p class="MsoNormal"I read through the night, grabbing some sleep as dawn approached. Only an hour; but it was enough. I read all there was on the human body, biology, diseases, gamma rays, chemistry and the human mind. I think I reached the core of the problem./p
p class="MsoNormal"I sat on Tony's bench leaning over the device, resting my weight on it while I tried to fix some wiring together. It was fiddly and since my injury three days ago my hand didn't cooperate as much as I'd like. I was still healing and that annoyed me even more./p
p class="MsoNormal"I had been here for a few hours, the house quiet when I arrived. Jarvis helped me reach the lab by myself and I settled down. This damn thing was nearly done. But my back was going to hurt if I kept hunched like this. So I leaned to the side, letting my left knee take all my weight as I finally got the two pieces to join./p
p class="MsoNormal"A whistle made me jump. I looked around and the five of them were stood there watching me. I frowned at them and then hunched back over to check every little piece. Happy I clambered off the bench and pointed to the device. I saw Eric and Jane arrive as they all moved to the device looking at it./p
p class="MsoNormal""You think this will fix Bruce?" Tony asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""No. This will pinpoint the problem with Dr Banner. I think his body is finally trying to heal from the gamma radiation. But the Hulk won't let him and that's causing a conflict in his personality, body and control. I think the Hulk thinks he's doing a good job himself, but his body knows the gamma radiation isn't supposed to be there."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That is the silliest thing I have ever heard." Tony said. I looked to him and realised he was crushing my invention. He was crushing my idea behind it. I ignored him and looked down at it and knew it would work. I saw the popsicle, Steve, give him a look and Tony shrugged. But I felt doubt creep its way in, and then anger. I smothered it, ignoring him completely as I pressed the big red shiny button and watched it light up. It loaded and I grabbed my tablet and started typing. I ignored their stares and the way Natasha was glaring at Tony. Using the Wi-Fi I connected to my device and uploaded all information and theories relating to Dr Bruce Banner. The device uploaded the data to its own hard drive. As it did that I thought my next step was DNA. It was slow loading, the Wi-Fi pitiful for what I required. So I left the tablet next to the device and rummaged around for some sort of pot. A small glass beaker with a rubber flat lid was amongst piles of equipment. I spotted a sharp piece of metal and grabbed that, fisting it tight so I could leave the lab without seeming suspicious. I knew if I asked for a needle they'd get suspicious. I saw the way they watched me as I moved. They were waiting constantly for me to screw up so they could throw me out of a window or something. I had survived a plane fall but they'd still give it their best shot. I do believe Tony would be the one to do the throwing too. Although it'd be after Steve gave a little argument first./p
p class="MsoNormal"I'd still be plummeting to my death. I couldn't even hurt them because of their connection to Loki. Although they didn't particularly like Loki either. Which was strange as Loki was Thor's brother. I knew of Loki's deed but he saved Midgard. I cussed in my head. Earth. It's called earth. I wish I didn't put up with Loki's strange wordings. He even called the fridge a cold box. And the freezer an ice box. I once referred to it at that and they had an hours lecture from Miah about the language English and how I need to learn it properly. It wasn't my fault. It was Loki's. He always said the strangest things. I spent so much time with him I didn't even realise I was doing it and saying the same things he did./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI pushed Loki's anger at my leaving to the side and focused on Bruce Banner. I liked him a lot and I hated seeing him so ill. It wasn't something I liked and I needed to help him. He had always been the voice of reason. I felt like he was a sensible one to have around when they all got hot headed about the past. They always seemed to forget their own past when they came to judging others./p
p class="MsoNormal"But then again, Miah had suggested maybe I got defensive because I didn't want people to judge my past. I had killed a nurse or two. But I didn't regret any of my past. So I saw no reason to defend others because of my past. It was my past and it was necessary to be where I was. I brushed past the spectators and walked leisurely towards the stairs. I jogged down, skipping two at a time, to the main room and towards Dr Banner. Seven floors. A floor for Clint just below the roof. A floor for Nat. A spare floor left empty. A floor for Thor and then one for Steve. A floor for Tony with Pepper. There was the lab. Then there was the kitchen and main room. A large bathroom and cinema room too. Then below was Banner's lab. Below that was the spare rooms for Jane, Darcy and Eric. But they didn't count as Tony's home as much as they were part of guest requirements./p
p class="MsoNormal"I opened the door and the doctor looked up at me from squiggles on a piece of white paper. I moved towards him with my beaker and he looked to behind me./p
p class="MsoNormal""You need someone else here. I can't control the other guy. Someone else needs to be here just in case I lose control." He spoke softly but desperate./p
p class="MsoNormal""If you lose control doctor, no matter who is here you can easily accomplish killing me and them. Relax, you losing control does not worry me." I simply said sitting opposite him. He resumed to bring his legs in front of him and peering at me from behind his knees./p
