Chapter 3
It was extremely hard for them to pull themselves away from each other, but they somehow found a way to do so. They showered together and cleaned themselves up, washing away the sweat, dirt, and grime that sat on their skin. As Vision assisted Wanda in washing off her body, she couldn't help but wonder if the water could also wash away their memories of what happened. She knew he heard her thoughts, and he immediately wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her scent, trying to comfort her.
In their hearts, they knew they were just lucky enough to get each other back. For that, they were both grateful. And they were not planning on risking being separated ever again.
When they dried off, they dressed in silence, but still continued to shoot glances at each other. He put on a dark blue long sleeve shirt, jeans, and Converse shoes. This wasn't his normal attire, but he didn't seem to care. She pulled on a tight grey sweatshirt, skinny jeans, and slip on sneakers. When she turned around to check herself in the mirror, she caught him staring. She immediately blushed, loving how he still manages to be the only one who can cause that kind of response from her.
It was still raining outside so they didn't actually know what time it was. It was still pretty dark and the stars were still shining, so they both just assumed they were only in there for a few hours. However, it came as a shock when the clock displayed it to be late in the evening… the next day.
They have been in her room for over 24 hours… and they didn't even realize it. They were so focused on each other that they literally didn't realize how much time had passed.
They didn't care in the slightest. In the back of Vision's mind, it just upped his ego.
As he was looking at the clock, she giggled as she saw him smirk. He turned and approached her. She reached for his hand and asked. "Are you ready?"
"I am if you are." He leans forward to kiss her, urging her to open the door before they change their minds and never leave the room.
Wanda holds onto his hand with one of her own and uses the other to open the door, hoping this goes easier than she thinks.
Vision led them both downstairs into the main living area. The found everyone already sitting at the conference table: Steve, Natasha, Sam, Rhodes, Bruce, Thor, and Bucky. Even though they had new, fresh clothes on, the dark circles under their eyes and exhausted features on their faces could not go unnoticed. They were discussing something before they noticed Vision and Wanda's presence in the room.
Rhodes was the first one to turn around and notice them. It started a chain reaction as the others turned and followed suit. An uncomfortable silence lingered for a few moments before anybody would speak up. Thor decided to break the ice.
"Nice of you two to finally join us," he said sarcastically. Everyone's head shot down as soon as he said it, hiding their expressions of embarrassment and annoyance. He shot them a wink as he said it. He felt great since he killed Thanos. Avenging Loki and bringing peace back to the universe put him in a decent mood; giving everything he and the others have gone through.
Vision ignored his comment and addressed the team stating, "There is an urgent matter that me and Miss Maximoff need to announce."
Rhodes' eyebrows shot up in surprise. Vision normally hesitated before asking or doing something.
Steve motioned them towards the two seats at the head of the table, "Please."
Vision and Wanda walked around to their designated seats and sat down. Once they were situated, she looked up at his face, looking for any signs of doubt or uncertainty. She found none.
The others noticed something was up. Steve addressed them asking, "So, what's on your mind that you two want to tell us?"
Vision looked down at Wanda, searching for confirmation. He had no problems about leaving, but wanted to make sure this is still what she truly wanted as well. She gave him an encouraging nod. He looked back up at them and answered, "We are leaving."
Before anyone could say anything, Thor asked innocently, "Like, your not living here at the compound?"
Natasha pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose, as if a headache was coming on.
"No. As in we are leaving the Avengers," Wanda clarifies.
Everyone was quiet. Almost too quiet. Everyone's expressions remained cool and collective.
Steve was the first to respond saying, "I'm not going to lie, I was expecting this." His face was calm and almost had a hint of relief. In the back of his mind, he was surprised they waited this long to finally admit they wanted out.
Natasha pitched in and added, "I knew this was coming, too. I don't blame you two at all for making this decision."
Wanda looked at Natasha and gave her a soft smile, trying not to let her emotions get the best of her. Natasha has had her back since the team took her in. She's done a lot for Wanda and was not only her teammate, but also a true friend.
Sam sits up in his chair and laces his fingers together as he leans forward on the table. He looks at them both and says, "Whatever you two do, I'll always be there to back you up. You two deserve to be with each other. And if that's not here with us, then I get it."
Vision leaned forward to offer his hand to Sam. Sam grabbed it and they shook hands, acknowledging respect towards each other for accepting and understanding this decision.
Bucky chimed in and said, "That's great. Good for y'all. I wish you nothing but the best."
"Thank you, Bucky," Wanda gave him her sincere smile. She got one in return.
"I do not really care what you two do. As long as you aren't putting yourselves in complete danger and doing your best to not bother me, have fun young people," Thor said.
"Um, thank you, Thor." Vision leaned over to shake his hand as well.
Leaning up against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, Rhodes says, "I understand why you two want to leave, but do you realize how difficult it is going to be to make this work?"
Wanda pitches in and answers with, "It is not going to be much different from what we were doing for the past two years. We just won't be constantly leaving each other and sneaking around this time." Wanda doesn't understand why of all people, this kind of response is coming from Rhodes. She suspects it is because Secretary Ross's tactics and beliefs have somewhat rubbed off on him since he has been working with him.
"I am not against what you are wanting to do. I just know how hard it is to always be hiding, especially when you don't know what you're hiding from."
Steve intervenes, "Rhodes, they'll figure it out. They handled themselves well before they were ambushed."
"Steve, that is what I am saying. What if Thanos' crew attacks them again? And we are not there to save them?"
"Thanos and his people are gone. They were the biggest threat to the universe, but we destroyed them. I think they have little to worry about at this point," Natasha says, coming to Vision and Wanda's defense.
