After everyone finished breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen, Violet decided to go read her favorite book *The Host by Stephenie Meyer. She had to clear her mind and relax. She assumed that Bruce was in his normal cave and did not want to talk about anything else from her past. She felt exhausted.
As she sat down into one of the Craftmatic recliners to start reading she felt someone else come into the room. When she looked up, she saw Bruce come into the study looking desolate and lost.
"Look I'm sorry-" Bruce started to say, but Violet interrupted him.
"You do not have to say anything. I'm sorry for never telling you the gory details."
She was annoyed that He insisted on being so awkward around her. Yeah she had gone through a lot but who hasn't in this line of work? And it hurt her that while the person she least expected to react showed support, he on the other just left.
"I'm sorry for leaving, but I just needed to calm myself down a bit. I know what it's like to feel out of control."
She wanted to be mad at him. She REALLY did. But she knew he hadn't meant to hurt. She still felt it though.
"Look, I just want things to be as normal as possible. Everyone and their mother know my issues. I just want peace in my household. That is it!" She was reacting to the tell all and it wasn't good. Bruce started to notice her coming apart at the seams and decided to do the one that brought her out of her reveries in the lab. Touch.
"-I want someplace where my stress can be relieved -" That's when he kissed her. Sweet and gentle. He poured everything he had been feeling since they were introduce by Fury. Everything that he had been feeling for the last 2 months. Violet melted into the kiss. Of course he knew that would stop her tantrum! And that is why she was falling in-love with this man.
But this wasn't like the first kiss. That kiss was sealing their bond. This was turning into something that ended in a bed.
"Bruce, No…"She had to stop this before it went to where she couldn't go.
"What happened, what's wrong?" Bruce said, though he to needed to stop. He was getting too excited and Hulk was too. Too many emotions going through his body at once.
"I can't. Not now." She said in between pants.
"I understand. I get it. I just wanna know if we are okay. Cause I didn't mean to hurt you. It was just too much. " He was out of breath just like she was but she needed her to know he would always be there for her.
"We are okay, Bruce." She couldn't stay mad. And she knew he didn't mean to hurt her. She just couldn't go any further physically. But he was so gentle with her. She was afraid she loved him too much.
He couldn't possible love her when he saw how broken she actually was. She was afraid of the aftermath of this revelation.
"Okay. I'm here though. Don't close on me. You are not alone anymore." He'd be damned if she broke down alone again. He'd fight to be there for her.
The next day was very tense for Violet. She hadn't talked about all that had happened to her ever. Meaning she had never cried, screamed, or otherwise expressed her hurt in any other form except collapsing. She felt like a walking time bomb. And she didn't like it.
Everyone at Avenger Center noticed.
Bruce was concerned. She had started to burry herself in lab work just like he did after the big guy made an appearance.
Tony had noticed that she was eating much less than what she used to. She would cook astronomical amounts of food for everyone and barely ate herself. He would try to encourage her to eat more but she would always brush it off lightly saying "It's fine Tony I'm just not that hungry." or "It's so good I'm already full."
Clint was the one that saw her crack every night from the A/C vents. She would cry herself to sleep some nights. Other nights she would sit up in bed until 3 in the morning without sleep. He also noticed how she would quietly sneak out to the balcony to get some air when everyone was watching TV.
She was still the same cheerful person, but something was dimming her light. Bruce knew what it was but did not know how to fix it.
This is went on for months.
One day, Violet decided she needed to go shopping. Pepper offered herself to accompany her so that she could find out what made Violet really happy.
They had gone to several stores and all Pepper had gathered was that Violet had impeccable tastes in jewelry and style. But she hadn't id something that made her jump for joy. Until the passed in-front of a quaint little pet shop. For some reason Violet desperately wanted to go inside, so they did.
"Oh my GOD! They have them!" Violet ran up to a glass that held within some almost purple and orange haired kittens who had their little ears folded in. Pepper was confused.
"Ummm…honey not to be a bubble burst but it's a pet shop. Of course there gonna have kittens!"
"They aren't just any kittens Pepper. They are Scottish fold kittens! I never thought I would find them in a common pet shop." Violet said with the type of smile on her face that made her look like a 6 year who got a puppy on Christmas.
