#But saying she hasn't done anything to start her change or that she's easily forgiven?

[cutestrawberrycat]

I'm gonna chose to defend Isabela

Man some of yall really saw Encanto and completely missed every point huh? Like some of yall really said apology conga line or it didn't happen huh? Can't see past your own personal experiences therefor this depiction is unrealistic huh? What's the next hot take? 'Casita didn't make Mirabel a non magical non nursery bedroom so it's also anti-Mirabel'? The world isn't black and white! The world isn't straightforward! Humans don't change at the same pace! They don't even do it in a steady pace!

Do not get me wrong. I am the Mirabel of my family too. I hate the way they treated her too. I know what she went through was unfair, especially because it's so arbitrary and out of her control.

But good grief that doesn't mean that everyone who pushes back against her is irreparably evil.

Let me be super goddamn clear;

They were wrong in the way they treated Mirabel

Spoilers if you read ahead and I did my best to keep a neutral tone and use facts from the movie only

So here's me going on the defense of Isabela, my second least favourite character Alma I am coming for you

I cannot stress enough how important it is to remember that Alma practically raised Isabel to be the Golden Child and to fulfill 'her dreams' and make the family proud.

How did I reach this conclusion?

Alma is very often seen coaching or talking to Isabel, how perfect something must be or what is about happen, Isabel even wears a purple dress that puts her closer to Alma than it does her cool family. (Especially when you put the characters next to each other but YMMV on this one depending on your personal colour reception). Next when Alma is retelling her story to Mirabel and her visualization walks through the doors, we see Isabel, who immediately corrects her posture. There's more but they're minor and more implicit so I'm sticking to the big ones.

I can't say for certain this was her entire life (I mean, she IS the first grandchild) but I can reasonably pinpoint to it atleast starting at 12, when Mirabel didn't get a gift. Putting pressure on a 12 year old, the start of some very important formative years, to be a specific way and to have specific standards of perfection is... what's the word? Oh yeah!

Damaging.

A gifted golden child who is told they need to set an example for those coming after them? Mind-warping. Being told you're perfect as reinforcement for anything? Not great. Receiving punishment for doing something Different? Also not great.

You don't come out of that without some sliver of frustration. You have to be perfect, you don't get to chose to be something different, you're the example.

Okay great, so Isabela, who's life is outwardly perfect had it rough growing up but subtle-like, considering Mirabel was apparently unaware of this. Fair enough.

Wait, hold on, but why did she take it out on Mirabel? Tell her she's not helping, to be quiet and to stay out of the way?

That's what Alma does.

No, really. The first like proper conversation between just Alma and Mirabel is Alma suggesting to Mirabel that she leave the decorating to everyone else. Alma has like, no expectations for Mirabel and basically just wants her to 'be out of the way'. You can tell from her tone and expression. The vibes are totally "Sit down and let the grown ups handle this."

Okay but what does that have to do with Isabela? Imagine you're in class, your teacher gives handouts for everyone to work on but they run out at the last student, so they just tell that last student to go outside and play, before turning to you and telling you to make sure you do well because they expect an A+ from you. That's unfair right? Imagine how annoyed you'd be looking out the window seeing that one kid sit on the swing as you have a handout to complete.

That could very well be Isabela's perspective, she's the golden child who has to do everything while Mirabel gets off with no responsibilities.

Now, we the viewer know that that's not the whole story, we the viewer know that actually that last kid feels excluded and is sad about it so they do their best to get back into the class by idk asking to make a different handout or to do quiet reading but they get shoo'd away by the teacher. What would you the student think? That they're annoying, why can't they just be quiet, they're being disruptive and oh my gosh they're going to ruin my grade!

That's what I believe it to be from Isabela's perspective too. She has all these expectations to meet and Mirabel doesn't have any. She is doing her best to keep the Madrigal image and Mirabel is ruining it. She is capable and talented and helpful and Mirabel isn't.

