Chapter Five

Alice felt like her brain had been pounded into mush. She was pretty sure she'd passed her test in Physiology, but it had been a close thing. All she wanted now was to take the quinjet out for a spin, but Clint had left on that vacation he had been threatening them with, and she couldn't seem to find Tony anywhere. JARVIS was being surprisingly unhelpful, claiming that her security clearance wasn't high enough to access his location, which was bullshit. She practically had the run of the Tower; she had never once been denied access to anything.

In frustration, she decided to start at the top of the Tower and work her way down until she rooted out someone who could give her some answers. She rode the elevator up to Tony's private penthouse floor and banged on his door. Nothing. She huffed and got back in the elevator, punching the button for the next floor down, the penthouse communal floor. At least she could get some coffee before she continued the search. As soon as the doors slid open, she marched out and glanced around the lounge and dining area, not expecting to find much.

There was no Tony, of course, but Klara was there, sitting at the table with both hands clasped in her lap as she bent over a transparent tablet in front of her, scrutinizing it intently. As Alice strode past her into the kitchen and started the coffee brewing, she saw the girl hesitantly touch the corner of the screen and swipe, turning a page. The look of delight on her face made a little of Alice's frustration dissipate.

"You can pick that up, you know," she said, as she grabbed a thermal mug out of the cabinet. Klara jumped and Alice grinned at her. "It won't bite. Probably."

The girl returned her smile and Alice was happy to see no trace of whatever illness had plagued her for the past few days. She had her suspicions that it hadn't actually been a physical ailment, but Alice wasn't one to judge. She'd had her share of "illnesses" in her lifetime.

"Oh, Alice," Klara said, actually sounding pleased to see her, "Forgive me, I didn't even hear you come in."

"Engrossing read?" Alice asked, unscrewing the lid on her travel mug and dumping the coffee in black.

"It is Dr. Foster's newest article on the Convergence," Klara said, sounding very much like a proud family member, "I confess that most of the technical aspects are beyond me, but the wording is quite elegant."

Alice meandered over and peered over Klara's shoulder. There was a picture of Greenwich, clearly taken during what Klara called "the Convergence", showing the circles of worlds that had appeared like overlapping windows over the windswept green, followed by several indecipherable charts and paragraphs upon paragraphs of technobabble. Alice raised an eyebrow.

"You're doing better than me," she said, sipping her coffee and, wincing, reaching across the table for the sugar bowl, "That looks like a foreign language."

"It is truly fascinating," Klara said eagerly, "From what I gather it has brought your world that much closer to interstellar travel, such as the Rainbow Bridge. Midgard might very well join the rest Nine Realms in proper order within your lifetime!"

A vision of the dragon-turtle war machines gliding out of a gaping hole in the sky a few years back made Alice shudder. She took another sip of her coffee.

"No offense, Klara," she said, "But what I've seen of the Nine Realms hasn't exactly been all that welcoming."

Klara glanced up confused, and then her expression fell, dropping her eyes back to the tablet as if the article was now tainted somehow. Alice regretted her pessimism almost immediately.

"I mean, I haven't been to Asgard, obviously," Alice said, in an attempt at recovery, "That sounds like a cool place. I'm sure there are others too, I mean, nine, right? They can't all suck."

Ugh. Alice wanted to bury her face in her hands. What was she doing? She was the worst at stuff like this! But despite her bumbling ineloquence, a tiny bit of Klara's smile returned.

"I have always wanted to see Vanaheim, myself. They say the Vanir were once the greatest of the Nine Realms, even greater than Asgard. They are a peaceful people for the most part, kind and gentle. I would like to see the home of..."

She trailed off and her brow furrowed. Then she shook it away and met Alice's eyes.

"Yes, there are many that would welcome Midgard, I think," she said, "Perhaps you shall be their ambassador, Alice. The role would suit you."

Alice choked on her coffee.

"You're kidding, right?" Alice said, once she'd managed to clear the coffee from her lungs, "I'm like, the anti-ambassador. I have no grace, none of the fancy words, I mean, are you even listening to me talk, right now? Nobody wants me to represent the human race, trust me."

