The Littlest Avenger

Chapter Two

When the taxi finally stopped, Shanta was tempted to kiss the cold concrete under her feet. Even back home, she had hated cars. She didn't like not knowing where she was going.

However, those thoughts vanished from her mind as the little girl took in the tall, strange building before her.

"What is that?" Shanta asked, the words slow and drawled. She was still learning.

"This," Baba Bruce replied, "is our home." Shanta liked the way that sounded.

"What is that?" She asked again, pointing at a word high up on the tower, "What it say?"

"Avengers."

The inside was like nothing Shanta had ever seen before. The inside was just as tall as the outside, and even leaning back, she couldn't see the ceiling. Each step they took echoed throughout the long hall, bouncing off the dark stone walls, and Shanta saw gold lines decorating the walls in swirls. She could even see herself in the gleaming floor, a dark-skinned little girl with black hair and drab, dusty clothes in a place that was obviously made for the Gods.

Out of the corner of her eye, Shanta saw a man in uniform walk towards her and Baba Bruce, until Baba held out a piece of paper, and then the strange man nodded, and walked off.

Shanta huddled behind Bruce, wondering if maybe she had been brought all the way to this strange place to be sacrificed like one of her uncle's goats, or to be married to a God like Avanti had.

But that couldn't be right, Shanta thought as she shook her head. Baba Bruce had promised they'd be a family, and Shanta knew he'd keep his promise.

With a small smile, the only kind he ever gave, Bruce patted her head and said softly, "Common, kiddo, it's time to meet the team." He led her to one of the smooth walls, and she watched with wide eyes as they slid apart at the press of a button. Shanta had seen an "elevator" before, at a clinic once, but she had never, ever ridden in on before.

Clutching Baba Bruce's hand, slowly Shanta inched her way into the elevator, wondering at the tiny room inside. It didn't look anything like the elevator in the clinic; the walls didn't shake, the doors slid all the away shut, and the room was as grand as the hall outside. Once Bruce pressed one of the many buttons, music even started to play.

"Of course." Baba Bruce chuckled.

When the doors slid open again, the new room was just as fantastic as the others. The ceiling was much lower, but the floors and walls were just as shiny. There was, however, a desk at the end of the room, with a woman sitting behind it, with her blonde hair piled on her head.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you need an appointment to see Mr. Stark." The woman didn't even look up from her magazine.

"I know," Bruce began, scratching the back of his head, "But the last time I saw him, Tony promised me a place to stay."

"Mr. Stark isn't in today, so you'll have to make an appointment for tomorrow." The woman rolled her eyes and flicked a page.

Suddenly, the elevator opened and another woman strode out into the room.

This woman, Shanta decided, was much prettier than the one behind the desk. This woman was wearing a "suit", her copper hair tied away from her face, and she wore the kinds of shoes Shanta had only seen on television.

"Carla," The woman's heels clipped on the polished floor as she studied the papers in her hands, "I need you to pull up my schedule as well as Mr. Stark's and the rest of the board's. I can't cancel this meeting again." The woman strode passed Bruce and Shanta, leaning over the desk.

"Miss Potts?"

"Doctor Banner!" The pretty woman, Miss Potts, turned and faced the two dusty figures, "We weren't expecting you until next week!"

"Yeah, we left a littler earlier than planned."

"Well, I'm sure Tony will be very happy to see you," Miss Potts spotted Shanta then, "And whose this?" She asked, smiling at the little girl.

Shanta decided she liked Miss Potts much better than Carla.

"Ah, this is Shanta," Bruce introduced, motioning for Shanta to introduce herself.

"Well," Miss Potts began once introductions where finished, "Let's not keep Mr. Stark waiting."

Shanta had never seen so many rooms in one building before. The closest had been the magistrate's building.

Just as Shanta was starting to think the building never ended, Miss Potts opened a set of doors at the end of a long hall, revealing a room as big as the entrance of the building.

Inside the room was a long table, a water cooler, a coffee maker, a refrigerator and a set of cabinets. The room was covered in thick grey carpet and one of the walls had been replaced by one large window.

But what Shanta found the most interesting in the room, was the people inside of it; four men and a woman.

Two of the men stood by the coffee maker with mugs clutched in their hands, while another sat at the table with a sandwich in his hands. A man and the woman were also at the table, a game of chess set out in front of them.

Shanta knew the woman. She clung to Bruce's hand, hiding herself in his shadow.

Thoughts whirled through her head like sand in the wind. Was Baba mad at her? Was she in trouble for listening to this pretty woman with red hair, who had given her more money than she had even seen in her life; all just to lead Baba Bruce to the red haired woman?

But if she was in trouble, surely Baba would have said something before all this, right?

…Right?

"What's that?" Asked the shorter man with dark hair by the coffee maker.

"My kid."

The dark haired man stared at Bruce as if he had just given away one of the Universe's secrets.

"Thought you didn't have a family." The man playing chess spoke up. The woman just stared at Shanta. Waiting.

Just waiting.

Shanta grasped tighter to Bruce's hand.

"Tony, I gotta go. There's a meeting in fifteen minutes, and don't you dare be late." Miss Potts broke into the odd silence, her heel clipping as she strode to the dark haired man, Tony.

"Gotcha, Potts."

"Don't be late." Miss Potts poked him in the chest.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Tony rolled his eyes. Miss Potts glared at him, before he leant down and gave her a quick kiss.

Smiling, Miss Potts left, leaving Shanta and Bruce alone with these strange people.

And the Woman from Before.

"So. What's up?" Tony asked while sliding into a chair next to Steve, stealing one of his fries. Steve glared at him, and Tony never took his eyes off of Dr. Banner and the dark little girl beside him. Well, behind him; she seemed to think his shadow could swallow her whole.

"Thought you'd be happy to see me. Get me to join the team again, and whatever." Bruce rubbed the back of his head, unsure of anything.

"You'll always be a member of this team, Dr. Banner."

"Thanks, Captain."

"Need a place to stay?" Tony asked, reaching over and moving one of Clint's knights. Natasha glared at him over the game, while Clint chuckled.

"Yeah, if you don't mind a two-for-one deal."

"'Course not. So, whose the runt?"

Bruce pulled at the little girl's hand, pushing her out from behind him.

"Say 'hi', Shanta."

The little girl quickly glanced up at the adults in the room, and in an accented voice mumbled, "Shanta."

Tony shook his head and snatched another of Steve's fries, "Well, Shanta, let's go and get you and Papa Bruce settled in. I' sure JARVIS can get everything ready."

A/N: I am so sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I've been sick this past week, and the week before was a Very Bad Week indeed. As such, this chapter probably isn't very good, but you all have been so kind in the comments and such, that I wanted to go ahead and get this out.3
Unfortunately I'm still sick, so I'm not quite sure when you all can expect the next chapter, but I do promise it will be full of Explanations and Explorations.