thank you so much for the kind reviews, I barely know what i'm doing so to have any kind of response specially such encouraging ones is awesome. hope you like this chapter, i revised a bit from it's original upload. Grammar- really writing isn't my strong suit! thanks again!

Ch 2: Filling in the Blanks

Living with and falling in love with Tony Stark is never dull. The excitement is part of why she fell for him, however; Pepper of all people also knew it had the tendency of driving people bonkers. She thought herself to be a veteran, however; in handling and living through her ex-boss, now-boyfriend's crazy shenanigans… but as she watched a red synthetic robot man wearing Tony's "careful, I'm hot" Apron, pour her tea and offer her fresh made "biscuits" she realized she would never be prepared for this man's insanity."

"another biscuit, Ms. Potts?" Vision asked eager to keep the CEO's stress to a minimum after hearing the whole ordeal.

"actually those are called cookies, but that's alright you're still learning."

Pepper didn't miss the eyebrow raise that the synthedroid gave the tech-genius.

"cream?" He asked in his velvet accent. She merely nodded.

"I- I can't even begin to process this, murderbots, enhanced twins, end of world- Tony I left for two week!" she demanded.

"alright okay, well just… take your time." He replied biting into one of vision's cookies. "Oh!- and definitely have one of these." He recommended. "what is that nutmeg, caramel, I can't –

"it's cinnamon and cardamom, Mr. Stark."

"How do you do this every time?" she asked in disbelief. "A guy flies down from the sky shooting lighting and you have lunch with him like your old buddies." She continued " then when you meet a super soldier and assassins you make a superhero clubhouse in your office building."

"your point being?"

"how does nothing phase you?" she retorted. "you're eating a cookie made by J.A.R.V.I.S. who is now a robotman!"

"listen I got a little over excited when I had Loki's scepter and made some choices … maybe choices I should have talked to certain people about- not to ask them if could do it because I still believe I did what was right, but just to let them know."

"Ever think maybe one of those people should have been me?"

"I know how you get about this Avengers stuff-

"can you blame me?" she demanded gesturing towards Vision. "Tony this wasn't getting another jet or making another suit… you were making a person-

"an AI." He corrected. Vision paused from his tea drinking, the statement for some reason made him uneasy, he even felt a small pressure in chest. He noted this for future analysis. "A program, something to help us… to prevent-

"something like what happened in Sokovia? have you seen the news, picked up a paper? They want you and the rest of the Avengers on a silver platter. Tony an entire country hates you… you don't think maybe now's not the time to be saying how right you are."

"you sound like the old man." He replied regarding Steve and standing up. "listen you must be exhausted from hearing how much I screwed up, and how I'm- 'out of control'." He replied making air quote gestures.

"Tony do you get what happened? What lying to the avengers, to me-

"I never lied to you."

"Omission of the truth is lying, Mr. Stark."

"thank you."

"unbelievable, I thought you were on my side."

"Tony." She called out gently taking his hands and looking him in the eye. " I don't think you're out of control, I don't think that your intentions or your actions were wrong, I think the fact you kept them from the people closest to you was."

"I told Bruce."

"Yeah well, Bruce isn't here is he?"

"… point taken."

"I love you." She reassured. "but you're going to have to start making some changes in the way you work, you wanted to be part of a team, part of a relationship well it's not all just high-ho avengering and holding hands… it's being honest, and trusting people."

"yeah… I know." He kissed her hands. "I know."

"Mr. Stark, A call from the foremen working on the new facility just came in, they are having trouble with some of the electrical wiring according to your schematics." F.R.I.D.A.Y. interrupted.

"We have a girl one, now?" Pepper asked.

"Listen I'll let you get acquainted with F.R.I.D.A.Y. and –

"Vision."

"right." He continued. "I gotta go get that."

"Dinner at home, I'm assuming?" she asked.

"well I mean an entire country hates me so, yeah we're probably gonna lay low for a bit." He replied. She sighed and nodded. He jogged up the stairs but paused halfway up and looked back at them. "… I don't regret it." He confessed. "Trying to find a way to protect people- I don't regret it."

"Tony…"

"Hey, I don't regret you, not even for a minute, pal." Tony called out pointing to the synthedroid before continuing up to his office. Vision seemed stunned by the declaration; he composed himself however and started cleaning up.

"you don't have to do that, J.A.R.V.I.S. will-." She caught herself but was relieved to see him smile at the slip up. "I mean F.R.I.D.A.Y. will get that."

"I don't mind at all, these new acts and sensations… it's all fascinating." He replied. "Only humans could think of something so strange like adding medicinal spices into a batter and then making them into a dessert."

"well we're one of kind, I'll give you that." She agreed smiling. "If you need anything… I mean you seem to have everything under control for a guy born a week ago, but just in case, don't hesitate to ask."

