Chapter 2:

Valli hurried to the bathroom as fast as she could without running. She closed the door behind her and locked it. Before taking a huge sigh of relief, she looked into the mirror and stared at her reflection.

"What are you doing, Valli? You can do this. Just take a deep breath and go back out there. There's nothing to be freaked out about," she told herself. "Act like you want to be here. Just go out there and be... friendly. Yeah, that's it. Friendly." She waited in there for a while, thinking through these thoughts until she believed them. Valli took a deep breath and straightened out her clothes before opening the door.

"AHHH!" she yelped.

Stark, along with the four other men that were in the living room, were waiting right outside the bathroom door.

"Finally," said Stark. "We were beginning to think you had gotten lost in there."

"I... wasn't... "

"No biggie. We don't want know your business," Tony interrupted. "I figured you'd want to meet everyone in person. They can introduce themselves to you as I go do my thing. Call me if something good comes up." Tony patted Valli on the back as he left the room.

"Umm... Hi... I'm Valli," she said giving them a shy wave.

"Nice to meet you, Valli," smiled a man wearing dark leathered clothes. "I'm Clint, this is Bruce, Steve, and over there is Thor," he said pointing to the men beside him.

"Hey," they said in unison.

"So, I guess from what Tony mentioned we're supposed to show you around the place," Clint said.

"I guess. I mean, if you don't really want to then that's... "

"Nonsense!" interrupted Thor as he patted her on the back. "We would very much enjoy showing you around our home."

"Oh, okay," said Valli, slightly intimidated by the demigod's boisterous voice and large stature. "Sure."

"Let us proceed then!"

For the next two hours Valli was lead around their home, shown everything that could possibly be in it... and then some. When they finally returned to the lounge room, her brain was so full of information that she felt as if it were going to explode. Who knew that a demigod could have so many poptart wrappers in one room? The technology, the gadgets, the everything in this place was beyond amazing.

"So, what do you think?" Clint asked her as he sat down on a bar stool.

"This place is like nothing I've ever seen before," replied Valli

"Damn right it's not," said a voice from behind. Stark entered the room smiling arrogantly. "This place has state of the art technology and has its own talking computer. The best of the best for the best." He gave a little bow and motioned about the room.

"I see that," Valli said, still amazed. "I think I can handle this for six weeks." A silence took place as Valli continued to look around the room, taking in her surroundings.

"Well, I think it's probably time we showed you to your room," Steve said. It was the first time during the entirety that he had spoken.

"Sure, okay. Sounds cool," she said.

"I'll have JARVIS bring your things to your room," replied Stark.

"Okay," Valli said, as she followed Tony.

Walking down the hall to her new bedroom with the Avengers in tow, Valli couldn't imagine how her room would look. Everything else the Avengers mansion was amazing, and she had a feeling that her room would just add on to the list.

"Hey, kid. Here's your room," said Clint.

Valli stepped into the room only to be more astonished from what she saw. It was far more amazing than what she had imagined. The bed, the closet, the bathroom, the view of the city, everything was astounding.

"Why don't you go ahead and freshen up? We'll go wait back in the lounge room," said Bruce, as he motioned her to the blue and gray bathroom. Valli nodded and started over to the room, but turned back to face the others.

"After I'm done would you like me to meet you back where we were?" she asked.

"Of course!" exclaimed Thor, quite happily.

Valli smiled as they left and closed the door. She opened the door to the bathroom to walk in, but upon hearing an unknown voice she jumped at turned back around, looking to see where it came from.

"Is there anything that you may require, Miss Valli?" it said. She paused for a moment, eyeing the room.

"Is the ceiling talking to me?" she said, coming out from under the door frame to get a better glimpse of the vaulted ceiling. "Umm... thanks but no thanks." The voice said nothing, back. It was as if it was waiting for her to say something else. "Uhh... still there?"

"Yes, Miss Valli, I am. You did not require my services so I moved on to other things. Is there something you need?"

"Nope. Thank you for bringing my things up."

"You are quite welcome."

