel weird with weight on them.”

“Ah, I foresaw that though.” Tony climbed on top of Vision’s back and started to position the saddle so that Vision’s silver back spikes would easily go through the prepared holes in the saddle.

“How is it now?”

Vision started to move his shoulders and wings, shook them a bit and settled down again.

“It feels good. A bit like a backpack.”

“That’s the plan!”

Tony settled down into the saddle and held one of Vision’s spikes as he fastened the straps around his legs so he sat secure.

“Alright, if you please.”

Vision started trotting towards the end of the hill and started to gain speed until he was running straight for the slope. He then jumped high into the air and spread his wings as far as he could and started to beat them as fast as possible. When he gained enough altitude and sailed through the sky, sometimes beating his wings and trying to catch the best air drifts.

“See? This is way more comfortable. And now with a saddle I don’t have to hold on for dear life anymore.”

“Oh, since you’re strapped in, right?” Vision asked, with a mischievous tone in his voice.

“I mean, yes. The straps are pretty sturdy and should hol- Ahhhh!” Tony was cut off when his son suddenly dove down as fast as he could only to fly up again and fly in a loop; Vision’s cackles were almost lost to the ferocious wind.

“Are you insane? I haven't tested the sturdiness of the straps yet!”

“I would catch you, you know that. Do you want to go again?”

Tony couldn’t stop grinning as he petted Vision’s shoulder.

“Yes. Give me everything you’ve got.”

Wanda and her brother were already at the spot in the forest when Vision and Tony landed.

Tony slid off his back and grinned brightly as he spotted the young woman.

“Oh you must be Wanda. Vision has told me so much about you already!”

Behind him Vision changed into his human form and passed his father to hug Wanda before she could answer.

“Hello,” he murmured softly as she laughed slightly and beamed up at him when they parted.

“I couldn’t help but notice that you came here with a saddle and now it’s gone. More dragon magic?”

“We call it molecular manipulation. That’s why I am always dressed when changing into my human form. The items stay with their forms.”

“What’s a mole… molec… whatever it is you called it.”

A new voice made Vision turn his head slightly as he spotted a man with silver hair and slight peach fuzz.

“Oh, hello! You must be Pietro. Wanda has spoken about you.”

Pietro smiled shortly and shook Vision’s outstretched hand.

“Nice to finally put a face to all the stories.”

“Oh, this is my father, Anthony. Though he tends to go by Tony these days. Father, this is Wanda and her twin brother Pietro.” The two men shook hands amicably, the weathered hand met a younger, but muscular, grip.

“To answer your question, molecular manipulation is a term I’ve come up with. You see, we’re all made out of molecules and atoms. As Vision can change into a much larger dragon than one might suspect if one sees him in his human form, we realised that he must be able to manipulate the molecules surrounding him. That’s how he made the saddle disappear with his dragon form and clothing appear with his human form. Took us a few years until he stopped being naked when he changed back.”

“Father!” Vision called out, mortified, as the twins started laughing. Wanda rubbed a hand lovingly over his back and hid her giggles into his bicep, which did not absorb the sound effectively, so it rang around the forest.

“What? It’s the truth. He always ripped his cloth apart when he changed and when he changed back into human form he was naked. Butt. Ass. Naked.”

“ Alright ,” Vision shot a glare at his father, strong enough to snap a bone in two, “Might we change the topic of this conversation?”

Pietro’s lopsided grin let Vision know that he was not gonna drop this for a long, long time - should they keep meeting in the future. What Vision hoped would be the case, since becoming closer to Wanda also meant meeting her brother more often. 

“Well, I would’ve invited you into our home, but we don’t really have one, just a tent 

and built up camp for the two of us, so apologies for the hospitality. Or lack thereof.” 

Tony waved his left hand around, before he let the backpack drop from his shoulder. Vision smiled as Wanda looked at him with a quizzical look. 

“Vizh, I thought we agreed to not bringing anything to this meeting.”

“My father insisted. But fear not, it’s not much and you mustn’t worry about it.” Vision let his hand linger a bit longer than necessary on the small on her back as he passed her by to aid his father in unpacking. 

“Vizh is thy name now?” His father asked in a loud whisper, gleaming up as his son while unpacking the smoked meat they had prepared together.

“Father, please. Do not embarrass me any further or I might regret ever taking you to meet her.”

Tony raised both his arms in surrender. 

“Alright, son. I got it. Don’t worry.” He patted his arm softly and went back to work.

A bit further away, Vision could make out the words the twins spoke softly to each other thanks to his dragon hearing. They spoke in the dialect that was common in Sokovia, but since Vision has travelled all his life, he was able to pick up what they talked about. 

“Pietro, please be open-minded. They seem nice, don’t they?”

“I don’t know, sister… What if they’re after your magic, like the last people that were nice to us?”

Wanda shook her head no, “Vision is a dragon, why would he risk bringing hunters to us when they would love to hunt him just as much. You’ve seen him fly, there is no known magic strong enough to uphold such an image for it to be a trick.”

Pietro scratched his neck and looked at the forest floor, “I’ve heard stories about stones in Wakanda that were able to bend reality.”