So at some point she just repeats her grandma's words (which she does a few times in the movie btw), prefacing it as 'sisterly advice'. It literally parallels Alma a few seconds later and as I said in my rant;

"Her 'advice' at the start was rude as heck and her tone didn't help but she was truly under the impression that Mirabel wasn't being helpful"

That's what she's always heard Alma say, and Alma probably said it a ton.

She was still in the wrong for this but at least I hope I offered some perspective on where it's likely coming from. (I didn't grow with that pressure myself, but I have seen plenty of top student classmates dislike average students for somewhat similar reasons. "My mom/dad is gonna kill me when they see I got only an B+" anyone?)

Now, the big blowup. I saw some people genuinely upset by Isabela's words. Valid. Everyone says hyperbolic things in the heat of the moment and people say things they really shouldn't. Unfortunately though I can 'understand' why Isabela claimed Mirabel ruined her life.

It was still wrong.

Now step into Isabel's shoes for a second. (Or don't). For the last 10 years, you have done everything to be exactly what you are told you must be. You have made everyone proud and your life is on track. You aren't super into it but knowing you're making others happy is okay for you. Your hair is just right, your dress is neat, you've perfected your walk and now you are to be engaged to (presumably) the most desired bachelor in town. Your uncle predicted this 10 years ago so as far as you know it's all going according to plan.

That's your personal duty.

Then over the course of a diner it all goes to heck. Your proposal is ruined (you even punched him in the face by accident, can you imagine the scolding you got for that?), your family loses control of their powers (including you), you've caused a scene in front of the whole town and to top it all of you find out your sister is supposedly the catalyst for the destruction of your family and their powers. 10 years in the academy of hard work wasted.

For all intents and purposes, the life that was promised to you and you worked to achieve, is ruined. (Not permanently maybe but it is still at that point ruined.)

The house is in chaos and everyone is in some state of panic and the culprit has managed to go into hiding.

You finally get a moment in your room to try and sort out your thoughts and maybe some anxiety has built up too because now what? What are you to do? And suddenly, boom, here comes your sister (the alleged doom-bringer and the very culprit everyone's looking for) barging in suggesting to just hug it out. No apology about the engagement she just ended. Just a hug.

Your life was, essentially, destroyed in front of your eyes and all you get offered is a hug.

You might be willing to take the high road with just an I'm sorry, which you nearly get, before she just? insults you? calls you names? You're her older sister so you have to be the bigger person here but she is literally insulting you and your husband to be, she is practically mocking your sacrifices, she wouldn't know, she's been frolicking in a field for all you know, but here she is, refusing to leave your room/sanctuary, and calling you names.

And suddenly it's all too much and you explode and say somethings you're not sure you mean.

It happens to the best of us and the worst of us. Words are complicated and when tensions are high, you're always at a loss for the right ones so you say the wrong ones.

That's still messed up.

But it happens. Teens everywhere accuse their parents of the same thing. Heartbroken people tell their exes something similar. Disgruntled artists may even shout it when they get fucked over. Doesn't mean it's always wrong or right and they all very clearly mean it in a different way.

Accusing someone of ruining your life isn't excusable

But frankly who the hell ever has the right words during the heat of the moment. Look me in the eye and tell me you were never at a loss for words or had a lame comeback only to figure out the perfect response in the shower a few days later.

MY POINT IS

I wish Isabela didn't say it and I wish Mirabel never had to hear it but frankly I get where she came from and Mirabel didn't take her very serious anyway like she wrote that off as Isabela being dramatic

This part gets immediately mitigated anyway. Isabela, in letting herself vent out her frustration (of which Mirabel is the catalyst, instigator (from Isabela's perspective anyway) and unfortunate recipient), makes a new plant. Which is kind of the same as Taylor Swift writing music while heartbroken imo but botanical.

