Chapter Text
It didn't take long for Pietro to realize he utterly despised the android—or the Vision, as he had apparently decided to call himself. He couldn't exactly pinpoint why he disliked the man-robot-thing (Pietro wasn't sure what he was) but everything about Vision grated on Pietro's nerves and agitated him most severely. His posh English accent, his seeming arrogance, his apparent complete utter lack of arrogance, his chiseled abs and baby blue eyes—everything about the synthezoid (that's apparently what he was) seemed tailor-designed to annoy Pietro specifically.
And then the Vision had to go and befriend Wanda.
Pietro knew he could be a tad overprotective. He would admit to that much, but circumstances led him to it. No one could live the life he and Wanda had lived without being on guard at all times; they only had each other and it was his job to take care of Wanda just as it was hers to take care of him. Pietro protected her from danger, she pulled him back from it. It wasn't a perfect system, but it was their system—and Vision was encroaching upon it.
It started subtly at first, so subtly that Pietro hadn't even noticed until it was far too late, but Vision had slowly slithered his way into his sister's life and wormed his way into her side. And before Pietro knew it, Vision and Wanda were fast "friends" who cuddled on the couch as they watched television together. It was revolting. Every time Pietro saw them together, a violent writhing beast would awaken within him. It scratched viciously at the walls that contained it—tormenting Pietro with sickening nausea—and it thrust outwards from him in volatile bursts of anger and bitterness.
He didn't understand this burning feeling, but Pietro had learned a long time ago to live by his instincts and his instincts were distinctly telling him that he did not like Wanda and Vision together. He did not like it at all, so he quickly decided that he needed to do something about it, before it went too far.
He stormed to Wanda's bedroom door and, with an entitlement that only a sibling could have, he opened it without a single knock. Wanda poked her head out from behind her closet door to glance at him.
"You okay?" She asked, clearly sensing his agitation either through her abilities or her sisterly intuition. Or maybe it was the pissed off look on Pietro's face and the clenched fists by his side.
"I'm fine," he said tersely which Wanda reacted to with a disbelieving scoff as she continued to change her clothes, not sparing another glance at her brother and his antics. Pietro briefly caught a glance at a large sprawl of small bruises on his sister's back, but in that exact moment his mind didn't yet absorb that information—too focused on his current task. "The question is: Are you okay?"
"Me? What's wrong with me?"
"You're dating a toaster!"
"What?" She laughed which only further irritated Pietro. "What are you even talking about? Wait—" She finished pulling on a new shirt and walked out of the closet, staring at her brother with a bewildered expression. "Are you talking about Vision?"
He rolled his eyes. "Is there another robot you're painting your nails with that I don't know about?"
She rolled her eyes in return, the motion highly exaggerated, and huffed in exasperation. "Firstly, he's not a toaster or a robot. He's a synthezoid. Secondly, I'm not dating him. We're just friends."
This information utterly shocked Pietro and he felt as if he had been doused with cold water. His sister had never lied to him, so he doubted she was lying now, but the evidence seemed to the contrary. He narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"
"You're being ridiculous."
"You fell asleep on his shoulder the other day! I saw you two cuddling!"
"So? I'm an affectionate person and Vision is very soft."
Pietro couldn't argue with that logic. Wanda was a very touchy-feely person in general and sometimes Pietro thought she relied on physical touch like other people needed air to breathe. Vision wasn't even the only person he'd seen her behave cuddly with. A few days ago he saw her with Natasha and the two had been quite close, but that hadn't concerned him like seeing her with Vision had.
Perhaps she wasn't dating the robot after all, but that brought up another question. Was Vision really that soft? He supposed it made sense. Vision could apparently change his density which allowed him to travel through walls and other solid structures. It was only reasonable to assume that he could alter his density to make his body softer.
He wondered if it was like laying on a pillow. Pietro assumed Vision's skin was softer and smoother than the average pillow, but would the sinking sensation be the same?—an enveloping comfort that consumed the senses? He imagined himself sinking into Vision's shoulder with the larger man's arm holding him close. He was so tall, taller than even him, and he could hold him tightly and protectively in a way no one ever had.
Would he smell like metal? Or would his scent be something entirely different and unique—entirely him?
Pietro quickly ended those thoughts before they could go any further—he was getting off topic—and instead he looked at Wanda and pleaded.
"Please don't date Vision," he said and then quickly added. "You deserve better than him."
"Yeah, yeah, sure. I won't date Vision. Are you done being weird now?"
"Never," he said solemnly, resulting in more rolled eyes. He exited the room, satisfied with Wanda's promise, but then—his earlier observations finally catching up to him—he raced back to her room and asked, "What's with all the bruises?"
"What?"
"The bruises on your back. There were a lot of them."