“What, and you think the capitol would care enough about us? King T’Chaka has always been a friend of magic. There’s even rumours that his daughter is a witch and his son a form changer. Sokovia and The Cliffs are the real problems in Qastain. Not even the people of Oscesh have tried to hunt us as much as they used to in Sokovia. And they live near the Chalan Mountains. Any magic disdain would even be understandable in the shadow of these ridges.”

“I know sister, I know. But I still think we should stick to our plan: to head north to the Kadian region, so you can be among other magic users. You deserve to be among others like you, who can provide you with the support you require to grow, which I regretfully cannot.”

Vision almost dropped the food he was preparing. She was going to leave? All the way to the north?

“I… I am not sure we should still follow this plan, brother.”

“Is this because of the dragon? You meet one guy and you want to throw away the whole plan? Throw away your future?” Pietro spat bitterly.

“I like him, Pietro. Truly and honestly, I really like him!” Now it was Wanda’s turn to get louder, so much so that Tony steals a glance in their direction.

Pietro seemed taken back by her words, mouth agape. Vision couldn’t help but blush and his eyes twinkled as he gazed at the ground. 

She likes me. She really likes me. For me, he thought to himself. 

“And it’s not just because of him. I think we should head to Wakanda. Just…. maybe not yet, in a few months… perhaps, in early spring. After the winter. As long as it stays safe here.”

“Wakanda was mothers and fathers dream,” Pietro murmured quietly. Wanda reached out to touch his arm.

“I know that you do not think highly of this change. But I do think that we have more to find there than in Kadian. If we leave and head to Birnin Zana, we might make a life for ourselves there. We could find proper work and maybe I could talk to the court witch. But it just feels right to remain here for now.”

Pietro nodded along and put his hands on Wanda's face to give her a kiss on the forehead.

“Fine. We’ll go to Wakanda. We’ll go in Spring, so you can spend more time with your dragon.”

Wanda hugged her brother tight, her head resting against his chest - comforted by his heartbeat - but Vision was still able to understand the mumbled ‘thank you’.

“Vision, could you pass me the wooden plate, please?”

Vision was brought back to his task by the gentle voice of his father, who smiled slyly at him. 

“Ah, yes, yes. Of course.” Vision did as he was asked, standing up to bring the plate to his father, who was almost done setting everything up around the log that Wanda and Vision normally sat on.

As soon as the plate left his hand, he felt two arms wrap around him from behind. He turned his head slightly and looked down at the magnificent witch and couldn’t help but smile affectionately at her.

He hadn’t been sure how to act around Wanda when her brother and his father were there. Vision had considered limiting the touches between the pair which had become second nature over the course of the weeks they had known each other. However, Wanda didn’t seem to mind sticking to their new found routine, as the hands currently petting his stomach seemed to prove. 

“Thank you very much, Stark. You really didn’t have to bring these meals out here.”

Tony waved her off and smiled genially.

“Please, it is my pleasure. I also insist that you call me Tony. That goes for your brother as well.”

Tony winked cordially at Pietro as the young man raised his eyebrows and nodded with a slight smile.

They went on to eat the brought food, Wanda and Vision sitting, not unnoticeably, close to each other with the members of their small families facing them.

“So… you’re a magic man but without actual magic?” Pietro asked, his accent heavy and brow raised at Tony.

“Well… I like to say that magic is just science we can’t understand yet. So, no. I’m no ‘magic man’. I’m a scientist. Though I do understand that some people like to confuse one and the other.”

“So, what exactly does a scientist do?”

As Tony went to explain his different inventions and the concept of science and biology, Wanda leaned her chin on Vision’s shoulder and spoke quietly in his ear.

“I’ve never seen Pietro that invested in anything.”

Vision glanced analytically at the two other men, “Really? I mean… my father never gets to talk much about science with other people than me. We either get chased away or they try to use his inventions for morally questionable activities.”

Wanda hummed in agreement.

“Yes, I know the feeling. I think the only person we ever encountered who didn’t try to steal my magic was the other witch I told you about - Agatha. Pietro and I had tried to find her, when our parents died. But we never came closer than ushered words in taverns.”

“I’ve heard of a big magic community in Kadian. Virnas was the name of the city, I believe.”

Wanda nodded in agreement, “Pietro and I thought about going there but… I can’t really explain it, but my intuition tells me to go to Wakanda, to Birnin Zana.”

“The capital?” Vision asked and tried to sound perplexed, as if he didn’t just listen in to their conversation. 

“I know it sounds stupid - having a sturdy magical community in the north, centuries old, available to inhabit, but then to decide to rebel from the plans created to go to the biggest city in the country.”

“No, no. It does not sound stupid at all. In big cities, it’s sometimes easier to hide. To just… to be camouflaged by the shadows and live a normal life.”

Wanda pressed her cheek against his shoulder and gently traced the blue veins, like that of a rambling river, marking his hands with unique patterns.

“Have you been to a big city before?”

“Just to one. To Phoit, not far from here. We actually lived there for about half a year until we needed to go.”

