Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Wanda was terrified of the compound at first. She hadn’t been too keen on the tower either but at least there had been numerous rooms to hide in and her brother had been with her. Now, homeless after Sokovia’s demise, and twinless after losing Pietro, she never felt more alone. Upon arrival, Steve sensed Wanda’s hostility towards Tony Stark and showed her to her new quarters, even asking her if she wanted any extra furnishings, but deep down he knew she wanted her brother back and nothing else, so he left her to settle in with an in invite to join the other Avengers if or when she wanted company.

Wanda turned in early on the first night feeling exhausted under the emotional weight she had been under since the battle, and fell asleep instantly but not soundly. Sad thoughts clouded her mind, and another homed in on it. The Vision, or simply Vision as he was beginning to be known, walked past her room quietly and the mind stone, embedded in his forehead, picked up on the emotional distress from inside. He stopped outside her door and focused on the pain being cast. Grief, fear and despair were all among the desperation to take down Ultron, and these emotions swirled around his synthetic head before a pair of red eyes appeared in his mind forcing him out. Vision gasped stepping back in the corridor.

Wanda was stood in the doorway, her eyes filled with tears. “Stay out of my head!” She hissed.

“I am sorry, Miss Maximoff. I merely wanted to check that you were okay. I sensed you were in distress as I walked past your room.”

“I’m fine. I just need rest. Don’t spy on my thoughts.”

“It won’t happen again. Please forgive me, Miss Maximoff. Goodnight,” Vision bowed his head sadly and continued onto his quarters.

That was not the first impression he had been hoping for.

Wanda watched him phase through his door into his room and closed hers on the corridor. She settled back into bed but didn’t go to sleep, deciding instead to turn on some music. With a sigh, she lay on her side listening to it and thought about the Vision. She was shocked that someone else could enter her mind, but maybe she had been too abrupt with the android.

In his room next door, Vision listened to the music resonating through the wall as he stood next to the windows looking out on the forest surrounding the compound, and after a quick search through the database in his head, he found the name of the piano piece; Claire de Lune. Entwined with the music, however, he heard quiet sobbing from his neighbour and he felt a strange numb feeling buzzing in the mechanical workings of his chest. It was want and desire. The want to make her feel better. But she had been clear she didn’t want anyone to comfort her. Maybe there was another way?

The next day, Steve gathered the new recruits in the main hangar to discuss their training regime to becoming Avengers, and Vision noticed Wanda standing quietly by herself away from Colonel Rhodes and Sam Wilson.

“The team-ups are simple," he stated. "Myself, Rhodes and Vision. And Natasha, Wanda and Sam. Me and Nat will be your go-tos as team leaders, but we will train together as much as possible. We’ll start our first session outside in ten minutes for basic combat, see you out there,” Steve smiled and dismissed the group to change and warm up.

The group lined up facing each other in the workout room and Wanda was up against Rhodes. They fought well but she was holding back her powers in fear of hurting him, and as Vision phased another one of Steve’s punches, he requested that he be switched with the colonel.

Wanda frowned as he approached her, “I could handle him.”

“I’ve no doubt you could, but I thought you might want to try your powers against someone who is, indestructible?”

“No harm in trying," she shrugged.

As Wanda fought him, she realised that he was phasing and altering his density to allow her to use her powers on him and she felt a smile form on her lips.

“Thank you," she sighed. "I know that the team are afraid of me.”

“That’s not true, Miss Maximoff.”

Wanda smiled. “You can call me Wanda.”

“As you wish. Wanda.”

The group took a break to catch their breaths, and Vision sat down beside Wanda who was having a drink.

Wanda smiled at him. "I owe you an apology for last night. I didn’t mean to lash out like that. It's just I’ve never had anyone in my own mind before.”

Vision nodded. “Apology accepted. It was wrong of me to intrude without asking permission.”

“How did you know that I was having a nightmare?”

Vision ran his finger across the mind stone, “it felt something, almost as if it connected to your mind. I followed the connection and it led me to see you fighting Ultron in Sokovia. I felt your pain as…” He trailed off, not sure if mentioning her brother’s name was a trigger for her sadness or not.

“Pietro,” she looked down at her hands.

“Yes.”

“I think about him often. I wish I had been down in the town when it happened. Maybe I could have saved him,” she looked over at the other members of the team laughing together. “As it was, staying in the church didn’t prevent anything, the city was still destroyed.”

“Your brother sacrificed himself for another to live, it was his choice.”

Wanda grimaced. “He was always too pure of heart.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Vision tilted his head to the side with slight confusion.

“No, of course not. I…” she bit her lip as it trembled. “I miss him, so much. It hurts when I think about him and I don’t think it’ll ever stop.”

“It will.”

“How do you know?”

Steve’s voice interrupted them. “Alright, break over! Let’s get back to work.”

Wanda found herself alone that evening as she still wasn’t too sure about joining the others for downtime after dinner. Eating with them was manageable, but she wasn’t ready to relax as if she was one of them yet. She sat on her bed watching a re-run of an old 90s show, when she found her thoughts straying to seek someone out. She turned the tv off and concentrated on the mind she was attempting to locate and her head suddenly filled with peace and serenity. Desperate to explore it, she got off her bed and left her room in the direction of the hobby room in the compound. Most rooms were grey and cold, but the lounge was warmly painted with sofas along the walls and various pursuits of entertainment that made it feel less like a warehouse and more like a home.

Wanda approached the room and froze upon hearing the piano that was tucked into the corner looking out on the forest, and with soft footsteps she entered quietly in awe as her eyes rested upon Vision. He was sat side-on to her position, and his gold cape was swept back over the piano stool brushing the floor behind him. He was seemingly playing to himself, but the tune was familiar and Wanda found herself walking closer. A floorboard creaked under her sock and she cursed quietly to herself.

“Hello, Wanda.”

Wanda jumped. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to interrupt you, it’s just…That's Claire du Lune. How do you know this piece?”

Vision smiled. “I heard you playing this last night, and since then I have accessed all I can on learning how to master this instrument,” he focused back on his playing. “What do you think?”

Wanda blushed. “You sound good,” then smiled modestly, he had just sounded like a semi-professional. “Please don’t let me stop you,” she added, walking past the piano and stopping by the window looking out at the dark fields.

The music resumed behind her, and she rubbed her arms with her hands.

“Are you alright, Wanda?”

“I’m fine. I just didn’t feel like hanging out with the others tonight.”

“I read somewhere that when one is feeling troubled, it’s a good idea to distract yourself with something,” he looked up at her. “Care to join me?”

Wanda turned to look at him as he patted the quite limited space beside him on the stool. “I don’t know how to play.”

“Then we can just talk,” he smiled invitingly.

With a sigh, Wanda made her way over to the piano and settled on the stool beside him twisting a ring absentmindedly on her finger and feeling incredibly small beside the tall android. She looked down at her knees poking out from her short dress hem against the vibrant green of Vision’s suit and she wished she could curl up on the stool, instead, she sat forward so that her feet actually touched the floor and felt the vibrations from the pedal beside them.

“Why don’t you feel that you can hang out with them?” Vision asked.

“After what I did to them in that cargo ship, and the visions I made them see...” she bit down on her lip and Vision played softer. “I don’t think they’ll ever truly trust me.”

“They will.”

“Why, what reason could there be?”

Vision looked down at his hands and brought his foot back from the pedal letting the music fade away. “You’re a member of the team. That was decided when you turned against Ultron. You said it yourself that you wanted to destroy the Avengers, not the world.”

“Yes. Destroy them. So?”

“But you didn’t. You chose life, like us.”

Wanda smiled slyly. “I wasn’t fully on board with Stark’s plan to bring you to life if you recall?”

“But I asked you to look into my head again to reassure you of your decision.”

She nodded. “I saw a mind at peace as opposed to one of destruction. Do you still think like that?”

Vision turned on the stool, “go ahead."

Wanda raised her hand to his forehead and closed her eyes as tendrils of red drifted out of her fingertips. Her forehead creased as she focused on the mind stone and Vision allowed her in. Peaceful colours of yellow and pink welcomed her in and the serene melody was back, she smiled and felt tears come to her eyes. She retracted her powers and looked at him in wonder.

“How do you do it?” She asked. “I can’t turn off the bad thoughts.”

Vision turned back to the piano. “Then perhaps you’ll allow me to?"

“Vision, why did you save me? I was happy to stay there, and die with my brother.”

Vision shook his head in shock at her words. “You can’t think like that, Wanda. Your brother died a hero, you must understand that. He saved two lives by giving his. Forgive me, but I believe your brother wouldn’t want you to be feeling like this.”

Wanda grimaced. “You don’t know a thing about him.”

“No, I don’t. But I know that you are strong. You killed Ultron, and isn’t that enough?”

“No, it’s not, but I don’t know what is,” she sighed and wiped a tear away. “I’m just so tired. I’m emotionally drained. I would've found peace if I had died in Sokovia.”

