I own nothing but my OCs and the idea. Some chapters will be long, some short . . . and if anyone has questions feel free to ask.


Introductions

"This is bullshit! You can't just grab people out of my labs and force them to do what you want to do! That's practically kidnapping, Fury!"

There were few things in life that tested Bruce Banner's nearly ironclad control these days. He knew it might seem trite to boast but it was a feat that had taken him the better part of the last four years to accomplish; a feat that included getting shot at, being misled, manipulated and very nearly murdered-or at the very least incarcerated in a Hulk proof bubble for the rest of his miserable unnatural life. And-after the invasion of New York and the instatement of the Avengers- prolonged exposure to one Tony Stark. Unfortunately for Banner SHIELD and Jane Foster had decided to join Stark in competing for the first place 'single handedly trigger numerous Code Green' ribbon.

Banner sighed, shifting in his seat as he resettled; trying not to grind his teeth as he watched three of his largest stress and anxiety factors bicker and duel over his relocation. The nuclear physicist in question had known the second his own gamma research had stalled-again- that he'd need some sort of distraction. So he'd thrown himself into each and every project Tony had tossed his way, tinkering and calculating right beside the loveable egomaniac; enjoying the company and diversion to the point that-for a few seconds scattered here and there-he almost felt somewhat normal. What he (still) didn't understand was how he'd gone as far as to willingly put himself in the newly furbished astrophysics lab at Stark Tower. Which meant he'd spent the better part of the past two months dealing with Tony and Dr. Foster.

He shifted again, resisting the urge to rub his tired eyes. He liked Jane Foster well enough-hell anyone who could put up with Tony and Darcy Lewis in stride was worthy of equal parts respect and fear- but their research styles completely differed. He was a nuclear physicist that specialized in radiation and applied physics (and about eighty million other little things he'd picked up from being on the run for so long). While Jane Foster was this odd mix between frantic nervous energy and controlled chaotic theory. She saw the math-had seen her theory in action-but trying to accurately construct a functioning machine to generate a Einstein-Rosen Bridge was like trying to convince the Hulk not to smash.

Banner closed his eyes, trying desperately not to roll them as he fought back a snort. He knew the work was consuming and tedious but Foster was beginning to become manic now that the invasion's seven month anniversary had come and gone. And he had not one but twosets of destroyed clothes and broken glasses-labs, equipment, nerves- so far today to prove it. Something even Tony couldn't claim . . . and it wasn't even 10 am yet.

Christ, did they really wonder why Fury was pissed?

"Dr. Banner. You are to report to the Chitauri Lab at Stark Tower as soon as the rest of the equipment is set. I mean immediately. Which is exactly where you are going to stay until your return to work on your own research-or in the event of an extreme emergency with Project Bifrost. Understood?"

Banner turned as Fury addressed him directly, silently thanking God that-despite being moved- he wasn't the one actually in trouble. The Director knew he kept the Other Guy as close to controlled as he could-and that it took a considerable event to trigger a random Code Green-so Fury's ire was falling on Stark and Foster. He pushed to his feet, ignoring the dull ache that radiated through his body as he made his way towards the door; tugging his borrowed SHIELD hoodie tighter over his nondescript black tee shirt. If he could just get out of this room and back to a lab, find something to focus himself on then they might be able to avoid another Hulk appearance for the day.

The steady green tinted presence at the back of his mind rumbled appreciatively, almost snorting in his mind as Banner fought back a grin. The Hulk was not a fan of Foster by any means but he was even irritated with Tony at this point. Their steady bickering had done nothing but grate their nerves for the duration of this experiment. And the Other Guy had made sure to showcase his feelings on his last romp through the Astro lab when he'd yelled at them both to shut up. Right before he'd sent a large portion of their work through the wall of windows separating the lab from the hive of hallways. Banner dipped his chin as he opened the door, grinning despite his best efforts. He knew it was petty but the biggest part of him was actually pleased that the Other Guy had leveled their latest attempt at an electrical relay.

Damn thing would never support the monumental power surge necessary to open the Bifrost or diffuse the subsequent radiation anyway . . . not that anyone had bothered to actually listen to the expert on the matter.

