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Saturday, Day Seven

Bruce's POV

Bruce Banner was, above all else, a professional. Before he was exposed to the gamma rays that would change his life forever he was a scientist, first and foremost. During his stint in India he had tried to let go of the path that had almost ruined his life, and he was a doctor.

Now?

Bruce tried balancing being the Hulk, a doctor, and a scientist all at once. He discovered that he liked balance best, so he wasn't confined to one thing. He liked being just Bruce Banner, all his talents were a part of him, and his new found friends had helped him embrace every side of him, even the big green one.

So, every once and awhile, when Bruce was called out to play Doctor he didn't mind it. He enjoyed it even. He also liked to think that as of recently, he was a man of complete control. He hadn't had an accident since the helicarrier, and he wanted to keep it that way. So, when the words slipped out of his mouth, he was almost as shocked as the woman across from him.

"Luis isn't a bad kid," He said it so strongly it almost left a taste in his mouth.

Valentina's head jerked up from where she was staring at her lap, eyes full of emotion, mostly annoyance. "Did I ever say he was, Dr. Banner?"

He shook his head in a weak attempt to clear his thoughts, "You didn't have to say it. You've been hostile ever since the hospital, and even more so after you and Luis talked."

"You have no right to talk about my son like you know him -."

"I've known him for seven days, and I understand his decisions better than you," Bruce said, anger filling his voice slowly but surely. He took a deep calming breath; he wasn't sure where these feelings were coming from, well he knew where, but he was trying to forget. His father was similar to Luis' step father. An alcoholic who hated his guts, and he wasn't afraid to let Bruce know it all through his childhood. He'd watched his mother die in front of him at the hands of that man, and he had a theory that if Luis never came to Tony he would be living a similar fate.

If there was one thing the Avengers all had in common it was bad childhoods. Well, except Thor.

Valentina didn't seem scared at his slightly raised tone; she just angrily yanked down her sleeve over where he'd just drawn blood. "I do not think he is bad. I think he's making bad choices, and he has been ever since he came to this place."

Yes, he could tell she hated it here. She'd been stubborn and angry ever since he began checking her eye and drawing blood. Just a routine check-up that Tony requested just in case the doctors missed something. Lupe had been sent out of the room with Jane, who volunteered to watch the young girl.

"The people in this tower aren't all bad," He stated, drawing off his white latex gloves. "And Tony isn't a horrible role model. Who you should've been worrying about was the man you married." It wasn't his place to speak, and his approach was quite different from the normal quiet demeanor he usually upheld.

The woman let out a sigh, leaning forward so that her arms rested on her knees, "Are you also a psychiatrist?"

"No," He replied simply.

She let out a slightly bitter laugh, "I know my son is not bad, but I feel like this life is already going to his head. A life full of superheroes and Gods can make you feel powerful. Powerful to kill the man you've hated your whole life.

My approach may have been bad, but think of this: How am I going to tell my other children their father is gone?"

Bruce, for once, didn't know the answer. And his silent stare only confirmed it; she laughed, louder this time. She was at least thirty-eight, and you could tell by her hands that she had worked her whole life just to provide for her family, but her face was still young. As if it was the only thing that could endure the years – God knows her heart couldn't.

"I'm sorry," He finally said, looking away and out the window as he cleaned up his station. "It wasn't my place to speak."

"But you make a point," Valentina said. "You must be the most reasonable out of th rest, Dr. Banner. I'll talk to my son when he comes back."

Bruce nodded, pleased somewhat by her words. "Good. Oh, and call me Bruce."

"Bruce," She said, testing the name. "If you'll excuse me, I'll have to get back to my daughter."

Luis' POV

"What do you mean?" I ask, already panicked. I glance at the plastic tablet to see it already counting down. "Apprentice?"

"Grab the bags," Tony instructs, snatching the tablet off the floor and walking quickly out of the room.

I stand frozen for a moment, and I debate if I should follow him and demand answers, but it would take too much time. I don't even look as I fill a bag full of the twin's clothes and rush out of the room to find him hurriedly talking on his cell phone.

He grabs my mom's bag in his other hand, "I'll explain as we walk. We have to get back to the Tower, and talk this over with the others. Say a quick goodbye and let's get going."

"I don't need to say goodbye," I say as I rush out of the apartment. All this place holds are bad memories, and I'll be lucky if I never see it again.

True to his word, as we walk, Tony begins speaking. "Awhile back when Obadiah was still around I told him I never wanted kids - ."

Despite everything, I snort as we rush down the street.