Vision shook his head. “I don’t regret saving you, Wanda, and if you want to hate me, I will live with that."

Wanda looked down at his long fingers on the keys. “Have you really been practising this since you first heard it from my room?”

“Yes. I thought it would be a comfort for you to hear it in person.”

Wanda nodded and ever so slightly moved closer to him allowing her shoulder to rest against his arm, “thank you. And for saving me.”

“My pleasure, Wanda.”

Wanda’s heart fluttered at the way he said her name and she sat quietly listening to him playing for her. Her eyelids flickered as she fought against the fatigue that began to come over her, and the next time Vision looked down at her she was slumped against his side asleep. He scooped her up into his arms and phased through the stool to his feet before walking over to the nearest sofa where he lay her down gently across the cushions.

“Sleep well, Wanda.”

A few nights later, Wanda was sitting on her bed alone watching another one of her favourite shows from her childhood. It had been a dull rainy day so Steve had cancelled training giving the Avengers some respite. Wanda had spent it decorating her room and was finally content with her furnishings, especially with the guitar she had purchased for herself.

Wanda crossed her legs and hugged a cushion to her chest as she got comfortable when she felt a presence lingering in the next room.

“Vision?” She called out quietly.

Vision phased through her wall and Wanda bit her lip to stop herself from smirking at his attempt to be subtle. "I apologise. I don’t mean to intrude.”

“You don’t?” She asked slyly.

“Well, I suppose yes, I did intend to come in here…”

“And now?”

Vision pondered his reply, he didn’t really want to leave. “Well…Whatever is your preference?”

Wanda patted the bed and he came to sit beside her, she smiled and turned back to watching her show feeling Vision’s confusion as he attempted to follow the storyline. As she watched the character on screen get knocked out by a falling trellis, she remembered why she was feeling so down. It was her mother’s birthday tomorrow. Every year, she and Pietro had honoured her in some way by either watching her favourite shows or baking treats, but this year she didn’t feel like doing any of that.

“Wanda?” Vision broke her out of her daydream.

“Hmm?” She replied, without looking at him.

“I don’t suppose to know what you’re feeling, but I would like to. Should you wish to tell me, should it provide you some comfort?”

“What makes you think talking about it would bring me comfort?”

“Oh, I read…”

She cut him off. “The only thing that would bring me comfort, would be seeing them again. Seeing him again.”

Vision bit his lip, the dead couldn’t be brought back and he looked away with a small wince at his words. He pulled lightly at the hem of his sweatshirt and heard Wanda huff beside him unhappily.

“I’m sorry,” Wanda sighed. “I asked you the other night if it would ever stop hurting. I am so tired...” and she went on to describe how her pain felt like a wave of grief knocking her down and feeling like it would drown her.

Vision tilted his head to the side before assuring her that a wave was versatile and that her grief wouldn't drown her.

“It can’t all be sorrow, Wanda. Can it?” He frowned before continuing. “I’ve always been alone, so I don’t feel the lack, it’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve never felt loss because I’ve never had a loved one to lose. But what is grief, if not love persevering?”

Wanda stared at him in wonder, his words were so beautiful and she ran them through her mind over and over before he laughed and pulled her attention back to the show on screen and the moment that had made him laugh.

“Sorry. Excuse me,” Vision apologised with a surprising toothy grin.

“No, it’s funny,” she smiled back, and suddenly felt light as if the pain had been lifted off her heart.

"Yes, it was," he smiled and looked back to the TV.

“Vision? Tomorrow is my mother’s birthday. Do you mind if I pop into town and get a bouquet for her?”

“Not at all. Would you like me to accompany you?”

Wanda nodded. “I would like that. Very much.”

“Then I look forward to it,” he stood up gracefully. “Sleep well, Wanda.”

“Thank you, Vision.”

Chapter Text

It was now eight months since Sokovia had fallen, and Wanda was fast becoming a fully-fledged Avenger. Natasha was proud of her combat training, one-to-one manipulation and self-defence, and Steve was very pleased with her confidence in using her powers alongside the team’s non-abilities when participating in group exercises. Wanda had even managed to gain minor skills in levitation with Vision’s help. She could only hover a foot off the ground so far and only for a moment, but she was able to lift objects and even propel herself from the ground to another spot reasonably well, minus the first time when she shot herself into Vision and landed in his lap.

It was now midsummer and a new day for the team. Wanda turned on her laptop and began to get dressed for the day, she pulled her pyjama top up over her head when…

“Wanda?”

Wanda squeaked and hastily threw a throw over herself with her powers to cover up. “Vision! Knock!”

“I’m sorry, Wanda, I heard that you were awake, and…” he nodded at her angry expression. “I’ll wait outside.”

Wanda sighed as she crossed her arms over the fleece. “Give me ten minutes to get dressed okay? You can’t just phase through my wall like that.”

“I have done in the past?”

“That was different. Now go, please?”

Vision nodded. “My apologies. Again.”

Wanda watched him phase away and shook her head with a small smile. Although her heart was pounding, it didn’t seem to be with embarrassment but rather with adrenaline after him seeing her almost indecent. She continued getting dressed and instead thought about the upcoming mission that she was going out on with the team.

For the past couple of months, the Avengers had been chasing down the last few corrupt Shield agents who had turned to Hydra three years prior to Wanda joining the team. There were rumours that these men would be in Lagos, Nigeria, attempting to steal a biological weapon and it was up to them to catch them.

Wanda sat down in front of her laptop and logged in, she opened the case file for the mission and as she scrolled, heard a knock at the door.

Wanda smiled to herself before calling out. “Come in?”

Vision opened the door and stepped in carrying a mug of coffee in one hand. “I thought you might like a cup?”

“Thank you, Vis,” she smiled broadly up at him admiring his blue cashmere top over black slacks.

“What’s this?” He nodded to the screen.

“The file for CrossBones’ team. He makes Strucker look tame,” she drummed her fingers on the desk in front of her. “Tell me again why you’re not coming with us?” She looked around at him as he perched on the edge of her bed.

“Captain Rogers thinks I will not be able to blend in and could be a danger to the mission.”

“I don’t think you’re a danger to anyone.”

“Thank you. But on this occasion, I believe he is right to be concerned. Unlike me, you’ve been training for stealth missions for two months.”

“I’m not going to be engaging with anyone. I’m just going to help Steve get this guy and that’s it.”

“Be that so, it is still better if I monitor the situation from here. It wouldn’t take me long to get there if something were to go wrong.”

Wanda smiled as she sipped the coffee. “I’ll hold you to your word on that.”

“How could one physically hold a word?”

“I’m being metaphorical, Vis,” she giggled and Vision smiled at the nickname that only she used for him. “Any plans today?”

“Not unless someone asks me for my services.”

“Good. I thought you might want to do more flight training?” She closed the laptop.

“If you’d like to?”

“I’d love to.”

“Whenever you’re ready, just come and find me,” he stood up with a glance at her guitar, then turned away.

“What is it?” She asked, following his gaze.

“It’s…I was just wondering if you could teach me to play that?”

Wanda smiled. “Vision, as much as I’d like to, I know you could learn in the time it took for me to say this sentence.”

“Yes, that is true, but I believe it would be more enjoyable to learn with a friend.”

Wanda blushed slightly. “You’ve got a deal. But not right now, we’ve got some training to do. I’ll meet you in the hall.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Wanda watched him leave and wrapped her arms around herself looking down at her guitar warmly. No, come on, why was she feeling this way? He was just a friend, heck a work colleague….right?

After changing into her training gear, Wanda made her way to the entrance hall where Vision was in his uniform talking to Steve who waved at her as she entered.

“Hi, Wanda,” he greeted her cheerfully as she walked over. “Vision tells me you’re going to practise levitation again.”

“Yes. That’s right,” but she sighed internally, she was hoping to practise alone with Vision.

“Is it alright if I join you? I was hoping we could have another go at levitating others.”

Wanda nodded, missing Vision’s head drop slightly as if he too was disappointed. “Sure. Shall we go then?”

The trio made their way onto the tarmac outside the main hangar and stood underneath the balcony high above them. Steve turned to Wanda and nodded.

“See if you can get yourself up there.”

Wanda bit her lip. “Wow, that’s pretty high.”

Vision smiled and launched himself into a hover. “I’ll be there if you feel yourself falling.”

Wanda took a deep breath and looked up at the balcony again, then turning her palms to face the ground she fired two energy blasts sending her straight up, she angled herself but felt the tendrils failing.

“Vision!” She cried out.

Vision moved before she had even called his name and caught her in his arms, landing them both up on the balcony. “Are you okay?”

Wanda brushed her hair from her face. “I’ll never be able to do this,” she moaned, leaning against the balcony.

Steve shook his head. “You were so close that time, Wanda. Don’t give up.”

“Okay. Vis, take me back down please?”

“Of course.”

Wanda smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he flew them back down. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Steve tapped his finger against his chin. “How about we try from a little further back? Distance rather than height.”

