I saw Captain America; Civil War yesterday, and I still can't. The entire movie had me so conflicted, I was a mess of broken feels and tears by the end of it. But the entire time, I was eyeballing Vision and Scarlet Witch, and I was feeling the shipping feels. So I decided to write this.
Vision studied the recipe in front of him. Considering he was an artificial intelligence and had access to every nook and cranny of the Internet, he had thought it would have been easy to make a simple Sokovian dish.
He'd been wrong.
"A pinch of paprika… a pinch..." He picked up a bit of ochre-colored powder with his crimson fingers and added it to the pot.
Wanda came into the kitchen, looking tired.
"Is that paprikash?" she asked, her gaze falling on the pot.
He looked up at her and took a step back as she walked over. "I thought it might lift your spirits," he said.
She picked up the stirring spoon and tasted the mixture, a strange look passing over her features for a moment. "Spirits...lifted."
He figured something had gone wrong. "In my defense, I've never actually...eaten anything."
A sudden few words occured to him, as he saw her stir the pot idly. "Wanda?"
"Hmm?" She glanced up at him.
"No one dislikes you."
She laughed. "Thanks."
'You're welcome. No, it's ah...an involuntary response in their amygdala that can't help but be afraid of you."
"Are you?' she asked.
"My amygdala is synthetic, so..." he trailed off.
She laughed again. "I used to think of myself as one way. But after this…" Her fingers glowed with red light. "I am something else," she continued. " And still me, I think. But that's not what everyone else sees." Her expression turned sad.
"Do you know, I don't know this is-" he gestured at the Mind gem set in the middle of his forehead. "...not really. I know it's not of this world. But it powered Loki's staff, gave you your abilities. But its true nature is a mystery. And yet...it is a part of me."
"Are you afraid of it?" Wanda questioned.
"I wish to understand it," he said simply. "The more I do, the less it controls me. One day, whoo knows, I may be able to control it."
She smiled slightly and looked at the pot. "I don't know what's in this, but it's not paprika." She started to head for the door. "I'm going to go to the store. I'll be back in twenty minutes."
He instantly moved to stop her. "Alternatively, we could order a pizza?" he suggested.
"Vision, are you not letting me leave?" she asked teasingly.
Vision shifted uncomfortably. "It is a question of safety."
Wanda rolled her eyes and made to move past him. "I can take care of myself."
Vison put out an arm to stop her. "Not yours."
As realization dawned on her features, all the laughter went out of her eyes, and her shoulders slumped. Vision felt a flicker of...guilt? Yes...guilt. An emotion he certainly didn't like.
Certainly not as much as the feeling he got around her.
He tried to explain. "Mr. Stark would like to avoid the possibility of another public incident. Until the Accords are a more secured foundation."
"And… what do you want?" she asked tentatively, looking at him.
"For people to see you...as I do," he replied softly.
He held her gaze for a moment, her brown eyes meeting his synthetic blue ones.
She moved away from him, all traces of happiness gone. "I'm… going to go to my room," she said quietly.
She started to head for her bedroom.
"I am sorry, Wanda."
She glanced back at him. "I know."
And with that, she left the room, leaving Vision alone to deal with dishes and the newfound sensation of guilt.
Review, please!