A/N: This chapter covers the aftermath of an event in the third chapter of my Loki: Triumphant pt 1 fic where we see how Jean comes back from the dead. I also start touching on some of the changes to the timeline thanks to the events of Days of Future Past.
Enjoy :D
The Heart knows Best
Natasha tosses and turns in her bed. She groans her complaint and twists from her side to her back to look up at her ceiling, which is painted by the lights of the bustling city outside her large windows. She has been through much these last few days. Bucky found Steve here in New York, thanks to Tony being so obvious. She got to meet another war buddy of Steve's. Interesting fellow, as well as extremely dangerous the more up close and personal you get… and he will kill when needed. She'll have to think a bit more on how to bring The Wolverine down if there is ever a need to. It was very fortunate that Logan was at the Tower while she was away at that grating, yet necessary, Senate Hearing on the Hill.
She sighs and shifts spreading her arms out and then looks to her right at her empty bed. Funny, she had always preferred to sleep alone… but now… with Steve in her life… and elsewhere… Natasha finds herself missing him more and more in all the little things.
He has a steadiness to his character that settles in on you the better you get to know him. He inspires everyone in various ways with his honest surety and steadfast nature, his determination and his loyalty… but what he has inspired in Natasha since this whole Hydra take-over fiasco began is… hope.
Hope that she can have a life… a normal one where she can be honest for a change, be herself… but right now she finds herself, her past, compromised. Who is she really? She may not be the Assassin for hire anymore… but she is still The Black Widow. Though right now, with these feelings for Steve developing… she can't slip into that persona. She is compromised. It's the build-up to the Battle of New York all over again only much, much worse.
Is she then Natasha Romanoff, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.? …No, that persona came with joining S.H.I.E.L.D. and now that's gone. She gave Steve the name Natalia… so then is she Natalia Romanov, adopted daughter of Ivan Petrovich? He always lied to her, manipulated her, controlled her until she went rogue when she couldn't take it anymore. No, she hasn't been that Natalia in a long while. Could Mikel be telling the truth then? Is she really Princess Anastasia?
…No… Anastasia may have escaped death by firing squad… but she died a very long time ago at the hands of Ivan Petrovich for she can recall nothing directly at this time. Just flashes of shadows dancing in her memory like always. Only one question remains… Who is she really?
Natasha curls over onto her right side putting her back to the windows. She stares into the dimness of her bedroom and looks over at Steve's nightstand. One of his watches is there. She sees the time on his alarm clock… 3:48am. She wants to sleep but she feels too overloaded at the moment to just let go to slumber. Natasha groans her frustration and pulls the sheets over her head, but all that achieves is that she can smell Steve's scent on the sheets… it's a mix of old spice and his own natural musk. She breaths it in and feels calmer but now she is fully awake.
"That's it!" Natasha shouts in frustration as she tosses the covers to one side and swings out of bed. She is wearing a black slip that hugs her body like a second skin. She rubs her hands over her face as she saunters briskly from the bedroom stepping into her bathroom to splash some cool water on her face. She pats herself dry with a large towel hanging on a rail between the sink and shower. She then turns and leans against the sink counter. All she feels is loss and lost at this moment. Natasha's vision goes blurry and it takes her a moment to realize she is crying. She touches a tentative hand to her wet cheek and brushes the tears away. She shakes her head then knowing what she needs at this time… it's just that her stabilizing factor is upstate right now.
"I have noticed you are under some distress, Ms. Romanoff." JARVIS says from above and for once his normally cool tone sounds a little of concern. "I could tell you the location of some of Tony's strong sleeping aids if you like?"
"No thanks, JARVIS. What I need…" Natasha says and her voice trails off as she becomes lost in thought once more. She sees an honest smile in her Mind's Eye. 'Is Steve…' Natasha thinks as she then heads into her apartment's kitchen area. She pulls out a clean saucepan and pours some milk into it then sits it on the stove. She turns the heat up to high and waits. She leans against the counter and finds herself thinking back upon what Mikel had told her once again…
It almost comes as no surprise that Natalia isn't her real name. The Black Widow is so used to name changes and identity shifts that this seems, quite frankly… expected. Then she starts to reconcile her memories. Were they all false? All lies? As she focuses back onto her past… her time in the Red Room Program… what she once was certain of, is now hazy as she tries to look past those memories. Natasha shakes her head and snaps back to what she is currently doing.
