Hey, guys, I'm here with a new update! This chapter is centered around Bruce's POV. I'm hoping I have his personality correct but if you see a problem let me know. The chapter isn't too long for a reason since I'm saving the more important content for the upcoming chapters.

Like always enjoy and I do not own Marvel.

I wasn't against helping people when they're in need. That's why when I was in Kolkata, I would help those who were sick and in pain. When S.H.I.E.L.D. asked for my help, I was hesitant at first since I knew that the only reason they wanted me is because of the other guy. Of course, they needed my help finding the cube, but I knew that wasn't the only reason I would be there. In the end, everything turned out well, and now I'm living in Stark towers for the foreseeable future. Still, I'm ready to leave in a moment's notice if need be. I don't doubt Tony, I just know how this always turns out. In the beginning, everything is nice until a particular situation occurs. The event that transpired could have been big or small, but in the end, the entire attitude will shift. I will no longer be a friend or ally to those around me; instead, everyone will turn against me. That's why I prefer to be alone, that way I can avoid the situation that I know will transpire inevitably.

Still, I wasn't expecting this. During our search for the tesseract, I was given information on the different people who would be involved. Calliope Rodriguez was one of those people. On the records that S.H.I.E.L.D. had, it just said that she was incredibly powerful (due to her radioactive mutation), and she was involved in the incident that happened in Houston a while back. It never said anything about experimentations that she had to endure or the tragic events she was forced to live through during the battle against Nuke. Even the list describing her powers was lacking information, but that was due to the girl not knowing what she was capable of doing.

When I was first introduced to her, I knew why they brought her in. Just by standing near her, I knew she was dangerous, by the look in her eyes. Many would believe that if they looked into the eyes of a young 17-year-old girl, it would not seem intimidating. However, when I met the swirling pink eyes of this girl, I felt my very life was in danger, and I could feel the other guy stirring. Her eyes were filled with a great void that I never felt before, and anger that I knew even the other guy hadn't reached. Her very presence terrifies me to this day.

When she fought against the other guy and managed to knock him unconscious, I was amazed. Never have I met someone with so much power before in all my life, and yet like me she didn't want to fight. All she wanted to do was live in peace, but that was no longer an option she had. I was shocked when I learned that she was going to the academy that operates under S.H.I.E.L.D. I was even more amazed when she came here yesterday.

We weren't on friendly terms honestly, none of us really are. We were hardly even a team, so I wasn't expecting her to come to me for help. From what she told me, Captain Rogers suggested that I was the right person to go to for assistance. Considering the particular dilemma she is facing, it is understandable that she would seek me out. I told her the only thing I would need at the moment was a sample of her blood, and if she was willing, then a few scans. I explained every procedure I was going to do and how it was going to do it. I also told her what I was going to do once she allowed me to complete that. She asked many questions in order to understand what I was doing, but in the end, she agreed even if she was a bit nervous.

She asked if she could check-in whenever she had the time to see my progress. I didn't mind since the experiments that I was conducting was about her, and only her. She asked me if there was any type of payment I wanted for my services, but there was nothing that I wanted. As I said, I try to help those in need whenever I could, but there was also another reason I wanted to help her. I knew how it felt to not know what's happening to your own body. To feel as if you were no longer you and the feeling of helplessness.

"Hello Doctor, what do you have there?" Tony asked me as he walked into my lab. I didn't bother hiding my work from him.

"So, only you, myself, and Captain Rogers know about this?" I asked the youngest Avenger making sure I understood the situation and those involved.

"Yes, and I would like to keep it that way since I still don't entirely trust S.H.I.E.L.D." She replied as she kept her facial expressions impassive. "If you need help in any way, or by any chance, he may ask you, I don't mind if you tell Stark, but if the man talks to anyone about this I'll kill him.

I didn't need to even need to look at her face to acknowledge that her threat was real. She meant every word she said, and that's why I wasn't too sure if I wanted to tell Tony. He was slowly becoming my friend, but I wasn't sure if I should trust him with information that wasn't mine to give, especially something this sensitive.

"Something, for Rodriguez," I answered without giving any information away to the brunette. I turned around to speak to him, hoping that he wouldn't get offended.

"Do you need another set of hands?"