He glares at me out of the corner of his eye, "I know, the irony. Anyway, he convinced me that if I didn't want my own little heir to the Stark legacy then I could just find one and take them on under my wing, blah blah blah. So, we found this kid, graduated valedictorian, accepted to Harvard, Yale, MIT, Notre Dame, you name it. He was majoring in technology with a Minor in business and was doing phenomenal in his classes.

He was perfect, with a clean record and a good home life. So I took Charlie on, didn't really teach him anything, Obadiah did that – I was too busy, well, you know, having fun."

"Care to speed this up?" I ask, not wanting to hear how great the man who kidnapped my sister was.

Tony clears his throat, "Right, sorry. Anyway, one day Obadiah came up to me and told me that he'd found Charlie – who lived with him at the time – on the roof, covered in blood from about three cats that he'd slaughtered up there. He told me he talked to him about it, and that it was fine, he was just curious."

"Everyone knows that's the beginnings of a psychopath," I state dryly.

"I think even I knew, I just didn't want to admit it. Anyway, a couple months go by, and right after we think we've trained this kid enough and are ready to reveal him to the public, he tries cutting one of Pepper's fingers off."

I stare at him, astonished at not only his words, but the way he says it so easily. Like it's not a big deal, and if I didn't know him better I would believe he actually thought that, but I could tell by the hard glint in his eye that it bothered him. A lot.

"Care to explain?"

"Not really," He replies as we come closer to the car.

"Tony." Does he not realize it's important I know everything about the guy we're dealing with right now?

He runs a hand through his already messy hair, knocking his hood back slightly. "She found him in R&, messing with some sort of buzz saw. He thought it was funny if he grabbed her hand and pushed it towards the saw, luckily, Pepper managed to yank her hand back before it was too late. He said he was joking, and we said goodbye. Later, Obadiah found a trunk full of animal bodies and bones in the kid's room."

"Jesus Christ," I mutter, running a hand down my face and smudging my sun glasses. Luckily, the car seems completely undamaged and untouched as we approach it. Tony unlocks it and tosses both bags in the trunk before quickly entering the car.

"So, you don't have any idea where'd he be?" I ask finally as we begin driving.

"Haven't seen the guy in about ten years, well, until right now. He certainly knows how to hold a grudge, that's for sure. He was devastated when we cut him loose." Tony stops abruptly causing the car to jolt forward. My head almost smashes into the dashboard due to my lack of a seatbelt.

"Rule numero uno: Seat belts are necessary when in the car with me." He states, and I begrudgingly put mine on.

"Did you say numero uno in Spanish because I'm Mexican?" I ask.

"You caught me. I thought you didn't speak English even though I've been communicating with you for days in English." He replies sarcastically.

By the time we get back to the tower I'm sure that I've checked the clock about one hundred times. With every second that passes my heart beats faster and I feel like I'm going to have another panic attack like before. All this because of one, insignificant, crazy asshole.

Charlie Joplin.

I had the chance to kill him at the MET – I talked to him, assuming he was just another associate of Tony's. But even then I got a bad feeling from him, like I could just feel the evil radiating off of him. Ugh, that sounds like something from a bad 80's movie.

Still, it's like I can't get my sisters trembling, chained body out of my head. Every time I close my eyes that's all I see. It's just been one thing after another ever since the day I left, and I can't help thinking that if I just kept my mouth shut and didn't stand up to Manny everyone would be safe. My mom wouldn't be happy, but she wouldn't be sad or angry, and my sisters would still be together.

But then I wouldn't have met Tony, I wouldn't have even known he was my father. I wouldn't have met Thor, Clit, Natasha, Steve, and Bruce. I would never had talked to Pepper or listened to Jane talk about astrophysics and Thor talk about his many battles. No Sunday dinner or paintball. No Iron Man Suit or JEEVES. I wouldn't even get to see Tony's crappy arc reactor art on my wall every morning.

I would be able to give up the suit, hell, even JEEVES – Though, I think I'm growing an unhealthy attachment to him. I wouldn't be able to give up the people, or the sense of family, and I don't plan too. Maybe, after all this is over, I can have the best of both worlds. No use in getting my hopes up now. Not when the stakes are so high.

In the car Tony managed a call to Natasha, informing her of the situation and moving up the SHIELD meeting from later to right now. We hurry out of the car, leaving the bags so we can deal with them later. I hold the tablet, watching as the numbers dip lower. We still have over twenty hours left, but we need as much time as possible.

As we enter the elevator Tony pushes a button to take us to one of the higher floors. Below R&D but above the living quarters. I know it's the business level, where meetings are held for the Avengers and Stark industries. I've never been up there; never had any need to go up until now.