“Okay.”

“Try launching me up there.”

“Steve, I could hurt you. If you miss…” Wanda twisted a ring around her finger.

“I trust that you won’t miss, or hurt me,” he smiled reassuringly. “Vision, would you? Just in case.”

“Of course, Captain.”

“Ready, Wanda?”

'No', she thought. “Yep.”

“Focus your powers underneath me, and direct me up to the balcony.”

“Don’t get your hopes up.”

Wanda focused on Steve and stretched her hands out allowing the tendrils to wrap themselves under his feet and he began to run allowing her to give him a boost, she bent her knee forward and followed his movements through up into the air clenching her teeth together until it hurt. With a final push, she fell to her knees breathing deeply, and felt Vision’s hands on her shoulders as cloth tickled the edge of her chin from his cape sweeping past her face.

“I don’t want to look,” she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Well, you should.”

Steve waved from the balcony with a grin. “Great job, Wanda!”

Wanda smiled up at Vision who helped her to her feet as Steve jumped down to the ground landing in a somersault to cushion his fall. “I really did it.”

“You were in complete control. How did it feel?” Vision asked.

“I could feel his weight and concentrated on doubling my power to move him.”

Steve nodded. “Shall we try again later? I don’t want to wear you out before tomorrow.”

“I would like a short break. I don’t think I’ve ever released that much energy in one go before. Well…not consciously.”

Natasha walked out of the hangar and smiled. “Good job, Wanda. Steve, do you have a moment? I want to go over some details about Lagos.”

“Coming. Keep at the training, Wanda.”

Finally, Wanda was alone with Vision and he congratulated her again.

“Shall we try hovering now?”

Wanda nodded. “I think if I picture my weight, I should be able to elevate myself for longer.”

“Follow me,” he lifted himself into a hover just between the ground and balcony level and looked down at her.

Eager to reach him, Wanda allowed her energy to form two balls of red light in her palms and gently tensed her fingers pointing upward, her feet left the ground slowly and she bent one knee copying Vision’s pose in the air. She kept her eyes on him and from his expression, she could tell she was doing it right.

“Can you get any higher?” He asked.

Wanda closed her eyes and raised her arms outward slightly, when she opened them Vision was at the same level as she was. He extended his hand to her and altered his density so she could grip it.

“This feels amazing…hovering I mean,” she quickly added, but not hiding a blush.

“You’re quite exceptional, Wanda. There’s not many people who could learn such a skill so quickly.”

Wanda giggled as they lowered themselves back to the ground. “I’ve still yet to manage the actual flight. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fly like you do.”

“Only time will tell.”

Wanda and Vision returned to the main compound for a lunch break and were joined by Sam who had just finished a workout in the gym.

“Hey, kids. Wanda, I heard that you’re almost able to fly?”

“I wouldn’t say that, but I can hover a little better.”

“That’s cool. It’ll be really useful tomorrow. Let me know if you need any pointers?”

Wanda smiled. “Thanks, Sam, but our styles are very different.”

“Perhaps, but landings aren’t. Got to find the ground one way or another.”

Vision crossed his arms in front of him at the table. “Wanda’s landings are very delicate. I can’t fault them.”

Wanda patted his hand. “He’s only teasing, Vision.”

Sam chuckled. “I’ll try to use a ‘making a joke’ voice next time.”

“Of course you will,” Wanda rolled her eyes.

“Can you move people or just yourself?” Sam continued, sitting down at the table opposite them.

“I’m working on it. But I wouldn’t do it in here, it might go wrong.”

“Oh come on,” he smirked.

“I do not think that to be a good idea, Mr Wilson,” Vision interjected.

“What’s the worst that can happen? We have to pay Tony for damages.”

Wanda looked down at one hand whilst keeping the other on her lap out of sight, then without Sam noticing she moved an apple to hit him in the back of the head. “Proof enough?” She asked as he yelped.

“How?”

“Telekinesis. Remember?”

“So what about flight, how do you do that?”

“I have to focus, really hard. It’s not like lifting a pen off the ground or even a pillow. I physically have to wrap my powers around the person I want to move and imagine its weight.”

Vision shifted on his stool. “Wanda, I really don’t think this is a good idea…”

“Vis, he’s practically challenging me. And I don’t back down,” she stared back across at Sam with a playful smirk. “Go and stand over there.”

Sam nodded. “Not too rough now.”

“Yeah, you’d hate that, right?” Wanda stood up leaving Vision at the table and readied her powers.

The target was the sofa, and all she needed to do was throw Sam onto it from where he was standing beside the breakfast bar. She created a ball of energy in her hands and pulled it apart quickly separating the tendrils. With a flick of her left hand, she made to move Sam, but it wasn’t him that she threw. A blur of green and red followed by a gold mass flew past her and landed heavily by the wall creating a small crater and Sam whistled.

“Holy shit…”

“Vision!” Wanda cried and ran over to him. “Are you okay? What did I do?”

Vision rubbed his head painfully. “I couldn’t control myself, it was like someone else was in control of me.”

Wanda checked him over. “You're hurting. Did I do this?”

Sam shrugged. “I was waiting for you to move me, and nothing happened.”

“Vision, I am so so sorry,” she sniffed and grabbed his hand.

Sam cleared his throat. “I’ll grab a brush.”

Vision looked up at her as Sam left. “I think you took control of the mind stone.”

“That’s not possible, I didn’t think I could do that.”

Vision got to his feet and led them over to the sofa. “It gave you your powers, perhaps you’re more in tune with it than you first realised.”

“But how could I control it? I was focused on Sam.”

“Perhaps, but maybe you were focusing so much, that your power or mind, latched onto both myself and Mr Wilson at the same time.”

“I can’t believe I hurt you. It’ll never happen again, I promise.”

“Try something for me. Reach out to the stone, and keep your eyes open,” he said softly, noticing tears pooling in her eyes. “I’ll be expecting it this time. You won’t hurt me.”

Wanda sat closer to him and looked up at the stone before creating the energy balls in her hands again, but this time she focused on Vision alone and spotted the mind stone turn red. She stopped projecting the powers immediately and Vision gasped.

“Did you feel that?” She asked, and he nodded.

“I felt all of you.”

“You felt me?”

“Yes.”

“It won’t happen again. It was an invasion of, well, everything. I promise I’ll never take that control from you.”

“Thank you, Wanda.”

“Out of interest. Did it feel, good?”

Vision smiled. “It was, different.”

Steve and Natasha entered the room at that moment and the Russian gasped.

“What the hell happened to the floor?”

Vision stood up. “Something that won’t be brought up again.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “That’s vague. Wanda, shall we continue our training exercise?”

“That sounds good to me. You coming, Vision?”

Natasha smiled. “Sorry, kiddo, I need him for some fact-checking for tomorrow. Is that okay?”

Vision nodded. “Whatever you need, Miss Romanoff.”

“Vision, you can call me Natasha. You don’t need to be so formal around me.”

“My apologies, it’s a force of habit. Natasha.”

“There. That wasn’t so hard was it,” she turned to Wanda and Steve. “Have fun you two.”

Vision felt a strange sensation come over him at her words but followed her out of the room, and that was the last he saw of Wanda until dinner time.

Chapter Text

Vision waited on the tarmac as the Quinjet landed, and Steve walked down the ramp over to him as Sam and Natasha entered the hangar together.

“She’s on board. I can’t get her to open up to me. Good luck.”

Vision frowned, in only a way he could, and Steve rested his hand on his shoulder before leaving him. He walked up the ramp into the jet, and his eyes immediately fell on Wanda, curled up in her chair.  

“Wanda?”

Wanda looked up at him biting her lip that trembled as she fought against the sobs wanting to escape.

“It’s my fault. I….oh, Vision.”

Vision suddenly had his arms full of the young Avenger who sobbed against him, and he carefully stepped back with her to sit down on the step adjusting his position so she was tucked against him. He sighed and moved an arm around her shoulders feeling slightly relieved when her sobs slowly turned into whimpers.

“I had it all under control and then I let go,” she said between gasps. “I can still hear the screams. I can feel them.”

Vision felt his cape snag as Wanda clutched it in her fingers and he moved his hand to her hair. Hesitantly, he stroked his fingers through it, and she seemed to sigh contentedly.

“Don’t dwell on the mission, Wanda. The group have been stopped.”

“At what cost? Innocent lives have been lost because of me!”

“Let’s go inside. Being away from the jet might make you feel better.”

“I doubt anything will make me feel better right now.”

Vision helped her to her feet and they left the jet together, he looked down at her hand still entwined with his and he rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand gently. He hadn't begun to imagine how her skin would feel, and was surprised to find it soft and he wondered what his felt like for her. But this wasn’t the time to ask. Their connection broke when Wanda opened her bedroom door and Vision waited at the entrance.

“Would you like me to get you anything?” He asked.

She shook her head. “I think I just need some time to think. Thank you."

Vision nodded. “I’ll be in the breakout room if you need me. Remember my offer from the other day?”