"Bruce don't you dare! You're coming right back to the lab with us-"

"This is NOT up for debate Stark. Foster needs you and your tech for her research. And seeing as Dr. Banner is the only doctor that had any form of contact with the Chitauri then his input on the xenowarfare project would be greatly appreciated. This may not be what you want but it is what's best-for everyone."

Foster shifted in her seat, her pretty features darkening as Stark raised a condescending brow. Banner stilled, standing just at the door as Tony snorted; Bruce closing his eyes and counting to twenty in Thai under his breathe to keep himself calm. God they weren't even really talking to him-over and about him yes but he wasn't an actual participant in the conversation- and his could still feel his heartbeat starting to rise.

"Xenowarfare Project? You aren't fucking serious are you? Didn't you idiots see how well Phase Two went-"

Fury rolled his eye towards the ceiling, his lips moving too fast for any of them to catch what he muttered before he pinched the bridge of his nose; eye clenched shut as he exhaled loudly and slowly.

"The Xenowarfare Project is not Phase Two. By any means or stretch of the imagination. I personally signed off on the damn thing, Stark. And while you might not like the idea of weaponry directed at alien invaders you have to realize one thing-without the Tesseract we still need a nuclear deterrent. Phase Two sounded a bell we can't unring. Just like Loki pushed us into a while different fucking world. This Project answers our concerns without relying on something we can't hope to control."

"But-"

"But nothing. The project is happening. Get over it or get out. If anything Banner's relocation should help you feel better about all of it. Besides-" Fury cut his eyes to Foster, the petite astrophysicist dipping in her seat; her cheeks staining red as she cast her eyes to the table. "Two Code Greens in one week was bad enough . . . but two in one fucking day is beyond reckless. And far too irresponsible to chance again."

Foster glanced up, her doe brown eyes flitting to Banner before she glanced back to the Director; her repentant voice still holding the damn determined edge that set the Other Guy off in the first place.

"Director Fury I apologized. It was just a heated debate . . ."

Fury stopped, looking to Foster like she'd grown a second head before he seemed to shake himself. His trademark grimace falling into place almost instantly as his voice dropped an octave. Bruce Banner turned, tapping his code into the door panel as he waited to be released from the conference room; hoping that none of the others had seen the dark grin stretching across his face. It was always a good day when you had Nick Fury in your corner-something Jane Foster was about to understand.

Hell even the Other Guy knew better than to piss the man off.

"A heated debate? A heated debate?! Dr. Foster I don't give a goddamn what you were heatedly debating. You insulted a renowned physicist-to his face!- and threatened to have your assistant taze him. The fact that you attempted that with the Hulk just shows you are not capable of functioning on no sleep in seventy two hours! Now you are going to go back to that lab and you are going to stop this bullshit! Both of you! This is not a damn daycare-"

Banner snickered, shaking his head as the door opened; letting him scurry out and into the too white hallway. He glanced back, nodding to Tony as the door slid shut; openly grinning as soon as it sealed. He understood Jane's crabbiness-hell none of R&D were on good terms with sleep these days- but Fury was still pissed. He sighed, moving towards the elevator back to the lobby; resigning himself to his fate. While it wasn't exactly what he wanted to be doing it would be a welcomed break. At the very least he wouldn't have to babysit Tony and Jane until he either had a breakthrough or finished his portion of this project.

He stopped before the elevator doors, pressing the button before he sighed; his shoulders sagging before he rolled them. Trying to work the residual stiffness from his muscles. Christ he almost felt bad for Darcy Lewis . . .because now it would be up to her to separate the two idiots.

Poor kid.


Bruce Banner blinked, refocusing his eyes as he examined the Chitauri genetic samples. Jotting down sloppy shorthand as fast as he could, absolutely enthralled by what he was seeing. It really was a good thing that Fury had convinced the Council to break away from their delusions of nuclear and Phase Two weapons . . . because overuse of either against the Chitauri would be detrimental. For humanity. The Chitauri were like nothing he'd ever seen, their sheer genetic composition making anything less than deadly force pretty much useless.

It explains their tolerance to the more traditional weapons, why it had been such a chore to take on their army. If it had been a small group then maybe they would've gotten away with less collateral damage-but that was the other aspect of the invaders to consider. Their numbers.