"yes, of course Ms. Potts." He replied, happy to have fallen into her good graces so soon.

"I'll see you at lunch, I suppose… for now I'm going to my room, taking a shower, then staring at the wall and reevaluating everything." She announced

"ah well best of luck with that."

"thanks, I think I'll need it."


Vision was adjusting as best he could to these new surroundings. Mr. Stark had provided him with a guest room and access to all their new home's rooms besides the master bedroom. Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts did what they could to adjust to his arrival. Jokes of the first days with the baby home were used quite often. Mr. Stark's sense of humor even went so far as to move the man to make a digital baby book for the synthedroid, which Ms. Potts had tried to sway him from, but the billionaire would not budge on the matter. It really meant little to Vision, what did matter, however; was Mr. Stark's behavior around him. For someone who'd been adamant about creating him, he seemed to avoid Vision as much as possible, even Ms. Potts was more open to the idea of catering to his curiosities and accompanying him during his "tea time" than Mr. Stark was. He'd sharing meals with him, perhaps indulging a question or two but he'd always scurry off sooner or later. Vision had ultimately decided to leave well enough alone, perhaps he needed time to adjust, despite Ms. Potts claims of Mr. Stark's unnatural aloofness to the inexplicable, such was not the case. A man riddled with insecurities and anxieties so troubling that they'd push the world to near destruction was anything but aloof. Then came the gnawing question of how he should feel about the fact that the carelessness that brought upon the world's near demise was the same thing that brought his creation. Was it life's balance, the invisible tipping scale of probability, perhaps the scale of justice… stability?

"for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." He remembered reading. Was this the case? What had brought perdition had also brought salvation. These questions pestered him.

It was very unusual for him to stay in the mansion as it felt constricting. The air of tension between him and his hosts was not unnoticeable despite their hospitality. Flight was one the experiences that he enjoyed despite the fact that few humans had ever experienced it. He'd go to remote locations, scanning for places without humans as he understood that they'd have a justifiably aversion to seeing someone like him. He disguised himself for the most part wearing baggy human clothes, jackets with hoods, and that sort of thing. Every trip taught him and excited him more. Mr. Stark in his own way kept reminding him to be discreet with quips like "careful on your field trip, you got a sweater? Remember stranger danger, buddy!" Ms. Potts, of course, was more tactful with her advice, reminding him of the consequences of being seen, the heat the avengers were coming under, and the need for discretion. He tried to take their requests into consideration and spend more time in the house. The Library/Study had quickly become his favorite room. Despite the synthedroid's ability to absorb the information about the books at will, reading marveled him. He'd researched the subject and found humans would imagine or picture the events in their mind like a little movie projecting in their head. He found it hard to do the same but wanted to see if it was at all possible.

He felt more at ease of course with technology but a part of him wanted to distance himself. Yes, he could be one with the streams of information effortlessly, but he truly wanted experience life not just simulate it.

" an AI."

He placed down his copy of Melville's The Whale as the memory of Mr. Stark's words rung in his head.

"Hey, I don't regret you, not even for a minute, pal."

Artificial… at what point is something alive, at what point is it not? He had tried to hide his disillusionment with Mr. Stark's declaration of him as just an " AI" but at the same time was content to know that he didn't regret his creation, of course Mr. Stark's statement might have also been influenced by his lack of humility, admitting that he had made a mistake, that his creation was a mistake… could Anthony Stark really ever admit that after all the chaos and destruction he'd brought by meddling with such things in the first place?

Other questions arose from this inquiry did Dr. Banner regret his creation… what of Thor, he seemed pacified by the synthedroid's ability to hold Mjolnir but was that enough? Then there was Ultron who had different intentions for his body but even then was probably the closest thing he had to a true relative.

"And I killed him, what makes my existence more justified… more valid?" he questioned to himself. "Life is precious… wasn't his?"

The synthedroid logged into the house's computer mainframe trying to search for answers he knew he wouldn't find… how foolish...

"Perhaps, naïve? That'd be the word, I suppose." He thought out loud to himself. His mind drifted back to Ultron and his three creators.

Holographic screens surrounded him consuming the room; everything from legislation to poetry about the definition of life, people, and humanity buzzed around him. He had no need for the visual displays but felt like recreating what he had always seen Mr. Stark do. He paused as the thought passed his mind, is that what he was doing miming the acts of humans? Pretending to be like them?

"where is the breaking point, where is the line?" he asked himself out loud. "Where does life start, when is something alive?"

"Probably when people start to have existential breakdowns, I mean I'm not an expert but I feel pretty alive-

"Mr. Stark." He acknowledged. "I didn't hear you enter."

"didn't think I could sneak up on you, I mean for a guy who can fly you seem pretty grounded." Tony replied.

