Disclaimer: The Avengers isn't mine. I wish, right?

Chapter 9

Pretty Lady

Tony Stark; genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, the man behind Iron Man, the face of Stark Industries, in denial alcoholic with prior bouts of PTSD, known eccentric, an Avenger, and occasional victim of drug induced care of his former personal assistant, turned girlfriend, CEO of Stark Industries was just about to enjoy his first sip of well-deserved caffeine when a deafening roar broke through the morning silence.

"Sir, I would like to inform you that the Hulk has been unleashed," came JARVIS' crisp English voice.

Tony stared wide eyed in the vast expanse of the lounge area, the coffee mug he held aloft spilling coffee left and right with each tremor, "Yeah, no kidding."

Just then, Clint bust in from the nearby vent, his bow in hand, "What the fuck happened?"

"Dunno. JARVIS', where is the Hulk now?" Tony asked the AI immediately.

Before Tony's AI could respond, the Hulk smashed through the floors. Green sinewy muscles flexing as he looked at every corner before spotting Tony and Clint. Huffing a breath through his nose, he stomped off over the two Avengers caught unawares, the both of them preparing to meet their makers.

"Tin Man. Birdie."

Tony and Clint blinked, looking up at the Hulk as he easily towered over them. The Hulk didn't seem aggravated as usual and Tony felt himself relax, though Clint refused to put his guard down.

"Hi Big Guy," Tony grinned and resumed his spot on the barstool, "What's up?"

"Pretty lady, where?"

Knitting his brows, Tony took a sip of his coffee and thought for a moment, "We have a few pretty ladies here, which one?"

"New pretty lady."

The two puny heroes looked at each other in confusion, when Thor burst in from the hole the Hulk came up from, Mjölnir in his hand ready to strike and Natasha close by just outside the elevator doors, her Widow's Bite prepared to engage. Clint discreetly gestured for them to stand down, and reluctantly, the two recently arrived Avengers turned down their weapons.

"Jolly Green here is looking for a pretty lady," Tony filled in for the two, "Natasha?"

The flame-haired assassin shook her head, unsure what he meant. Steve was the last to come up, his shield protectively held up for defence.

As soon as Captain America got there, Hulk turned over to face him. The huge, hulking figure only clad in dark coloured slacks that threatened to rip further beyond decency.

"Flag Man," Hulk practically growled out, "Where pretty lady?"

Steve raised a brow, "Pretty lady? Hela?"

The Hulk grinned, showing a perfect set of teeth that bordered on sinister, but his green eyes showed otherwise as he nodded his head yes.

"Hela? She was here?!" Clint almost shouted, looking at each Avenger questioningly.

"She was, Bucky woke up a few hours ago and we, err, Bruce did," Steve explained. "What do you need from her Hulk?"

"Hulk want see pretty lady."

"This is interesting," Tony chimed in, "I think Big Green here has a crush on Reindeer Games' daughter."

Hulk huffed and grinned. Natasha looked on, a mix of shock and amusement in her face.

"This beast wishes to crush my niece?!" Thor suddenly boomed, brandishing Mjölnir yet again.

The big, green rage monster that is the Hulk walked threateningly around glaring at Thor, when suddenly Steve came in between. "No Thor, that's not what Tony meant."

Steve gave Tony a meaningful look, urging him to explain. Tony rolled his eyes and walked over to Thor, tapping him on the shoulder, "What I meant was…"

Tony grinned at the Hulk, then back at Thor, "Hulk here fancies your niece."

Thor dropped Mjölnir on the floor, mouth agape, "Odin's beard…"

Natasha cleared her throat, making the rest of the team look over to her, "Anyone care to explain why the Hulk is here in the first place?"

Everyone shook their heads no, not exactly knowing what happened.

Steve felt a push on his shoulder which made him stumble slightly and found the Hulk reaching out a forefinger in an attempt at a poke to get his attention, "Yes Hulk?"

"Pretty lady. Hulk want see too," Hulk had his brows knotted which made him look quite menacing, in a cute Hulk-y way, "Hulk want see Hela, like puny Banner."

"As Big Green's official wingman, I will call Hela," Tony flashed everyone a huge smile before giving Hulk a thumbs-up and a wink.

Fishing his phone out of his back pocket, Tony dialled her number.

This time, it was Stark to call her about an emergency and told her to come up Stark Tower pronto. And that it was an order.

For Earth's Mightiest heroes, the Avengers seemed like the jumpy types to her – having been called for an urgent matter in the span of a mere few hours. She didn't mind though, all was well in her realm and the day was mostly to be spent signing documents and attending a memorial for their recently deceased peer at her company. She would have transported straight for the tower if she wasn't in her car driving towards her office. Shifting the gears to reverse, she turned her car around the other way and dashed on to rush hour New York traffic, not sparing an ounce of speed.

