Without You {𝟙𝟚} | Marvel √

chapter seven

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES; With the night sky looming over The Avengers Compound, Vision stood in the kitchen, carefully reading instructions for a dinner recipe. "A pinch of paprika. A pinch," he murmured to himself before he reached over to a plate of spices. He picked up only a pinch of paprika before adding it into the hot stew.

"Is that paprikash?"

Vision glanced up to find Wanda had walked in, "I thought it might...lift your spirits," he told her and she chuckled before she stepped behind the pot. Vision nervously stepped to the side, watching her as she stirred the stew with the spoon. She then lifted the spoon to her lips, blew on it to cool it down, and took a state of it. She instantly smiled at the taste.

"Spirits lifted," she said.

"In my defense, I haven't actually ever...eaten anything before, so..."

"May I?" Wanda asked, gesturing to the stew and the ingredients.

He nodded before he slowly stepped back, gazing at her intently as she picked up some ingredients to add to the stew. He then walked around the counter, "Wanda?"

"Hmm?"

"No one dislikes you, Wanda," Vision said as he faced her. She as well looked at him, frowning curiously.

"Thanks," she murmured.

"Oh, you're welcome," Vision said, "No, it's a...involuntary response in their amygdala. They can't help but be afraid of you."

"Are you?" Wanda asked as he sat down at a chair behind the counter.

"My amygdala is synthetic, so..." Vision told her and Wanda laughed.

He smiled at her amusement before she said, "I used to think of myself one way. But after this..." she fiddled with her fingers as a faint red glow appeared, "...I am something else. I'm still me, I think, but...that's not what everyone else sees."

Vision was silent a moment before he spoke, "Do you know, I do not know what this is?" he said, touching the yellow stone on his forehead and it glowed, "Not really. I know it's not of this world, that it powered Loki's staff, gave you your abilities, as well as Lidianna's ergokinesis, but...it's true nature is a mystery. And yet, it is part of me."

"Are you afraid of it?" Wanda asked.

"I wish to understand it," Vision said, "The more I do, the less it controls me. One day...who knows? I may even control it."

Wanda faintly smiled before looking down at the stew, "I don't know what's in this but it's not paprika," she said, looking up at Vision, "I'm gonna go to the store. I'll be back in 20 minutes..."

She began to step out of the kitchen but stopped when Vision suddenly materialized from his seat to standing in front of Wanda. She stared up at him oddly as he said, "Alternatively, we could order a pizza?"

She stared at him a moment before asking, "Vision, are you not letting me leave?"

"It is a question of safety," he said.

"I can protect myself," Wanda said, taking a step forward but tensed up when Vision held out his arm, stopping her.

"Not yours," he said, "Mr. Stark would like to avoid the possibility of another public incident. Until the Accords are on a...more secured foundation."

Wanda then looked up at him, finding he was already looking down at her, "And what do you want?" she asked.

"For people to see you...as I do," Vision said and she looked at him gravely.