AN: Enjoy!
Despite the impending battle, Vision couldn't help a little skip in his step as he headed for Mantis's house.
Wanda had kissed him. She'd told him that she could love him. Not now, not yet, but maybe one day, when she had worked through some things, sorted out her life a bit more, there could be room in it for him.
Vision was more than happy to wait, for however long Wanda needed. He was new to all this, feelings, and relationships. Very new. There were probably things he needed to work out as well.
But one day, Vision thought, maybe he could love Wanda too.
He cleared the thought from his mind, briefly, as he stepped into Mantis's hut, squeezing past a few of the children gathered inside.
"Mr. Vision" Mantis greeted, seeming slightly concerned at his presence, "What are you doing here? Is something wrong? Do we need to evacuate the children and.."
"No, there's no need to panic" said Vision quickly, hoping to calm her. "I was just hoping to come see Tommy and Billy.."
"Oh, of course" Mantis smiled brightly. "It is normal to want to see your children before something like this."
"I.." Vision opened his mouth to correct her.. The twins were not his children, they were Wanda's.. But for some reason, the words would not come. "I.. I suppose that is true."
"They are just through there, playing with little Groot.."
"Thank you.." Vision headed through the door Mantis had indicated, heading over to where Tommy was playing with their new little tree friend, while Billy sat clutching his Teddy toy, seeming a little more subdued.
"I am Groot!" Groot alerted the boys to Vision's presence.
"Vizzy!" Tommy greeted happily.
"Mama?" Billy looked up, hoping Vision's presence meant that Wanda was somewhere close by.
"Your Mother is a little bit Busy right now.." said Vision, hating that he had to break the little boy's heart. "I just stopped by to make sure you boys were okay before I, uh.. Go to work."
"I okay, Vizzy!" Tommy puffed out his little chest.
"Mama back soon?" asked Billy, hugging Teddy a little closer, looking up at Vision with wide eyes.
"Well.." He probably shouldn't say this, there were no guarantees in battle, after all, but he couldn't face the thought of upsetting Billy any more than he already was. "Yes, of course. I'm sure your Mama will be back soon."
"R-Rewy?"
"Oh yes. In fact, I will make sure your Mother makes it safely back to you both." He reached out, gently ruffling each twin's hair, and smiling when Billy let him do so without fuss. That was progress. "Your Mother and I will be back as soon as we can."
Vision heard a commotion beginning outside.
"Mr. Vision" Mantis interrupted, "I think.."
"I know" Vision reluctantly stood, rushing out the door. "Take care of my.. Take care of the boys, please.."
When Vision reached his position a little ways outside town, the battle was already underway, laser bolts flying, and he quickly set about contributing to the efforts with a few well-aimed shots of his own.
Ronan, as they'd all expected, was not pleased to find the Kree's planned takeover met with resistance.
"You have been misled, peasants, into believing you could resist the Kree Empire!" His voice boomed over the battlefield. "When your little act of defiance fails, know that the bloodshed today is on your own heads!"
"Don't be so sure, you big Turd-Blossom!" Quill yelled back, hurling a grenade. "This planet is protected by the Guardians Of The Galaxy, and we have a few tricks up our sleeves!"
Indeed, it seemed they did. The townspeople were fighting back admirably, despite only having received the most basic of training, with their efforts bolstered by the genuine skill of Quill, Gamora, Nebula, and Drax. Vision looked around for Wanda, but couldn't see any sign of her. He hoped that wherever she was, she was keeping herself safe.
Vision wouldn't say they were winning, not quite yet, but that was okay. It wasn't the plan to be 'winning' at this stage. They needed to lull Ronan's forces into a false sense of security, let them think they were pushing the Guardians and the townspeople back, when really, they were luring them into Rocket's..
Yes!
A series of explosions rang through the battlefield, thanks to some of Rocket's strategically placed pulse-bombs.
A series of explosions rang through the battlefield, thanks to some of Rocket's strategically placed pulse-bombs.