Klara did not look convinced.

"You sell yourself short," she said, "Frankness and an open heart are far more desirable qualities than poise or pretty words. I think you would make a fine ambassador."

Alice stared at her. She was dead serious. Holy crap.

"Well, luckily we won't have to worry about that for a while," Alice said, topping off her coffee and screwing the lid back on, "So, in the meantime, I'll just play tour guide. You wanna pick up where we left off? Most of the teen floors are all offices anyway, it shouldn't take long."

Klara made a quick nervous tap on the tablet screen. It went dark and she stood, smoothing her tunic.

"Yes, that would be lovely," she said, "I should have a working knowledge of the Tower as a whole if I am to stay for any length of time."

Alice raised an eyebrow but decided to leave it be. They headed to the elevator and (skipping the private floors) Alice pressed the button for Level 18, which was part of the public dining area for the Stark Industries employees. They stopped for a donut and to say hi to Maureen, the lady working the lunch line on Level 16, before they moved on to the eight levels of office space. She hadn't been kidding when she said that most of the teen levels were offices. Levels 12 and 9 were being renovated (Alice didn't know for what, that was Maria's department), but the rest of the levels she dutifully walked Klara through, waving at the few employees that she recognized. They almost literally ran into Maria Hill on Level 11, as they were coming around a corner and Alice made formal introductions.

"Oh right, Thor's sidekick, I heard about you," Maria said, taking Klara's hand in a firm grip, "How's the Clint situation coming along?"

Klara stiffened, and Alice answered for her.

"Clint's on vacation."

Klara's brows rose in surprise, but Maria either didn't notice or chose not to make anything of it.

"Right. Well, don't let him get to you," she said to Klara, releasing her hand, "He's not one for grudges, he'll come around."

"That's what I said," Alice said, giving Klara a side-long, told-you-so smile, "Hey, Maria, you haven't seen Tony, have you? JARVIS is being difficult and won't give me a location."

Maria shook her head just as her phone buzzed.

"Sorry, Alice, I haven't seen him all day. You know how much he hates the office." She glanced at her phone display. "It's the boss, better take this. Nice to meet you, Klara."

Before Klara could reply Maria put the phone to her ear and started walking away.

"Hi, Pepper!" Alice shouted in her direction and was rewarded with a wave back in response before Maria disappeared into one of the offices.

"Pepper?" Klara asked as they got back into the elevator and Alice pressed the button for Level 10.

"Pepper Potts," Alice clarified, "Tony's girlfriend, and the CEO of Stark Industries. She basically owns this part of the Tower."

"I see."

There was a long pause and just as the elevator door was about to open Klara spoke again, even more timidly.

"Clint Barton is vacationing?"

Alice glanced at her, then shrugged as they got out of the elevator.

"You know as much about that as I do," she said, trying not to feel the sting of the words, "He didn't tell me squat."

"Oh. I see." Another pause. "Miss Hill seemed quite nice."

Alice grinned, and let the flicker of anger go up in smoke. "Yeah, if you get past the brisk exterior, she's pretty cool. She's just really busy. She's basically the New York extension of Pepper, which means she runs day-to-day operations in the Tower. And she's Tony's reluctantly unofficial babysitter. It's a full-time job."

"I get the impression that Mister Stark is not an easy man to corral," Klara said, glancing one last time around the empty offices as they stepped back into the elevator.

Alice snorted as the doors shut and she punched the button for Level 8.

"That's the understatement of the century," she said, "He's a mess is what he is. He nearly got himself killed last Christmas, thought I was going to have a stroke. Idiot."

Klara quirked her head to the side curiously.

"You're quite fond of him, aren't you?"

Alice blinked, and then she shrugged, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jeans.

"I mean, sure, I like him pretty well. He's a dumbass, but he's a hard dumbass to dislike. And he was Bruce's friend when...well, before anyone else really knew him. Me and Tony, we see the same things in Bruce, things its hard for other people to see."

They made it down to the ground floor and as the doors opened, the look on Klara's face was hard to mistake. Alice took her by the arm and led her across the marble floor, through the revolving doors, and out onto the street. The girl turned in a long, slow circle on the sidewalk, heedless of the people hurrying by, staring up with wide eyes at the buildings soaring above their heads in all directions, gleaming in the midday sun.