Wanda smiled. “I’ll think about it.”

Vision shut her door for her and she went into the en-suite deciding that a hot shower might make her feel better. The water ran brown for a second as the grime of the mission cascaded down her body and she grimaced at it. It eventually turned clear and she closed her eyes inhaling the steam which encased her. If she had directed CrossBones the other way, no one would have been killed, or at least fewer than an apartment block's worth, she thought. Why had he blown himself up there and then? Wanda turned the water off and stepped out wrapping a towel around herself then stared at the steamed-over mirror. She wiped the glass clear with a gentle cascade of red tendrils so that she could see herself, and was depressed to see a frightened child looking back at her. It was like Sokovia all over again. She wasn’t an Avenger, instead she saw a frightened lost girl whose powers were out of control. With a huff, she turned away and walked out into her room to get changed.

Natasha walked past the hobby room and smiled at Vision playing the piano inside, she leaned against the doorframe and smirked. “Waiting for someone, Vision?”

Vision, to Natasha’s surprise, jumped slightly and he cleared his throat as he turned to face her. “Not particularly. Does it look like I am?”

Natasha chuckled. “No, but that reply makes me think otherwise,” she smiled at his blank stare. “I just thought you should know that Tony has arrived.”

Vision got to his feet. “Then I best find Captain Rogers to let him know.”

“See you in the conference room. And apparently, Secretary Ross has blessed us with a visit. If that isn’t the cherry on top of a great day,” she added dryly and continued down the corridor.

Vision stopped off in his room to grab a jumper when he heard Steve’s voice coming from Wanda’s room next door. The Captain was speaking softly, and Vision felt a strange sensation spread through his chest. It felt fuzzy. Without realising why he did it, he phased through the wall into Wanda’s room and saw Steve sitting on the bed beside her, he narrowed his eyes ever so slightly and Wanda frowned at him.

“Vis, we talked about this,” she scolded softly.

“Yes, but the door was open so I assumed…” he trailed off seeing her tilt her head to the side with irritation. Or maybe it was impatience? He continued. “Captain Rogers wished to know when Mr Stark had arrived.”

Steve nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be right down.”

Vision looked back at the open door. “I’ll use the door.”

Wanda shook her head slightly and moved from the cross-legged position she was in to watch him stride across the room.

“Oh, and apparently he’s brought a guest,” Vision looked back at them.

“Do we know who it is?” Steve looked up.

“The Secretary of State,” he nodded at the two of them, his eyes lingering on Wanda before turning sharply on his heel.

Wanda felt her heartbeat quicken. “Am I in more trouble?”

Steve shook his head. “If he’s got anything to say, he can say it to all of us. You’re not to blame, okay? None of us blame you for what happened.” He sighed as he got to his feet, “I better get down there.”

"I’ll be right behind you,” Wanda smiled and got off the bed as Steve left her room.

Wanda pulled a pair of long socks on over her knees and slipped on her ankle boots leaving her hair out. When she arrived in the conference room, all of the Avengers were there and she hastily slid into a chair beside Vision’s, crossing her arms at seeing Thaddeus Ross talking to Tony.

“Is this about me?” She whispered to Vision.

“I don’t think so. Don’t worry, Wanda, we’re all on your side.”

Wanda rested her hands in her lap and felt Vision’s hand squeeze her right quickly before resting them on the table in front of him as Secretary Ross began to speak. At one point, he demanded to know what Wanda's powers were in detail and Vision spoke up.

"Miss Maxmioff manipulates molecular polarity, allowing her to alter reality. She also has advanced telekinesis. All things she has complete control over and responsibility. She would never use her powers to directly hurt anyone or on anyone. And nor would I."

"And what of your powers then?" Ross narrowed his eyes.

Vision shrugged in a tiny movement and felt Wanda's hand on his leg pressing it in a move of comfort. "I am, a little harder to explain..."

The conference had left Wanda feeling worse, and she sat quietly listening to James and Sam argue about the Sokovia Accords she and the others had just been informed about. For her, the choice was easy and that was to not sign them and take care of herself, but as the argument continued, her fellow teammates seemed to get more and more uncertain about the choice. Vision broke the tension by stating that there had to be a balance between the Avengers forming and the almost world-ending events preceding their missions. As Wanda listened, the others around her seemed to disappear leaving his words to sound only to her. But that wasn’t going to sway her opinion, no matter how delicately he argued. Tony went on then to add his opinion on why the team should sign and Wanda twisted her hands together uncomfortably.

“You’re saying they’ll come for me?" She nodded, after hearing Tony say that it was only a matter of time before someone would force them to sign the accords.

“We would protect you,” Vision replied, not missing a beat, and Wanda couldn’t help but turn her head and smile at him before looking back down at her hands.

The meeting ended eventually with Tony declaring he had won the conversation, and Steve left on an errand leaving the accord book on the table. Tony placed the signature form down after adding his name.

“Just sign it before the end of the week, in confidence. I won’t be standing by watching.”

The day went on after Steve and Sam had left for London, and Natasha was booking a flight to Vienna for herself and Tony. Wanda sat on the edge of her bed strumming the guitar absentmindedly and heard a knock at the door.

“Yes?” Vision phased through and she smiled. “Hi, Vis.”

“Are you alright, Wanda? You were very quiet after that meeting.”

“No, I’m not alright," she put the guitar down and pulled her legs up to hug against her chest. “If it wasn’t for me, we wouldn’t be having to sign these forms.”

“Are you going to?”

“I can’t. If I do, I sign away my freedom. I don’t want anyone to be in control of what I do ever again.”

“But wouldn’t you be safer if you signed them?”

“Who knows? But right now, I feel like I’m a liability and a danger to others.”

“That’s not true."

Wanda shrugged. "Who else is thinking of signing them?”

“Miss Romanoff, Colonel Rhodes and…Well, I have.”

Wanda blinked. “What? But Vision, you have as much freedom as I do. You're no one’s property.”

“I am a synthetic android made by Mr Stark and Ultron. It’s partially my fault that Sokovia fell under his control, and I need to be held accountable. Signing the Accords guarantees that no one will come after me.”

“How could you?” Wanda whispered. “I thought you’d be on my side.”

“Wanda, I don’t know what abilities I have or what I could do. For all I know, I could level a town with this stone, or I could make a mistake and hurt someone. I want to be guided.”

“By Stark?” Her eyes glowed red saying his name, a habit she still found hard to break out of.

“If that’s how it must be, yes. I think you should sign them too.”

“That’s not happening. I’m sorry, but I can’t. And if I have to face any consequences down the line, then that’s my choice,” she looked away from him as another knock sounded on the door. “Come in?”

Tony smiled at them. “Sorry to interrupt. Vision, can I talk to you, alone?”

“Of course, Mr Stark,” he stood up. “See you later, Wanda?”

“Maybe," she picked up the guitar again and turned her back on him.

Vision felt the gears inside him freeze for a second at her cold response, and he bowed his head sorrowfully before following Tony out and back to the conference room.

“How can I help, sir?”

“I’m needed in Vienna, and I need her not to leave here until I get back.”

“Wanda?”

“Yes. I can’t risk another public incident or embarrassment.”

“She didn’t mean for what happened, Mr Stark.”

“No, but it did happen, Vision. And until the Accords are on a more solid foundation, I don’t want her to get hurt out there. From this point on, she’s under house arrest. Don’t let her out.”

“Sir, if I may speak freely? Are you sure that’s the best option?”

Tony nodded. “Yes. I don’t see a problem. She’s got everything she needs here. Oh, but best not to tell her, otherwise she’ll try to escape. You and her seem to get on well, just keep her occupied.” He then grinned. “I best be off. Have fun.”

Vision rubbed his hands together behind his back as he nodded. “Have a safe journey, Mr Stark.”

Vision was conflicted. Following Stark’s orders felt like the right thing to do, but humans had the freedom of movement and keeping someone locked in a building felt wrong. Should he keep his word or let Wanda know? What he did next was out of complete instinct, and he decided to try to cook for her. Usually, she would go out with the others for a meal or order in, so somehow he had to convince her that this was normal. She emerged from the sleeping quarters and sniffed the air.

“Is that Paprikash?” She asked.

A good start, Vision thought, it smelt like what he was attempting to cook. He had quickly researched some Sokovian recipes and had found one that sounded relatively simple to make with what they had in stock.

“I thought it might lift your spirits,” he smiled, not breaking his concentration on adding the correct amount of ingredients, and she came to join him in the kitchen taking the spoon to try it. He watched her anxiously, hoping she was going to like it.

Wanda nodded. “Spirits lifted" she smiled, but Vision noticed her scrunch her nose up slightly.

“In my defence, I’ve never actually...” he paused, “eaten, anything before…”

“May I?” She asked gesturing to the ingredients in front of him and he nodded.

“Please.”

At least now she had something to occupy herself with and he had bought some time. He backed away and walked around the other side of the kitchen island that divided them. Perhaps he could at least try to apologise for what he said earlier that day.