“Why did you need to go?” Wanda raised her head from his shoulder and Vision directly missed the contact and her warmth, even though she was still pressed into his side.

“A merchant named Stane brought and misused my father’s inventions. He even got people killed with it. And while my father tried to clean up the mess after he… was finished … with Stane… the people told us that it would be best to leave.”

“But it seems your father didn’t know better and even tried to help all the same?”

Vision hummed, “He did, but it was also his invention. He finds such joy in his gadgets and gizmos that he often forgets that they could be easily used by someone with malicious intentions when his back is turned. I can’t really blame him for it, though.”

“You can’t?”

“Well…” Vision blushed a bit before he continued. “It felt really good to show someone else my dragon form except for my father. It’s freeing, a weight off my shoulders, to be able to be completely myself around others, unafraid of what people will do to me once they know the truth.”

Wanda grinned at him, glancing quickly at her brother who thankfully was absorbed in one of Tony’s sketches, and then kissed Vision’s cheek; a wondrous sensation he would feel for the rest of the day.

“I’m glad you feel safe with me, Vizh.” She murmured against his cheek. 

He turned his head slightly toward her face and their noses brushed for a short moment.

“Me too,” he whispered, lost in her beautifully green, emerald eyes.

Chapter Text

Vision couldn’t sleep. He rolled around in his makeshift bed, hiding his goofy smile in his pillow and trying hard not to giggle out loud.

The meeting had gone very well, with his father accepting of Wanda and Pietro tolerating Vision when near his twin sister. Even Pietro and Tony had hit it off right from the start - the young man had been very interested in the sketches of Tony’s next gadget. ( “It could make me sail through the air, given I jump off a cliff or Vision drops me.” )

So, Vision and Tony had returned to their camp when the moon was high in the sky and the camp fire had died down and now Vision couldn’t stop smiling. 

On the next turn in his bed, he heard his father grunt.

“Vision, if you can’t sleep, at least try to stay still! Or take a few loops outside and come back in when you’re not so fidgety.”

“I’m sorry, father. I didn’t mean to disturb your sleep.”

Tony chuckled and flashed the blonde boy a cheeky grin, “No need to apologise. I remember when I was young and had sleepless nights due to your mother.”

Vision blushed scarlet in an instant and stammered, “I… it’s not that… it’s just…”

“Come, you couldn’t stop smiling for the last couple of hours and tried to muffle your giggles with your pillow; badly, if I may add. Really, you need to practise how to muffle noises coming out of your mouth if you and the little witch decide to persue-”

“Father, please!” Vision yelled desperately. 

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. You do whatever makes you happy, as long as you treat her well and respect her wishes. And she does the same. Everything else is up to you two.”

Vision nodded thoughtfully, “If… If I were to… treat her well and respect her… How would I… ask her?”

Tony snorted, “Are you asking me how to court a girl?”

“Maybe?” Vision knew he didn’t sound confident, but he never had so much as a friend, and especially never a person he wanted to court.

Tony sighed and murmured something about ‘he chose the middle of the night to have this conversation, of all times’.

“Alright. You like her, right? Like like like , correct?”

“I like her very much, yes.”

“Really, truly. Truly, really like her?” Tony batted his eyelids teasingly in the moonlight teasingly.

“Yes, father!”

“And you would like for your affections go further than your little cheek kisses and cuddling?”

Vision stared at his father, flabbergasted. 

“Please don’t pretend that you actually think you two were stealthy. Pietro and I saw everything.”

“Oh.”

Tony proceeded to sit up in his bed and Vision followed. The dying campfire was throwing shadows on their tent and shrouded them in warm light. 

“It’s pretty simple actually. I mean, it’s not really simple if you think too hard about it, but all you need to do is be honest and tell her the truth: that you like her very much, that you would like to spend the rest of your life with her and if she would like that too.”

“I just… tell her?”

“You just tell her. That’s what I did with your mum and look what I’ve got. A lovesick dragon son.” 

A pillow was thrown across the fire and into Tony’s face who started laughing loudly.

Vision chuckled as well, looking into the embers of the fire and smiling to himself.

After a few minutes of silence and the laughter dying down, Tony spoke up again.

“If you want, we could prepare a speech for you. I know you’re more comfortable with written words that you can present to people.”

“Wanda is not a merchant at a market where I need to buy food. She’s… special.”

“So… no speech?”

“Oh no, I’m definitely going to need a speech on paper.”

—

“So… if you love- like.. If you like me also...” Vision mumbled, as he wrote words onto a piece of paper. He then proceeded to scratch the just written words with his quilt.

“No, no, I can’t say that…” 

Vision proceeded to scribble a bit more, before the tent flap was opened and his father walked in, bringing in the first red and yellow coloured leaves of the year.

“How’s it going, son?” He asked, as he made his way over to the fire to warm his slightly reddened hands on it. 

“Everything sounds like crap.” Vision murmured and threw the paper into the fire, where it joined its predecessors.

Tony arched his eyebrow, rubbed his hands a few more times in front of the fire and then sat down next to Vision on his bed.