Rhodes made the mistake by saying, "I'm not sure if this is a good idea."
Vision could feel Wanda's anger start to rise. Her energy pulsing through her body, trying to come to the surface. He used their mental connection to try and ease her sudden anger and keep her calm, reminding her that they knew there would be objections from somebody. Unfortunately, today it was Rhodes.
Wanda looked at him and snarled, "Why? Because Tony isn't here to tell us why we shouldn't go? Last time I checked, we weren't asking anybody's permission." She took a deep breath to steady herself.
"What about the United Nations? Secretary Ross? The entire US government?"
"What about them?" She asked with irritation.
"How are you two going to hide from them? Who knows what they will do to you both if they find you?"
Before Wanda loses her shit on Rhodes, Sam interrupts him to say something that he has been pondering on since they got back to the compound.
"Rhodes, they never got caught hiding from them the first time. Also, lets think about it. Ross and the rest of the government don't know who defeated Thanos. For as far as they know, it was Thor. At this moment, they have no idea we are here right now. They don't know if any of us survived." Sam felt a bit of pride for coming up with that valid point.
Wanda and Vision looked at each other. They didn't even come up with that one. It was pretty clever, nonetheless. It made sense the more they quickly thought about it. They both really liked the sound of that idea.
Steve and Natasha also looked at each other, thinking about Sam's point, realizing how truly logical it sounds if they were to tell everyone that Vision and Wanda died in the battle, sacrificing themselves so that the rest of the team could help Thor kill Thanos.
Wanda and Vision could just disappear. No one would be looking for them. They wouldn't be hunted down. They would finally find peace and happiness with each other. They would have their normal.
They would be free.
Sam smiled at the thought of Vision and Wanda being completely and utterly happy. No obstacles. No fear. Nothing in their way of having their life together.
"Even if so," Rhodes turns towards Bruce and asks, "Bruce, you know Vision and everything about him. Given that and this whole idea of theirs, what do you think?"
Bruce was staring at the Accords packet left on the table from the last time the others were back at this table, discussing this proposed agreement before they turned against one another. Tony filled him in on what happened.
Bruce knows that while Vision has the mind stone, he will always have to use extreme caution in the public eye. Wanda will always have to be in complete control of her powers to prevent unwanted attention.
However, he also saw Vision beg her to destroy the mind stone back in Wakanda. He saw her grief and sorrow as she fulfilled the task. He also remembers her face as Thanos murdered Vision again right in front of her.
It was a memory he would never wish upon anybody.
Bruce finally speaks and says, "I agree with Steve and Natasha. The stone is still in the safest place it can be. Vision is more than capable of protecting it along with himself. I don't see how there is any issue here."
"Seriously, man? You are not in the least bit concerned? Your not worried about them?"
Bruce stood up from his chair and answered, "Of course I am worried about them, Rhodes. I helped create him. I know what he can do and what he is capable of. I will always be worried about him, Wanda included. But if they want to be together, I am not going to stop them. They have fought with us. They have fought for us. Wanda sacrificed Vision to save not only us, but also the entire universe. After doing something like that, I couldn't imagine being put in that position again. They don't deserve to go through that kind of pain again. If they want to leave and go be normal and have a life together, at least as close to normal as they can, how is it my place to intervene?"
Wanda and Vision had to fight back their surprise. Shocked would be a better word. Even though Bruce was a huge part of Vision's creation, he ultimately knew Vision is not the same as he was when he was born. He could sense Vision's evolvement. He is now more human than he ever was a robot. He could see Vision loved Wanda and she loved him.
Bruce turned to look into Wanda's eyes and said, "You both will always have to be careful. Even though we defeated Thanos, you never know when any kind of danger could arise." He paused to pull off his glasses before continuing. "With that being said, after everything you two have been through and watching you two in Wakanda… we can't keep you two apart."
Wanda feels tears about to spill over. Vision tightens his grip on her hand under the table. She leaned her head onto his shoulder and smiled as he leaned against her head and softly pressed a kiss to her temple.
Rhodes begins to pace back and forth from the table, trying to make sense of the team's reasons for being okay with Vision and Wanda's departure.
"I know I have no say so in this. You two are grown adults and can do what you want. I truly want you two to be together. I really do, you both deserve that and much more, but I am also a realist as to making this work without any risks, towards you and the rest of us. The chances of no complications are very slim." He turns back towards the others, "What are we going to tell Tony when he gets back? That we just let Vision and Wanda leave? No plan in place whatsoever?
Suddenly, before anyone could respond, a voice everyone knew way too well broke through the room. Everybody's heads looked toward the door by the kitchen. Everyone was shocked to see who entered the room.
"Rhodey, you really need to work on your timing. You've never been good about talking about others behind their backs without getting caught."
Peter walks in behind Tony and says with a smile, "What's up guys? What all did we miss down here on Earth? I am assuming you all handled Thanos for us!"
Notes:
FIRST OFF, I am going to do my very best to update at least once a week. Working on this story as I am taking a summer class for college has taken up A LOT of time. Balancing both is a challenge, but I am making it work! I hope you understand. I love your eagerness and I appreciate your patience!
I know this chapter shied away from Wanda and Vision just a little bit because I had to incorporate some dialogue between the rest of the Avengers team. I promise it is going to go back to focusing on them more from this point on!
I can only see this mini series taking on a few more chapters. HOWEVER, I already am working on another mini series that is going to take place post Civil War and pre Infinity War! I think y'all are gonna like it ;)
I hope your enjoying this so far! It will be wrapping up soon!
As always, thank you for your feedback and support! I appreciate all of you!
Thank you for reading!