She notices her milk is bubbling so she removes it from the heat and gets her deep mug. She then retrieves the hot coco mix from her dry goods pantry. She uses a Tablespoon to dole out the dry coco. She then slowly pours out the hot milk into the mug half way without spilling a drop. Stirs. Then pours some more in only to finish with a final stir. She takes the mug in hand and blows upon the steamy surface for a few minutes. She then cautiously sips at her drink and darts her eyes to the wall clock… 4:32am.
She knows Steve gets up at 5am every morning on the dot… 7am if he feels like sleeping-in… though ever since he moved in with her, he has been getting up around 9am most days. Her sleep schedule is similar, but does vary… shifting to adapt to her work needs… and here lately, she has been consistently getting up later with Steve. She waits patiently, sipping at her hot chocolate as she still ponders the question… Who is she?
She struggled through an emotional quagmire to save the life of her partner and trick the Trickster. She realized in that moment, in that fight against aliens from the other side of the Universe, that she was more than Natalia, the Spy… or Natasha, the Agent… or the infamous Black Widow, Assassin for hire… She was a fighter, a Defender… an Avenger! Yeah, she's got red in her ledger and she can never escape the things she's done… but she's been working very hard to counter-balance it… to make amends for her past deeds. Natasha feels she's got a good start on it. Loki's challenge was accepted and is well on its way to going in her favor.
She had been debriefed earlier by Quartermain when she got back to Avengers Tower around 1am about Zola's hack, Bucky's escape, and the spontaneous visit to some place upstate… no one it seemed knew the details as to where they were going… then it hits her like a Mac Truck as she drags her bottom lip under her upper teeth slowly.
'The Xavier Institute! Of course! Logan.' Natasha thinks as she puts it together. Fury had sent her there not long after the Battle of New York to check up on them since their team came down to help though they never engaged. They arrived just moments after the portal closed, circled three times, then took off. She had spoken to two of them at the campus… a woman named Storm and a blue-furred man named Dr. Hank McCoy. The blue guy was friendly while the white haired woman got defensive after a few minutes and Natasha had to leave quickly as the sky darkened overhead.
'Great… I wonder how my next visit will go?' Natasha thinks as she puffs out a breath and blows a stray lock of hair from her eyes. She then looks at the clock as she sips at her mug. 5:01am… Natasha steps away from the counter and strolls to her bedroom. She removes her Starkphone from its charger and calls Steve. It rings twice.
"N-Natalia? Is something wrong?" Steve asks. He sounds a little sleepy still and she mentally kicks herself for waking him up too early. She sighs. "Something is up. I'm willing to listen, ya know?" Steve then adds as his voice gets more concerned.
"I know. I'm going to pay you a visit here later on so we can talk." Natasha says as she sinks down onto her large bed.
"Come visit? Stay there… I'll have Barton fly down and pick you up. Then I'll get to see you sooner, Ma'am." Steve says over the line and Natasha can hear the easy smile in his voice. She smiles and lays back on her bed, red hair splaying out on the rumpled sheets in a cascade of natural waves.
"You know right now… I'm wearing one of my black slips… and nothing else. Would a proper lady tell you this?" Natasha says dropping her voice to that perfect husky tone. There is silence for awhile then a sudden rustle. "Did you drop your phone?" Natasha asks with a bit of a chuckle as she hears some ruffling noises.
"Y-yeah… sorry." Steve says and his voice has gone bashful. She thinks it's cute that she can still affect him like some teenaged boy because of his manners.
"I'm laying down on my back wishing you were here right now, Steve." Natasha says longingly in a near-whisper as her right hand slides down her front.
"I wish I was with you right now, Natalia." Steve says just as longingly and Natasha feels a pang at the name though it sounds so perfect in his voice. She sighs and puts her longing into it… pushing her identity crisis away for the moment.
"When I get there… I'm going to show you how much I've missed you." Natasha says and then lets slip a little moan as her hand pulls up the slip and begins to explore the juncture between her thighs. "I miss your eyes on me, your touch…" Natasha moans softly. She can hear Steve hum his agreement.
"Son of a-" Steve chokes out after a few minutes of listening to her. "Natalia." He then quickly adds saying the name like a prayer. She knows she got the desired affect from him and smiles contentedly at her handy work. "Now I need a shower." He then says with a satisfied sigh.
