wanda and vision's mixtape

Vision was fighting the guilt of showing up unannounced right up until he rang the doorbell for Apartment 4A.

The small answering panel crackled to life indicating that someone was listening on the other line. He fed through a mismatched collection of words and numbers that Natasha Romanoff had told him to say and was met with muffled swearing in Sokovian.

“I know it’s dangerous,” Vision said quietly into the receiver. He swallowed and steeled himself when there was no reply. “Please, I need to see you.”

The lock buzzed open in confirmation and Vision pushed the door aside as he entered the rundown apartment complex. He took the stairs as quickly as he could without appearing suspicious, conscious that he was putting them both at risk by being here. The building may not have had security cameras but there could be eyes anywhere.

The flat was the first on the right when he reached the fourth floor and just as he raised his hand to knock the door flew open.

Wanda Maximoff stood in the doorway; her arms crossed.

“We both know you shouldn’t be here, Vis,” she said, peering over his shoulder cautiously.

“Please,” Vision said, “please just for one night.”

Wanda bit her lip in thought for a moment before standing to the side to let him in. “Fine, did anyone see you come in?”

“I was very careful,” he assured her, but it didn’t stop her from waving her hands to the two windows facing the street and sending the blinds safely down, casting them both in sudden shadow. She turned the two lamps either side of the bed on and gestured for him to sit.

“What’s going on?” Wanda asked as Vision perched himself at the corner of the bed.

“I—” Vision stuttered, he sighed in frustration and dropped his head into his hands.

“Hey,” Wanda said at his side in seconds, “what happened?”

Vision looked back up again, “I have access to every word ever recorded but I can’t seem to find the right ones to encompass how I feel right now.” He pressed his chest as he spoke, and Wanda slowly drew his hands away and into her warm grip.

“Slow down, why don’t you start from the beginning?”

Several hours earlier Vision was sat in the Compound’s board room, surrounded by various bureaucratic officials, Mr Stark and the Secretary of State. Discussions regarding the operation of the Sokovia Accords in the US had turned out to be taking longer than anyone had anticipated. Despite having signed it himself weeks earlier there was still a lot of fine print to debate.

“I’d like to come back to the amendment to Term 62A?” Stark’s lawyer said turning the thick document as he did. “We cannot accept the current provision outlined in part 3.”

“This is regarding the use of sentient weapons?” The state lawyer responded and there was the shuffling of paper around the table as everyone found the appropriate page.

With a sigh, Mr Stark settled back into his chair turning his eyes skyward, fingers resting on his chin in contemplation. Vision sat forward a little, leaning forward to gauge which section they were discussing from the document in front of him.

“I’m afraid this is quite a significant part of the term you are disagreeing with,” the state lawyer said shaking her head in dismay.

Vision scanned the term and though his amygdala was synthetic, something akin to true fear jolted through his mind. This section they were discussing might as well have used his name it was so blatantly targeted.

“This is not the kind of control that we consented to in the initial agreement to the Accord’s terms.” Vision tried to stay present in the conversation but was struggling to raise his eyes from the words before him. “This ‘sentient weaponry must subject themselves for routine research and development analysis’ is not something we can agree to.”

“Mr Stark,” Vision said under his breath to the man sitting next to him. But Tony only gestured with a finger to his lips to be quiet.

“I’m afraid the state is not budging on this term,” the lawyer said shaking her head and removing her glasses leisurely to clean them. “You are lucky enough that the android isn’t being dismantled considering term 33,” she flipped to it and recited, “‘the creation of self-aware artificial intelligence is strictly prohibited’.”

The Stark lawyer made a noise of disagreement. “The Vision was created prior to the Accords and is not bound by this term. We’d appreciate it if you could treat him with the appropriate respect throughout this meeting.”

“He’s a robot,” Ross, the Secretary of State shrugged. Vision’s jaw tensed but he kept his cool, knowing that any unsavoury comments would not aid in the negotiations.  