“What’s the matter?” He nudged the blonde with his shoulder slightly.

“No matter what I write, it doesn’t sound good enough.”

“Are you sure? If you speak from the heart, it will sound good.”

Vision sighed deeply and shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s from the heart or not. If it doesn’t sound good, I won’t get my feelings across regardless.”

“Let’s try one together, shall we?” Tony picked up a new piece of paper and Vision’s quill and proceeded to write ‘Vision’s speech paper for Wanda’ on the top of the paper. 

“‘Hello Wanda, I’d like to tell you something.’ That’s a good start, is it not?”

Vision just shrugged.

“I guess?”

“‘I hope you don’t mind me using this paper. I sometimes need a speech paper when I get excited or nervous.’ Then she won’t ask why you’re holding this paper. Is that alright?”

“I think so. I hope she’ll understand.”

Tony smiled slightly,  “Wanda seems to be a remarkable woman, she won’t judge you when you use a pre-written speech.”

“Oh, I have a good idea, give me the paper and quill please!”

The sun had already set when father and son finished the paper together. Vision felt more confident to tell Wanda now that he would like to be with her properly. 

He got a good night’s rest and awoke with new energy when the sun came shining through the tent flap. 

“Oh, look who’s up! It’s almost afternoon, so you can go back to bed.” Tony greeted him when Vision walked out. 

“Please, do not ruin my good mood.” Vision said shortly and Tony just lifted his hands. 

“Alright, alright. So you’re gonna do it today, then?”

Vision nodded slowly, “I think so, yes... Why? Should I wait?”

“How long have you known her now?”

“Six weeks, three days and… what time is it?” 

Tony rolled his eyes, “Too late to just have gotten out of bed.”

“Alright, alright! I understand. Will wake up early tomorrow morning,” Vision grumbled but couldn’t hide the smirk when Tony bellowed out a laugh. 

“Please, I do not expect you to be here tomorrow when you’re actually proposing to court Wanda today. I could see myself as grandfather, you know?”

Vision sputtered and spit out his tea, “Father! I haven’t even- Before marriage- How could you-?”

Tony patted his back lightly, “Sex after marriage is just a construct from the old religion that the new religions took over; virginity is meerly a societal construct. Also did I raise you to be religious? You can decide to do it when you both feel comfortable enough with sharing that experience with the other. Whether that is before or after marriage is up to you.”

“I haven’t even asked whether she would be open to courting me and you talk about marriage?” Vision stared at his father in disbelief. 

“Son, when you’re older and have been in love, you just know when two people fit.”

“You… you think we fit?”

Tony nodded, “I do.” Tony paused thoughtfully, “But you gotta see that for yourself first. Not just because your old man tells you to.”

After Vision had finished his tea, he changed into his dragon form and let his father put on the saddle again. 

“Please do not forget to put the speech paper into the bag.” Vision reminded his father, who waved him off already and stuffed the speech paper into the bag. 

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I installed that bag for you this morning, if you’d like to remember. Oh no, wait. You were asleep .”

Vision groaned audibly and blew out dark smoke, “I will stay in bed all day tomorrow out of spite.”

With these words he leaped up into the sky and flew towards the forest, to the little spot that he had come to love and cherish more each day.

While Vision flew, he tried to rehearse the words his father and him had written down the night prior and tried to come up with at least a not-written-down greeting that was fitting for his prepared speech.

‘Hello lovely Wanda… no, no. I’ve never greeted her like that… Good afternoon my dearest Wanda… it would be more fitting but maybe I can come up with something better? Scrumptious Wanda? No, you can’t say stuff like that. You’re a dragon, she’ll think you want to eat her!

Through all his thinking, Vision almost flew too far and had to dive down fast to get to the clearing. He landed with a loud thud and looked around.

“Wanda?” He called out but no one answered. 

Vision settled comfortable into the grass, prepared to wait for her as long as possible. They never planned on meeting at proper times, only saying to which daytime they’d be here, so Vision was patient. 

But only after a few minutes he heard fast footsteps and a person rushing through the woods. He perked up, whole body tense as he watched his surroundings. Suddenly, Wanda came running through the trees, hair wild and eyes wide.

“Wanda? Are you alright, what happ… Is that blood??”

Before he got an answer, Wanda had her arms wrapped around his long neck and started to sob.

Vision changed fast into his human form, wrapping his arms around her and trying to calm her down.

“It’s alright, Wanda. Everything is alright. Shh…”

After a few moments she was able to quell most of her sobs.

“Wanda, what happened?”

“Pietro… he’s… there were men… They were from Sokovia. They were looking for… For witches. I recognized their banner. And when they found me they didn’t stop asking questions until Pietro stepped in and told them to leave me alone. I tried so hard to hide my magic but the… their general just… he just...” Wanda swallowed hard and pressed her forehead against Vision's sternum. 

“What did he do, Wanda?” Vision asked, even though he knew the answer. But he wanted to be wrong. Oh, how he wanted to be wrong.

“He stabbed him. Right through the chest.” 

