Wanda jerked awake as her powers slammed a book across the room. She didn't remember the dream she'd been having, but it apparently wasn't a good one. She got out of her bed and put the book back where it had come from. She left her room and went to the kitchen to get some water.

She flinched as she heard a loud slam. She felt her magic crackle along her fingertips and she prepared to attack whoever was stupid enough to rob a place full of gifted people, some of the most dangerous in the world. She drifted forward on silent feet - she was floating actually - and headed for the main entrance. When she arrived, she froze, and a wave of hatred rolled over her as she stared at the Iron Man in front of her.

Wanda quenched her hatred when she remembered that Tony Stark was no longer an enemy, and that this was not his suit of red and gold. But she kept her guard up.

"Who are you?" she snapped, her eyes glowing red as magic danced in her hands.

The suit glanced up and his mask went back to reveal a face she slightly recognized.

"Woah, woah, woah. Hey. I'm Rhodey Rhodes. War Machine. You must be Wanda Maximoff," he said, raising his hands in surrender.

Wanda relaxed and the red glow disappeared from her hands and eyes. "I am sorry for the surprise, Mr. Rhodes," she apologized.

A new voice startled her. "We did not know when you would be back. You must have surprised Miss Maximoff."

Vison walked out of the shadowed hallway, nodding politely to Rhodey. Wanda nodded in agreement.

"I probably should have called. That way I wouldn't have been caught by our newest members," Rhodey said with a smile. "I'm going to head in. Night."

Wanda nodded and moved out of the way as Rhodey walked towards the living room. She turned to smile at Vision but he was already gone.

She sighed, heading back to her room and curled up on her bed, trying to find sleep once more.


When Wanda once again opened her eyes, she glanced at her clock. It read 2:00 PM. She rose from her bed and stumbled into the bathroom. Her eyes were rimmed with red and her hair was hanging in dark, tangled curtains. She raked a comb through her hair and rinsed off her face with some cold water. She took a deep breath and opened her door and headed for the kitchen.

Even before she reached the kitchen, her stomach growled as the savory scent of meat wafted around her. She stepped into the kitchen, greeted by the sight of Sam Wilson cooking burgers on their stove.

"Well, look who's up." Steve smiled at her and the corner of her mouth lifted in return.

Sam walked by with a plate and set it in front of her, a steaming burger set neatly on it. She grabbed it and ate, watching the others cautiously.

When Wanda finished, she listened to their small talk, but she was only half listening. She kept thinking back to her meditation in the garden. How she could sense those around her, but not immerse herself in their thoughts. She got up from the table, and excused herself before heading for the calm sanctuary of her room.

She sat only been sitting on her bed for a few minutes when a knocking on her door made her reach out and touch Vision's consciousness with her own. She opened the door with her powers.

"Hello Miss Maximoff." He was holding a small box in his arms, and he raised it slightly. "Is right now a good time to see a movie?" he asked.

She smiled, patting the spot beside her. "What movies do you have?"

He sifted through the box for a moment. "I found these in Mr. Wilson's room and borrowed them. I have Star Wars: A New Hope, Titanic, Gladiator, Forrest Gump, Gattaca and Ghostbusters. Do you have a preference for which we watch first?"

"I have not seen American movies. We did not have many luxuries in Sokovia," she said, glancing away.

"Well, you should see as many as possible then," he said with a small smile. "I even brought popcorn," he said, a faint excitement on his face.


Six movies later, Wanda lay beside Vision, her head resting on his chest as the credits of Titanic played on the dark screen in front of them. She could feel the warmth of his body through his suit, and the gentle pressure of his arm around her. She sniffed, wiping the stray tears from her face and sitting up. Despite the sorrow she felt for the movie woman, she was grateful for the distraction from her own pain.

She glanced over at Vision, surprised to see the distress plain on his face.

"I… I did not expect- I knew what happened. I read the plot of the movie on the internet. But reading it is different from seeing it in front of you." His voice was quiet, pained.

She reached out and touched his cheek. He was an android, and yet, he was more human than many people she had known. He had more love and kindness in him than any man she had met. Those in Hydra would not have thought twice about the horrors of the lost ship, but Vision did.

"You are beautiful," she said quietly. He glanced up, faint shock on his face.

"You care so much for those you have not met, those who do not even really live. You are so gentle and pure and I can feel the goodness inside you. I look in your mind and I do not see the darkness that every man I have seen has. You have only a pure light. You are brighter than any I have seen, and that makes you so beautiful," she said.

A moment passed as he looked at her silently. He slowly moved forward, his forehead touching hers.

"Thank you," he whispered, and his lips met hers.

The contact stole her breath, and for a moment, she could not think, breath, or move. But she unfroze, and she moved into him, returning the kiss with gentle pressure. She felt his hands run through her hair smoothly and down her back, holding her close. She gently put her hands on his chest, pulling him closer.

And then they broke apart, him still holding her close. She was breathing deeply, staring at the gears in his pale blue eyes. He blinked very slowly, and she leaned forward, kissing him once again, this time more insistently. He returned it, his arms around her and pulling her close.

It could have been minutes or it could have been years, but when they broke apart again, she had her head on his chest, his arm over her. She looked up at him and smiled, which he returned. She slowly closed her eyes.

"Will you stay?" she asked sleepily after a few minutes.

"I will. I will not leave you alone," he whispered into her hair.

As she slipped into sleep, one last thought drifted through her mind. Maybe he will not abandon me.