I chose to spell this part out because I'm on a roll at this point. In creating new plants it's so obvious to both her and Mirabel that they both misunderstood Isabela. Isabela in that out of everyone she has lied to herself the most and Mirabel in that actually she has no real understanding of who her sister is. She even directly thanks her for encouraging her to just be creative, something Alma would definitely not allow.

And during Mirabel's argument with Alma, she finally understands that she also misunderstood who Mirabel is.

At the end we see her change her clothes to something a bit closer to her sisters (incl the Colombian flag), she admits to crying sometimes, she helps her sisters and engages with them (which she notably doesn't do throughout), she and Mirabel hatch a babyplot to bring Dolores to Mariano's attention (which means she really stopped trying to force her own wedding/knows about Dolores' crush (maybe Mirabel told her?)), it's not perfect and it's not flawless and it's clunky and she still so long to go but she started.

And a part of me has a feeling that if Alma didn't interrupt them, they would have kept talking, they would have continued to open up because once that ball starts rolling it typically does not stop.

To be very clear;

Isabela is wrong in her treatment of Mirabel

Isabela is wrong in how she speaks to Mirabel

Isabela has like 10 years of harsh treatment towards Mirabel to address

Isabela should not be lightly forgiven for any of her past transgressions

But here's a few statements that coexist

Isabela has made a positive change

Isabela has shown a willingness to change

Isabela has acknowledged that Mirabel has been brave to stand up for what's ultimately the right thing to do

C'mon, let's plant something new and watch it fly

We see how brave you've been

[staytiny-angel]

Safe Haven 2/?

Co-written with @scream-qween

Pairings: Drew McIntyre/Becky Lynch, Eventually Drew McIntyre/Becky Lynch/Seth Rollins, Jon Moxley/Renee Young, Sasha Banks/Bayley/Charlotte Flair

Warnings: Violence, Language

Word Count: 1799

Summary: After an 8-year absence, 25-year-old Seth Rollins returns home to his pack but in no way resembling the Beta Werewolf that ran away after a violent misunderstanding with his brothers.

Seth is feral, and trapped in a form the bitten wolf shouldn't even be capable of, it turns out that he is the victim of a powerful curse that would make him a mindless slave.

Meanwhile Alpha Werewolf Drew McIntyre and his Part Banshee, Part Sea Witch mate Becky Lynch have joined the unorthodox pack of Haven in search of the final member of the Triad a seer told the pair they were destined to be apart of.

Taglist: @sethsevolution  @feathers-and-flesh-and-wrestling @deepdisireslonging  @writtingrose  @pikapuff316 @hitory--chan @finnsauroraborealis @the-beastslayers-queen

Becky slowly walked toward the cage, not taking her eyes away from the deadly predator currently staring at her with golden-brown eyes. Kneeling next to her mate she took his hand in hers and hesitantly reached through the thick sliver infused bars with the other.

Seth lifted his massive body up to sniff almost delicately at her hand before whining in the back of his throat and laying back down.

"I believe that's a 'Yes, you can touch me', Spitfire" Drew says with a slight smile.

Becky took a deep breath and reached into the bars again waiting until Seth lifted his head up to smell it once more. "If he bites me, I'm killing Reigns" she muttered. Much to her surprise however, Seth let out a content like a sigh and nudged her hand with his snout.

"He let you touch him?!" Roman exclaimed in surprise, causing Seth to growl at the sound of his big brother's voice

"Shut the fuck up, Alpha," Becky said quietly, "If he bites me I'll fucking drown you, dry land or no"

"Shhh, It's okay." Becky uncharacteristically cooed gently at the trapped wolf "That big dumb brother of yours won't say another fucking word."

Becky started to chant underneath her breath and an ocean blue light surrounded both the hand holding Drew's and the one she had placed on Seth's head.

