A week. It had been seven days since Vision had disappeared, with Josephine and the last of Siren seemingly vanquished in a watery, rubble-filled grave. She had been feeling for him all week, spent hours, full nights, searching for him. Her only response was a wall of silence.
Her main worry was that if he didn't know who or what he was, maybe he wouldn't understand the risk of going about in public without his disguise. When she wasn't seeking him out, she was flicking through news channels, worrying that Vision had been seen somewhere. But as the days passed now and there was no mention of him, she had gathered that he at least had enough sense to stay hidden from the public view, or in his human form so he wasn't noticed.
How was she going to go about this, when she did find him? He was now scared of her, believing that she had done something to harm him. She had seen the terror in his eyes, felt his fear, his pain. Josephine's distorted voice taunted her in her mind.
Harm him? More like blew him up!
Wanda felt her powers rising and she forced them back down, reminding herself that Josephine was most likely dead. She had seen her be carried away by a wave of water, and after they escaped, the bunker had partially collapsed and flooded entirely. Nobody had emerged from the wreckage, although some footprints in the mud indicated the people in the upper levels had escaped. And Josephine had been on the lowest floor. She had to be dead.
Wanda tried not to think about how Josephine had screamed in terror. It had been on her mind all week, that haunted, almost familiar look in those grey eyes. From what she had seen in her mind, it wasn't hard to figure out that Josephine had lost someone, or at at least witnessed a gruesome and horrible death by a monstrous creature. Wanda had heard the screams of a man, the sound of claws in human flesh growing louder as his cries more feeble. She hadn't seen enough to put together who Josephine lost, by what, and when, but she couldn't help but think she had heard the sound of that creature before.
Wanda shook herself, trying to forget about Josephine, remembering how evil that woman was, how she had caused Vision so much pain, poked around his memory, including more private memories between him and Wanda that no body else should see. Her sympathy was soon forgotten.
Vision had seen that image of her destroying him, but it had no context. He didn't remember the part where he had been the one to make it happen. She had never wanted to kill him. In fact, if he had never said it in the first place, he would only have had to die once. It was his fault...
Stop it. Wanda pushed aside that angry part of her. How was he to know about the time stone? And how could she be angry at him for something he didn't remember?
"Am I boring you, Maximoff? You seem to be zoning out." The small, unfriendly eyes of Thaddeus Ross glared at her from the column of blue light that was the hologram.
Wanda glowered back. No, I'm just thinking about how a crazy Hydra scientist resurrected, tortured and used Vision, as well as how he's now terrified of me because his only memory of me is where I was killing him. So yes, I'm a little distracted. She didn't respond, meeting his gaze steadily. I'm not afraid of you anymore.
Ross was another problem that had resurfaced in the last few days. No longer terrifying, as he would have been to her a few years ago - now that she was no longer on the run, he was just irritating, wasting her time with meetings she didn't need to attend, time that she could be using to locate Vision.
Why was he even bothered? Sam and Carol were doing most of the talking, so whether she was zoning out or not was irrelevant. What did he think she was doing? Plotting her evil plans, descending into madness, like the newspapers thought?
He had always been overly suspicious of her, as well as Vision. And after he found out, two of the world's most dangerous people falling in love did not sit comfortably with him. At least the hatred was mutual.
"Are you any closer to finding the assassin?" It wasn't really a question, but a demand.
"Of course we found them. And we are happy to report that they are dead. You're welcome." Carol said, cheerily.
"We found a bunker that belonged to an old Hydra enclave." Sam said, choosing his words carefully. "They blew it up after we left, but while we were in there, we found out who it was. It was just another Winter Soldier. We took care of the problem."
"And? Where's the body?" Ross demanded.
"Since when did you require evidence?"
"Not to mention carrying a dead body on all the way from Hudson Bay to New York is super creepy, especially when we didn't have a jet to fly it back on." Carol held back a smirk. "And this was a week ago, and we didn't exactly have a morgue built into this place. Where would we put it, in the freezer with the ice cream?" Sam had to disguise a snicker as a cough.
"I was merely inquiring." Lies, Wanda thought. "We would rather be sure they're dead by seeing the evidence. The bodies of dangerous individuals tend to go missing."
A few wisps of red light formed around Wanda's fingers - she knew exactly what he was referring to. A wave of rage crashed down upon her, and she stood up with such force that a few objects fell off the table. "You know what? I don't need to be present for this. Du-te dracului." She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her with her powers.
"What did she just say to me?" Ross asked.
