Chapter Text
“Has our new arrival landed yet?”
The ghostly astral form of Charles Xavier stood in a blank void, a place that had become a familiar meeting place between the weathered professor and the often disgruntled Wolverine.
The burly man growled at the thought.
“Don’t call him that Chuck, he’s barely a guest.”
Logan wasn’t the welcoming type on the best of days, but this occasion had put him a particularly sour mood.
When the professor had approached Logan about his plan for an Avengers member to have access to the X-Men, he was sure the professor had finally lost his marbles after spending so long in the distant, unfamiliar future. His disbelief grew when the professor recommended The Vision as the mansion’s newest tenant.
“Charles, of all the choices, why the robot?! Isn’t he that murderous Pym-bot that was built for the express purpose of killing people?”
“Vision, yes well, can’t hold that against him, hm?” the professor cocked an eyebrow. “It’s more complicated than that. In this new future I’ve found myself in, the records are much more well kept than those of the previous sentinel apocalypse—”
“And?”
“—and these records we do have tell of a potentially world-changing event that should have happened to stave off this future. The Avengers and the X-men never cooperated in the current timeline, and it's that division that leaves the world’s best hope for survival pitted against one another. We must figure out a way to bring your teams together and unite before the threat emerges and the lines are too late to be drawn.”
He said Vision was chosen out of the choices for his unique inhuman nature, something Xavier believed he would relate to the team with. Somehow, he was under the impression that the robot would have an easier time connecting with X-Men, and he was also an avengers without a separate identity to return to after missions. Logan still didn’t see the logic.
So here he was, bright, shining leader of the X-men, hailing down a being that so much resembled the enemy. He didn’t trust the hero one bit, despite the professor’s reassurance.
The quinjet touched down on the outskirts of the campus, flattening the grass around it. He eyed the red-and-green clad avenger as he spoke briefly with his team, Iron Man and Captain America seemed to be saving some sort of pep-talk before the transference. He caught Logan’s glance, nodding slightly before boarding the plane. Thor then put a hand on Vision to pat him on the back, like he was consoling an old friend. Ms. Marvel, Wasp and even Hawkeye had spoken to him affectionately, Logan couldn’t remember the last time the archer had seemed so mushy. Even T’Challa and Hulk were acting uncharacteristically buddy-buddy before they left.
It was Yellowjacket’s reaction that really caught his eye, though. The man was staunch and downright unfriendly, despite the relatively positive existing relationship the teams had. He locked eyes with Logan before the hanger door closed, like he wanted to stay and say something. Logan growled, the whole thing was off, he just count put his finger on why.
“Welcome to the X-men!” Kitty bounded forward at the door.
“Thank you.” The android was hard to read as he entered the front door, observing the school. Rogue stood off to the side, her eyes following the android as he floated into the room.
“Welcome to Xavier’s Institute, Vision,” Scott stood proudly in the foyer.
Kitty seemed excited at the thought of having another intangible member on the team, and Logan admitted the Vision’s power set could be more than a little useful on missions, but the idea of an outsider on the team made his skin crawl. Reluctantly, he went up to shake the android’s hand, and pulled him forward.
“Don’t think just ‘cause you’re some big shot Avenger you’ll be getting any special treatment, bub. We’ll see how you do in the Danger Room before you earn your mission privileges.”
Vision blinked and took back his hand, seemingly bewildered.
“Ah, don’t mind him,” Beast chuckled, watching Wolverine slink away, “he’s not one for courtesy.”
“I understand, when Wolverine reached out to us I was unsure about the whole idea, but I believe this will be a valuable experience for us both.” His voice was curt and matter-of-fact.
“Why don’t I show you the lab Forge and I have set up, it’s truly remarkable, I’m sure you’ll find our amenities up to par with the Avengers mansion.”
Wolverine joined Rogue in her quiet observance as the pair started to tour the grounds. He felt a puff of brimstone manifest behind him, and the smell of sulfur brushed his nose.
