AN: Enjoy!
It had taken Wanda Maximoff longer than it should have, to realize that the Chaos magic that had awakened within her had robbed her of the ability to age. Then again, she supposed when someone was entirely alone (her own choice), the passage of time becoming increasingly difficult to follow, days blending together to the point that their passing became almost inconsequential, it was easy for such things to escape one's notice.
It took even longer, maybe a few decades, before it also occurred to Wanda that her lack of aging also meant she was unlikely to die, at least not by any natural means. It was a rather unpleasant realization, that she who had already lost so many to the cold grasp of Death could not die herself and be with them again. Everyone she knew or had ever known, would begin to wither and die. Wanda avoided this matter for some time, but she could not do so forever.
–
Years passed, and as Wanda occasionally sought out news, death began finding her in her little cabin home, built far away from anything she and her chaos could hurt. News of deaths from illness, in battle, or even, eventually, just old age.
At first, Wanda stayed far away, believing it best for everyone. But later, on occasions where the latest loss was a more personal one for her, she would attend the funerals, or at least be somewhere in the vicinity, watching from afar.
Over the years, the number of mourners Wanda recognised began to shrink, until, eventually, sadly, there were only two: Thor, of course.. And Vision.
She hadn't seen him since Westview, when he had almost crushed her skull. Hadn't thought about him much, except on particularly lonely nights, those nights where Wanda had a particular itch that needed scratching, and his was still the only face that ever came to mind as her fingers dipped between her legs.
Otherwise,Wanda tried very hard not to think about Vision, because thinking about him hurt. But, she had paid enough attention to know that, at some point, the now bleached-white synthezoid had rejoined the Avengers.
Watching the latest Funeral from what she thought was a safe distance, Wanda found herself startled when Vision turned his head to look directly at her. His blue eyes burned directly into her soul, although she supposed this was not really anything new. Wanda's breath caught in her throat, her feet frozen to the spot. She waited for him to fly across the cemetery and finish the job he'd started in Westview. She waited. And waited. But as she waited, looking at Vision closer, he didn't look like someone who wanted to hurt her. He just seemed.. sad. Without a word, Vision looked away, returning to his mourning as though he'd never even seen her.
Wanda swallowed a lump in her throat, and fled, not waiting to see if her survival was a fluke.
–
Despite the long period of time Wanda had spent not thinking about Vision, after that day, it had become rather difficult not to think about him, especially once she had come to the conclusion that he was actually in a rather similar situation to she herself, with his artificial nature leaving him rather unlikely to die naturally. And, of course, she had loved the synthezoid once.. Loved him still, despite everything, because when two people had shared a love as deep, beautiful, and passionate as theirs, it was not easy to entirely let it go.. Even when they had hurt you.
Wanda found herself paying more attention to his Avenging exploits, watching him on television, and later the odd holographic device that eventually succeeded it.
Many generations of Avengers came and went, and just as many villains, but Vision remained, endured. Thor arrived to help in big fights, but even the Asgardian was beginning to show signs of age.
Sometimes, in the very biggest, 'fate of the universe in the balance' type battles, Wanda too would find her courage, and go help. After all, there would not be much point in living forever if there was no universe to live in. However, these occasions were so few and far between (Sometimes twenty years, fifty.. Once a little over a century) that the existence of the Scarlet Witch had been relegated to myth and legend. Her appearances were not something anyone hoped for, because it meant the situation was dire.
But so far, when she was needed, Wanda had not failed to help whomever happened to be the latest batch of Earth's mightiest heroes win their fight.. And these battles were usually large enough in scale that Wanda could avoid Vision easily. It seemed for the best.. He could keep being the hero he was without the past coming back to bite him, and Wanda could do her part without worrying that he might still try to kill her.
–
The current pattern worked out well enough for everyone.. Until the day Vision screamed.
Wanda knew that scream, even though she had never heard such a sound from him. A scream of pain and despair and grief and rage. She knew it because it was the very same scream that had been torn from her throat when her brother had died.
Oh. Wanda felt a pang. Her brother had died. She'd lived so long that she had almost forgotten. But there was no time to dwell on it.. she could remember Pietro later. Wanda searched for Vision, finally answering the pull towards him that she had been ignoring for probably a few centuries now, and saw him not too far away, on his knees amidst the rubble, cradling the bloodied, broken body of a boy, probably around the age the Spider-Man had been during his first battle at the airport.