Seth closed his eyes, sighing, revealing dark brown eyes, as Becky's magic faded. "Becky!" Drew yelled as the redhead almost collasped. "I'm fine, he's fine"

Seth barked in response, wagging his tail. "Fucking dork" Roman chuckled

"You might want to get the siren" Becky said shaking her head to clear it. "That curse is a fucked up thing, it's powered from his life energy. I managed to block it from siphoning more off of him but I don't know how long my shield will last"

Becky stood up and flipped the latches on the cage door and opened it. Seth practically lept at the redhead knocking her back down

"Becky!" Drew called out

"I'm okay," Becky said on an almost giggle as the 400-pound werewolf licked her face and nuzzled at her like an overgrown puppy

The sounds of footsteps pounded down the basement stairs as Hunter, Stephanie, Mox and another heavily bearded man with an acoustic guitar strapped across his back filled the basement

"Hey baby brother," Mox said as Seth ran over to him, Stephanie petting his head. Roman slowly got up and left, Seth noticing and whining. "He's wondering about that" Elias said, sounding bored. "Give him time to adjust honey, he hasn't forgiven himself"

Seth yipped in response shaking his head "You've been gone a long time doll, shit changes." Elias told him before sitting cross-legged in front of the wolf and placing a hand on Seth's head, a green glow surrounding both of them. "Whatever shield you put up against the curse...magic can get through to him easily now." He says to Becky

"Don't get used to this, brat." The acerbic man tells Seth, "You owe me free coffee and a place to perform for the rest of my life once you get your shop up and running. No offense to Cesaro, but his coffee will never be as good as yours"

Seth somehow managed to make an expression of disgust and grunted at the siren

"Now you and your Alpha will hold up your end of the bargain?" Drew asked Mox.

"Sure, if you like sharing your food with a pair of vampires" Mox replied with a shit-eating grin

"WHAT?! You betray our kind" Drew snapped, Seth, stepping in between them and barking.

"He says thank you for helping him but please don't disrespect his family, ANY of his family," Elias says to Drew quietly

"Violet babysat him when he was little" Stephanie says "Finn played Lego with him, they are his family. We only found him in the woods because Violet smelled the blood from the mansion" the older witch shook her head.

"If Violet and Finn had been anything other then Vampires, they absolutely would have raised him themselves. It broke their hearts just as much as ours when he left" Hunter added

Seth whined "Oh yeah kid, you're in deep shit. Queenie is gonna get you for running off like a little bitch" Elias says with a nasty smirk

Seth looked down guiltily and nudged his brother. Mox immediately began petting his head. "Who did this to you?" Drew asked Seth who barked in response

"What?!" Elias' magic flashed poison green before settling back into a more mellow shade "Paul Heyman?! He says he went looking for his birth parents. He wanted to know where he came from...about a year ago he got in a fight with Heyman's pet monster and ended up like this. Hold on you've been like this for a fucking year?!" Elias exclaimed "You were trapped in full shift for a year. You were only feral for 3 months the best that you can guess?"

Seth whined, and looked down. "Seth, honey. Why didn't you tell me? I could have found them" Stephanie said.

"He didn't want to" Mox said. "That's what we fought about. I said that they were probably dead. Ro...he said he'd be turning his back on us if he went looking for them. Roman lost his temper and attacked him, that's why Seth ran"

Seth howled "I'm sorry little brother. I...shouldn't have said that bullshit." Mox says dropping to the ground and wrapping his arms around his brother.

"That's where I know that curse from" Stephanie says quietly "Heyman. He developed it. It strips Born Shifters of their humanity....holy shit. That's why it didn't work on you, Starshine. Heyman's curse only works fully on Born Shifters. He must have assumed you were one."

"We have to turn Seth back to normal first," Mox said firmly. "Before I rip Heyman to pieces"

"Take him to Finn and Violet," Elias said, "You can turn him back now I assume?" He says looking at Becky and Stephanie

Stephanie nodded looking at Becky "If you can keep your shield spell up, I know the counter curse for this. I've done it for someone else in our pack that used to be one of Heyman's pets. Cesaro wasn't under it for as long as Seth has been."

"Your gonna need a big ass circle for this one, boss lady." Elias told her "and you are definitely gonna need Balor to fortify it. A lot of energy is pent up inside Twinkle here."