"I love it when you make a mess." She teases him playfully.
"I know you do." Steve says then sighs again. "I'll send Barton down after breakfast."
"Yes, sir… Captain Rogers." Natasha says jokingly and she can hear him chuckle at her words.
"And Natalia…" Steve says. Natasha hums. "I love you and I'll see you soon." His voice is warm and honest. Natasha smiles at that fact as she lays there for a moment longer.
"Steve… I love you, too." She says and then ends the call. She meant what she said just now. Love is for children. She meant those words as well… but now things are different, things are changing… and she has to adapt. She then lays there for a moment and thinks of Steve… He could help her be honest and discover who she really is. A soft smile spreads upon her lips and in no time at all, she is out like a light.
Steve sighs as he puts his Starkphone down. He then looks at his form-fitting t-shirt and the fresh wet stain he put on the lower part over his abs. Natasha's voice has come to act like a drug to him. Of course it didn't help that he had been dreaming of her just before she called then she just had to say the things she said!
Steve sighs again and removes the shirt and crumples it up so the stain doesn't get on anything else. He then steps out of the room he had been given and heads down the dimly lit hall looking for the showers. He winds up getting turned about and finds himself in the kitchen area. The lights are on and the huge flatscreen TV in the adjacent living room area is on as well though the volume is low. A boy no older than fourteen is sitting on the couch watching it. Steve looks into the kitchen at the sounds of the coffee pot going and a mug settling on the granite counter top. He smells the coffee then and moves in that direction only to find a woman with long wavy, dark red hair standing at the counter with her back to him. Natalia? Steve freezes for a second as the color and waves remind him of Natasha's own fiery curls. The woman lifts her head as though she heard something… though Steve hasn't made a sound…
"I'm sorry if I startled you, ma'am." Steve says apologetically as the woman turns around. He can't help but admire her beauty for a second… to which the woman smiles at him and shakes her head as she gives a short lived chuckle. Her dark green eyes flow over his unclad upper body for a few seconds.
"You didn't startle me. I'm flattered that I remind you of your girlfriend… most men typically don't do that. They just see what's in front of them rather than what they already have." The woman says and Steve can't help but think of Natasha again and smile warmly as he looks down at the countertop imagining her face.
"She's very lovely… and Natalia is such a pretty name." The woman then says and smiles warmly at Steve who gives her a surprised look. "Sorry… I'm a telepath like the Professor… and your thoughts of her are coming off you like a shout." Jean starts to say as she gives an apologetic look. She then adds, "But I am better known for this… Coffee?" Steve nods though she just stands there calmly sipping at her steaming mug as the cupboard opens and a blue mug floats out to land upon the counter before a surprised Steve.
Steve's eyebrows go up and he just watches in a mix of surprise and wonder as the pot of coffee floats over as well as the sugar jar and the fridge opens bringing the heavy whipping cream out. Steve watches in awe as the sugar is spooned from the jar into the mug (five scoops) then a splash of cream goes in and finally the pot pours hot coffee in as the spoon stirs everything into perfection. The mug then floats before him handle-first in expectation as everything else goes back to its proper place.
"W-wow." Steve says shaking his head. "Holy smokes that was amazing." Steve adds as he takes hold of the mug. He blows on the surface then takes a cautious sip of the hot liquid. He hums and nods his head. "Perfect. You truly are a marvel, ma'am." The woman smiles in gratitude from her side of the island counter.
"I'm Jean Grey. I'm a teacher here at the school… well, I was." Jean says and pauses as she looks down into her mug of coffee sadly. "Now I'm not so sure."
"Jean Grey? Wait… Logan told me about you. He said he killed you. Have you spoken with him yet? Let him know that you survived?" Steve then asks as he sets his mug down and looks at Jean with curious concern.
"I didn't survive." Jean says a bit meekly as she looks up at Steve with sad eyes. The kitchen cabinet doors start to rattle a little.
"Then how is it that you are standing before me now if you're supposed to be dead?" Steve asks as a stern edge creeps into his voice. Everything stops as Jean's eyes snap to Steve's.
"She brought me back." Jean whispers and Steve gives her a puzzled look. There's a flash in his mind and he sees a brilliant light of fiery orange and gold… and then he sees her… the coppery golden hair with paler blonde streaks, the green and gold outfit, those stunning emerald eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and hope.
