Winter & Vision's (not so) Excellent Adventure

[reconstitution]

Who: Winter, Vision, & You
Broadcast: n/a
Action: Forest, planetside
When: July 9th

[ This thread is going to serve both as a canon update to post Captain America: Civil War for Winter and Vision, but also be used as a monthly catch-all with prompts. ]

[ It's been a few weeks since they've landed, so Winter's finally gotten over most of his initial uneasiness. Enough to finally venture into the forest for a hike and get the lay of the land. He's familiar with the beach and the markets, and he's heard things about the forest and a certain tree, so he needs to see for himself if the rumors are true.

It's relatively peaceful, and he hasn't come across anyone else yet. He's making his way around a fallen tree when an animal jumps out of a nearby bush and startles him. Winter stumbles back, and his immediate reaction is to reach out with his left hand to steady himself. Unfortunately it's still broken, so it doesn't cooperate like it's meant to. Which means that he trips and falls. Down a steep hill. Only having one functioning arm means he raises his right to shield his head until he can manage to slow down or run into something. Which is exactly what he does before his head smacks solidly against a hard surface. ]

[Meanwhile, the Vision is similarly engaged in heading toward the tree to investigate it. He’s heard you need someone’s hand to hold in order for the magic to work, but his curiosity has the better of him and he’d like to observe it in action first. A scuffle down below his flight path catches his attention, and he swoops into the forest to see what’s going on just in time to see Winter, of all people, taking a tumble down a steep hillside. He rushes over to try and intercept the man before he seriously hurts himself, and in his rush he miscalculates his own density and slams down hard enough that Winter smacks his head against the Vision instead of catching himself safely.

Oops.

The impact is enough to snap the Vision’s head back and hit it against the tree he’d been trying to prevent Winter from hitting. So now there are two enhanced individuals knocked out on the forest floor. How very impressive.]

Comments

[unbearablynaive]

[He looks briefly pained and rubs the side of his temple where it happened.]

I saw Bucky falling down a slope and attempted to stop him before he hit a large rock, but the collision between us was of greater force than I'd anticipated.

[It's worthwhile to note that before, he's always referred to that particular individual as Winter here, per his preference....]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Hearing "Bucky" instead of "Winter," doesn't throw Wanda at all. She'd already made the transition to calling him by his real name since arriving back in the Fleet.]

[Instead, Wanda processes this information. Vision said he suffered "head trauma," because he was trying to stop Bucky from "falling down a hill and almost hitting a large rock." And the collision was greater than either expected...]

So, you two bumped heads?

[unbearablynaive]

[He rubs his temple again and then drops his hand, looking rueful.]

Something along those lines, yes. I do hope it wasn't broadcast on reality television.

[But there was that mysterious increase in his account balance afterward.]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda gives him a look for a moment, trying to decide if he was kidding or not. However, it wasn't exactly in Vision's natures to make jokes. Least, not in this way. And with that, she begins to break. It starts as a snrk, a soft giggle, that turns into a chuckle, which becomes a full fit of laughter and soft snorting. She has to stop moving, bracing herself against a tree as she practically doubles over from laughing.]

[Sorry, Vision. Just give her a minute to get this all out.]

[unbearablynaive]

[As embarrassing as it had been for him, and despite the slightly pained look on his face, the Vision is actually very glad she's laughing like that. Because it means she's comfortable enough--comfortable enough with him--to see the humor in the situation. So he waits for her to recover and then offers her a hand. Should she take it, she'll pick up on that mix along with a warm pleasure.]

I rather hope it was all part of an augment glitch.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda does take his hand when it is offered--practically without even thinking about it. She lets him steady her on her feet, she then wipes the tears from her laughter away, and nods that she's ready to keep walking.]

I am sorry. That story... It was just funny to picture. I'm glad you two are all right.

[And she does mean it. She is glad they are all right. In fact, as they are walking, she almost reaches for his hand again. Her hand brushes his, but then it continues past. The fingers of both her hands intersecting in front of her. She almost looks a little disappointed in herself.]

[unbearablynaive]

And I'm just as glad you didn't need to experience anything of the same sort, yourself. Though I admit I had wondered what was happening when I hadn't heard from you in a few weeks.

