Wanda decided she did not like having time to herself. With nothing to do, and nowhere to go, her mind kept wandering back to unpleasant memories she preferred not to revisit. After a desultory workout in the gym, she returned to her own room, and flopped down on the bed with a heavy sigh. She stared disconsolately at the open door that led from her room to Natasha's. Wanda knew that Natasha had gone back to New York in part for Wanda's benefit - but they had been together constantly since leaving Sokovia, and without Natasha's calming influence, Wanda felt very alone and very vulnerable. She felt her new friend's absence keenly. Without realizing it, she curled herself up in a tight little ball on the bed, crying softly; and after a few moments, fell sound asleep.
It was hunger that awoke Wanda several hours later. Her body had stiffened in her abnormal sleeping position, and she uncurled herself gingerly, stretching out her limbs, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She had no idea what the rules of the compound were concerning meals, but it was now late afternoon, and she'd had nothing since breakfast. She wandered into her private bathroom, splashed cold water on her face from the sink, regarding her own reflection in the mirror. Wanda seldom took note of her own appearance, but now she was curious. She hardly felt like she knew herself any more, and she was even more disquieted to sense that she really didn't know the young woman who was staring back at her. Who was she? What did she really want? And what was she going to do now?
She returned to the main room a few minutes later, changed into the nicer outfit she'd worn earlier that morning. She didn't want to prowl the kitchen wearing her sweaty workout clothes. She was just about to leave when the intercom chimed.
"Hey, Wanda, it's Maria Hill. I thought since Natasha's still in New York, you might want some company for dinner. Would you like to join me in the dining room in twenty minutes?"
That was a kindness Wanda didn't expect. Realizing she didn't actually know how to work the intercom, she pressed what she hoped what the response button.
"Yes, thank you. I would like that very much."
"Great. See you there."
Wanda crumpled on the bed. Every one of these people was so kind to her - in the subtlest, simplest of gestures - and she had wanted so badly to destroy them all, without really knowing anything about any of them. How could she ever possibly find a place here, amongst these good people? What could she ever say or do, to be worthy of their trust? To say nothing of repaying their kindness, or at the very least, expressing gratitude for it. While in Strucker's 'care', she had simply done whatever was expected of her; if she didn't, she was beaten. No one save her brother ever asked her how she felt, or showed her the least courtesy or consideration, beyond being the means to an end. These Avengers... they did not imprison her, they did not abuse her, they showed no signs of wanting to take revenge against her for the harm she had done to them... what was she to make of that? Natasha had said, very openly and honestly, that they wanted to make use of Wanda's powers for their own purposes. That, at least, Wanda understood. But their ulterior motives were unconcealed, and every one of the people she'd met here treated her like a person, as if her health and well-being actually mattered. Such kindness left Wanda feeling strangely vulnerable, and uncertain how to respond. She returned to the bathroom, to make herself as presentable as possible for dinner.
When she entered the dining room a short while later, Wanda found Maria setting out two plates on the small round table nearest the kitchen. She looked up and smiled.
"It's just you and me tonight," Maria said, almost apologetically. "Cap's on a conference call to Norway. And Sam and Clint are still working down in the training center. I don't know what they're planning for you, but they're certainly making a mess. Have a seat."
Wanda shyly slid into one of the chairs. The meal that Maria had set out was a grilled chicken breast, asparagus spears, and a simple garden salad. Wanda felt her mouth watering.
"I'm not much of a cook," Maria admitted, seating herself. "I only know how to make about five things. I hope this is okay."
"This looks wonderful," Wanda assured her.
"Then dig in, please. We have some dinner rolls around here too, if you'd like any of those."
"This is fine," Wanda murmured, taking a bite of the chicken. The meat had been perfectly cooked and seasoned. She sighed softly with sheer pleasure, and Maria smiled.
"Glad you like it. You won't have to suffer with my cooking, or Sam's, after tomorrow. We'll have an entire support staff coming out here to help us maintain this facility - including a full time chef. So you're going to see a lot of new faces around here. Just so you know."
"That's all right. It will be nice to have people around."
They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes; when the meal was winding down, Maria ventured a question. "So, what do you think of the room you're in? Would you like to keep it?"
"Keep it?" Wanda seemed confused. "You mean, it's mine?"
"It is, if you want to stay there. You can actually choose any open suite, but whichever one you choose is going to be your living quarters. You'll be allowed to furnish or decorate the space any way you want."
Wanda was astounded. "I - I don't know what to say," she floundered.
"The reason I'm asking is, if you like the room you're in, I'll code your palm print tonight, so that only you have access. Give you some privacy."
"Will Natasha still be next door?"
"She's planning to stay there. As far as I know."
"I've never had my own place before."
Maria smiled. "Really? Well, it's nice. To have your own private place to put your feet up, just to relax or think or do whatever... it's a real luxury."
"Yes, it is," Wanda agreed, the concept momentarily overwhelming her.
"We also need to set up a bank account for you, since you're now officially on the team."
"I'm getting paid?"
"Well, everyone else is, so there's no reason you shouldn't be, too. It's not much," Maria cautioned. "But it should be enough for beer or candy or whatever your particular vice is. We'll have to put it in some kind of holding account for you, though. You're not officially a citizen or even a resident of the United States, and we want to protect your financial holdings - meager as those are - from any asset seizure while there are still criminal trials still pending against you."