"Who is she?" Steve asks in a whisper as he feels something wet trace down his cheek. He wipes away the moisture with his hand and is puzzled by the tears.
"Phoenix." Jean says the name with reverent respect as well as sorrow. They share a silent look between them for a long moment.
"Good morning, Steve." Hank says with a smile as he comes into the kitchen area and sees Steve first… then he stops as he sees Jean. There's an awkward pause before he adds, "Jean." with a friendly yet hesitant tone. Steve notices the look of sorrow on Jean's face and the look of pity that crosses through Hank's yellow eyes. Steve understands better than most what it's like to be treated this way… when you 'come back from dead' everyone seems to not know how to act around you. Nor do they seem to get how it makes you feel when everyone treats you like you're a walking wake. It's enough to make any normal person want to snap at any second. Or at least it could have been like that for him if he had woken up a lot sooner. He understands though that you have to take it day by day at first then plan out your future a little at a time. Steve thinks about all of this as he looks to Jean and gives a small smile. She looks up at him with hopeful eyes over her mug of coffee. She then nods her head in thanks.
"Hank?" Jean then says warm and friendly-like to the blue-furred man. "Could you show Steve where the Men's showers are, please?" Jean then asks.
"Of course." Hank says much friendlier now after he fixes himself a cup of coffee. "Follow me, Soldier." Hank then says with a bright smile to Steve as he starts out of the kitchen.
"Ma'am." Steve says politely and nods his head to Jean before following Hank down the hall back the way he came. Soon they are back in the wing of the mansion that serves as the boy's dormitory for the students who stay all year as well as for those with special needs.
"This is where the showers are." Hanks says as they stop outside of the door.
"Thanks… oh and Hank." Steve says then stops and turns to look at Hank once more. "You don't have to feel sorry for Jean. It upsets her." Steve says. Hank's yellow eyes widen. "I know exactly how she feels… that whole 'coming back from the dead' thing… just reconnect with her and be friends again. It'll do her alotta good." Steve then adds and smiles.
"I-I'll remember that." Hank then says and blinks as he looks away sadly. "Thank you, Captain Rogers… you are very insightful." Hank then says with a sad smile and walks away. Steve enters the door and looks around at the locker room set-up. He then finds the towels and hears a joyful voice singing… in German from the showers… that means only one person. Steve grins and has to chuckle to himself at the irony of a blue devil singing 'Amazing Grace' in the shower.
"You're up early." Steve says announcing his presence as he walks into the tiled room where there are a half dozen shower stalls with semi-transparent plastic doors for privacy on one side of a central wall of the large open area. Steve walks in and moves around the central wall to the other side where there are a half dozen shower heads. Kurt makes a squeak and then there is the sudden clatter of a plastic bottle hitting the shower floor.
"Captain Rogers?" Kurt asks from inside his stall. His voice carries through the large room.
"Yeah, it's me, Kurt. No need to get all jumpy." Steve says as he moves down the open area to the last shower head and starts the water. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to know where some soap is around here do ya, Kurt?" Steve says as he stands there waiting for the water to run hot. He hears the now familiar 'bamf' sound then suddenly Kurt appears next to him with a towel wrapped around his own waist.
"Here. You can use mien, Captain Rogers." Kurt says with a smile as he hands his own bottle of body wash to the taller man.
"Thanks." Steve says as he takes the items and sets them on the small shelf that runs along the tiled wall.
"Glad I could help." Kurt says with a shy smile as he becomes painfully aware of both their states of undress. Kurt nervously looks away and then teleports back to his stall. Steve finds this curious… but he understands self-consciousness when he sees it. He then removes his towel and hangs it on a rail where it won't get wet and starts to wash his body.
"So why are you up so early, Kurt? Are you a teacher here at the school?" Steve then asks making conversation.
"Ja und nien." Kurt answers sheepishly from his stall. Steve lets a pause fall for a few minutes as he rinses off. He can sympathize with Kurt to some degree. When Steve was still scrawny and small, a few knuckle-heads would make jokes about him in school. It still happened right up to the evening before he was transformed by the serum, but what Steve endured is barely even a fraction of a fraction of what Kurt must've gone through everyday of his life. Steve sighs then turns the water off and dries himself with his towel before wrapping it around his waist.
