So...since the feedback from Suit of Iron, Heart of Glass was so positive for a BrucexFem!Tony fic, I felt compelled to oblige. :)

I won't be going through the entire Avengers movie again, just the major Bruce/Tony scenes. This is mostly a post-Avengers story.

So...here it is, and here we go!

As a freshly wrapped and patched up (thanks to Spangles and Point Break for the bruises and ringing in her ears) Toni Stark entered the bridge, she had her game face on. If she was going to be a part of this circus, then she was going to be the ring master.

She would not be left out in the dark again. The dark haired woman was sick of being strung along by S.H.I.E.L.D and their shady tactics.

Flawlessly masking her less-than-stellar health and physical state, the billionaire strode out into the center of the bridge and promptly made her presence known. She talked herself up, even calling one of the poor crewmen out on playing Galaga, all to ensure that everyone's attention was on her and her alone. Had she been anyone else, her behavior would have probably been considered erratic.

In the middle of her shameless self-promotion, the genius stopped in between the two screens at Fury's command station.

"How in the world does he see everything with the eye patch on?"

An already peeved Black Widow shot back at her. "He turns."

Toni almost rolled her eyes. Someone must not like AC/DC. But, without missing a beat, she responded.

"How terribly exhausting."

She wouldn't admit that she was mildly nervous that she'd push Natasha too far one day. The assassin could easily snap her neck and no one would ever find her body.

...Moving on.

She moved away from the command post, but not before slipping a small microchip that would let JARVIS hack into S.H.I.E.L.D's mainframe under one of the panels.

Call her a control freak, but no one pulled the wool over her eyes.

Looking around, past Spangles and Point Break and the Widow, she froze for a split second when she laid eyes on the other party in the room, wringing his hands and glancing around nervously.

That was the Bruce Banner, no mistaking it. The leading mind in the field of gamma radiation, and the alternate ego of the Hulk. She had always been a fan of his work, highly respected it even, but never thought she'd get to meet the man after he dropped off the face of the earth some odd years ago.

Needless to say he had been a science idol of hers for quite some time.

Toni just didn't expect him to be so...well...good looking, with the height and the tan skin and the slightly graying hair.

Ahem.

Now was not the time for that.

Making her way towards him, she extended a hand. "Dr. Banner, it's a pleasure to meet you. I hear you're the leading expert in gamma radiation. And, I have to admit, I'm also a fan of the way you...y'know...turn into an enormous green rage monster."

Well.

Toni knew she wasn't the best person to sugar coat things, but that was blunt, even for her.

The other, more humble, genius took her hand. "Thanks...I think." It was calloused, rough. Just the way she liked it.

...Seriously? Was she really that deprived?

Now was not the time for science crushes, if you could call it that.

She was so caught off guard by her wandering thoughts, she didn't notice his surprise at the callousness and firm grip of her own hand. Not really dainty at all, despite her small stature. Bruce found it intriguing.

After a short pause, the two began to discuss how to track the tesseract when the deadly red-head chimed in. "When did you become an expert in gamma radiation, Stark?"

Toni's grin widened. "Why, last night, when Coulson decided to ruin my night with homework." She easily countered the Widow's poor attempt at a jab.

Toni Stark let it go right there; she was not about to let Natasha start up a bickering match, not in front of Dr. Banner of all people.

...Wait, where the hell did that come from?

Bruce interrupted the stare down between the two women, clearing his throat. "I've already gotten Fury to get a hold of any lab with spectrometer and have them placed on the roofs, calibrated to track gamma rays. It won't pinpoint this thing, but I think we can get close."

Toni paused, thoughtful for a moment. Maybe this wouldn't be so horrible after all; she didn't feel so alone with Banner here.

"Finally, someone who speaks English!" She felt a little burst of energy at the other scientist, and couldn't contain her excitement.

Bruce let a crooked smile slip when he noticed the reactor in her chest brighten up. Toni was definitely an eccentric one. Narcissistic and rude, yes, but more eccentric than anything.

Captain Rogers finally piped up, looking confused. "That was English?"

Toni simply deadpanned at the blonde, hoping that question was sarcasm.

After a moment, deciding any retort was a lost cause, she lightly grabbed Dr. Banner's wrist and turned to Natasha.

"Hey, Ariel, show us where we get started."

The steely look Natasha gave her was all the indication Toni needed to keep Banner close. She wouldn't try and kill her and risk a Hulk-out, would she?

...Right?

Toni's grip on Dr. Banner tightened ever so slightly as they headed down the hall.

It's super short, I know, but I just wanted to see what people think. Reviews/critiques/opinions are warmly welcomed!

If I continue, the chapters will get a little longer.

'Till next time (I hope!),
xBreeze