"Can I ask what's with all the star references? He wears a shooting star necklace too." Becky asks

Seth dropped to the floor in embarrassment, "Oh its because he's obsessed with space." Stephanie explained with a smile "He wanted to be an Astronomer when he was a little boy"

Seth let out a series of mumbles that made Elias chuckle. "He still has that potty mouth"

"Do you think Heyman knows that the spell didn't work on Seth?" Hunter finally speaks up

"Let's hope he didn't think it wasn't powerful enough, last thing we need is him boosting his magic" Stephaine replies

"Are you strong enough for this?" Stephanie asked Becky, who nodded. "Let's finish it and bring him back." The younger woman replied

"Come on Seth," his mother told him. "Time to face your other set of parents."

The group headed along the path that winded through the south woods that bordered Haven to a large mansion that looked like It had been dropped there from the Victorian era.

"This place makes so much sense now that we know who lives inside." Becky told her mate.

"Yeah" Drew grumbled, still unhappy about this turn of events.

Seth had stuck close to the pair the entire walk, at times dancing around them and nipping at their heels like he was excited about something.

Elias looked down at the wolf and snorted "You know all hell is about to break loose when everyone figures that out right?"

Seth barked at him, giving his friend a wolfy smirk before he turned to Mox, with an evil glint in his eyes.

"Don't you fucking dare-" Mox was suddenly shoved down, landing in dirt, Seth howling at him, looking at Drew and Becky, the pair laughing.

"You little shit" Mox growled, taking his jacket off before shifting himself, turning into a reddish brown wolf before tackling Seth.

"What will cause all hell to break loose?" Becky asked Elias

The siren let out a rusty laugh, like it wasn't a sound he made often "I hope the two of you like living in Haven. He won't want to leave again anytime soon" he says cryptically before taking the guitar off his back and strumming it as he walked along

"He won't want to leave again?" Becky whispered to her mate "He as in Seth?"

"I don't understand love. Sirens are...cheeky" He teased.

"Damn right" Becky grinned, slapping Drew on the ass before continuing her path.

The group came across a wolf sitting on the stairs, jumping from his spot. "Hey Baron" Elias greeted. "We need to see Finn and Violet"

Baron looked at the blond streaked wolf and let out a howl.

"Yep, your senses aren't betraying you, the Prince has returned" Elias answered him

The huge black wolf spun and ran up the stairs of the mansion barking his head off.

"Baron!" a woman's French-accented voice called out, "What is that racket you are making Mon Loup?"

An unnaturally pale but beautiful blue-haired woman came into view followed by a bearded man with short brown hair.

"Finn, Violet something happened while you were away from home" Stephanie says

Violet sniffed at the air, and gasped at the familiar, long missed scent "My baby?!"

Seth barked and ran forward, Drew unknowingly tensing. "I missed you Chaton," Violet said, kissing his furry head.

"Why is he fully shifted….he shouldn't be able…." Violet started to ask as she unceremoniously sat on the foyer floor and pulled the huge wolf into her lap. Finn sat down next to her and Seth immediately moved so that he was draped across both Vampires as he growled softly at them.

"Hey twinkle? My French and Gaelic are both real fucking rusty, would ya mind thinking in English?" Elias sighed rubbing his temples. "I know. I know. Automatic reaction to being with your Vampiric parental units. Apology accepted."

"He says….Twinkle I know, that part has to be in French I do know that word." Elias rolls his eyes in exasperation "He says he's sorry for leaving without telling you, Maman."

"Do it again and I'll kick your fuzzy little ass" Violet says quietly, but with feeling

Finn sat there petting Seth before saying "Don't you EVER worry us like that again." A low growl entered his voice, his eyes flashing blood red. "All THREE of us will kick your ass."

[cottontail20]

A Legend All Their Own, Chapter 6: ‘Show Me Who You Are’

Summary:  Still angry with him, Princess Wanda must decide whether or not to protect the injured Vision from King Ultron’s soldiers.

