Tony scanned through the files Fury had given to him to read. The two people the files discussed were intriguing, but not enough as to where Tony would want them on the team. They were young, and he didn't want the responsibility of having to care of them on his hands.
It wasn't until he reached the section about their parents that he even considered Fury's proposition. Tony's eyes widened as he read about the children's parents and their treatment of the girls. He clenched his hands into fists and put the files down.
Now, Tony wasn't one to be sentimental over people he didn't even know. He hadn't been that way even before his time in that cave, and that particular part of his personality hadn't completely changed. However, he couldn't help but feel a bit sad for the file subjects.
Fury had told him to make the final decision as to whether or not the girls would be allowed to join the team (though Tony had a feeling it wasn't really his choice), and before he could regret it, he picked up the phone to call Steve.
It rang twice before it was answered.
"Hello?"
"Natasha? Where's Steve?"
"He's right here; he forgot how to answer the phone."
"Well put him on!"
"Okay, geez!"
A short silence.
"Hi, Tony."
"Why do you have a cell phone if you don't pick it up in an emergency?"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't remember how! It's weird…"
"Okay just get the team back home. We've got a lot to talk about…"
"Are we sure he gave us the right address?" Jules asked, looking back and forth from the paper in her hand to the tower in front of her. Peri nodded beside her.
"Stark's file did say he has a flair for dramatics," she said.
"Peri, I think that's an understatement," Jules gestured to the tower, "does Director Fury seriously expect us to live in there?!" Peri shrugged.
"Well, it's a bit gaudy, but nothing too grotesque. Besides, it's not like we have anyone to invite over for a birthday party," Peri pointed out. The two girls sighed. "Are you ready for this, Jules?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," and with that, they joined hands and walked forwards to enter Stark Tower.
"I'm not sure about this, Tony…" Steve said slowly.
"Come on, Steve, they're teenagers! How bad can they be?" Tony answered.
"Tony, have you ever taken care of a kid?" Natasha asked.
"As a matter of fact Natasha, I once babysat Pepper's nephew," responded Tony.
"Uh huh; and how well did that go?" she replied sarcastically.
"I'm Tony Stark! I'm a genius; I can take care of a kid easily!"
"Yeah, sure. But what about two kids, Tony? Two teenage kids?" Steve added.
"They're teenagers, they just want to have fun!"
"Might I add that they are also female?" JARVIS spoke from above.
"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side!"
"Tony, JARVIS has a point, you don't exactly work well with emotion, and seeing as how they're teenage girls, they'll get pretty emotional at least once a month," said Natasha.
"On top of that Tony, they were raised by S.H.I.E.L.D. for fifteen years. I don't think they fall under the category of 'normal teenagers.' If anything they'll probably be a lot like Clint and I," she continued. Steve sighed, and Tony groaned.
"You guys are taking all the fun out of this! Come on Steve, you told me just last week you always wanted kids!" Steve blushed as Tony went on, "besides, after all that time in S.H.I.E.L.D. I think they just want to be kids. You know, live the childhood they never had, or some other psychiatric bullshit."
"Sir, the adolescents in question are waiting on the first floor for access to the elevator," JARVIS interrupted the conversation. He pulled up camera footage of the two girls standing next to each other. Natasha studied them. From the way they were standing she gathered that they were very close emotionally. The blue-haired girl kept looking around like she was making a mental map of the area and the redhead seemed to be watching the blue-haired one to make sure she was breathing.
"Let them up JARVIS," Tony said. The camera showed the elevator doors opening and the two girls walking through. The blue-haired one tripped but caught herself. The doors closed and the three adults (and JARVIS) sat in silence for the girls to arrive.
Not even thirty seconds later, Jules stepped out of the elevator with Peri in tow. She took in their surroundings quickly and then faced the "responsible adults" in the room.
"Hi, I'm Jules, and this is my twin, Peri," Jules introduced them. Peri looked up and waved with a small smile.