“Wanda?”

“Uh-huh?" She murmured without looking up.

“No one dislikes you, Wanda.”

She raised an eyebrow at him and turned back to stirring. “Umm, thanks?”

“Oh, you’re welcome. No, it’s an involuntary response in their amygdala, that they can’t help but be afraid of you.”

She put down the salt and looked up at him. “And are you?”

Vision assumed she was asking if he was afraid of her, and he attempted a joke as he settled onto a stool behind the island. “My amygdala is synthetic, so…” the sound of light laughter cut him off and he couldn’t help but grin back at the grin on her face.

“You know?” She continued. “I used to think of myself one way… but after this?” She put down the spoon and turned her hand towards her letting her power dance across her fingers. “I am something else. I’m still me I think...but that’s not what everyone else sees.”

Vision nodded. Perhaps he should try to connect with her differently? He touched his fingers to the mind stone. “Do you know I don’t know what this is? Not really. I know it’s not of this world; that it powered Loki’s staff, gave you your abilities. But its true nature is a mystery and yet, it is a part of me.”

Wanda frowned. “And are you afraid of it?”

Vision locked eyes with her. “I wish to understand it. The more I know, the less it controls me,” he tried to grab her attention back after saying control, subtly telling her that she and him shared a power the others couldn’t ever understand. “Who knows? Someday, I may even control it.”

Wanda looked back down at the pan. “Umm, I don’t know what’s in this?” She said softly and Vision gulped. “But it is not, paprika,” she smiled at his panicked blink and wiped her hands on her cardigan. “I'm going to pop out to the store. I’ll be back in twenty minutes.”

Vision stood up quickly, almost forgetting to phase and walked through the table stopping in front of her. “Alternatively, we could order a pizza?”

Wanda looked up at him in surprise. “Vision, are you not letting me leave?”

Vision looked down with defeat. “It is a matter of safety."

Wanda nodded. “I can protect myself.”

Vision stopped her, holding her arm gently. “Not yours. Mr Stark would like to avoid the possibility of another public incident. Until the Accords are on a more, secure, foundation.”

Wanda turned her head to look up at him, with judgement etched on every inch of her face. “And what do you want?” She sneered.

“For people to see you, as I do,” he added, with as much reassurance as he could get into his voice and her expression softened ever so slightly.

Paprikash abandoned, and pizza ordered instead, Wanda and Vision were sat on the sofa together watching a film. Not much had been said since their discussion in the kitchen, but there was an uneasy tension between them that lingered still. Wanda closed the empty pizza box and leaned back against the cushions keeping her focus on the film playing when she felt the sofa dip as Vision sat back beside her.

“Wanda, I’m sorry about the current situation we're in.”

Wanda sighed and flicked her finger at the remote to pause the film. “You could have said no to Stark. You must know that this is wrong? To hold someone hostage in their own, well not own property because it’s not…”

“I wanted to say no, but with all that’s going on, you’re safer here and with us.”

She snorted in disagreement. “I’d be safe out there, for I wouldn’t let anyone touch me.”

“That’s missing the point.”

Wanda stood up angrily. “I'm not having this conversation again. I'm going to my room, or rather prison.”

“Wanda?”

“No, Vis. Not this time," she tucked her hands into her pockets and stormed out of the lounge.

Vision sighed as she disappeared from view and he physically melted through the floor down to his quarters. How he longed to protect her but she was right, holding her like a prisoner wasn’t the way to do it.

Wanda returned to the kitchen an hour later and chopped up a lemon to make herself a honey tea before bed when there came an explosion from beyond the perimeter of the compound, she approached the windows hesitantly looking out and Vision phased up next to her now wearing his teal suit.

“What is it?” She asked timidly.

“Stay here, please?” He whispered gently and phased through the glass.

Wanda bit her lip feeling the presence of someone in the room and spun around sending a knife flying at the intruder with her powers.

“Guess I should have knocked?” Clint Barton smirked knocking it away like it was nothing.

“Oh my god…” Wanda said in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”

Clint shrugged. “Disappointing my kids," then to her surprise he fired two arrows at the opposite walls end-to-end. “Cap needs our help, let’s go.”

Wanda took his hand hesitantly as he began to run and she heard Vision call out behind them.

“Clint!”

They turned and Wanda had never seen the expression on Vision’s face before, it was threatening and it scared her.

“You should not be here,” he said in a low voice.

Wanda looked back at Clint who chuckled. "Really? I leave for something of five minutes, and it all goes to crap."

Vision continued, undaunted by his sarcasm.  “Please consider the consequences of your actions.”

“Alright, they’re considered," Clint nodded looking between the two arrows in wait.

Wanda flinched as the arrows created a force field and Vision was electrocuted where he stood. Clint grabbed her hand again and pulled gently.

“Okay, we've got to go.”

Wanda pulled away and stepped back. “I’ve caused enough trouble already.”

Clint sighed and ran back to her. “You gotta help me out here, Wanda. You want to mope, I’ll get you into high school, if not, you get off your ass… oh shit!”

Vision had broken the arrow releasing him from the field and was now marching towards him. Clint pushed Wanda aside to safety as Vision effortlessly pushed him away to the ground. Every attempt at attacking Vision failed, but even in close combat with each other, Vision was holding back seemingly making sure not to hurt Clint, but that thought disappeared when he grabbed the retired Avenger in a headlock.

“Clint, you can’t overpower me,” he whispered angrily.

Clint grunted and Wanda knew what to do, she would never forgive herself and she wondered if Vision would, but it was the only way.

“I know I can't, but she can.”

Wanda twisted her powers between her hands as she stepped towards them. “Vision, that’s enough. Let him go. I’m leaving.”

Vision gazed at her with sadness. “I can’t let you.”

Suddenly he felt his arms weaken, and Clint fell from his grasp as something else took control. He looked up at Wanda, horrified to see that she had taken control of him through the stone, something she had promised she would never do again without his permission.

“I’m sorry,” she gasped, his weight in her control more difficult to hold to than it had been the other day.

“If you do this, they will never stop being afraid of you,” Vision choked as his body felt heavy as Wanda's powers pressed down on his chest.

Wanda felt a lump in her throat but continued to force her powers through Vision’s body, watching as his suit rippled with red tendrils.

“I can’t control their fear, only my own,” she panted tearfully, and with a last push of power, she forced her only real friend through the floor and down through the levels below, watching him slice through the concrete floors as if they were paper.

Clint whistled. “Whoa. Okay, let’s go.”

Wanda looked down at the hole and bit back a sob as she reluctantly followed Clint out of the compound, and yet she couldn’t stop thinking about Vision and if he was okay.

Chapter Text

Vision sat at the chessboard feeling what he could only presume was miserable; he didn’t even know he was capable of that. Colonel Rhodes was paralysed because of a mistake caused by his doing, but what Wanda would call human error; an accident. And now, because of Steve and Tony's fallout over the Accords and some personal trauma involving Sargeant Barnes, half the team were locked up in the Raft.

Vision shuddered at the thought of the prison. Tony had shown him the blueprints and he had hated it immediately. It was a prison hidden under the sea for what the government labelled an appropriate place for terrorists and the like, and he hated to think that Ross deemed that was the place for Wanda, or any of the Avengers who hadn’t signed the Accords, deserved to reside.

Vision didn’t know how many days passed by when he was alone, it wasn't as if his mind was letting him forget the actual days, but something deep down was blending them. He had spent his time helping Tony with personal projects and had even taught himself how to play the guitar after realising he was unlikely to get his lessons with Wanda. And one afternoon, he went against all his directives to do the right thing. He found himself at Tony's desk whilst he was out and looked down at the phone Captain Rogers had sent in the mail.

"Mr Vision, you are not allowed to do this."

"Friday, I don't answer to you, and you're not the boss of me," Vision answered coldly. "You won't tell Mr Stark about this."

"He won't be happy."

"Neither will I unless I do this," he dialled Steve's number and waited for the pickup.

"Hello? Tony?"

"Afraid not, Mr Rogers."

"Vision."

"I know Mr Stark visited your teammates, and I want to help you get them out. They do not deserve to be in there, Wanda especially," he sighed. "This goes against everything I am in support of, but I am sending you the coordinates to the Raft, you've got to get her, them, out."

Steve was quiet until he exhaled slowly. "Do it, and then delete this call. I'll take it from here."

Vision nodded. "Of course, Captain. Good luck."

