Wonderstruck

Chapter 16

You and Pietro are staring at the blueprints for the building that the company has been working on. There was a measurement off on an area which has made the work halt until someone can figure out what went wrong. The two of you are trying to decipher where the issue is and what the best solution would be when Vision storms onto the job site.

"Vision, you're not allowed to be here. You're an unauthorized civilian in a construction zone," Pietro says as he steps around the table to prevent his former brother-in-law from moving further into the unpredictable space.

"I'm here to speak with Y/n. I'm not leaving until I do," he states and you aren't sure what he could possibly want with you.

"We are trying to work," Pietro glares at Vision. "Actual life-threatening work, not standing pretty in a room full of hungover college students."

Vision looks at Pietro for a moment then looks back at you. "Do you have a minute?"

Pietro is about to say something when you decide to cut in. "Just this once, Vision," you grab a spare hard hat and plop it on his head. "Regulations, I'm sure you've taught your students about them." You pat him on the back before guiding him out of the construction zone. He takes the hard hat off and roughly returns it to you as he fixes his hair. "What is so important, Vision? I'm needed inside."

"I want you to stay away from the tournament," he states.

You lick your lips in thought and look past him to the job site. The concrete mixing machine is spinning and you fantasize for a moment about pushing Vision into a space and burying him in the concrete. You shake the thought away and look back at Vision. "Why would I do that? Tommy and Billy invited me."

"That doesn't matter, I'm uninviting you. They are my boys and if anyone is going to be there to support them, it's going to be me!" Vision says as he tries to intimidate you. His reasoning for keeping you away confuses you. Why does he really not want you there?

"Vision, no one is saying you can't be there. Why are you making this a 'it's me or you' thing? This isn't about either of us, it's about your sons. I have been helping them practice and they want to show me that our hard work has paid off. Why is that such a bad thing?" You ask, instead of agreeing to stay away. You knew that he was going to make this into a thing, but you don't understand why it has to be. It's not like you are dating Wanda or trying to replace him as his kid's parent. You don't understand why he has such a problem with you.

"I know that you have been helping them. Do you know how I know? Because they don't stop talking about it. I have friends and colleagues that have children in their class. What kind of father will people think I am if Tommy and Billy give you all of the credit? I don't want them to run to you when they win. They will be running to me because you won't be there. Understood? You are to stay away," he says bitterly, and now you understand what's happening. He doesn't want his image of being an involved father to be affected. It upsets you that he could easily earn that credit and praise by spending time with his kids. But he relies on everyone else doing the heavy lifting and keeping their mouths shut. You find it ridiculous. "The tournament is happening on my weekend. So I have to be there. They aren't your kids, you can make up some excuse and not show up. Or else," he threatens.

"Do you have something to support your 'or else' or were you hoping that was enough for me to agree to cancel?" You ask, bored of this conversation.

"Just, leave my kids alone. Okay?" Vision walks away and you sigh. You knew when you accepted the twin's invitation two weeks ago, that you were going to upset Vision. You didn't realize that you were making him feel insecure as a parent. You return to work to try and push the encounter out of your mind.