A/N: Hi everyone, sorry it's been so long since I last updated, I feel really awful to have left you all hanging, but between exams, musicals and the loss of wifi for several weeks it just hasn't happened. Anyway, here is a extra long chapter to make up for it!
Quick shout out to everyone who has followed, favourite and reviewed! I'm so glad that people are enjoying this story, as I thought initially that it wouldn't get much attention because it was the first CHERUB/AVENGERS crossover, please do continue to enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not pretend to own either the Avengers or CHERUB, obviously!

CHAPTER 7

In the end the deal was made quickly between Fury, Zara and Skye; Fury realised that an agent like SKYELARK was a huge asset, after all she had freely admitted that she was actually only 17, and for a 17 year old she was incredibly effective, not to mention successful. Fury could see her use in the bigger picture, and he wanted in. So it was agreed that if Fury ever found himself in need of a CHERUB agent, he would have his pick of suitable ones who were available to help SHILED. The information that Zara and Skye had already learned was easily enough in return.

And so as a show of goodwill Fury, Coulson and Skye went for a tour around the SHIELD Helicarrier, and Skye had to admit that she was very impressed. It was ridiculously well equipped and had tech that British Intelligence could only dream of. She commented this to Coulson.

"Well it wasn't always like this, we do develop some of it ourselves, but really we have Stark to thank for much of this stuff." He smiled at the look of realisation that dawned on her face, however it stiffened the next moment as a loud voice came from around the next corner.

"I heard my name!"

"No fucking way…" Skye mumbled, of course she had to run into-

"Tony Stark", the man grinned coming to a halt in front of the group, "a little young for you isn't she Coulson?" he said indicating to her. "Oh by the way, did your guys pick up the hacker yet? I want to know how they got through my firewall.

His firewall? Skye cursed internally, of all the people in the world she had to pick a fight with via technology she had to get him, a genius, billionaire, superhero who also happened to be her long lost…

"Wait who did you say you were again?" The man's cocky tone sliced into her consciousness cutting off the internal monologue that she had going on.

She looked him straight in the eye as she replied, "I didn't." It came out short and left no room for enquiry, and given the secretive nature of the two men she was with, who Stark clearly knew, she hoped that it would be enough to deter him from any further questions. It wasn't.

"In that case, it's a pleasure to meet you Miss…" It was accompanied by a brilliant smile, but Skye didn't buy it.

"Agent SKYELARK, Mr Stark.

"Oh", he looked thoughtful for a moment, "never heard of you."

She snorted and raised an eyebrow, "That is kind of the point."

He disregarded her last comment entirely and turned to Fury, resuming the line of questioning he had been on before he got distracted by Skye, "Well, have you? I mean, come on I haven't got all day you know, I'm a busy guy", this was directed to her now, "places to be, people to save."

"Oh we did, don't worry about that Stark, we did." Fury's voice held a hint of amusement that Skye didn't share. God the man was going to go mental when he realised that the hacker he was so interested in had been standing in front of him with the head of SHIELD, halfway around a tour of the Helicarrier, the base of the organisation that she had hacked in the first place.

"Well?" He asked, "are you going to let me talk to them to figure out how they got in, or am I going to have to play Chinese whisperers through Agent Coulson here?"

At this point Skye decided to step in; attack, she had decided, would be the best form of defence in this situation.

"No that won't be necessary Mr Stark." The heads of all three men swivelled to look at her.

"Um, exactly what have you got to do with anything?" Stark's voice was incredulous.

She answered simply with a smile, she had decided how to play this situation now, it might piss the billionaire off, but it would also ensure that he wouldn't want to ask too many questions.

"Agent SKYELARK…" Fury's tone carried a hint of warning.

"With all due respect Director", she stated addressing him, "I think that this is my situation to handle as I feel best." After a moment, Fury nodded giving her permission to continue. "Exactly what do I have to do with this Mr Stark? Well really quite a lot actually. You know, I'm surprised that it didn't take me longer now I learn that you were the creator of the firewall, I'd heard that your systems were meant to be damn nigh impenetrable, but hey, human error and all that."

As she spoke Tony Stark's face had been growing more and more angry, as, with cockiness that could have rivalled his own, the young woman made him look a complete idiot in front of two men that he liked to have power over.

"You?" His voice was quiet, but the venom in it was clear, "You hacked me? Then what the hell are you doing just letting her wander round here as she pleases!?"

Here, Coulson stepped in, "Agent SKYELARK is with British Military Intelligence, unfortunately we were using one of your programmes to attempt to breach their systems at the time and she was responsible for defending them. Both SHIELD and her division of MI6 perceived the other to be a threat because we had never heard of each other before. The misunderstanding has been rectified and we are planning to work together in the future, no harm has been done Mr Stark, in fact it's quite the opposite. Today has been very productive in terms of forging new bonds of trust.

"Bonds of trust my ass." Stark growled, he was quite clearly livid at being beaten at his own game by nothing more than Skye, who he clearly didn't view as a worthy adversary. He stalked up to her so he stood mere inches away, although she didn't appear intimidated in the least, in fact she looked totally at ease with the situation. "You had better watch yourself Agent SKYELARK, because I am pissed off, big time, and you have set a challenge. I always win, and I will win again."

Skye flicked her hair over her shoulder, not showing any concern at Stark's words, "You may find this hard to believe Mr Stark but I have been threatened by men I fear much more than you in the past, and in the end I have still come up on top every time. You say I've set a challenge, well bring it on."

With that she turned and strode away, Coulson hurrying after her, and Fury left trying to calm down a very irate Tony Stark.