Chapter three! These are short chapters but that's kinda of the point. It'll be quick. I wanna give a shout out to ThePrinceAlwaysGetsTheGirl and dhnysports88 for following and favoriting. And yes, most of this is from the movie. So sue me, it's not mine anyway. Quick reminder, Spoken Sokovian, Mental Sokovian. Let's keep going.
A full twenty four hours had past already and Wanda had yet to hear from Steve or Sam about the search for James. The anxiety was running rampant. She was tempted to try and call them but she knew doing that could be bad. If they happened to be doing something dangerous or stealthy she didn't want it to distract them or get them caught. She would hope they let her know if they found Steve's friend. She knew what would happen if they didn't get to him first. She also refused to acknowledge that particular scenario.
So she'd kept herself busy. She'd cleaned, ran around with her daughter outside and played in the pool both days. Today, once cleaning off the chlorine from her child she'd prepared some light snacks for Jamie. Her brother was mysteriously absent most of the day, but she knew he was checking and re-checking different paths they might have to take in the event that they needed to leave quickly. He was not happy about staying a few days but she promised herself that if Steve didn't return in two more days she would leave with her daughter and Pietro.
After lunch Jamie took her nap which provided Wanda the perfect time to pack a bag. She had her go-bag, for when she needed to leave immediately on a mission, but also a larger duffle bag. This one she packed with more clothes, essentials. Having spent time living on the streets with her brother she knew which items and clothes were priority. Under things ranked higher than pants or shirts, though the few shirts, pants, and jackets she did pack were made of tougher material, durable and less prone to tear.
If she had to guess, she would say seventy percent of the bag belonged to Jamie. Like with her own wardrobe she picked pants, jackets, shirts and footwear that were tough and would last longer. As much as she didn't want to, she's packed a few toys and items that would hopefully keep Jamie busy, a difficult task given her high intellect.
One thing she did pack was a small yet highly efficient first aid kit along with antibacterial disposable body wipes that they sometimes used on missions. Once again her past experiences taught her that she may not have access to a bath or shower of some type. Thus the wipes. She finished and stashed the bags away in her large closet where she knew Pietro could find them. Considering how fast he was, he would be the one to grab their bags if they needed to make a get away.
It was a little after one that Jamie woke up from her nap and Wanda whisked her out to see what Pietro and Vision were doing. Her brother was once again running around the compound, finding spots of weakness and seeing who would be around for the day. Usually the other employees went home around five, leaving the Avengers the only ones on the grounds but with everything that was happening Pietro wanted to make sure of who was coming and going.
"Shall we go see what Vision is doing?"
Wanda's answer got a shrug and a slightly disgruntle look from Jamie. With her daughter's dislike of the android and her general post-nap grumpiness the Sokovian mother was sure that this interaction would fail but Jamie was fairly well-behaved around Vision, mostly because she didn't want to get scolded by Wanda. The curly-haired toddler treated him with indifference and slight mumbles under her breath. She was never loud enough to be properly heard by Wanda or any of the other Avengers, thus she couldn't be reprimanded by them. Wanda was certain she did it on purpose.
Together they found Vision in the kitchen cooking, something Wanda had never seen him do. It made her slightly hesitant but she kept going. The smell was familiar as she got nearer, setting her daughter in one of the stools at the island. Granted it was highly dangerous to place a child Jamie's age in something that wasn't a highchair made for babies but as they had discovered in the past none of the normal human child standards applied to the girl.
"Is that paprikash?" No wonder it smelled familiar, her mother made it often in her childhood but in regards to Vision's version the scent was a bit off.
"I thought it might lift your spirits."
With everything that was happening Wanda was indeed high strung, worried about several things at once. She resolved to hide it better. Stepping into the kitchen she grabbed a paper plate and poured out some Goldfish crackers from a cabinet for Jamie, placing it in front of her. While her daughter nibbled, gray-blue eyes watching Vision's every move, she gave the simmering pot a stir, bringing the spoon close. A few blows of air cooled it enough for her to taste and she sipped at the sauce. Definitely not paprikash.
It was a noble try on his part. She nodded, giving a soft smile. "Spirits lifted."
"In my defense, I've never actually cooked or eaten anything before…"
"May I?"
Vision gave up quickly, retreating to the end of the kitchen counter while she studied the herbs and spices he had gathered around. Jamie was still eating, her head turning to keep sight of the brightly colored man.
"Wanda?"
The Sokovian female hummed at his voice, adding a green dried herb to the sauce. Hopefully that would counteract the overabundance of the other spices used.
"No one dislikes you Wanda."
Looking up she crinkled an eyebrow in slight confusion, casting a glance at Jamie who seemed rather offended by Vision. For being so young she actually understood how Vision talked, more so than some of the other Avengers. "Thank you." It was all Wanda could say to his particular comment.
"Oh you're welcome. It's actually an involuntary response in their amygdala. They can't help but be afraid of you."
Her stirring paused, lips turned downward. Jamie looked highly affronted at his words, completely abandoning her crackers in favor of giving Vision her best glare. On her daughter it was adorable. The older, masculine, version was anything but.
She started to stir again. "Isn't every one?"
"Well, I have a synthetic amygdala so…"
She smiled at his attempt but it didn't do much. People could be afraid of her, she would deal with it, but in extension people would be afraid of Jamie. And she didn't want her child to be scared.
"You know, before Strucker, before this…" She lifted a hand, letting the red wispy vapor dance around her knuckles before calling it back into her body, "I use to be sure of who I was. But afterward, I'm not so sure. I became something…else. I am still me, I still hate moths and love eating bananas with peanut butter. But others don't see that. And they won't see it in Jamie."
