"Love Me Like You Do"

Chapter Four

By darthelwig

*** I own nothing. I'm just having fun. ***

It was a long damn plane ride. They had made it away from Wakanda alright, T'Challa wishing them all well, no sign of government forces on the horizon. It had been eerie, in a way. There was a sense of carefully controlled panic underlying everything they did, but with no apparent cause. Their surroundings had remained the same peaceful, beautiful scenery as always. The dichotomy put Wanda on edge, rubbing her nerves raw even with Vision's calming presence.

She forced herself to stay present instead of losing herself in the peaceful embrace of Vision's mind. She settled for gentle brushes of their minds against each other and her fingers finding and tangling with his.

"So where are we all going?" Scott asked, the first to breach the silence on the jet.

"Well, now that we're in the air, we can talk about that," Steve said. "We'll drop everyone where we can, and go our separate ways from there. For obvious reasons, it's best if we don't know each other's destinations." There were nods all around. "We have to drop you someplace that isn't going to draw a lot of attention. What are you thinking?"

"I was sorta thinking of someplace close to California. I want to check in on Cassie."

"That's not a good idea, man. That's exactly what they'll be looking for," Sam said. "You're just gonna draw attention to your family."

Scott looked pissed for the first time since Wanda had known him. "I want to see my daughter," he said. "I know how to stay off the grid, okay? I've got friends that can help me, but I want to see my little girl, and it's really not your decision." He stared Sam down, silently daring him to argue, but Sam just raised a hand in surrender.

"Sorry, Tic Tac. I was just concerned," he said. "I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I wouldn't wanna be away from my kid either." Scott seemed mollified.

"No problem," Scott said ruefully. "I'm just worried about her. I miss her. Sorry I overreacted." He offered Sam a small smile, and things were right between them again.

"We're all feeling the stress," Steve said. "We'll drop you there, Scott. You're right. It's your choice."

"I'm gonna get my family," Clint said. "We'll have to leave the farm, but need to get them out of there. I can handle that, though. I've still got some connections." He glanced at Wanda. "I was thinking you should come with me, Wanda. It's safer for you to be with one of us."

If he had asked her to go with him before she found out they lied to Vision about her, she might have considered it. As it was, he was lucky she didn't laugh in his face.

"I'm not going with you, Clint. I don't need taken care of. I'm not a child," she said coldly. "And I do not wish to be left in America. I will be going to Europe. Anywhere there will be easier for me to disappear in than the United States. I stick out too much there."

Clint looked like he wanted to argue, but it was Steve who objected first.

"We're just trying to help you, Wanda. No one thinks you're a kid, but you've got no experience with this. We just want to make sure you're safe."

"If I am not a child, why did you decide for me that I was not to see Vision? It seems to me that you think I am not an adult, who has taken care of herself for many years. Pietro- Pietro and I, we were on our own at ten years old. I know how to survive, perhaps better than you." She couldn't help how angry she sounded. She couldn't hold it all back, not after feeling so betrayed. "I will not be going with any of you. I would prefer to be on my own."

"You mean you'd rather be with Vision," Clint spat. "The guy who locked you up."

"Yes. I would rather be with Vision, though mark my words, Clint. I do not need to be coddled, and I refuse to be treated like a child. Vision has never treated me in such a way. He is my friend, and he was yours, so I do not understand this aversion you have to him, but you need to get over it. Your anger is misdirected. He had done nothing to deserve it." Silence met her words, and she rubbed her temples as the anger and resentment in the jet began to give her a headache.

The rest of their plans were made without Wanda's input. She didn't really care. She'd made her wishes known. What the others decided to do really made no difference to her, especially since they would not be remaining at the drop off points. She wouldn't know where they had gone, so it didn't matter what she learned right now.

She spent her time immersed in Vision's mind. He welcomed her with open arms, and she sank into that mental embrace with quiet relief. His essence washed over her like a wave, and she floated amidst the calm of his thoughts. Still waters ran deep, though, and she was aware of how shallowly she penetrated his consciousness. There were thoughts and ideas beneath, things she couldn't sense. She was curious, but would not pry. She refused to violate the sanctity of his mind that way. She trusted there was nothing in the depths that would hurt her. He was Vision. Her friend, her love. She was safe with him.

It seemed like forever before they finally dropped Scott off, and he waved goodbye as the doors shut and they left him to his own devices. Wanda was sorry see him go. He was a gentle soul, full of good humor and positivity, and a relaxing person to be around. She hoped they would meet again one day, under better circumstances.

From there, it was a relatively short hop to Clint's farm. Laura and the kids were overjoyed to see him, and Wanda felt a momentary pang of longing for her family. She was used to dealing with that pain, though, so she could allow it to melt away in the face of Clint's happiness.