The fight had been all but over by then, the main threat already neutralized, but Wanda spotted someone, an opportunistic mook out for some final chance at glory, charged towards Vision, weapon raised. Instinctively, Wanda raced across the battlefield to place herself between them, unable to leave him to die in his moment of grief when he had saved her in hers, so long ago. With a flick of her hand, Wanda disintegrated the enemy, who had not even had the chance to scream.
She turned nervously towards Vision, who managed to look up at her, seeming almost as broken as the dead boy cradled in his arms, a small acknowledging nod the only gesture of thanks he could manage in the midst of his fresh grief.
For her, it had been her fists lightly curling into the material of his then-teal suit. Wanda wasn't sure why that memory was so clear, when so many others had begun to fade.
–
Wanda left soon after.. She never stayed around long in the aftermath of a battle. It was better that they didn't get to know her, better that the Scarlet Witch streaked across the sky and disappeared, remaining a creature of myth and legend.
But Vision's heartbreaking scream haunted her. His shattered expression seared into her soul. She could feel his pain, no matter how far away she might be. Vision already knew she was not a myth, had not seemed to want to hurt her the last few times she had seen him. And even though she pushed it down deep, a rather large part of her still loved him. So, a few days later after leaving a few extra dishes of food and water scattered about for her cat (the latest in a long line of rescued pets, Wanda departed her hidden haven once more, and in the dead of night, snuck into the building that served as the current Avengers base of operations.
It was an odd sort of place, highly advanced in some areas and rather rundown in others, which, Wanda supposed, was quite reflective of the state of the wider world. Wanda moved through the building, her presence magically cloaked from all but the one to whom she wished to make it known. She stopped briefly in what seemed like the main living area, to drape a blanket over a young woman sprawled sleeping on the sofa, snoring softly. Her security ID bore the surname 'Barton'. Many generations removed from the Bartons she had known, but that didn't matter. She remembered kindness, and a pep talk she still carried with her.
Wanda continued on, to where she knew, somehow, Vision's room was located. Knocked, but entered anyway when he didn't answer.
"V-Vision?" She could see the outline of him through the darkness of the room, sitting on the bed, head in his hands. "It's, um.. It's me. I know I probably shouldn't have c-come, but.."
"Wanda.." He looked up at her, blue eyes staring into her soul once again as his mechanical irises began to spin.
Wanda's breath caught at the sound of her name, having gone without hearing it for so long, and caught again when Vision stood. He moved purposefully towards her, his cape flapping with the speed of his movement, grasped her face, and for a moment Wanda thought she had made a mistake, that he was going to kill her.. but then he kissed her, instead. It was a messy, desperate sought of kiss, and Wanda couldn't help kissing him back, because, well, that seemed to be the reaction that came most naturally to her. Vision had been crying, was still crying now. Wanda could taste his tears, both salty like a human's while also slightly metallic as the rest of him.
Wanda's heart reached out to him. He was hurting, grieving, seeking some small comfort anywhere he could find, and she was there, and so she let him.
Wanda didn't stop Vision when he pulled her closer, deepening their kiss.
Didn't stop him when she felt her back pressed against the wall.
Didn't stop him when she felt herself being lifted, instead wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist.
Wanda didn't stop Vision when he began grinding gently against her, and she could feel the bulge of his arousal through the material of his suit. Instead, she undressed them both with a flick of her glowing fingers.
She didn't stop him when he slipped inside her, more easily than she might have expected, given how long it had been, but then, he had always had that sort of effect on her.
Wanda didn't stop him, because she could give him what he needed in that moment, the kind of physical comfort that could only come from losing yourself in someone else, and she was happy to let him have it.
Wanda didn't stop him, because, perhaps selfishly, some part of her wanted this. Wanted Vision, as much as Vision needed her.
Vision's thrusts were quick, eager, desperate like his kiss, and at first Wanda tried to meet him, but this was difficult from her place pinned against the wall, and so she simply surrendered herself to him, let herself become as lost in this moment as he was lost in her.
She could feel him thrusting deep inside her, feel his lips sucking at her neck, certain to leave a mark, but that didn't matter, no-one would see. Soft moans and gasps and sounds of pleasure spilled from Wanda's lips, mingling with Vision's own gasps and grunts and moans.
She could feel the pleasure rising within her, climbing towards the peak of total bliss, could feel Vision rising too, knew when he was getting close. She remembered the signs, the slightly higher pitch of his moans, his hips becoming more erratic. Was so close herself, but slightly afraid of the end.. Then she came, biting her lip to muffle her moment of pleasure, and Vision soon followed with a strangled cry.
