Dunno who's still reading this but if you are here you go, please enjoy. Also, the system was being a bit wonky but I finally managed to upload!

Chapter 3: Faulty wiring

Having been caught in the nude more than once by the sentient lifeform, Wanda wasn't sure if she would now be more comfortable with Vision or less. But while he'd begun to use her given name as opposed to "Miss Maximoff", Vision continued on in much the same fashion as he always did. After a couple of days, so did Wanda.

However, despite all appearances, Vision was feeling anything but normalcy. Human's emotions were still something of a mystery to him, one that he studied every day while remaining in Avenger's tower.

Tony had shown him tenacity, confidence and cocky behavior. However, the longer he was in the tower, the more he'd seen of the man. For all his posturing, there was so much lying beneath layers deep. Pain was a thing that motivated his movements, guilt and fighting for his life pushed him towards bigger and better , the self entitled billionaire playboy philanthropist also regularly teased his fellow team mates about various things. Age, hair color, suits for getting the job done, etc. As Wanda lived in the tower, she was often more subject to these things then the others.

On the few occasions he'd met him, Clint Barton was one of the most reserved people he'd had yet to meet. However, Wanda seemed to hold a special regard for him and so Vision had made the effort to learn more about the man. Clint, in turn, had made a point to visit Wanda as often as he was able. The two would go out for the day or spend time together in the tower, sometimes he would take her back to his home to spend time with his family for a few days.

Then too, there was the Captain. As their leader, Vision saw that it was natural for the two to interact, for him to have regular one on one time with the girl so as to make certain her mental well being was just as strong as the rest of her. In fact, being the sort of lifeform he was, Vision might have even insisted the Captain do this, as team unity was crucial while out in the field.

So while Vision knew all this, logically, he'd also begun to take note of how often the two spoke privately. It wasn't done intentionally at first, in the beginning it was something he mentally would check off along with his review of the rest of the team. However, as time went on he also began to register the length, the patterns of behavior leading up to the interaction and Wanda's mood after.

More often than nought, it was improved by at least 15 percent, and she was generally more inclined to partake of a meal if they sent time together beforehand. What's more, he often would detect an increase of salt particles against her skin, specifically beneath her eyes, trace elements left over after a talk with Captain Rogers.

What bothered him about these things wasn't necessarily that he was different from the others, (after all, they had an alien God on the team, a witch, and a super soldier who was over 90 years old. And that was only a couple members.) but that he'd begun to take an interest in things around him that pertained to Wanda's world.

Why she was singled out was unclear, but he knew it had to be something to deal with the odd reactions he had while in her presence. He found himself formulating responses for conversation, taking note of her schedule, making allowances for her that he might not with the others.

It got to the point that he would ignore attempts to shut down and recharge (he did not require sleep but found it peaceful to emulate the action) in favor of researching everything there was to know about her people, her interests, her. As he did the same with his other teammates, (though perhaps not so thoroughly) he supposed it was all due to his interest in presenting a united and effective front.

It was only after he caught Captain Rogers and Wanda in an embrace that he began to question these things.

That fateful night Tony was fully occupied in his labs, the Black Widow was away on a mission and Hawkeye had returned to his family for the time being. Being the sort of sentient lifeform he was, Vision had yet to experience feelings of what humans deemed "loneliness" but from his connection to the world wide web he gathered it was a most unpleasant sort of emotion.

It was later in the evening, he'd seen very little of Wanda and Captain Rogers had been away on business for most of the day. He had knocked at her door earlier in the night with an attempt to remind her it was time for dinner, to no avail. Since they'd all had rather extensive training just a day or so earlier, he assumed she was still recovering and let her be.

He and the Captain had thus shared a meal, Steve eating most everything and Vision eating next to nothing. He did not require food but still enjoyed the varying tastes and textures all the same.

As he had been the one to prepare their supper, Captain Rogers graciously offered to do the cleaning up.

He had intended to set aside a bit of the leftovers for Wanda to partake of when she so chose, but was interrupted by the appearance of the girl herself.

At first, nothing seemed out of sorts. She came in, silent and shy as was her habit. Her clothes too were not overly suggestive, instead she was in one of her skirt and hoodie combinations, sleeves pulled up past her thumbs and knee high socks keeping her always cold feet warm.

No, what tipped the men off to any oddity was the way she nearly lost her balance turning the corner. Only just managing to catch herself she smiled at them both.

"This is why my brother always said it was better that he be the one to run. I trip over my feet so easily."

Her smile fell, her eyes filled and she stumbled straight into Steve's waiting and comforting arms. Her pain was such that no sound would come, instead her shoulders shook as she wept into his chest, smelling strongly of vodka. Holding his emotional team mate up, he shared a look with Vision.