Oh," Wanda blushed. "They're from training. I–I've been doing a lot of sparring with Nat. She's very … physical."
"Oh, okay." He frowned. "Make sure to put some ointment on and maybe don't train too hard. Training is important, but you don't want to damage your body."
"Err, right, sure. I'll make sure to do that."
Wanda was behaving a little strangely, but perhaps he had annoyed her too much for one day. She was better at dealing with him than most, but Pietro knew he could be too overwhelming at times and today he would admit to being particularly aggravating. So, he once again left Wanda's room and this time it was with a pep in his step.
He wasn't entirely sure why, but it felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his chest. He was no longer weighed down by irritation or anxiety and he was utterly ecstatic to know that Wanda was most definitely not interested in Vision. Then Pietro realized, he had yet to ascertain what the synthezoid's feelings were. And then the heavy weight in his gut returned once again.
Despite Wanda's promise, she continued to regularly hang out with Vision and the two behaved quite affectionately with one another. Pietro remembered Wanda's words and he trusted his sister to not lie to him, but he despised the way that the robot seemed to look at her. His face would get all doe-eyed as he looked at Wanda and he'd smile with such gentleness that it made Pietro's heart clench.
Wanda may not be dating or planning to date the synthezoid, but it was clear that the Vision had yet to receive the memo. And Pietro felt that it was in his brotherly-duty to ascertain what the synthezoid's true intentions for his sister were. He had no other motivation than protecting his sister … honestly.
Determined in his entirely selfless motivations, Pietro stormed to the Vision's bedroom and pounded his fist against the door. He internally prepared his method of attack. "Stay away from my sister or I'll beat you up," was what he had said in the past in Sokovia to would-be suitors, but he doubted it would have the same effect on a man made out of vibranium. It was a tried and true method, however, so Pietro would have to attempt it regardless. As the door opened, Pietro prepared to deliver the onslaught of his tirade, but he choked on his own words when he caught sight of the Vision as the synthezoid opened his door.
Shirtless.
Vision was utterly shirtless and Pietro was greeted with a stunning view of his perfectly sculpted body. He was only a few short inches taller than Pietro, but he seemed to tower over him with his large broad shoulders and taunt, bulging muscles. His pectorals were large and unyielding in the power they exuded, his abdominal muscles were rippling and well-defined, and his biceps were impressive in size. The man looked as if he had been chiseled from marble, a real-life Adonis, and, of course, he technically had been.
It didn't seem fair, Pietro thought, feeling slightly jealous—and only jealous. Pietro's enhancement aided him slightly, but he still spent long hours in the gym and on the track training and honing his perfect physique. Whereas the Vision had been born with the perfect body! Ultron had molded him with vibranium clay and sculpted the perfect masculine form with riveting and indomitable muscles. It was because of those reasons, and for no other, that Pietro found himself staring and unable to look away from Vision's washboard abs.
"Hello, Mr. Maximoff, did you need something?" Vision asked with a confused lilt to his question and Pietro quickly ripped his eyes away from the other man's body and forced himself to look into his sapphire-blue eyes.
"Yeah," he said, attempting to place a rough edge on his voice. "I have a problem with you."
Before he could ask what Pietro meant, Pietro shoved his way into the room; he winced slightly as his shoulder roughly slammed against Vision's rock-solid vibranium body. Stop thinking about his body, Pietro! He then whirled around and, whilst glaring intensely, he thrust his finger angrily—ramming it into Vision's chest.
At least, that is what Pietro had intended to do, but what happened instead was that his open palm landed softly against Vision's chest. Pietro could feel the hot warmth of the Vision's synthetic skin (it didn't feel fake) contrasted with cold lines of silver vibranium. He could feel the dense strength and power of his body. And he could feel a gentle pattering of a heartbeat against his palm.
He quickly ripped his hand away, as if he had been burned, and his face was inflamed with anger and embarrassment both. Vision's eyebrow raised and he seemed to be more confused than ever. Pietro quickly needed to repair this situation before it got any more out of hand.
Why was he here anyway? Oh, right. "Stay away from Wanda! She doesn't need a metal man crunching on her." Pietro nodded to himself, confident that everything was back on track.
"Crunching? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
Pietro groaned as he realized his mistake and his hand ruffled through his hair as he tried to recall the correct term. Wanda has always been the better at English between the two of them and while his English wasn't bad, he found that he was losing his grip on the language the more the handsome robot stared at him.
"Cru‐cru-cru—you know!" He said, exasperated. He knew the first syllable, but what were the others? "Like liking her?" He attempted to explain what he meant, but Vision only continued to look more and more baffled and Pietro grew more frustrated. "Wanting to be more with her?"
Clarity finally appeared on Vision's face and with a beaming smile he said, "Oh, do you mean crushing?"
