Author's Note: I'll release the bonus review picture soon. Mainly because there's a whole lot of Q's to cover here. Nearly 1000 words worth. Gosh guys, thanks. :) ~Jazzy
P.S. Please keep on reviewing, you all are great!
Questions! (thanks to Loki'd, Bookworm290, and The273mileRunner for the Q's!)
Tryst, what does your half-immortal/half-human heritage mean for you? (Long life, hard to harm, etc.?)?
Tryst: Well, like any Asgardian, it is hard to injure me, but because of my mortal mother I can be killed. My father informs me that at this rate, I will live twice the normal lifespan as a mortal. However, since I am taking the Trial of Idunn, hopefully I will partake of the apples of Immortality, and become immortal as my mother has. I can assume that my cousin also retains these basic benefits of half-Asgardian parentage.
Lupe: What? What are we talking about? I wasn't listening…?
Tryst: Cousin, we were discussing Asgard!
Lupe: …Oh…
Lupe, have people always been slightly wary of you, even while you were growing up, or is this something you're learning to deal with only now, now that you know who your father is?
Lupe: I haven't had people really be scared or wary of me before. But since I did grow up without a dad, people would be a bit more cautious around me. I think they didn't want to mention the absence of my father. But people being antagonistic towards me is definitely a new thing.
Bane, how much do you know about Bruce? I assume you've never met, but have you seen pics/vids?
Bane: I knew a little about him. Yvonne had a few pictures of them, and S.H.I.E.L.D. would show me some pictures of the Hulk. Sometimes Yvonne would share a few memories she had of Bruce, but only rarely. He's a bit of a mystery to me.
Amy, what were your first impressions of your new teammates, and how have they changed/stayed the same since then?
Amelia: Hm…. Well when I first met Neo, I thought he was a nice, albeit shy, guy. And so far he hasn't proven me wrong. Anubis seemed headstrong and seemed to keep her brother in check, which she still does. And I hate to say this, but I thought Everest would be a major jerk. However, he isn't nearly as bad as I thought. But he is a flirt.
Everest: You know you like it. *wags eyebrows*
Lupe: Everest- leave the girl alone. You've got your own questions.
Everest: Fine. Spoilsport.
Amelia: *ahem* As I was saying… I thought Bane was a bit aloof and disconnected. But when I learned about the meds, it really helped me understand. He's pretty nice, and I'm sure one day he'll learn to control his emotions without external help. Lupe… I'll admit, at first I was a bit wary of him. However, he's nothing like his father. Living in a father's shadow is something I can understand, so I'm not going to judge him for Loki's misdeeds. And finally there's Tryst. I thought she was loud… She still is.
Everest, are your school friends aware that your parents are master assassins and SHEILD agents (ex-agents?)?
Everest: Haha… No. Y'see, Anubis and I go to this uber-special private school, and you have to be pretty rich and/or influential to get in. We actually have a cover story there, that our parents are some sort of diplomats… and yeah.
Anubis: You mean you don't remember our cover story?! You idiot!
Everest: Psh… I'm fine. Besides, I'll be out of that joint in a year. And our friends don't know a thing. If they did know… that'd be bad. *laughs*
Neo, is Pepper considered your mom the way Tony is your dad? Did you have a 'normal' family life growing up (dinners together, holidays celebrated, etc.)?
Neo: Well, I always considered her my mother, even though she and Tony aren't married yet. However, in 6 months they will be. I suppose I had a normalish childhood. Considering the fact that my dad is a genius and a billionaire and occasionally a superhero… Pepper always tried to get us to hang out together as a family. Which occasionally meant dragging me and dad out of our labs to eat.
Anubis, how much did you hear about the Avengers saving the day while you were growing up (at home, at school, in the community, etc.)?
Anubis: A lot more than I was comfortable with. But I got used to it. But by the time I was actually able to talk fluently, the Avengers had broken up-
Everest: Don't talk about those days, An. Remember?
Anubis: Yeah… As I was saying, I heard a lot of it even after those events. Mainly about 'how this would never have happened if the Avengers had just…' And that stuff. *shrugs*All my friends were obsessed with them at one point or another. I had this one friend who really liked Hawkeye. I stopped hanging out with her after awhile. It was… weird.
Everest, do you play any sports at school?
Everest: Kinda. I never was into baseball, football, or basketball. So I never was able to do any real sports at school. But outside of school I did tae kwon do, aikido, karate, some wrestling and boxing, and learned some basic knife throwing and gun shooting from my mom.
Neo, do you get along well with your adopted father?
Neo: I get along well enough. We're really different. He's a bit more outgoing and loves to hear himself talk. I'm a bit more reserved. However, we both share a love for technology, which usually transcends the differences between us.
Tryst, what are your brothers like?
Tryst: It is a very lengthy tale to describe them fully. But Zeph and Zane are exceedingly energetic. They enjoy disturbing me and my companions when training. They are 6 years old currently. It is only a matter of time until they're crowned. I believe they will be the twin gods of wind or something. It is fitting, for they are fast and flighty. My father loves them, they must remind him of himself.
