Vision was terrified as he went to seat around the table. After all, this was his first time in front of the camera.
After 4 years of helping around multiple TV programs, his knowledge of media and technology was finally recognized.
Tony Stark, the former presenter and still producer of the Avengers Talk Show contacted him during the summer to offer him the job.
Of course he pondered the question a few days, but seeing the show was still quite modest in term of audience, and that he heard around that the crew had a real sense of friendship, he accepted.
So there he was, with his papers, ready to greet the guest, to talk about the subject of the day, and, of course, to meet his new team.
Steve Rogers, the historian, was the first one to enter.
After a long time being the face of American journalism, he left for a few years, avoiding the cameras. Vision heard during make up that the production paid a lot for him to make his come back on the show. Vision felt intimidated when he shook his hand.
« - H..hi, I'm Vision.
-Nice to meet you, Vision, I'm Steve, I hope you'll feel at ease here, if you need anything or have any question, don't hesitate to ask me.
- Thank you sir.
- Please call me Steve. »
Vision blushed.
« - Well, I'll think about that if I survive the season. »
It made Steve chuckled, then he took the seat to Vision's right.
There was 10 minutes left before the start of the show and Vision took this time to observe the set. There was still 5 chairs empty around the main table. The furniture were simple, but it was well placed, as if it was anyone's living room.
Behind the chair of what Vision thought was the presenter's one could see the kitchen side.
As you see the interest of the Avenger talk show was that Thor, the famous chief cooked something during the first part that the team and their guests ate during the second part. Mr Stark said it was like taking part of the family's dinner.
It was one of the aspect that scared Vision. He wasn't really into eating in front of the camera. Mr Stark said that no one was obligated and that he could just focus on asking questions to the guest.
Three more entered the stage. Vision recognized the first one. Natasha Romanov was a famous presenter, who worked a long time with Mr Rogers. An hairdresser was following her, the arms full of products and brushes.
The third one introduced himself as James Rhodes, a friend of Mr Stark.
Now that he thinks about it, Vision remembered Mr Stark's former cameraman and partner. Engaging small talk with him and Natasha, he learned that he had now his own Vox Pop sequence. Vision felt friendly energy from all his new colleagues and the stress he felt was slowly disappearing.
However, 2 minutes before the start, Natasha turned to him.
« - It's only my third year as a host but I have one good advice for you, newbie.
- What is it ? »
Natasha frowned.
« - Is my mic open ? I'm sure my mic is open and he's gonna hear it, ugh.
Just… just be careful of what you might say as soon as they put you the mic on. He hears everything and everything can be used against you. We all love him but he's a real demon. »
Vision gulped. Maybe he should have watched more of the show and not only the media interviews parts on Youtube.
« - Are you talking about… » He started before someone sitting on his left interrupted him.
« - Sam, she's talking about Sam Wilson. The humorist. »
Vision turned to see the last journalist sitting. Of course, he recognized her.
Wanda Maximoff was one of the most famous political analyst of the country. She had her own morning show on the radio, and everyone was always offering her numerous shows to participate on. Rumor has it that she was to be named woman of the year by some women business magazine.
But was Vision really saw first were her eyes. It felt like he was drifting in space.
He extended his hand to her, hiding the best he could that he was shaking.
« - Good evening, my name is Vision I'm…
- The new media journalist yes, I know. Wanda Maximoff. »
She shook his hand with energy then turned to talk to Natasha. Vision still felt the sensation of her skin into his palm.
Wow. He really shook Wanda Maximoff's hand. This show was probably the peak of his career. He needed to be the best version of himself.
« - Mr Rogers, isn't Mr Wilson coming today ? » He asked as the opening credits started to roll.
« - He comes in after the political guest's interview for his skit.
- I see. Is he really gonna listen to everything I say ? »
Steve put a hand on Vision's shoulder,
« - You have no idea. »
Vision couldn't say another world as Natasha began to present the show. Now was the time to shine, he thought.
Steve and Natasha were reactive during his first subject, asking him further questions, and opening debates.
Rhodes also seemed interested, and Vision did his best to return the favor when he presented his vox pop. Only Wanda seemed away, scribbling on her papers.
Vision felt a little hurt as he hoped she would have been interested, but he soon understood why. The political guest was coming and when it was finally the time for the interview, Wanda gave all she had.