A few days later, Vision heard that his opposing teammates had been broken out of the prison. He had to act fast. If Wanda returned to the compound, she wouldn’t be staying long. Vision waited impatiently, pacing the compound until a Quinjet landed, and he phased down through the floors into Wanda’s room to wait for her. She arrived minutes later in a rush, and Vision wouldn’t forget her appearance in a hurry. If it weren't for the fact he couldn’t technically feel fear the way a human could, he felt a sense of discomfort course through him. Her eyes were bloodshot, her usually neat hair was greasy and matted and her neck was bruised. She said nothing at first upon finding him in her room, but after realising she was away from the Raft, she suddenly threw her arms around him and sobbed. Vision hadn't seen her sob like this since the fall of Sokovia and losing her brother, Pietro. This was grief and fear multiplied to an amount he wasn’t sure he could fathom, and he slowly pulled her tightly against him. He drew her hand up to his chest not afraid of any power that could slip out in her breakdown, and as the cries continued he rested his chin on the top of her head thinking it was the right thing to do. At no sign of rejection, he moved his other hand to the base of her spine and squeezed gently not wanting to make her feel trapped but that's when she pushed him back.

“I’ve got to get out of here,” she whispered against him. “You can't protect me this time.”

“I’ll always protect you. It’s in my programming to protect life.”

Wanda turned around and flung her wardrobe doors open with a flick of her hand. “I’m going North. I know a place. I have to leave before they find me.”

“Wanda, you can’t leave without a plan or belongings,” he said sternly as she began piling what she could into suitcases. “You’ll be putting yourself in danger,” he bit his lip then straightened his posture. “Stay with me. I promise I’ll look after you.”

“No, Vis. Not this time. You’ve made a promise to Tony, not me,” she grabbed another bundle of clothes and piled them into a suitcase before grabbing her phone off the bed and began typing.

“Who are you communicating with?” He tilted his head.

“Clint,” she rubbed her eyes once she had sent the text, and zipped the suitcase up. “He's giving me a lift. Goodbye, Vision. Thank you for being my friend these last few years."

Vision opened his mouth, but Wanda had left the room before he could reply. “I…Wanda.”

Clint looked back over his shoulder as Wanda walked up the Quinjet’s ramp. “Ready to go?”

“The sooner the better,” she belted up and the hatch closed.  

“Where are you planning to live, kid? You’re safer here, not out there.”

“My family owned a cabin in Transia. I visited there for holidays as a child.”

Clint frowned and plotted a route as he shared a frown with Steve. “I’ve never heard of it. Will you be okay there?”

“Yes,” she replied bluntly, and the jet went to full speed.

They landed a couple of hours later and Wanda left the jet after hugging Clint and the others goodbye, he watched her enter the cabin and sighed as Steve took control of the jet and took off again. Wanda clearly didn’t want company, and she didn’t want anyone to know where she was. But this whole move felt wrong.

“Clint, are you sure about this?” Steve frowned, looking back at the cabin they had left behind.

“No, I’m not. But for now, I think we need to be split up so we can’t be tracked anywhere. We know where she'll be if things change."

Wanda placed her bags down and looked around the cabin. The decor had changed but the cabin now felt unfamiliar, for the last time she had stepped foot in here was back before her parents died. Tears came to her eyes thinking about Pietro and her parents, and she wiped them away aggressively before venturing outside again to connect the mains for power to the hut. This was it, she was alone. And this time truly. She sat down heavily on the dusty sofa and held her head in her hands unhappily. What the hell was she doing?

Suddenly a knock came at the door, and she jumped out of her skin. Had she been found already? Deciding to use her telepathic powers instead of walking over, she attempted to read the mind of who was behind it and gasped.

“Vision!”

Vision phased through the door and caught her in his arms as she ran into him. “Wanda.” He whispered into her hair.

“How did you find me?” She let go of him, and a small frown appeared on her face. “Does Tony know that you left?”

“I followed the jet, and no,” he watched her move away from him and crossed his arms. “You can’t do this alone, Wanda. How are you planning to live here?”

Wanda shook her head. “It's the only home I have left. If I’m to be alone, I won’t be disturbed here.”

“That’s not true, you have the Avengers’ Compound.”

“No, I don’t. I can’t go back there, Vis. If anyone is looking for me, they’ll look there first,” a tear rolled down her cheek, and Vision felt his synthetic heart break.

“As you wish. But at least let me assist you. Shall I run you a bath and then get some supplies?”

Wanda sniffed with a giggle. “You haven’t been shopping before. Ever.”

Vision smiled. “I have a computer for a brain, I’m sure I can figure it out.”

“Because that paprikash was a success right?” She smiled at his silence. “We can cook something together okay? I’ll write a list after this bath you’re running.”

“Of course," he smiled sincerely.

Vision dipped his hand into the water testing that it was a comfortable temperature for a human, and Wanda entered the bathroom wrapped in a towel. “I hope the water is satisfactory?” He asked, self-consciously feeling a blush rise into his cheeks but not really knowing why.

Wanda dropped down beside him and tested it. “It’s fine. Thank you, Vision.”

“I’ll be outside if you need me.”

Wanda watched him close the door behind him, then hung the towel up before getting into the water. She closed her eyes as she slipped underneath the bubbles, and re-emerged with a sigh allowing herself to relax after the horror of the previous 24 hours. They were a broken team; she was now hiding with a former opponent and everyone else on Steve's side was now on the run or possibly in hiding too. Rhodey was paralysed thanks to her distracting Vision from his task, and she doubted Tony would ever trust or look at her the same way again, but as hard as she tried to look at it from their angle, she could only remember how Vision had held her on the tarmac after the fight. He had gently helped her onto her side from where she had been crouched over holding her head from the pain Rhodes had inflicted from a sound cannon, and he knelt behind her.

“I’m sorry,” he apologised, softly.

“Me too,” she replied, gazing up at him, and that was an apology for her actions at the compound too. Although nothing showed, his eyes looked sad and she felt even worse for what happened.

“It’s like I said. Catastrophe.”

Then Vision had moved closer to her, lifting her upper body across his knee, and his hand rested on her thigh holding her protectively against him. She had wondered what would happen next; if he was going to take her away from the airport, hold her until she was strong enough to get up or maybe do something more intimate. But that’s when Rhodey had called him for assistance breaking their connection. His fingers stroked her leg as he turned to fire the Mind Stone’s beam at Sam, and then all became a blur as disaster struck. Wanda grabbed Vision’s hand sitting up watching as Rhodes plummeted to the ground in the distance, and she pushed Vision to go and get him. As soon as he left her side, she found herself in handcuffs and that was the last she would see of the compound and Vision until Steve broke her and his team out of the Raft.  

Wanda opened her eyes feeling the bathwater cooling down, and quickly conditioned her hair before rinsing it in fresh water from the shower. She got out slipping a towel under her arms to secure it around her body, and left the bathroom into the hallway. She passed her childhood bedroom and paused to look in. Two child-sized beds stood against a wall, and she sighed before continuing to her parents’ room. It was very dusty, and before getting dressed into a fresh pair of clothes, she sent the dust out of the window into the snow outside using her powers.

“Your parents have some fascinating books,” Vision remarked as she entered the lounge. “Are you feeling better?”

“A little. Thank you,” she smiled and removed the dust from the room as she had done in the bedroom. Colours returned to the fabric and walls and Wanda rubbed her hands together satisfactorily. “We will need to clean it properly if we are to stay here.”

“We can’t. Not forever. You know that, don’t you?”

Wanda sighed. “I want to feel safe, at least for a little while,” she rubbed her stomach. “I’m starving. Come to the store with me, for protection?”

Vision smiled. “Of course, but I’ll be easily recognised.”

“That’s okay, as long as the people here aren’t looking for me, we should be okay. Let’s go.”

Their shopping trip was a success, if a little hard for Wanda to not be recognised and Vision not to be stared at, and once they returned to the cabin, Wanda got to work on a meal for herself in the kitchen as she put Vision on cleaning duty.

“Are you sure you don’t need a hand, Wanda?” Vision asked, leaning awkwardly against the counter.

Wanda opened a couple of cupboards without touching them and smirked. “I’ve got everything in hand, Vis. But thank you.”

Pleased with how the small casserole looked, she put it into the oven and sat down at the table with Vision.

“I’m sorry for my behaviour at the compound, Wanda. I was only following Mr Stark’s instructions. I didn’t know how you felt about them,” he looked down bashfully. “It was never my intention to make you feel like a prisoner.”

“I know. And now I’ve been in one.”

“In what?”

“A prison.”

“What did they do to you in there?” He asked, tilting his head to the side slightly spying the bruise on her neck.

Wanda shuddered and shook her head. “I don’t want to remember it, Vision. Please don’t ask me to.”

“I’m sorry,” he looked down at his hands. “I sometimes forget that recollecting memories can be helpful or comforting, but painful too.” He looked back up at her, “I was thinking about you whilst you were gone.”

“Oh?”

“I was pondering the possibility that I could have broken you out of there myself, I can phase through any material.”

“And what stopped you?”

“My primary function.”

“I see,” Wanda replied, a little disappointed. “Do you think the team will ever get back together?”

“Captain Rogers and Mr Stark were the heart of the team, and without a heart, a body can't function. They were both betrayed by each other, and I can’t see how a reconciliation can be rectified. We’re on our own.”

“I can think of worse places to be, and company.”