Lupe, what are your hobbies?
Lupe: Well, before all this craziness happened, I had a few things I liked to do. I never liked sports, so I stayed away from those. I loved playing a good game of chess and was pretty good with a rubix cube.
Tryst: Cousin, what is this Cube of Rubix?
Lupe: …It's like a puzzle, Tryst. I also loved to read a good book in my spare time, and my mom insisted on me taking a bunch of extra college classes all the time.
Amelia, why don't you like soda?
Amelia: It's just too fizzy and sugary and caffeinated. *shudders* I much prefer apple juice or water…
Anubis, what kind of music do you like?
Anubis: I love upbeat music, especially whenever I'm working out. Anything with a good beat, typically pop music, sometimes I listen to techno.
Everest: And Justin Bieber.
Anubis: DO NOT! Don't insult me like that!
Bane, how were you schooled?
Bane: I never was able to go to a school with people in it, because of my condition. So I was homeschooled by Yvonne and a few private tutors.
Everest: Ah! So that's why you're so antisocial.
Bane: Uh, no. That's because I never met anyone my age, because S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't let me. It has nothing to do with being homeschooled.
Everest: Pfft, sure.
Amelia: Erm… I'm homeschooled.
Everest: *eye twitches* Errrr….. forget that.
Lupe, have you ever thrown a knife?
Lupe: Nope! But I have carried a pocketknife around before. I didn't really grow up in the best of neighborhoods, so I saw fit to protect myself. Luckily I never had to actually use it…
Chapter 13: Father and Son? Try Man and Clone
At the airport…
"I don't suppose you brought a car?" Bruce asked Yvonne hurriedly, both of them dragging their luggage behind them as fast as possible, heading towards the airport's exit.
"No, I had to ditch my car, and I can't use one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s…" she frowned. The automatic door slid open. "But don't worry, I'll take care of it." She ran up to one of the taxis lined up in front of the airport, and hopped in the one that was first. An annoyed man quickly complained, but was shoved out of the way by Yvonne.
"Hey! You can't do that!" The man shouted, as Yvonne tossed his luggage out of the cab. The cab driver stood up.
"Yes I can," Yvonne said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a S.H.I.E.L.D. ID. She then grabbed a few hundred dollars bills and gave it to the man. "I work for the government, and I need this vehicle." She turned to the cab driver. "Your services are not required," she said. "Bruce- put your stuff in the back, we need to leave, stat."
She hopped into the driver's seat that was vacated by the taxi driver, who was just now realizing that his vehicle was being stolen. Bruce quickly placed the suitcases in the back seat, and sat in the passenger seat before the cab driver could come to his senses.
"You can't do this!" The cab driver yelled, "You cannot steal my cab!"
"Here," she said hurriedly. "Just take this, I'll return the cab later," and threw more money at him, before speeding off towards downtown.
As she entered the freeway, Bruce turned to her. "Wow Yvonne…" he said, his voice impressed. "I didn't know you had that in you…"
She shrugged. "Bane means the world to me. I have to go save him." She pressed the accelerator, going way over the speed limit. "He's like my son. And a parent would do anything for their child…"
6.
Bane's mind was completely cleared, for once in his life. The sedatives would only fog up his mind, making his emotions inaccessible, and his mind dulled. Now, he felt whole.
He could see everything clearly, and although he couldn't process thought very well, he immediately sensed everyone here was a foe. A boy with glasses looked at him helplessly, "Bane… calm down… you have to calm down…" he said, his voice shaking. Who was this person? Why did he know his name?
Bane snarled at him, stretching out his muscles. He could feel his hair brush the ceiling. Inside of him, he could feel his rage and sadness boiling. All the emotions he once suppressed were being unleashed. All the years that he had dulled his feelings down… all the times he had wished to feel something… now he could. His life was clear now. And that clarity was priceless, even if he lost himself…
And he was finding himself at the same time. Yes, he'd changed a few times, but that was when he was young. He could barely remember it. But changing this time… he greeted the Hulk like he was an old friend. Although the smallest part of Bane struggled. It told him to stop.
These people are your friends, Bane argued softly in his mind.
Hulk has no friends, he snarled back.
Stop this, this isn't you! You are so much more than this! Don't give in to your feelings! Bane's voice protested.
And life with S.H.I.E.L.D. is better? No feelings?
Bane paused. Maybe they went too far… But it was for the public's safety! You can kill people like this, and you'll only regret it later… Please… go back.
No.
…What?
No. Hulk repeated. Hulk never comes out. It's Hulk's turn now…
He took a step forward. Cautiously testing out his weight.
The building was strong. It held up. Now Bane didn't have the time to wonder why it physically held, but obviously it was built to hold up against something as weighty as himself. He looked around the room at the young humans who were there.
