AN: Enjoy!
"So.." Wanda offered Vision her hand, "I suppose we go back in and tell Doctor Strange that we'll stick around for a while.."
Vision took the Princess's hand without thinking. He knew he shouldn't have.. that he shouldn't let the lines between them blur. But he took her hand, because she was clearly nervous, and she needed him.
He had to protect her. He had to.. The voice in his head hadn't stopped telling him so since their escape through the forest.
So, he took her hand.
"We do.. and if it doesn't work out, we will run away and find somewhere quiet for you to start over."
"We will?" Wanda raised an eyebrow at him.
"Of course" Vision nodded. "I promised that I would get you somewhere safe. So, you're stuck with me until you feel safe."
Wanda blushed, but smiled again, and Vision felt his heart skip a beat.
"Well.. I guess there are worse people to be stuck with than you, Vizh."
When Wanda and Vision re-entered the Library, Doctor Strange immediately stood, opening his mouth to say something, but once again, the Princess stopped him.
"I still don't really believe in all this 'Scarlet Witch' stuff, but if.. if you can help me get a handle on the things I can do, I might think about discussing it again."
"Of course" Doctor Strange smiled. "We can help both of you attain greater control."
"Both of us?" Vision frowned, confused.
"Yes, both of you" Strange repeated. "You, Vision, have only scratched the surface of what you can do with the Mind Stone."
"I have?"
"Well.. What have you done with it so far?"
"I can walk through walls.."
"And there was that energy beam thing in the Forest.." Wanda pointed out.
"Well, yes.." Vision continued, "There's that, but I've only done that the once, and I have no idea how I did it, or how to do it again.."
"As I expected" Doctor Strange chuckled. "Just scratching the surface. The Stone can not just decrease your density, allowing you to become intangible, but increase your density as well, which will make you a heavy hitter if the need arises. It might even be possible to fly."
"Really?" Vision's strange eyes widened.
"Really. Follow me."
As the Sorcerer turned to leave, Wanda and Vision shared a look, then shrugged, following him from the room.
Doctor Strange led them to one of the many rooms filled with unusual objects, stopping in front of a case containing a golden circlet, with an empty space where it looked like some sort of jewel should be. And, Vision couldn't help but notice, the empty spot looked just the right size and shape for his Stone.
As if reading his mind, Doctor Strange removed the circlet from it's case and handed it to Vision. Vision pulled the Mind Stone from his pocket and, as expected, it fit perfectly into the circlet.
"We believe this belonged to the Mind Stone's original keeper" Doctor Strange explained. "It should help to channel and control the Stone's power more effectively. Try it on."
Vision did so, the Mind Stone now perfectly positioned in the centre of his forehead.
The circlet suited him, Wanda thought, a perfect fit, like it was meant to be his.. And the Princess felt a sudden unpleasantness in the pit of her stomach. Because if she really wasn't the Scarlet Witch, then Vision was supposed to be somebody else's protector.. And she found she didn't like that idea very much at all. She shook her head, that was a silly thought, she had no claim on him..
"So" She forced a smile, "Do you have anything like that for me? A nice bracelet or necklace?"
"Unfortunately, no" Doctor Strange replied. "Your power is not channelled through any object. Control must come from within yourself. My first piece of advice to you, Princess, is to stop thinking of your powers as things that 'just happen'. You must accept them as a part of you."
"Right.." That was not exactly the answer Wanda had been hoping for.
"It will take hard work.. Wong and I have some things to get organised. We will begin training you Tomorrow. For Today, explore, get to know the Sanctum.. Just, try not to touch anything dangerous." Strange swept out of the room.
"Wait!" Vision called after him, "How do we know what's dangerous?"
"Good point.. Maybe just don't touch anything for Today, okay? Good."
Once again, Vision and Wanda shared a slightly nervous look.
The pair roamed through the building together at first, but after a while, felt comfortable enough to split up and explore alone for a bit.
While Wanda explored the rooms, inspecting the unusual objects but not touching anything, Vision returned to the Library. He browsed the shelves, eventually finding a book about the Mind Stone and taking it down, beginning to read.
Sometime later, Wanda joined him, sitting across from him.
"You can read?"
"A woman named Miss Carter taught me.. Your Mother used to send her out to the Orphanages."
"I remember her talking about that" Wanda smiled softly. "Interesting book?"
"The Stone certainly has a lot of history.. " He blushed, making the stone stand out even more on his forehead. "Belonging to the Sweethearts of various Scarlet Witches.."
Wanda blushed too, but her lips tugged upwards in a shy, cheeky smile.
"Really?"
"It seems so.. uh.. according to this.. Maybe.. If there's anyone else you'd want to give it to instead.."
"No. It picked you for a reason."
"You're starting to believe in the Scarlet Witch, then?" Vision peeked at her over the top of his book.
"No, but.." She reached over, lightly touching the Stone. It grew warm, as if responding to her. "This suits you."
"Well.. uh.." He was blushing quite furiously. "T-Thank you, Wanda."
"Mmm.. You didn't happen to find where they keep the food, did you? I'm starving.."
"Of course" Vision jumped to his feet. "I'll help you get there.."
Yes, he thought to himself, inwardly groaning, his 'not blurring lines' plan was going just swimmingly..