Ronan's forces were sent flying up into the air, flailing madly, looking almost like hundreds of pieces of popping popcorn. Many were injured as they hit the ground, others fled in panic, and more joined them, retreating as the townspeople continued to push back.
Some had already begun cheering in victory, but Vision had a feeling it would not be quite so easy, and he was right. There was a reason people all over the galaxy feared the name Ronan.
After most of Rocket's bombs had been expended, Ronan and some of his most loyal men made a charge. Drax charged to stop him, but he was easily swept aside by Ronan's war hammer, along with a few unlucky townspeople. Gamora, Nebula, and Quill were rushing forward to help, but things were not looking good.
Despite the training that they had been given, the common people were not at all prepared for the level of aggression Ronan was about to rain down upon them. Even with Vision also on his way to help, the Guardians would easily be outnumbered. He still had no idea where Wanda was. Ronan and his remaining followers would reach the town.
Vision felt a lump in his throat. The children were in the town, and Ronan likely knew this.
"If you had submitted without fuss, the most vulnerable among you would have been spared!" Ronan roared, another swing of his hammer sending Gamora crashing into Nebula, both landing in a crumpled heap. "Now, you will all have to be taught a painful lesson!"
Vision's panic turned to anger. He increased his density to its highest level, aimed his blaster, and charged. He saw red.
Hang on a moment.. He really, literally saw red. For a moment, Vision was worried that there may have been something wrong with his ocular systems, but that wasn't the case at all.
A massive wave of scarlet energy bloomed across the battlefield, the remainder of Ronan's men sent flying far into the distance. Ronan's War Hammer was jerked out of his hand, and then Ronan himself was pulled upwards by his collar.
Vision looked up to see Wanda hovering in the air, her eyes glowing, surrounded by swirling red energy. Well, she had told him that she could fly.
"This planet is not yours to torment, Ronan" Wanda growled. "Its Children are not yours to threaten!" Wanda growled.
"How dare you!" Ronan roared, though struggled uselessly in Wanda's mystical grasp. "How dare you do this to.."
"You are not welcome here!" Wanda snapped. "Nobody wants you here! Leave, and do not come back!"
She hurled him, far into the distance, as he continued to shriek his displeasure.
"You will pay for this.. You will pay!"
But for now, it seemed Ronan had lost.
The townspeople cheered, as did Quill, helping his fellow Guardians back to their feet.
Vision almost joined them, before noticing that Wanda looked exhausted. The scarlet energy faded, and he raced into the air to catch her before she could fall.
"I told you I could fly.." she murmured, "When I was strong.."
"You are strong.." Vision whispered. "You are brilliant.."
Behind them, Ronan's ships were retreating, but Vision hardly noticed. All that mattered was that Wanda was okay.
Sometime later, Wanda woke up in bed inside she and Vision's hut. Vision was at her side.
"Hello.." Vision smiled softly. "How are you feeling? You scared me for a moment there.."
"A little dizzy.." Wanda sat up slowly, rubbing the back of her head, "But okay, I think.. Are the twins..?"
"Perfectly fine" Vision told her. "They're out playing with some of the other children, Mantis is still minding them."
"Could you bring them here please, Vizh?" Wanda asked. "Billy can be quite sensitive, he probably needs to see that I'm okay.."
"I've noticed that. I was just waiting until you woke up, I'll go fetch them now.."
Vision headed outside in a rather good mood. The sun was still shining, he could hear children laughing and playing.
He doubted that Ronan was gone for good, but he would likely need time to regroup before another attack. For now, this planet was safe. Maybe they really could stay here a while, make something of a normal life for Wanda and the boys, a place that they could call home.
They deserved a place like that, after all that they had been through.. And maybe Vision did, too.
Unfortunately, Vision's moment of hope was shattered all too soon.
He could see Tommy, zipping about with his superspeed, showing off to Mantis.
He could see Billy close by them, still clutching Teddy.
But out of the corner of his eye, a blob in the distance to anybody without his advanced tech, Vision could see Taserface, one of his old Ravager Guildmates.
Saw him raising his blaster, taking aim at Billy.
Vision ran.
Taserface fired.
Vision dove.
And Billy screamed.