"She said, have a nice day." Bucky lied, knowing full well it was Sokovian for, 'Fuck you.' As much as he wanted to berate Ross for the comment, he didn't want to risk exposing the secret, so he held his tongue. "The body is somewhere underneath all that rubble in a frozen wasteland. The Hydra group wanted to cover their tracks. They were always very thorough in destroying evidence. Believe me."
"This was a week ago, and there have been no assassinations. So unless someone else turns up dead, it's safe to say that the threat is over. We took care of it." Sam studied Ross' expression. His heart sank when he saw that Thaddeus Ross did not look convinced at all. It wasn't a solid cover story - but it was the best they had to protect Vision.
"So this bunker was obliterated, and you don't have the coordinates?"
"The quinjet crashed and the place was blown up. What more do you want?" Carol challenged, keeping her hands under the table so he couldn't see the gold light crackling in her fingers.
Ross continued to look suspiciously at all three of them. "...fine. I'll take your word for it. One final thing, do you know the location of Clint Barton? His passport was used at the JFK airport."
Sam shook his head. "Clint took his family on vacation for a few weeks. To get away for a while, after everything that's happened. So you're tracing passport use now?"
"It's none of your concern. We just want to keep an eye on security threats. Now, I have other matters to attend to." With that, Ross swiftly ended the call.
"Oh, sure." Bucky said, sarcastically. "A man who just took his family to Disneyland is a security threat." All three of them rose, opening the door to see Wanda pacing up and down, hands glowing red.
"I hope he doesn't Google what you just said to him."
"He knows. He fucking knows."
"He couldn't possibly know, and if he did, we would be able to tell -" Sam began, but Wanda snapped.
"Come on, we all thought it was Ava Starr because she could phase! All these deaths look like it could only an achieved by phasing. He wasn't ever happy with Vision's body being buried in Wakanda, even if it was a lie! What if he finds out? He'll have Vision killed! They'll take him apart, like they wanted to do at the beginning! "
"Hey, hey! That's not going to happen. Do you hear me?" Carol held her by the shoulders, stopping her pacing. "It's okay, he has no idea Vision is alive. And besides, they don't have actual proof any of these deaths were anything to do with him!"
Bucky stuck his head back inside the channel room, hearing a noise. "Carol? Someone's calling you." Carol looked to Sam and he nodded, moving forward to comfort Wanda as she went to take the call.
"Like Carol said, there's no evidence. Anyone could have done the same with hacking technology, security bypasses and a blunt object. If they did go after Vision, they would have to get past you first, and even if they did, a few guys with guns won't be able to do anything against either of you. Vision is safe for now."
"For how long?" Wanda replied, before she noticed Bucky, frowning as he listened to the call Carol was answering. "What's wrong?" Sam followed her gaze, and then all three of them began listening.
"...are you positive that's what's happening? Is it really that bad?"
Wanda recognised the voice of the woman who answered. It was Nebula, who she remembered from the battle and Tony's funeral.
"The Kree are rising again with a vengeance, and the Sovereign have created a new weapon. We need your help. We're doing all we can, but it's not enough." Wanda felt stones forming in her heart, knowing exactly what was going on.
"I... " Carol hesitated. "I don't know how long I'll be... but I'm on my way."
Wanda pushed the door open when the call ended. Her friend turned to look at her, a hand buried in her hair, eyes full of indecision and regret. "They need me."
"I understand. You have to go."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay." It had only been temporary from the beginning. Wanda hadn't wanted it to be, but she had known from the start that Carol couldn't stay for long. It could only be a flying visit while all was quiet in space, but now that a few months had passed, old tensions were resurfacing, and Carol was needed elsewhere. Wanda blinked rapidly to conceal the tears.
Not long after, they gathered on the lawn in the dark, Carol in her suit and ready to go. "I'll stop off in Lousiana, to say goodbye to Maria and Monica. Then I'll be off."
She knelt down, her face inches from Goose's. "I'm going to miss you. Try not to eat anyone's possessions while I'm gone." Bucky frowned, realising that his radio was missing, and he casted a suspicious look at Goose. Goose released a soft mew, bumping Carol repeatedly with his forehead.
"It's been great having you here, Carol. You've been incredible. God, we're going to miss you." Sam went to shake her hand, but Carol dragged him into a hug instead. She waved her other arm at Bucky and Wanda.