“Yes, that is true. And I enjoy your company too.”

Wanda blushed. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

The oven beeped and Wanda turned away to sort out her dinner, and to hide the small grin on her face. Being on the run was hard, but maybe this wouldn't be as painful now that she wasn't alone.

Chapter Text

Three months had passed since the events at the compound and the Avengers breaking up. Steve's team had kept in contact with Wanda under aliases so as not to be tracked, and Vision was taking frequent visits to and from Upstate New York to oversee Tony’s technology projects and ongoing developments listed in the Sokovia Accords. He had also been dragged into Tony’s personal life with Pepper and relayed ‘gossip’, which always made Wanda giggle when he called her on their fortnightly evening chats.

It was now Spring, and Wanda was out walking in the apple orchard beside the cabin under the blossom singing to herself. She sang in her native tongue and stopped by a bench her father had carved from the bark of a fallen tree. With a deep exhale she sat and enjoyed the scent of the apple blossom, and was only snapped out of her daze by a quiet purr-like buzzing. Her eyes opened and lay on Vision who had landed in the orchard.

“Welcome back,” she smiled and patted the space beside her as he changed his clothing from uniform to casual.

“Did you miss me?” He asked.

“I would be lying if I said I didn't," she smiled at his pleased expression. "How is Tony?”

“The usual, as you say. But he's moved from the compound back to Stark Tower.”

“Really?”

“The compound is quite desolate spare the SHIELD Agents, and another company is thinking of merging with them. I haven't caught their name yet. Still no word from Doctor Banner or Thor, and your team are off the radar, in the physical sense and literal.”

Wanda nodded. “Vis, you’ve always looked out for me, but if you feel you need to be there more, you can?”

“I thought you wanted me here? If I am around too much, I can leave?”

“No, that’s not what I am suggesting,” she laughed. “Never mind.” And she snapped a sprig of blossom off the tree to take into the house. “I’m going to make a coffee. Can I persuade you?”

Vision smiled. “The answer is always the same, I don't drink."

Wanda sniffed the blossom with a giggle. “Come on then."

Vision walked beside her ducking under the low branches that blossom hung from. “I’ve packed up the rest of your belongings at the compound and they'll be arriving in town in a couple of days. There’s nothing left in your room now, only memories.”

“Thanks, Vis. Good memories?”

“All of the memories that I have stored include you. And I consider those good,” he replied, and Wanda blushed.

"That's really sweet, and me too. Although we did have some good group movie nights over the years there.”

They entered the cabin and Wanda put the sprig of blossom into a small flower pot using her powers of manipulation to create soil as Vision watched her in mesmerisation. As the kettle boiled, Wanda kicked off her boots and put on a cosy jumper.

"Don't put your security at risk here with me, Vision. I chose to be on the run, you didn't."

"I want to make up my acts at the compound and help you. There's no one else on the team I feel so close to; someone who comes close to being like me. I don't have anywhere else to be."

Wanda nodded. "I just don't want you to get into trouble. If Ross found out that you were with me or had helped us escape— I can't imagine what he'd do to you when he was happy to inflict so much on me."

"What did he do to you, Wanda?"

Wanda sighed and hugged her mug in her hands as she curled up on the sofa beside Vision. "I was their dog."

Vision raised an invisible eyebrow with confusion and Wanda continued.

"My teammates were all put into separate cells, but my incarceration was more unusual," she put the mug down on the table in front of them and pulled the collar of her turtleneck down allowing Vision to see what remained of the faded bruises, now a small scar. "They placed a shock collar around my neck to prevent me from using my powers. Any time I moved, it would send an electric current through me. A bit like what Rhodes used at the airport, but five times worse and more painful. I shut myself down. Told myself not to feel.”

Vision felt a strange heat flow through him, like his systems were on fire and he clenched his hands into fists. "Mr Stark should have told me."

Wanda sniffed. "Hydra did a lot to me and Pietro, but never used that sort of torture as a way to get us to respond to their experiments."

Vision moved closer to her and lifted a finger to her neck, gently running it across the scar. "I will never forgive myself for not coming to get you out myself."

Wanda grabbed his hand beside her face and held it in her hands. "I don't blame you for anything okay? You have been looking out for me as a friend ever since I met you and that's all I could ask of you. You helped Steve find us and got us out through him. This..." She gestured to her neck again, "...is in the past. We have to look at now and the future. I know I can't stay here, I have to rejoin Natasha and Steve. But for now, I want to remember this moment in a positive light."

Wanda picked up her mug again and turned the TV on whilst Vision sat silently, stunned by her speech. The news came on and displayed a story of a train crash in Budapest, the headlines were in Russian and Wanda sighed.

"Want to watch something a little more, cheery?" She asked with a shrug.

"Your pick," Vision replied and settled back on the sofa with her.

The day went by and Wanda had been gardening in the little garden behind the cabin teaching Vision to weed and how to cheat at digging by using their powers. And once the shadows grew across the lawn, they decided to call it a day. Vision phased the dirt off his hands and got changed into loungewear as Wanda cleaned up in the bathroom. She walked into the kitchen and smiled at Vision who was reading a cookbook.

"What are you making then?" She asked, flopping down onto the couch facing him.

"I hadn't planned that far ahead."

Wanda chuckled. "I could teach you how to make a mushroom stroganoff?"

"I would be honoured," he smiled back, and she joined him in the kitchen.

Wanda poured herself a glass of wine with a smirk. "Calls for this then. Okay, I'll get out the ingredients we need. Could you grab a cutting board please?"

"This?"

"That's right," she stood beside him at the counter with a couple of garlic cloves and a small onion and placed them down. "Peel these then chop them up into small pieces until they look grated. It'll release more flavour."

Vision did as instructed and smiled when Wanda nodded approvingly at the diced ingredients. “And now what?”

“Fry them up,” she directed reaching for a jar of paprika. “Now, when you use this, you want to make sure that you can taste it. If a recipe says a ‘pinch’ then it’s not correct. Paprika is usually measured using a teaspoon,” she levelled the red powder onto the spoon and added it to the bubbling liquid. “There.”

“Is that why you couldn’t taste it when I made it?”

“I still have no idea what that meal was. I think you might have just used red food colouring or something,” she giggled at his sad expression. “But hey, we all make mistakes, it’s only human.”

Vision blinked. “But I am not human.”

“You are to me,” she reached across to the spoon smiling as her arm brushed against his. “Sorry, we need to stir it before the bottom of the pan burns.”

“My apologies.”

Wanda smiled. “I used to love cooking with someone. It was usually Mamma or Pietro. It always made it more fun. And it meant a second opinion on flavour,” she added some more ingredients, then gestured to Vision to hand her the chopped mushrooms before she continued. “I cooked with Sam sometimes when we moved into the compound. Steve was hopeless,” she laughed thinking about the time he had failed a simple 'Mac’n cheese'. “His excuse was that being under the ice all that time ago made him forget how to cook. Bullshit.”

Vision smiled at her recalling old memories. “Can I see those memories?”

Wanda nodded. “Of course, Vis. My mind is always open to you. You’re the only person I keep it open for.”

“Why? Why am I that special?”

“You granted me access into your mind the first time we met, and I don’t forget such intimate moments like that. You invited me in, and ever since have always asked for permission to delve into my mind or allow me to search yours. I can’t think of a reason why I would lock my mind from you after such trust,” she then looked down into the pot bashfully. “Go ahead.”

Vision closed his eyes and felt Wanda’s powers within her reflect the memory into his head. With a smile, he observed the cooking incident and chuckled at the image of Steve Rogers sheepishly serving dinner and Sam whipping out a pizza delivery menu shortly after tasting it.

“That is very funny,” he opened his eyes and grinned broadly.

Wanda nodded as she giggled. “It felt like being with a real family, I haven’t felt that way in a long time, and I probably won’t again,” she sighed and put a lid on the pot. “We’ll just leave that now to simmer.”

Wanda walked down to the main lounge space and settled onto the sofa, lifting her feet onto the cushion beside her with a sigh. Vision sat down beside her and she smiled.

“Remember our first charity gala with the team?”

Vision nodded. “That’s one blessing of the team breaking up if you can see a positive outcome. Not doing those again.”

Wanda laughed. “We were both out of our comfort zone on that one, me in the wrong headspace and you… actually, you were the perfect gentleman.”

“I was?”

“You looked after me like you always do. Kept the press away for one thing. I don’t like being in the spotlight. I still have nightmares of the media covering Lagos. My face was plastered all over the world,” she sighed. “They still see me as a terrorist.”

“Don’t think like that, Wanda. It’s not true. You made a mistake in a tense situation where you had to act in the moment. Had there been more time, who knows? Maybe the whole situation would have been different.”

“Well of course it would have been different," she snapped, and Vision immediately felt guilty for changing the mood. "It’s my fault we’re on the run. It’s all my fault,” she got up hearing the meal bubbling on the stove.

“Wanda?”