“Penny for your thoughts, mein freund?”
“I don’t know, elf,” He sighed and crossed his arms, “this don’t smell right to me. I don’t know what the professor is thinking bringing that thing in here.”
“Don’t be rude, Wolverine, he’s just a little quiet is all,” Kitty teased, leaning on the back wall. Nightcrawler didn’t reply.
“I don’t like it, what good can come outta bringing a robot in here? It’s supposed to be safe, especially now.” Rogue mirrored Logan’s unenthusiastic attitude. Very few non-mutants had ever stepped foot inside the mansion, let alone an artificial one. It felt like bringing a pint-sized sentinel into the safe house.
Wolverine had technically worked with the Vision before the few times he and the Avengers had a common enemy, and although he appeared to hold his own among heroes like Thor and Ms. Marvel, Logan had never taken the time to really think too deeply of the man. He gave him a bit of a strange feeling, he didn’t have the same presence as his team members. He was quiet and hung back most of the time, not exactly cowering but also not interacting with and civilians after any public incident. He didn’t have to, Stark handled that perfectly fine on his own.
Wolverine watched closely at how the man moved, deliberate and calculated. The rigid body language made him tense up just thinking about it. He wasn’t even sure he’d heard the man speak before today. Nightcrawler’s voice shook him out of his thoughts.
“Caution is appropriate but we must try and be inviting, when do ever get guests that don’t want to kill us?” Kurt mused.
“Well, I’m looking forward to seeing him in a fight. He’s gotta be good, right? I wonder if his phasing works the same as mine…”
“He’s not gonna be here forever, we’ll see how long he can take living with us,” Rogue huffed. She wasn’t keen on allowing another traitor on the team, the brightly colored super-bot didn’t scream “trustworthy” to her.
Logan was already storming away, giving Scott a glare as he strode past. Cyclops had agreed to the idea too fast for Wolverine’s liking. He knew Scott felt responsible for not leading the team through the past few years’ problems, being distracted by the loss of Jean. Now that she had been back for a while, he was nearly back to the boot-licking boy scout Logan had learned to tolerate over the years, like he was overcompensating for letting the professor down.
“This better be worth it, Chuck,” he grumbled, hoping the unique insight the professor far in the future would make this whole headache worthwhile.
Quiet as he was, Rogue couldn’t help but notice Vision’s aura was that of trepidation. He hardly spoke, rather opting to keep it all business while conversing. Watching him and Wolverine attempt a conversation was like watching a lion lead a horse to water. She’d never seen Logan so put-off by a stranger before, like the Vision’s mechanical demeanor made his instincts prickle.
She could relate to the awkward atmosphere though, it was the same way years ago when she joined, just an angry kid with no desire to make friendly with the other students.
Vision didn’t need to eat or to sleep, and his constant hovering made him like a gloomy, lingering presence ghosting through the corridors of the mansion. It’s like he didn’t know how to be around regular people. Living with Thor and the Hulk probably didn’t give him a good baseline for domestic normalcy.
Really he just sort of gave Rogue the creeps. His voice was cold and stilted, though often tinged with curiosity. The way he moved, like he was afraid to shift too fast or risk disturbing the air. He almost acted shy, but she dismissed that thought, she doubted the android had the capacity for such reservation.
Kurt caught himself unconsciously sinking into the shadows of rooms to observe the strange, new guest. The demonic mutant wasn’t all that perturbed by the android’s vibrant appearance, he’d be a hypocrite to judge him for that, really. He was mostly trying to gauge the best way to approach the man without causing a shut-down. For all of Kurt’s teasing and dramatics during the first few days of training, Vision never indulged him, either not finding the former circus performer pleasant, or simply not relating to the man’s confident attitude. Kurt couldn’t tell. The man’s self-isolating behavior reminded him of a certain mutant who liked to keep even his closest friends at arms reach. Maybe that was why Logan was acting so testy, they were sort of similar in that way.
