Little Avenger

3b

We are back in the Quinjet now, Tony's flying while Clint lays on the table in the middle with an IV and a patch on his wound.

I'm standing against a wall behind Steve and Thor, my arms crossed, along with my ankles, head laid back. Nat moves over to Bruce and turns off his music. They get to quietly talking and I see the way they look at each other.

"Oh?" I whisper. "What's going on there?"

"Thor, report on the Hulk?" Nat asks.

"The gates of Hel are filled with the screams of his victims." He states proudly, Bruce laying his head in his hands while Nat turns to him with a surprised look on her face, my eyes going wide. "Eh, but not the screams of the dead, of course. No, no, wounded screams. Mainly whimpering, a great deal of complaining, and tales of-"

"Thor." I call and he stops, turning back to Steve. "Banner."

"Yeah?" He sighs, lifting his head to look at me.

"Hulk did great." I smile softly. "Did exactly as he was supposed to, exactly as the rest of us. You don't have to worry."

He sighs and gives me a small nervous and thankful grin while Nat silently thanks me with a nod.

"Plus, I love Hulk." I chuckle.

"You love Hulk?" Banner doubts.

"Yeah." I nod. "I'm his best friend. He calls me little one. Love it."

He shakes his head with an agape smile, making me giggle as the others chuckle.

"Hey, Banner." Tony calls. "Dr. Cho's on her way in from Seoul. Is it okay if she sets up in your lab?"

"Uh, yeah, she knows her way around."

"Thanks."

Tony says a few things to Jarvis before getting out of the chair and walking over to Thor and Steve, them starting to talk about something.

I zone out, thinking about the man and woman, the enhanced ones. The girl obviously did something to Tony, no doubt about it. The boy was a speedster. Awesome. That's so cool.

I know, I probably shouldn't have shooed them away but, I don't want them getting caught. They're just doing what they're supposed to do. I think?

-

We just landed back at the tower, doctors and Nat rushing Clint away on a stretcher as Thor walks out with the scepter, Maria Hill walking in.

"Lab's all set boss."

"Oh, actually, he's the boss." Tony points to Steve. "I just pay for everything and design everything and make everyone look cooler."

"Mhmm." I hum in agreement as he stands, making him smile.

"What's the word on Strucker?" Steve asks, ignoring Tony.

"NATO's got him." Maria answers.

"The two enhanced?" He asks and I follow behind to hear.

"Wanda and Pietro Maximoff." She hands him a tablet. "Twins."

"Oh?" I whisper.

"Orphaned at ten when a shell collapsed their apartment building. Sokovia's had a rough history. It's nowhere special but, it's on the way to everywhere special."

We step into the building, them not realizing I'm following.

"Their abilities?" Steve asks.

"He's got increased metabolism and improved thermal homeostasis. Her thing is neuroelectric interfacing, telekinesis, mental manipulation."

They stop at an elevator and I duck behind a wall, still listening.

"He's fast and she's weird." Maria simplifies.

"Weird?" I grimace in a whisper. "She's not weird."

"Well, they're gonna show up again." Steve states.

"Agreed. File says they volunteered for Struckers experiments..."

I quickly step away and back to Tony, just walking out of the jet.

"Hey."

"Hi. Can I ask why you froze back in Sokovia?"

I already know, obviously, just trying to see if he'll tell the truth.

"Thought I saw something." He shrugs, shaking his head. "Doesn't matter."

"Oh, okay."

So, he's not gonna tell the truth.

-

After checking on Clint, Tony and I walk into the lab next door.

"How's he doing?" Banner asks.

"Unfortunatly, he's still Barton." Tony sarcastically answers and I smile.

"That's terrible."

I giggle beside them and they smile as Tony and I continue forward.

"He's fine." Tony says. "He's thirsty. Alright. Look alive, Jarvis. It's playtime."

I stop at a wall and lean against it as he keeps walking.

"We've only got a couple days with this joystick so, let's make the most of it. Update me on the structural and compositional analysis."

"The specter is alien." Jarvis states as Tony walks through the room. "There are elements I can't quantify."

"So, there's elements you can?"

"The jewel appears to be a protective housing for something inside, something powerful."

"Like a reactor?"

"Like a computer. I believe I'm deciphering code."