Her questions were direct, her remarks sometimes offending, and the debate she had with the guest, the Secretary of States Thaddeus Ross was electric. She seemed in her element and every other journalist stopped talking mesmerized by the ease in Wanda was leading. Only Natasha dared to interrupted the debate, as a moderator.
When the host asked if anyone had any question Vision felt adrenaline rush down his body.
He had one.
A pertinent one.
That was it, that was his time to shine.
« - Well Mister Ross, I heard the military had been planning to collaborate more with scientists like Dr Bruce Banner to improve soldiers psychological well being after missions. Do you find those initiatives encouraging ? »
He felt proud.
Until he saw Rhodes' frown, Natasha grimacing and Wanda watching him as if he murdered her whole family.
« - Boy. » Ross began
« There's only one people in this world I profoundly disagree with everything he does. And that's Dr Banner. »
Ah.
Shit.
Wait. Did he said that out loud ? He hoped not.
Natasha abruptly ended the ongoing discomfort by thanking the guest and welcoming Sam to the set.
While watching the young humorist shaking the Secretary of States' hand and sitting down, Vision felt himself turn pale.
Will Sam make of him tomorrow because of his question ? What if he set another moment of uneasiness ? The show was supposed to be a feel good talk show. What if Mr Stark decided that he was too dense to be on TV ? What if he blew up his entire career with this one bad question ?
His hands were shaking under the table, until Wanda's own hand wrapped itself around them. He turned his eyes on her, and she looked at him sternly.
She tightened her hold of his hand before letting him go and focused on Sam.
Did she just… comforted him ?
The voice of Sam dragged him out of his thoughts. He seemed already into his speech. It seemed, as he looked into the screens that it was called : « The Debrief »
For the first Debrief of the season, Sam welcomed Vision and used the new member of the team as the way to remind every viewer of what happened to the show on the last season.
Sam talked about Natasha luxurious tastes, Steve's way of looking bored during some interviews, almost to the point of looking like he was falling asleep, but his main target seemed to be Wanda.
He pointed out how she never gives a damn about whatever Rhodes' vox pop was about, and more interested about what was on the menu for the dinning part.
Sam's skit was well written, funny to the point that even the ones that he was joking about were laughing. Wanda herself was even smirking.
« - So Vision » Concluded Sam, « I hope you will feel at home with our disastrous family in this absolute catastrophe of a talk show, »
Everyone around the table clapped and Natacha thanked him before launching the commercial break.
Then, a group of crew arrived with dinning sets, glasses and the dinner itself that Thor prepared. Vision had almost forgot about that. He still didn't felt enough at ease to eat while talking to the second guest.
Thankfully Natasha had a sort of happening prepared, so he guessed he had enough to talk about for tonight.
The dinning part went along smoothly mostly because the new guest was here, Bucky Barnes, a friend of Steve who was here to promote his new feature film set in Russia : « The Winter Soldier ». Vision asked a few questions about the movie and his career and Natasha hosted the happening : « The Hot or Cold Interview ». It wasn't very cerebral and Rhodey insisted it was going straight to tomorrow's « Debrief ».
As for Wanda she was eating as if she was alone in her world. How was she so at ease on set ?
At the end, Natacha gave her closing statement and everyone cheered for a successful premiere. As everyone stood up to leave the set, Vision went to Steve and Wanda.
« - So Vision, what did you think of your first talk show ? » Asked Steve
« - I…hem… honestly, I don't know. Do you think they will keep me ? »
Steve and Wanda laughed, and Vision felt self conscious. He sure was blushing, and no matter how many make up they would put on his face, once he started blushing, his whole face redden a lot.
He quickly thought about a reminiscence of his teenage years, when everyone would call him the weird tomato face.
This was past, but…
« - You really need to get a hold on yourself, newbie. No one is going to fire you because of one bad question or whatever's going on with your face right now. The worst that can happen to you is that you're the star of Sam's next Debrief, that's all. »
Steve smiled at Wanda's words, approving.
« - Miss Maximoff, I…
- Call us by our first names, c'mon. »
She smiled.
Wanda Maximoff smiled at him.
« - Well I'll see you guys tomorrow. I have to sleep early if I want to be fresh for my morning show.
- Say hello to Pietro for me ! » Asked Steve as she was leaving
"-Will do ! »
She really was something else.
Vision sighed as he left the studio.
He hoped Sam would be nice to him tomorrow.
Hoped that Mr Stark would keep him for the season
But he wished to see Wanda Maximoff smiled at him again.