Author's Note: First off! Big thank you to CheyChey101 for following and favoriting! I've been sick recently so haven't worked on the story but I'm starting again!. This chapter gives a little insight on the reason behind Bruce's anger towards Loki. No Loki in this chapter but he will be in the next one!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Marvel, just OCs


Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.

Those words had been floating through my head for the past two and a half weeks since Loki said them. I was currently sitting at 'our picnic' table with Bruce. We were working on our art assignment. Well, he was working on his while I mulled over those stupid words. I couldn't focus on anything because of him. I dropped my pencil and let out a big sigh.

"What's on your mind," Bruce said not looking up from his artwork.

"It's nothing," I responded. Bruce stopped working and looked at me.

"If it was nothing, then you would be drawing right now. You know, something you love to do."

All I could do was give him a side glare.

"Come on," he said, "You can tell me."

"Promise you won't get mad," I asked.

"Why would I get mad?"

"Because it's about someone you don't like," I mumbled looking at him sheepishly. Bruce's face had no emotion on it what-so-ever. He was completely neutral, like always when it came to Loki. I sighed again.

"He said something," I said, "that I just can't figure out."

"Yeah," Bruce said with a bit of emotion coming out, "he tends to do that."

"Bruce, please try to understand that I have no idea why everyone hates him and I just want some help with this. I can't go to Darcy, who is the only one to like him, without her telling everyone. So, please for me, don't be bias?"

"I'm sorry. He just did some things that really pissed us off individually but ok tell me what is on your mind."

I studied his face for a bit. I wanted to make sure he would stick to his words. What am I saying, I thought to myself, Bruce always sticks to his words.

"Alright," I said, "Promise not to tell anyone?"

"I promise," he replied.

"Loki said something while we were watching that movie together that really confused me. I mean he in general is confusing to me. One moment he is all close and friendly but then the next minute he is distant when people who aren't Darcy are around! And I made a joke that if he doesn't cash in those favors that I owe him then I would end up being with him for the rest of my life and he said 'doesn't sound like a bad idea to me'. Who the fuck says? Was that him saying that he wants me to be with him or what?"

"What did he say after that?"

"And that's why its so damn confusing," I replied, "Nothing! Absolutely nothing! He said it with such a serious face and that dark look he gives me sometimes and then goes back to watching the movie! Like what the hell! You can't just say that and not have some type of explanation about it! He even ignored my question when I asked him what he meant! I told him I was joking but all he said was 'hmm'. I just don't understand!"

I put my head down on the table and pouted.

"Ankle-biter," I heard Tony call. I looked over to where his voice came from and saw him walking over to where Bruce and I sat with Pepper in tow. He looked at me confused.

"What's with the pout," Tony asked me.

"No pout," I said, "just confused."

"Cool," He replied, "can you please tell Pepper that you forgave me already! I can't take it anymore!"

"Oh yeah. I forgave him on the same day. I just wanted to torture him a bit. You know, payback."

I sounded so sullen when I explained myself to Pepper. She seemed to want to stay around to help me with my problem but the smile on Tony's face said that they already had plans.

"Great," Tony said, "gotta go!"

I watched as Tony dragged Pepper back the way they came. She gave me another glance and a sympathetic smile. I guess that was code for 'I'll talk to you in a bit'.

"I don't really have any advice for you," Bruce said. I sat back up and looked at him with the same sullen look I gave Tony and Pepper.

"I figured not," I said.

"It's not because I don't like the guy. It's because I don't know him outside of what he's done."

"So you guys were never friends?"

"No," Bruce said, "you're probably his first friend. Darcy was just persistent. He listened more than he talked to her. Matter of fact, you're the first one he has had full on conversations with."

"What did he do to make you guys so mad and angry with him?"

Bruce looked at me as if he was contemplating on whether or not he should tell me the reason behind the animosity with Loki. It seemed like forever until he finally came to a decision.

"If I tell you," Bruce said, "You might not want to be his friend anymore."

"Wouldn't that make you guys happy though," I asked.

"Would it make you happy?"