Banner shifted in his seat, leaning back just enough to rub at his eyes before he turned to his notes; scanning them to make sure he had every observation down. He tapped the ballpoint pen on the yellow legal pad, biting his bottom lip to keep himself from chewing on the pen's cap while he thought. While nuclear bombs were out of the question maybe some form of radiation could weaken their cellular structure . . . He moved back to the optical microscope; adjusting the slide as his thoughts started racing. He never heard the lab door open or the quiet footfalls that announced his visitor.

"Excuse me?"

Banner flinched, nearly crushing his nose on the scope as his head jerked up at the new voice. He blinked, trying to slow his racing heart as he heard his watch start to tick only to furrow his brows in confusion. He'd pushed his way into the lab before the SHIELD techs had even finished setting up the Transmission Electron Microscope, Genetic Analysis System or the Thermocycling Lab Incubator or the Laser Microdissector; making himself an impromptu nest of notes and research close to the Gene Workstation. He glanced to his watch, thankful that the beeping slowed and the Other Guy did little more than grumble and resettle.

Because he doubted Fury or Tony would be as forgiving if he wrecked three labs in one day.

"Sir?"

He glanced back to the doorway, his brain finally processing that there was indeed another person in the lab with him. The person stepped into the semi-dark lab, flipping on the rest of the overhead fluorescents as they went. Banner shook himself, blinking away the white spots as his eyes readjusted; only to shake himself again at what he was seeing. There just inside the doorway was a woman close to Jane Foster's age, looking to him beseechingly as she shifted this massive tattered messenger bag from one shoulder to the other.

She smiled to him, plump lips spreading to reveal white teeth as her sea glass green eyes flitted over the lab. She was dressed in a heather blue tunic and dark jeans, the legs cuffed to just below her knee. She had a taupe military-inspired fitted waistcoat over the sleeveless shirt; the double breasted tailored waistcoat cinching around her figure as she moved. Banner opened his mouth to speak as she stepped closer to him, readjusting her hold on the olive green bag as she pushed her messy whiskey brown curls out of her face; letting him see the looping sienna tribal tattoo swirling around her left forearm. She had a multitude of beaded and braided leather bracelets wrapping around her wrist, random bronze and silver charms dangling and tinkling as she moved.

Who was this woman and what in the hell was she doing in a lab?

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scar you but I am officially lost. The uh-the guard at the elevator pointed me to this floor but he didn't tell me where else to go. I'm looking for Dr. Banner? Fury said that he could show me to my lab . . ."

Bruce gulped, forcing his suspiciously dry throat to work as he swallowed his questions. The Other Guy perked, lazily taking in the girl's torn denim and impractical brown leather flip flops before he deemed her a non-threat; leaving Banner to figure out how to handle the situation. Finally he managed to find his voice, pushing away from the desk as he fought the urge to wring his hands nervously.

"I-I'm Bruce Banner. Fury didn't tell me to expect anyone else . . ."

The girl smiled, laughing as she rolled her light eyes; equal parts exasperation and humor coloring her voice as she spoke. Her voice echoed in the otherwise quiet lab, the lilting drawl to her words making them sound sweet despite their snark. Bruce watched her, the tension in his shoulders easing as she talked. Something about her set him at odds and made him want to relax all at once.

"Oh wow that's just awesome. I guess I'll give El Furioso a pass this time since I wasn't technically supposed to be here until tomorrow afternoon. But seriously, he couldn't even mention to someone I would be swinging through? I think the guard downstairs is probably still having a conniption because he wasn't expecting me either. Did you know that SHIELD lapdogs turn this really odd purply red when you argue with them?"

Banner shook his head slowly, a renewed sense of dread filling him at her words; completely wiping away the relaxing effect of her presence as the Other Guy started to take more notice. If she was already arguing with SHIELD employees then she wouldn't be as mellow as he would need her to be-meaning that Fury had effectively put him in a lab with someone just as bad as Foster without Stark and Lewis to act as buffers.

Christ he was going to destroy everything.

She blushed, seeming to remember herself as she slung her bag to the floor at the end of his lab table; extending her hand to him with a sheepish grin.

"Sorry-sorry. I've been on a plane for almost seventeen hours with nothing but other agents and a few analysts. I think I'm like starved for normal conversation at this point-because I can only talk about numbers and equations for so long without something to actually focus on or read. Anyway I'm Dr. Rhome Edevein-your new lab mate."