Author's note - I am so sorry about the delay. No excuses other than me being lazy.

"No," Agent Romanov said firmly, leveling a look at the Scott that made him want to run for the hills. This was not what he had in mind when he was told by his superior that he would be working closely with the legendary avengers.

He grimaces but doesn't back down, "Agent Romanov, I was told to speak to Captain Rogers."

"I bet you were. Let me repeat, no. You and your scientists will not be turning him into a lab rat. I don't really care what you think the serum is going to tell you now all of a sudden that hasn't been discovered already, but at any rate, tell your scientists that human experimentation went out of style a long time ago."

"One of our scientists has an exciting new hypothesis…" Scott falters as he notices Romanov's hand disappear into one of her numerous pockets.

"Do I need to tell you exactly where you can shove your new hypothesis or can you use your own imagination?"

Their conversion is interrupted when Agent Barton drags a chair so it is situated right between them, carefully balancing a bowl of popcorn in the other hand. He settles into the chair and happily grabs a handful of popcorn from the bowl. "Don't mind me, just here to watch the show. They are playing Saw in the living room, but honestly, that's just not gory enough for me."

Scott decides that discretion is the better part of valor and haltingly takes a few steps back, "Maybe I'll just come back later."

"Hey, where are you going, I just got here." Agent Barton sounds indignant.

Scott turns around quickly, only to find Agent Romanov has somehow moved so she is standing in front of him again. She is so close that he can see the individual red hairs fluttering around her forehead. "No, you won't be coming back later. Get one of your brilliant scientists to contact Dr. Banner and he'll decide if it's necessary or not. And by the way, also tell them any and all tests will be conducted here."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"I assume you know the way out?"

As Scott hurries away, he can hear Agent Barton remark, "You are getting mellow in your old age, Nat."