AN: Thanks again to everyone for your support! As a warning, there's a bit of foul language in this one - but only one word, so it's not that bad, and it's totally justified in context. Sorry in advance if anyone gets offended. Fronk x

In the morning I was awoken to my mattress moving underneath me. Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I glanced down to investigate. I saw a tanned, muscular chest. What on Earth? Slowly, I looked upwards to see a sleeping Bruce Banner. Why was I laying on Bruce? I looked around the room. Why was I in his room?

'Remember!' Akisa scolded me as she aided me in that.

The events of last night came flooding back to me; Bruce screaming, his transformation, Hulk and I's conversation, bringing Bruce up to his room. Taking a few deep breaths to steady myself, I laid back down on Bruce's chest, snuggling up to him and allowing my hand to trace up and down his side. I admit; it felt very good in his arms. I hoped that there would be more mornings like this – just without him having to Hulk out first. Well, if what Hulk said was true, I may not have to wait that long. Then again, Bruce was a painfully shy man who feared himself more than anything. I sighed, stilling my hand. It would seem a lot of patience was needed here.

A moment later I felt Bruce tense underneath me.

"Morning," I said.

"Good morning," he said, a little cautiously.

"You Hulked out after you nightmare last night," I explained, still not looking up at him. "I helped you back up here afterwards. You, urm, wouldn't let me go, so I stayed here."

I felt him nod. "And you didn't mind?" he asked.

I propped myself up and faced him. "About helping or sleeping here?" I asked.

His cheeks coloured slightly. "Urm, both?" he asked, a little unsure of himself.

"After what you did for the in the afternoon," I began, "What with helping me after I'd gone full phoenix, I was more than happy to help you when you had Hulked out. And before you ask: no, he didn't hurt me, he was the perfect gentleman. We had a very civil conversation, too." I chuckled as he flushed a little more. "And as for staying here, I didn't mind that, either." I grinned cheekily to hide my own flush, "You're very comfortable, by the way."

His face went bright red then. I laughed and sat up, brushing my hair out of my face.

"Are you okay now?" I asked softly.

He nodded. "I don't really remember much of last night, to be honest," he admitted. "But I feel fine now." We both glanced at his stomach as it grumbled. "If a little hungry." He said, laughing.

"I'll go get dressed, then, and meet you in the living room," I said, getting up and making my way to the door.

"Helena?" he called. I stopped and turned. "Thank you."

I smiled warmly. "Never a problem, Bruce, you know that," I said as I left the room, leaving the man in peace.

It was here I literally bumped into Tony. He quickly grabbed me to stop me falling unceremoniously on my ass.

"Good morning, Helena," he said, smirking.

"Morning," I mumbled, keeping my gaze to the floor.

He eyes me suspiciously. "Why were you in Bruce's room?" he asked me.

"Bruce had a Hulk episode last night," I said. "I was keeping him company."

"Oh, I bet you were," Tony said, wiggling his eyebrows. I flushed bright crimson at his innuendo. He just laughed. "Alright, I'll let it slide seeing as you were quiet and didn't wake anyone up. But I don't want it happening again without my knowing about it," He began to stride off down the corridor. "I'll see you are breakfast, young lady!"

Smirking devilishly, I allowed some of Akisa's power to float out and heat up the floor where Tony was walking. I'm sure the whole tower heard him cursing. Laughing quietly to myself, I slipped into my room and got dressed after a quick shower. I made my way down to see Tony and Clint having a hushed discussion over the breakfast bar.

"What's up?" I asked, walking over to them.

They both jumped at my approach.

"I've received word from Director Fury," Clint said. He glanced at Tony, worry etched on his face.

"Seriously, guys," I said, taking the seat next to Clint. "What's going on?"

Taking a deep breath Clint continued. "Well, you aren't the demigod he was promised," Clint said. "He was expecting someone called Percy Jackson."

'Figures,' Akisa scoffed.

"As such, Fury wants to... assess your abilities," Clint finished.

He paused and waited for it to dawn on me. It didn't take long.

"He wants to do tests on me," I said, beginning to panic.

I would be playing straight into S.H.I.E.L.D's hands. They wanted me before. Now I was an Avenger I would be working for them and they could call on my powers whenever they needed them. What need was there for tests? I had spent far too much of my life being prodded and poked. There would be nothing to gain, either, as my powers couldn't be replicated. (Not unless S.H.I.E.L.D had another phoenix locked away somewhere. I shuddered at the thought). Now I was an adult: I had every right to say no, which was exactly what I was going to do.

"Fuck that," I growled, my anger rising.

Tony looked pointedly at Clint. "Told you so," he said, "Our little fire bird isn't going to let anyone do anything to her that she doesn't want them to. I mean, would you like some nut-job scientists injecting you and taking samples of stuff?"

"Probably not..." Clint mumbled, finding sudden interest in his shoes.

"There's no probably about it, Clint," I said, my tone harsh. "No one is going to be running any tests on me, I don't care who they are." A little softer I added; "But I don't blame you for this, Clint, if that's what you're worried about. I know better than to shoot the messenger."

He glanced up at me, his eyes filled with worry.

"You sure?" he asked.

"Definitely," I said, clasping his shoulder before getting up and finishing preparing my breakfast.

"When was this Fury planning on arriving?" I asked. "And who is he?"

"He's the head of S.H.I.E.L.D and used to getting his own way. He won't be getting here for a few days yet," Clint said, "But I'll have a word, tell him he'd be having a wasted journey."

"I'd really appreciate that," I said. "Wouldn't want to get kicked out of New York after less than a week of being allowed back here, now would I?"

"Suppose not," he agreed, his lips quirking up in a smile.

"Oh, I meant to tell you guys," Tony said. "There's this charity gala thing that I'm hosting tomorrow night, and you're all expected to be there."

"What charity?" I asked.

Tony shrugged. "Dunno, you're better off asking Pepper. She organises these things."

"Pep back then?" Clint asked.

"Her flight from D.C gets in at two," he said, "So she'll be back here about half three."

"Black tie event?" Clint asked.

"You know it," Tony answered, grimacing.

"And there is my problem," I said, "I don't do dresses."

"Pepper will take you out tomorrow and fix you up," Tony said. "She'll have everything planned in advance anyway and she'll leave her PA in charge."

"I'll thank her when she gets here," I said. "So what are we all up to today?"

"Well, your tour was cut short because of your Dad," Clint said. "We could finish that. I mean, you never did see the training levels."

"No can do," Tony said. "I'm running a test on new armour for the suit and called dibs on birdy's help yesterday."

"We'll get round to the eventually," I promised Clint.

He shrugged it off. "It's no big," he said. "I'll leave you sciencey people to it." With that he got up and went out, presumably to train. "Oh, morning Bruce," he said as he passed the Doctor.

Bruce got himself a cup of tea and sat opposite me. I frowned at him.

"You not eating anything?" I asked.

"Not really hungry," he mumbled.

"That's BS and you know it, Bruce," I said. "After the episode last night you are bound to be hungry. Eat."

He looked at me for a moment. After realising I wasn't giving up in this, he sighed, getting off his seat and making himself a few slices of toast. Not quite as much as I'd like, but it was progress. I let it slide this once.

Tony sighed dramatically. "I swear," he said. "You sleep with a girl one time and she thinks she can run your whole life."

Bruce did a spit take with his tea while I nearly choked on my cereal.

"Tony!" I chastised. "For the last time, I did not sleep with him!"

I would have been far happier if I had. The man had the nerve to chuckle.

Big.

Mistake.