Suddenly the pet shop salesman came up "Yeah they are pure Scottish Fold. You are the first costumer that knows that in here." He said in a shocked voice. Violet (still looking completely ecstatic) said "Yeah I watched a show once about them. Fell in-love ever since. Always wanted to have a Scottish fold."
"Why don't you?" said the sales guy, looking quite flirty now that he got a look at Violet standing up instead of hunched over.
"Because I travel a lot for business. And right now I'm living in a condo with a lot of roommates. I don't think it would be nice to buy a pet without their approval. And of course I can't afford them" Sadness crept into Violet's expression and voice.
At that exact moment Pepper found what could possibly be the solution to her current state. And at the perfect timing. Violet's birthday was coming up. And she had an idea.
Once they got out of the pet shop and back to the tower Pepper headed straight for Tony's office.
"Tony I did it!" She said, practically bouncing on her heels.
"Did what my love?" Said Tony shocked to see his girlfriend so excited about something.
"I have found something that will get Violet out of her funk, or at least help the situation." Pepper said, sounding a lot like Tony when he made a break through. Which essentially it was.
"Okay, I'm all ears. Whatcha got? " Tony said sounding interested.
"Cats" Pepper made a the gesture of a grand reveal. Tony's face fell.
"Really? Cats? You think getting her a pet -"Seeing that Tony was gonna launch into a tyrade of why that particular idea wouldn't work, Pepper cut him off.
"Not just any cat. THIS cat." She said as she looked up a picture of a Scottish fold kitten on the screen of the monitor.
"You see she has been wanting this specific breed of cat since before even you knew her. We went by this pet store today and she went nuts because they had that breed in the pet store. Tony seriously, you should have seen her face. It was lit up like a Christmas tree. And she knew all these facts on the breed too. Started talking with the clerk about them in detail. Though I think the clerk was trying to flirt with her. She was completely oblivious."
"So why didn't she buy one?" Tony asked still confused.
"Becauuuuseee, and this is where my plan comes in, she didn't think the team would like a cat around. And more importantly she can't afford a pure Scottish Fold kitten" Pepper said making a gesture that expressed 'get it?'.
"Well then maybe we should ask the team?" Tony said looking brilliant.
"Hell yeah we should!" Pepper said triumphant.
"Jarvis, where is Miss Violet right now?" Tony asked getting excited.
"She is goggling Scottish fold videos and listening to music with her Beats. If you were to have a discreet team meeting I would not expect her to notice."
"Thank you Jarvis! Page everyone to meet me down in the game room in 5 min.!"
When he and Pep arrived everyone was there. And everyone looked ready.
"Okay guys, here's the thing. We all know our resident rainbow is a bit dimmed. And Pep here may have a way to get her back to full wattage."
"Okay so today I went shopping with Violet and found out there is one thing that makes her unconditionally 6 year-old just got a puppy happy. And that's cats, but not just any cats. Scottish fold breed. She love them. Buuut she wouldn't get one because she thinks you guys would not approve of having a cat in the tower. " Now it was Tony's turn.
"So this meeting is to ask. Would you guys be willing to have a pet cat in the house?"
There was about 2 seconds of suspension and everyone started talking at once.
"That is a great idea! Pets always bring softness to households" said Steve looking like a little boy.
"I always wanted to have a cat." Said Natasha in a wistful voice.
"That would be a wonderful addition to the house " said Thor looking excited.
"Cats are rarely in circuses so I'm good" said Clint.
"Anything to help her get out of her current mind frame is good." Bruce said, looking completely exhausted. He had been trying to get Violet better by trying to talk about it but it only gave her night terrors. And he had been staying outside her door to calm her down when they began.
"Okay, so I was thinking we should get her the kittens for her birthday. That will get her excited." Tony said, looking very pleased with him and his wife.
Now they just had to sneakily prep the household for the kittens without Violet noticing.
Pepper would take her out to eat, or shopping, or to get her nails done, or hair. Just as long as she wasn't in the house for at least 4 hours at a time.