Vision was almost not able to hear Wanda. She spoke so quietly into his chest. Her hands were balled into fists as she held onto his shirt. She started to cry again and Vision was only able to hold her tightly and let her grief. 

“I held him… when he.. Drew his last breaths… And then I just… I exploded. My magic exploded and threw the men away. And then I ran. I had to leave his body behind! What… what will they do to him? I used my cloaking spell but… I don’t know if they were able to follow me.”

“I can’t hear nor smell anyone else. You’re safe now, Wanda. I’ve got you.”

Wanda nodded slowly and looked up to him, new tears forming in her emerald green eyes. 

“What do I do now? Pietro was always at my side… He was all I had growing up.”

Vision rubbed her back and after a few moments said, “You can stay with us, if you’d like. I’d also rather not let you run around alone when there's witch hunters from Sokovia.”

Wanda nodded, forehead back to its position on his chest. 

“Thank you,” she breathed out.

“Of course. Anything for you.” Vision kissed her hairline softly. “Everything is going to be alright. I’ve got you.”

They stood like that for a long time, a broken witch and a dragon, broken on her behalf, with a meticulously written speech forgotten in his satchel.

Chapter Text

Vision flew as fast as he could. Normally he would have loved to take Wanda on a ride, show her his flight skills and loopings, hearing her laugh and whoop. 

However, now, their first flight was tainted with the knowledge that they needed to hurry back to his father and away from her brother's body. 

But as they came closer, Vision was able to see smoke coming from the direction of their camp. 

“What is that?” He heard Wanda shout over the wind, but Vision couldn’t answer. He beat his wings faster, his heart in his throat. He landed on the ground with a hard thud and looked around the destroyed camp. 

“Oh no… Vision was this…?” Wanda asked carefully, leaning over his long throat to inspect the damage. 

“My belongings are gone.” 

Wanda stroked his shoulder slightly.
“I’m sorry…”

“No,” he said, a slight smile heard from his tone. “This means, father must’ve escaped. Look, he took everything with him. There’s not even my pillow left. They only burned down the tent.”

“Are you sure?” Wanda asked, seeming nervous.

“Yes, absolutely. Do not worry, I will find him. We have drawn up plans for this kind of situation.”

Wanda kept stroking his shoulder absentmindedly and Vision felt himself blushing a bit. Thankfully his red scale complexion wouldn’t show it. Before he could explain the plan to her, he picked up a strong smell. Then he heard twigs snapping and men trampling. 

“They’re coming,” Vision whispered and turned towards the direction of the noise. 

“Why don’t you fly?” Wanda asked, frightened. 

“They would easily shoot my wings from the sky. While my scales might be as hard as diamonds, my wings are not.”

“So you plan on fighting them?” Wanda asked in disbelief. Vision nodded, grim. 

“No, Vision, you could turn back and they’d suspect you to be a normal human with luck. I could make it look like I’ve held you captive, so they wouldn’t take you.”

“But they would take you and I’m not going to allow that. I will fight for you, Wanda.” Vision said, determined.

“You’re a lovely idiot.” Wanda said in her Sokovian dialect, before she switched back and said:”I’ll use a cloaking spell at least. We don’t know if they’re going to fall for it completely, but at least it would give us a moment of surprise.”

Vision just nodded, still dumbfounded by the sentence she had uttered. 

Wanda started to wave her hands around, red mist coming from them and swirling around them.

“They’re coming closer. Maybe 200 yards.”

Wanda simply nodded, concentrating on the spell and Vision tried not to distract her anymore. There was a slight wind and a red flash and then the mist was gone.

“Did you do it?” He asked, angling his head to get a look at her. 

“I think so-” Wanda shut her mouth fast, her breathing going shallow as six men broke through the bushes.

“I swear, General! I saw the damn thing land here, directly!” 

“I would hope so for your sake, црва.” 

The six men started to make their way through the ruined camp. All the while, Wanda and Vision held their breath and didn’t move a muscle. 

If the general turns his back on me, I could pounce on him and maybe the other’s might flee, Vision thought as he watched the men coming nearer.

The general was a tall man with broad shoulders and thick, shiny armour; the armour showed scratches, which told Vision that he had used it in battles before but someone must clean it properly after every fight. At the man’s side was a huge broadsword with a red rubin planted into the knob. He also had a crossbow and a quiver slung over his back.

He probably has some knives stashed away as well, Vision mused. 

Sadly, the general did not turn around once but was facing them the entire time. 

Suddenly, Vision felt a light tap on his shoulder from Wanda and he turned his head very slowly. He then saw one of the men, who was only an arm's length away from his flank, scuffing his shoes on the ground. 

“General, take a look at this.” He shouted and the general made his way over to the man, luckily missing Vision only by a few inches.

“This looks like a decent footprint. Someone must’ve had a hard landing here.”

“See? I told you it’s a Драгон!”

“Умукни, црви!” The general growled as he bent down to inspect the dragon footprint. 

Now is my chance, Vision thought and tensed his muscles, ready to jump around and attack the general with his paws. 

He felt Wanda holding onto his saddle, realising what he was about to do.