"Come on out, Kurt. You shouldn't be afraid of what the others think of your appearance." Steve says trying to sound as supportive as he can.
"It's not that." Kurt says shyly.
"Then what is it?" Steve asks simply enough. Kurt sighs and then teleports out of the stall to stand before Steve once more. Steve looks down at the shorter dark blue man and as Kurt looks away to the side, Steve can see lines on the dark indigo skin that form patterns.
"What are those?" Steve asks curiously as he looks a little closer.
"They are symbols of the angelic texts." Kurt says then reaches his hand up to his left cheek and one of his thick fingers traces the mark there. "This one ist to cover me for 'original sin' vhich ve all are born into. Most think it has to do vith sexual desire, but the truth ist the First Sin vas disobedience to Gott's Vill." He then touches the other side of his face and traces that mark. "This one ist to cover mien faithlessness." He then traces the right side of his throat. "This one ist to cover mien wrath… I nearly lost myself in anger years ago. I may not look it, but I am almost fifty years old." Kurt then adds and Steve shakes his head not quite sure he heard what he heard.
"I thought you were at least twenty-one or twenty-two." Steve says as he tries to wrap his head around this new information.
"Ja… I look twenty… but I age so much more slowly than everyone else." Kurt says and gives a self-conscious shrug as he looks everywhere else but at Steve who gives the Mutant a pained look.
"Kurt… did you cut these into your skin?" Steve then asks as it hits him. Kurt is looking down at the floor with his eyes closed. He nods rapidly and chokes out a broken, "J-ja." Steve sighs then places a heavy reassuring hand upon Kurt's dark shoulder and gives him a pointed look… it's not judgmental, rather it is sympathetic and pained.
"I did it because ve are sinful creatures and ve must be punished for our transgressions against Gott." Kurt then looks up into Steve's eyes… pained yellow orbs that stare forlorn into sympathetic blue. "Look at me! For years I hid in da shadows only coming out to perform acrobatic tricks to entertain ze crowds vhilst I vas in der circus! Vhen I did finally stroll out amongst zem, zey vere so afraid of me… zey chased me from ze town… und I fled! Und I've been running ever since! Until… until…" Kurt sighs trying not to recall what happened to him at the hands of Stryker. "Until ze Professor found me." Kurt says his accent growing thicker as he breaks down into tears. Steve catches the smaller man before he hits the tiled floor on his knees. Steve has a moment to think about how awkward this would look to anyone else if they walked in at this moment. Steve pushes that embarrassing line of thought aside.
"Shh… it's okay, Kurt." Steve says soothingly. He then pushes Kurt out to arms length so he can look the Mutant in the eyes. "Obviously, you've stopped running when Charles found you… and now you're in a great place where you have a purpose and are surrounded by some amazing people. You're needed here, so you don't have to be afraid anymore, Kurt. You don't. Okay?"
"Okay." Kurt says meekly as he looks down.
"Don't hide away anymore… and please don't cut yourself ever again. God values our actions towards others more than pain carved from our own flesh." Steve says and smiles sadly at Kurt who looks up at the Captain with uncertainty. "Come on… let's go see what Jean made for breakfast." Steve then says and Kurt smiles up at him.
"Ja. Her vaffles are the best." Kurt says as he perks up. The two men head to their rooms just as the sky outside starts to lighten at the approach of dawn. As soon as they dress for the day, they head down to the kitchen… where Jean is busy making breakfast.
"Guten morgen, Frauline." Kurt says with a warm, open smile. All the pain of earlier seems to have been washed away. Jean gives him a bright smile of her own.
"Good morning to you too, Kurt. I see you and Captain Rogers are getting along well." She says. "He is quite insightful… to the point that I'd almost swear he was a telepath as well." She adds as she gives a knowing look to Steve. He just smiles and shakes his head.
"I'm not that talented." Steve says with a chuckle as he then turns to watch as breakfast makes itself. "If you're not sure about your place here anymore… maybe you'd like to come to New York for awhile… see what it's like being an Avenger?" Steve then offers. His voice is serious as he smiles friendly at her. Jean looks at him and searches his eyes. Steve can feel that 'brush' across his mind just like yesterday with Charles and earlier when he first met her. Steve thinks of the good she could do, the people she could help save, and the evils she could stop… but only when she is ready. He will not force her to do anything she does not wish to do.