"Come on, you lot. I don't like individual goodbyes. Group hug!" She exclaimed, as Wanda and Bucky joined the embrace. As Sam and Bucky retreated, Carol suddenly took Wanda's hand, speaking in a low voice.
"My channel will be open if you ever need to talk." She looked to the sky, and then back at her. "I don't want to leave you to deal with this on your own. I'll try come back whenever I can. I'm sorry - time really isn't on my side..."
"Time never is." Wanda murmured. "I'll be alright. Thank you, Carol. For everything you've done and said to me over these last months."
Carol went to say something, but then seemingly changed her mind and stepped back, picking up her bag and turning, about to go. Then she stopped, standing very still for a moment, before suddenly whirling round, and running to give Wanda one final hug.
"Promise me something." Carol whispered. "I know what having amnesia is like. Strangers claim to be family, you revisit places people claim you've always known, and it's scary. It takes time. I know you'll find him, I believe in you. We all do. Be patient with him, but promise me you'll look after yourself as well. He may need looking after, but so do you. Good luck, my friend. You've been like a sister to me."
Finally, she blazed into the sky, and disappeared over the horizon.
Sam and Bucky went to Wanda's side. She stood on the lawn, hands in her pockets, gazing at the night sky. Bucky glanced at his watch and saw how late it was, and how pronounced the shadows under his friend's eyes were.
"Wanda, you're exhausted, you're making yourself sick with worry. It's not healthy to stay awake all night, straining your powers trying to find him."
"I'll be fine."
"He's right." Sam said, gently. "You need rest in order to focus. Go to bed. We can talk about plans tomorrow." Wanda went to protest, then she remembered what Carol said. Look after yourself. She had spent all week tossing and turning restlessly. She would pace or stay awake and try to feel where Vision was, when she couldn't sleep at all. She was exhausted. And Carol was right - she had to remember herself as well as Vision.
Wanda trudged inside, pausing to look at Carol's now-empty room, before going into her own and shutting the door.
She lay there in her bed, her mind going at a hundred miles an hour, tears pricking at her eyes. Wanda had a good friendship with both Sam and Bucky, but Carol was someone she could really confide in, really talk to. Like Natasha. Like a sister. And now she was gone...
She felt something jump into the foot of her bed. It was Goose, kneading his paws on her quilt. She briefly questioned how he got in, before noticing she hadn't shut her door properly. The ginger flerken looked at her with his big, sorrowful green eyes, mewing like a kitten.
"Are you missing her already?" She patted the pile of pillows on the empty side of her bed. "Scooch in." Goose crawled upwards, curling up in the empty space with a content purr. She stroked his head. "How am I going to do this? What if I never find him? He must be so scared and confused..."
She lay there, before deciding she would try and feel for him one final time for the night. Wanda closed her eyes and reached out, her mind stretching out across the world like an invisible hand.
Where did he go? She didn't know. She had no idea. America was a big place, she would never find him...
Without meaning to, she fell asleep.
Wanda dreamed of Scotland.
She saw the simple things. She dreamed of cold air and cobblestone pavements. She dreamed of constant rain and church spires. The outline of Edinburgh castle. Huddling together under an umbrella as the heavens opened. Her fingers lacing with his as they walked the streets. Running to embrace Vision the moment he stepped off the train.
It was a good dream, until she began see other moments in time, ones that weren't precious. Moments that had their own pages in her personal book of nightmares, pages she wanted to rip out and cast into the fire, but that wasn't easy when the book of nightmares was written in stone. There was no escape. The pleasant dream began to turn into hell.
An alien woman's face leering in hers, with a glowing spear ready to kill. Vision screaming as a blade came through his chest. Glass flying as they crashed through the roof of the same station Wanda had been walking him to that night. He never lived to miss another train... so why was he here, in Edinburgh, asleep behind a column of stone?
Wanda's eyes flew open as she sat, bolt upright with a gasp.
On the other side of the world, Vision woke with a start on a church roof.
Hey everyone, sorry this took so long. :)
As the end of this chapter might have hinted, we're off to Edinburgh in the next few chapters. I've been there myself and I love it there, so I'm excited to be taking the story somewhere that's familiar to me while having a throwback to the beginning of Infinity War.
For those wondering, Carol has gone back to space because we're going to focus more on Wanda and Vision's relationship from here on. Also, the 'Sokovian' Wanda spoke is Romanian, because it's close enough to where Sokovia is located in the MCU.
PS: I'm aware that Scotland is five hours ahead of New York, but I'm just going to ignore timezones to have whatever time of day setting needed for the story.