p class="MsoNormal""I could kill you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes." I simply said. He paused not expecting that answer./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't want to." He admitted./p
p class="MsoNormal""For that I am grateful." He didn't look assured and I thought to how Miah always managed to soothe those at home. I relaxed my posture and smiled at him. "Doctor, I am not afraid of you. I do not believe you'll hurt me intentionally."/p
p class="MsoNormal""And unintentionally?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What will happen will happen. I do not worry about that and neither should you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""But what if,"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What if you lose control? Then either I don't get hurt or I do. Either you can't control him or you can. I am not worried. Relax Doctor."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Bruce." He whispered. "My name is Bruce."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay, Bruce." I smiled again at him. "Relax ok? I am not here to hurt you." I then frowned. "Okay, I am lying. I need some blood. Not much, just the tiniest amount. But I need it. And I can't do it without hurting you. But I don't want to hurt you. If you understand."/p
p class="MsoNormal"His eyes flashed green. "I do. But the other guy won't let you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""But he will let you." I held my hand out and saw his mood shift from stiff to barely contained fury. He glanced at the metal object. I put it on the floor next to him, with the beaker and leaned away from him. He watched me; struggling for control. "I am not here to hurt you. This is your decision. It is up to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Me?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You." I agreed./p
p class="MsoNormal""If he comes out, he may hurt you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""He may. But right now, something is hurting you either way. I'm trying to fix it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""At your expense?" He asked me strained./p
p class="MsoNormal""Doctor, my life is short as it is. I do not worry about what may come."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Even death?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Death is over shortly. Life is the longest pain to encounter. It is also the sweetest pain." He looked at me strangely. "Bruce, do not worry about me. I am a big girl as Miah says. I can look after myself. I do not need people to worry about me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""But I worry I will hurt people."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't. The only ones you will hurt is yourself."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm stronger now I am unstable. The other guy isn't fond of you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I am not here to please the other guy Bruce. I am here to save your life and keep you alive. That's all I want. Plus I am stronger now I am stable. We shall balance one another."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He paused and stared at the metal. Then he breathed deeply after holding his breath. He flipped the lid off the beaker and passed it to me. I took it and he bared his arm from me to see. Then with one deep breath and a worried look he dug the metal in and drew it up. Blood swelled and ran around the curve of his arm. I pressed the beaker against his skin. The blood dripped steadily into the beaker. I saw him clutch the metal tightly and shifting my weight so the beaker balanced on my knee I took his right hand with both of mine. I uncurled his fingers and took the metal from them. He hadn't cut his hand luckily. I put the metal shrapnel back on the floor and patted his hand. He curled it up to him, breathing deeply. After a minute of the dripping I pressed the palm of my hand hard to his injury. He flinched and stiffened but I gave him a soft smile and kept my hand pressed over it; stemming the bleeding./p
p class="MsoNormal""You are brave for a young lady." He said to me watching me as I examined his arm for a trickle of blood. I felt the warmth of his blood against the palm of my hand; but it didn't bother me as he wasn't in pain./p
p class="MsoNormal""Brave? I'm not brave." I replied smiling. I lifted a finger and saw the blood trickle slightly. I put pressure again; sliding my thumb across his knuckles. He started to relax as the movement soothed him. Miah stroked Pauline's hair to get her to settle. She said repetitive movement helped like rocking a baby. I didn't know rocking a baby helped, but I took her word for it. I kept my thumb moving across his knuckles as he closed his eyes and rested his head back./p
p class="MsoNormal""You are." He said softly. "You come here; against your better judgement, to help me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're important to Thor. And he's important to Loki. Who is important to me. So if coming here, and helping you is something that will not hurt Thor, which will not hurt Loki, is the right thing to do I will do it. Anyways, I don't think I remember you doing anything against me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""And the others?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Miah says I lack the part in my brain where I am self-conscious."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Example?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"I thought about it. "Example one. I wear my small clothes. And show my scars. Miah says normal people try to cover them up. Try to keep their body covered for a proper image. But I don't still understand why people would do that. Scars are scars. They are mine, and they don't make me uncomfortable, so why should they others? And my body is mine. I work better when my clothing isn't getting snagged on wires and metal. Why does that bother others that I show skin?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Social dictation says you must."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Social dictation says I must talk to people. But I don't like talking to people. Some people are stupid and say stupid things. But they are often rude and nasty too. Why should I talk to idiots? I don't like talking. And I shouldn't have to talk unless I need to."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Why are you talking to me?" He opened his eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal""You asked me a question." I pointed out./p
