On The Run

Visions Visit

Chapter 2: Visions Visit

He campaigned for a day and a half before he was finally allowed to see her. At first, the government was not at all happy about it but he insisted-and after a while he figured they just got tired of his lobbying. And so he was led into a secure room, with cameras on them at all times and two armed guards at the doors, where he could sit at a table across from Wanda and talk to her for the first time since the battle in Leipzig.

She looked much the worse for wear; although she wasn't wearing the straitjacket her hands were cuffed and her collar was still intact; he could see abrasions on her shoulders through her jumpsuit where the jacket had been too tight. Even at a glance he could tell that she'd lost weight, and her eyes were bloodshot as though she hadn't slept in days. She looked hopeless, as though she was just waiting for someone to decide that they'd had enough of her, put a gun to her head, and pull the trigger. "Vizh..." Her voice trailed off and lapsed into a coughing fit, while Vision gestured for one of the guards to get her some water. Mercifully, he complied.

He wanted to reach across the table and take her hand but he figured that wouldn't go over well with their escorts and the last thing he wanted to do was to make any of the guards angry. "How are you, Wanda? Do they treat you well?"

"Not as badly as they could," she replied once she'd taken a sip of water. "The others get angrier about the jacket than I do and it doesn't really hurt that much." She was lying. "How is Rhodey?"

"He's...paralyzed, but he'll live. It was touch and go for a while but he's going to be okay."

"He just won't be able to be an Avenger."

"I'm not saying that. Mr. Stark is working on some experimental prototypes designed to make the healing process easier for him."

"That's wonderful. And what about Steve and Bucky?"

He couldn't help looking away. "They haven't been seen since Leipzig. Do you have any idea where they may have gone," She wouldn't meet his eyes so he didn't repeat his question. "Very well then. How are the others doing?"

"Bored. Upset. They hate being here. Then again, I guess this is what we signed up for when we sided with Steve."

"Do you regret it?"

She contemplated that for a moment before shaking her head resolutely, "I suppose sooner or later I knew it would all come down this path. You and Tony sided with the government; how are six rebels supposed to compete with that? But Bucky is innocent-and I knew this would happen, regardless of whether or not I signed the Accords. And who knows? Maybe they're right. Maybe I am dangerous. Maybe I deserve to be here."

"Don't say that. This is Steve's fault, not yours."

"Is it his fault if it was my choice to follow him," She sighed. "It's nice in a way, to know that I can't hurt anybody. The world is safe from me, and perhaps that's a good thing I do at least as much harm as I do good."

"Wanda-"

She was just getting started, "What happened in Lagos, all those people that died...their blood is on my hands. I wasn't strong enough. I didn't think fast enough. I caused their deaths. I am a murderer, Vizh-"

"If you hadn't done what you did, the bomb would have exploded on the ground. Steve would have been killed and dozens on the ground would have been seriously injured. Everyone makes mistakes-but you did the very best you could. Wanda. What happened in Lagos was an accident. You're not a killer. You made a mistake, for the right reasons. That's no reason to think that you deserve to be treated like an out of control animal."

"I can't control my powers."

"You're getting much better at it. You're just like me; we both have powers and we're both not sure exactly what we can do with them. We need to test and experiment, to find our own limitations...step by step. And we will accomplish this. We will find out what the Mind Stone is capable of. And until that day...we'll just do the best we can," It was all they could do, in any case.

Just then, one of the guards held up one hand.Five minutes left. Wanda bit her lip,"I don't know exactly how you convinced them to let you talk to me but however you did it...I'm grateful. It's good to know that we're not alone. And...I'm very sorry I controlled the stone, back at the base."

He flinched. He'd never really forgotten how it had felt to not be in control of his own body, to go crashing through floor after floor because his density was altering itself without his knowledge or consent. He'd never forget that helpless feeling he'd resolved he would never have again. But he could understand why she'd done it at least; and he knew he was not blameless. "You had a reason to do it. It was your duty to stand up for what you believed in-and you performed admirably. There is nothing to apologize for, Wanda. I just want to know if you can ever see me the same way again...if we can ever be friends again, when this has all blown over."

She reached out and grabbed his hand, grasping it tightly like a landline, "Of course. Someday, Vizh. Someday soon."

That was all he could ask for. Glancing back at the guards, he lowered his voice-determined to make their last couple of minutes together count. "Do not lose hope, Wanda," He began to hum Sokovian Lullaby under his breath, waiting for her reaction. At first she looked stricken and confused-but then, ever so slowly, the shadow of a smile crossed over her features like a sunbeam peering through a raincloud. "I will always be with you, no matter what."

"Time's up," the guard said, his partner stepping forward to pull Wanda roughly to her feet and lead her away while Vision was left to show himself out. He didn't mind though; he took that one bit of smile as a personal victory, that he had done something right.