"Drax tried to explain to me what a joke was, but I still don't understand." Mantis sighed and shook her head. "I'm hopeless," she said sadly. Her antennae drooped and the lights emanating from them dimmed.
"No, that's not true," Vision replied as his hand reached up to pat her back.
He'd been around humans for quite some time now and came to understand things like touch. In cases like these, when reassurance was needed, a gentle touch could be encouraging. And though Mantis wasn't human, her emotions were very similar to those of a human, just like his.
It was brief but Mantis's expression lit up a little afterwards, as he'd hoped. "Tell me a joke? I know I'm not the best at them but I'll try to help," he offered.
Mantis smiled, and Vision couldn't help but return it. "Why did the chicken cross the road?" she asked optimistically.
Vision frowned. This was going to be difficult.
***
Wanda walked through the halls confidently, excitement coursing through her. She couldn't help the slight smile creep across her face at the thought of the flying lessons Vision had offered to give her tonight. They mostly consisted of Wanda practicing to concentrate her energy on lifting herself off the ground and Vision supervising and shouting encouraging words at her, but sometimes she'd pretend to slip so he'd have to catch her.
She wouldn't call it a crush, exactly, not yet, but there was something about him...
She approached the kitchen doorway, preparing to walk past it and make a turn down the hall, but something told her to peek inside. She regretted it as immediately as the urge took hold of her. Vision and Mantis laughed about something in the space behind the counter, looking closer together than they probably were. Wanda backtracked quickly, peeking behind the door frame against her better judgement, and watched with a frown as Mantis grabbed his shoulder for support as she clutched her stomach with laughter. Vision looked at her with wonder and chuckled.
Wanda watched until a sick feeling started gnawing at her stomach, then she forced herself off the wall and continued down the hallway, not turning back.
So maybe it was a crush...
***
A/N
So, I thought for sure these two chapters would be the end of this fic but I feel bad now because I hate that they didn't get a happy ending. I might write one more later just so we can get some closure ;)