After much maneuvering and Violet getting a bit suspicious at one time because she heard Tony and Clint in the kitchen trying to cat proof all of the cabinets at 3 am, and Clint said "We have to be sneeeaakkyy Charlie sneeaaakyy."
The day of Violet birthday came and for some reason she was feeling completely happy. She hadn't had nightmares that night and had actually slept 8 full hours without knocking herself out with cough syrup. She felt good.
As she made breakfast for everyone Tony asked "Sooo what do you want to do for your birthday."
"I don't know really. Probably go to the spa and relax." Everyone approved of this since
She needed to unwind.
They needed her out of the house so they could pick up the reserved kittens at the pet store.
Once Violet, and Natasha (she went along because she was more likely to keep a poker face when Clint texted her that they were clear to get back) left for the spa.
When Violet got back the kittens were already safely hidden in Tony's personal study. Thor was kepping them company making sure they didn't get into areas un-safe for the kittens.
A small gathering of friends had been programmed late afternoon. Phil Coulson, Nick Fury and a few other agents who were close came. They played several games and ate some fried pork, Violet's favorite food.
The party was in full swing. Everybody was having an awesome time. Violet felt very relaxed.
After an off tune rendition of Happy Birthday, courtesy of the Avengers, the gifts where brought in. Pepper gave Violet a beautiful but simple Owl ring they had seen at one of the jewelry stores. Clint gave her a mini puertorrican flag made from smooth wood that she could hang in her room. Bruce gave her a beautiful yet simple white and rose gold chain with a purple rose pendant.
"Oh my gosh, you guys these are amazing gifts. Thank You!" She said a little teary eyed.
Bruces's gift had a special internal message. One night Bruce and her had gotten to talking and she had started crying. After the whole issue she had apologized for the break in control, and he had answered the sweetest and most thoughtful thing she had ever heard
"Your are like a rose, beautiful on the outside and on the inside. But you have layers that have never seen the light of day until now. It is normal to be scared to let people see."
The significance of the pendant was yet another seal onto there bond
Tony waited until she finished dealing with all the other gifts and until only The Avengers remained.
"Hey Violet, I gotta show you something in my study. Come on!" He said as he pulled her in the direction of the office.
The Avengers trailed after her and Tony to see her reaction.
Just as Tony was opening the door she heard a meow. "What was that?" She asked cause she knew it could not have come from the apartment. Maybe she was hallucinating.
"Go in pumpkin" Tony said. All of them were anxious, they really hoped this would help her situation.
As soon as she saw the kittens sitting on Thor's crossed arms, tears started rolling down her face. "How did you know?" she all but whispered as she cradled the kittens.
"I noticed the way you reacted at the pet shop." Said Pepper, who was a little emotional seeing react this way.
"Yeah and we wanted to give you something from all of us, and that seems perfect." Tony said.
Tony rarely got teary for anything, but he had seen her waaay worse than what everyone thought and to see her so happy was a big thing for him.
As she was holding the kittens she realized that she was (for the first time in a long time) completely safe in every sense. No one was gonna judge her or use whatever personal info. She gave to take more advantage of her power. And that is when the damn broke.
She started to sob and sob and sob. A high pitched keening sound broke out from her chest and she couldn't stop it. She had never cried like this in her life. And that's when it hit home.
She was grieving.
"Okay everyone, I need you to give me some time with her alone. Come on." Tony said, herding the Avengers out if his office. Bruce stood chest to chest with him and said, "I'm not going anywhere"
"Okay, Bruce I get it. You wanna be there but I need to talk to her and you are a distraction. Here take one of the kittens for safe keeping." Tony proceded to hand Bruce the orange Scottish fold.
When all of the remaining Avengers filed out he collected Violet balling form into his arms.
"Shh Shh, let it out. I know chula" He said to her, using the same nickname he had read in her file that her parents used. She just cried harder. His own tears flowed as he held her.
A/N: I beg forgiveness. You guys are soo great. My time for writing has become scarce. Here is the next installment. I made it extra long because you guys deserve it. Again I am soooo sorry. Well you guys know the drill. Click on the blue button and review please! Leave me some love!