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Chapter Twenty: A Monster

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I opened the door to Banner's lab, looking around at all the fancy equipment and lit up computer screens.

"If we bypass their mainframe and direct a reroute to the Homer cluster, we can clock this around six hundred teraflops," Tony said to Bruce as he tapped away at a screen.

"All I packed was a toothbrush," Bruce responded jokingly.

Tony looked up as I entered, and pointed a finger at me.

"Little Al," he said, stepping around the computer screen, "You fit a small, right? You're what, thirty-two inches around the waist?"

"Thirty-one," I frowned, tilting my head, "Little Al? So is that sticking?"

"You're 5'4" kid, what did you expect?" He tousled my hair as he made for the door, "Be back in a jiff, doctor, don't miss me too much."

"I'm only like three inches shorter than him," I muttered defensively as I strode slowly over to Banner, eyeing Loki's sceptre.

It was long and gently curved, with a glowing blue stone at its head. The blue light reflected against the stark-white table like the sun over water.

"Banner... I'm sorry about what Loki said," I spoke slowly, and he looked up, his glasses low on his nose. "It's just, I get what it's like, not to be in control. I get what it's like for people to be afraid."

"Don't apologize," Banner waved his hand, "He made a play at you too."

I shrugged.

"So these... Abilities of yours. You can create fire at will?" He asked curiously, putting down the glowing tool he'd been operating.

I nodded, bringing a small flame to life in my hand. "I only just learned how. Before it was something I tried to suppress. As though if I didn't use it, it would just go away. But ignoring it—pushing it down—it..."

"It just makes it worse," Banner offered, "Harder to control when it does get the better of you."

I looked up at him, meeting his sincere eyes. I nodded softly.

"You've dealt with these your whole life," Banner said, sighing, "I couldn't imagine, kid."

"But practicing getting control of it... It doesn't just help me deal with my outbursts," I said quietly, searching for the right words, "It feels good. Brining the fire feels really, really good."

"I wish the other guy was something I could learn to control," he said, lowering his gaze to the staff, "Maybe it is. If so, I'd love to learn. Because keeping him down takes a lot out of me."

I was about to answer when the door to the lab opened again, announcing Stark's return.

"You know, you should come by Stark Towers sometime. Top ten floors, all R&D. You'd love it, it's Candy Land."

"Thanks, but the last time I was in New York I kind of broke..." He looked at me with a soft smile, "...Harlem."

"Well, I promise a stress free environment," Tony answered, "No tension. No surprises."