Night Visions

Chapter 16

He was running internal diagnostics. It had started as a way to pass the time while his body regained locomotive capabilities but, in truth, he was growing restless. Stark claimed to have disabled the inhibitor before leaving them, but its effects took time to dissipate and Vision could not be certain that there had not been further tampering. Captain Rogers shared his concern. He had restricted Vision to the med-lab while their own people ran tests. Of course, they could not be certain of what they were looking for, nor even truly understand what they were seeing. He was, after all, unique. So until he regained control of his limbs, he would have to trust in his own analysis.

It had been Wanda who brought him back. When the others had attempted to move him, they had complained of the weight, but she had cradled him in light, carrying him from that place as he had once carried her. He played the memory over again. She had risen up to defend him, fearsome in her anger, dark and beautiful, an apparition bathed in swirling red light. It was a sight he would not forget.

Staring down the length of his arm, he flexed his fingers. The motion was stiff, slow, yet still a marked improvement. Stark had been correct; had he not struggled, the effects would have been less severe. Yet the memory of his rashness and the thought of being parted from Wanda again had left him no choice. Despite the pain, he was not angry. Stark's actions may have been deceptive, but his desire for precaution was understandably rooted in his experience with Ultron. Vision had gone to him for help, and perhaps Stark had violated that trust, but waking here had done more to ease his doubts than any of the tests they had performed. It had felt like... coming home.

"It is good to see you smile."

He raised his eyes to find Wanda standing in the doorway. She looked tired, but a slow grin was spreading across her face as she watched him.

"I do not believe I am. My fine muscle control is still limited. Speech is somewhat awkward, and I am afraid the more delicate nuances of expression are still—"

"You are smiling. I can see it." She stepped into the room and came to stand beside his bed. Staring down at him, she cupped a hand against his cheek. "I can see you."

"Wanda, I am sorry. I should not have left."

"I told you not to trust Tony Stark." Her eyes flared and for a moment he saw a shadow of the fury that had risen up to defend him. But as she looked down at him, her expression softened. Leaning low, she lay a kiss on his forehead.

He longed to wrap his arms around her. Again, his fingers twitched. This time he was able to raise his hand at the wrist, stretching but still falling short.

Sensing his frustration, Wanda squeezed onto the bed and curled against him, laying her hand over his. "We are leaving soon. Steve says you will stay here, that you should take your time in recovering."

"I know. He came to see me." Vision sighed. "But you know there is more to it than that."

She scowled. "What Stark did..."

"Has yet to be seen. I had no knowledge of the inhibitor until it was activated. I do not believe that he would do me harm, or cause harm to those he called friends, but Captain Rogers is correct in his analysis. I am not to be trusted."

"It is not you he doesn't trust."

"But my body? If this form is indeed the whole of what I am, the result is the same. At your side, I would be a liability." He strained again against his invisible bonds before subsiding in defeat. "When Captain Rogers came to see me, I could tell he was in difficulty, that the words made him uncomfortable. He attempted to reassure me, to convince me that this precaution is not personal. I would prefer to come with you, but until the rift between them is repaired, this is the only way to be certain that my mistake does not put the team at risk."