He looked me right in the eye when he said that. He knew that I wouldn't want to stop being friends with Loki but he knew that I wanted to know more. He sighed.

"I'm going to tell you my story but please don't let this be the reason you stop being friends with him."

"What," I asked, "why do you want me to continue to be friends with him?"

"Because I think you can get to him. You could change him for the better. You are changing him."

I tilted my head in confusion and furrowed my brow. All he did was chuckle in response.

"Just tell me the damn story or else I'll leave."

"I'm not stopping you," he responded which prompted me to lightly hit him repeatedly.

"Do not make a joke," I said continuing my assault, "just tell me the story!"

"Alright," he chuckled as I stopped hitting him, "but remember what I said about continuing to be his friend."

"Whatever," I said, "story time." Bruce's face became serious again and I knew that the jokes had stopped.

"My family," he started, "doesn't' really have a lot of money and you know to go to this academy you have to pay. I really wanted to come here but I knew that we could never afford it. I met Tony at a science competition and he was the reason I wanted come. He knew so much that wasn't taught at my school and I wanted that. We became really close friends after I beat him at the science competition. Really it was by luck. During my last year of middle school, Headmaster Fury opened up a scholarship competition."

I had to smile at that. I was the one who convinced my father to do that. I wanted more kids to have a chance to go to the academy.

"Did you get it," I asked him.

"No," he responded, "Loki sabotaged my presentation. See he was part of the competition. I don't know why since his father is pretty wealthy. He had the means to come here without the scholarship but chose not to. I created a really interesting project on gamma radiation and the affects it could possibly have. Tony was there to support me. Before it came down to my project being judged, Loki stopped by my booth. He said absolutely nothing, just looked and then walked away. Not even 5 minutes later, a kid came by and messed it all up. It was like he was throwing a fit but I couldn't stop him. I was frozen. He threw water on my poster board, ripped my thesis and knocked over my models. When everything was destroyed he just stopped, looked at me and then walked away just like Loki had done. I had nothing to show the judges. I looked around and there I saw Loki. No expression, nothing but not once did he look away."

"You think he told the kid to do that," I asked.

"He had to of," he replied, "because in the end, his project won. According to Tony, my project would've beaten his. But the only reason he feel it was his fault was because he came over with a smug look and said 'How unfortunate, you would've had a chance'. That had to be his confession because everyone else just apologized for what happened."

"How are you here now?"

"Tony. He made his dad pay my way here. He said a mind like mine shouldn't be wasted on basic science. So, here I am. I still got to come and was told not to feel guilty about his dad paying for me. Apparently, Tony plans on having me work with him at Stark Industries after we are completely done with school."

"I'm sorry," I said, "that Loki did that to you."

"Don't be," he said, "it wasn't your fault."

Bruce gave me a sincere smile. I felt so bad on behalf of Loki. Like, I could've stopped him from the beginning. I have no control over Loki, especially since I didn't know him then. So why do I feel like this, I asked myself. We both went back to our artwork and the picnic table started to fill up with our friends and a VERY satisfied looking Tony, which was just completely disgusting.

The new information I now had on Loki really bothered me. I wanted to not let Bruce's story affect the relationship I had with Loki but I couldn't stop thinking about it. Would Loki be the cruel to someone less fortunate than he? Should I ask him about it or should I just leave it? You know what you have to do, I thought to myself. I was going to ask him before midterms started. I didn't want all of this on my mind distracting me.

"Hey guys," I said interrupting everyone's conversation, "I'll see you later. I have something I need to do."

"You ok Ankle-biter," Tony asked me.

"I will be," I said leaving. I didn't make it far before a hand grabbed my arm. I turned to see it was Pepper.

"If you want to talk," she said, "about anything. I'm here for you."

"I don't think you would want to hear my problems," I replied. Especially since they deal with Loki, I thought in my head.

"I'm perfectly fine listening to your problems. Even if they are about Loki."

I gave her a surprised look. How did she know, I thought to myself. She just smiled at me and went back to our group. I shook myself out of my stupor and went back to my original mission: finding Loki.