p class="MsoNormal""But you don't have to answer."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No, but I want to. That's the difference."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Tell me another example."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Another example? Take yesterday. Tony said you may relax around me because you don't particular care if you kill me." His eyes darted open./p
p class="MsoNormal""That isn't true."/p
p class="MsoNormal"I shrugged. "The example is that should have upset me, frightened me, or worried me. But it doesn't."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't want to kill you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't…"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Enya, I don't want to hurt you." He seemed panicked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Bruce," I growled, "I never said you did."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Tony's lying."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Tony was theorizing because he doesn't trust me. He doesn't particularly like me close to Pepper. He sees me as a danger."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't…"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Bruce." He focused on me. "I didn't say you did. My point was that it didn't bother me. I don't have that part of me that says it did. Because I don't care what Tony thinks. I don't care what anybody thinks. You. Miah. Loki. I don't."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Why?" He asked softly./p
p class="MsoNormal""Nobody has ever cared what I think."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Loki,"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Loki used me as a tool. Before that I was a weapon. Now I am another tool again." I ignored his sympathising look and lifted my hand up. Gently I smeared the left over blood and looked at his arm. The cut stopped bleeding. "You'll be ok." I grabbed the lid and jammed it over the top of the beaker. I picked up the metal shard and gave him a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""Thank you, for talking to me." I nodded and then left him, looking at his cut. He may be a doctor, but not in the save a life concept. I shut the door quietly and moved back to the lab, not seeing anyone on my travels. There I waited for the final upload before placing a tiny amount of blood into the glass vial attached. The machine took the vial into its port and started analysing it. That would have to run for a while. I yawned and picked up my tablet and started reading more information; awaiting the hours to pass by./p
p class="MsoNormal"I sat on Tony's bench leaning over the device, resting my weight on it while I tried to fix some wiring together. It was fiddly and since my injury three days ago my hand didn't cooperate as much as I'd like. I was still healing and that annoyed me even more./p
p class="MsoNormal"I had been here for a few hours, the house quiet when I arrived. Jarvis helped me reach the lab by myself and I settled down. This damn thing was nearly done. But my back was going to hurt if I kept hunched like this. So I leaned to the side, letting my left knee take all my weight as I finally got the two pieces to join./p
p class="MsoNormal"A whistle made me jump. I looked around and the five of them were stood there watching me. I frowned at them and then hunched back over to check every little piece. Happy I clambered off the bench and pointed to the device. I saw Eric and Jane arrive as they all moved to the device looking at it./p
p class="MsoNormal""You think this will fix Bruce?" Tony asked./p
p class="MsoNormal""No. This will pinpoint the problem with Dr Banner. I think his body is finally trying to heal from the gamma radiation. But the Hulk won't let him and that's causing a conflict in his personality, body and control. I think the Hulk thinks he's doing a good job himself, but his body knows the gamma radiation isn't supposed to be there."/p
p class="MsoNormal""That is the silliest thing I have ever heard." Tony said. I looked to him and realised he was crushing my invention. He was crushing my idea behind it. I ignored him and looked down at it and knew it would work. I saw the popsicle, Steve, give him a look and Tony shrugged. But I felt doubt creep its way in, and then anger. I smothered it, ignoring him completely as I pressed the big red shiny button and watched it light up. It loaded and I grabbed my tablet and started typing. I ignored their stares and the way Natasha was glaring at Tony. Using the Wi-Fi I connected to my device and uploaded all information and theories relating to Dr Bruce Banner. The device uploaded the data to its own hard drive. As it did that I thought my next step was DNA. It was slow loading, the Wi-Fi pitiful for what I required. So I left the tablet next to the device and rummaged around for some sort of pot. A small glass beaker with a rubber flat lid was amongst piles of equipment. I spotted a sharp piece of metal and grabbed that, fisting it tight so I could leave the lab without seeming suspicious. I knew if I asked for a needle they'd get suspicious. I saw the way they watched me as I moved. They were waiting constantly for me to screw up so they could throw me out of a window or something. I had survived a plane fall but they'd still give it their best shot. I do believe Tony would be the one to do the throwing too. Although it'd be after Steve gave a little argument first./p