I follow Tony in silence as the elevator doors ding open and he begins walking down the halls. He presses his hand against a slate in the wall and it shines a bright green before the door slides open. Seems that Natasha didn't disappoint; all Avengers are seated in the room, along with a man with an eye patch and a woman with a stern look on her face.

"Been awhile, Nick, how've you been?" Tony asks casually, collapsing on a chair at the head of the table. I stand somewhat awkwardly at the side of his chair before Clint waves me over and pats an empty chair between him and Eye Patch. I somewhat hesitantly take the seat, placing the tablet in front of me and on the table.

"I was better before all this bullshit started." He states dryly, standing and walking so that he's in the middle of the room. He spares me a look, "I assume your Luis?"

I nod once, "Yea."

"I'm Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD. This is my right-hand woman Maria Hill," He gestures to the woman next to him. "Natasha has informed me of the situation, and we're already running a face trace back at headquarters."

"Where's my mom and sister?" I ask impatiently.

"They're both with Jane; her injuries are healing nicely, I made sure to check." Bruce responds, fingers laced together and looking uneasy.

"Thanks," I say, sincerely grateful for his help.

"People, can we please focus on the problem at hand? We've got a lunatic ready to release a fleet of modified Chitauri into one of the most visited places in New York!" Nick exclaims, already looking annoyed. "I've been speaking with police, and we're hoping they can clear the area, just in case we can't find wherever this fucker is hiding out."

"What about Manny?" Steve asks suddenly, "What did you find during his autopsy?"

"A very small amount of Chitauri blood. That's why I organized this meeting in the first place; I'm assuming that his strength was a result of one of Joplin's experiments." Nick tosses a manila file onto the table and pictures fan out from inside of it. Pictures of Manny's chest cut open, of his face bruised and bloody beyond recognition. My vision tunnels as I realize I did that.

Jesus, I really did kill him.

Tony almost topples his chair open lunging for the pictures and file. He snatches them off the table, glaring at Nick as he stuffs the photos back in the file and out of sight. He glances at me out of the corner of his eye, as if to make sure that I'm not freaking out.

"He's toying with us, that much is obvious," Maria says. "He's trying to get back at Tony by targeting his son. Luis, it would be wise if you waited this one out."

"What?" I ask, confused. "You want me to sit this one out? While my sisters out there being some sadistic fucker's guinea pig? Are you serious?"

"Luis, you're only fifteen," Tony replies matter-of-factly, as if that is the only answer I need.

"What does that have to do with anything? I didn't die last time I went out in the suit."

"Last time you went out in the suit you killed your step-dad."

I fall back in my chair, stung by the truth and fuming. "How can you expect me to sit back while this prick tries to hurt my family? This isn't a game, Tony."

"And you are not a hero!" Tony finally shouts, slamming a hand down on the table. Everyone looks shocked, having not expected the usually laid-back Tony Stark to explode like that. "You may live with the Avengers, but you're not one. You built a suit, and that's great, but you can't do what we do. You don't know how." His voice is more subdued.

No one says anything, not even Nick Fury. I shake my head, letting out a bitter laugh – he's right. I'm no hero. I'm not close to a hero; I'm a kid dressing up like Iron Man.

"Then why am I here?" I say, "Huh? Can anyone tell me? Why do I need to be here? Why are you treating me like I'm part of the team? I'm not your mascot. I'm not anything to this team." I laugh again, standing, "I'm outta here, man." I push away from the table and walk toward the door.

"We're not done here," Nick Fury calls to me.

"You're right. You're not done here," I gesture to the people around the table. "But I am." And with that I walk out, the door sliding shut behind me.

"Where's my mom, JEEVES?" I ask as I sullenly approach the elevator. "She has asked not to be disturbed. She's taking a nap right now, sir."

"What about Lupe?"

"She's in your room." I briefly wonder what she would be doing there, but I don't dwell on it. Tony should have told me before hand that I wasn't going to help. I can understand where he's coming from, but then why keep my around for meetings? For entertainment? They act like I'm not already in deep enough. Like I haven't donned the suit.

Like I'm not Iron Titan.

I would take back killing Manny if I could, but I can't, so I have to stand by my decisions. Even if I have to explain to my little sister what happened on the roof that night.

When I open up my door I see my sister on my bed, playing on an Ipad. "Where'd you get that one?" I ask, closing the door behind me.

Her head shoots up, startled before she relaxes some. "Ms. Potts gave it to me."

I make a face, "You can call her Pepper. When you say Ms. Potts it sounds like you're talking about a pre-school teacher."