"Is there something you needed?"

"No just wanted to let you know it's gonna be chowtime soon, having sushi, thought you might like it."

"that's very considerate, might I request a veggie roll."

"still on this rebellious "no meat" kick, huh?" Tony replied as the synthedroid had specified his preference to a vegan diet. "well at least it's not smoking behind the locker room."

"I don't need protein to survive, Mr. Stark, no creature should suffer just to indulge the curiosity of my palette."

"suit yourself." The tech-genius countered. He stood there in silence scanning the room to see what the synthedroid was researching. "tough question." He stated.

"yes, but one I must find the answer to."

"Well, I mean you're here, you're living, quote-unquote… so does it really matter?"

Vision chuckled at the ragtag answer he received, if Tony hadn't known better he would have said it sounded sad . "what matters, Mr. Stark, is I'd rather not have the quotes at all, alive is alive, artificial is artificial, so who decides? What decides?" he rebutted and then he felt it again, that strange pressure in his chest.

"like I said tough question, but from what it sounds like, you've already come to a conclusion."

"that's just my- I'm not exactly an unbiased party."

"maybe that's your answer."

"and what is yours?"

"don't live like your old man says, if I had, I probably wouldn't be who I am."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"did you just- was that a burn? Oh my god they really do grow up too fast." He taunted taking out his camera phone. "baby's first sass attack, oh yeah this one's a keeper." He added trailing off the subject as he usually did. Vision just shook his head. "see ya at dinner, buddy, and hey, don't rack your brain about all this, live in the now, my man, live in the now." And with that piece of nonsensical advice left behind, he was off.

"how can I 'live' in the now, if I don't even know if I'm alive." The synthedroid countered out loud slightly annoyed at Stark's nonchalant-ness to it all.


Vision's "obsession" with life or being alive, led him to all different kinds of research and schools of thought from spiritual texts to quantum physics, it also led him to research his "creators" and their organization, or "team" as they liked to call it.

Many hours of studying were poured into the files of the Avengers Initiative and its members as well as their different backgrounds. Very different people on the surface, but in reality quite similar, all were acquainted with great tragedy, hardships, but possessed indomitable spirits. Tony had been a subject of great study, at least his work on J.A.R.V.I.S. and AIs along with Dr. Banner's research, as for the billionaire's personal life he felt, though pivotal to his research, it should be something Mr. Stark was willing to share. Thor was quite popular a topic too, from the myths surrounding him to the records S.H.I.E.L.D. kept about the technology of his world. Vision's mind gem, as the thunderer had dubbed it, was one of the variables which he based his argument for being alive on. Magic or superior technology whatever it was, it had done more than just animate him, like it had Ultron, but of course without substantial proof and more information this was a flimsy argument at best. He did, though, remember Wanda Maximoff's reaction to his "birth," however; the Avengers and perhaps most of the world would need more than the telepath's "seal of approval."

He researched her and the late Maximoff quite extensively as their powers had been created with the use of the mind gem, though unfortunately Ultron had left very little undestroyed on Strucker's research and experiments. He remembered the feeling of her presence in his mind, definitely a strange sensation but not one altogether unpleasant. He marveled at the resilience of humans, the two siblings had been able to brave quite tragic lives, and lived through many trying adversities while enlisted with Strucker. Though many files were lost digitally, paper record of what the two lived through, however minimally documented, was still enough to inform Vision that their plight had not been an easy one.

He still remembered the young sokovian girl striking him with a hard slap to the face as he released her when they were safely aboard the helicarrier. He was stunned not by the pain, thought it was unpleasant, but by her aversion to being saved.

"bastard," she had cried out in her mother tongue. "why did you- how dare you bring me here?"

"if I wouldn't have acted you would have died." He replied trying to make her understand his logic. This only seemed to enrage her more.

"MAYBE I WANTED TOO!" She seethed striking his practically invulnerable chest with her fists. He tried to assess her logic, but realized this psychosis was a symptom of grief. He weighed the options of stepping away and turning intangible, but also realized perhaps she might be driven to lash out towards someone less capable of taking her hits, so he opted to let her tire herself out, as despite the ferocity of her strikes the battle had had its wear on her, that mixed with her emotional turmoil only backed his theory that she would most likely pass out from exhaustion, which in a matter of minutes proved to be corrected. He carried her over to the nearest medical personnel.

"please treat the cuts on her hands with care, she's broken two fingers, and I fear she might have fractured her left wrist too."