"That's a tempting offer." Jean starts then sighs. "I'll have to think about it and discuss it with Scott."
"Take your time, no rush." Steve says and nods his head. The three then sit in silence as Jean telekinetically makes breakfast for everyone in the house. After an hour has passed, there are two large serving platters piled high with golden waffles, a large plate piled with scrambled eggs, and another large dinner plate stacked with sausage links. Kurt teleports from his seat to the other side of the counter where he gets himself a plate, a fork, and pulls off four waffles for himself as well as a few links. He then walks to get a glass from the cupboard and then walks to the fridge which opens at his approach.
"Thank you." Kurt says as he looks happily to Jean. She nods her head at him before Kurt gets the milk out and pours himself a glass. He then grabs his plate with syrup covered waffles and teleports to the large dinning room next to the huge kitchen. Steve then gets up from the counter and fixes his own plate and gets himself some orange juice. He then joins Kurt in the large dinning room where two long tables run the length of the room in the center. Kurt is leaning forward more than anyone else would be… but considering he has a four foot long tail… Steve understands the reasoning of the posture. Steve then listens as Kurt whispers grace before he starts in on his waffles.
"You make me feel like I'm not talking to God enough." Steve says harmlessly as he sits. He looks at his food, gives a silent thanks to the Almighty following Kurt's lead, and then starts in on his own breakfast.
"Earlier… vhen you asked if I teach here… vell, I teach German to those who vish to learn… und… I act as the campus chaplain." Kurt starts then pauses as he sips at his milk. "I help the Professor vith counseling students as vell. Sometimes I forget myself und it builds until I have an episode like you vitnessed." Kurt adds meekly. He sighs in shame and Steve feels for the guy.
"It's okay. We are all only human. We stumble, we fall, we hide, we struggle, but as along as we get back up and keep going then we can overcome that which tries to hold us down." Steve says with a warm smile then eagerly devours his meal. Kurt nods as he chews his food at a slower pace.
"I see you've met Kurt." Logan says as he strolls to the table and sits down on the side opposite Steve and Kurt.
"Guten morgen, Herr Logan." Kurt says with a wane smile to Logan as he ducks his head.
"Mornin' Elf." Logan replies and Kurt chuckles at the nickname.
"Elf?" Steve questions as he raises a brow.
"It's the ears. Most of the kids around here call him that, so I picked it up." Logan says with a shrug of one shoulder.
"I can kinda see it." Steve says as he looks at Kurt then back at Logan. "Real Elves do have pointy ears and odd eyes that are black with glowing blue irises… which is weirder than the yellow." Steve says making casual conversation.
"Black eyes vith blue irises?" Kurt says in wonder.
"How do you know what real Elves look like?" Logan then asks skeptically.
"I read the file and looked at the video and photos of the Greenwich Invasion… plus Thor's intel is that they were Dark Elves. Some Elder Race from a very long time ago." Steve replies.
"So you really know the Norse God of Thunder?" Logan says with a wiry smirk.
"He's not a god." Steve and Kurt say together. They then look at each other surprised and start chuckling.
"Oh for Christ's sake… now there's two zealots around here." Logan says with a mock huff then chuckles at the two before digging into his own food.
Bruce wakes up feeling refreshed and surprisingly not antsy in the slightest like he normally does. He focuses inward for a second as Betsy has taught him too and he can feel the Hulk sound asleep it seems deep within. Bruce recalls the events of the day prior clearly. He has a moment to wonder if Hulk feels the same way after skirting his awareness. Bruce can feel a shift within. The now familiar stir of the Hulk fills his mind and rises to the surface.
'Yesterday was a good day.' Bruce then thinks and smiles throughout his being. He can feel the Hulk's agreement. It had been nice to see Hulk fans amongst the students (and a few teachers as well). Hulk got along well with Beast and wants to enjoy another run.
'Hulk like Purple Lady. Hulk want to hold her again.' Bruce hears inside his mind.
'We have to be nice to her… and the first step is remembering her name. You do remember her name, yes?' Bruce asks of the Other Guy as he gets up out of the bed he slept in.
'Hulk remember. Psylocke is her name.' Hulk replies.