They were both quiet for a long while afterwards, even after they had caught their breath. Vision held onto Wanda, clutching her as though his life depended on it, and she let him, because after what had now been centuries alone, it was nice to remember how it felt to be held. When Vision did eventually speak, his voice was shaking.
"I'm sorry.. I'm s-sorry.. I shouldn't have.."
"Hey, no, it's okay.." Wanda's heart ached for him, and she reached to gently cup his face. "It's okay, I didn't ask you to stop.."
"S-Still.. I.." Vision released his grip just enough to let Wanda drop her legs from around his waist, then looked at her in sudden panic, irises spinning. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"No."
"I never wanted to hurt you, I always meant to come find you and tell you so, but I worried you would be afraid.."
"You didn't hurt me, and I'm not afraid of you.." said Wanda. "But.. I think you are hurting, and I was worried about you.."
"You.." His gaze softened. "You were worried?"
"It's why I came here Tonight.." Wanda replied. "The boy.. The one who died in the battle.."
"Yes.." Vision swallowed a lump in his throat, suddenly a little shaky again. "He was.. Um.. The last one. The very last Stark.."
"Oh.." Wanda thought of the girl with the Barton ID badge. Wondered if there were more. "I'm sorry. I know Stark and I never.. But this one was just a boy.."
"He wasn't even supposed to be there.." Vision murmured. "I t-told him.. I more or less raised him, his parents died young, so many more Cancers now.. I told him to stay home.."
"I'm sorry. I lost a child too.. Two, actually.." A lump formed in Wanda's throat, a frown on her face. She hadn't thought of her boys in so long.. too long. "I don't even dream of them anymore.. all the other Wandas are gone.."
"I don't either.."
"W-What?"
"Your children" Vision murmured. "Tommy and Billy, yes? They were mine too, in some worlds. I used to dream of them, and you, but those dreams ended quite some time ago.."
Wanda's breath hitched. Her time alone had almost numbed her to her past grief. Having it awakened again all at once was too much to take.
"I.. Um.. I should probably go.."
"You do not have to.." Vision hurriedly objected. Upon stepping away from her and realizing she was still very naked, he squeaked, averting his eyes, and rushed to snatch a blanket from his bed to drape around her, preserving her modesty.
"I.." Wanda was briefly about to remind him of how easily she could redress herself, but found herself rather charmed by his awkwardness. "Thank you.."
"You're welcome.." His gaze on her was soft, his spinning irises having slowed. "You should stay.. just for tonight. It is late, and it is cold out, and I.."
"You what?"
"I would not want you to feel as if you had been used.." Vision murmured. "I do not have much left, but I do have my morals, values.. and I do not want to be a man who would do that.. especially not to you.."
Wanda opened her mouth, wanting to explain that she did not think that was what happened. Instead, she said..
"Okay. I will stay.." Maybe a part of her had always wanted to say that to him. "B-But just for the night. I have a cat to feed at home.."
"Of course. I'll go make you a cup of tea.. And I believe there may be a few slices of leftover Pizza, if you are peckish.."
"Ooh.. I actually can't remember the last time I had Pizza.."
"Then I will fetch you some.." Vision phased back into his suit and headed for the door.
"You wear that all the time now?" Wanda raised an eyebrow.
"I have lived far too long for anyone to still consider me human" Vision shrugged, continuing on his way. "It is easier just to be what they already see."
Now alone in the room, Wanda found herself looking around. The room was relatively empty, except for the bed, and a pair of bedside tables each heavily laden with framed photos. She sat on the edge of the bed to examine them. She probably should have dressed, but she felt strangely comfortable wrapped in the blanket, which smelled faintly of Vision.
Many of the people in the pictures Wanda didn't recognise, so seldom were her visits to the wider world. Quite a few depicted the dead boy at various stages of his life.. Sports games, School Award nights and Science Fairs. In most of these, Vision stood proudly beside him. Closer to the back, old and faded, some almost crumbling, some too delicate to force into frames, were pictures of those she knew. The original Avengers. And in one picture, with a start, she recognised her own face, smiling into the camera. A fuzzy memory of when it was taken.. A Birthday spent on the run, but Vision had wanted to take the picture, hold on to the hope that things would improve. With a sigh and a gentle wave of her hand, she restored the aged pictures as though they were new.
