Which Me, Do You Like?

Chapter 2

I don't think I realized I had fell asleep until I woke up in the basement of Stark Tower. I let out a small groan as I looked around; everything was Illumatied blue, due to the fact that the only light was coming from The Arc Reactor. "Jarvis," I said softly. "Locate Tony Stark." My face was hurting really bad, as did the rest of my body. My shoulders were as stiff as a board from sleeping oddly on the floor, my back, ankles... and espically my tailbone was hurting from where I fell down the stairs, as did my elbows... and my head, boy... was it killing me.

"Tony Stark is currently explaining himself to Mrs. Potts." Jarvis said.

"What's the current time?"

"Eight Seventeen, Mrs. Hayes."

"Jarvis, unseal the door."

"I'm afraid only Mr. Stark has the authority to Unseal the door."

"Well, can you please ask him to get his ass down here before I throw something at the arc reactor?" I asked.

"With pleasure, Mrs. Hayes." Jarvis sounded amused.

The Avengers were exhausted. I mean really exhausted, but triumphant. Loki was in SHIELD'S custody, and they were currently sitting  around Tony Stark's penthouse. Tony and Pepper were in the other room... talking, Clint and Natasha were in the bathroom... cleaning thier cuts and scrapes, while Captain America and Thor stood on the demolished balcony.

Bruce Banner remained sitting on the couch, his eyes closed, and he was breathing  heavily, but not sleeping. He opened his dark eyes when Tony came quickly walking out of the room he and Pepper had been in, she was following him looking annoyed, and slightly amused.

"I can't believe you sealed her in there."

"She was safer down there."

"How did you know they wouldn't blow up the entire building?"

"Then she'd be a lot thinner." Tony repiled.

"That is not funny!" She said.

"What's going on?" Natasha asked as she and Clint stepped out of the bathroom, cleaned up, but they still looked exhausted.

"Tony locked Taylor in the basement hours ago!"

"Taylor?" Bruce asked.

"That little intern that's always eatting m&m's?" Natasha asked.

"Yup." Tony said as he impatiently hit the elevator button. The elevator doors finally opened up and Tony looked to Bruce. "You wanna come?" There's no telling what'll she do, I might need some help."

"Nothing you don't deserve." Pepper said from behind him.

"I'm sorry, is everyone forgetting the part where I saved her life?" He asked as he stepped into the elevator.

"So how pissed is she going to be?" Bruce asked as he stood up and followed Tony.

"Like should we be selling tickets to this?" Pepper asked.

"Cute, very cute." Tony said sarcastically as he pushed the button for the basement. They got down to the basement, and Tony punched in a code. The door unlocked and Tony walked through, letting Bruce and Pepper follow. Once they got to the next door Tony then punched in the code again, and then opened the door.

The moment the door opened I limped out of the room, my knee must have gotten banged up in the fall, because I was tired, hungry, and in a lot of pain.

"You forgot about me?" I asked Tony, my eyes moving from Pepper, to the man with slightly gray streaked dark hair and dark eyes who was wearing some loose fitting clothes that looked very odd on him, to Tony.

"Did everyone forget the part where I saved you?" He asked. And I sighed, then leaned forward and hugged him tightly. "At least she appreciates me. Hey Taylor, how'd you like to be CEO?"

"Not on your life." I mumbled into his shirt, before sniffling.

"Taylor, are you... crying?"

"No... I'm just allergic to green energy." I tapped on his arc reactor making him chuckle.

"What happened to your knee?" Pepper asked when I hugged her.

"I fell down some stairs." I shook my head, then wiped my eyes quickly, and smiled at the man.

"Impossible. You're much more coordinated than that." Tony said making me turn a dark glare on him.

"I'm sorry, I was semi hysterical, I had just watched my boss get thrown out a window!" I shouted at him. "I need a drink, now." I scowled.

"Worried about me?" He asked as he put his arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah, worried I'd have to file unemployment." I said, my arms crossed over my chest.

"Hey, Pepper's already said that one, after Afghanistan, get your own insults." Tony said sounded insulted, more over the fact that I had "Stolen" an insult, rather than the fact that he was being insulted.

"Oh don't get me started." I said shaking my head. I sigh, and then looked to the dark haired man who was standing there looking surprised. "Hi, sorry, I'm Taylor, Mr. Stark's assistant."

"Bruce, Bruce Banner, nice to meet you." He said, and looked down at my knee. "Do you want me to take a look at that?"

"No, I'm sure it'll be fine." I shrugged.

"If you don't have it looked at, it could get worse." He said and I sighed; before looking to Pepper who nodded, Tony was already halfway down the hall. We followed after him, me limping along while Pepper filled me in on everything that happened. Bruce walked along side me slowly; he looked tired, and ready to pass out. I felt something touch my arm, and I looked over to Bruce who held his arm out to me. "Would you like some help?" He asked softly; It was sweet of him to offer, but he looked so tired I doubted he could support me and him. He seemed to realize that because next thing I knew he had taken my hand, and put it on his arm. "Just put a little pressure on me when you take a step." He ordered. I sighed, and then did as what I was told until we got to the elevator... Pepper had hardly noticed I wasn't paying attention until I looked to Tony.

"So, did we win?" I asked, and Pepper stopped talking. Bruce looked over at me and Tony smiled before he ruffled my me, making most my of the loose bits come out of the screwed up French twist I had it in.