A flash of red caught his attention. One of the humans had red hair, and seemed to be injured. Good. Easier target than the one with the glasses. Bane gave a roar, before stomping over. The boy tripped and stumbled, all while limping along. He jumped over a broken ring, and tried to push some weight over in Bane's path, but it was all futile. He couldn't run from Bane for long…
Stop! These are your friends! Don't do this to yourself… Bane's voice returned.
Go away, Hulk dismissed Bane.
"Ev!" A girl shouted. "Watch out!" However, it was too late. The boy was running out of room, and was backed against the wall. Bane vaguely noticed an older human trying to attack him. It was little more than a tickle.
Bane reached out for the boy, and grasped him, preparing to fling him against the wall. But he was stopped when suddenly a beam of bright light caught him in the chest. He dropped his catch and looked for the source of the light. The girl who had shouted earlier was streaming the light from her hands. It didn't really hurt Bane much, but it was an irritant he had to get rid of.
He walked over towards her, waving his hands to get rid of the light. With one grand swoop, he pushed out his hand, and knocked the girl over, watching as she hit the ground. The light was gone.
Somewhere deep inside his mind, Bane was crying.
1.
Everest laid on the ground, unmoving. His ribs felt crushed and he was breathing raggedly. Somewhere, he could hear the screams of Anubis. He tried to get up, but only felt himself falling back down. The woman from earlier ran over to him.
"We need to get you out of here," she said quickly.
"-Bhert… An-Anu…Bis…" He said feebly.
"Don't worry, Nato's got it. She won't get hurt," she promised. She quickly lifted him up, Everest wasn't sure how, and carried him out, to a more secluded corner of the room, before pressing the elevator button.
Everest could feel himself slowly drifting away, his mind falling into unconsciousness. Stop it, fainting is too wussy for you to do! Think of Anubis! But it was futile. The stress and pain being experienced by his body was too much for him to bear, and he slipped into oblivion…
4.
Neo was desperately trying to take control of the situation. Agent Nato had a handgun, why he had been carrying one in the first place, Neo wasn't sure. Wasn't Nato supposed to be a martial arts master? As the older man discharged his weapon against Bane, which was extremely ineffective, Neo helped the others get to a safer place.
"Anubis! You need to get out of there!" He yelled.
"I can't!" She said, her face scrunched up from effort. She continuously shot beams of light at the Hulk, but that plan had backfired, only making the Hulk angrier and more prone to attack her. "If I stop, he goes after you all!"
"You'll die if you keep this up!" Neo rummaged around the room, but in vain. His Mach suit wasn't on this floor. "JARVIS! Call S.H.I.E.L.D., and get my dad up here!" He commanded. The AI quickly set off to do the tasks appointed to him.
"Sir, I have notified both. Master Stark is on his way now," the crisp British voice said. JARVIS was calm, even though chaos surrounded him.
"Daughter of Clint! GET OUT!" Neo spun around to see Tryst push Anubis out of the way, as Hulk swiped at her. Tryst fell harshly on the ground, but stood up quickly, brushing herself off.
"Tryst, what are you-" Lupe started to say, but his cousin interrupted him.
"Cousin! I am stronger than you! I shall distract the mighty beast, while you escort the others to safety!" Tryst bellowed, making sure Anubis got out of the way. Neo ran over to the others, and beckoned them to the front of the room, where the elevator was. Everest and the older woman had already escaped. Neo jammed the elevator button down, and waited with baited breath for the lift to arrive.
As it finally arrived, he ushered the others inside. Amelia was the last one, shouting out advice and tips to Tryst, who was becoming little more than Hulk's punching bag. Lupe had his hands covering his eyes, as Tryst was roughly smashed into the wall. Neo hurriedly pressed the close button and the remaining 4 of them, and Agent Nato, descended into safety.
The last thing he saw before the doors closed was Tryst trying to escape the clutches of Hulk. The boy who only 10 minutes ago they had been laughing and joking around with.
5.
Tryst stretched out one hand, willing Mjolnir to come to her. Her body ached more than it ever had before, and she knew if she did this much longer, she couldn't take the strain and her half-mortal body would die.
"Friend Bane! Listen to me!" She said, wincing, quickly dodging a punch from Hulk. He was larger and stronger, but she had speed on her side. "You are no monster! Come back to your senses!" She ducked as a tray of weights went flying above her head.
After far too long a wait, Mjolnir soared into her hand.
She looked at the Hulk, the barest whisper of a smile coming on her face. "Now it's an even fight."
At S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ…
"Sir…" An Agent turned around in his swivel chair, facing Nick Fury, who was doing his typical rounds around H.Q., making sure everyone was doing their job. "There's a problem…"
"What?" Fury asked, bending down to see the monitor.
"Bane…" the man stuttered, "He's hulked out."
"What?" Fury said incredulously. His voice raised in volume as he spoke. He took a deep breath. "Send in the Team. We can't risk him destroying the city."
"But sir," The Agent said, "The Hulk can't be destroyed."
Fury looked at him grimly, "Yes… Yes Bane can. And the Team knows how."