"Wanda, I think you had better lie down. Come on, I'll help you back to your room." He murmured. Vision stepped forward, then back again, suddenly uncertain.

"Captain Rogers I should like to offer my assistance in whatever capacity I am able."

Steve nodded, features still creased in concern.

"Bring her a glass of water would you? And some aspirin. We need to get ahead of the hangover if we can, otherwise she'll feel terrible in the morning."

"Of course Captain." He hurried to do as bid, briefly checking the temperature of the water to be certain it would refresh without exacerbating any headache and retrieved the medication. This done, he made his way to her level of the tower and entered, stopping only when he caught sight of what he'd just walked in on.

Wanda was kissing the captain, her arms around his neck and her soft body pressed into the hard ridges of his own firm one. Steve had his hands on her waist,, his mouth slanted over hers and Vision felt something in his internal make up seem to twist, sending an uncomfortable current through him. Suddenly it was most difficult to remember that the captain was his leader, that he could not rightfully use any of his abilities to maim Steve Rogers as it would not be conducive to team unity and relations.

Instead, he set down the water and medication and left them couple to their.. Privacy. A word he was familiar with, because of Wanda - Scarlet Witch… Miss Maximoff, her proper title - , who was currently displaying affection towards Captain Steve Rogers and no doubt would now continue to do so.

An interesting turn of events, it would be a curious thing to see how such a coupling might affect the team as a whole. Really, it might be a good thing because no doubt they would now be more focused on the well being of each other.. Of course that could bring problems of its own. Suppose their distraction led to mistakes being made? Just suppose that the relationship became a serious one, should they be joined in marriage there was the distinct possibility of Miss Maximoff's becoming pregnant, which would in turn affect the entire team and their operations.

So, really, such a pairing would be at best ineffective and at worst the possible demise of the Avengers. Something that really couldn't be allowed to occur he rationalized. It was decided, he must put a stop to this.

For the good of the team, of course.

As these things were debated over by the android, Steve had tucked Wanda in and managed to make his escape. He'd brought her to her room, helping her take a seat on the bed and handing her tissues to wipe away her tears. He knew what it was to mourn the loss of family, to feel utterly alone in this world. As she cried, he was vividly aware of her age, how at only 18 she had already lost so much, suffered so much pain and heartache. It had aged her beyond her years in some rites and left her innocent in many others.

"It's alright. The pain never goes away, but it will become more bearable, over time. You aren't alone Wanda, we'll be your family now." He promised, rubbing her back. She met his eyes, her own still wet, and didn't reply. Instead, she kissed him.

The young woman was attractive and kind, but she was also very young and under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. Not to mention, she was his friend and trusted him with her life. He would not betray that trust, not for anything in the world.

Hoping that she wouldn't remember any of this in the morning, he allowed her to embrace him but kept his hands firmly in a proper spot on her body, strictly touching her waist and nothing else. When she went to take off her sweater, he stopped her.

"You don't want to do this Wanda." He said firmly.

"Yes, I do. I don't want to think, help me to quiet my thoughts Captain." She replied, trying to kiss him again. He hugged her instead, stroking her hair.

"No, you don't. You just don't want to hurt anymore." He told her quietly. He could feel her tears start to return, she pressed her face to his neck and clung.

"Please Steve.. Please. Kill me. I can't- I can't bear this, Please."

"Shhhh. It's alright. You aren't alone. Never again. Shhh."

He rocked the girl in his arms, his own throat tight at her pleading for him to let her die and knowing she still had so far to go to recover. When Vision came in, he held up a hand to stop him from speaking as Wanda had begun to nod off, crying herself to sleep.

"I need to make certain we have a therapist on staff with clearing so she'll have someone to work things through with. I'd appreciate it if you kept watch over her tonight, I'm worried about her. She's never been like this." He said to the synthezoid. Vision nodded, no longer considering ways to remove Captain Rogers from the living arrangements by force. Instead, he took a seat beside Wanda and made himself comfortable, eyes never leaving her.

"I will stay until the morning Captain Rogers. You may retire to your own rooms for the evening, I will contact you should any situation arise." He informed him. Steve nodded gratefully and left, already mentally working out who to contact and what to say to make sure Wanda had all the support she needed.

Meanwhile, Vision did as he promised, keeping close eye on the sleeping Wanda and privately running through his own diagnostics. The thoughts of injury to Captain Rogers had never occurred before, and yet had he been a human he might be now experiencing relief.

Faulty wiring perhaps? Probably…. Still unnerved he returned to his guard duties.

"The Captain is correct though Wanda. You are not alone."