The Tower

Science Bros

I finished up my work at Columbia. My teaching load at an end and all my work being transferred over to the tower. My apartment in the tower wasn't done yet, but I was there every night anyway, just room hopping a lot. So I organized to have my own apartment packed and put into storage as I waited.

The not seeing Tony thing was starting to really stress me out though. Not because of me or the others. I loved being with them. They were feeling like family even at this really early stage, which was often really scary. I worried about losing my identity, or getting in over my head and not having any way to get out. I worried I'd get hurt or that I'd end up hurting them.

Not that any of them ever made me feel that way. It's just scary when feelings hit you so hard and you've never really experienced them before.

Tony though. Tony really worried me. He worried me because he was now alone again, just as he'd started coming back. I blamed myself for getting caught. I hated that he was blaming himself and isolating himself like that. On top of that, he now had to feel uncomfortable in his own home. Every move he made he needed to double-check that he wouldn't accidentally come across me.

I sat in the lab with my headphones in while I worked. Since coming to the lab I'd been getting more and more people coming forward with powers. Not to mention, that Steve, Bucky, Wanda, and Bruce all offered up their own samples. I tried to tell them they didn't need to. I knew it was a big deal to Steve after everything that had happened to Bucky. He wouldn't take my no at all. I think he was trying to prove to me that he trusted me.

I was so immersed in my work I didn't notice Bruce come in. So when he put his hand on my shoulder I literally jumped off the chair. I pulled my earbuds out and turned to face him. My heart hammering. "You scared the shit out of me." I panted.

Bruce chuckled. "Sorry... sorry." He said. "Come with me."

I tucked my headset in my pocket and followed after him as he led me out of the lab and to the stairs. "Where are we going?" I asked as we started to climb them.

He shook his head but he did offer me his hand. I took it and he gave it a squeeze. We climbed two flights before reaching the door he wanted and he went to open the door.

"Doctor Banner, Doctor Cooper doesn't have clearance to enter the Engineering lab," FRIDAY said.

"I'm giving her the clearance. Open the door, FRIDAY." Bruce said, tersely.

It felt like my heart had stopped beating. Tony was on the other side of that door and Bruce was forcing a confrontation. What was I supposed to say to him? Would he even listen to me?

"Mister Stark was very clear about Doctor Cooper not being allowed in the lab or in the penthouse," FRIDAY said.

"I don't care what Mister Stark said, I'm overwriting it. Open the door, FRIDAY or the Hulk will open it." Bruce snarled.

"Doctor Banner, you aren't authorized to grant her access." She said. I don't know if I was reading into something that wasn't there, but she sounded like she was trying to reason with him or calm him down.

"FRIDAY, please. He can't keep hurting himself like this." I pleaded.

Nothing happened for a moment and then the door clicked open. "Did you just successfully appeal to a computer's empathy?" Bruce asked looking at me.

I shrugged. "Part of her design was to assess and treat injuries right?"

Bruce shook his head and pushed the door open. The engineering lab was large and dark, with high ceilings and a lot of blue light. There were large benches and robotic arms. A row of Iron Man suits ran along the wall. Tony was hunched over a bench alone tinkering with something. He looked up when we came in and the expression that passed over his face was akin to the one you'd make if someone shoved a knife into your kidney.