"You seem in a good mood," Vision observed, as Eva made that morning's coffee run for him while humming the score of Swan Lake.
"Makes a change, right?" she asked, changing the coffee filter.
"I couldn't possibly comment."
"Listen," she said, "I have a favor to ask, and I haven't… I haven't got anyone else to go to."
"I owe you," he said, "what is it?"
"You really don't, but- I'm gonna be out of town overnight tonight. Can you close my apartment window about ten? I would before I go, but otherwise Rachel Carson'd be trapped outside overnight."
"Of course I will. Do I need a key?"
"Nah, you can just push it shut from the outside and it'll lock automatically. Cap said you could fly, so I figured-"
"I'll try and be inconspicuous," said Vision, "it's what I'm good at."
She snorted. "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."
"Indeed it is, Eva. Where are you going?"
"My parents are in Boston," she said, "I promised I'd go meet 'em after they're done meeting with this big supermarket company they're making a car park for."
"You don't sound as though you approve."
"I don't. It's going over a greenfield site, but what can ya do?" she had been in similar situations before. "It'll be fine, I'll bite my tongue."
"Now that's something I'd like to see," said Vision, and she stuck her tongue out at him as she handed over the coffee.
"Hilarious. I'm actually kinda optimistic this time round, though. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?"
"Quite. Don't work yourself to death, Eva."
"I'll try not to." She watched him leave the shop, finding it was easy to keep an eye on him as he walked through the crowds.
"Mew."
"Shut it, Rachel Carson." Eva dumped her bag on the chair. "Y'know, this time I was actually kinda optimistic about meeting them, y'know? I thought, we've had time apart, we've all matured a bit, we can put aside our differences and be a normal family- but no. They're still as disappointed in me as ever." She laid face down on the floor. "I'm gonna have to go live in the woods, Rachel Carson. It's the only way."
"Mew."
"Oh, yeah. Water the plants." She grabbed the can and filled it up at the sink. "What about you Rachel Carson? Did you see Vision tonight?"
"Mew."
"Then you probably had a better night than I did. He's a cool guy." She opened the balcony door and started watering her petunias. "Weird, but cool. And he's sweet. I like him." She paused. "Not like that, obviously. He's a robot, and purple. But I actually have a friend now, y'know? An android superhero friend who wears a cape, but still a friend." She dropped the can and closed the door behind her, and Rachel Carson followed her to her tiny bathroom.
"Mew."
"I don't even know if he likes me. I mean, he seems like he likes everyone, but he could just be humouring me." She turned the shower on and began to strip off her clothes. "He probably is, actually. But I'm okay with that- it's not like anyone's gonna like me because of me."
She climbed into the shower; hot water beat down on her and she bowed her head into the stream, feeling it wash along her hairline and tattoos.
"Mew."
"Not that I don't like all the other supers. I mean, they're all either terrifying or complete pricks, but such is life. They make my work interesting, and I think if I just had to serve hipsters all day I would actually go insane. But Vision's the only one I'd choose to spend time with, except maybe Sam. But Sam's hot, so that doesn't count."
"Mew."
"Nah. I'm busy enough without having to deal with all the romance crap- I've still gotta revise this dissertation before I hand it in, and then since my family's useless I'll probably stay here which means looking for a job, and finding a job in agriculture in one of the world's most industrialised cities'll be a laugh."
"Mew."
"I was being sarcastic, Rachel Carson. Jeez." She turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around herself. "You think the Avengers need a gardener?"
"Mew."
"I ain't asking. It'd be like charity if I asked Vision, he's too nice to tell me to sod off and look for a job properly. No, I'll do it right. Coffee shop'll pay my way for now."
"Mew."
"Minimum wage don't mean squat when you've got billionaires who like to tip big."
"Mew?"
"Yes, Rachel Carson, that was a possessive and they are mine. I gotta look after 'em, keep 'em caffeinated so they're wide awake to save the world. Hell, I'm only so far away from packing their lunch every time they go for a mission."
A/N hey, you! Do you like a) badly written and abnormal OCs, b) short chapters that are 80% dialogue, and c) MCU!Verse fics? Of course you do, you're reading this! Do you also like I) Bucky Barnes and II) intense sexual tension? Then boy, do I have the fic for you! Check out "Finding Bucky", by your favourite author I-AM-SiriusLOCKED, on fanfiction dot net RIGHT NOW! (I'll love you 5ever)