"Close enough." Bruce says out loud after he throws a new dress shirt on. It is a dark forest green in color. Bruce then leaves the room. He follows the early rising students who file down the hallway towards the central part of the mansion. The kitchen is a bustle of activity as a line has formed so Bruce just files in awaiting his turn at getting to the fridge. Soon he has a glass of orange juice in hand and a plate stacked with waffles and some sausage links in the other. He finds a seat at one of the twin tables and begins eating. He is hungrier than he thought he'd be and so clears his plate in a matter of minutes.
"Hungry?" Comes a deep male voice and Bruce turns to see a much taller young man with his dark hair cropped close in the military style. His bright steel gray eyes are warm and friendly as he sits his massive muscled frame down across from Bruce.
"After breakfast here… do you wanna wrestle? As the big green guy, the Hulk, that is?" The young man then asks cutting straight to the point. Bruce blinks back his surprise but he can feel the Hulk's interest peak at the proposal.
"Why on Earth would you want to wrestle the Hulk? You could get seriously hurt." Bruce then says allowing his alarm to color his voice.
"I can take it." The young man says with a cocksure smirk as his skin changes from flesh to organic metal. "Call me Colossus." The young man then adds and lets his skin shift back to normal flesh.
"That was fascinating." Bruce says in awe as he watches the change. "Is it only your skin?" He then asks as his scientific curiosity takes over.
"My entire body, inside and out, changes. It makes me heavier, more durable, and a helluva lot stronger." Colossus says with a smile as he eats his food. He takes a gulp of his milk then adds, "I've been looking for a challenge for awhile now… and your green side will help with that." Bruce goes still as he contemplates this. He is curious to study Colossus' physiology… but Hulk may wind up killing him.
"I don't think it's a good-"
"Morning, Bruce." Betsy says as she sits down next to Dr. Banner munching on apple slices. He watches her curiously as she flicks her index finger and another slice falls off of the red-skinned fruit.
"I have some telekinetic talent." She answers his unspoken question with open honesty. Bruce starts at the sound of her voice. "You did very well yesterday and so did the Hulk." She then praises him. Bruce can sense Hulk's approval of the comment. 'You should take Colossus up on his offer. It is the perfect opportunity to practice your control and focus.' Bruce then hears her voice whisper through his mind. It is a gentle brush with no prodding.
"Okay…" Bruce says in a whisper and nods his head. He then looks up at Colossus with cautious brown eyes. "Let's take this outside." Bruce says firmly and stands then walks out briskly. Colossus grins and stands following the doctor out to the open grassy field behind the mansion. "All watchers remain here." Bruce says to everyone gathering about as he removes his glasses and dress shirt then hands those articles to Betsy. She and the few other on-lookers then stand at the edge of a courtyard lawn and garden area buffering the field while Bruce and Colossus walk out and away.
"This is a bad idea." Bruce says as he turns to face his challenger with some hesitancy. The young man 'metals-up' then smiles at Bruce as he takes a ready fighting stance. His silvery metal skin shines in the mid-morning light. "Guess there's no talking you out of this then." Bruce adds and sighs sadly as he lowers his head. 'Don't severally hurt him, please.' Bruce pleads to his alter-ego as the Hulk rushes fully to the surface. Bruce feels himself sink. He anchors to the sounds coming from around him… birds chirping, some of the on-lookers gasping even commenting. He can feel his skin, warming at the touch of the sun's rays, stretch as it bleeds to green while his muscles bulk up and bulge out. His bones lengthen and thicken until he grows to stand eight feet tall. In seconds, the Hulk is standing there hunched and smirking.
"Hulk ready to play with Metal Boy." Hulk grumbles out then rushes forward. He slams into Colossus in a second. The metal-skinned Mutant catches Hulks shoulders and resists only to be pushed back. His feet slide upon the grass then gouge ruts before he finally stops the Hulk when his feet hit a buried boulder just inches under the surface.
"My turn." Colossus says and pushes back. Hulk lets the shorter metal man push him… Bruce gages the young man's strength as Hulk resists. Hulk then pushes back and they stop abruptly. Colossus then shifts his weight and hooks an arm around Hulk's knee. He lifts until he has Hulk held over his head. The metal-skinned X-Man then hurls the Hulk away tossing him across the field. Hulk hits the grassy ground and catches it with a massive hand. He halts and smiles as he looks to Colossus. Bruce knows that Hulk is thinking of jumping back over there and smashing the little living statue into the ground.