p class="MsoNormal"I'd still be plummeting to my death. I couldn't even hurt them because of their connection to Loki. Although they didn't particularly like Loki either. Which was strange as Loki was Thor's brother. I knew of Loki's deed but he saved Midgard. I cussed in my head. Earth. It's called earth. I wish I didn't put up with Loki's strange wordings. He even called the fridge a cold box. And the freezer an ice box. I once referred to it at that and they had an hours lecture from Miah about the language English and how I need to learn it properly. It wasn't my fault. It was Loki's. He always said the strangest things. I spent so much time with him I didn't even realise I was doing it and saying the same things he did./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI pushed Loki's anger at my leaving to the side and focused on Bruce Banner. I liked him a lot and I hated seeing him so ill. It wasn't something I liked and I needed to help him. He had always been the voice of reason. I felt like he was a sensible one to have around when they all got hot headed about the past. They always seemed to forget their own past when they came to judging others./p
p class="MsoNormal"But then again, Miah had suggested maybe I got defensive because I didn't want people to judge my past. I had killed a nurse or two. But I didn't regret any of my past. So I saw no reason to defend others because of my past. It was my past and it was necessary to be where I was. I brushed past the spectators and walked leisurely towards the stairs. I jogged down, skipping two at a time, to the main room and towards Dr Banner. Seven floors. A floor for Clint just below the roof. A floor for Nat. A spare floor left empty. A floor for Thor and then one for Steve. A floor for Tony with Pepper. There was the lab. Then there was the kitchen and main room. A large bathroom and cinema room too. Then below was Banner's lab. Below that was the spare rooms for Jane, Darcy and Eric. But they didn't count as Tony's home as much as they were part of guest requirements./p
p class="MsoNormal"I opened the door and the doctor looked up at me from squiggles on a piece of white paper. I moved towards him with my beaker and he looked to behind me./p
p class="MsoNormal""You need someone else here. I can't control the other guy. Someone else needs to be here just in case I lose control." He spoke softly but desperate./p
p class="MsoNormal""If you lose control doctor, no matter who is here you can easily accomplish killing me and them. Relax, you losing control does not worry me." I simply said sitting opposite him. He resumed to bring his legs in front of him and peering at me from behind his knees./p
p class="MsoNormal""I could kill you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes." I simply said. He paused not expecting that answer./p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't want to." He admitted./p
p class="MsoNormal""For that I am grateful." He didn't look assured and I thought to how Miah always managed to soothe those at home. I relaxed my posture and smiled at him. "Doctor, I am not afraid of you. I do not believe you'll hurt me intentionally."/p
p class="MsoNormal""And unintentionally?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What will happen will happen. I do not worry about that and neither should you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""But what if,"/p
p class="MsoNormal""What if you lose control? Then either I don't get hurt or I do. Either you can't control him or you can. I am not worried. Relax Doctor."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Bruce." He whispered. "My name is Bruce."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay, Bruce." I smiled again at him. "Relax ok? I am not here to hurt you." I then frowned. "Okay, I am lying. I need some blood. Not much, just the tiniest amount. But I need it. And I can't do it without hurting you. But I don't want to hurt you. If you understand."/p
p class="MsoNormal"His eyes flashed green. "I do. But the other guy won't let you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""But he will let you." I held my hand out and saw his mood shift from stiff to barely contained fury. He glanced at the metal object. I put it on the floor next to him, with the beaker and leaned away from him. He watched me; struggling for control. "I am not here to hurt you. This is your decision. It is up to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Me?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""You." I agreed./p
p class="MsoNormal""If he comes out, he may hurt you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""He may. But right now, something is hurting you either way. I'm trying to fix it."/p
p class="MsoNormal""At your expense?" He asked me strained./p
p class="MsoNormal""Doctor, my life is short as it is. I do not worry about what may come."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Even death?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Death is over shortly. Life is the longest pain to encounter. It is also the sweetest pain." He looked at me strangely. "Bruce, do not worry about me. I am a big girl as Miah says. I can look after myself. I do not need people to worry about me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""But I worry I will hurt people."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't. The only ones you will hurt is yourself."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm stronger now I am unstable. The other guy isn't fond of you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I am not here to please the other guy Bruce. I am here to save your life and keep you alive. That's all I want. Plus I am stronger now I am stable. We shall balance one another."/p
