AN: I have an important poll posted on my profile! Please be sure to check it out; I don't want to make any rash decisions without giving some warning. Also, Spanish is obviously not my first language, so I apologize for any mistakes that might have been made through Google Translate.

Chapter Sixteen

"And I don't mind you disappearing, 'Cause I know you can be found We be liven' on the dark side of the street, damn., When we livin' in the moment And losing our grasp, Making it last with the grand parade in our past..." - In Reverse, The War on Drugs

Fury had given Ada a lot of clearance, considering she was still fairly new to the agency. After getting a full night's sleep and finally recovering from the incident two days ago, Ada now found herself wandering down the city in the hopes of blending in.

That alone was easier said than done. There weren't too many teenagers wandering down the bustling sidewalks of an Ecuadorian city. She was suddenly grateful that she could speak a dozen languages. Spanish was the primary language here, and luckily, the people were friendlier than they looked. Most of them were willing to give her directions to where she needed to go, if not a bit suspicious about why she was there in the first place.

The city itself was huge and incredible looking. While it was clearly an old third-world city with problems of its own, the people, the culture, and everything else fascinated Ada. Homes were built into the mountains that overlooked one another, painted in bright, vibrant colors. She was amazed that they were capable of building such homes on top of one another, and, despite them being so close together, she could see that the people got along, for the most part.

"Are you sure this is where he was last seen?" she asked through her earpiece.

She was thankful she'd taken one with her before parting ways with Clint. He'd dropped her off at the outskirts of the city once everything was said and done, and she had gathered enough material to last while she was out on the move.

"Positive," the archer replied, sounding more bored than anything else, "Now, keep quiet, and try not to get yourself killed while out there."

"You're a piss-ass, Barton," she snapped, ignoring the fit of laughter that followed in the background.

Idiot, she thought, glancing around as she caught a couple of pedestrians watching her curiously. She'd joined a group of local kids earlier in the day during a game of soccer, and she had found it surprisingly pleasant when they welcomed her with open arms. Soccer itself was a big deal in the city, and they'd been more than eager to have an extra teammate at the time. She had to admit, she loved moments like these where she was just accepted.

"¿Puedo ayudarle con algo?" Ada whirled around at the sound of an elderly woman's voice, eyes widening when she saw the woman herself staring at Ada curiously.

The question came so suddenly that Ada wasn't expecting it, especially from an elderly person who clearly wanted nothing to do with outsiders. She tried to hide the unease that followed. After the incident with Tony and Monaco, she wasn't in any hurry to give away her position.

"No gracias," she replied, offering a warm smile.

The woman returned the gesture, looking genuinely surprised with her manners before going about her business. Ada waited until the woman was gone before taking her sunglasses off and putting a hat on instead. Her hair was already tied back in a ponytail, so at least that made her task a little easier.

Finally, after wandering for what seemed like hours, again, Ada managed to reach what appeared to be the factory where Banner was last seen working. As far as she could tell, it was the only place where people seemed to get a decent paying job. She rose an eyebrow in surprise, noticing that it was a soda canning company.

"¿Puede usted hacer una pregunta, señor?" she asked when she reached what appeared to be a well-dressed man wearing a badge to identify his position, "Me preguntaba si conocías a un doctor Bruce Banner?"

The man in question just looked at Ada in surprise. He clearly wasn't expecting a young girl to approach him, or for her to ask him such a question. His eyes narrowed with suspicion before he reluctantly nodded. He called Banner's name, and the doctor in question reached them within minutes.

"This is Bruce Banner," the man told Ada when the doctor in question reached them. She hadn't missed the questioning look written across Banner's face, and, she couldn't blame him for his confusion, or suspicion. "Sabes quien es?" he added in Spanish.

"Sí, lo reconozco. Él es mi padre," Ada replied without hesitation. Banner narrowed his eyes at that, and he was ready to open his mouth and argue when Ada cut him off, "Lamento que me haya llevado tanto tiempo llegar. Esperaba poder preguntarte algo en privado."

It didn't take long for Banner to understand the double-meaning behind her plea. She knew it was risky trying to get a man on the run to talk with her. Especially if said man was as dangerous as everyone claimed. But, Ada wasn't afraid. Instead, a new sense of determination swept through her as their eyes met.

Banner finally nodded in agreement, mentioning something to his boss before gesturing for Ada to meet him outside the warehouse. She did just that, eager to get out of the place without getting caught by one of the other employees.

"No soy tu padre, chico," Banner told her, eyes narrowing once they were outside.

"¿Habla usted Inglés?" she suddenly asked, earning a look of surprise from Banner. Finally, he gave a slight nod after looking at her for a few seconds, as if debating whether he should run or not. "Look, I know you're not my father, and I know I'm taking a big risk just by talking to you," she started, "But, I wanted to talk with you."

For a moment, Banner looked taken aback by her sudden change in attitude, "If you're here to kill me, that will end badly, for everyone," he warned her.