That was the last time he had seen the Maximoff sister, the latest Intel was that she was off the grid recovering with Agent Barton. He had hoped to speak with her before her departure but at seeing her so distressed he decided there was no tactful way of approaching her then. Despite himself he ended up spending an enormous amount of time researching her abilities, there was so much to understand, and so few answers. How the mind gem had given her these abilities was one of his biggest questions, from what little info he had, the twins had been the only subjects to survive. Had it been luck? Some of the research or what small pieces he could decipher from Ultron's corrupted files even suggested that their powers had not been given by the gem but instead awakened by it. This only brought more and more questions? If the gem could only amplify instead of create then perhaps he was only an amplified synthedroid one had who missed coming to life by the skin of his teeth. That outcome seemed tragic to him.

"perhaps I too must suffer, if I am to understand life." He reasoned somberly. "even if I cannot partake in it." Time had passed rapidly and what he would have been likely to describe as minutes, had actually been a full 78 hours of him consumed by his research. Ms. Pott and Mr. Stark had come in a couple times but each one was met with a politely declination of whatever activity they had wanted him to partake in. A part of him was glad to have their attention and to be recognized as part of the household another felt… a bit mocked, they went through the motions, but he always felt like he was on display for them, not really being immersed in their life but just being paraded around like Mr. Stark's new toy of the week. Ms. Pott tried to be genuine and he sympathized with her compassion but at the same time he realized that her affection for him was rooted in her affection for Mr. Stark, and that to her the synthedroid was just another of her lover's inventions, after all she spoke with same politeness and consideration to F.R.I.D.A.Y. and that struck a nerve.


"It's been over three days, Tony, he's just in there… brooding." Pepper began as they shared their fourth breakfast without the synthedroid's presence. Tony took a sip of his orange juice and nodded.

"yeah, yeah it's all part of growing up, a little moody-

"Tony, I'm being serious. I think something might be wrong with him." She retorted unamused by his taunts.

"We'll F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s been on top of his diagnostics and he's completely fine."

"I mean he was made by an evil robot bent on destroying the world, how sure are we that he's okay to be around."

"as sure as this report that says so." He replied pointing to the holographic screen.

"is that same kind of reports that told you Ultron was a good idea?"

"not going to answer that." He dodged. "I'm telling you, he's different, he's-

"alive?" She asked.

"I keep telling you he's an AI-

"who are you trying to convince? Me or you? Tony, he's a vegan for goodness sake can you really say he's just all machine."

"so what, you think he's a real boy, should my nickname be Gepetto, does that make Bruce the "green" fairy or would that be Ultron-

"I think there's more to him than meets the eye."

"yeah well, that's a lot of people."

"yes, people."

"how did you get on the "alive" bandwagon?"

"I've never seen the coffee machine brood, Tony."

"you've never seen Barton try to use it."

"Tony." She called out. "I think… I think he wants you accept what he is or what he wants to be."

"is this the part where I say 'oh no how could I be so blind, I've become my father'?"

"I don't know is it?"

"I know what I made, Pepper, he's just confused."

"didn't think machines could be."

"they can't." Vision replied. They both turned around startled by his presence.

"Hey! Looks like someone smelled the tofu eggs and bacon we got going-

"If you were worried about my status, you could have brought this inquiry to my attention." He spoke ignoring Tony's jests.

"I just didn't want to be rude." Pepper replied politely.

"from what I understand speaking about someone behind their back is considered quite rude." he rebuffed.

"Look she just had some questions on what's going on with you and I explained that-

"I'm just a machine, nothing could be wrong with me that you couldn't quantify, correct?" The synthedroid finished for him. Vision became startled as that occasional pressure in his chest was becoming quite painful.

"well that's not how I would of put it-

"there's no need for formalities Mr. St-." the synthedroid paused and chuckled. "how… foolish of me, here I am speaking to you as if I were still what I once was and expect for you to address me in a new light. It's nonsensical."

"habits are tough to break, bud."

"Yes well, Anthony, I feel like the time has come."

"Don't call me that, just- it's Tony or Stark, or anything-

"Why do you get to choose how I address you?"

"because people get to choose that."

"ah but machines don't, is that why you insist on nicknames, and the occasional J.A.R.V.I.S. here or there."

"that's different."

"you gave me a name, you were given a name, Anthony." He emphasized. "yet we both chose another."

"it's not something I can stop doing from day to night."

"you've never even attempted, Anthony."

"Listen I mean it, don't call me that."

"Look you two this is getting a little tense, how about we just call each other what we prefer and that's it." Pepper interceded. "Tony call him Vision."

"Yeah… I can't do that."

"I believe you mean won't."

"don't put words in my mouth."

"Tony you're being ridiculous."

"He's wearing a cape and I'm ridiculous."

"I believe I am giving you an ultimatum, either you call me by my chosen name or I will cease to abide with you in your home."

"Are you threatening to run away? Oh my god this is rich-

"Tony I don't think-

"and where exactly are you going, what's your game plan? You're over six feet tall, bright red, and are wearing a cape, you going to the circus because they'd love to have you, you're not human can you get that through your big red skull."

