I wrote like ten chapters in essentially just two sittings, guys. That's why updates have been so frequent lately. It's neat, huh? (On that note, I've outrun my lovely and scary beta, and all mistakes henceforth are entirely my own!)

Not Marvel.

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"Any questions?" Bruce looked over his glasses like he sometimes did when intensely focused, taking in the super soldier in front of him.

Steve half-smiled in response. "No, I think it's pretty clear. Claire explained why I need to remove my watch already."

"Yeah well, I'm still not too clear on that part," Bucky contradicted somewhat grumpily. He was sitting over by the wall, watching over the proceedings, body as taught as a bowstring.

"Different from the CT scan Bruce has already completed on everybody, the MRI works kinda like a magnet. Metal is a bad idea. Hence why he is dragging Steve off into the cellar - it's really heavy, it needs to be down there - and you can't come. Even Tony hasn't really designed non-magnetic metal yet."

"I'm sure he could if he wanted to," Bruce noted somewhat dryly, "but I imagine the havoc resulting from magnetism amuse him too much for him to consider ending it." Steve and Claire both laughed, and the original supersoldier casually let himself be led off by their resident team scientist.

Noticing how Bucky looked, staring after them as they left, Claire reached out a hand and - telegraphing her movements - she put it on his shoulder. "He'll be alright, you know. Doctor Erskine was a good man, and his team members were pretty humane too, the records prove it. Steve has no trauma about this sort of thing. And you know Bruce won't hurt him."

"I know," Bucky sighed. "It's just sort of hard to watch. I wish I wasn't so on edge by it, especially since Steve likes helping with this stuff, but I can't help it."

Claire bit her tongue, hesitated, and then asked hesitantly, "Would you like to be part of the research? I mean, if you could? I have found... things are rarely as black or white as they feel. It's... always complicated."

Bucky smiled at that, looking over at her with appreciation. "I'd say. In your world the Hulk is a cuddly pet bear and Tony Stark is this sweet, paternal guy, and hovering supersoldiers are just a nuisance to be ignored - or to be used for various utilitarian purposes." There was laughter in his voice.

"I'd like to help with what they're trying to do... It's... I have considered if something could change to make that ball of just, horror, in my stomach to disappear, you know? The lab coats freak me out, but a lot of the time you guys don't even wear them! And I know Bruce is a good guy, but he's just that kind of disciplined, quiet guy with a chart that the Hydra would ask to handle the Winter Soldier, amply backed up by drugs, restraints and guys with automatics, of course. That's partly why it's easier to cope with checks on the arm - no Hydra base I've ever heard of would even consider letting someone like Tony Stark in, I promise you that!"

Claire had listened under attentive, respectful silence, but at that last line she laughed. "Well, how about I do it? No lab coat, most of the tests can be done in minimal lab conditions. We'd love to get some stress figures on you - we could measure that in the gym. Only if you'd like, I want you to know that, if you don't want to I would never try to talk you into it..."

"I know." Bucky looked at her, considering for a moment. "They don't really believe women can think, actually... Okay. We can try some tests. Just you and me. I like Bruce, really I do, but in the lab he freaks me out." Claire had to laugh at that, but at least Bucky laughed with her.


Bruce walked into the main workshop at eleven pm to get a second opinion from Tony on some data, but stopped dead in the doorway. It took him several moments - even though he was a genius - just to truly comprehend what he saw.

Christina Aguilera's Dirty was blaring from the hidden speakers, currently at the line, "Still going at eight in the morning!" Claire was working on the Hulkbuster armour, hanging upside down from the ceiling in a harness, singing along with the song as she spun around in the air to reach her toolbox.

"Yeah, I think I taught her too well," Tony's voice came from behind, hopelessly amused.

Bruce turned slowly, already shaking his head sceptically. Tony stood behind him, looking more proud than anything.

"Looks like your little girl is all grown up," the scientist commented, holding back a smile that was even wider than his current one.

"On to the next!" The engineer winked.

"I think that's a little early. I think Natalia might want to learn to walk steadily on her feet or make toast before she learns rewiring," Bruce pointed out, but he knew Tony better than anyone, and so differently from most people, he knew better than to think the other genius was serious.

"I'd say never too young... but I'm not sure who I'm more scared off," Tony pointed out conversationally, leading the way out of the workshop, "Pepper or Natasha or Claire."

"They'd team up, and we'd all be toast," Bruce noted as casually, taking his glasses off to wipe them on his shirt.

"Exactly, Tony agreed, giving him a broad grin. "Now tell me, what's your crisis?"


Bruce, Tony and Clint for good measure kept completely clear of that whole side of the tower. Claire had made it very obvious that their help would not be appreciated, and somehow she managed be just as scary as Pepper when she did so. Maybe it was because Claire did this to them so much more rarely, but no one even got the idea of being disobedient.

Steve, much amused, was the only one who did get to observe, and he found himself tucked away in a chair in the lab, drawing as Claire attached electrodes to Bucky's skin for a stress test.

The former Winter Soldier looked a little nervous, but the more Claire chatted and dropped wires because she was, "Not this kind of a scientist!" the more he relaxed.

Claire was dressed in yet another t-shirt with the arc reactor on it, but she had matched it with a wide, soft blue skirt and her long hair fell down her shoulders completely free. Every time she bent closer as she completed her task, it brushed against Bucky; Steve, who was watching closely as he'd decided to paint her wearing all the blue, noticed his boyfriend looking a little calmer every time it did.

At the end of the day, they had more results to compare, and Bucky readily agreed to do it again.