Night Visions

Chapter 9

"You know, if you're going to sneak around, you should learn to stagger your arrivals." Natasha kept her eyes on her locker, busying herself with her gear, but Wanda caught a glimpse of a knowing smile.

"What?"

"You were late to training this morning. So was the Vision. It's not exactly hard to figure out."

"So we should hide?"

"No need to be defensive." Natasha chuckled. "Sneaking around can be fun. I'm just trying to help."

Wanda hid a smile. It was fun. In fact, the last time she'd been in this locker room she'd been alone... until Vizh had phased through the shower wall to join her. All it had taken was a thought, reaching out to touch his mind, to let him know that she was alone and thinking of him. He had appeared within moments, his clothing already fading, the water beading on his skin as he resolidified. He had squirted soap into his palms and begun to rub her back, massaging away the aches of the day, his slick and scented hands moving over her, leaving trails of tiny bubbles as they explored, his lips moving down her neck as he pulled her back against him.

"Hey. Maximoff."

Wanda found herself staring toward the empty shower. Natasha stood beside her, following her gaze.

"Do I even want to know?" She patted Wanda on the back and headed for the door. "You two are cute together."

Alone now, Wanda let herself grin. Guilt stirred, as it always did, but it didn't sting as much as it once had. She no longer kept an eye over her shoulder, waiting for someone to come and take it all away. Not all the time, anyway. She knew better than that. But maybe, for now, she was allowed to be happy.

Natasha was gone. She could reach out to Vision now, tell him that the coast was clear, but she was beginning to feel greedy. For all the times the others might have caught them, there were at least two more where they didn't. To him, everything was a new sensation and Wanda had vowed that they would try all of them.

Shutting her locker, she stepped out into the compound. Her favorite nights were the nights he took her flying. She'd been getting better at it. Even Vision was impressed. They flew together now, exploring the woods beyond the facility, finding hidden places where the roads didn't go. Sometimes they simply flew up, climbing higher and higher, embracing where the only witness was the moon.

Back in the living quarters, she passed the couch where they had spent many nights watching movies together. Most were as new to her as they were to him and she had to admit that his curiosity was infectious. Other times, they simply talked, her laying with her head against him, neither daring to move even though the screen had long gone dark.

Their last discussion had been interesting. It had turned to his ability to manipulate his body's temperature. Vizh had playfully made his fingers cold, teasing her through the thin fabric of her nightgown. Then he was warm, almost warmer than she could stand, his hands moving over her. Wanda had slipped into his mind, probing hidden pathways, the secret corners of his consciousness that were growing more and more familiar. While he touched her without, she touched him within, his gasps of pleasure mingling with hers.

"Hey, Wanda."

She whirled, her cheeks flushing. Wilson and Rhodes had come around the corner behind her.

Sam smiled. "You know where Vision is?"

"No, I... I was just working out. With Natasha."

"Oh, yeah?"

Rhodes gave him a warning look. "Don't."

"I just thought, you know... you and the android have been looking pretty tight."

"What are you, in junior high?" Shaking his head, Rhodes shooed Wilson back down the hallway. He gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. Don't listen to him. You just... keep doin' what you're doin'." He looked for the moment perplexed, then turned and followed Wilson.

She had to laugh. Wanda turned for her room, wondering again at the feeling. It had been a long time since she had had anything to laugh about. It felt better than she remembered.

It was quiet here, the hallway dark. She stopped, listening as she glanced behind her. Rhodes and Wilson were gone. She was alone. Slowly, she lay a hand on the doorknob.

He burst from the floor, a spectral apparition rising up behind her and pulling her into his arms. Wanda gasped, the laughter returning as Vision resolidified and spun her around. She punched him playfully, but he was kissing her then, her hands flailing feebly against his chest.

Eventually, she pulled away. "Don't do that!"

"My apologies." He inclined his head, producing a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.

Wanda blinked in disbelief.

"Flowers are a traditional element of courtship. Please." He pushed them into her hands.

She arched a brow. "You knew you would need to apologize?"

"Actually, my intention was to ask you on a date."

"A date."

"I have enjoyed our... ah." He trailed off with a thin-lipped smile, too proper to say it. "But I feel I would like to take you on a real date... out there. You deserve as much."

"Out there people will see."

His shoulders slumped, almost imperceptibly. "I see. I understand if you do not wish to be seen with—"

Wanda stepped closer, smiling up at him. "I mean they know who we are now. We are kind of famous. They will look and I say let them."

"Even though..." He gestured to his face, his eyes searching hers.

She lay a hand against his cheek. "They will see what I see. I would be happy to go out with you."

He smiled. "Then it is a date?"

For answer, she kissed him again and, pushing open the door, pulled him into her room.