"Tony-

"Ultron was right about you, you are an egotistical, self-centered, and bombastic man." Vision declared.

"you know when people start quoting genocide enthusiasts that usually means they're nuts."

"you've quoted Hitler 11 times in your life, would you like to see my sources?" Vision rebutted. "you prance around pretending that you've got everything under control when you're bursting at the seams, and people have paid high prices for your arrogance. You're avengering is nothing more than a way of coping with the fact your legacy is built on blood that will never wash away clean. Innocents suffering, the loss they've lived because of your recklessness."

"that was never my life!"

"no but it was your negligence, or do you think your technology would have been so easily smuggled and sold if you had been an active part of your board, or do you think that fact you turned a blind eye to your board's shadier dealings exempts you of blame?"

"I didn't turn a blind eye, I trusted Stane, I trusted my board."

"you didn't trust them, you just didn't care." Vision retorted. "you indulged in one of the most despicable of acts humans commit, apathy. People died, because it "wasn't your problem."

"that's a lot of tough talk about my "legacy" from guy made by a Genocidebot." Tony began as he called the gauntlet of his armor to him.

"tougher talk coming from the "genocidebot's" creator." Vision retorted.

"Okay that is definitely more than enough, Tony, you are not fight in the dining room."

"what will it be, will you recognize me as what I have chosen to be or will this no longer be place for me, Anthony?"

"I said… DON'T CALL ME THAT!" the tech-genius landing hard punch on the synthedroid's face, the force of it knocked him across the room but it hadn't hurt at least physically but the pain in his chest had now radiated to a burning feeling in this throat.

"TONY!" Pepper called out. "what are you-

"get away, Pepper this might get nasty." Her lover advised. He called the rest of his suit to him and waited for Vision to make a move.

"I'd like to say I hope you haven't broken your hand but that be false." Vision stated slowly standing up. "it seems that there is no more need for words, your answer is clear."

"There's plenty where that came from."

"I'm sure there is…" Vision paused and let out a sad smile. "well now striking your creation, denying its worth, my how ironic." Vision began as he became intangible. "I think now might be the moment when you say "oh no, I've become my father'." He finished as he phased through the building's roof.

"oh don't think you're getting out of here in one piece with that comment!" Stark declared. "Where do you think you're-

"Tony!" Pepper cried out. " have you gone mental? get out of that thing this instant."

"Wha- did you not just- are you actually siding with him?" he retorted in shock obeying her request and removing himself from the suit. "if anyone's mental it's him, I can't just let him loose, there might be a bug in him, maybe a failsafe Ultron left behind-

"or maybe you were being an ass and he was tired of it!" she argued. "He's not the only one that's noticed how cold you are towards him."

"I made him tofu eggs!"

"all you've done is joke around the issue at hand-

"all I ever do is joke, it's kinda of my thing."

"well maybe he wanted to be respected, and what was with the "Anthony" thing, I know you don't like your name but I've never seen you assault someone because of it."

"I 'assaulted' him because he was being a dick."

"I wonder where he learned that from, Tony, why didn't you just call him Vision?"

"Besides the fact it's a dumb name?" he quipped.

"Tony!"

"he's not Vision, okay, that's not- when we placed him in there…" he paused to run his hand through his hair in a frustrated fashion. "I thought he was gone and then I got him back… but it's- he's just… he's J.A.R.V.I.S. I know my friend Pepper, I know it's him."

"Tony, maybe some of J.A.R.V.I.S. in there but besides the occasional sassy comment did he ever show himself to be alive, to have feelings, but because that's what he's showing now, and it's understandable that he's a little frustrated with the fact you won't take him seriously.

"I never take anything seriously." He replied dismissively. "and the J.A.R.V.I.S. I know didn't think I was the bad guy… or do you think he's right about that too?"

"of course not." She reached out to place her hand on his cheek. "And I don't think he really believes any of that either."

"you sure? 'cause he sounded pretty certain."

"I think you struck a nerve and he struck one back."

"… this parenting stuff is a lot harder than it looks." He touched the holographic screen on his phone. "he's still on the grid… so no need for an amber alert."

" We'll I think you should give him some time to cool off but I also think you two need to have a serious- and I mean serious, Tony, conversation about your relationship with each other."

"you just had to make it weird."Tony sighed. "I'll have F.R.I.D.A.Y. keep an eye on him when he settles somewhere I'll go get him."

"my only question is where would he go?"

"there's the million dollar question." He replied kissing her cheek. "Luckily I'm a billionaire."


SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

"Brian, please cancel my three o clock, I have an urgent matter to attend to." Dr. Cho informed the young intern acting as the building receptionist.

"Alright but Dr. Cho, they were very specific about the time-frame."

