Astrild; Goddess of Love

Chapter 4 - The Big Brother Routine

Author's Note; Just a quick note to my friend who spotted my mispelling of the title. It's been corrcted, hope it comes up to your standards now.

I just had to laugh. It was just like something I would say. Just then I noticed a small part of the workshop was tidy, a lab. Sat at one of the benches was,

"Banner?!" I walked over to him.

"Lizzy?! My gosh, it is you." We made our way to each other across or in some cases under the chaos. When we finally reached each other he picked me up and spun me around. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "It's good to see you again."

"Yeah, it's been a while, I thought you were gonna come back and visit?" I say a little sad. I gave him a hug. Behind us we could hear Stark, mumbling to himself.

"Sorry Tony. Are you jealous that a hot girl is here to see me for once?"  Bruce said to Tony in a babyish voice. Man, was it good to see Banner again. Tony squirmed and scratched the back of his neck,

"She's my sister. So are the two of you..." he trailed off getting feeling awkward.

"Really?!" Banner took his arm from around my waist. "Look this is not what it seems like--"

"Brother, when I came into my full powers, when I turned 16, I had trouble controlling them and being angry didn't help. It got to the point where I couldn't stay with the professor because I was putting the Institute in danger, so he had Professor McCoy make the call." I motioned to Bruce.

"Hank McCoy and I worked together a good few times, so he reached out to me with Lizzy's case. I took her on and we travelled around the world; worked on her anger issues and finding her serenity." He smiled at me and ruffled my hair. For which I lightly elbowed his in the ribs.

"Thank God!" He sighed relieved, "And Liz you were on Asgard too long, call me Tony."

"Sure. By the way, do I actually have a job here or do I have to find one?" I asked him sweetly.

"Sorry, no openings,” he shrugged, “Unless you want to join me in the superhero gig?" Tony wiggled his eyebrows.

"Yes! I may as well use my powers for something other than roasting marshmallows." I laughed.

"You are so my sister," he hugged me and headed upstairs to Pepper.

"So what've you been up to?" I asked Bruce.

"Not much really apart from the Avengers Initiative. Oh and this, I'm researching healing rates of different species. To try and see if we could increase human healing speed, with genetics," he reluctantly explained. "Well you have an expert right in front of you why don't you just ask me the question that's circling in your head," I smirked, gotcha!

"I thought the other guy stopped you from reading my mind?" Bruce Banner confused; mark that on your calendars’!

"He does but even a blind man can see you've been dying to ask me something since Tony left. So spit it out." In truth I hadn't noticed until he was reluctant to share his work, but he doesn't need to know that.

"Well... Tony may not have a job opening, but I do." Bruce seemed shy of me which wasn't normal for him; he's like my big brother. I tapped my fingers on the bench impatient for him to go on. "I know you can't heal anything terminal, but could you take away the pain?"

"Yes I think so. I'd probably have to see the person on a daily basis though, why? Wait, Bruce you're not dying, are you?" Fortunately my analytical brain kicked in first but when the emotion came it caused a lump in throat.

"Good grief, no! It's just I've been doing some work with the children's ward at the hospital and seeing their children in pain like that is killing the parents." Bruce paused hoping I'd got the idea.