Truthfully, Shuri had been glad to hear from Doctor Banner, or, more accurately – for the distraction. Ever since the soul stone, she had been working tirelessly to keep herself busy, to stop the memories from flooding back to her. The rational part of her mind still attempted to justify what she had been through, but she wasn’t so sure this was something that could be logically explained.
A formerly sentient being created on an egomaniacal whim and destroyed on another such whim, that was something she could work with. The Vision, as they’d called him, had been in Wakanda since it had been deactivated by Thanos. Shuri had no real desire to fix the machine, and so it was kept in storage while she worked on other tasks.
Banner had contacted her in search for the body – the husk – of the former being, and Shuri had been happy to oblige. It was as good a distraction as any, especially with the uprising of the anti-mutant groups putting her on edge, worry for her friends and others gnawing at her. Plus, she’d thought of a lot of improvements that could be made to the Vision’s design in just the few hours she had spent working with it. They’d done their best making it last time, but Shuri’s best was, well, better.
“Doctor Banner.” Shuri greeted with a smile and a nod, flanked on either side by Dora Milaje, “This is Ayo, and Teela.” She introduced the two women, who had the Vision on a hovering stretcher, covered with a sheet. “Nothing eventful.” She shrugged, very used to travelling in the Wakandan hovercrafts by now. “You don’t need to thank me, Doctor. I understand your desire to fix him. Though I regret the damage seems fairly severe.”
Bruce nodded at each of the women Shuri introduced. “It’s nice to meet you both,” he said. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you would be bringing assistants.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I can get some more chairs, but I’m afraid desk space is limited so we’re going to have to share.”
His eyes were drawn to the shape under the sheet. Though he was sure that Shuri understood some of what compelled him to restore Vision, there were other things that were outside of her experience. Spending years trying to find a cure only to be met with failure after failure. Going from being a highly respected scientist to having everyone who knows who you are look at you with some degree of terror, horror, or complete disgust. Then as the losses piled up for over a decade and the desire for a normal life growing dim as acceptance sets in having to face all the things that would never be. Children weren’t in his future. Beyond not being able to father one physically, adoption was out of the question with his record and condition. Nobody in their right mind would want him around children. Vision was the product of his intellect. When Bruce made certain decision regarding leaving, he did spare some thoughts for Vision and thought he would be in good hands. Though the actual decision to leave wasn’t his and neither was being away for two years. Upon returning he had several concerns related to how Vision was treated and educated. He hoped that at some point they would be able to build some kind of relationship, then Thanos murdered him.
He shook himself out of his thoughts. “Sorry, um, the place I have set up is this way,” he said gesturing for them to follow him. “The Asgardians have been generous enough to allow me the use of some of their equipment for my own research and have given me approval to use it to help with this. Though I don’t currently have the Mind Stone, I know who does and I have hope that he will trust me enough to allow me to have it for this purpose. I am waiting for a containment globe from the Asgardians. Last time I was in the presence of the Stone things got... volatile. I’d rather prevent that.”
He opened the door to the room he’d been allowed to transform into a lab and gestured the ladies inside. “Okay, Vision, let’s get you on the table and see what kind of damage we’re dealing with,” he said looking at the shape under the sheet. Then he glanced toward Shuri. “Old habit, I always talk with my patients whether or not they are conscious.” He even spoke to the dead ones. It might seem strange to others, but it was how he was. If Vision couldn’t be repaired then he deserved a decent burial. He was alive enough to sacrifice himself and understand what that meant. In Bruce’s mind that meant he deserved to be buried with respect.
