A Hand to Hold // Scarlet Witch and Vision One-Shots

Shoelaces

{A/N: This is set just before the events of CA:CW. I was really inspired by the lines in their first scene in IW, so if you haven't seen that yet and you don't want to know what they say to one another, maybe avoid reading this.}

Wanda didn't want to admit that she never learned how to tie her shoes. She and Pietro couldn't afford shoes with laces, if they could afford shoes at all. And if she ever had them, her brother was much faster at tying them. She was embarrassed to say this to her teammates, so she always went with boots for her uniforms.

It never occurred to her that the Vision had never worn shoes with laces, either. She had just taken a shower and was drying off her hair with a towel when she entered her room to see the red-skinned humanoid floating, wearing what looked like a jogging suit, holding the shoes in one of his hands.

"Vis, what's wrong?" She inquired, the gray sweats and red camisole she was wearing suddenly not seeming like enough. He turned to her and smiled, and held out his shoes.

"I thought I would engage in the act of... jogging. I even borrowed a jogging outfit from the Captain." He said, excitement in his voice. She always loved when he got excited about something, because it was in an almost childlike manner. "However, I do not understand the method of tying shoes, no matter how many videos on the tube of you I watch."

"YouTube won't teach you how to tie your laces, Vis." She responded, laying the damp towel over the back of her desk chair. She pondered whether or not she should tell the android about her lack of ability in the area, since she knew he would likely be asking for assistance. She sat cross-legged in the middle of her bed, and noticed him watching her intently.

"Can you teach me, Miss Maximoff?" He questioned, still hovering above the ground, near her bed. She shook her head no just once, and he had a confused look on his face.

"First of all, we've talked about this - call me Wanda." She reminded him, and he nodded, almost looking like he was making a literal mental note to remember to do so next time. "Second of all... I never learned how to tie my shoes, either." A look of realization hit Vision's features and he dropped the shoes suddenly, startling both of them. He scrambled to pick up the shoes but left them sitting neatly as he looked to her for an explanation. "Pietro would always tie my shoes for me, if we were lucky enough to have shoes at any point in time. Have you not noticed my affinity for boots and heels?"

"I must admit I do not pay attention to the footwear that the team dons each time I see them. But, I did notice that you do not have any shoes with laces in your closet." He pointed out. She frowned a bit, when had he looked in her closet? She decided to not question it.

"Sorry, Vis. Maybe you should ask Sam. He wears running shoes often." She pointed out, and the android nodded in return.

"Yes, that is true. He has many pairs of shoes with laces, because he thinks that the shoe may help him beat Captain Rogers in their morning jogs." He recalled, "But he must know that he can never beat Captain Rogers, who is a superhuman."

"I don't think it's so much that he doesn't know that he can't, but that he wants to push himself to do better each day." Wanda explained. Vision nodded again.

"Humans are quite confusing." He sighed. Wanda felt the crease in her forehead grow. Can androids sigh? She never noticed his need to breathe.

"Well, whoever you get to teach you, don't tell them that you asked me first. I feel like I'd be the laughingstock of the team if they found out I can't tie my shoes." She said, playing with the string on her sweats. Vision tilted his head slightly.

"Am I not the laughingstock then? I do not possess the knowledge to tie my shoes, either." He brought his hand up to his chin as if he were deep in thought.

"It's alright for you. You were just given a physical form one year ago. And you don't really need shoes." She pointed to the fact that he was still floating. He lowered himself to the ground, wiggling his toes underneath the socks that Steve had provided him.

"I feel like maybe I'm an outsider." He suddenly admitted. "I don't fully understand human emotions, or actions, or certain ways of doing things."

"While you might not understand those emotions and habits, when I look at you and feel your mental prowess, all I feel is something human. Maybe even a little bit Asgardian." Wanda explained, pushing herself off the bed and approaching him. She laid a hand on his forehead and pushed herself into his mind, eyes flitting shut.

"Tell me what you feel." He whispered, leaning into her touch. She held her hand there for a moment, red mist from her magic surrounding her fingers.

"I just... feel you." She responded, opening her eyes and connecting them with his. She always thought that they closely resembled the arc reactor that Tony created. "I feel you the same way that I would feel the others the moment I walk into the room. But when they see me, they feel fear, sometimes concern. You just... feel like you. Happy, positive. Innocent. And something else... interest."

He brought his hands up to either side of her face, a small smile appearing on his mechanical face. She lowered her hand from his forehead and held it against his chest, where she felt his artificial heartbeat. They didn't break eye contact as she turned her head slightly, watching him. They had gotten close in moments like this before, but this felt different.

"Wanda, I feel a strange urge to kiss you." Vision alerted her, almost making her laugh as she closed her eyes for a few moments before opening them again and seeing his face only inches from hers. "I do not know how to kiss."

"Neither do I," she breathed, leaning forward so that their lips connected. Vision's hands immediately dropped to her side in surprise but he quickly wrapped his arms around her torso, and she slid her own arms around his neck. Every few moments she would stop to breathe, and he had to remind himself that she was not pulling away.

They kissed like this for a few minutes, learning how to explore each other and feel a connection unlike any other. As they were still kissing, Steve Rogers came into the room, holding a clipboard.

"Wanda, I--" When he looked up from the clipboard he dropped it, making Vision jump back against the wall, feet away from Wanda. A warm blush covered her face as the two looked at their Captain. "What's going on here?"

"It's nothing, Captain Rogers. Miss Maximoff was just aiding me with an experiment." Vision explained. Wanda shot him a thankful look, but Steve didn't look convinced. Before he could ask, Wanda used her hex to pick up the clipboard from the floor and bring it over to herself.

"A mission, Cap?" She asked, looking to the blond man. "Lagos... but Vis isn't on the mission list."

"It's too risky to have him there." Steve responded. "We have to go undercover, and anyone will be able to recognize a man with red skin. We leave first thing in the morning." Wanda pushed the clipboard back to him with her hex, and the Captain gave them both a concerned look before leaving, closing the door behind him.

Instantly Vision was back at Wanda's side, arms wrapped around her. She looked to be deep in thought, but when he pushed a strand of hair out of her face it seemed like she suddenly realized that he was there. She looked up at him, and he noticed the change in her mood - she was feeling anxious, nervous.

"Why are you nervous, Wanda?" He inquired, bringing a hand up to brush her cheek with his thumb.

"I've never done a mission without you, Vis. When you're there, you can help me to clear my mind and not go all crazy-witch. But..." She looked down. "If you're not there, I feel like something could go wrong."

"You will be fine. You do not need me to be a powerful Avenger." He complimented, and she looked up at his face; his features were soft in comfort.

"No, perhaps not... but I feel like I need you with me." She murmured, and in response, he kissed her again. They spent the rest of the evening kissing, talking, trying to understand this connection between them.

And then, of course, it all went to hell.