"What the hell are you doing?" Wanda snapped, after Vision had tackled her to the ground. "Get off me! Get.." She rolled over, shoving Vision away, then froze, her eyes wide.

Most of the arrows missed, but two were now buried in Vision's shoulder. Blood bloomed through the thin material of his shirt. He tried to stand, but fell onto his knees, his face twisted in pain. Vision looked at Wanda, the patterns within his strange eyes spinning.

"Run" He told her, but it was too late. The soldiers were upon them, notching new arrows.

"This doesn't have to end badly for you, Princess" One of them said. "You can come quietly, and we won't say another word about it."

"We only have to kill the boy" added another, taking aim. "And look, he's given us a perfect shot.."

Wanda's eyes flickered from the Soldiers to the injured Vision. Injured because he had pushed her out of the way. Her coat was made of thick, expensive leather. Those arrows likely would have done much less damage to her than they had to him, but he had still..

The soldier fired.

Wanda, without really knowing what she was doing, how or why she was doing it, leapt to her feet, red energy surrounding her hands, her eyes glowing the same fiery red.

"No!" The arrow stopped short, clattering to the ground. With a wave of Wanda's arm, the Soldiers were knocked from their feet, and a second wave surrounded most of them in red energy, sending them flying far off into the distance.

One soldier missed by Wanda's assault charged at the Princess, sword raised.

Vision, acting on pure instinct, grabbed the burning stone from his pocket with his free hand, thrusting it in the enemy's direction. The Stone emitted a beam of golden energy, burning right through the Soldier's chest. He fell to the ground, motionless.

Wanda looked down at Vision, wide eyed and slightly pale.

"How did you.."

"I don't know" Vision replied, panting. "How did you.."

"I don't know.." Wanda glanced down at her hands, then back at Vision. "Why did they want to kill you?"

"I have no idea.. You should go.. We don't know how far you threw them, or if they'll come back. I'd slow you down."

"You would" the Princess agreed, but didn't move. She just watched him for a moment, considering, her eyes green once more. She tilted her head slightly when she spoke again. "Why did you push me out of the way?"

"I didn't want you to get hurt. You're far more important than me."

That seemed to make up her mind. Wanda shook her head, pulling Vision to his feet and draping his good arm around her shoulders, supporting him as they moved forwards.

"I'm not more important than anyone.. I'm not anything."

--

Darkness fell as they trudged onward, with no clear destination in mind. They had moved off of the main path, hoping to make things more difficult for anyone looking for them.

Vision occasionally stumbled, almost pulling Wanda down with him, but she always managed to catch him. The Princess was clearly stronger than she looked. After another stumble, she brought them to a stop.

"We can't keep going like this. You're jostling the arrows and bleeding too much. We need to get them out and bandage your wounds, I don't want you dropping dead on me."

"You don't?" Vision may have sounded a little too hopeful, and Wanda frowned.

"I was angry. I'm still angry. But there's a pretty big leap between anger and wanting someone dead, Vision."

"That is true.."

"Now" The Princess found a clear spot, pushing him down gently, "Sit, and try not to move for a few minutes."

--

Before long, Wanda had managed to start a small fire, and had pulled a few pieces of cloth and a small bottle of something from her rucksack, ready to clean Vision's wounds. Vision was slightly surprised.

"You are quite capable, for a Princess.."

Wanda shrugged.

"I made sure to learn some things, once I'd decided I was running away. I'm going to need your shirt off.. try not to disturb the arrows."

"Alright." Vision did as he was told, carefully removing his shirt, tugging it gently off over the arrows embedded in his shoulder. While he had been scrawny as a boy, years of lugging around sacks of rice and potatoes, and crates of fruit or vegetables for his fellow disadvantaged citizens had left him with a rather impressive physique.

Princess Wanda blushed, then shook her head, moving to kneel behind Vision and examine his injuries.