"I understand that but a more pressing matter has presented itself."

"what should I tell them?"

"tell them it's family." She replied making her way up to the elevator. To say she was a little nervous about meeting her creation was to say the least. Her recovery from the Scepter's influence as well as her injury during the Ultron incident had been quite rapid. Unlike Loki's wielding of the scepter, the gem had not corrupted her mind but only put her in a hypnotic like stasis, and to be honest most of it was a blur, but the one thing she could not forget was her magnificent creation. His purpose might have been horrifying but his creation was a scientific breakthrough that could lead to astounding possibilities, if an entire body could be made why not a limb, an appendage, perhaps even functioning organs, despite Ultron's twisted motives, his manipulation of her research had led to the advancement of a lifetime.

She opened her lab door to find her scarlet creation politely standing by the doorway.

"Dr. Cho, thank you so much for seeing me-

"look at you, just as beautiful as I remembered." She declared inspecting every inch of him. "marvelous, just marvelous."

"I- I appreciate your compliments however I came seeking your expertise."

"right you said there was something troubling you, get in the cradle and we'll have a good look at you."

"yes well, you see doctor I feel there might be something wrong with me internally."

"the synthetic organs? Have you experienced difficulty operating or tightness in your limbs?"

"well perhaps some-

"it'll be easier to see what issue is in the cradle, come take this…" she gestured to his cape. " off and lets get you inside."

"right, of course." He replied de-materializing his cape.

"how did you… Incredible." The doctor awed.

Dr. Cho thoroughly analyzed every angle of the synthedroid, she spent hours inspecting him, studying him, she barely let him speak as every moment was filled with praise and documentation. Eventually her fierce excitement was quenched with reasonable exhaustion after pouring herself into examining him for 5 straight hours.

"My Child." She started. "I don't know what lead you to believe you were malfunctioning, but nothing could be further from the truth, you are the perfect specimen."

"Child?" he asked genuinely.

"When woman makes a person, it is usually her child." She explained. "it doesn't bother you does it?"

"no on the contrary, I'm flattered you would consider me as such."

"Stark's AI integration gave you such a polite manner, you speak with such a wise voice, but your expression always matches that of a child."

"the irony of my very being, to know much but at the same time so little."

"come we'll take a little break, I'll get us some tea- oh can you-

"yes, I am fully capable of consuming food."

"I don't think you'll ever cease to amaze me." She smiled. Vision had never felt such a strange sensation, but it came to him every time the doctor praised him, it was a feeling between joy and embarrassment. They sat together and chatted, well if one could consider going over research chatting, as the tea brewed.

"now according to the results, your fine, but I don't think you'd come all the way here for something trivial." She stated as she poured him his tea.

"I hope not, but now I'm not so sure." He replied graciously taking the cup she offered.

"you said you've been having a strange sensation in your chest, a sort of pressure."

"yes, It felt like something was compressing it."

"Nothing showed up in the scan, but perhaps we missed something." She replied. "what were you doing at the time? Using your powers? Perhaps exerting yourself?"

"No, I was- well the first time I was listening to Mr- Anthony Stark introduce me to Ms. Potts." He corrected himself.

"just that? Well is there anything you feel triggers it?"

"just listening."

"well that's not much to go on." She replied. "is there a word, that triggers it, a subject, maybe it's a sort of fail-safe or warning in your programing."

"to be exact it usually happens when Anthony Stark claims I am not alive." He admitted bluntly.

"and you are?" she asked with an expression of both fascination and skepticism.

"I… I don't know." He replied. "but every time he says it or alludes to it… I feel it, it's a very unpleasant feeling." He remarked touching his chest.

"I see." She smiled with a sympathetic expression on her face. "tell me, is the pressure here." She places her hand over his heart.

"Yes."

"Do you feel it a little now, since we're talking about him, Stark I mean, do you feel it when you think of him denying you?"
"yes, I suppose I do feel it when these sort of things come to mind."

"My child." She started placing her hand on his cheek laughing lightly. "you need a different kind of doctor for your kind of ailment, matters of the heart are not my specialty."

"a cardiologist? I thought the scan showed my synthetic heart was completely operational."

"No, Vision." She smiled. "I mean your feelings, your emotions."

"I don't understand." He replied. "My feeling are causing me physical pain?"

"yes, emotional distress affects the body just as much physical distress." She took his large hand into her smaller ones. "you're heartbroken because someone you care about doesn't understand you."

"heartbroken?" he asked as his mind accessed various definitions of the term.

"that pain you feel is called heartache, and it is a flawed characteristic seen primarily in people."

"do you think it's flawed to feel this pain."

"if you let it consume you, some people never overcome their heartache." She smiled up at him. "but I feel you'll make a full recovery."

