Fire and Ice

•25•

Tony flies the jet back, and just above his chair there's a glimpse of sky through the windshield. The other chairs and people block Kate's view, so she gets only some light blue and a bit of wispy cloud. She's just glad she doesn't have to jump out this time.

Steve and Thor talk lowly to Clint. Nat gets out of her chair and checks on him, then walks back to where Bruce and Kate are sitting in silence. Bruce takes off his headphones, opera music leaking out as he looks up at Nat.

"Hey, the lullaby worked better than ever," she says, using a tone Kate recognizes instantly. Sometimes Clint uses it, too, but his words are way less discreet. He has all the intent and almost none of the tact.

Bruce shakes his head. "Just wasn't expecting the Code Green."

"If you hadn't been there, there would've been double the casualties," Nat points out. "One of my best friends would've been a treasured memory." She gestures to Clint, and Kate nods in agreement. If Hulk hadn't shown up, things could've gone way different. Still, it's hard on Bruce to go back and forth like that, to turn into something he's not. What he does as the Hulk really gets to him; when they were perfecting the lullaby, when the Hulk hurt Kate once, he couldn't look at her for a week afterwards.

"You know, sometimes exactly what I want to hear isn't exactly what I want to hear," he says.

"How long before you trust us?"

"It's not you guys I don't trust."

"Thor, report on the Hulk?"

Thor turns to them, answering in his booming voice. "The gates of Hel are filled with the screams of his victims."

"Dude!" Kate scolds as Bruce puts his head in his hands.

"Uh, but not the screams of the dead, of course. No, no, uh... wounded screams, mainly whimpering, a great deal of complaining and tales of sprained deltoids and- and uh... and gout."

"Nice save, sparky."

Tony speaks up from the cockpit. "Hey Banner, Kate, Dr. Cho's on her way in from Seoul — is it okay if she sets up in the lab?"

"Fine by me."

"Yeah, she knows her way around," Bruce adds.

"Thanks," Tony says, dropping his voice afterwards. JARVIS responds to him, but not loud enough for Kate to make out what they're saying. Tony soon gets up, walking back to Steve and Thor as they stand around the scepter. "It feels good, yeah? I mean, you've been after this thing since SHIELD collapsed. Not that I haven't enjoyed our little raiding parties, but..."

"No, but this... this brings it to a close," Thor replies.

"As soon as we find out what else this has been used for," Steve adds. "I don't just mean weapons. Since when is Strucker capable of human enhancement?"

Kate snorts lightly. "I don't know, but I'd sure like to find out. And maybe punch that kid in his annoying, little face."

"Banner, Kate, and I'll give it the once over before it goes back to Asgard. Is that cool with you?" Tony asks. Thor nods, and Kate grins.

"Awesome."

"I mean, just a few days until the farewell party. You're staying, right?

"Yes, yes, of course," Thor replies with a smile. "A victory should be honored with revels."

"Yeah. Who doesn't love revels? Captain?"

"Hopefully this puts an end to the Chitauri and HYDRA, so... yes, revels," Steve answers.