Vision returned with a cup of tea and a few reheated slices of pizza, which Wanda took and thanked him for, and the two of them sat on the bed together in strangely comfortable silence as Wanda ate, occasionally sipping from the cup.
"What was his name?" Wanda asked, after swallowing her last mouthful.
"Hmm?"
"The boy. Your son."
"He wasn't my.."
"You said you raised him" Wanda murmured. "You have so many pictures together.. And the way you screamed.. That was for a son."
Vision could think of no more reason to argue.
"His name was Vincent.. It never really seemed to fit him, so I usually called him Vin.."
"Vin.." Wanda nodded to herself, quite serious. "Okay."
"Why do you ask?" Vision was slightly confused.
"I like to remember important people.. Especially the ones who do not have many others left to remember them" She explained, shifting ever so slightly closer to him. "It is harder the more time passes, but I try."
After a few moments, Vision slowly, and rather shyly, draped his arm around her, relieved when she did not reject his touch.
"I, um.. I noticed that you restored my photos.."
"Yes.." A tiny smirk tugged at the corners of Wanda's lips. "I noticed that you still keep one of me.."
"Yes.." The slightest hint of pink coloured his cheeks. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before he spoke again. "I have, um, had a thought.."
"Yes?"
"I have been feeling a little stiff of late.. It seems even Vibranium does not quite last forever.."
"Oh.." Wanda suddenly felt rather cold, without really knowing why, and tugged his blanket more tightly around herself.
"So.. since you are here.. Maybe your powers would work for a little tune up?"
"Of course" Wanda seemed relieved, and realized that even though she had not seen him much, knowing that Vision was out there somewhere, that she was not the only one doomed to live forever, had been a comfort. "Hold still a moment.."
"Alright.."
Wanda raised a hand, concentrating, and Vision's body became surrounded by scarlet energy, restoring him as she had the photographs.
"Better?"
"Much, thank you," Vision replied. "But.. i-is it alright if I come see you, if this happens again?"
"Yes.." Wanda curled into his side. It was late, and cold, yet Vision had always been warm. "It is alright.."
–
Years continued to pass, and more generations of Avengers lived and died, while Wanda and Vision lived on. Every so often, as they had arranged, Vision would visit Wanda, for more tune ups of his aging Vibranium parts. He didn't tell her how he knew where she lived, but by then it didn't matter. Vision would usually bring a gift. Sometimes it was her favorite tea leaves, an increasingly rare commodity. Once, he had presented her with a tiny stray kitten he had discovered while on his way to her. Wanda found herself sadder than usual when this particular cat died.
More often than not, these visits ended in the two of them falling into bed. They tried to pretend this did not mean much.. That their dalliances were a convenient, casual arrangement between immortal beings who would otherwise not find many chances to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh. In reality, each one's name was forever etched onto the other's heart.
Eventually, a few centuries after the new arrangement had begun, a new battle came that was large enough to summon the legend of the Scarlet Witch. This time, she didn't hide from him. This time, Wanda had fought beside Vision, a perfect team, wonderfully in sync.
When it was all over, and they found the chance to escape from prying eyes, Wanda and Vision had amazing, glorious, Glad-to-be-Alive sex, because when they were together, they were glad, they really were. Then, as Vision came, he shouted to the heavens that he loved her. Wanda had playfully teased him, and Vision had blushed and stuttered, until Wanda kissed him quiet, whispering that she loved him too.
–
Shortly after this battle, Vision came to Wanda's home, with a very old bottle of wine and a picnic basket in hand. Wanda had not been expecting him, but was pleased to see him all the same. They sat in the grass together, Wanda enjoying the treats Vision had brought, stealing occasional kisses.
Vision held her as they watched the setting Sun, then spoke, almost shy.
"Wanda.. I.. I would like to ask you something.."
"Of course.." She looked up at him, smiling softly. "Ask me anything."
"There are always new heroes.. And they do not seem to need me so much anymore. So I was thinking.. Wondering.. If.. um.."
"Yes?"
"If it might be time for me to descend into myth and legend, with you.." Vision blushed. "What I mean is.. I could.. Stay.. i-if you'll have me, of course.."
"Gee, I don't know Vizh.." Wanda teased, yet her smile widened, green eyes sparkling. "We live forever, that's a pretty big commitment. Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Forever with you.." Vision smiled a goofy smile. "I think it's all I've ever wanted.
Wanda beamed, and kissed him. Together they stayed, the happiest myth that ever lived.