The last few updates have contained a tad of drama... This is dramatically undramatic. Basically I am trying to outfluff myself here (which isn't easy, just saying).

TapTap

"Stark has a Mini-me." Clint held up his hands in a surrendering gesture as he got several glares for his trouble. "Just saying! Baby Stark isn't even here yet, but there's a Mini-Stark! Totally!"

"What does it say of his intelligence that he is practically quoting the Hulk?" Claire asked suddenly, from where she appeared out of the media room. Judging by their looks of shock no one in the kitchen had known she was within hearing range. Clint looked especially guilty.

"Wait, what?" Bruce blinked in surprise over the curry he was making for dinner.

"The Hulk refers to me as the Mini-Tinman," Claire told him lightly, giving her injured hand, keeping her out of the lab - and causing a few slight tantrums which reminded everyone of an injured Tony - an angry glare for seemingly no particular reason.

"The Hulk talked to you? When?" Bruce frowned in response to what was clearly news to him.

Claire shrugged. "There's cameras covering the Green-room. I could talk to him, it is not that strange. But we hung out when I got locked in there with him. He was nice. Once he had gotten over his nerves."

"The Hulk was nervous?" Bucky asked, fascinated, from where he was sitting on one of the kitchen benches.

"Yes, he was worried I'd move suddenly and make him step on me. A bit like how people get concerned when letting out a butterfly or bumblebee, not wanting to hurt it, I think?" Claire speculated, shrugging softly.

"Like spiders - you don't want to break their legs with the glass when carrying them out." Natasha - who had never yet bothered with a glass to carry out a spider - suggested affectionately.

"Something like that, yes," Claire affirmed. "I was honestly a bit worried about the same. I didn't think he'd hurt me on purpose, but he is so large compared to me. We spent most of the time sitting down next to each other, making no sudden movements. But we talked, and I explained some of the games we designed for him. I think he liked the company."

"The Hulk approved of you already, still, it was a terrible risk and I am so sorry it happened," Bruce added sadly, stirring his curry.

"It was fine, Bruce. And Tony made me a cat-flap, so it won't happen again. Don't worry," Claire said gently, obviously trying to coax the scientist into relaxing a bit. He glanced at Pepper, who was sitting on a high stool by the table, leaning into Natasha.

"No harm was done, and the Hulk does not have a history of hurting innocent bystanders," she allowed, voice quite soft. Pepper, like her girlfriend, might have had a soft spot for the great green member of their team.

"More than that," Claire argued, "the Hulk clearly recognises family - he saved Tony when he fell from space, didn't he - and he was already aware of me and that I made him games. I wasn't hostile or even an unknown. There was no threat and he associated me with the tech, and thereby with Tony, whom he really likes. It was nerve-wracking, yes, but totally safe, strange as that might seem," she decided.

"What is this about someone who likes me?" Tony announced loudly as he entered the kitchen, no doubt drawn there - like everybody else - by the smells of Bruce's curry. Or by Jarvis. It was quite possibly Jarvis.

"The Hulk likes you. He's possibly the only one," Clint teased from where he'd found his way to on top of the bar once more.

"Nonsense. Bruce likes me too, right Brucie-bear?" Tony replied just as teasing, winking at nobody in particular.

"Sorry. I am not partial to people who pokes me with sharp implements," Bruce answered absentmindedly, seemingly only half-aware that he replied to their banter.

"I am wounded. Wounded!" Tony responded in a faux-offended way. "Steve? Bucky? I remade the arm and everything." Tony pouted as the former walked in and effortlessly leaned against the kitchen bench between his boyfriend's legs.

"Sorry," they replied with one voice - the Cap deadpanning the reply even though he likely had no idea what they spoke of - which immediately made them both crack up.

"Claire, you like me right?" Tony pressed, still an amused gleam in his eyes.

"Of course I do. And Pepper must have liked you at least enough to overlook any real dislike through the aid of wine, because she did have sex with you, judging by the baby on the way," she added pragmatically. At this, while the men gaped back at the young, innocent-looking scientist, Natasha - who was much more fond of both the eccentric engineers than she'd admit on most days - laughed loudly, ignoring her girlfriend's half-glare. It was a good day to be an Avenger. Or a pretty blonde whose smarts were essential for there to even be Avengers. It was a good day.