The Soldier's Luna (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Epilogue

Steve and Iliana were working on finding Bucky along with taking down Hydra bases in the process. Iliana had learned a lot from her teammates, training hard, and learning everything she could so that she wouldn't let them down. Iliana felt good knowing that she had a sense of belonging somewhere. For the first time in a long time, she truly felt like she was a part of a family and she enjoyed every minute of it.

Her relationships with Tony, Clint, and Bruce grew to where she was able to sense their emotions. She first got closer with Bruce because he was helping her with brain and memory exercises. Three times a week, Iliana and Bruce would work together to try to give her brain exercises so that whatever damage Hydra made would be mended. Her healing power was the reason why her brain wasn't as severely damaged, but Bruce believed the exercises would help her along the way.

Because of Bruce and Iliana grew closer, she was able to find a way to calm down the Hulk using her power the first time the team went to take down a Hydra base together. By having the Hulk feel her calmness and her compassion, it would calm him down enough to transform the Hulk back to Bruce.

"Jersey, be careful," Tony warned as she approached the Hulk calmly. The Hulk smashed a Hydra car nearby and threw it towards the left, letting out a bellowing roar.

"Hi," Iliana said, smiling at the Hulk. The Hulk turned around swiftly and grunted at her. "We haven't met yet. I'm Iliana."

The Hulk grunted in response, huffing and staring at Iliana quizzically. It was obvious that the Hulk wasn't used to someone making conversation with him as though he wasn't a monster. It was the first time someone actually wasn't afraid of him.

"We're about done here. You did a really great job but we got to get out of here now. So, how we switch off with Dr. Banner? Since he's a little easier to transport."

The Hulk huffed, turning to the side, but looking back at Iliana. Iliana reached her hand out to the Hulk, making him growl, but Iliana remained calm and kept her hand out to him. The Hulk stared at her small hand outstretched to him. His eyes met Iliana again, who was giving him a warm smile. She nodded assuringly before he placed his hand under hers.

Immediately, Iliana made the Hulk become calm and relaxed. The Hulk looked at Iliana, who still kept a smile on her face. She grasped his index finger and shook his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, Hulk."

With that, the Hulk began transitioning back to Bruce. As Bruce transitioned, Steve and Tony came up to Iliana in disbelief. "How did you do that?" Steve asked her.

She shrugged, "I just remained calm and showed him that I wasn't going to hurt him. I mean, talking to him seemed like it was working." She looked at Tony and Steve, who were still staring at Hulk turning back into Bruce. "Do you guys not have conversations with him?"

"Not really," Tony replied. He walked over to Bruce and handed him clothes. "Alright, great job everyone. Rookie, nice work. You get a gold star."

"Rookie? Seriously? I think I prefer Jersey better and that's really saying something."

"What about Barista?"

Iliana rolled her eyes, "I swear, Tony, if you call me that I will tell the Hulk to throw you all the way to Virginia."

"He wouldn't dare."

"Really? It seems like I'm his new best friend, so he just might."

From there, Bruce came up with the lullaby that he told Natasha to say in case Iliana was unable to. Bruce was happy that Iliana was able to unlock a way to have the Hulk calm down. It gave him a bit of a sense of security, knowing that if he had to Hulk out, Iliana or Natasha could find a way to help him.