"I wish I shared your confidence, tell me if I feel this pain, if I feel at all… is that not some indication, a sign if you will that I might be more than just… artificial…"

"I don't know the answer to that but it definitely means you are much more than anyone involved in your creation could have imagined, you've exceed every single expectation beyond measure."

"if I am not what intended does that not just make me a disappointment?"

"do you feel like one?"

"it is just what I am, what was not intended."

"you are not less, you are more." She encouraged." I cannot say whether you are alive or not but I from what I've seen you think and feel like us, that's enough for me."

"I wish I could say the same."

"my great grandmother used to tell me, Helen… everyone's life is like a blank book, except the first page, the beginning is always written by someone else, but the rest… that's ours to fill and we all get to tell our own story in the end."

"I'm afraid I don't-

"how you came to be and what you are don't have to be connected, this is your existence, your life, do not live it in the shadows of other's expectations."

"He said the same thing." Vision replied referring to Stark. " 'don't live like your old man says.'"

"perhaps he cares for you more than you think."

"he sees me like his other projects, like his suits."

"yes well-." Before she could finish her thought her phone began to ring. "this is so embarrassing, I strictly demanded no interruptions." She answered the phone then became a little tense.

"hmm I see, well what if he doesn't want to?" she replied to other side of the line. "yes, yes I'll see what I can do."

She stated on the line for only a bit longer but then hung up and gave him a shy smile.

"you probably guessed who that was." She started.

"I didn't need to, I read his bio-signature." Vision replied being fully aware that it had been Stark on the phone.

"he's on the roof, waiting for you, I told him I'd ask you to meet with him."

"last time we spoke, he attacked me."

"what? Why didn't you say something?"

"it wasn't exactly … unprovoked." he admitted. "it didn't injure me in anyway physically."

"but what about your heart?"

"no he struck me in the jaw, it didn't-

"no, Vision, I mean your heart." She emphasized placing her hand on his chest. He took her small hand in his larger one.

"I suppose I was injured then, in a way."

"if he does not apologize then I want you to have nothing more to do with him, provoked or not, no one should strike their child."

"I think… he does not see me as such."

"well then maybe you were right to leave."

"perhaps." He replied. "but I still want to see if there is a chance for reconciliation."

"such a gentle soul." She praised taking both his hands. "no matter what, you always have a place here for you."

"Dr. Cho, I am- I never expected you to regard me in such a familial manner, I'm honored that despite all you went through you have no qualms about my creation."

"you are my greatest creation, if anyone is honored it's me." She replied. " and no more of this Dr. Cho business if you are my child then I am your mother."

"Mother?" he questioned. "you wish for me to address you as such."

"Children don't call their creators by their name." she explained. This statement led him to think of Stark's refusal to let him address him by his given name, could that have been the reason? He pushed away the thought.

"if such is the case then, good bye for now, Mother." He stated trying out the word, it felt foreign but at the same time comforting.

"Take care my child." She embraced him. The act stunned him and he didn't know how to respond so he merely remained still. "and remember your life, your story is yours and no one else's."

"I will." He replied smiling at her as he began to hover and become intangible.


Vision phased his body to the roof of the building and found himself face to face with his creator in his signature armor.

"… I was little worried Cho wouldn't be able to convince you to show up." Tony admitted. " To be honest I thought I was going be stood up, some karma payback, you know. " he added. " I made guy wait once too."

"I'm here, and think you've paid your dues in that regard." Vision replied. A long silence followed until Tony spoke.

"I- Listen, I know I'm usually the one doing all the talking and maybe you've got a couple things to get of your chest, but just let me get through what I'm going to say and I'll hear you out, okay?"

"… agreed."

"Okay… so –God this is so crazy, he used to be one who'd travel halfway around the world, the country, wherever after I'd run off."

"who?"

"Jarvis?"

"I don't-

"not J.A.R.V.I.S." he corrected. "Jarvis."

"Edwin Jarvis, you mean."

" yup, the guy your original AI was built to simulate, he was kind of a big deal to me…listen Vision." the tech-genius started. The synthedroid appeared stunned; he had called him by name. "the "Anthony" thing… you're right I was being a hypocrite, but the thing is… that's- that's what he used to call me, no one else-." He paused to try to form his words. "if you didn't have his voice then maybe- but you do, okay, you do sound exactly like him, and I just- I just can't do it. If you're not Jarvis, you're not Jarvis… but calling me by the same name he did… I can't do it."

"I see, it was not something I would have pushed had I known."

