Sequel to Double Vision

I don't own the Avengers. I am not S.H.E.I.L.D. Sorry if that come as a surprise/disappointment.

"...And then our Bruce lost the fight. But it was still pretty cool. I forgive him, even if I think its only fair that he pays me back for the bet." Tony finished recounting their harrowing cross-dimensional journey with a flourish. Bruce watched the performance with a reserved passivity. He was glad they could keep the reason for his lapse of control private.

"Wait," Natasha started, sharing glances between the two scientists. "What exactly triggered Tall, Green, and Scary?"

Bruce glanced away. He felt suddenly as if everyone's eyes were on him. The Asgardians had claimed the couch in one of Tony's living rooms. Steve was on a stool behind the sofa. Clint and Natasha were planted by a card table with some game they had invented on a too-long mission laid out in front of them. Bruce was thankful that Fury wasn't there with that intimidating, one-eyed glare. He may have cracked under that kind of pressure. Instead, he managed to play it cool.

"It was a thing with some uh, universe stuff. And, yeah, you know." Even Tony raised an eyebrow at him.

Natasha opened her mouth to question this vaguest of explanations, but JARVIS cut in.

"Sir, there is a large amount of power being drawn to one of the labs."

Tony stepped to the nearest monitor – one was never far – and gave the screen a few knowing taps. "It's the one we were just in," he commented to Bruce. He turned to face his lab partner. "Did you turn off the portal machine?"

"What? You didn't deactivate it?" Bruce had a bad feeling.

"You were the last one out of the room."

"But it was more of your project than mine.

"Yeah but –"

Clint rose quickly and stepped between the bickering men. "Ladies," he droned. "Can one of you just go hit the off switch?"

Bruce and Tony exchanged a nervous look. "Could other us have another them?" Bruce asked.

"Almost definitely," Tony agreed.

"And if other them isn't our them –"

"They may react differently, yeah."

"So, who's in there?"

Clint gestured in circles. "Wait wait wait. What's happening now?"

"Well the us that came through the portal weren't really us. There were subtle differences," Bruce explained, trying to remain as ambiguous as possible.

"But," Tony continued, taking over, "it's more than likely that the other us has another you guys. And if the other us are like us – and we know they are – they'll tell you guys everything. The only thing we can't predict is how you will react. Well we know how you you react, but them you is a wild card."

"That was the opposite of helpful," Natasha reported.

"I get it," offered a rising Steve. "You're saying that, on the other end of the portal, someone might have decided to come through."

"Look who knows science!" Tony chimed. "And yes, that's pretty much the problem. Maybe something evil's come through. We don't know. It might be dangerous."

"Can't you just send your little robo-pal JARVIS to pull the plug?"

"Do I have permission to eject Agent Barton from this room, sir?"

"Down, automaton. And sorry, Legolas. Not even my trusty mainframe can hit that manual switch. I mean, there's a chance that it's totally safe, but who's gonna risk that?"

Thor jumped up from the couch and grabbed Loki's wrists. "Brother! This is a perfect chance to prove yourself!"

Loki looked truly disgusted at the blond god's smile. "Thor, I hardly think –"

"You think plenty," Tony interrupted. "Thanks for volunteering. You are a brave soldier." He gave a mocking salute.

Thor pulled Loki to a standing position and shoved him away from the couch.

"Tony, if your number one concern is that evil might go through the portal, shouldn't we keep Loki away from it?" Steve inquired. "No offense," he added to the reluctant god.

"No, none taken. I assure you," he hissed. "And I agree, really. Who knows what I could do with that sort of power?"

"I have a great idea!" Thor exclaimed merrily. "I could accompany my brother while he turns off this machine."

Tony considered the situation briefly, imagining possible outcomes. "I'm okay with that. Dr. Banner?" Bruce nodded. "Great! So we let the Asgardians power down the portal device. Lemme just explain how it works.

Natasha leaned over to Steve. "Thor got confused by a universal remote," she said in a low voice while Tony explained the many buttons needed to shut down the portal device. "How is he going to know what Loki's doing to that machine?"

Steve thought carefully, nodding his head a little. He turned to face Natasha, and gave a quiet reply. "What's a universal remote?"

A/N~ Yo yo yo I'm back XD So welcome to Double Vision 2! I got to thinking, "I like this fic," and then I was all, "ANOTHER!" Can't wait to see what those crazy gods get up to. See y'all next update.