[Not that he's a stalker or anything, but the Vision likes to keep tabs on the people he cares about.]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

It certainly sounds like I got off easy by comparison.

[She smiles at him, slightly teasing. However, now that she thinks on it...]

To be honest, I do not know what happened to me here. It is still blurry in my head. Going from being here to being back home. It is like two puzzle pieces that do not truly fit, but have been forced to in order to complete the picture.

[She shakes her head, her expression having become more serious as she puzzles over this out loud.]

I don't know if that makes any sense. It is the best way that I can describe it.

[unbearablynaive]

[He nods, filing that away.]

I spoke with someone who said he'd been to a third location, something--he described it as something cold. But he had also disappeared for several months.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

A third place... someplace cold...

[There is a twinge of something uncomfortably familiar with that description. A chill runs up Wanda's spine, and she shakes her head.]

There really is so much more to the fleet than we know.

[She looks troubled. Even though their current situation with Atroma had not really changed since her first arrival, it did not make her feel anymore comfortable.]

[unbearablynaive]

[He nods, tinking about it. Her reaction makes him think there might be something, perhaps buried in her subconscious, but if she can't remember it clearly he doesn't want to press the issue and lead her in a direction she didn't actually go.]

I couldn't agree more. Though it wouldn't be wrong to say the same about our own universe, of course. There's always more we don't know.

[Both for good and for ill.]

But I want you to know I'm your friend, Wanda.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[She nods. He did have a point. But then, she turns to look at him, a little surprised by that later response.]

I know.

[She tries to give him a reassuring smile, but her thoughts drift to home, the fight at the airport, and even before that--her escape from the Avengers compound.]

Viz, everything that happened... [Even though she knows they already apologized to each other back home, it felt important to say it again here.] I am sorry.

[unbearablynaive]

As am I.

[He sighs, troubled look intensifying.]

I won't pretend I wish events had turned out differently, but it was a situation with many layers of complexity. It all seemed so important, and yet--

[He glances around tellingly at the forest canopy.]

The conflict means nothing here. There are no Accords, and I feel as though I know Bucky well after all this time.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[She follows Vision's gaze, taking in the forest that surrounds them herself. He was right. The troubles of home did not matter here, and yet the scars that they had each left on one another persisted--both the physical and those unseen. She takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She closes her eyes and feels the warmth of the sun through the trees.]

We each did what we thought was right.

[She finally says, as she stretches her arms overhead. Opening her eyes once again.]

If only there had been some other way around it.

[unbearablynaive]

There were other ways, Wanda. Yet at the same time, it was inevitable. [Which isn't exactly clear, so he elaborates.]

If Captain Rogers hadn't already been compromised emotionally, he could have used logic in his arguments to Mr. Stark as to why he didn't believe Bucky had caused the bombing - first and foremost that he couldn't have traveled from Vienna to Budapest so quickly with aerial travel on lockdown. If Mr. Stark had communicated himself better, he could have explained why he thought it was wise you should stay in the compound rather than entrusting you to me. If I had been less distracted, my shot would not have gone astray.

[He grimaces.]

But Captain Rogers was emotionally compromised, twice, Mr. Stark is terrible at communication, and I--well. I hope you won't take it badly if I say I am distracted by your presence.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda watches Vision as he speaks, at first only slightly irritated that he took her words as a signal to go over what could have been done differently--rather than a signal that she was trying to move past what had happened. That, right as he was, she did not want to go over it all again for the thousandth time in her head. Pointing out to herself all the ways it could have been avoided. Yet, she does know that it's just Vision's nature to respond this way--for the connotation of Wanda's words to go over his head. However, her anger spikes noticeably over one particular point he seemed to be implying.]

So you still think Stark was right then? That I deserved to stay in the compound and kept under constant surveillance? That as long as he communicated his reasoning with me, that it makes locking me away all right?

[unbearablynaive]

[He shakes his head.]

His intention was, yes - to let the waters calm. The execution was most decidedly not. Wanda, I didn't have nearly a full year of leadership experience when I was there, not that I could remember. I've learned that listening to someone and developing a compromise is often best, but nearly every other Avenger is of the "take charge because I know best" mentality.

