SARCASM | t.stark [o.h]

five.

CHAPTER FIVE.
PHASE TWO, ANYONE?

ALEXIOS NEVER REALLY CARED for science until she discovered the powers she was cursed with at fifteen. She could still remember all research she did on elements, their reactions, radiation and medicine. She hadn't stepped foot into a lab since she dropped out of college.

Being in S.H.I.E.L.D's lab brought back both fond and terrifying memories. Upon entering the lab, just moments after Bruce and Tony, she made her presence known and didn't say much afterwards. Instead, Alex listened to their conversations of gamma radiation, the Cube, and the scepter.

"You know, Alexis?" Tony started, glancing at her in the back corner.

"Alexios," She corrected, rolling her eyes in the process, "And what, Stark?"

"Your file never said why you have little flame powers." Tony asked, "How did you get those?"

"Two words," Alex stated, leaning forward on the counter. "Experimental drugs. Is that all, because I was really enjoying all the science crap."

"Turn on?"

"Screw off, Anthony." Alexios muttered, flipping an obscene gesture at him.

"Hey, guys," Bruce stated, gaining the attention of the two. "The gamma readings are definitely consistent with Selvig's reports of the Tesseract, but it's going to take weeks to process."

Tony left Alexios alone, but not without throwing her another glance. She rolled her eyes as he sauntered over to the other side of the lab, taping on a screen.

"If we bypass their mainframe and direct route to the Homer cluster, we can clock this at around six hundred teraflops." Tony informed, walking back to Bruce and the scepter.

"All I packed was a toothbrush," Bruce humored, which did put a small smile on Alexios' lips.

"You know, you should come by Stark Tower sometime." Tony suggested, simply shrugging and pointing innocently at Bruce. "Top ten floors, all R&D. You'd love it. It's Candy Land."

"Thanks," Bruce started, looking at Tony as he came around the counter. He admitted sheepishly, "But the last time I was in New York, I kind of broke Harlem."

"Well, I promise a stress-free environment." Tony stated, walking around Bruce, "No tension, no surprises."

Alexios glared at Stark as he poked Bruce in the side, the object releasing a tiny shock.

"Ow!"

"Hey!" Alexios exclaimed, standing up from the stool. "Are you stupid or something?"

"Nothing?" Tony asked, ignoring Alexios once again.

Captain Rogers walked in, just barely missing the exchange. "Hey! Are you nuts?"

Alexios sighed, "Apparently he is, Captain."