the vision (revisioned) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-09-13 10:20:00 |
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Sometimes when Jemma couldn’t sleep, she would find herself at Stark Industries, working. It wasn’t that she couldn’t use the labs at the Agency, she knew she could. But between contract work and not wanting to raise any concerns on her workaholic tendencies, sometimes coming here was the better option. After all, it wasn’t like she was going to run into anyone she knew. Not at this time of night.
If anything, working in the lab on side projects actually managed to calm her down. It focused her mind so that she wasn’t as worried, it kept her from dwelling too much. It helped her internalise. Which was undoubtedly a bad thing, all things considered. But as the dreams moved on and she found herself back with the team and the distance there… it was needed. So this project she’d been working on for Stark Industries? It was the perfect distraction.
To be honest, the biochemist didn’t know what time it was. But when she heard footsteps coming towards the lab? Panic started. Despite no longer being undercover in the dreams, she was still anxious and on edge. A need to defend herself started to well up within her and a quick scan showed her that her best option would be a fire extinguisher. Well okay then. Making her way to the door, she held the thing in her hands, prepared to hit whomever it was.
Okay, so maybe she was a bit more on edge than she let on and the exhaustion was taking a toll on her after all.
Being something of an oblivious workaholic himself, Vision practically lived at the office. Suit and all, he lingered long after most everyone went home back in his tiny neck of the woods. Since the first dream he had, too, his mind was much busier than normal. JARVIS had so much in his database, it took some time for Vision to sort through it all with a measly human brain. He didn’t want to apply what he’d learned to reality, not when the tail-end of the dream had culminated with what felt like an attack.
With one schematic in mind backed by concerns, he made his way to the labs to verify for himself that the dreams hadn’t crossed into reality so closely. Fairly certain that the vending machines on that end of the building had better snacks, too, he came shuffling the loose change around in his pockets. Jacket slung over his shoulder, Vision made his way casually down the hall and into the first lab to his left.
Unaware of lurked on the other side of the door, he swiped his keycard to let himself in and found himself on the receiving end of a--was that a fire extinguisher? The thought lingered in the daze the blow left him with as he stumbled to the side and then hit the ground, eyes wide and arms up against his head to guard against a second attempt.
“I am unarmed,” he barked, because--well, didn’t most criminals listen to that sort of plea? Only… Squinted eyes focused on the wilder of the extinguisher. “Miss Simmons? Are you alright?”
It was only after she struck that Jemma realised her mistake. And while most criminals didn’t listen to pleas of being unarmed, all the biochemist could do was gasp and eyes widen in shock that she had attacked a friend.
“Ohmigod, Vision, I’m so sorry!”
Which was a normal platitude in such a situation, but she was also being sincere. Quickly putting her weapon of choice down, she knelt down next to her unfortunate victim to make sure she hadn’t caused any serious damage. Really. She should probably not be so panicked. However, pushing herself in her work as well as side projects, as well as trying to figure out how to help Cosima…. it left her more than slightly sleep deprived. So being on high alert and panicked…..
“Here, let me help you up. And besides feeling incredibly ridiculous now, yes, I’m fine.”
In theory. In practice with herself seemingly put together.
His smile was easy, though slightly pained. He hadn’t exactly become so much as a remnant of his dream self, so his physical endurance couldn’t cushion the blow. She had an arm on her for being so small though, the thought made him chuckle appreciatively. It hadn’t been fun to be on the receiving end, but it was comforting. It meant she could handle herself, something he wouldn’t have doubted, of course, though liked seeing his assumptions validated.
Accepting of her aid to stand, his smile lingered on. “There is no need to feel ridiculous. It is always wise to defend one’s self,” he assured. Perhaps there was more to it than that, Vision surmised. It wasn’t his place to pry, all he wanted was to put her at ease. Something must have been on her mind to cause Jemma this level of paranoia.
“Thank you,” he added as a necessary afterthought. “You are working late. Do you require assistance?”
She hadn’t expected an appreciative chuckle from all of this. Jemma wasn’t quite sure on how to respond to that but no matter. She was able to defend herself. She had yet to see if any of the basic self defence May had taught her for her undercover work would have crossed over but it was something she was interested in practicing. Just to be careful. Especially with things she had been told.
“That’s one way to look at it.” At least he didn’t seem too put out by what had happened. Then again, it was Vision, he was fairly laid back. In fact, Jemma probably had never seen him get upset. He just seemed to go with the flow and let life go on. Then there was her with her mounting paranoia and internalising because it was the only way she knew how to get by.
“I could say the same about you. I didn’t expect anyone to be here this late.” But she shrugged because it wasn’t really like she could share her work. Not right now at any rate. “Seems I lost track of the time. But what about you? How are you?” Well, might as well make up for attacking the poor man.
For everything there was a reason. Who was he to condemn her for finding the absolute need to defend herself? It wasn’t his place to question the measure taken, only to accept it had happened and moved along. His head would heal and pride was rather meaningless to Vision. So, he listened to her with a smile.
They were both slaves to their jobs, but wasn’t it a brilliant job to have? They were paid to think and create, he saw no flaw in enjoying that extra mile driven for the sake of science. “I am well,” he assured. “There is always something to be done in this building,” added Vision with a faint nod. It was a pleasure to work for Stark, particularly for the interactions he got out of it.
So, it didn’t trouble him at all to chat with her for as long as she liked. He liked Jemma, so losing track of time alongside her suited him just fine. Now, they even had something to have a laugh about in the future.