"Hmm.. The barbed part hasn't gone too deep. That's good, it means I should be able to just pull them out. Try not to yell."

"Why would I..Ouch!"

Without further warning, Wanda yanked the two arrows from Vision's shoulder.

"Done." She pressed one of her cloths to his skin to stem the flow of blood from the now open wounds.

"You did that on purpose" Vision frowned.

"Still angry, remember? Now, tell me about yourself."

"Myself?"

"Yes" The Princess replied. "Tell me all the need-to-know facts about you. Show me who you are, Vision, and I'll decide whether I want to forgive you or not."

"Well.." Vision paused. "Where do I start?"

"Where most people do. Your Family, where you were born.."

"I.. I don't know."

"Oh, that's helpful" Wanda rolled her eyes, slightly annoyed. "Why does my evil relative want to kill you? 'I don't know..'"

"Princess.."

"What's with that weird stone you have? 'I don't know..'"

"Wanda, I.."

"So what do you know?"

"I was abandoned at birth, because of my eyes, I think.. I was raised in an orphanage. I assume I was born in Sokovia, but as far as any Family, I really don't know."

"Oh.." Wanda's face grew pale, suddenly guilty. She was quiet for a while. "I'm sorry.. You really think you were abandoned because of your eyes?"

"I have heard myself referred to as a demon because of them, so most likely, yes. The Orphanage was closed when I was fourteen, not long after your parents died. I'd been on the streets for a few weeks when I found the stone. It let me walk through walls.. what it did Today was new to me. I've been a Thief since I found it."

"A Thief?"

"Stealing food for my fellow homeless. I don't like having to do it, but so many would starve otherwise.."

"I see.. So when did your friends come in?" Satisfied that the bleeding had slowed enough, Princess Wanda poured some of the contents of the small bottle on the second cloth and began gently cleaning Vision's wounds. He winced. "Sorry.. this will sting a bit."

"It's alright" Vision took her 'Sorry' as a sign that she may have been softening towards him again. "I met the Avengers just a few days ago, when they needed my abilities to help with their plans regarding you. They swore to me you weren't going to be hurt at all. That was important to me."

"It was?" Wanda frowned. "Why?"

"It.. It just was" Vision felt himself blushing. "And as soon as You told me about what Ultron did to Pietro.. I swear, my own plans changed. I just wanted to get you somewhere safe."

"Hmm.." Wanda stood and returned to her rucksack, searching for something. When she apparently couldn't find it, she pulled out the dress that she had been wearing when she and Vision met, and tore a large section off the bottom before he could stop her.

"Why did you do that?"

"To bandage your wound" She replied. "I didn't have anything else big enough, and I won't be needing a dress anytime soon.. Arm up."

Vision lifted his arm, and Wanda wrapped the torn material just tightly enough over his injured shoulder, tying it securely.

"Thank you" Vision managed a small smile. "So.. am I forgiven?"

"Well.." The Princess looked at him for a moment. Her green eyes had definitely softened. "I do want to believe you. Let's see if we can get somewhere safe, and then I'll think about it."

"That's fair" Vision nodded.

"For now, though" She threw an old blanket at him, "You should get some sleep."

"I couldn't possibly sleep.. What if.."

"Try. You have healing to do. You're not much good to me injured. I'll keep an eye out for trouble."

Vision opened his mouth to try and argue, but Wanda glared at him.

"Alright.. But you'll wake me if you get tired yourself, won't you?" He settled easily on the ground and pulled the blanket over him, used to sleeping rough.

"I will.. and Vision?"

"Yes, Princess?"

"I'm sorry, for what I said about your eyes.. I don't really think they're freaky."

"Back to amazing then?" He murmured. Half asleep, Wanda had been right, the day had taken a toll on him.

"Maybe.."

From the corner of his half closed eye, Vision thought he saw her smile.

Ao3 link : https://archiveofourown.org/works/16736589/chapters/39960435