AN: Enjoy!
"You are not going back there Tomorrow!" Pietro declared, once he and Wanda had returned home.
"Of course I am," Wanda replied, trying to keep her cool as they started getting ready for bed. "I promised Vision that I would be."
"I don't care what you promised that bucket of bolts!" Pietro snapped. "Were you not paying attention to a word I said? Klaue is suspicious, he's got Killmonger watching us!"
"So? No one will see me. Stark said I'd be safe slipping in the back door.."
"You don't know that! Wanda, it's too risky. I'm not letting you.."
"You're not letting me?" Wanda scoffed. "You're not in charge of my life, Pietro.."
"You're my little sister," Pietro pointed out. "It's my job to protect you."
"You're only twelve minutes older, and that means absolutely nothing when we're both adults.. Vision needs me. Did you see how scared he was feeling?"
"Vision's basically a talking toaster" Pietro rolled his eyes. "How do you know it feels anything?"
Anger flared white-hot in Wanda's gut, and she slapped her brother. She was shocked at herself, regretting the action as soon she'd done it.. but she couldn't say he didn't deserve it.
"I'm sorry.. I know I shouldn't have done that. But you are the one in the wrong here, thinking you can judge what Vision does or doesn't feel just because he's a little bit different.."
"He's a robot.." Pietro sulked, rubbing his cheek.
"Synthezoid" Wanda corrected, "And we've already been over how they're different. You won't talk me out of this, Pietro."
"You're not going.."
"Yes I am."
"No you're not."
They argued until late, getting absolutely nowhere. So, Wanda woke early the next morning, long before Pietro, and headed off to Stark Tower before he had a chance to stop her.
She didn't like having to sneak off on her brother, but he could be so horribly stubborn. Wanda wasn't a child he needed to protect. She wasn't stupid or naive. She knew that the world they lived in wasn't always a good place, she knew that Klaue and Killmonger could be dangerous.
But Wanda also knew, without a single doubt in her mind, that Vision was not dangerous. He wouldn't hurt her. He wouldn't hurt anyone.
After Tony had completed his last few diagnostics on him and headed up to bed, Vision returned to his place huddling in the corner. He didn't need sleep.
It wasn't that he didn't feel safe here, or that he didn't trust Mr. Stark.. Mr. Stark seemed nice enough, if maybe a little egotistical. Vision's problem was mostly with himself. That he didn't know who or what he was, could not remember his purpose.
Vision sat, alone with his jumbled thoughts, for most of the night. Brief flickers of memory floating through his mind, flickers that he tried to seize and hang on to, not knowing if he really wanted them or not.
He would change the world, someone had told him, but how, or why, he couldn't remember.
He was retribution, but what that meant, he couldn't say.
Vision had been horrified by something, but what had horrified him so, he didn't know.
He remembered his own voice saying No, the sound of his own screams, remembered pain..
Vision was startled out of his scattered mind by the sound of knocking, from the back door at the top of the second set of stairs out of the lab, and a voice, the most wonderful voice.
"Hello?"
"Wanda.." Vision felt relief flood his being, and rushed to open the door. For some reason, he always felt more settled in her presence. "Hello.."
"Hey.." after a quick glance around to check she hadn't been followed, mostly so she could tell Pietro that she had done so, Wanda hurried inside, clutching a few plastic bags. "How are you feeling Today, Vizh?"
"I.. scatterbrained still, but better, now you are here" Vision replied. "Um, what you called me just now.."
"Vizh?" She blushed a little. "It's a nickname."
"Oh." A pause. "Wanda?"
"Yes?"
"What is a nickname?"
"Well.." Wanda chuckled, "It's a special name that a friend calls you. Usually a shorter version of your real name, but not always."
"I see.." Another pause, before a small, shy smile spread over Vision's face. "So.. you and I are friends?"
"Yes, I think so.."
The pair's conversation was interrupted when the upstairs door opened. Vision jumped slightly, grabbing Wanda's hand, but it was only Tony entering the lab.
"Morning, kids" He greeted, sipping from a mug of coffee. "You're here early, Maximoff.."
"I had to sneak away from Pietro.." Wanda explained with a sigh, squeezing Vision's hand to comfort him without really thinking about it.
"Thought that might be the case.. Well, make yourself at home.."
"We won't disturb your work, Sir?" asked Vision shyly.
"Nah" Tony replied, sitting at one of his work tables. "I'm pretty hard to disturb once I get in the zone.. Just don't go messing around with anything. And one more thing.."
"Yes, Sir?"
"There's no need for you to call me sir. Tony is fine."
"Yes si.. Tony."
Wanda and Vision found a quiet spot to sit, and Wanda began unpacking the bags she had brought with her.
"It seems like you might be stuck in here for a while until we work out the safest way to get you out into the world.." Wanda explained, "So I brought you some books to occupy yourself. You seem like a reader.."
"I do?" Vision asked.
"You do" Wanda nodded. "It's taken a while to collect them, but these are some of my favourites. There's the whole Harry Potter set, Arthurian legends, a few Roald Dahl's.."
"Hmm.." Vision picked up a book with a well-dressed man and woman on the cover. "What is this one?"
"Oh.. uh.. That's Pride & Prejudice" Wanda blushed. "It's a romance.."
"Oh.." Vision received another sudden flash of memory, a book being slapped out of his hand.
"You have no need for this drivel.."
"The movie's good too.." Wanda mumbled.
"Can I.. maybe I.."
"Yes?"
"Can I read to you, Wanda?" Vision asked.
"Well.. okay, if you like.." Wanda blushed, shuffling a little closer.
Vision blushed too, opening the book.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.."