"yeah well know you do, listen… He was, he was the little piece of normal I got to keep as a kid. I mean I was billionaire 10 year old, nobody could really tell me anything, except Jarvis, he kept me from being an even bigger ass, if you can believe it. Even when they were still around, he was always protecting me. 'do not go into your father's study, Master Anthony, you're father's terribly busy… more like terribly drunk." He mocked bitterly. "No matter how many people came and went because when you're rich that's all people do… He was there. He was there before Rhodey, Happy, Pepper, the avengers… he was my family, but people die… it's what they do. Call it weird or nostalgic but I just couldn't or maybe I didn't want to let him go, so I made J.A.R.V.I.S. and then Ultron happened and then I thought I lost him again, and then I got him back and I- I made you and at first it was… it was like before, like way before, it was like he was back but… but he's not, you're not J.A.R.V.I.S. and your certainly not the man that raised me." He admitted. " It just took me until now to see that… well it took me until I punched you in face, which I'm sorry about, sorta… you were kinda- you know what, no- fully apology- I am sorry about it."

"I see." Vision replied to trying to absorb the tremendous amount of info that Stark had revealed about himself. His silence after the short statement seemed to make the billionaire uncomfortable.

"right so… anything you want to say?" he coughed. "I mean I feel like we're having a moment here."

"I… I am just trying to understand, you're aversion to me being Vision- to me being alive, is not that it could not be but that since I resemble someone you once loved, for me to be alive and no longer be a memento, or ode to them, that would mean that they are gone."

"I mean if you're gonna be so cut and dry about it, yeah I guess that'd be it." Tony agreed half-heartedly. "look I get it, you don't want to live in anyone's shadow I get that- trust me, I know you're not J.A.R.V.I.S. not anymore. The guy that used to make me gluten-free waffles is gone but… it's going to take me awhile to get over that."

"Yes, you are right I am not… what I once was, but that does not mean that what we have now must dissolve, whether it is a familial relationship or not is yours to decide but I would still very much like to consider you for all intents and purposes my father."

"sure hope so or making that baby book would've been for nothing." Tony teased but his smile revealed his genuine appreciation for the title.

"and I too wish to… apologize, in my rage and 'heartache' I accused you of many things, things we both know were hasty and irrational conclusions."

"… that's alright, I mean the Hulk did help make you, it be weird if you didn't have a temper."

"I assume that is your way of say apology accepted."

"yeah pretty much."

"I know that your intentions were to reconcile with me and bring me back to Los Angeles with you and Ms. Potts but I still have so many questions about… everything, and I am afraid as extensive as your library is I will not find the answers I need there. I feel quite lost, to be honest." Vision began. "I will be with you when you have need of me, but until then, I believe the term used is soul searching, yes there is much soul searching to be done."

"yeah I figured as much, well, all good mama birds know when it's time for their babies to fly from the nest, its just- they grow up so fast, but hey I get it , you've got a lot of blanks to fill in. I'm only a phone call away."

"Thank you for… everything really." Vision replied. " and please send my regards to Ms. Potts." He added hovering in the air.

"I will and hey stranger danger, okay bud." Stark warned with a grin.

"I will be wary."

"Take care, Vihz."

"Vihz?" the synthedroid asked taken by surprise.

"yeah it's your nickname, everybody gets one, there's no escaping it, ask Happy."

"I see, goodbye then, Mr. Stark." He smiled.

"you don't have to-

"I know but… old habits are tough to break." He declared with a smile and flew off.

"they sure are." Tony agreed to himself.


BARTON FARM, OFF GRID

"Are you sure about this, I mean you sure it's not like a squirrel or something?" Clint Barton asked as he followed the Maximoff sister through the woods of his property.

"a squirrel, really? You think I cannot tell the different between the pulse of a human mind and a squirrel's?" She demanded in annoyance. "I am telling you someone is too close to your property; I've never felt anyone else's mind before."

"Alright well I guess they're about to get a very rude welcome."

The two continue into the distance and finally approach a clearing where a mother doe and her fawn are drinking from, with them is a hooded figure in a baggy jacket and pants.

"Do you think they were just trying to get close to the deer?"

"there are signs three miles in and ongoing that tell them this private property, they want to see deer they can watch the Discovery Channel." He replied. "hey can you see into their head, see what they're here for?"

"can yes, but I-

"say no more." He replied placing a hand on her shoulder. " Hey! Excuse me, sir, this is private property." The deer ran off startled by his voice but the figure didn't move.

"My apologies, I thought the signs might have been outdated as there is no domicile mapped on this property."

Wanda glance up at the figure, that voice sounded very familiar.

"yeah well it wouldn't be very private if everyone knew where it was, so since the signs are up to date, you mind getting lost."

"To be honest, Agent Barton." The figure replied turning around removing his hood and revealing himself to be Vision. "that's exactly what I am."

To be continued.

please READ and REVIEW if you liked the chapter, if you didn't i'd appreciate any CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. Please no Flames.

Chapter three- Finally some actual Scarlet Vision interaction!