"I'm not here to kill you," she reassured him with a charming smile, "Actually, I was rather hoping I could have a place to crash before I start moving, again. Would you mind if we got to know each other better along the way?"

He just stared at her for a few seconds, as if he wasn't sure what to make of that question. Ada struggled to keep her voice honey-sweet, knowing that would make all the differences. All she wanted now was to make sure that Banner did stay out of the hands of the military.

"Alright, fine," he sighed after realizing she wasn't a threat, "But, you can't stay for long."

That was enough for her. Ada beamed at the thought, following Banner as she thought of the endless possibilities that would lead to their next conversation. She just hoped he didn't catch on to the fact that she worked for SHIELD. Otherwise, there would be hell to pay.

…

"So, where are you from?"

They were making their way through a busy marketplace as Banner guided Ada to some unknown location. She knew she would have to keep her guard up around him. Flighty people were dangerous. Seeing how uneasy he was as he rounded the corner and headed towards a shady part of the area only confirmed her suspicions.

Keep it together, Stark, she mentally scolded herself, knowing that she couldn't blow her cover, now of all times. Banner tried keeping things as casual as possible by making light talk between them. It was incredibly awkward since they hardly knew each other, and Ada was already feeling wary enough around him. Though, the feelings were entirely mutual when he kept looking over his shoulder in her direction.

"I'm from California," she explained, the tone of her voice curt as she caught the look Banner gave her.

It technically wasn't a lie. She just didn't know where she was born. She hated not knowing. A small part of her always wished that her birth mother would have at least left a note, or something to tell the caretakers at the orphanage where she had been born.

"So, what would a random citizen all the way from the United States be doing here in Ecuador, looking for someone like me?" Banner asked, the suspicion still lingering in his voice.

They'd already stopped at a random, dumpy looking truck where a creepy looking guy was waiting for Banner. Ada rose an eyebrow skeptically as the guy in question said something, and Banner subtly handed him a wad of cash. She narrowed her eyes after realizing that the guy had handed Banner what appeared to be a plastic bag, filled with some kind of plant material.

"Was that a drug deal I just witnessed?" she demanded once they were far enough away, earning a coy look from Banner.

"No, it wasn't," he reassured her, though she could tell he was just lying through his teeth.

"Really? Because it seemed like it was," she muttered under her breath.

She knew she was testing his patience. Banner could easily hurt her if he wanted to. Judging from the look of annoyance he gave her, she knew he was thinking the same thing. Instead of saying anything, Ada kept her mouth shut and followed Banner until they reached an older looking part of town.

They slowly made their way up several flights of stairs that led from one home to another. The homes in Ecuador were practically on top of each other. With space in such short supply, Ada could see why they had built the homes like this. Though, she wondered what people would with one another if they weren't overly fond with their neighbors. She could already imagine the fights that would break out among neighbors if they didn't get along. She had to remind herself that these people lived in an entirely different culture, and that she was just the visitor.

"Look, kid, you really shouldn't be following me here, in the first place; you really have no idea just how dangerous that is," Banner said after they'd reached what she guessed was the final flight of stairs.

"Nice try," she snorted in response, glaring back as Banner looked at her in frustration, "I've gone this far without getting myself killed; I think I'll take my chances."

Banner let out a sigh of frustration and pinched the bridge of his nose. She knew she was pushing her luck, especially given his condition. Though, something told her that Banner wouldn't attack unless it was necessary.

"Are you always this stubborn with adults?" he grumbled, looking like he was at his wits end.

She couldn't hide the sheepish smirk that followed, "Of course, not. I just know that you need the company, and that you are probably going to do something stupid with those plants."

It took a moment for those words to sink in. Banner looked between Ada and the paper bag he held in one hand. Then, he rubbed his face and let out another heavy sigh before gesturing for what she could only assume was his apartment.

Once inside, Ada could see that the place wasn't half-bad looking, all things considered.

The apartment itself was decorated with a small sofa in one corner of the room, a small bed in the other corner, and a tiny kitchen with a fridge, stove and sink. Ada spotted an old looking desk placed in front of the window not far from the kitchen, with an old looking laptop sitting on top of it, and an old television placed in front of the sofa. Everything about the place reminded her of someone who wanted to stay off the grid, yet remain connected with the world in their own way.

When she was finished taking everything in, Ada started at the sight of a dog resting on the floor. The dog immediately rose upon Banner's arrival, giving Ada a curious sniff before reaching Banner's side and greeting him with a tail-wag.

"There's a snack in the fridge, if you're hungry," Banner gestured to the small fridge after giving the dog something to eat.

"I can live a few days without food," she replied with a shrug, "So, who's your friend?"

She couldn't resist rubbing the dog between his ears. It had been a long time since she asked Tony for a pet. He'd always told her 'no', simply because he had neither the time nor the patience to take care of a pet. That was what he built Dummy, the robotic arm for.