'No, Hulk. We agreed not to hurt him.' Bruce thinks to his alter-ego.
'Not too severally!' Hulk answers and hops the distance to Colossus. The Mutant then rips his shirt off and the sun's glare blinds the Hulk momentarily. The green giant then takes a punch to the gut and is sent back rolling. He stops, shakes his head, and growls in anger. It is almost too overwhelming for Bruce as the Hulk rushes back to Colossus, grabs the shorter metal man by the wrist as he punches out, and whips him overhead to smash his back into the ground.
'Enough!' Bruce shouts and the Hulk releases Colossus' wrist and steps back. Colossus is stunned and so shakes his head as the on-lookers hurry out onto the open field.
"Hulk strongest there is!" Hulk shouts as he slams his fists into the ground kicking up dirt and grass. Colossus sits up slowly and lifts himself from the shallow indention his body made in the soil.
"I'm fine." Colossus says repeatedly to those gathering around him. One girl in particular with shoulder length dark brown hair keeps asking him if he is alright. "I'm fine, Kitty, really. I knew what I was getting into." Colossus then says as he rolls his shoulders and walks up to the Hulk.
"Sorry if I pissed ya off… and you are really strong." Colossus says with a genuine smile to the Hulk as he holds out his right hand. Hulk looks down at the offered hand confused.
'Grab his hand and shake. It's a show of respect… and trust.' Bruce says to the Hulk and lets flashes of memory arise to show the Hulk what to do. The Hulk slowly takes Colossus' hand and shakes it gently.
"Hulk sorry for smashing you too hard." Hulk says in apology. Colossus chuckles.
"It's nothing. I'm tougher than I look. Stunned me for a second though." Colossus says openly to the big green guy. "Ready for another round?" The Mutant then asks and an eager grin crosses the Hulk's big face.
"Wait!" Betsy says suddenly as she zones out for a second then looks to the mansion. "Something big is going down." She then adds and approaches the Hulk. "We need to go watch the news." She tells him and offers the green dress shirt. Hulk looks down at it and hesitates with the small woman next to him. He then sinks and Bruce rises to the surface once more. He feels his body shift and change back to his normal height of 5'8. He takes the dress shirt and his glasses then starts to follow Betsy away.
"Another time, Colossus." Bruce says to the metal-skinned young man as he starts off. Bruce follows Betsy back inside the mansion. They stop in the main living room where Steve is watching a news channel on the huge flat screen. Bruce freezes at what he sees upon the TV…
"The latest information to be revealed from the exposed S.H.I.E.L.D. intel dump is the identity of the giant green rage monster known simply as 'The Hulk'. Renowned physicist and medical physician, Dr. Bruce Banner… has been confirmed to be the true identity of the 'Incredible Hulk' and is now on the FBI's 'Most Wanted' list. If you see this man… please contact 911 immediately. Do not engage him in anyway. He is considered extremely dangerous." The formally dressed General says into the mics on his podium. His deep gravelly voice is calm and self-assured. Bruce recognizes this man immediately… General Thaddeus Ross a.k.a. General Thunderbolt.
Bruce frowns and shallows as a panic starts to well up deep within. A part of him wants to run. He knows if he stays here any longer the school will be put in danger. So he quickly approaches Steve who is seated upon the couch.
"I need to get out of here." Bruce says to Steve.
"Afraid someone's gonna turn ya in?" Steve asks the standing scientist.
"I don't wanna put everyone here in danger. I know this General Ross guy… he doesn't give up and he doesn't care who is in his way when he wants something." Bruce replies seriously.
"I hear ya, Bruce." Steve says sincerely then sighs. "Hawkeye left with the quinjet a little while ago. You'll have to wait until he gets back then you can get back to the Tower."
"You're staying?" Bruce asks as the Captain's words hit him.
"For awhile, yes… but I'll be back before you know it." Steve then says with a wane smile to the curly haired scientist.
"Do the others know?" Bruce then asks.
"Not yet… but they will here soon." Steve replies. Bruce drops the conversation there as he looks back at the TV and frowns disgustedly at his face being broadcast to the entire world in various stages of beard growth as well as clean-shaven. Now he can never hide anywhere like he used to.