Hello, fellow Avenger lovers! Thanks to doctor3378 for the follow! Glad you like it! So I just realized that I never actually gave you guys an idea as to where this story is headed. Not going to give too much away, but obviously Banner is missing. Which for Banner is the worst possible thing, because that means that Alysha is now subjected to the life of superheroes and villains. But there is another secret about Banner and Alysha that nobody knows except him, which answers the question, "Why does Tony and the others not know about Alysha?" That will be discovered eventually. This is AU, so to make this work, I made it so that Banner has retired from the Avengers and is only a consultant, and has never told Alysha that he helped in the New York Attack. This story is after the Avengers and before any other movie. This story will not be including other movie storylines, simply because that is a lot to do, and I'm already struggling on next chapter, let alone another storyline. Yeah, now you guys know what I'm planning for this. Now please enjoy Chapter 4!
"There she is!" Pepper says cheerily as she places a heaping plate of delicious smelling pasta on the bar that is located across the room from the elevator. "I apologize about not having a dinner table, but Tony's usually in his lab and I don't try to get him out from there anymore. We usually just grab some leftovers from the fridge or order something new," she explains.
"This is fine, Pepper. We had a table at-, at home, but we rarely ate at it," I reply as I take a seat. I struggle with remembering my home and my dad, but I keep my emotions in check. "It smells delicious."
"Thank you very much, I appreciate the compliment," says Tony as he walks into the room from a hallway. He takes a bow. "I love it when my genius and skill is recognized," he says, looking pointedly at Pepper.
Pepper and I look at each other, and she gives me a look, saying, 'This is ALL yours.' "Ohh, Tony, only if you had skills worth recognizing," I say with an eye roll and a haughty tone. Pepper struggles to hold back a snort while Tony looks truly offended. "Calm down, Tony-boy, Pepper already told me this is take out, and considering, the bag is near the trash but not actually in it, it has just gotten here and you threw it into a pan, that Pepper will eventually clean for you, because, for some reason, she likes you, and you rushed to look as if you slaved over this, but in your haste, missed the trash bin. So I suppose the only actual skill you possess is laziness and procrastination." The room was silent, and I realize that I might have gone too far. I mean, they did open their home to me, no questions asked. As I open my mouth to explain, Pepper and Tony both burst out laughing, gasping for breath in between the gut-wrenching laughter. I smile nervously, then join in the laughing. For several minutes, we all can't look at each other without laughing. "O-o-okay-y-y," I stutter, trying to not laugh again. "That felt good, really good." They smile.
"Well," says Tony. "I have to admit, you were dead on and didn't even blink an eye, and I loved it!" Tony smiles wide. "Now, let's eat so this food doesn't go to waste!"
"With you, nothing goes to waste," says Pepper with an all-knowing smile.
"Is that a fat joke?!" Tony asks incredulously.
"Yup, and where it goes, I don't know, because you are gorgeous," Pepper says smiling seductively.
"Gross," I say, cringing. Tony and Pepper just laugh, as we dig in.
The dinner was great, and Tony and Pepper acted as if I wasn't a stranger who was the daughter of their friend who was kidnapped that they never met. We relaxed, and joked around and just thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. Tony and I had a battle of wits that Pepper said was "entertainingly ridiculous." The food was incredible and I eventually got Tony to admit, even though we already knew, that he had not cooked the meal. Things were settling down, when suddenly the elevator opened.
"TONY! Why do you always have to hack S.H.I.E.L.D and make it look like it came from my computer?!" A man came in like a whirlwind. He threw his bow and arrow and bag of gear onto the black leather couch and stomped over to the bar, grabbed a glass and a bottle of vodka, took a shot, then noticed me. "Who is this? And please tell me that some ex-fling did not come back and say, 'Here's your kid.'"
"Excuse me, but no, I am not his kid. I am Alysha Banner, and my father is friends with Tony and my dad is missing, so please, do insult me again, as if I don't have enough shit on my plate," I spit venomously at the unknown man.
"Wait, Banner's kid? And he's missing? What the hell happened? I'm gone for literally 48 hours and shit hits the fan." the man asks incredulously, all the while glaring at me.
"Tony, perhaps you should introduce Clint here to Alysha, so they don't kill each other, and fill Clint in. We could use his help." Pepper's voice is calm, but tight and stern.
"Ok. Barton, this is Bruce's daughter, as she has so eloquently said. And Alysha, this is Agent Clint Barton. He works for S.H.I.E.L.D. Now that you both have been acquainted, please don't kill each other. That would be messy and a lot of paperwork for me."
"Are you kidding me?" Agent Barton, Pepper and I said at the same time. We looked at each other and Barton was the first one of us to start chuckling.
"I think we just became friends," he said to me.
"Yeah, I think so, too," I respond while holding back laughter.
"Call me Clint," he said.
"Ok, Clint, call me Alysha."
"What else would I call you?" he asks.
"I don't know, some rude name or 'the kid' or whatever."
"Yeah, sorry about that. Tony is always getting me into trouble with my boss, and I just came back from a hard mission. I'm a little testy right now."
"Eh, I get it. My job sucks sometimes too."
The rest of the night went on like that, Tony saying something stupid or ridiculous while Pepper, Clint, and I laugh at him. It was about 11:30 when I began to nod off. "Hey, I think I'm gonna go to bed," I say wearily.
Pepper smiled sympathetically. "Go for it. You've had a long day. Goodnight!"
Clint waves and Tony just mumbles something like 'Goodnight'. I smile as I walk away. "I think I'll like living here, but only if Dad was hereā¦. Oh, Dad, where are you?" I think to myself. I brush a tear away as I change into sweats and an old tee and climb into bed. I sigh and fall quickly into a deep and tormenting sleep.
So she got to meet Clint! Yay! Clint is one of my favorites, behind Tony and Cap, but I find that he isn't given the recognition that he deserves sometimes, so I'm going to give him the chance to show how cool he is! Since Alysha has now met Clint, who should I have her meet next? It's going to be either Natasha or Steve, so let me know which one you would like to see. This next chapter, as stated in the beginning rant, is not going to be posted for a little while, so let me know and I'll see what I can do! Thanks for reading!