But before he could actually reveal himself, the general abruptly got up again and went a few steps back, looking up into the sky. 

“Hmm,” he said. Then, directly fixating on Vision, he continued, “Don’t you think I can see through such a simple cloaking spell, little Witch?”

Wanda sucked in a sharp breath. Vision was at a loss. 

“I am a Witch hunter. I can see things others can’t. I can hear things others can’t. I can smell things others can’t. So, this is your only chance. Lift the spell and come with us or die like your pathetic brother.”  

Vision snarled and threw himself forward without thinking. His right claw was outstretched and he was ready to strike the general across the hill. But the iron-clad man was faster and parried his strike with his board sword. 

“Hello, dragon. You really are a sight to behold. I can’t wait to be the first dragon slayer in aeons!”

“You’d have to kill him first,” Wanda answered cooly from his back, standing in the saddle, red mist coming from her fingers. 

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, witch,” growled another man behind them. “He may be as hard as diamond, but you certainly aren’t.”

“No, but you aren’t either!” A familiar voice shouted across the hill. Everyone looked around, not knowing where exactly the voice came from. 

Vision smiled grimly. 

“Now, if you’d be so kind as to let my son and his girlfriend go.”

“Where are you, Stark?!” The General bellowed, broadsword in hand, still pointed at Vision and Wanda. 

“You know, if I told you, that would kinda defeat the purpose of me sneaking around.” Tony answered, before he suddenly broke through the bushes behind the General and threw something at him before he disappeared again.

The General growled and tried to grab whatever’s got a hold of his back with one hand while the other tried to still point the sword forward. 

“Attack them!” He ordered his men. 

“But General Ultron, sir… Your back,” one of the men said and Ultron just snarled. 

“Attack!” He yelled and the men followed his orders. They circled Vision, all swords raised. Wanda started to use her magic, throwing one of the men into the air and he landed with a hard thud, gasping for breath. Two others tried to charge at the same time. One got hit by a strong dragon tail and landed a few feet away from the fight, the other got vines raking up his legs so he couldn’t move properly anymore. 

The last two started to aim for Wanda, trying to get to her from Vision’s flanks or behind. 

The one from behind got a deftly kick to the chest and the ground beneath the other opened up and swallowed him up unto his hips. 

“I think we do make a fine pair… team… with the fighting…” Vision stammered and looked up in shock only to find a small smile on Wanda's lips. 

“Yes, I think so too,” Wanda’s gaze hardened again as it fell onto General Ultron. 

“Сада одсећи змији главу,” she murmured and got down from Vision’s back. 

“Wanda… wait! What are you doing?” Vision yelled after her. Ultron had just finished picking the device Tony had made from his back. It looked a bit like a spider. It was made out of metal and wood and had little mechanical clamps.

He knew that this was merely a distraction toy and seemingly it had done its job. 

“Come to join your brother now, little witch?” Ultron taunted as he crashed the spider in his hand. 

“No, I have come for revenge.” Wanda said angrily, eyes burning red. 

Ultron lifted his sword and pointed it directly at her. Vision was about to make his way towards them, before he realised that the three men who hadn't been trapped by Wanda's magic had gathered their bearings and were ready for a second round. 

I’ll have to hold them off, Vision thought and turned around again, ready to defend Wanda’s back while she hopefully beat Ultron. 

The first man to attack had apparently still not learned his lesson as he aimed for Vision’s flank, sword swinging down with all the might the soldier could muster. 

Vision knew the attack was coming, his heightened dragon senses giving him very fast reflexes. But he knew his scales were as hard as diamonds, so he let the soldier believe he was going to achieve something. 

The sword of the enemy clashed against his scales and with a metallic crack the sword broke into pieces. 

“What the…” the soldier murmured and looked at the left pieces of his sword, before Vision kicked his left hind leg and tossed the soldier through the air. 

The other soldiers were weary now, not exactly knowing how they were supposed to strike a being that could shatter swords just with his skin. 

“Sir Ultron, we can’t beat him! His scales are too hard!” One of the soldiers yelled, keeping his eyes fixed on Vision. 

Vision himself threw a glance backwards and saw Ultron and Wanda fight. Wanda threw one of  the red mist towards Ultron, who rolled out of the way and tried to strike her with his sword. 

“You fools! Use your daggers!” Ultron yelled as he parried another hit from Wanda with his sword, that started to glimmer in a weird way. 

Vision whipped his head back around when he heard the sheathing of swords. The soldiers had put their swords away but lifted their daggers now. These daggers were also glimmering weirdly. 

“Your swords couldn’t do anything, why would you think daggers are going to help you now?” Vision asked, a bit perplexed but also frightened. 

Why would Ultron tell them to use these daggers? Are they special? Nevermind, I’ll have to be careful. Maybe they’re poisoned… better not touch them. 

When one of the two men charged, Vision decided to scare him off by scorching the earth in front of him with his dragon fire. The man stood still abruptly and looked shocked at Vision. 

“Sir…. the dragon can spit fire!” He yelled out and Vision only made out a grunt and a ‘what?!’ before he realised that the second man had tried to sneak up on him. Before he could strike his back though Vision flicked his tail and threw the man off his feet. 