p class="MsoNormal"He paused and stared at the metal. Then he breathed deeply after holding his breath. He flipped the lid off the beaker and passed it to me. I took it and he bared his arm from me to see. Then with one deep breath and a worried look he dug the metal in and drew it up. Blood swelled and ran around the curve of his arm. I pressed the beaker against his skin. The blood dripped steadily into the beaker. I saw him clutch the metal tightly and shifting my weight so the beaker balanced on my knee I took his right hand with both of mine. I uncurled his fingers and took the metal from them. He hadn't cut his hand luckily. I put the metal shrapnel back on the floor and patted his hand. He curled it up to him, breathing deeply. After a minute of the dripping I pressed the palm of my hand hard to his injury. He flinched and stiffened but I gave him a soft smile and kept my hand pressed over it; stemming the bleeding./p
p class="MsoNormal""You are brave for a young lady." He said to me watching me as I examined his arm for a trickle of blood. I felt the warmth of his blood against the palm of my hand; but it didn't bother me as he wasn't in pain./p
p class="MsoNormal""Brave? I'm not brave." I replied smiling. I lifted a finger and saw the blood trickle slightly. I put pressure again; sliding my thumb across his knuckles. He started to relax as the movement soothed him. Miah stroked Pauline's hair to get her to settle. She said repetitive movement helped like rocking a baby. I didn't know rocking a baby helped, but I took her word for it. I kept my thumb moving across his knuckles as he closed his eyes and rested his head back./p
p class="MsoNormal""You are." He said softly. "You come here; against your better judgement, to help me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""You're important to Thor. And he's important to Loki. Who is important to me. So if coming here, and helping you is something that will not hurt Thor, which will not hurt Loki, is the right thing to do I will do it. Anyways, I don't think I remember you doing anything against me."/p
p class="MsoNormal""And the others?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Miah says I lack the part in my brain where I am self-conscious."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Example?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"I thought about it. "Example one. I wear my small clothes. And show my scars. Miah says normal people try to cover them up. Try to keep their body covered for a proper image. But I don't still understand why people would do that. Scars are scars. They are mine, and they don't make me uncomfortable, so why should they others? And my body is mine. I work better when my clothing isn't getting snagged on wires and metal. Why does that bother others that I show skin?"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Social dictation says you must."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Social dictation says I must talk to people. But I don't like talking to people. Some people are stupid and say stupid things. But they are often rude and nasty too. Why should I talk to idiots? I don't like talking. And I shouldn't have to talk unless I need to."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Why are you talking to me?" He opened his eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal""You asked me a question." I pointed out./p
p class="MsoNormal""But you don't have to answer."/p
p class="MsoNormal""No, but I want to. That's the difference."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Tell me another example."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Another example? Take yesterday. Tony said you may relax around me because you don't particular care if you kill me." His eyes darted open./p
p class="MsoNormal""That isn't true."/p
p class="MsoNormal"I shrugged. "The example is that should have upset me, frightened me, or worried me. But it doesn't."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't want to kill you."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't…"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Enya, I don't want to hurt you." He seemed panicked./p
p class="MsoNormal""Bruce," I growled, "I never said you did."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Tony's lying."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Tony was theorizing because he doesn't trust me. He doesn't particularly like me close to Pepper. He sees me as a danger."/p
p class="MsoNormal""I don't…"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Bruce." He focused on me. "I didn't say you did. My point was that it didn't bother me. I don't have that part of me that says it did. Because I don't care what Tony thinks. I don't care what anybody thinks. You. Miah. Loki. I don't."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Why?" He asked softly./p
p class="MsoNormal""Nobody has ever cared what I think."/p
p class="MsoNormal""Loki,"/p
p class="MsoNormal""Loki used me as a tool. Before that I was a weapon. Now I am another tool again." I ignored his sympathising look and lifted my hand up. Gently I smeared the left over blood and looked at his arm. The cut stopped bleeding. "You'll be ok." I grabbed the lid and jammed it over the top of the beaker. I picked up the metal shard and gave him a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal""Thank you, for talking to me." I nodded and then left him, looking at his cut. He may be a doctor, but not in the save a life concept. I shut the door quietly and moved back to the lab, not seeing anyone on my travels. There I waited for the final upload before placing a tiny amount of blood into the glass vial attached. The machine took the vial into its port and started analysing it. That would have to run for a while. I yawned and picked up my tablet and started reading more information; awaiting the hours to pass by./p