Misunderstood

Twenty-Eight

*1 year later*

Sophie smiled across at Bruce, and he smirked back. The two of them were hoping that the tests they had done would work. Between the two of them, they had come up with all different theories about how to cure each other, but decided that they could live with their alters now.

Sophie though back over the past year, and how much her life had changed. She had stepped down at head of R&D, handing that title over to Bruce. Sophie was more than happy to run the relief foundation with Mr Andrews. She was also running press point on the Avengers too. Tony had taken her nickname and announced it to the world, that she was their new Avenger, Sweets. He didn't go into detail about the name, but had smirked at her, during the press conference.

Sophie was content with her life. She still worked in the tower, and Bruce had moved into hers on her floor. The two were happy, and had only once had a 'wrecking ball' moment with Tia and Hulk down in Mexico.

Tony had built them their own getaway place on his private island, so they could let their alters out from time to time.

Sophie was on great terms with everyone on the team, and adored Nat most of all. Her eyes flicked back to he screen as it pinged, showing their results, and she bounced up and down, happy.

'It works..'.. She jumped at Bruce, wrapping her legs around his waist as he caught her... 'It works!..'.. She gave him a kiss as he settled her on the edge of the work station. Sophie pulled back, still holding onto his shirt as she grinned... 'We did it..'

He chuckled at her enthusiasm, and rubbed her upper arms... 'Congratulations Soph..'

She snaked her arms up around his neck, sming at him... 'Team effort doc, its both our work..'.. She pulled him in for another kiss, sighing.

'You two really need to hurry up and get married. I got $50 on you sealing the deal before the end of the year..'.. Tony said as he walked in, with a parcel... 'This came for you Soph..'... He puts it down on one of the other stations.

Sophie rolled her eyes and hopped off, coming over to Tony... 'Not even engaged yet and you're already planning a wedding, aren't you?..'... She asked him, bumping him with her hip as she passed.

'Engagement party, press announcement, bachelor party, rehearsals, wedding, reception, honeymoon..'.. Tony held up a finger for each, and Sophie shook her head at him... 'What? You're my sister, I love you, and I want to take care of it all for you. Besides, last thing we need is Tia making an appearance because you're stressed and she rips people apart..'

'I will not..'.. Tony looked up, seeing that she shifted to Tia... 'You are getting ahead of yourself Stark, so stop, before you're the one stressing her out..'

She shifted back and Sophie smirked aover at him, her hands on the parcel... 'Ha, that's you told. And stop with the pressure ok? Me and Bruce are happy as we are, right?'... She turns to look at him, and he smiles at her.

'Right. Tony, I get that you want this all to happen, but me and Soph will move forward when we want to, not when you want us to. I appreciate it, but no..'.. Bruce came to stand opposite Tony, smiling at him.

'Ha again...'... Sophie chuckled... 'You got told off again. Where's Pepper and Happy? I need to score a four of a kind here..'.. She begins to open the box, wondering what it is, as Tony and Bruce head over to the other station, to check over the results. She watched them go, as she continued with the box and she couldn't help but smile, she adored both of them.

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Nat was in the training room with Steve, when they both felt and heard an explosion. She looked worried, as she sprinted to the doors, to head out... 'Jarvis! Where was that?..'.. She ripped open the door, with Steve right behind her.

'Dr Connors lab. I have issued an evacuation for everyone in the tower. Dr Connors, Dr Banner and Mr Stark were all in the lab, close proximity to the blast..'..

Nat didn't use the elevator, as she knew it could be compromised. Steve was faster as he took the stairs up 5 at a time. Within seconds, seeing couldn't see him as he went ahead... 'Are they injured?..'

'I'm afraid I can not tell you. My system for the floor was rebooted just before the explosion..'..

Nat didn't know what to think. Clearly this was planned. Shee made it up the next twelve floors to the lab, slightly out of breath, seeing the destruction around her. She coughed at the acrid smell, and called out... 'Steve? You in here?..'

'Natasha, over here..'.. She hears his voice and carefully makes her way over to him. Behind one of the stations, Steve was leaning over Tony, pressing against a wound to his arm. He didn't look as though he was too injured. Steve looked up at Nat... 'He's alive and breathing, as far as I've found, just his arm..'

'Jarvis, do we have any medical in the building to assist?..'.. Nat calls out to him, and she moves to look for the other two.

'Currently on their way to you now. I have alerted the authorities. They are en route as we speak..'..

'Jarvis, what happened here?..'... Steve asks, keeping pressure on Tony's arm, while Nat keeps looking.

My system was compromised, and rebooted for this floor, 3 minutes before the explosion. No feed or audio available. The signal came from the 16th floor..'..

'That's operations control..'.. Steve said, frowing in concentration.

'I found Bruce..'... Nat called out, finding him on the office floor. He must've been thrown through the window. Nat rushed to his side, checking him over, and his pulse. She let out a little breath of relief that he was alive. Now they just had to find Sophie... 'Bruce? Bruce, can you hear me?..'... She called to him, hoping he would come around.

When he groaned, she closed her eyes for a moment, thankful. Opening them again, she leaned over slightly, watching him... 'Bruce, are you ok? Can you move?..'

Bruce heard someone talking, but the ringing in his ears, was blocking them out slightly. He could tell he was laying down, so he pushed himself to sit, blinking to clear his vision. He saw Nat in front of him, looking worried and he frowned at her, as he remembered what happened, and began to panic.

'Soph? Sophie?..'.. He coughed out, pushing himself to stand up. He stumbled towards the door way, not listening to Nat behind him. He saw the chaos of the lab, with Steve leaning over Tony... 'Soph?..'... He called out before erupting into a coughing fit. He stumbled over the destruction, to where she was stood, and began to look around.

She wasnt there, and there was no sign of her at all. There was a wall behind where she stood, and no proof she was thrown through it... 'She has to be here. Help me find her..'.. He fought against the pa ic, knowing if he didn't control it, Hulk would come out and he was already pissed at the situation.

'Bruce?..'.. He turned to Nat, seeing her give him a sad look... 'I don't think she's here. There's no sign of her, and if she was that close to it, it could've-..'

'No, she's alive, I know it. Just..'.. He held an arm to his ribs as he took a deep breath... 'Just help me find her..'

😘