“Artificial he may be, but we are all equals in this meeting.”

There was a beat of heavy silence.

“Look we just can’t agree to that level of invasive scrutiny of a conscious being,” Tony said, finally jumping in, much to Vision’s relief. “The law may not be developed enough to encompass the rights of AI but Vision is more than a robot and is due the same rights as you or me.”

“You know we can’t just let him run around like this, Stark,” Ross said. Vision’s brow furrowed at how condescending the man was being.

“He’s not running around; he has complied with everything—”

“He is a national disaster waiting to happen.”

Tony rose his voice and put up a hand so he could finish his sentence, “—He has consented to sign the accords which is more human than some others.”

“That’s not enough,” Ross said firmly, his voice rising.

“It has to be enough,” Tony shot back, “this is the kind of bullshit that the bad guys do, all this R and D on real people, I know you’re not trying to be the bad guy here.”

“He’s a weapon and I will not let him become a problem for this country,” Ross said folding his hands tightly atop the desk, “I’d bet Colonel Rhodes would agree with me.”

Vision felt like he was sinking below the floor, struggling to remain connected to the situation before him even as his brain upped processing power to cope with all the thoughts rushing through his head. It was difficult to think straight when they were debating his right to exist.

Tony sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, as aware as Vision was that the conversation was not going the direction they wanted. “Look, we say no, you say yes, this isn’t going anywhere.”

“Do you have an alternative you can present us with?” Their lawyer jumped in, clearly eager to move the conversation on.

Ross and his lawyer took a moment. “No, but we can have something ready for Friday.”

“Great, then we reconvene Friday morning.”

Vision did not move as the others around the table rose and shook hands with each other. He stayed where he sat, his fingers pressed to his lips in consideration as he took in the damning conversation he had just been witness to. There was no fooling him, not after the experience he’d had these last few months. The state would get what they wanted, and Vision would need to subject himself to whatever testing they demanded. He doubted they would be as inclined to prohibit the creation of sentient AI once they actually knew how to weaponise it. All they needed was access to his brain and his parts and they’d crack the code for how to win any world war. Vision’s brain lurched sickly at the thought of the destruction that would amount to, no he would not let that happen.

“I’m sorry the conversation went south like that,” Tony said once the bureaucrats had been turned out of the room.

“It’s ok.”

“Is it?” Tony asked leaning on the table. “How are you feeling?”

“My feelings are largely artificial, a predetermined response to various stimuli,” Vision murmured, his tone giving away an edge that he tried to hide.

“Doesn’t mean they’re not real,” Tony shrugged, “and you’re certainly avoiding my question the way someone with feelings might.”

“I was not avoiding the question,” Vision said, contradicting himself as he spoke.

“Tell me how I can help make it less loud up here,” Tony said tapping at his own temple.

Vision wondered how Tony knew how loud his brain had become in the last few minutes, with the statistics flying through his mind, neurons running in circles around theories of nuclear destruction and what his technology might mean for the world. Tony was infuriatingly perceptive.

When Vision didn’t respond and kept his eyes fixed on the board table in front of him, Tony came closer and laid a hand on Vision’s shoulder, squeezing it tightly. “I need you right now, I can’t have you going catatonic on me.”

“I will not ‘go catatonic’,” Vision said distantly.

“Then tell me what you need.”

He hesitated, his voice caught on the words, on the question he’d wanted to ask for weeks. “There may be one thing that could help.”

Wanda was quiet for a moment as Vision finished recounting the events of that afternoon and how he had come to discover her safe house. Tony, unsurprisingly, hadn’t know where Wanda was hiding but he had passed on the location of Natasha and through her Vision had made it here. Wanda moved to the bed beside him as he spoke but there was a distance to her eyes that made Vision nervous. He was still wondering if he had done the right thing in coming here. They had been each other’s confidantes for over a year back at the Compound, but he worried that things had perhaps changedmore than he realised.

“You have to trust Stark,” Wanda said finally, “he always has your best interests at heart. They’re still negotiating, this isn’t final, okay?”