"Yes, exactly!" He cleared his throat and tried again, glaring fiercely like the twelve minutes older brother he was. "Stop crushing on Wanda."
"I don't have any romantic feelings for Wanda," Vision said with a shake of his head. "And this entire conversation has been extremely confounding."
Pietro's heart raced in his chest, thumping with persistent rapid rhythm against his rib cage. "You don't?"
"No, of course not!" Vision seemed to be genuinely taken aback by the accusation. "I highly value my friendship with her, but the idea of there ever being anything else between us never came to my mind. I'm not even attracted to women; I prefer men."
Pietro's eyes grew wide and his heart stopped in his chest as he felt his soul ascend from his physical form. "What?" He asked, utterly breathless.
"Why did you bring this up? Did Wanda say something? Does she think I—" Vision floated several inches off the floor and he appeared to be utterly distraught and frantic. "Pardon me," he said. "It seems I owe my friend an apology for a dreadful misunderstanding."
Before Pietro could utter another word, Vision fled from the room by phasing through the wall and Pietro was left entirely alone in the synthezoid's bedroom, reeling from the revelation that the Vision was gay.
"What the fuck just happened?"
Pietro couldn't stop thinking about the revelation of Vision's sexuality. He found himself constantly staring at the man, observing him, and trying to see how he could have gotten it so wrong. It seemed rather obvious now that he had it pointed out to him.
Vision eyes lingered on Cap's body as the American-clad Avenger delivered instructions during training (and who could blame him? Steve Roger's had the ideal body; Pietro had been meaning to ask him about his workout routine). And Vision showed no such attention to Natasha even when the spy was wearing a skin-tight black suit that was perfectly molded to her curvaceous figure. (Pietro bore no shame in admitting that he found the Black Widow as sexy as he thought her terrifying; the fear he felt in her presence honestly only further added to the woman's allure.) And Wanda? Vision was close with Wanda, but his eyes never strayed from her face and he didn't look at her lecherously like other men have in the past.
He had completely missed the mark in his assessment of the synthezoid, but despite now knowing that he was no longer (and never had been) a threat, Pietro still felt apprehensive about him.
During training, he warily watched him out of the corner of his eyes. He was dressed in his usual superhero get-up, but now that Pietro knew what lay beneath that regalia—now that he had felt his skin—he was unable to look away. His fingers twitched at his side as he watched Vision effortlessly spar with Steve. The two were dynamic and fluid in their movements as they came at one another—like two Greek gods embroiled in combat.
Steve lunged forward, but Vision became intangible and Steve phased through Vision's body, but the Captain quickly recovered. He rolled onto his shield and he sprung upwards, launching himself into Vision's back just as the synthezoid became solid once again. Pietro was meant to be completing his own training, but he was mesmerized by the battle. It was only when a head of brunette hair crossed his field of vision that he remembered to look away.
"What's up, Wanda?" He said casually, but then he noticed the glowing crimson of Wanda's eyes and he shivered. Oh, shit.
"Why did you tell Vizh I like him? I told you I don't and now you've made everything awkward, you asshole. He seems to be under the impression he was 'leading me on' and is 'sorry for the misinterpretation.""
Wanda's words were followed by an only slightly painful jab to the shoulder. He considered critiquing her punch and telling her that she was liable to break a wrist if she punched like that, but he figured he had already dug his grave enough and didn't need to dig it further.
"Technically," Pietro began and Wanda's eyes narrowed into furious slits. "I didn't say you liked him. He assumed that."
"And what did you say to imply it?"
"That's besides the point," he said, waving her off and then in a whisper, he added. "Anyway, did you know that he's gay?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't tell me!"
She rolled her eyes. "Why would I tell you? That's Vision's thing to share, not mine." Pietro admitted that his sister had a point, but he still wished he had known and had not embarrassed himself so utterly.
"Why do you even care?" A dark expression crossed her face. "I know you're not homophobic," she threatened.
"What? No, of course not! It was just—shocking, that's all. Very shocking."
A loud thump was heard and Pietro turned his head to see that Vision had successfully managed to pin down Steve in a hold that was surely impossible to escape from. He seemed to be a stoic mountain, pressing down on Cap and trapping him in the hold of his muscular arms. Steve was drenched with sweat as he tried to escape, but Vision was indomitable and kept the other man pinned to the floor.
"Oh," Wanda whispered and Pietro's head whipped around.
"Oh? What do you mean 'oh'?"
"Nothing," she smirked. "Nothing at all."
Pietro was utterly befuddled as Wanda walked away, giggling and grinning like she did when they were children and she had played a prank on him. He could only hope that whatever Wanda was planning was only equally as devious as the schemes she devised when she was seven, anything greater was a terrifying thought.