"No, thank you," I answered, and I saw him giving me a nod in return before turning his attention to something else. That's what I appreciated about Tony, he didn't pry into anything I was doing. I didn't feel as if I was constantly being kept under lock and key. I was allowed to do what I wished to do when I wanted.

The lab returned to silence as we worked, with only a few words passing between us. As I continued my experiments, I heard Tony begin to speak, "Where do you think she was since the battle?"

I took a moment to think about the question before asking one of my own, "Why do you ask?"

"Well, we all went our separate ways, and for the most part, it's obvious as to where everyone went," Tony pointed out. "You came with me, prince charming went home with Rudolph, capsicle went to a retirement home, and the assassin duo went back to work."

I had to hide the smile that threatens to appear on my face due to Tony's comment. Although we haven't seen the older Avenger since the battle, I knew Tony no longer held any ill will against the Captain.

"I mean from what I was told she only just started to work with S.H.I.E.L.D. So what did she do before? I doubt she had anything to return to, which means she had to have been somewhere else."

"Maybe she didn't have anything..." I whispered in the end. When I noticed the look the other man was giving me, I started to explain. "When I was on the run, I had to start from nothing and rebuild my life. I did this so many times that I became an expert on how to build a new identity for myself. I would start with no money, no food, and barely any clothes to having a new life that I knew I wouldn't have for long."

"But she's just a kid..." I heard Tony whisper, "She has to have someone she can go to."

"Who would take her? Tony, there are thousands of kids without homes... how hard is it to believe that Calliope could have been homeless too. Her family is gone, it was either she returns to prison, work for the government against her will or have a chance at freedom. She chose freedom, and now she's working with S.H.I.E.L.D. because of a deal she was able to make with them. If anything she got lucky."

The other man said nothing, and he turned back to his work. Thinking that the conversation was now over, I went back to work. Neither one of us spoke for some time, but I felt that the observation I made didn't sit well with Tony. Hours passed, but I wasn't any closer to finding what made the radiation from Rodriguez so strong. I was just about to start a new series of tests when the billionaire spoke up, I had actually forgotten about Tony being inside the lab with me.

"Do you think she has everything?" he quietly asked me from where he stood. He didn't look away from his work, but it was clear that he was no longer paying attention to it.

"Most likely considering she's working with S.H.I.E.L.D., but I'm not too sure. None of us speak to each other, so most likely she's alone, but I wouldn't worry about her if I was you, Tony. She's strong, so I doubt Rodriguez needs anyone."

Tony didn't say anything in return, but an hour, later he left the lab saying that he would be back soon. Even if the other man would never say it, I knew he cared about the youngest Avenger. This wasn't the first time that she was brought up in a conversation, but it was the first time he showed actual concern. Truth be told, he isn't the only one who has voiced concerns about the young woman. Pepper and Happy knew about Rodriguez as well, and many questions were inquired about her throughout my stay in the Tower. Although it wasn't until yesterday that the two met the girl.

Still, the girl looked healthy, and Bruce knew how strong she was compared to the others. Even if he never said it out loud, Bruce did worry about Calliope. That's part of the reason he chose to help her because he knew so few ever did.

Just then, an update appeared on one of the many screens that filled the lab. Bruce took a closer look to discern which test it was considering that multiple were going on at the same time. The test that came back held the result that shocked the scientist to the core. Everything he thought he knew was wrong, and Calliope herself shouldn't even be alive if what he was seeing is true. He had to run the analysis again, he had to be sure it was accurate.

I was on my way to my room after finishing my classes, but I noticed something strange. Everyone I passed was whispering and staring in my direction, but I couldn't understand why. I know when I first started school, this would happen a lot, but everyone got used to it after a while. It seems as if something new concerning me has come up, but I have no idea what it could be.

When I finally entered my room, I noticed what made everyone whisper. What I couldn't understand is what I did to deserve this kind of torture.

"Hey, sweetheart heart, how are you?"

The upcoming chapters will be centered around Calliope, Tony, Bruce, and probably Pepper. If you guys want more POVs from the other Avengers let me know. Also, don't worry about Natasha and Thor I'll make sure that they appear in later chapter... and maybe a certain trickster as well. Until next time, bye guys.