“You can still surrender,” he told the men and started to smoke out of his nose, the fire slowly building up in his stomach and crawling up his throat for all of his enemies to see. 

Both of them threw down their weapons and backed away. 

“You cowards!” Ultron yelled. His sword was pressed in an intense battle against Wanda’s magic, before he kicked her legs out from under her. Vision watched in horror as Wanda fell down and ran towards them before he could stop himself. 

“Don’t you see that he doesn’t kill! He could’ve turned us all into ash but he didn’t. Because he’s good !” Ultron smirked, his fat dark eyebrows furrowed together as he pointed the sword towards Vision. 

Wanda lay on the ground, panting. The magic must’ve taken a lot out of her. 

“You can also surrender!” Vision yelled, hoping that he still seemed dangerous enough for Ultron to consider. 

Of course I do not kill people. But how am I supposed to fight him when I can’t let his sword touch me and I don’t want to harm him badly?

“Or what?” Ultron spat, sword pointed at Wanda, who slowly looked up, anger still in her eyes. 

“Or I will have to harm you.” He hoped he sounded serious enough. Ultron laughed loud and harshly. 

Alright, maybe not. 

“You won’t harm me! You’re only a whelp!” Ultron raised his sword and Vision’s blood froze. He was going to kill Wanda!

He leaped forwards and kicked Ultron to the ground.

“Do not harm her!” He yelled. Ultron started grinning and swung his sword at Vision. The dragon merely jumped out of the way, but the tip of the sword still scratched across his chest and split his scales right under the strap of his saddle.

He had never felt that much pain before. Vision’s legs almost gave out under him as he saw the blood flowing down his chest. The wound wasn’t deep nor all too large, but Vision has never been hurt like this before.

How was he able to pierce through my scales? 

“Oh, does the dragon have a soft spot for the witch?” The general grinned sickly and looked between the pair. 

Wanda had managed to stand up again in the meantime and tried to conjure her red mist again, but it was obvious that she was exhausted. 

“Both of you, stand down. Or I will harm you.” 

Before Vision could actually contemplate whether or not he should burn Ultron’s shoes, a little device was thrown out of the bushes and rolled towards Ultron and came to stand still between his legs. 

“I told you,” Tony’s voice boomed over the hill, “To leave my son and his girlfriend alone!”

With a loud bang the device exploded and left a huge smoke cloud, leaving Ultron partially blind for a few moments. Vision shot towards Wanda and hauled her onto his back with his head and stormed towards the bushes where he knew his father would wait for them. 

“Come on, he’s almost out of the smoke!” Tony yelled and Vision slowed down only a little bit while Tony swung himself onto Visions back, behind Wanda. Then Vision started sprinting fully again and leaped into the air and flew as high as he could. 

Suddenly, there was a piercing pain in his right leg and he yelled loudly in pain. 

“What happened? Vizh, what is it?” Wanda asked in panic.

“Something struck my leg,” Vision wheezed. He’d never flown with two people before, especially not when his father had also packed all their belongings. 

“It’s a crossbow-arrow!” Tony yelled over the wind as he twisted in the saddle.

“Can you keep flying? We need to get as far away from here as possible.”

“Yes, I’ll manage.” Vision nodded grimly. 

“Try to get us more north,” Tony told him and Vision followed. They were quiet for the rest of the flight, just Tony sometimes giving instructions.

The moon was high in the sky when Vision felt himself getting lower and lower, not able to keep the altitude and feeling very exhausted. 

“Son, you see the big grassland behind the tree line? Try to land there.” Tony told him and petted his flank. 

Vision sailed towards the ground carefully, knowing that if he didn’t concentrate he’d mess up the landing due to his leg. He landed on his front legs, carefully stretching his healthy hind leg and tried to break as much speed with his wings as possible. He still managed to fall heavily onto his wounded chest and he let out a yelp.

“Hey, it’s alright, Vision. Everything’s fine.” Tony hopped off from his saddle and went directly towards his head, petting his snout slightly. 

“Are you alright?” Wanda asked as she slid from his back carefully, still wobbly on her legs. 

“Sorry… I couldn’t land correctly…” Vision murmured and closed his eyes. He was so tired. 

“You landed perfectly given the circumstances.” Tony answered and scratched his jaw slightly.

“I’ll sort through our belongings for the medical supplies and blankets. You two, rest.”

Wanda flopped down next to Vision’s head, who promptly snuggled closer to her so she rested against his neck, which was slightly wrapped around her so he could rest his head on her lap. 

“Thank you for fighting for me,” Wanda whispered softly and mimicked the scratching Tony had done a few moments earlier. 

Vision hummed and let out a satisfying sound. 

“I’m very sorry that you couldn't avenge your brother.” He murmured and managed to open one eye to look at her. 

A single tear ran down her cheek and she nodded. 

“I will get my chance,” she said grimly, before she blinked the unshed tears away. 

