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Wanda was supposed to be dead, she knew that much. She was supposed to be dead beneath the rubble that had once been Mt. Wundagore.
But she wasn’t. Her magic had inadvertently zapped her away, spared her from being crushed by the crumbling mountain.
She wasn’t dead. But that didn’t change the fact that she was supposed to be dead, that everyone would assume she was, and would probably be better off for it.
So Wanda stayed away from everyone and everything she had known. Built a home somewhere quiet and out of the way, near a town where she could go to collect supplies. Planted some fruit trees and vegetables in the hope that she would eventually become self-sufficient enough not to have to bother anyone.
She made something of a life for herself, even though she didn’t really deserve it. Everything seemed to be going well, for a while.. until, heading into town early one morning to catch the local Farmer’s Market, she ran right into Vision. Disguised of course, but definitely him.
Wanda was startled, but wouldn’t exactly say she was surprised.. her past was always going to catch up with her eventually.
“Don’t do it here” She murmured. “These people don’t deserve to be traumatised..”
“I don’t mean you any harm” Vision replied, sounding sincere, and Wanda looked at him, surprised. “I.. allow me to walk with you, for a bit.”
“I.. um.. Alright, I suppose..”
–
So, Vision followed Wanda to the Market, falling into step with her with surprising ease, remaining a quiet presence at her side as she browsed the stalls.
“Is there any point in me buying anything?” Wanda asked him. “I don’t want to if I won’t get a chance to use it. I was raised not to waste food.”
“I already told you, I don’t intend to hurt you..”
“Maybe” Wanda shrugged. “Or maybe you’re lulling me into a false sense of security so I don’t panic and run. The first time Pietro and I ran away from a Foster Home, the Policeman who found us promised we weren’t going back.. but we did..”
“I know.”
“Oh?”
“You’ve told me the story before.”
“Oh..” She paused. “You remember that now?”
“Not everything” said Vision. “Not yet. But I remember that story.. Not that it is relevant now, of course. I mean it when I say that I am not here to hurt you. So, please get what supplies you need, by all means.”
Still uncertain, Wanda nonetheless continued to browse, making a few selections and purchases before leaving the Market, making her way back out of town, Vision still quietly following.
“If you aren’t here to finish the job, what are you here for?”
Vision clearly bristled at the first half of her sentence.
“I have been asked to deliver a message.”
“The kind of message that ends in my death?”
“For God’s sake, no!” Vision snapped. Wanda couldn’t help flinching in response, and his face fell, rather horrified with himself. “N-No.. I didn’t mean to frighten you, I’m sorry.. I just get frustrated more easily now..”
Looking at him, then, Wanda’s own expression softened.
“It’s okay,” she murmured. “So.. what’s the message?”
“It is a message from your children” Vision replied.
–
As they took the long walk back towards Wanda’s hidden home, Vision explained everything. How he had met Tommy in his wanderings, mostly by accident. Billy soon after, when he had come looking for his brother. That there had been an incident with a somehow surviving Ultron.
All throughout the story, Wanda struggled with a persistent and stubborn lump in her throat. She had sensed Billy, after a spell concealing him broke. Began sensing Tommy, not long after. But they deserved so much more than her and the trail of disaster she had left behind.
“Obviously, the boys weren’t sure where you were, or if you were even alive at all..” Vision continued.
“The boys weren’t sure?” Wanda got out, her voice cracking a little. “What about you, then?”
“I always knew you were alive..” Vision paused, as if hesitating a moment, then dropped his disguise and tapped the spot where the Mind Stone had once dwelled. It briefly glowed scarlet. “I knew, I think, because a little piece of you lives in me now.”
“I never thought of it like that..”
“Anyway, it didn’t feel like the right time to tell them.. They need some room to breathe. They.. well, Billy mostly, asked that if I did happen to find you, I’d let you know that they were alright.. Safe..”
“They’re safe..” Wanda would definitely have been lying if she claimed knowing that wasn’t a relief. “You promise?”
“I would not say so if it weren’t true” Vision stopped as they reached the edge of a property, with a small house and edible gardens in various stages of growth. “This is your home?”
“It will be, hopefully.”
“I suppose I should leave you to your business..”
“Oh..” Wanda hadn’t realised how much she was actually enjoying having company for once. “I suppose so. Bye, then..”
Wanda headed to her door, her feet oddly heavy. Vision lingered, unsure, then called after her.
“Wanda..”
“Yes?” She looked back at him.
“I.. I am sorry” said Vision. “For Westview. For what I almost did to you. That.. that wasn’t me. Not really.”
“I think part of me always knew that” Wanda shrugged. “Apology accepted. I probably deserved it.”
“No” Vision shook his head, eyes wide. “No, you do not. You were grieving, alone, in pain.. and you found a way to make it stop, for a while. It wasn’t ideal that other people were caught up in it all, but I I know you didn’t mean any harm.”
“I also killed a bunch of Wizards..” Wanda murmured.
“That was different.”
“How so?”
“From my understanding, You were not really you, just as I was not me when I hurt you. I would never hurt you if I had a choice.”
Wanda looked at him. Saw pain in his eyes.
“I know. I think I always did.”
“That’s good” Vision smiled, just a little, but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. In fact, he still seemed rather upset. “Just.. know that you didn’t deserve what happened, at all. If I think about that time, Westview and everything after, I do get angry..”
“Understandable” Wanda sighed. “It was a pretty big mistake..”
“Not with you” His words were not quite a snap, mindful of not frightening her again, but he had raised his voice just slightly. “Never with you. I am angry with everyone else. If someone had just checked in with you, seen how you were struggling.. Everything could have been different.. It should have been different. Someone should have..”
Vision’s speech was cut off from becoming a rant when Wanda suddenly flew at him, her arms wrapping around him, face buried against his chest.
“If things were different” She murmured, “You wouldn’t be here.”
“I am not supposed to be here..” Vision was both surprised, and yet somehow not at all, to realise that he was already holding her. He had done so instinctively, reflexively.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“You are?”
“I am now..” Wanda replied, sighing. Not quite content, but happier than she had been earlier. “Can you do something for me?”
“Anything” He told her, and he meant it.
“Take a message back for me. Tell Tommy and Billy, I have a lot of regrets, but never for a second regretted them. Tell them I love them, and that I..”
“Yes?”
“I do want to see them” Her voice cracked. “But.. I want to be a better version of myself first. So they can be as proud of me as I’m sure I will be of them.”
“I will deliver your message, Wanda. Although, there is something I would like in return, if I may be so bold..”
“Okay” Wanda asked, a little confused. “What?”
“That I may check in on you” Vision’s hand had moved to gently stroke Wanda’s hair. “Every so often..”
“You can do that..” Wanda smiled softly, holding onto him a little tighter. “And.. you don’t have to rush off right away. You could stay, for a bit, if you want..”
“As long as you like..”
For the first time in a long while, a new morning felt hopeful.