"He doesn't really have a name," Banner replied as he grabbed the laptop and opened it up. Ada kept her distance, suddenly aware that Banner was still a complete stranger. While she'd read enough files on him to know that he was a scientist and a doctor at heart, that didn't mean she should trust him, "Speaking of names, you haven't given me yours."

"Oh, sorry," she murmured, suddenly feeling embarrassed that she hadn't mentioned anything. She was sitting on the floor beside the dog, who seemed to take a shining to her. His head rested on her lap as she scratched him between the ears, using him as a distraction from the situation at hand, "My name is Ada."

Banner looked at her curiously, this time, when he realized it wasn't a name people were normally given. Then again, she wasn't exactly normal to begin with. Her life had been anything but normal, from day one, as far as she was concerned.

"No last name?" He sounded almost bored as the laptop finally switched on.

He already reached for the bag that he'd picked up from the shady dealer. Ada watched curiously, eyeing the object he pulled out with suspicion. Surprisingly, it was a flower, with pretty white petals surrounding the head. Banner himself eyed the flower with wonder before taking it over to the kitchen and setting it on a tray table.

"Not really," she finally answered, realizing he was waiting for one, "I've never known my parents."

At least it was the truth. She never knew her birth parents. Tony and Pepper were the ones who raised her, along with Rhodes and even Happy. She had never felt offended when people brought up her parents by birth. There was a time when she wanted nothing more than to know who they were. But she realized that they had given her up so that she could live a better life. Tony and the others had done just that, and so much more.

"So, your parents are dead," he concluded.

Ada's face faltered, slightly. She had to admit, when he brought it up, she knew that there was so little she understood of her own heritage or who her parents by birth really were. She'd never seen their faces, or heard anything from even SHIELD. Instead, Ada was left in the dark when it came to her true heritage. She pictured the woman that was slain in front of her, who had fought so hard to protect that baby. Whether there was a connection between them or not, Ada didn't know.

"What are you doing?" she asked, deciding it was better to change the subject.

She hadn't missed the look Banner gave her, one of caution and worry. Eventually, he finally let her join him beside the computer desk, which she obliged willingly. She eyed the screen curiously and noticed a communication line was open, with the names, 'Mr. Green' and 'Mr. Blue' on the screen itself.

"I'm working on… something," he explained, carefully avoiding the main reason behind his research, "If my theory is correct, this flower should help with my… condition."

A message suddenly appeared on the screen. Ada couldn't help but read the message warily, already aware that Banner was trying to figure out a 'cure' for his 'problem', 'Make sure you use enough of a dose,' replied Mr. Blue.

With one final look at Banner, Ada decided to leave him be, for the time being. She knew better than to push someone, especially with the 'condition' Banner had mentioned.

Ada sat down beside the dog as his tail wagged instinctively. She couldn't resist rubbing his ears once more, finding his company surprisingly suitable. Since she never had a dog while growing up, she decided this was the next best thing. Time seemed to drag on before she finally looked at Banner once more, only to see him rubbing his temple.

"It didn't work," he sighed in frustration, tossing what was left of the plant into the trash.

"I know it isn't necessarily in my place to ask, since I'm just the house guest here, and an unwelcome one at that, but why are you putting yourself through this?" she asked hesitantly.

Banner looked at her strangely when she mentioned that she was an 'unwelcome' house guest. It was true, and she knew it. The only reason Banner was letting her stay in the first place was because he'd taken pity on her.

"Look, the research I'm working on is something that's beyond your understanding," he tried pushing her away, "Let's just say that I've been looking for a cure to my condition for a few months, now." He paused to let this new information sink in, "I'm doing this, because I don't want to hurt anyone. Before I got here, I…"

Pity for what had happened to him suddenly swept through her. Ada couldn't imagine what that must have been like, to go through a transformation like that, and to have no control over it. Banner couldn't have even been aware, at the time, that he had transformed into something that hurt people. And now, others were hunting him down because of it.

She suddenly reached out for Banner's hand, squeezing it gently. Banner looked at her in surprise as they sat there in silence.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, wishing there was more she could do to help him.

If anything, to make life a little more tolerable. It couldn't have been easy hiding out in a city full of strangers. Banner seemed like the kind of person who could easily adopt to a new life if he needed to. With his condition, she could see him running from city to city when people discovered what he was capable of. The thought left her feeling sympathetic as she realized he could never actually settle in one place for long without the risk of being caught.

"Thank you," he sighed after realizing that she didn't pose a threat. "You know, most kids don't act the way they do, at your age."

"That's what everyone says," she replied, offering a charming smile.

Once he'd gathered himself, Banner sent a few more messages to Mr. Blue as the night wore on. Ada found herself resting on the floor while he took the couch. While it wasn't the most comfortable sleeping position she could find herself in, it was better than nothing. Now, she was left with figuring out how to handle the situation, and what Fury would really want out of this mission. Banner deserved a chance to live a normal life, and she planned on doing whatever it took to give him that normal life.