Riding the elevator to the common lounge floor, Hela held her coat in one arm, her right hand tapping her black leather clutch bag on her thigh as she rode the lift up to her desired floor.

Hela was in her Helena Lieschmidt façade - the young, stylish Midgardian business magnate.

When she exited the doors, she was greeted by a huge gaping hole in the middle of the floor which wasn't present when she had been there earlier.

"Planning on redecorating, Stark?" She called out, and was greeted by the stunned expressions of Tony, Steve and Clint.

"Like what you see?" She teased. Hela wore her hair down, loose curls, and a side part that framed a small portion of her face on the left. The usual chic casual clothes gone, this time wearing a form fitting black dress, paired off with gold accessories and lethal looking gold high heels. Tilting her head to the side, she asked finally, "What's the emergency?"

"Someone's here and very eager to see you," Tony replied almost too happily which she responded to with a curious, "Oh?"

Heavy footsteps soon followed and Hela stepped out further into view and was met with a very huge, curiously green person. Hela smiled delightedly as she stood a few feet away from the Hulk. Stunned, her dropped her coat her clutch on the floor, and looked quite amusedly pleased.

"Big Green here wanted to see you," Tony sounded off and was responded to by the clicking of her heels on the granite floor.

"Pretty lady," Hulk smiled, "Hela."

"Good to finally meet you Hulk," Hela reached out her hand, to which the Hulk held tentatively, not wanting to hurt her.

"Pretty lady is pretty."

"Why thank you," Hela tightened her grip on the Hulk's hand and reached out the other, her hand barely covering his finger, "Wow, I never thought you'd be this big."

Hela breathed out the last sentence in excitement, bringing up her hand over the top of her head and failingly trying to reach the Hulk's head in measurement, only going as high up his chest.

"You're actually bigger than me," Hela was smiling ear to ear.

"Duh, he's the Hulk," Clint grunted, arms over his chest, "He's bigger than all of us."

"I'm a giantess," Hela replied, a cocky brow raised, "In my full physical height I should be around the Hulk's eye level."

"Wait, you're what?!" Steve nearly spat his coffee out.

"Don't tell me Natasha's the only one who read the myths," The goddess looked at each of them unbelievingly, still holding the Hulk's hand.

Natasha gave everyone a smug smile and added, "She also has two literally bigger brothers."

"Aye," Thor confirmed with a mouthful of pop tarts, "Fenrir and Jörmungand."

Clint dropped his bow, "The same Fenrir and Jörmungand? The giant wolf and snake?"

"Jörmungand is not a snake, he's more or less an un-winged dragon," Hela corrected, "And you might be familiar with their mortal personas."

Hulk was looking back and forth at everyone and was getting unnerved by the divided attention from Hela. He let out a loud roar that had everyone stop mid speech, Hulk grunting and looking down at Hela with his best attempt at a puppy dog stare.

Hela looked up expectantly and was surprised when the Hulk got on his knees and took a cross legged sitting position, gingerly seizing her by the waist, giving her a huge, if not, awkwardly sized hug, "Hulk like Hela."

To say that everyone was stunned was an understatement. Jaws dropped to the floor faster than the speed of light at the Hulk's confession – Tony quipping to Clint on his side, "Whaddya know, Big Green actually has game. Better than some Capsicle we know."

This earned Tony an icy glare from said Captain.

Hulk's sudden confession elicited a soft giggle from Hela who wrapped her arm around the Hulk's neck, "I like you too Hulk. You smashed up my father pretty well."

"Hulk best smasher of all!"

"Indeed you are," Hela acknowledged, "Gave him a much needed dose of cognitive recalibration too."

Hulk grinned wide and proud, puffing out his chest in pride.

By the time the Hulk was finished cuddling the surprisingly amiable death goddess, he shrunk back into Bruce Banner, Stark naked with nothing to hide.

They all decided to order pizza and other greasy fast food, Hela foregoing her meetings for the day to stay in with the Avengers, while they waited on two men with breath taking anger management issues to wake up into consciousness.

And while they waited for their coronary clogging treats, Tony kept the footage of the Bruce and Hela's conversation from earlier playing on loop, and had JARVIS pick up what Hela mouthed in Bruce's ear.

"Be my date at the next gala."

Author's Note: This had to be done. It just had to be done. Hulk is adorable, and if I can find a huge Hulk plushie-pillow here, I would buy it. No questions asked and definitely no regrets!

You know the drill, I appreciate all forms of love from my readers. Leave me some sweet treats in the reviews for encouragement~ until next time!