The girl in question was still glaring but this time her eyes were bouncing back and forth between her mother and Vision, taking in the conversation.
Vision nodded at her words, than pressed fingers to his forehead. "Thor called this an infinity stone but I don't know what it is. Not completely. But what I do know is that is not of Earth, it gave power to Loki's staff, and gave you your abilities but no one really knows what it is. Its true nature is a mystery to me. But even with all that, it's an intricate part of me."
She studied him for a second. "Are you afraid of it?"
"I wish to understand it. The more I do, the less it controls me. And perhaps one day, I may even control it."
Wanda was sure Vision was comparing the stone with her powers. How if she understood herself, she would have more control over the crimson swirls of energy that twisted and turned within her. But that wasn't all she heard.
He answered that he wanted to understand the unexplainable gem and that one day control it. Was that how people saw her? A unexplainable mystery to be poked at until all its secrets laid open to see? And what would happen when all was learned? And what of Jamie?
Feeling unsettled, Wanda turned off the stove and moved the hot pan onto one of the other coils. She gave a false smile. "Sorry to tell you Vis, but whatever's in this, it isn't paprika."
He looked confused for a second and Wanda used that time to walk around and pick up Jamie. "I'm gonna go to the store. I'll have Pietro watch Jamie and I should be back in twenty…" She trailed off when Vision shimmered through the breakfast bar and solidified in her path.
"Perhaps, alternatively, we could order pizza?"
Her head tilted, watching his body language. He was tense. "Vision, is there a reason you're not letting me leave?"
He looked down. "It's a matter of safety."
Wanda smiled at the kind offer but she'd been trained too well. "I can take care of myself." She moved to dodge around Vision only to have him once again block her path.
"Not yours."
Wanda took a step back from him, her arms tightening around her daughter as she maneuvered Jamie so that she was bodily between them. She could feel her emotions bubbling, enough that she leaked slightly through the link with her twin.
"Wanda?"
She pushed the dread and fear further down. The last thing she needed was Pietro getting involved. "Vision?"
"Until the Accords are on a more secure foundation, Mister Stark would like to avoid the possibility of another public incident."
Stark. Always Stark. This time she felt anger and she carefully morphed her expression into the blank mask that Natasha had taught her. "You may order pizza if you wish, I have lost any appetite."
This time he did allow her to pass, intent on reaching the sanctuary of her and Jamie's room. Little arms wrapped themselves around her neck and Wanda didn't have to see her daughter to know that she was glaring back at Vision with an expression that would be highly intimidating when she was older.
"Stupid Toaster."
Wanda had no urge to correct her daughter.
She'd only been in her room for an hour when Pietro called for her.
"Wanda, come to my room. Leave Jamie."
It was Steve, it had to be. Or something horrible had happened, another explosion. Had Steve not made it in time? Pushing back her fear and anxiety Wanda crouched next to her daughter as the girl colored. The book had pictures of various animals but they were all labeled in Italian. A teaching tool of Natasha. "Jamie I will be right back, okay? Stay and color for me, yes? If you need anything let Friday know, okay?"
Jamie's eyebrows were furrowed, no doubt trying to figure out why her mother was asking such a thing from her, but she nodded and continued coloring. "Okay, Mama."
Satisfied, Wanda got up and went to leave, giving one last command, "F.R.I.D.A.Y, can you watch her?"
"Of course Wanda."
The trip fifty feet down the hall was antagonizing but entering Pietro's room was somehow worse.
The news anchor was talking about the chase that had occurred three hours ago, showing videos taken by people of three blurs racing on a busy street. Wanda recognized Steve immediately by his shield and uniform as he raced by one camera. In the next video Sam was shown, wings spread wide as he maneuvered above moving cars. Another video recorded Steve once again running but this time behind two other people. She didn't know who the middle person was, covered in black with silver highlights, but they had to be an enhanced if they could keep up with their leader. But it was the first man that caught her attention.
Dark clothing, long hair, and a silver left hand. James. Whoever was in all black was chasing after him, Steve chasing them both in turn. The ex-Hydra man walked over a car in one video, another showed him snatching a motorcycle from its rider. Wanda couldn't help be impressed by that. But that was as far as her amusement went.
The next video showed the chase to be over, Steve, James, and the third unknown man surrounded by law enforcement and Colonel Rhodes as War Machine amongst them, glowing palms pointed at their leader and his friend.
"This was three hours ago?" Wanda couldn't look away as Sam joined Steve, gun pointed at his back. She was in disbelief as Steve, Captain America, was arrested. Couldn't help her flinch as James was forced to his knees then stomach while men in black tactical gear placed restraints on him.
"It gets worse." Pietro changed the channel to another station, only to find out that James had escaped custody forty minutes ago, but that also Steve and Sam were missing and labeled fugitives.
"What is happening Pietro?"
He was watching the television with narrowed eyes. "I don't know. The CIA won't say what happened at their building of course but we can't wait any longer. They may come here for us as we haven't signed. We need to leave. Soon."
Wanda nodded feebly as the video of the three men being arrested was shown again. "Tonight. We'll leave tonight."
Pietro nodded. "I'll call the old man-"
Wanda latched onto his wrist. "No. Clint is retired. He has his family. We can't bring this on him."
Pietro raised an eyebrow at her in question. "Who then?"
She let go, focused back on the screen as Sam, Steve, and James were arrested mere feet from Colonel Rhodes. "No one. We're on our own."
Just to be clear, this fic won't have romance. At least I don't think. I haven't decided. But if there was, it wouldn't be Wanda and Vision. No offence to anyone out there but I'm not a fan of that pairing. Anyways, really only two or three more chapters left. Poor people reading jinXed are probably sad I haven't been updating. Let me know what you think! Peace out. -Mez