Valli entered into the bathroom. After a quick shower and a change into some more comfortable clothes, she headed out into the lounge room. She arrived in the room to find the guys all sitting in front of a t.v. eating what seemed to be leftovers... of some meaty sandwich.

"There you are. Come join us," Stark said, waving his hand for her to come join them. She sat next to Stark as he handed her a paper plate, "Help yourself." She looked down at the food, giving it a skeptical glance. She looked back up at Tony.

"What is this?" she asked.

"Shawarma," they all said in unison, their mouths full.

"Leftovers of shawarma to be exact," replied Tony. "It's good, you should try some". Valli looked over the leftovers, a wary expression still on her face before choosing something.

"Well, it's not going to kill you if that's what you're thinking," Stark said, grabbing something and putting it on her plate. It was a brownish meat stuffed inside a chestnut colored wrap... and it was leaking red juice. She sniffed the food before taking a bite into it. She let it stay in her mouth for a little bit, soaking in the flavor with her tongue.

"Mmm.. not bad" she said, as she chewed.

"Told ya," Tony said, before taking another bite into his food. The rest of dinner was spent in silence as everyone ate their meal.

"So," Steve said, finally breaking the silence. He set his empty plate down on the table, "How old are you?"

"Seventeen years old," she replied, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"Seventeen? You look a little... young to be seventeen," Bruce said.

"I know," she chuckled. "I get that a lot actually."

"What exactly are you here for again?" Clint asked.

"Uh... it's kind of a long story."

"We've got time" said Stark as he stretched out on the sofa. "Explain."

"Well, I'm here to make up some community service."

"Oh-ho," chuckled Stark. "We've got a naughty girl on our hands. Fellas, break out the handcuffs."

Everyone in the room rolled their eyes, all except for Thor who didn't quite understand the depth of Tony's comment. Clint just pinched the bridge of his nose as he rested his head in his hand.

"No," Valli said, embarrassed not only for herself but for the idiotic man lounging next to her. "Not like that. I didn't do my community service project for highschool, but Uncle Nick signed a paper saying I did so that I could graduate. I'm simply keeping my end of the bargain by being here to complete those hours."

"Well, being here with us is better than hanging out on the street picking up garbage," said Stark.

"Isn't that what we do anyways?" retorted Banner. He winked at Valli, and she grinned back. Tony sat up and was about to protest against the scientist's comment when he stopped, mouth open, and thought. He laid his head back down.

"Y'know, you're right," Tony said as he looked at Valli. "Sorry kid, guess you got stuck with the trashmen after all."

She smiled. "So, besides picking up garbage what else do you guys do around here?"

"Whatever we please," Thor said.

"Which is what? If I'm going to be a babysitter or a trashman or whatever, I would at least like to know."

"Babysitter?" asked Tony. "Does Fury really think we need a babysitter? C'mon, we're not that bad."

"Well, that's not what I heard."

"Well, you heard wrong. Remember, even your uncle's secrets have secrets so you can't take everything he says too literally."

Valli's face turned sour. She trusted her Uncle Nick and he trusted her. She wouldn't be here if he didn't... right?

"You don't know what you're talking about Stark" she said, defensively.

"Uh, yeah I do. Kay, who's the young girl who had her uncle lie about a school proje-?"

"Community Service," she corrected.

"Whatever, and who is the billionaire genius who can hack into S.H.I.E.L.D's main frame?" he finished.

"Genius? I don't see a genius. I'm just looking at a pompous playboy who definitely needs some type of restraint," she said, eyes glancing for a moment at his pants and back up at his face.

"Woah, Stark," Clint said, laughing along with the others. Tony just looked at her, his tongue moving in his mouth as if to decide what words to spit out.

"Isn't it past your bedtime?" he replied irritatedly.

"Aren't you like 50? Isn't it past yours?" Valli shot back.

"Hey, hey now. Respect your elders."

"Well, don't-"

"Stark!" came a loud female voice, abruptly ending their argument. Natasha Romanoff entered the room onto the balcony, and looked down on their little party. "There's a problem. The Director would like to speak with you, now."