Vision woke up early the next day and went out for breakfast.
His brother wasn't there, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it.
Out of habit, he ordered an extra breakfast.
"What's wrong with me?" he muttered while looking down at the takeout bag and walking toward Aura's house.
He rang the doorbell, and unlike before, it was answered quickly.
Unfortunately, it was Fenix who answered.
Fenix was wearing nothing but pajama pants, and Vision frowned involuntarily when he saw him.
"Is Aura home?"
Fenix studied him for a moment, leaning against the doorpost, before answering.
"Yes, but she's exhausted. She won't get out of bed."
Vision's jaw tightened, and his hand trembled, gripping the handle of the bag as he held it out to Fenix.
"I picked up breakfast for her," Vision muttered, looking down at the porch floor. Fenix scoffed.
"Keep it," he replied, then immediately shut the door.
Vision didn't lower his hand right away. He stood there and steadied his breathing.
Once he managed to leave, he threw the food away in the nearest trash can and cursed at himself.
"...I'm so dumb," he mumbled over and over, eyes fixed on his feet.
Not knowing what else to do, he waited near the fountain.
Clair arrived over an hour later and was visibly surprised when she saw him.
"You're early," she noted. His gaze drifted towards her, but it wasn't long before he looked back to the ground.
"Well, I'm glad you're so excited," she added cheerfully.
Vision clicked his tongue, but still said nothing.
She moved to his side, looking up at the fountain with pride.
"I wanted to explain what this does more clearly—that's why I invited you here." As Clair spoke, she smiled softly, "Every day at noon, I have to channel my power into it."
She extended her hand and began glowing faintly.
"I can purify anything, and if I charge the filtration system with my power, it provides clean water for everyone in Talitha. That's what makes this fountain so special, and why I'm proud of it."
She smiled triumphantly, and his eyes shifted to her once more.
Eventually, the light around her dimmed, and she lowered her hand and turned to him, saying,
"So what do you think now? Do you have a newfound respect for me?"
Vision rolled his eyes,
"Sure," he replied flatly.
Clair then jabbed her finger at his cheek,
"You don't sound proud at all!" she loudly accused.
Vision stepped out of her reach.
"You're amazing. What you're doing helps everyone. I'm sure everyone here appreciates you," he muttered, then he glared, "So why does my opinion matter so much to you?! Someone like me does nothing for anyone, so believe me—it doesn't matter what I think."
Clair stood frozen in shock.
It was clear in her eyes that she was hurt, and as soon as he recognized that, shame overtook him.
"I'll go," he muttered, but she grabbed his hand to stop him,
"No... your mind was obviously elsewhere. I should have been more sensitive."
Her voice was gentle, and she squeezed his hand tighter before continuing,
"Let's go somewhere more private, and I'll let you talk." Vision didn't turn to look at her, but he curled his fingers around hers and nodded softly.
Clair led him away from the bustling street to an open, secluded area.
It was a small grassy plain, surrounded by trees. They sat down on a lone bench.
"Okay, now tell me what's going on," Clair said. She waited for a response, but Vision only shrugged. "I'll be back," she mumbled.
She left him there, but soon returned with ice cream for them both.
She held out the cone to him and waited for him to take it before sitting down and licking hers.
The cone was rainbow-colored, but the ice cream itself looked like vanilla.
When Vision tasted it, his senses were hit with an explosion of flavor.
"What kind of ice cream is this?" he asked curiously.
Clair smiled, moving closer to him on the bench.
"It's an island specialty; it changes flavor depending on the taster's preference."
After hearing her explanation, he stared at the treat silently.
"What does it taste like for you?" Clair inquired.
Vision started eating instead of responding, so she mirrored his actions.
"So... how was attending school with Fenix?" she asked casually, once they had finished eating.
Vision tensed and gripped the edge of his seat.
"Why do you ask?" he replied.
"I'm just starting a conversation. On the island, he's a bit of a celebrity; it's rare to meet someone close to him," she answered quickly, excitement in her voice.