Kurt did find it relatively easy to fall in line with Vision in combat. He noticed the android’s fast, systematic takedowns of foes that lended themselves well to the Nightcrawler’s acrobatic fighting style. When they did eventually go on a mission, he was interested to see how the android fought in a real conflict.
The first few days were far from smooth. Vision couldn’t read the room at the best of times, but being among a completely different group of heroes, away from the Avengers Mansion, the only place that had ever felt like home. The proposition was unexpected, but Iron Man had relayed Professor X’s request for an avengers liaison in a positive manner. He agreed it was the best course of action if the future was going to turn out as bad as he said it would. It was Captain America who was the first to recommend Vision for the role of mutant intermediary.
“Vision...you want to send Vision to be the one handling fragile interpersonal relationships?” Clint repeated incredulously. “No offense Vizh, but you’re not exactly the social type.”
“I have to agree with Hawkeye, Captain, I don’t see how this choice is very logical,” Vision questioned.
“Yeah, why not send me?” Wasp flitted excitedly, “I’ve always wanted to meet the X-Men, that Cyclops fella is pretty cute.”
“Janet, I think this is a bit more important than that,” Carol scolded lightly, “But I have to agree. We have a couple people experienced in foreign group mediation, why send Vision?”
Iron Man stepped toward Vision to explain, ”We thought you’d be a good fit with the X-Men because you sort of share some common experiences. Not that I wouldn’t be thrilled to work with Wolverine again,” he joked nervously, “but I do think you’re more familiar with the problems of being inhuman in the modern day better than any of us.”
Vision was unsure about the whole situation, though he did look forward to the opportunity to study mutants, he hadn’t met many thus far. And if what Iron Man said was true, it shouldn’t be too hard to integrate.
As Vision settled into his temporary home, he was caught off guard by the lax nature of his fellow tenants. They all worked so closely together, both in the Danger Room as well as casually. They were so comfortable in each other’s company, he couldn’t help but think he froze up the dynamic just by entering. The Avengers may have been family to him, but he was used to being among teammates, not roommates.
“Heads up Vision, bogey incoming!” Forge yelled. Vision broke from his thoughts just in time to concentrate on phasing as the missile sails harmlessly through his chest.
“Eyes up robot, get your mind outta yer circuits!” Wolverine shouted from across the room alongside Cyclops and Storm as they observed the team. Grueling training hours were a common occurrence when acclimating a new member, but the sessions weren’t going straight despite Vision being a formidable fighter already.
The objective was simple, get everyone to the center of the pillar within a certain amount of time while trying not to die. Kitty vaulted over an emerging turret, slipping a hand through the machine, frying its circuits on the way over. Two more rose up as she landed, raising up higher than she could reach.
“Kurt! Little help?!” She dodged a robotic tentacle as it flew out to grab her, kicking another as it whisked past her head. They were too fast to avoid, and she had to resort to intangibility to avoid being grappled. The lithe form of the blue-furred X-Man ported into view on the closest turret, then again closer to where Kitty stood surrounded.
“Is this a request for rescue?” Kurt teased as he easily slipped through the tentacles that rushed into the cloud of smoke where he just was.
Before she could muster an annoyed response, the voice of Cyclops rung out.
“Stop messing around and focus, people. And would someone please get Forge.” He sighed.
As if on cue, a strangled cry from Forge was heard from the back of the room. “Ah! Oh god, c’mon c’mon! Work for me baby!” He shook his blaster as it shot into place with a shink! Sparks flew and the subsequent blast sliced through the incoming metal slab threatening to crush the inventor. He let out a cry and the debris smashed loudly on either side of him. He let out a relieved exhale before he was interrupted by the ground beside him raising up as the Danger Room produced another foe.
“Forge, you know the goal is to get to the other side of the room, right?” Rogue was facing a myriad of encompassing walls. She stopped in her tracks to backtrack as another slid up from the ground in front of her.
