Avengers High School

Chapter 3: Meeting the Team

Bruce POV

As he stepped into the office, Bruce was not surprised to see that he wasn't the first person there. He was, however, surprised to see that the only other people there were a girl and a boy a few years older than him. They were talking quietly, in both a foreign language and what appeared to be sign language. 

The girl turned to him. "I assume you are here also for the Avengers Initiative?"

"Uh, yeah," Bruce said.

"Brown hair...brown eyes...lab coat...you are Bruce Banner, age 15, born January 3, 1993. Your best friend is Tony Stark, age 15, born March 19, 1993. You both are child geniuses, both graduated MIT last year. You are working on a gamma radiation project: that's what got SHIELD interested in you. I would go into more detail, but I do not want to, as Clint says, 'freak you out'."

Bruce whistled. "Wooooooow. That's cool. So, uh. Who are you?"

"I'm Clint Barton. I'm from the circus. My stunt name was Hawkeye, and I think I'm gonna keep it. You've already met Wid-she's my partner."

Bruce raised his eyebrows. "Wid?"

"He says it is necessary for friends to call each other nicknames. I don't know why. My full name is Black Widow. I am an assassin, and that is what...Clint...will probably become, too."

"Wait, what?" Clint's eyes snapped up to Black Widow's face. 

"I poison everything I touch. If you become my partner, you must be prepared for that."

"You aren't an actual black widow spider, Wid. You don't innately poison stuff. And, uh, it'd be fun to be a spy!"

"You have a very strange idea of fun, Barton."

Bruce interrupted them. "Hey, uh, do any of you guys know anyone else on the team?"

"Yeah," said Clint. "There's this one guy, super buff dude. Carries a hammer. His name's Thor. He has a brother, who's almost as big a jerk as mine. That's saying something."

"Steve Rogers, super soldier. He's like a real life Captain America. Coulson was practically drooling over him. I think he's going to try and adopt him."

"Um, what?"

"Coulson is a...a...what is the expression? Bird mother? He is a bird mother."

"Bird mother?" asked Clint.

"Yes. Is that how you say it?"

"Den mother?" asked Bruce.

"No."

"Um...mother hen?"

"Yes! That is it. Mother hen. Agent Coulson is a mother hen."

Clint grinned. "I can back that up. I only met him yesterday, but he bought me new clothes, food, and then got me my first friend in ten years. He's totally a mother hen--you're gonna love him."

Bruce laughed. The door swung open and a tall, burly blond guy walked in.

"Hello, Clinton!" he boomed. 

"Hey, Thor," replied Clint.

"I have not had the pleasure of meeting you two comrades yet." added Thor. "Hello, Lady...?"

"Widow," the Black Widow responded primly.

"Hello, Lady Widow! And hello, friend...?"

"Uh, Bruce. Bruce Banner."

"Hello, friend Bruce! It is a pleasure to meet you!" Bruce shook Thor's hand. He noticed Widow watching Thor suspiciously. 

"You are Thor Odinson?" she asked.

"Yes, Lady Widow!" 

"Where is your brother? Loki Laufreyson?"

"I do not know, Lady Widow. He went missing a few hours ago. I am worried about him; however, I am sure he will be alright."

Black Widow nodded. "You are telling the truth."

Before anyone could reply to that statement, the door slid open and another buff blond stepped in. He had an old-fashioned, gelled haircut and was carrying a multicolored shield. "Um, hi. Is this Director Fury's office? I was told to come here for the Avengers Initiative?"

"Are you Steven Grant Rogers? Age 19? Have you been in a coma for the last two years?"

Military-hair nodded nervously. "Um. Yeah. How did you know my name?"

"She knows everything about everyone!" Clint boasted proudly.

"Mostly everyone. There are no records of Natasha Romanoff except in our files...and I do not have enough clearance and skills to access my own file, so I don't know what she has to do with me."

"She knows everything about everyone except Tasha!"

"Um, ok. Call me Steve. So how old are you guys?"

"Fifteen," Bruce said, glancing at the other teenagers.

"I am five thousand midgardian years!"

"He is physically nineteen. Barton and I are seventeen. Our last member...well, I'll let him tell you that himself. He ought to be here soon."

Bruce peered curiously at the door. Clint and Widow were the same age, and so were Thor and Steve...well, technically. And he got the feeling that those two groups were partners, so it went to show that the next member would be his partner, and would probably be around his age. Clint and Widow were doing their sign language/Russian thing over in the corner again, and Steve and Thor were comparing Asgard and Brooklyn. 

He was about to pull out his phone-maybe Tony wouldn't be too upset, maybe he would distract him-when he heard gunshots echo down the hall.

Bruce yelped, Clint flinched, Thor looked confused, Steve pulled out his shield stood protectively in front of the team, and Widow pulled out her guns and pointed them at the door.

"Давай," she growled.

The door flew open and Bruce dove under the desk. He heard struggling, and then a very familiar voice yell, "HEY! LET ME GO! I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE! UNHAND ME YOU *&%$#! I'M TONY STARK DAMMIT!"

Bruce poked his head out from under the desk to see Widow pointing her guns at Tony, one at his heart and one at his head, who was being held by Director Fury, Clint was pointing an arrow at his neck, Thor was holding a huge hammer threateningly at him, and Steve was standing protectively over Bruce.

"...Tony?" asked Bruce.