Victoria smiled as her phone rang. She knew he'd call.
"Hello?"
"Victoria, it's Bruce. Does that offer of a jet still stand?
"As long as you're willing to take it."
Victoria could practically hear Bruce sag with relief. "Thank you. Where shall I meet you?"
"Where we met last time."
"When?"
"Whenever you like, Doctor. I never left."
…...
Smiling, Victoria watched Bruce walk up to the jet.
"Hey. You ready to go?"
Bruce nodded and climbed into the back of the jet. "Could you take me to SHEILD?"
Victoria nodded. "If that's where you want to go. JARVIS, set a course to SHEILD's main helicarrier."
"Of course, Miss Stark. Do you have a preferred speed?"
"As fast as possible, please."
"Very well, Miss Stark. Do you wish for Mr -"
"No. My brother will not be informed of this."
"As you wish, Miss Stark."
Bruce frowned. "Stark? As in, Tony Stark?"
"Oh, so you've heard of him?" Victoria didn't bother to look up, she'd known this would happen sooner or later.
"Everyone's heard of Tony Stark. I don't think many people have heard of his sister."
Victoria smirked. "That's because Victoria Stark doesn't exist. SHEILD put a lot of effort into covering me up."
"But why? Why were you kept a secret?"
Turning to face him, Victoria crossed her arms. "Because I wasn't born, I was created by Howard Stark. I'm the ultimate test-tube baby."
Bruce's eyes widened and he whistled. "So that's where all the…stuff you do came from?"
Victoria nodded. "And I'd prefer it if you didn't broadcast what I can do. I'm not particularly fond of people making the connection between Neurone and Victoria."
"Don't you think Mr Stark will recognise you, Miss Stark?"
"Shut it, JARVIS!" Victoria growled. "Tony probably already knows I'm coming."
"Yes, Miss Stark. We are almost at the helicarrier, Miss."
Victoria nodded then smiled at Bruce's surprised expression. "JARVIS can be fast." she explained. "When he wants to be." she added.
The door opened and Victoria and Bruce stepped out onto the main deck. "Welcome to SHEILD'S main base, Doctor Banner."
Victoria stiffened as she saw the men getting out of the helicopter next to them. Phil Coulson, she didn't mind, but the other man was a whole different story…
"Ah, Victoria!" Coulson noticed her. "This is Captain Rogers. I'll leave you to introduce him, they need me on the bridge."
"See you there. I have to say, it was quite the buzz around here, finding you in the ice." Perhaps they should have left him there, she thought venomously. "I thought Phil was going to swoon. Has he asked you to sign his Captain America trading cards yet?"
"Trading cards?" Bruce asked.
"They're vintage. He's very proud of them." Victoria smirked.
Rogers noticed Bruce. "Doctor Banner!"
"Uh, yeah, hi. Victoria told me you'd be coming." Bruce shook the Captain's hand.
"Word is you can find the cube."
"Is that the only word on me?"
The Captain flashed a grin that made Victoria want to rip it off his face and shove it up his asshole. "The only word I care about."
Rolling her eyes, Victoria decided to break up the cosy fireside gathering. "Gentlemen, you might want to step inside in a minute, it's going to get a little hard to breathe."
"Is this a submarine?" The Captain asked.
It has planes on it, does it look like a submarine to you? Victoria bit her tongue and smiled instead. "You think we'd risk Doctor Banner in a submerged pressurised metal container? No offence, Bruce."
"None taken," he grinned. "No, Mr Rogers. This is much worse."
The Captain looked down and saw the engines and Victoria felt a vindictive satisfaction as he paled slightly.
"Shall we, gentlemen?" she asked sweetly.
Bruce grinned slightly as he looked at her. "You don't like him much, do you?" he whispered in her ear.
"You mean I haven't made it obvious already? Damn, I'm slipping a little."
A.N. - Please review and tell me what you think! Pretty please? ='(