"Well," Vision began, "At the academy, he was just another student," he stated flatly.
Clair squealed; the noise startled Vision.
"Does that mean you spoke with him?" Vision frowned, which killed her enthusiasm.
"Do you... have a crush on him or something?" Clair's face turned red, and she shook her head.
"No, of course not! He's like a famous person to me; I wouldn't dare dream of being with someone so unattainable," she rambled.
Vision groaned, then slumped in his chair. He stared into the branches overhead, watching them sway in the wind for a short while before saying,
"The Fenix I know lacks restraint—he's tactless and reckless. He's strong and has good grades, but he's also a complete wildcard."
Clair took in what he said, tapping her chin.
"No, that's wrong," she replied. Her tone alerted Vision, so he sat up and turned towards her, and she continued, "When he was in training here on the island, his teammates described him as cold and calculating. Within the first few days, he divided everyone there into allies and enemies. The people he labeled as enemies were brutally put in their place. If he said something tactless in front of you, I'm sure it's because he wanted you to hear it, to see if you were an enemy." As she explained this, she fidgeted with her fingers.
Vision's gaze drifted past her as if he were deep in thought.
"So... he said that stuff to put me in my place?" he asked finally. Clair gasped, then reached over and grabbed his hand.
"I could be wrong, no need to take it so seriously."
Her tone was panicked, but Vision chuckled softly,
"No... that makes sense, you're probably right," he replied.
His reaction startled her, and Vision continued laughing for an uncomfortably long time.
When he finally relaxed, he looked up into the trees again.
"I wish he had never shown up at the academy... but even if he didn't, I wouldn't be any better off," he muttered, while pulling his hand from Clair's grasp.
Clair paused, then hung her head.
"Did he do something to you?" she asked, carefully.
"I barely registered on his radar... hmm... I guess I can tell you what happened, if you promise not to judge me too harshly."
She leaned in, intrigued, so he continued,
"Okay... I liked a girl for three years. I liked her from the first day I saw her; she is beautiful, amazing, and talented, but she didn't really notice me. And last year, my brother met her, and he fell for her too—"
"What does this have to do with Fenix?" she interjected.
"I'm getting to that," Vision replied with a sigh.
Clair gestured, zipping her lips, then Vision carried on with his story,
"I can't really compete with my brother, so when he started liking her, I gave up. I decided that it would be better to be his wingman than to keep trying to win her over myself. Not too long after that... Fenix transferred to our school. It took him no time at all to command all her attention. He burst through the walls she had up, ones no one else—not even my brother—could touch. I knew her for three years, and she didn't even think of me as a friend, while she accepted him as a friend in days, and elevated him to lover soon after. It was maddening."
Clair listened attentively, her heart twinging.
"Do you still like her?" she whispered. Vision scoffed and said,
"... I'm not in love with her anymore, if that's what you mean. I've moved on, but the situation is still irritating to think about."
"Ah... I'm sorry for bringing it up."
Her fingers fidgeted, then she inhaled deeply.
"Can I hold your hand now?" she asked loudly, squeezing her eyes shut.
"... No." After replying, Vision rose to his feet and started walking away. She followed after him.
"Why not? Did I upset you?"
He smirked and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"I said, no. That's the only reason you need."
She pouted but trailed after him regardless. Clair kept her eyes on his feet, scowling the entire way.
"I like you," she blurted as soon as they reached his house. Vision's hand froze on his doorknob as soon as the words left her lips.
"...Why?" was all he managed to say.
"W-well... because you're handsome and I like spending time with you," she replied, stuttering slightly.
"... I see." Vision mumbled as he entered his access code and opened the door. Clair balled her fists and started her descent down the stairs when he turned and grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers in the same motion.
She froze, and her breath caught.
"I think... I'll need to see... to figure out how I feel. Are you free tomorrow?"
Clair's face flushed, and she nodded without saying a word.
"Then let's meet again tomorrow, same place, same time." Vision suggested, then he reluctantly released her hand and went inside.