“I know,” Vision murmured.

“And what you’re feeling right now is entirely normal, take it from someone who spent a year locked up and experimented on.” He knew she was trying to joke but it pained him when she spoke so lightly of her time being experimented on under Strucker’s careful eye.

Vision suddenly became conscious that while they were talking Wanda had gone from holding his hands in comfort to intertwining their fingers, her thumb rubbing slow, calming circles into the back of his hand. She seemed to realise what she was doing at that exact moment and abruptly let go, getting to her feet.

“And who knows, worst case scenario you can always run away with me.”

She meant it casually but the way their eyes locked indicated it was anything but. Vision didn’t voice his thoughts as she turned away, cheeks alight with pink, didn’t say that he’d hated staying away from her. That, while he didn’t regret his decision to become a party to the Accords, he hated that it meant they couldn’t be together. It had taken him weeks to unlearn the habit that had him phasing into her room at odds hours of the day. It felt like a kick to the chest every time he looked about the empty space and realised she wasn’t there.  

“Well,” Wanda said, clearing her throat, “I need to have dinner.”

“Is there anything that I can do?” Vision said, not liking how the words which hung unsaid between them made the air thick.

She smiled sweetly, “It wasn’t an invitation, Vis, but thank you.”

He pressed his hands atop his knees and rose to his feet, following Wanda to the little kitchenette connected to the apartment. It was just big enough to allow her to move about between the fridge, the countertop and the two-hob stove so he hesitated just out of the way.

To fill the silence Wanda spoke, recounting what the last few weeks had been like for her. Her reunion with the rest of the team outside of Raft prison and their decision to split up for the first few months, knowing they posed more danger to each other as a group. Vision was glad to hear they were taking appropriate precautions but the thought of Wanda spending day after day in this apartment, alone, was hard to hear.

“What are you eating?” Vision asked from his space just outside her perimeter.

Wanda winced and held up what looked like a takeout container. “Food I didn’t finish last night. I’ll usually cook but sometimes it’s just… too difficult.” He watched as she put the container in the microwave above the sink and they were accompanied by the whirr of the machine.

“How are things at home?” Wanda asked and he tried to ignore the warm feeling about his chest at hearing her call the Compound home, before the grounding realisation that it may never be her home again, that stage of their life was well and truly moving on.

Before Vision had the chance to answer Wanda had reached in to pull her container out of microwave and yelped in pain, dropping it in surprise. He was at her side immediately, taking her hand in his and analysing the wound.

“Vision, it’s fine,” Wanda said her voice cracking slightly but not making to take her hand away

“I just want to be sure.” He was met with a shaky sigh from Wanda and upon looking up saw that she was on the verge of tears. “Does it sting a lot?”

She laughed sadly, pulling her hand away to wipe at her eyes. “Gosh no, it’s nothing.” The ‘compared to what I’ve been through’ that she meant to say afterwards was clear.

“Why are you upset?” Vision asked softly as Wanda turned away slightly to dab at her eyes.

She let a breath loose through her teeth, her bottom lip bobbing slightly. “I just…”

“Just?” Vision asked taking her hand softly and pressing one of his cooling palms over the spot he assumed she was hurting from.

Wanda’s eyes sprung with tears and she shook her head slowly as they started to fall. Wordlessly Vision pulled her to him and, when she didn’t protest, wrapped an arm around her keeping a comforting grasp on her hurt hand. He listened as she breathed out shakily and pressed her forehead to his chest in defeat. He stayed quiet letting her lean into his stability for as long as she needed. They had never been like this with each other before, but it felt right.

“Sorry,” she murmured eventually pulling away with a deep breath.

“You have nothing to apologise for,” Vision said quietly, reluctantly letting her step away.

“It’s just been a lot, being on my own like this,” Wanda said reaching up for the food with a cloth this time to protect her hands. “What a pair we make, you’re the one I’m supposed to be comforting.”