"Who's paying me?" Wanda asked in bewilderment.
"We used to be funded directly through S.H.I.E.L.D. Right now, though, we're all technically employees of the Stark Foundation."
Wanda slumped in her chair in utter dismay. "Tony Stark."
"Actually, no," Maria answered. "The Foundation was started by the Stark family, but Tony doesn't run it, and legally he can't touch it or have anything to do with it. The company is managed by Pepper Potts. You haven't met her yet, have you? She's great. I'll make sure to introduce you the next time she visits." Maria frowned. "Is there a problem?"
Wanda shook her head and straightened up. She didn't know the true lay of the land - not yet. It was best to withhold judgment until she had a better sense of where she was, and her true place in this new group. "No. No problem. I'm just - it's a little overwhelming."
Maria mulled that over in silence for a few moments.
"I probably shouldn't tell be telling you this," she admitted finally, "But Steve and Natasha both think the world of you. They're the reason you're here, and not sitting in a jail cell somewhere. You're among friends, Wanda. Nobody here thinks you're the enemy." She paused. "I'm sorry you've lost your family. And I know that right now it seems like the entire world has turned upside down. But hang on tight. Ride out the craziness. Everyone on this team thinks there's a place for you here, me included. And if you need help with anything, anything at all, ask. Don't be afraid. We're a team. That means, we have your back. Just like one day, you'll have ours."
Wanda blinked furiously, her eyes brimming with tears. "I - I don't know how to say thank you," she admitted.
"You want to say thank you? Then bring your 'A' game every day. Your absolute best effort. When Steve or Sam or Nat ask you to do something, give it everything you've got. Even if you think you have nothing left to give - keep pushing, as hard as you can. You have a real opportunity here - an opportunity few people ever get. Make the most of it. We're not expecting you to be perfect. All we want to see is sincere effort. You do that, everything else will take care of itself. And that will be thanks enough."
Maria saw that Wanda needed a moment to bring her roiling emotions in check, so she waited patiently with a tolerant smile. When it seemed that Wanda was calmer, she asked, "Okay, so, are we good?"
"We're good," Wanda nodded tearfully.
"We're all in?" Maria held out her hand in a welcoming gesture.
"All in," Wanda managed a smile, clasping Maria's hand and squeezing it tightly.
"All right, then. Hold that thought. I think there's two slices of fresh apple pie left in the fridge. I was planning to save them for the boys," Maria said with a wicked grin, "But I think you and I are going to steal them instead."
In the conference room, Steve Rogers turned on the wall monitor, and touched a few symbols on the control panel in front of him. A few moments later, an older man's bewildered face appeared on the screen.
"Captain America. Well. I must say, this was not a call I was expecting."
"Good morning, Doctor Selvig. Good to see you again."
Erik Selvig smiled. "I'm delighted to hear from you, Captain, but I gather this isn't a social call."
"It's not. I need your help."
"Anything I can do for you, or the Avengers, I'll be happy to assist."
"I'd like you to join us here in the States for a short time - possibly for a few weeks."
"Certainly. May I ask why?"
Steve sighed. "This is going to sound a little far-fetched, so bear with me."
"Of course."
"There is an android here - a synthetic being - whose sentience is apparently being powered by the Infinity Stone that was originally part of Loki's scepter."
Selvig's eyes went wide. "Oh, dear Lord."
"The android is known as the Vision. He appears to be a fully functioning artificial intelligence, and as near as we can determine, he's not hostile."
"This is extraordinary news, Captain."
"I'd like you to work with the Vision. Conduct some research on his capabilities. But most importantly, determine if he is as benign as he claims to be."
"You have reason to doubt him?"
"Not by his actions, no. But in my experience, nothing good has ever come from that stone."
"Ah. That is a concern I understand only too well." Selvig frowned. "But I'm no expert in AI, Captain. Surely you have other researchers in other disciplines who could conduct such assessments for you."
"We do, and I'm reaching out to them, as well. But you know more about Infinity Stones than possibly anyone else on Earth. You have actual, practical experience in their use - and their influences. You've seen them at work, know how they function. You are probably the only scientist I know who could give me a recommendation what to do with what is, for all practical purposes, a new life form."
"And what are the alternatives?"
"Let the Vision continue to function, not just as a person, but possibly as a member of the Avengers team, or... tear him apart. Rip out the stone, quarantine it somewhere, and disassemble the entire body."
"Those are... rather extreme options, Captain."
"They're not options I've considered lightly. Thor's recommendation was to keep the Vision intact. But very frankly... before I take any action... I could really use a second opinion."
"I will gladly place my services at your disposal."
Steve sighed with relief. "Thank you, Doctor. I'll have Maria Hill make arrangements to have you flown out here to our facility. Start thinking about any equipment you might need to conduct your research. We'll be in touch."
"Very good. I look forward to seeing you."
"Yeah. Me too."
Steve disconnected the call, and stared pensively at the tabletop for several moments, a thoughtful frown on his face. Then, with a sigh, he stood up, and strode purposefully from the room.