"Lie down on the table. We'll have you fixed up in no time," Shuri instructed in her cheery voice.
Stiffly, and with some assistance from Wanda, Vision deposited himself onto the examination table. Wanda sat on the stool next to him.
"This won't hurt," the young scientist said as she began inspecting the synthezoid for damage.
During the attack in Stockholm, Vision had felt a myriad of emotions-fear, pain, regret-but now he felt a new one: exhaustion. His mind and body were not working at peak efficiency. It was strange and aggravating. He lacked his usually high level of awareness. His limbs moved sluggishly. Even his voice was not as smooth and flowing.
"I am sorry to be such a bother," Vision apologized. He would have hung his head if he weren't already lying down. "If I were in Mr. Stark's laboratory I could run my own diagnostics. As it were…"
"It's okay, Vizh," Wanda assured, squeezing his hand gently. "You're in good hands here."
She smoothed her free hand over the wrinkles around his eyes carefully avoiding the burned tissue surround the glowing Infinity Stone. Vision relaxed under her touch.
"Steve said you were able to heal Sergeant Barnes and that you could help Vision, too." Wanda's eyes were wide with innocence and hope.
Shuri's brown eyes sparkled with pride. "Oh, that was easy," she said nonchalantly. "We just had to rearrange a few things, heal a few old scars. No big deal."
The would-be doctor waved a small metallic instrument over her patient injured forehead. Vision held his eye shut, resting while she worked.
There was an electric buzzing sensation as his tissue knit itself back together, the healing was more than twice as fast as it would have been if it had occurred on its own. The fogginess he had been experiencing subsided as well.
"Magic," Wanda whispered in awe.
"Nope, just good old-fashioned Wakandan technology," Shuri said with a shrug. She brought her pert face down level with Vision's. "They were after this?" She asked examining the jewel.
"Yes," Wanda breathed. "And they would have killed him for it," she said through her teeth.
"What do you say we try to get this thing out without killing you, Mr. Vision?" Shuri asked.
"That would be a preferable alternative," Vision agreed.
"Okay, then. Try not to move." Shuri held her hand over Vision's head.
"Wait!" Wanda shouted. "You going to do it now."
"If I can do it without damaging him or the Stone, yes." Shuri waved her left hand. A beam of light emanated from one of the beads on her bracelet. It projected a perfect three-dimensional image of Vision's head into the palm of her hand. She tapped the jewel in its forehead and a series of branching lines appeared. They ran through the entire projected head starting at the Infinity Stone.
"It's amazing," Shuri exclaimed. "The way the Stone has integrated with the Vibranium and the rest of the body. It seems to be acting like the brainstem, regulating autonomic functions, basic systems. If these connections were damaged, the entire body would likely shut down."
"Can you remove it safely?" Wanda asked, her voice pitching.
"Not yet," Shuri said with a hint of annoyance. "It's too deeply integrated. I might be able to get it out but he would still need something to replace it."
"What does that mean?" Vision asked, opening his eyes.
"I'll need to make a substitute," Shuri sighed. "I'll need more time. Give me a day or two. I'll figure something out."
"Does he need to stay here?" Wanda asked.
Shuri looked from Wanda to Vision to their clasped hands. "No," she said with a slight smile. "I think I have everything I need for now."
"Thank you," Wanda said with a relieved sigh. "I think we could use a rest, then."
"Of course. You must be exhausted." Shuri motioned to the soldier who, up until that moment had been standing as a still sentinel by the door. "D'Neti will show you to your room."
Less than twenty-four hours earlier she had awoken to the comforting smell of freshly steeped Earl Grey tea.
Vision had placed the steaming teacup on her nightstand anticipating that she would soon wake. She tried to take a sip but it was still much too hot. Instead she reveled in the familiar scent. She had set the cup down and moved to join her companion where he stood looking out the window.
After nearly three years, one might expect she would be used to his "human" form. He had chosen an inconspicuous appearance for Sweden. His blonde hair, blue eyes, and nordic features were the perfect disguise. With a little help from Wanda's powers, he had even been able to hide the glowing Infinity Stone in his head. He had even perfectly mastered Swedish. The only thing that marked him as other was his British accent but as Swedes were generally accepting of tourists, neither Vision's nor Wanda's accents had caused them much trouble.
Wanda had wrapped her arms around Vision's waist and leaned her cheek against his back. Even in disguise he still felt like himself.
"I'm glad you're awake," he said turning to face her. "I was going to have to wake you soon."
He bent to kiss her neck winding strands of her hair through his long fingers.
"Did you miss me?" Her breathing quickened as his lips brushed a ticklish spot behind her ear.
"I always miss you when you're not in my arms," he said, into her hair.
She shivered as he continued pressing kisses into her neck.
"Let me see your face," Wanda breathed.
Vision pulled back, closed his eyes, and arched his back, standing up to his full height. The disguise faded away and his true otherworldly complexion appeared.
"There's my beautiful boy," Wanda smiled as she pulled his face to hers.
She parted his lips with her tongue when they met hers. She sighed and pressed her body against his.
Vision let out a low guttural sound and scooped Wanda up and carried her back to the bed.
She laughed as she landed roughly on her back, her hair splaying around her. She hooked her leg around his middle and pulled him down on top of her, reveling in his familiar weight as he pressed down on her.
"I love you, Vision," she said earnestly.
"And I you," he replied before covering her mouth with his.
Once in their room overlooking the glittering capital city of Wakanda, Wanda was finally able to release some of the tension she had been holding Now that they were relatively safe and Vision's injuries had been tended to, she allowed herself to feel the weight of the past day.
She still could hardly believe what had happened and how they had escaped. She had been sure Vision was dead when she saw the demons trying to cut the stone from his head with a glowing spear. If Natasha and Steve hadn't shown up when they did, he he might have been. Natasha's flash grenades and Wanda's energy blasts had been just enough to distract the attackers so the quartet could escape to the quinjet.
Wanda insisted that Vision should lie down and rest.
"I am quite alright," he assured her but did as she requested.
"I was so afraid," Wanda said tearfully. She cuddled into his side, pressing her face into his chest. "I was so afraid I'd lost you."
Wanda's body shook with silent tears. She held Vision with such force that her nails dug into what passed for his flesh. It would have been painful for a human, but luckily he was made of something more durable.
"I'm sorry," Vision replied. He held her shaking shoulders. "I am alright."
He wished he could reassure her further, promise they would never be parted, but unfortunately he did not have that confidence. Instead he held her close until her trembling subsided and her breathing slowed. Even as she slept he held her, hoping this night would not be their last.