"Look, I'm sorry about before," he told Wanda before he left. He hugged her tightly, and she returned the gesture. Her anger had faded, and in its place was sadness at losing another person she had become close to. "I love you, kiddo. And yeah, I'm always gonna call you that." He smiled at her, and she slapped him lightly on the arm, but she couldn't bring herself to be offended by his term of endearment. "Just take care of yourself out there. If you need me, call this number." He handed her a slip of paper, and she tucked it into her pocket. "Emergencies only, but I'm here for you. Okay?"

She nodded, tearing up. "I love you, old man." She smiled through her tears. "Stay safe."

"Don't worry. Laura will keep me out of trouble," he said, smiling. He let go of her to turn to Vision, who was standing quietly next to her. "You watch out for her," he said. "She needs to be your priority." His voice was harsh, but his expression was worried, not angry.

"Nothing is more important to me than Wanda's safety and happiness," Vision said, nodding his head in acknowledgment of Clint's warning.

"I guess that's all I can ask," Clint said reluctantly. He exited the jet and gave a jaunty wave before scooping up Lila and putting an arm around Cooper's shoulders as he walked away. Wanda already missed him, as infuriating as he could be. After all they'd been through, their family was still falling apart. Vision put his arm around her, and she accepted the comfort of his embrace.

"We're gonna take you next, Wanda," Steve said.

"Why did we not drop me off first?" Wanda asked. "It would have been closer."

"For one thing, it works with our flight plan considering where Sam and I are gonna end up, so it's not really that far out of our way. And Clint was really worried about Laura and the kids. The longer they stay at the farm, the more danger they're in. I didn't think you'd mind waiting a bit."

"I don't mind," she said quickly. "It was just a curious thing. This makes sense, though. Laura is defenseless should they come for her."

"Not completely defenseless," Steve said. "That woman is surprisingly vicious when she needs to be, and the farm has a few surprises in store for unwanted guests."

"That isn't surprising. Remember, Captain. Females will do anything to protect their young," she said.

"Please, Wanda. Don't call me Captain. I'm not that guy anymore." He sounded sad, but also perhaps a touch relieved. She could understand that. It must feel good to be out from under the burden of his Captain America persona for the first time since he'd taken it up.

"Alright, Steve. I apologize," she said, smiling kindly.

"Thanks," he said, moving into the pilot seat. She looked at Sam, who was sitting by himself to one side,

"Are you okay, Sam?" she asked. He looked over and gave her a sad smile.

"Yeah, Red. I'm good. Just not looking forward to being on my own, y'know? Gonna be lonely without you guys bugging me." Her heart went out to him.

"It won't be forever, Sam. We will see each other again." She hoped, anyway.

"Yeah, its only for a little while, right? No big deal." His smile seemed a little more genuine now, and she felt better. Sam was a kind man. She hated to see him upset. "Get some sleep, Red. It's a long trip to where you're going." Sam settled himself back down into his seat and closed his eyes, and Wanda turned her gaze to Vision.

"Vis, how will you stay with me? You're very...noticeable." She hadn't given much thought to this before, too excited at the thought of being with him to consider the logistics of it. He smoothed his fingers over her hair.

"I have been working on a solution to that problem, and believe I have come up with something that will work. Would you like to see?"

"Of course," she said.

Vision closed his eyes for a moment in concentration, and she gasped as his appearance began to change. His beautiful, vibranium-laced red skin was replaced with a pale, human skin tone. He grew hair, blonde and soft-looking. The Mind Stone was no longer visible, and when he opened his eyes again, they were a piercing blue, without the mechanical movements in them that she was used to.

Wanda reached hesitant fingers up to touch his face, tracing them over his jaw as if to make sure he was still real.

"How?" she asked, incredulously.

"The Mind Stone allows me to manipulate my own synthetic material," he explained, looking somewhat bashful. "It is similar to how I create my clothing, and was a simple thing once I realized I could do it. The difficulty is in getting the details correct. Human bodies are such amazing constructs."

"It's amazing," she breathed, running her fingertips through his hair. Vision held still, allowing her to explore him to her content.

"I take it you approve of my disguise," he said softly. His voice was teasing, but the sense she got from him was of sadness. Startled, Wanda looked at him, briefly exploring his emotions through their link.

"I approve of it," she said slowly," because it will allow us to be together, but you are quite handsome either way, my Vision." She stroked her fingers over his jaw once more. "I think I prefer the red, though. It's my favorite color, after all," she said, grinning flirtatiously. She could feel the way Vision's feelings changed at her words, his happiness returning as he realized she liked him exactly as he was.

"Thank you, Wanda," he whispered, letting his form change back to his original appearance. Wanda leaned against his arm and closed her eyes.

"I'm going to try to sleep," she said. "Wake me when we get close?"

"Of course," Vision said, putting his arm around her and pulling her closer. She sighed and settled against him, letting his presence, both physical and mental, soothe her into sleep.