“Working on it!” The man called from under the newly released battle mech, he couldn’t get his gun in place to properly shoot.
Kurt grabbed onto Kitty as she become tangible, porting them to the ridge right before the designated mission end. “Hurry up guys, we’re almost out of time!” she called.
Vision didn’t say a word before rushing past the gaining Rogue, cape billowing over the shifting walls. He bobbed through the attacking tentacles, shifting his density to easily pass through the threats. Electricity suddenly spiked at the ends of the appendages, one catching the android on the shoulder. He grunted as he was suddenly forced back to tangibility, barely managing to avoid another limb as it went for his arm. The solar gem lit up on his forehead and a white-hot beam shot out from his forehead, slicing the incoming tentacles and creating a clear path. He quickly closed the distance, landing steadily on the ground beside the struggling Forge.
“Glad you could…make it!” Forge struggled under the weight of the mech.
Vision pushed the robot up enough for the man to scurry out from under it, before dropping it in place.
Forge stood up quickly and groaned. “Aw man, I don’t want to be last again. I’m still shaking off the humiliation from the last few sessions!”
“Hey, you’re the one who said you weren’t just the ‘tech guy.’” Beast chuckled as he maneuvered the controls.
The pair made their way across the defeated obstacles, Vision grabbing Forge’s arms to carry him over a particularly large incoming sentry.
He pulled back to face the hulking machine, forehead beginning to glow.
“Hold on, I got this one!” Forge cried as he pulled his weapon arm free, pointing it at the sentinels head. “You gotta aim for the head or—”
He barely had a chance to explain before both heroes sent a beam of energy towards the enemy. Unfortunately, the Vision’s solar beam was focused on the center of the robot’s chest, crossing through the laser from Forge’s cybernetics angled at its head. The reaction was immediate, the beams destabilized and burst in a violent explosion of blue and red, careening both men backwards, knocking them out of the sky.
Vision was thrown hard against a wall. He let out a gruff exhale as he fell to the ground.
Forge was falling quickly toward the ground. Nightcrawler was there in a flash, leaping before porting right beside the falling, dazed man and catching him just before he hit the ground. Both of them hit the ground and skidded roughly on the ground. Forge stayed planted, face down on the ground. Nightcrawler pushed himself up with a groan in time to see the defeated team. Time was up.
Wolverine put his face in his hands as the program shut down and the threats seeped back into the walls and floor of the facility. There were groans from the top of the goal. Forge was up and moving by the time the room was clear, exclaiming quietly in pain.
“Huh, interesting feedback, I need to write that down,” he coughed out, still rubbing his head.
Kurt ported over to the downed android, offering a hand to help him up. “Maybe next time Herr Vision, zee sentinels always give ze most trouble.”
“I should not have acted without a plan, I am unfamiliar with your usual adversaries.”
“In my experience, zey are annoyingly unpredictable,” this fangs flashed as he chuckled, it seemed every day the mutant-hunting metal golems become more advanced and dangerous.
“Thank you, I apologize for the poor performance, I am…still getting used to regular training sessions.”
“Ah, don’t be too hard on yourself, ja? Wolverine will give you enough grief as is.” He gestured towards the man angrily storming over.
"You could’a got him killed, robot, you know that? Next time, trust your team and don’t fire that thing like a barely sentient turret.”
"Hey, take is easy Wolverine, we’re all still getting used to the change, none of us started out perfect,” Cyclops defended.
“He should know better,” he got up into Vision’s face as he spoke, “What kind of pony show were they runnin’ over there with the Avengers, huh? You leave your teammates out to dry there too?”
“No, I—I made a miscalculation, my apologies.”
“Always with the ‘my apologies’ shtick, you ain’t gonna be on this team much longer if you can’t pull your head out of the clouds. Listen to yer team or pack it up, we don’t babysit here anymore.”
Vision sighed as he watched the man storm away. Kurt patted him on the back sympathetically before disappearing in a puff of blue and red. This mission was going to be harder than he thought.