It had already been late when Vision arrived so Wanda was quick to get ready for bed, telling him how she insisted on having a steadfast routine to stop her going stir crazy as a fugitive who could rarely go outside. She popped into the little bathroom, the shower turning on after a second and leaving Vision to the emptiness of the small room.

Aside from the essentials the room was scarce and looked barely lived in. A duffle bag sat by the door full with what Vision could only assume was all she needed if she had to leave in the middle of the night. He looked sadly about him and realised that this was what her life had become. While he had been floating aimlessly around the Compound she’d been running for her life.

Wanda returned from the shower, her hair twisted up above her head and fresh clothes on. Vision stood on impulse and she hesitated to look at him.

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Of course,” he said taking a step away from the bed.

“You wanted to stay for the night?”

“Is that ok?” Vision said rubbing at the back of his neck awkwardly.

She nodded her head, “If you left now, I’d be too worried about you getting back safely to sleep.”

As she went around turning out the lights Vision looked about for somewhere he could sit. Other than a rickety chair and table before the tv opposite the bed there was nowhere else. When he made to go sit down Wanda looked at him funny and tilted her head in question.

“What are you doing?”

“Sitting down,” Vision said slowly.

“Don’t be silly, I’m not going to have you sit in a chair for the entire night, the bed is big enough for the both of us.” Vision wasn’t entirely sure it was but followed her anyway.

It was easier once the room was dark, and he knew that she couldn’t see him as he slipped off his shoes and stretched out on the bed beside her. He stared up at the ceiling above their heads and listened to Wanda’s breath as she shuffled around trying to get comfortable underneath the covers.

“I think I will be alright,” Vision whispered to the darkness, not entirely sure who he was speaking to, himself or Wanda. “I can return to Mr Stark tomorrow and we’ll talk about how to negotiate better at the next meeting, I’ll make sure it works out.”

Wanda sighed something between a laugh and a yawn. “You amaze me,” she said.

“Why?” He asked, genuinely interested.

“Well, you were so worked up when you arrived at my door but now, you’re able to put it behind you and trust the people in your life and yourself.”

Vision couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the irony.

“What?” Wanda asked indignantly to the dark room.

“I learnt that from you,” Vision said turning his head to the side so that he might see her. She was lying on her side, eyes slightly out of focus in the deep darkness of the room that didn’t cause his eyes any trouble.  

To his surprise instead of replying Wanda reached out to him, her fingertips brushing delicately against his cheek. “I can hear you smiling but I want to see it,” she whispered, her eyes searching the darkness. Her fingers moved lower, the back of her hand brushing hesitantly off his nose before tracing the curve of his lips. Vision hadn’t even realised that he’d been smiling, but he was sure that he’d smiled more in the last few hours than he had in the last month.

“When I leave tomorrow,” Vision spoke his mouth moving against her feather-like touch, feeling as though if he didn’t say it aloud, he’d never leave. “And once I have sorted the Accord’s issues out, would you let me come see you again?”

Wanda’s fingers froze and she dropped her hand against the pillow. Her reply was silence in the dark air. “I miss you, Wanda,” he added.

“I’d like that,” she said finally. “I miss you too.”

When Wanda awoke the following morning he was gone, leaving a stack of books for her on the counter for ‘entertainment’, and a freezer full of at least two weeks’ worth of frozen meals for ‘when it gets too difficult’. A slip of paper with his neat print was resting on the pillow where his head had been the previous night. He’d left cryptic instructions for how she could reach him without being tracked if she ever needed him or wanted to talk about where they might meet again. He was very pointed about needing to see her again which was somewhat comforting given how unceremoniously he had fled her bed in the early hours of the morning. He explained himself there as well:

I hope you’ll forgive me for leaving like this. Our time together last night brough a clarity that I didn’t know I needed until now. I knew if it came to having to say goodbye face to face, that one word from you and I’d fall back to you and never leave.

I will see you soon, I hope.

Yours,

Vision