Freeze Frame

Part 1

            "I don't- I don't understand how all of this started." Wanda's fingers rubbed over her lips lightly as she sunk into the couch, drained from yelling and fighting with the man she loves. She desperately hoped that their argument was not loud enough to reach as well as wake the twins who were sleeping peacefully in their beds, that would be the last thing they needed. Lost sleep and cranky twin boys joining in their squabble. She felt, not saw, Vision sit next to her. He moved slowly, as though he were approaching a wounded animal, she could see it out of the corner of her eye. Gently he touched her shoulder and then the hand that was curled into a tight fist over her knees, pressing into them to feel something, anything, to make her remember.

Flashes of the color red, her color red, amidst the depths of unbearable devastation and grief. The emotions were utterly overwhelming and as she fought to get through the tides that kept crashing into her to the tangible memory and what had actually occurred, she started to drown. Flinching violently she curled in on herself, knees up to her chest with both hands clenched tightly by her chest. Remember. She tried to tell herself. Remember. Remember. Remember. Nails, although short, were still sharp enough to start to cut into her palms.

"I-I can't-" she clenched her teeth, her eyes squeezing shut now too, trying not to drown. Her chest constricted as her breathing became more panicked. If this was the cost of remembering, the cost of the truth of Westview, she wasn't sure she wanted to. Surely she would sink instead of swim.

Worry for his wife filled Vision. She had placed a dam on their mental connection, so as to not overwhelm him, but he knew not why. It was unusual, they shared much through their connection. Thoughts, dreams, emotions. Everything. And yet she had built it some time ago, but he was ashamed to say he hadn't truly noticed until now as it began to pulse as her pain began to pound at it. The very thing she was keeping in began to overflow in trickles; even as she struggled, she still fought to keep the pain from flooding him too.

"Wanda." softly her name left his lips, his hands reached to her once more as he moved to kneel before her. One cupped her cheek while the other pushed between her small delicate hands. Trembling they welcomed his larger hand in between, clutching desperately with the little strength she had left in them. Against the sides of his hand he could feel the small crescent shapes cut into her skin, smell the faintest hint of blood that came to the surface level cuts, hear the thundering of heart and the racing of the thoughts and emotions that he could still feel despite the block.

"Oh darling." he tried to sooth, his thumb brushing across her cheek. Leaning in he pressed his forehead to hers. Vision breathed deeply in and out. In and out. Slowly her erratic breathing began to match his slow and steady breathing. Pushing against the dam blocking their mental connection he found that he was unable to move it even in the slightest bit. Hitting it, clawing at it, pushing with all his might did nothing to even make so much as a scratch or a dent.

Finally she reopened her eyes to look at him. They were glassy, filled with unshed tears. He marveled at how strong his wife was once more as he watched her pull herself together. A part of him wondered if he even truly wanted to know just what she was keeping from him. It would likely devastate him in some manner, of that he was sure. She had said he did not want to know. He wondered how much of that statement came from her wish to not share what she knew versus how much came from her desire to shield and protect him. Vision wanted to reassure his wife, whatever it was that she was keeping, whatever it was that caused her such pain, they could face it together. After all, what was being married if not working through their individual and shared struggles together.

He saw the hesitation in her eyes and as soon as she opened her mouth, composed enough to try to speak, the doorbell chimed. Confusion filled her features just as it did him.