At regular times, I got meals with food. They always had two small yellow pills on the plate. I hesitated taking them the first few times, until Fury started attacking me every time I didn't. I learned where the camera was and turned away from it when I ate. I would stuff the pills down my shirt and then keep eating.

One day I was done eating and the soldiers had taken my tray away. I was facing away from the door when someone spoke to me.

"I thought I'd find you here." My head shot up at the voice.

"Clint," I said breathlessly.

"Yeah, why did you leave?" I turned around to face my former lover.

I knew we were being watched.

"My own selfish reasons," I cried.

"The cameras are off, tell me why you really left."

I had a strong instinct that I couldn't trust him.

"I told you, Clint," I said.

"Dammit, Stephanie!" Clint shouted and I leapt into the air.

He hit the open button harshly and stepped inside. His face came inches away from mine.

"Clint-"

"Stop! I thought you were different, but no, everyone just leaves!" He had his hands digging into my shoulders, pinning me to the wall.

"Clint, please stop, you're hurting me!" I whimpered.

Clint held his ground, his grey blue eyes bore into mine.

"Agent Barton, stand down." Fury's voice came from behind us.

Clint let go of me and whipped around. I was right I couldn't trust him. I felt truly shaken. I slid to the ground as my body shook involuntarily while I cried. I couldn't feel anything. I didn't feel hate, pain, sorrow; I only felt numb.

Days passed and the only visitors were the people who brought me food; at least until one visitor late at night.

"Hey," a voice hissed and there was rapping on the glass.

I pulled myself from the confines of sleep and looked at the person.

"Bruce?" I mouthed.

He nodded. I scratched my ear; that was the team's sign for a room being tapped. Bruce smiled and pressed the open button. He wove his hand telling me to come to him. I meandered over, telling the camera I had probably just felt stiff. As soon as I stepped into the blind spot, I wrapped my arms around Bruce. We broke and he led me to the other door. He opened it and examined the hallway. I followed him after he'd given the okay. Neither of us made a sound, not until we reached the destination. We both knew nowhere but a few Tony-fixed areas were safe. We reached the polished white lab and scurried inside. The second the door closed, both of us burst into a fit of giggles. Bruce and I were not as close as we could be, but we were still family. He was like the cool uncle that everyone rarely sees.

"How are you?" Bruce asked me finally.

"Uh, beaten and bruised, but nothing that won't heal." I said and smiled.

"Always the fighter," Bruce smiled in return.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Midnight," Bruce checked his watch.

"How did you know I was there?"

"There was a pulse of magic everywhere you went." Bruce said and shrugged.

"And you're risking everything just to make me safe?"

"Eh, I don't think the team would be very happy with another mindless SHIEILD agent on board." Bruce laughed.

I lightly socked him in the arm.

"Hey, do you need a place to crash for the night?" Bruce asked.

"Actually, I-"

"Hey Brucie, I had this brilliant idea . . ." Tony said walking into the lab. The contents in his hand fluttered to the ground.

"Stark," I said, trying not to laugh at his face.

"Musgrove," Tony said restoring his composure as Bruce turned to him.

"One sec Tony, do you still need somewhere?" Bruce finished.

Such a gentleman.

"Bruce, as much as I would love to, you know I can't stand watching you have nightmares." I said.

"I forgot," Bruce said and smiled sheepishly.

Few knew about Bruce's nightmares. I was either awake to witness them or was woken by them on missions.

"How about you bunk with me?" Tony offered.

"Uhm," I managed to sputter.

"Either that or sleep where they'll look." Tony said.

I nodded.

"Right, Tony you had something?" Bruce said.

"Nothing, it's about the DNA, it can wait till later." Tony said and shrugged. He stuck his hands into his jean pockets.

Bruce gave me one last hug.

"See you in the morning," I smiled at Bruce.

He nodded.

"C'mon Sparky," Tony said and led the way out.

We both fell silent as we crept through the corridors. We reached Tony's cabin and slipped in. It was still dark in the room, but of course Tony's arc reactor glowed. I watched it come to me and grab my hand gently. He led me over and sat me down on the bed. He pushed my hair away and kissed my forehead. I watched in silence as the arc reactor moved around and soon fell to the floor. Right, friends . . . I slipped under the covers and thought long and hard.

"Tony," I whispered, knowing he wouldn't be asleep.

The arc reactor sprang up through the shadows.

"I'm cold." I continued.

I could almost see the grin spread across his face. I wiggled around as Tony slid into the bed facing me.

"Better?"

"Much," I answered.

I blinked at him, he blinked at me. We sat in silence for a bit as I wondered how I was going to say what I wanted to next.

"Tony, how does an experiment start?" I saw a faint bewildered look cross his face.

"Well, there's usually a question that the scientist wants answered."

"And then?"

"And then the scientist writes a hypothesis."

"How do you write a hypothesis?"

"It's an if, then statement,"

"So, say the question is should we be together. Then the hypothesis could be . . ."

"If we are together, then I would protect you from everything that would hurt you, then I would make sure you never wanted anything ever again, then I would be loyal and trustworthy." He said with a serious look on his face.

I felt a blush creep into my cheeks.

"Why are you asking?" Tony asked.

I sighed.

"I want to do an experiment, well more than an experiment." I rushed out.

"About . . ."

"About us being together,"

There was silence and I glanced up from the arc reactor to his face. He seemed to be studying mine.

"Please tell me you're not joking." He said finally.

I shook my head no; terrified that if I said something it would only be a squeak. He smiled and scooted slightly closer to me.

"Then I promise that until my last breath I will do everything I can to show how much I care for you." He smiled.

I reciprocated the look and scooted closer to him. Our foreheads rested against each other's. I felt his hand snake around me and he flipped onto his back carrying me with him. I let out a surprised gasp as my head bumped against his bare chest. I poked his side to show my annoyance at the spontaneous move. He jumped slightly, but still pulled me closer to him. He ran his fingers down my spine and I shivered. I heard him laugh softly and he ran his fingers down again, achieving the same reaction. He seemed to take deep joy in this seeing as he kept doing it. I kept involuntarily scooting more into him, trying to get away from his hand. Eventually I was pressed to his side. I realized that was his intention. I raised an eyebrow and thought. I reached my hand up and found his collar bone. I traced the prominent bones and he shivered. I repeated this action and he eventually stopped stroking my spine. I stopped my action as well. I looked up at the man as he tapped a rhythm on my arm. He used his other hand to tilt my head up slightly farther and he pressed his lips to mine. I let my eyes slide closed and my hand was placed on his chest. He let go and I rested my head on his chest. Tony took my hand on his chest and intertwined our fingers.

"Good night," Tony whispered.

"Night," I responded and felt my eye lids grow heavy.

AN-

Officially official! So yay fluffity fluff. More shall be expected.