“How are you feeling?” Vision pressed on carefully. He couldn’t imagine losing someone this close to him. He wouldn’t know what he would do if his father would’ve been murdered in front of him like that. 

“I… I don’t know. It’s so fresh and… It’s just like this wave washing over me again and again. It knocks me down and when I try to stand up, it just comes for me again. And I can't... It's gonna drown me.” Now the tears finally fell and Wanda lifted a hand to brush them away. 

“I am so sorry, Wanda. I truly am. I can’t even begin to understand your pain. My mother died during my birth and except for my father I’ve always been alone. Loss has always been a part of my narrative. But… What is grief if not love persevering?”

Wanda sniffled a few times, before she bent down and kissed him right between his nostrils.

“Thank you, Vizh,” she whispered softly and scratched his head slightly. 

They both looked up when they heard Tony return with blankets and a pouch. 

“One blanket for you, Wanda.” Tony said softly and then unpacked the pouch. 

“Alright, Junior. I’ll have to check out your leg first.”

Vision stretched his hurt leg as far as he could and winced when Tony touched the arrow. 

“How did that pierce you?”

“Does it have the same strange glow as Ultron’s sword?” Vision asked and winced again. 

“Like a red glimmer?” Wanda added, trying to soothe Vision’s pain through head rubs. 

“Yes, I think so… Wait a second that looks like…” Tony didn’t finish his sentence as he just pulled the arrow out of Vision's leg. 

Vision yelped in pain and twisted his head around to look at his father shockingly, tears forming in his eyes spilling down his cheeks. 

“You’re alright now, Vision,” Tony stated and got up to wrap his arms around Vision’s neck. “Arrow’s gone now. Let me just wrap it up, okay?” 

He kissed the side of his head quickly and went back to work as Vision settled his head back on Wanda's lap. 

Wanda in the meantime inspected the arrow Tony had dropped next to them. 

“It has the same red glimmer. Just like Ultrons sword!”

“And like the daggers of the soldiers.” Vision realised.

Tony came back around, hands a bit bloody and half of the gauze gone.

“It’s not deep and all wrapped up now. Your dragon healing skin should work it’s magic there.”

“And what kind of magic is that?” Wanda asked and held up the arrow. “You seemed to recognise it.”

Tony looked at the arrow and carefully took it from Wanda’s hands. 

“How’s your chest doing, son?” Tony asked instead, still looking at the arrow.

“It’s merely a scratch. The blood has dried already.”

“Let me see so I can check for any signs of infection at least. You did, after all, land on the wound.” 

Vision nodded, but didn’t get up yet.  

“Father, what does the glimmer mean?” 

Tony sighed and went over to him and beckoned him to get up.

“Let me work on that scratch while I tell you,” he said in a low tone. Vision did as requested and Tony sighed again before he started. 

“Remember in Phoit, where I used to sell my toys and gadgets and that arse, Obidahia, misused them as weapons?” 

Vision let out a gasp. 

“You think this is one of your gadgets turned into a weapon?”

“I’m not sure but… do you remember the metal bar I made? The one that I called Titanium Gold-Alloy and no smith or man in the world was able to destroy it?” 

“You think they smelted it and coated their weapons with it? But it was only a little piece, not bigger than the palm of my hand.” 

“Well, they might have been able to reconstruct it and make their own.”

“So the weapons that are able to actually harm Vision came from you.” Wanda stated flatly as she stood next to them. 

Tony looked up at her, a mix of shock and hurt in his eyes.

“No, I didn’t… I didn’t know that they were going to smelt and reconstruct it. I didn’t even know it was able to cut him! I’d never…” Tony trailed off when he felt Vision nudge at his hand. 

“Father, it’s alright. I know you never meant any harm with your gadgets. Least of all any harm towards me.”

“But she doesn’t seem to think so,” Tony pointed his chin towards Wanda, who challenged his look. 

“Father,” Vision said softly and Tony looked back at him. “Ultron killed Pietro today.” 

Tony’s face fell and he looked back at the woman, who started to tear up again at the mention of her brother. 

“Oh no… Oh gods, Wanda I am so sorry. Truly, I… He was such a smart and generous young man.”

Wanda just nodded, and looked at the ground. 

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “And sorry that I tried to accuse you. I know we haven’t known each other very long but I should know better than to just accuse you of something you didn’t do.”

“It’s alright, I’d be sceptical too in your case.” 

Tony finished his work at Vision’s chest by smearing some sort of cream onto the cut and got up again. 

“You two should rest, you exhausted yourselves during the fight. I’ll keep the first watch.”

The pair nodded and Vision beckoned Wanda to come closer to his flank, while Tony leaned against his other side.

“Are you going to stay in your dragon form?” She asked as she settled down next to him and he curled himself around her form. 

“Just for the night, in case of an attack. And to keep you and father warm, since we shouldn’t start a fire to stay hidden in the dark.”

“That’s nice,” Wanda snuggled closer to him, a blanket wrapped around her. 

“Thank you, Vizh. Truly.”

“Of course, Wanda. Anything, anytime.” Vision whispered softly and Wanda gave him one last kiss before they both dropped off into a deep slumber.