A/N: Alright, so. I'm not at school because I thought I had food poisoning from the barbecue we had last night, but I feel better now. So I thought I'd do something constructive. Therefore, here is chapter five for your pleasure. Forgive the sappiness.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Breanna Lin.

Tony sat down in the lab's only swivel chair and started to spin.

"So." He said. "Anna. I'm curious about you."

"It seems like everyone is." I replied.

"Why is that?"

"Well, Bruce thinks it's because I didn't become like this deliberately. You know, with the whole fire thing…" I tailed off.

"Yeah? Well, that certainly does make me interested in you. Of course, so do a lot of other things about you. If you know what I mean."

"Tony Stark, you are an outrageous flirt."

"Oh, I know that." I wanted to be angry at his arrogance, but couldn't help smiling at his obvious knowledge of how annoying he was.

"Is there anything you don't know?" I asked.

"Not much." He got up and came over to sit in the stool next to me. "How are you finding it here?"

"Oh, you know… not bad."

"You mean awful, right?"

"No, no, just… It's kind of intimidating. This place is huge, I've had nothing explained to me, and I don't know anyone. Well, I don't know about that, actually. I kind of know Bruce better. And I've heard so much about you I could know you."

"What kind of things have you heard?" He asked warily.

"Mostly that you're an idiot playboy who has to flash his money around the place and lives in an iron suit because he's scared of dying."

"Those aren't good things." Tony muttered.

"Then prove them wrong! Talk to me about real things, without flirting with me. Tell me why this is happening."

"I don't know why this is happening. Maybe the only the only thing I don't know." I gave him a scathing look and he said: "Okay, sorry. I can tell you about me if you like." He smiled and winked at me, and I sighed.

"Go on then." I said. "But don't bother with how you got the suit. I know that part."

"Okay. Well… That's about all I can tell. I don't know. You got me."

"What about you and Doctor Banner? You look pretty close."

"We met the last time Loki was about. I'd known about him for a long time though, and I was like, whoa, massive fan. You know what he did? And what he does?"

"Yeah, I figured it out earlier."

"Well, I realised not long after we met that we're pretty similar. There are elements to both of us that we can't control."

"I understand how Bruce would… have trouble with that, but what about you? You seem pretty much in control of that suit."

"Ah, but a part of the suit is under my skin. Inside. This light-" He touched the glowing light in his chest through his shirt "-is an arc reactor, and it's all that's keeping me alive."

"I see." I said, even though I didn't. "Can I-?"

"Go ahead." I touched the light gently, worried about breaking his lifeline. It was strange, faintly warm, like skin, but less pliant. I removed my hand, frowned and blinked in confusion. Tony looked at me intently, with genuine concern in his eyes, which was odd.

"You alright?" He asked.

"Yeah, fine." I swallowed. "I just don't… I don't understand. How does it work, how are you not dead?"

"It's hard to explain."

"It worries me."

"Anna, don't worry. It's worked for a long time, I doubt it's gonna stop. Anyway, if you are gonna worry, don't do it about me. I'm Iron Man. I can look after myself. You, on the other hand… How old are you?"

"Eighteen."

"Eighteen! Wow. You see, you need to worry about yourself. I mean, you're good. Definitely good. But you need to train, and-"

"Tony."

"What?"

"Shut up."

"I'm sorry. But listen to me; you have a lot ahead of you. I've been the hero before, I'm used to it. Now it's gonna be your turn. And you don't wanna be worrying about it when the time comes. It'll never work."

"Okay."

"Now come here." He held out his arms for me to hug him. I hesitated, wary of him, but I needed comfort, and so hugged him gratefully. He held me tightly for a few minutes, making me feel better, but I realised something. I said:

"You do realise this is just friendly, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure." He let go of me, and I mumbled:

"Thank you."

"It's my pleasure."

"You and Bruce have been the kindest to me so far. Bruce was the first to talk to me like a person, and now you've done this… Thanks."

"You don't need to thank me. As I say, I don't mind. I act like a total moron sometimes, and that's 'cause I am one sometimes. But not all the time."

"I know. So, we're friends, right?"

"Obviously."

"Will you help me train tomorrow then?"

"Uh… With your fire."

"Yeah."

"Um… I'm not sure how well the suit will stand up to that."

"Oh, come on."

"Look, I'll find someone else who's willing, I promise you. I just don't wanna risk my paintwork."

"Wuss."

"No way! Just extremely fond of my suit, and not fond of having to rebuild it all the time cause someone wrecked it again."

"Alright, fine! But you better find me someone, or you'll be doing it anyway." I threatened playfully.

"Fine." He smiled.

"I'm going to bed now, Tony. Goodnight." I left the lab and headed off to find a room.

In the end, I had to go and find someone to help me, as I got totally lost. Thankfully, I ran into Fury pacing the corridors, and he told me where to go, although somewhat impatiently. I ended up on the fourth floor in an area called 'Special accommodation'. Whether that was good or not, I neither knew nor cared. I found the room Fury had told me to use, 333, and went inside. I locked the door and looked around. There had to be a mirror on the opposite wall, didn't there. I sighed. My eyes were surrounded by black circles, caused by the previous night attempting to sleep on the van. My hair, which had been long enough to reach the small of my back the week before, had been hacked off in an untidy shoulder-length bob. My white jumpsuit was still fairly clean, at least. I didn't want to wear it in bed though, so I looked in the narrow wardrobe for something, anything else. Thankfully, there was a cotton top and some black shorts in there, which I put on, noting the SHIELD logo on the shoulder. After hanging up my jumpsuit, I got into bed, turned off the light with the pull-cord above me, and tried to drift off.

Anna's tired :/

She'll be okay though! Reviews are awesome things (hint hint)