She shrugs before going back to her game dismissively. I sigh, bouncing on the balls on my feet a few times before taking a seat next to her on the bed. "Can we talk? About all that's been going on?"

"I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"Because you killed Papá."

"I know. I'm sorry, you know I didn't mean too, but if I didn't, he would have killed me."

"You could have just knocked him out, Lue." Her breath hitches, and the Ipad is forgotten about.

"And then he would've just found me another time. I had to, Lupe, I just had to. I'm so sorry." I look down at my hands, twisting my fingers.

I see the tears falling onto her lap, and I put an arm around her shoulders and I feel her small body convulse in a series of small sobs. Now, now I can feel the guilt eating at me. This will be the only reason I will ever feel sorry for what I did, and I don't know if that's a good thing, or a bad thing.

"Can I just – Can I just be alone for a little while?" She asks, "I told you I don't want to talk about it."

"Um, yea, sure of course. I'll just be around. Just tell JEEVES if you need me – I broke my phone so you can't call." I stand, slipping my arm off her shoulders.

She turns away from me and faces the other wall. The wall with Tony's art on it.

Stung, I slowly walk away, turning once to face her again. "Are you -?"

"Just go." Her small voice raises a fraction, but she doesn't turn to face me.

I turn around, opening the door again and almost stumbling out of it. I feel empty inside. No emotion, just emptiness. I'm just here.

"JEEVES, is Pepper around?" Surely Pepper will say something consoling. Pepper's the most level-headed person in this whole building.

"I'm afraid not. She's in an important meeting right now, sir." He replies, sounding sorry for me.

"Is my mom awake yet?" I ask hopefully.

JEEVES is silent a moment before responding, "No, I'm afraid not, Mr. Enriquez."

I know he's lying. I know because if he wasn't he wouldn't have hesitated so that he could ask my mom what he should say. Even my robot's turning on me.

"What bullshit," I grumble, walking back into the elevator and practically slamming my fist into the lobby button. I'm wanted by no one. Not the Avengers, not my sister, not my mother. No one.

I haven't felt this alone in awhile, which is weird since I'm practically surrounded by people. Maybe I'm just having one of those teenager moments. Jesus Christ, now I sound like my mom.

I just need a walk, I think to myself. Fresh air. Just a walk around town. It's not like they would let me do anything anyway to help my sister. They justs want me to be helpless. They're intentions are good, I guess. Not good enough.

Finally, I walk out of the elevator and into the surprisingly dead lobby. Seriously, I haven't seen it this empty since before the press-conference.

I take a few uneasy steps, rubbing the metal bands around my wrists.

It's too quiet.

"Those are pretty bracelets. You're daddy buy them for you?" I turn towards the voice, just in time to duck a kick aimed at my head.

You've got to be kidding me right now.

The woman behind me is the secretary from the beginning. The Barbie doll. The one who dismissed me as a kid looking for an autograph. She's wearing a body suit, similar to Black Widow's, but Barbie's is a deep red. Her long blonde hair is pulled back into a sleek ponytail.

I move to activate the bracelet, but before I can she lands a kick to my wrist, popping the band off and causing it to fall to the floor with a clink. Shit, I can't activate my suit without both of them. The only fault in an otherwise perfect idea.

"JEEVES! Send down the right repulser of my suit!" I demand, dodging a punch. She's quick, really quick, and she manages to land a hit to the side of my face, knocking me to the ground. It hurts more than it should and it's obvious that she's been injected with Chitauri blood. Just like Manny.

She clicks her tongue disapprovingly, "Oh, Luis. You made this too easy." I vaguely notice the Russian tinge to her voice.

I smirk as she suddenly falls forward, knocked down by the right hand I requested from JEEVES. I hold out my right arm, feeling the cool metal hug my skin. I aim it at her, but she easily dodges the blast. It makes a pretty decent size hole in the wall behind her and I cringe.

I turn to take aim again to find that she's not there. A cloth suddenly covers my mouth and I make to move away, but my eyes are already feeling heavy.

"You put up a decent fight, little boy."

Those are the last words I hear before I pass out.

Whew, so much happened. This chapter is just full of so many things, and I'm pretty happy with it. Luis is feeling out of place and Tony is feeling protective. And a cliff hanger! Sorry, about that one. Also, all of Bruce's back story is canon! I didn't know either, but I did some research and yea, Bruce's dad was also an abusive prick who killed his mom.

This was a long chapter, wow. Anyway, thank you guys for the reviews! Reviews make a happy writer and a happy writer updates quicker. I also take constructive criticism! So, Review review review!