Little Bird's Vengeance Chapter 12 Recovery
Dr Bruce Banner, physics genius, gamma radiation expert and big green rage monster extraordinaire, was mildly surprised at what he saw when he entered the living room. Steve was watching a baseball game on the TV, remarkable in itself as he hadn't quite figured out how to use an entertainment system far too complicated for a Forties lad yet, and he wasn't good at asking for help finding a game. But next to him, wrapped snugger than a bug in a big fluffy blanket, Red Robin was reading one of the research journal that tended to get left around. Next to him was a steaming mug of a honey-lemon drink. Bruce chuckled. "Still not feeling well?"
Red looked up, showing his red puffy eyes and nose. "No, not really," he replied thickly. "The Captain's insisting on all this." He made a vague gesture at the blanket and drink.
"Well, Steve knows a few things about being sick," Bruce said, smirking at the sudden discomfort he could see on Steve's face. "Before Erskine's experiment, he had a quite a list of health problems."
"So surely he'd know this is completely unnecessary," Red grumbled, and sneezed. Bruce and Steve both squashed amused smiles.
"Well, if you'd go back to bed, you'd probably get better sooner," Steve responded. Red muttered something unintelligible, and squirmed deeper into the blanket.
Bruce sat next to him, putting down his morning coffee next to Red's drink. He glanced at the journal. Surprisingly, it was one of his, rather than Tony's. "Anything you like in there?"
"It's a little beyond me. I don't have much time for research for the sake of it, and I haven't had much need for hard-core particle physics."
"What have you researched?"
"Forensics, mechanical engineering, computer technology, material properties, bit of genetics. Languages. Criminology." Red shrugged. "Even business management. Whatever's needed."
"If you like, we can see about closing that particular gap in your education?"
He flashed a grin, bookmarking and closing the journal. "Why not?"
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By the time Tony arrived, about two hours later, Red had quite expanded his knowledge. The discussion had moved on from the intense run through gamma radiation, past the anti-electron collisions Tony seemed to admire so much, and on to the Tesseract, and what Bruce had been doing to try and understand the data that had been gathered on it during it's time in SHIELD's hands.
"What's up?" Tony asked. "Want to go play in the lab today?"
"No, Tony," Bruce, Steve and Red chorused.
"We're discussing hard physics. You got two cents to add?" Red asked.
"Do I." Tony dropped into another seat, and the conversation took off again.
Out of the corner of his eye, Bruce saw Steve roll his eyes and turn back to the game.
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An hour later, Tasha and Clint came rushing through. "We've been called back to the Helicarrier," Clint said. "We probably won't be back for a while, we're being sent off, don't know where yet."
"Captain, keep Red Robin under your supervision," Tasha instructed.
"Don't worry, I'll behave," Red answered, sneezing again.
"I'm on it," Steve confirmed.
"Good," Clint answered distractedly. "Fury doesn't want us losing him. We'll call when we know when we'll be back."
"Don't crash the Quinjet," Tony called after them as they raced out.
"What were you saying about that new element in Stark's ARC reactor?" Bruce asked Red.
"Oh, yeah." He pulled up a schematic on the holographic computer Tony had brought out. "You said it was discovered after research into these HYDRA weapons? Well, those were derived from the Tesseract, right? So, that ARC reactor's basically the grandchild of the Tesseract. Now, if you were to try applying these properties…"
Once again, the conversation dived deep into theoretical physics.
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Steve was bored. After persuading Red Robin to help him find the sport channel, he'd got lost when Bruce, and then Tony turned up, and the science talk got started. By lunchtime, he was almost wishing for an attack of some sort just to have something to do. In the end, he gave up on trying to listen to the post-game analysis around the science-talk, and persuaded Jarvis to call Thor up.
"Friend Steve?" the thunder god boomed through the room as he entered. "What ails you?"
"A lack of comprehensible conversation," Steve replied.
The other trio looked over slightly guiltily.
Thor laughed loudly. "Ah. 'Twas once a time, my Lady Jane, friend Selvig and friend Darcy did talk so fast, with such unusual words, that despite my best intentions to understand, I was forced to admit defeat and could only hope for a matter more befitting a warrior to arise."
Steve smiled, working through the sentence to get at the meaning. "Well, we're both soldiers, I'm sure we can find something we can discuss."
"I am sure you have many tales from your world war, my friend. There was once a time, myself and the Warriors Three were hunting, and the Lady Sif followed us…"
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The afternoon passed peacefully enough. After dinner, that peace dissolved into domestic dispute, as Steve, Thor, Bruce and Pepper all agreed Red Robin should go to bed, Red protested, and Tony took his side largely for the sake of arguing. The billionaire had quite the air of a sore loser when Steve eventually pulled the teen back to his room.
Next morning, when Steve collected Red for breakfast, the teen was much better, having finally got over the cold. They discussed battle strategy, and Red asked for another spar that afternoon. Steve contacted SHIELD, to be told to keep their guest in the Tower until Clint and Tasha returned.
"Hey, kid!"
Tony swanned into the living room again, looking strangely pleased with himself.
"Yes, Tony?" the other-world teen sighed.
"You're better," Tony announced, as though it was an incredible discovery.
"Yeah, I'd noticed," Red replied slowly.
"Let's go shopping!"
Steve and Red looked at him blankly. "Why?" Red asked.
"Well, look what you're wearing." Red looked down, at the borrowed jeans, shirt and hooded sweatshirt, hanging loosely on his slim frame, with his own belts, harness, boots and gloves beneath.
"So?"
"You really need some clothes of your own."
"Tony, I'm still kinda in SHIELD custody." Red frowned and folded his arms, irritated.
"Your point?"
Tony grabbed Red by the arm and tugged him towards the elevator.
"Stark, he's meant to stay here!" Steve growled.
"Get off!" Red protested.
"No."
Steve got up to stop Tony, and Red tried to squirm out of his grip, but the elevator doors slid shut behind them.
AN: So, things are starting to happen again. Now taking bets on how long Tim can go without getting sick and/or hurt again. Well, not really taking bets, but you get the picture.
Unfortunately for some of you loyal fans, you won't find out next week. Black and Red's getting updated instead, so you'll have to wait two weeks.
As always, I love reviews, who doesn't, and I don't mind you asking me questions, although I reserve the right to not answer if you're asking what happens next.
Until next time.
Katara