[And then his voice falls from its heated pitch and returns to the softer tone he'd had earlier.] That most of all is what I wanted to tell you I'm sorry for. Because I know better now, and should have known better then.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Just because his intent may have been right, does not mean his actions were. [Yeah, she's not bitter or anything...] Stark's noble intentions often seem to lead to his making poor decisions.

[Still, Vision's apology serves to dial her anger back--though a slightly perturbed expression still lingers on her face. She is quiet for a moment. Letting them both walk in silence for a moment before she speaks again.]

What did you mean when you said you were "distracted by my presence?"

[unbearablynaive]

[She's right there - he of all people doesn't need to be reminded where Ultron came from. But he's not going to bring that up if he doesn't have to.]

I...felt it was more important to ensure your safety than to engage in the aerial battle at that point. It didn't matter to me if Captain Rogers got away; the chances of stopping him at that point were entirely minimal. Further resistance from our end seemed like an afterthought.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

You could have taken off after the jet with Stark and Rhodes. You probably would have even been able to stop it. But you came to check on me instead. Even after I... [She stops herself for a moment. She looks troubled, but ultimately knows there's no reason to sugarcoat what happened.] even after what happened at the Avengers compound.

[She turns to look at him, meeting his eyes.]

Why?

[unbearablynaive]

[But he'd just told her why - because he felt it was important. Is she asking why he thinks that? It takes him a quiet moment to ponder before he decides that's what she means.]

Because you slowed me down in a more efficient manner than Clint's arrows? I don't hold that against him any more than I do against you.

[As for why?]

Because no one else would, Wanda, and you've been left alone too often. [And he repeats what he'd said earlier, only more softly this time.] It's important to me.

Wanna move things forward to the tree?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda's face turns a bright red before she can turn away. She bites her lip, trying to will away the blushing. Even if Vision wasn't the most forward, the sentiment behind his words does not go unmissed. Wanda can hear Wrath's voice in her head: "Vision's special friend..." "He really likes you." She shakes her head, trying to silence her words. It doesn't have much effect though. So instead, she just keeps looking down and away, her face too red and her mind too jumbled up for her to have any confidence in whatever may come out of her mouth. She knows what she wants to ask him, but... damn, why was this so hard to her?!]

sure!

[unbearablynaive]

[Even if he can't quite articulate his feelings properly, at least the Vision hasn't managed to make her angry and found an answer to her question. Still, it's a fair amount for him to ponder as they finish making their way to the tree, only pausing for short conversation about the path on the way.

In front of them, in a wide clearing, stands a tree that can only be described as glorious; this is what the Norse had imagined Yggdrasil as, what any culture would recognize as magical without a greater understanding of science and filled with energy among those with that understanding. For a moment, the Mind Stone in his forehead illuminates in the presence of a sympathetic power.]

They weren't wrong about its impressiveness.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[The tree is definitely magnificent. The sight of it stops Wanda in her tracks and drops her jaw. It is almost too fantastical to be real, and yet it stands right in front of her. Her expression of awe, changes to that of a wide smile. This place, the very aura of it, is incredibly uplifting.]

No, they were not.

[She is comfortable with standing in silence for a few seconds. Happy to allow the full impact of the moment wash over them. After a little while, she does speak again. Her voice comes out soft, almost afraid, she doesn't want to ruin the magic of the place.]

What happens now?

[unbearablynaive]

[He doesn't miss her reaction to it, though the tree has nearly as great an effect on him as well. There's power here, and it fills him with--calm? Confidence, perhaps? Something that has been missing from him recently.]

We're supposed to stand before it and hold hands, I gather. Shall we move closer?

[The closer they get, the more the tree dominates their field of vision and the more everything seems, at least to the Vision, to be sharper, more saturated. More real.

And again he reaches for her hand, now feeling a clarity he hadn't had before. It feels right to be here with Wanda, and the mix of fondness and a deeper caring that's grown in time has him giving her hand a squeeze and smiling sincerely. He could have come here with someone from his crew easily enough, or one of his other friends, but this is better.]