I walked into the kitchen area to see Vision cooking.
And what he was cooking smelled decidedly like-
"Is that paprikash?" I asked.
"I though it might lift your spirits." He looked at the recipe.
I chuckled and walked over to the stove.
Stirring the pot I got a little on the spoon.
I blew on it before tasting it.
I looked at Vision smiling. He was staring at me taking in my reaction. "Spirits lifted."
"In my defense, I haven't actually eaten anything before, so..." Vision started awkwardly.
"May I?" I interrupted.
"Please." He stepped back.
I lifted a spice and smelled it. Remind me to get Vision enrolled in a cooking class sometime.
"Wanda?"
"Hmm." I looked up at Vision.
"No one dislikes you, Wanda." Oh no. Sure doesn't feel that way. I tilted my head.
"Thanks." I twisted the lid back on the spice.
"Oh, you're welcome." Vision said. "No, it's a involuntary response in their amygdala. They can't help but be afraid of you."
I noticed as Percy walked in. Nat sent her back to the compound because she got sick.
"Are you?" I asked to both of them, knowing Percy had heard what Vision said.
"My amygdala is synthetic, so..."
I laughed and looked at Percy.
She smiled. "Wanda if you scared me well I would have been dead a long time ago. You should see my dad's side of the family."
She let out a loud laugh.
I stirred the paprikash and looked down so I wouldn't splash any.
"I used to think of myself one way. But after this..." I let a tiny sphere of powers hover over my finger. "I am something else."
"I'm still me, I think, but..." I dropped my hand and looked at Vision. "That's not what everybody else sees."
He looked over his shoulder, before turning back to me.
Percy sat on a chair.
"Do you know, I don't know what this is?" He tapped the Mind Stone. "Not really. I know it's not of this world, that it powered Loki's staff, gave you your abilities, but...it's true nature is a mystery"
"And yet, it is part of me." He finished looking at me.
"Are you afraid of it?" I asked.
"I wish to understand it. The more I do, the less it controls me. One day... who knows? I may even control it."
"My family. They hate me but they've used me so many times." Percy looked at me. "I've had no real choice in the matter. Only a few of the important members in my family actually like me."
She smiled. "And thanks to them I'm still alive and not dead at fourteen."
I waited for her to continue.
"But after four years knowing them the thing is... I'm terrified. Not of them. Of what the enemies of my family are willing to do." She reached her hand over her opposite shoulder.
She winced as she touched the area, as if it hurt.
Or if the memories hurt.
"I'm not scared for myself. I'm scared for every other member of my family."
She closed her eyes. "Every time someone close to me dies I blame myself. I can't help it. So if a bunch of my friends die... I won't be the same. Ever."
The way she said that makes me think not many people know this. And that she trusts us enough to share her greatest fear and weakness.
I looked at Vision. I held off telling him this as long as I could.
"I don't know what's in this but it is not paprika. I'm gonna go to the store. I'll be back in twenty minutes."
I started towards the door when Vision phased through the island so he blocked my path.
"Alternatively, we could order a pizza?"
This is fishy.
"Vision, are you not letting me leave?"
Vision looked down and that was when I knew his answer.
"It is a question of safety."
I have to try. "I can protect myself."
I tried to walk past him but he put out an arm.
"Not yours." He took a breath. I looked to Percy. She shrugged.
"Mr Stark would like to avoid the possibility of another public incident. Until the Accords are on a more secure foundation."
I looked up and met Vision's eyes. "And what do you want?"
"For people to see you... as I do."
Percy got up and walked out towards the bathroom.
Thanks a lot.
I wonder what happened to Steve and Sam?
I haven't heard anything from them.
I pulled away from Vision and walked down the hall to my room.
They want to treat me like I'm some sort of freak.
Percy and Vision seemed not to. But I guess Percy being a real biological being counts more than Vision.
"Wanda." Vision called out.
"Leave me alone." I quickened my steps, all too aware that Vision doesn't need a door to get in.
I was at my door when Vision caught up to me, phasing through the wall so he blocked the door.
Fine then.
I walked one door further and went into Percy's room.
The room had an ocean theme. Along with some stuff from various obsessions of hers.
The prizes from the arcade were here, Steve had stopped by her apartment and got her stuff.
I saw a paper on her nightstand and I picked it up.
Wanda
I don't know how to say this. But you are one of the most accepting people I've ever met.
You didn't judge me.
And-
A whole bunch of their stuff was scribbled out.
I read it where it picked up.
I'm glad you consider me a friend.
Happy (Way Late) Birthday
Percy
I never told her my birthday, she must have asked Steve or somebody. But still the thoughtfulness to do this when she could have waited for my next birthday.
I noticed a box on the stand with my name on it as well.
I opened it up. Inside was a beautiful statuette of a hippocampus.
At least that's what Percy told me they were called.
I smiled and laid down on her bed. Maybe we can through this.
yes updating early. What kind of spirit possessed me to do this?
Easy. The spirit of chronically rescheduled tennis practice. It is now on Thursday and Friday for this week and I figured you would kill me if I waited till Thursday to update.
See you guys.
And happy Fourth to everyone in the states.
See yah, for real this time.