"Twin? I thought Periwinkle was six months older," Steve mumbled to himself. Jules gave a small chuckle.
"She is, but we're so close we might as well be twins, so we refer to ourselves as twins. Um, so, who're you guys?" Jules explained.
"Oh, uh," Steve stood and walked over to the "twins" so he could shake their hands. "I'm Steve Rogers, it's a pleasure to meet the two of you, and" he pointed to Tony, "that's Tony Stark-"
Tony scoffed.
"I need no introduction! I'm sure they know who I am!" At this point Peri actually smiled all the way.
"Yes, sir," she said. Tony shuddered.
"Don't call me sir. The only person who can call me 'sir' is JARVIS, and he's a machine. If I have to live with a seventeen-year-old calling me 'sir,' I may have to puke." Steve rolled his eyes.
"Don't tell me it makes you feel old, Tony," he teased.
"Just don't call me sir!"
"Um, alright, Mr-" Tony winced before Peri could finish, "I mean, um,"
"Just Tony is fine, kid."
"Okay, Tony."
"Tony, you're making the poor girl nervous on the first day of the job, can you try not to be yourself for just a few days?" a woman asked. She turned to Peri and Jules, standing and walking to them much like Steve. She smiled and extended her hand. "I'm Natasha Romanov."
Oh, I see what she's trying to do; Jules thought as she pulled Peri a little closer to her side, well, two can play at that game. She put on her brightest smile and shook Natasha's hand firmly.
"Gosh, you must be the famous Black Widow! We've heard so much about you!" Jules said in the peppiest voice she could muster. Natasha looked confused for only half a second, but her face retained its motherly expression.
"Yes, I am," she answered.
"We're big fans, Miss Romanov," Jules continued to smile brightly. Natasha actually let her shocked expression show this time, but before she could answer, another voice joined the group.
"Well if it isn't the Dynamic Duo!"
Peri and Jules shifted their gazes towards a man entering from another elevator on the other side of the room. He was smiling, but it wasn't faked like Natasha's smile.
"From what I've read, you two are one hell of a pair," he said, striding towards them, "I'm Clint Barton."
Jules gave a genuine smile and reached for his hand to shake.
"Jules Bennet. This is my Peri. Peri Marie." Clint shook her hand and then Peri's. He chuckled a bit.
"I have to say, you're less intimidating in person. How'd you get that scar above your lip, Jules?" Jules reached up and touched the scar and shrugged.
"Long story."
"Hey Tony when are the- Oh, they're already here. Um, hi, I'm Bruce Banner." A tired-looking man came from the same elevator Clint had just stepped out of and didn't move. He stared at the "twins," seemingly trying to decide whether or not the two adolescents were an immediate threat.
"Hello, Dr Banner," said Jules.
"Pleasure to meet you," said Peri. Banner nodded and stepped out into the room. Jules did a quick head count.
"If you don't mind me asking, where's Thor?" she said. Peri gave her hand a knowing squeeze and Jules shot Peri a look that said very plainly "if you say a word I'll shoot you."
"He's in Asgard, making sure his brother doesn't escape," Tony answered. Peri cocked an eyebrow.
"Escape? He helped defeat Malekith, didn't he? Why is he still being treated like a prisoner?" Clint looked at Peri harshly.
"One act of kindness does not redeem him for the amount of lives he took in the attack on New York," he said without a hint of compassion. Peri gulped and shrank a little, instantly regretting having spoken. Jules held her hand a bit tighter as she spoke.
"So," she said a tad too loudly, "who's hungry?"
Meanwhile in Asgard
Thor sighed before knocking quietly three times on the door to Loki's room. A second of silence followed, until Thor heard a soft "come in" from within. Thor pushed the door open as gently as he could and entered Loki's room.
"Has there been any change?" he asked. Frigga shook her head.
"I'm afraid not, my son. Not a soul has a clue..." she broke out in a sob, causing her eldest son to walk across the room and scoop her into a hug.
"It will be fine, Mother... Loki will be fine..."