“What can I do though? It’s in the past, and we can’t change what happened. Whatever has caused Steve and Tony to fall out was nothing to do with me. But the accords? That is,” she got out a bowl. “Pietro and I helped Ultron with his mission, and even let him carry it out in Sokovia. I just…” she served up her meal angrily and broke down at the counter.

Vision flew to her side. “That wasn’t your fault, Wanda.”

“Yes it was, we helped him take the Vibranium.”

Vision tilted his head with a smile. “If you hadn’t, I might not be here now.”

Wanda chuckled with a sniff. “That’s cheating, Vis.”

Vision shrugged as he brushed her tears away gently. “You heard what Secretary Ross said. He mentioned multiple events involving the Avengers, not just us or what happened in Lagos. These accords have been on the table for a while.”

Wanda sighed. “But I was the nail in the coffin.”

“You can’t think of yourself like that. It was never meant to lead to a fight, and it’s why I didn’t get involved.”

Wanda walked round to the table with her dinner and set a place for Vision despite him not needing to eat. “You’ve never actually told me why you didn’t fight. I saw you advance on us, then Clint hit you with an arrow and you disappeared. Why?”

Vision sat down opposite her as she began to eat. “I couldn’t risk hurting any of you. My powers are too-“

“Strong?”

“Unpredictable. If I acted on emotions, I would have lost all focus. I had to focus on the conflict alone, so I only got involved when a teammate was in trouble or where I could cause less harm.”

“That’s why you almost dropped a tower on Steve and Bucky then?”

“That was not my intention, I just wanted to stop them from reaching the hangar. You prevented me from advancing on them. But when Colonel Rhodes blasted you with that disruptor, my emotions took over,” he bowed his head. “He crossed the line, and I am so sorry I couldn’t get to you sooner.”

Wanda looked up from her bowl at him. “Were you watching me fight?”

“From start to finish. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt so I was looking out for the whole team; both. Your team were dominant and I wasn’t worried about Mr Stark or Colonel Rhodes in their suits, but I had to protect King T’Challa, and whoever was in the spider suit.”

“T’Challa could protect himself, his suit absorbs attacks and is woven with Vibranium,” Wanda smirked.

“Nevertheless, I couldn’t risk using my powers so close to you. That’s why I lost concentration when Colonel Rhodes asked me to stop Mr Wilson.”

“Sam, Vision. I know he’d want you to call him Sam.”

Vision smiled. “I’ll make a note of that. I knew that if I miscalculated by any amount someone would get hurt. The fight should have ended when Captain Rogers got away.”

Wanda nodded. “You shouldn’t have come to my aid. You were needed.”

“Forgive me for saying this but, you’re wrong. I was never going to leave you in the state you were in.”

Vision looked straight at her with so much concern in his eyes that Wanda thought, if he were human, he was about to cry.

“If I could have, I was ready to carry you away from that airport to safety. But Colonel Rhodes and Mr Stark weren’t finished. I was.”

“Vis, we all had duties to attend to.”

“But you got arrested, and…” he closed his eyes picturing the scars on Wanda’s neck. “Hurt in there. I’m so sorry.”

Wanda moved down the table to a chair beside his, placing her hands on his upon the table. “I’m not in there now thanks to you. Okay? Vision, look at me. You saved me twice on that occasion alone; first at the airport and the second from the Raft,” then she leaned in and kissed his cheek tenderly.

Vision blinked at the kiss on his cheek, and felt heat rise into his face.

“You don’t owe me anything, or any apology,” she added with a smile.

“If you’re sure, then we’ll talk no more about it.”

Wanda smiled again. “Sounds good.”

The evening fell, and Wanda and Vision decided to watch a film. However, Wanda was choosing to educate him on pop culture. The film wasn’t anything too complicated and had been one of Wanda’s favourites growing up. To someone else watching it may have been childish but Vision was loving it, or at least seemed to be.

“Do people normally just burst into songs in films?”

Wanda chuckled softly. “No, that’s rare. This is a musical, that’s why it seems normal. Although sometimes I wish life was like this.”

“How so?”

“Well, maybe not so much bursting into song but everyone looks happy,” her gaze turned to the screen where the main character was tearfully singing about a breakup. “I feel that through singing, you can convey so much more than through talking. It’s easier.”

Vision tilted his head to the side and Wanda paused the film.

“Sorry,” he whispered.

“That’s okay. I’m happy to answer your questions.”

“Aren’t you just putting the same words across in a song that you would in conversation?” He asked.

Wanda shrugged. “Possibly. But you’re more confident if you sing them. I’ve never tried it, but it looks so easy on the screen. They just pour all of their emotions out.”

Vision nodded and looked back at the screen. “I’d like to try it.”

Wanda chuckled. “What, singing or a musical?”

“Singing.”

“It is fun. Pietro and I used to love singing carols at Christmas and in school plays. It makes you feel free,” Wanda looked at her friend beside her and noticed his eyes were shut, he usually looked like this when he was accessing the network in his mind. “Vis?”

Vision’s eyes opened and he smiled. “Shall we continue the film?”

“Sure,” Wanda pressed play, still a little confused at Vision’s earlier silence.

The film finished an hour later and the two friends decided to call it a night. Wanda settled into bed and smiled as she stretched her mind out to Vision who was hovering in the lounge running his sleep cycle. Although not needing rest, the android took a routine that Wanda called a ‘Power Nap’ to maintain his systems and carry out necessary upgrades. With a sigh, she pulled the covers up under her chin and rolled onto her side before switching the light off with a flick of her powers around the switch. The room was plunged into darkness and she closed her eyes.

“Shock her every fifteen minutes, if she gains but one minute of awareness she could break out of the restraints.”

“Yes sir.”

Wanda struggled in her mind as hands clawed at her skin tightening a vice around her neck, her arms were bound against her sides and her hands were locked in rough gloves that scratched her skin at every move.

“You’re not going anywhere, witch,” a man spat and Wanda winced at the tiny droplets that hit her cheek. “This cell was designed especially for people like you.”

“I’ll test the collar.”

Pain suddenly flooded through her body from her neck down to her toes and she bit her lip trying not to cry. She had been held and tortured under Hydra and she had survived there, so she could do it here.

Wanda squirmed in bed and sweat trickled down her forehead as her hands turned red.

“Got nothing to say, red hands?”

Wanda looked down at her bound limbs then up at her capture with a snarl.

“Cat got your tongue?” He pressed a button and the pain came again, stronger than before. “You better get that under control before you hurt yourself, or someone else.”

Wanda looked back at her hands which she was surprised to see now weren’t bound. Her collar was activated on full power again and she screamed.

Vision phased into her room so quickly that he almost forgot the layout and stayed transparent until he had cleared the dresser. His attention instead lying on Wanda who was thrashing in her sheets and he knelt beside the bed.

“Wanda? Wanda, wake up," he ushered gently, not wanting to pull her out of her sleep prematurely.

Wanda’s eyes flew open and she immediately clutched her neck in terror, her gasps turned into painful sobs and Vision reached out to take her hands in his.

“Stop it, Wanda, you’re safe okay? Look at me,” Vision moved closer and cupped her chin in his hand. “Wanda?”

Wanda blinked back tears as she struggled to get her breath back. “Vis?”

Vision nodded and got up to sit on the edge of the bed, crumpling his cape behind him. “You're safe. Were you having a nightmare?”

Wanda nodded unhappily. “I haven’t had one since the raft. I thought I had got away from this.”

“You almost lost control just now.”

“Did I hurt you?”

Vision shook his head and kissed the back of her hand tenderly. “No. Never.”

“I felt like someone was choking me, it was the collar again,” Wanda sighed tearfully looking down at her hand in Vision’s. “Every time I close my eyes, I’m back in the raft.”

Vision nodded. “But you’re not there now.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to sleep soundly.”

“Maybe I can help. I’ll be right back,” he kissed her hand again and stood up from the bed.

Wanda pulled the sheets back over her legs and wiped the edges of her eyes which had crusted slightly with old tears. Vision returned holding her guitar he had brought from the compound and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Vis?”

“Yes?” He looked up.

“What are you?… You don’t play.”

Vision tuned the strings with a smirk. “I decided to teach myself after all.”

Wanda smiled leaning back against her pillows. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Waking me up. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been here.”

“Try to get back to sleep, Wanda,” he settled into a more comfortable position on the bed and began to play a tune that Wanda immediately recognised; her favourite childhood Sokovian folksong.

“I remember my mother singing this to me,” she whispered sleepily.

Vision nodded. “I’ve heard you sing it to yourself.”

“Please stay.”

“Of course.”

Wanda rested her head down on the pillow and closed her eyes with a deep breath. She rested her hand against her cheek and heard Vision begin to sing along to the lullaby in Sokovian in a voice she never would have imagined him having, and she smiled feeling her heart flutter beneath her breast.

“Told you you’d enjoy singing,” she whispered into the pillow.

“The film rubbed off on me,” he replied and he felt her mind go quiet as she drifted to sleep.