"It really is extraordinary," she murmured, "Even on Asgard we did not have such towering extravagances as this. Midgard is truly a wonder, and most of you don't even realize..."

Alice smiled, leaning against the side of the building with her arms crossed, watching with a sort of pride as the girl marveled at the human race.

"Alright, you've convinced me," she said, shoving upright and taking the girl by the elbow, pulling her back inside the Tower before she accidentally wandered into traffic, "We'll finish up with the Tower tour today, and next week sometime I'll show you around the city."

Klara stared at Alice as if she were crazy.

"The whole city?" she asked, looking back out the glass doors with a little bit of terror in her eyes, "But it's vast! How will we ever traverse it in a week?"

"Well, we're not walking, that's for sure," Alice reassured her, ushering her back through the lobby and into the elevator, "We'll take one of Tony's cars, hit the highlights: Central Park, Empire State, Lady Liberty. Don't worry, I can get around well enough."

"Will Mister Stark allow it?"

"He better," Alice said, stabbing the button for Underground 1, "But if we have to, we'll take a cab. Besides, I promised I would help you find a swimsuit so we can make good use of Level 34, remember?"

"Captain Rogers did say I might need new shoes..." Klara mused.

Alice leaned against the elevator wall with her arms crossed, one eyebrow raised in interest. She hadn't been aware that Klara and the captain had spoken more than two words to each other.

"Really? When did Steve say this?"

Klara shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, clasping her hands behind her and straightening her shoulders.

"I happened upon him while he was training," she said, "I didn't mean to disturb him, but he...was very kind about it. He has offered to instruct me in the activity he calls 'boxing'."

"Wow, seriously?" Alice said, "You and Steve Rogers in a boxing ring? I would pay money to see that."

"We did not enter the arena," Klara said quickly, "He only instructed me on the practice bag, and I fear I was not very good."

"Trust me, Klara, that is beside the point," Alice said as the door dinged open and they stepped out into the underground parking garage.

Alice showed Klara some of Tony's cars and Steve's motorcycle (which he still would not let her ride, the jerk). The next two levels were mostly storage, and Underground 4 was under construction as a nightclub that would likely never be finished.

At Underground 5 they ran into a problem.

"I'm sorry, Miss Ripley, but I'm afraid you don't have clearance to access this area," JARVIS said, sounding less than apologetic.

"Aha!" she said, punching the emergency stop button, "Gotcha, you sneaky bastard."

"What is it?" Klara asked.

"Tony," Alice explained, sending them back up to Underground 4, "I haven't been able to find him, and JARVIS either can't or won't tell me where he is. I have pretty much all-inclusive access to this place, so where I can't go, must be where he's hiding out."

The elevator doors opened and Klara followed her into the dimly lit construction zone of the nightclub.

"So, what are we doing now?" she asked as Alice led her further into the darkened level.

"Well, I may not have all-access anymore," Alice said, pushing aside a tarp for Klara to duck beneath, "But I know someone who definitely does."

She flourished an access badge in the orange glow of the emergency exit sign they were standing beneath.

"But that's Maria Hill!" Klara gasped.

"Exactly," Alice said, swiping the badge through the lock and watching with satisfaction as the light turned green and the door clicked open. She pushed it open and waved Klara inside, "And now, we see what the boys have been trying to hide in the clubhouse."

Klara peered over the railing down into the dark stairwell.

"Will there not be any other precautions?" she asked, "JARVIS is quite sophisticated. Won't he try to stop us?"

Alice shrugged and stepped around her, keeping a firm grip on the railing as she started down. "Maybe. But all he can do is alert Tony to intruders. There are no lethal security features in the Tower, Tony made sure of it. Too much margin for error."

They reached a landing with a blinking panel, asking for a badge. With fingers that only shook slightly, Alice swiped Maria's badge again. The light blinked for what felt like an eternity, then went solid green and the door clicked. Alice let out a breath and put her hand on the door handle.

"Here we go."

She opened the door and they both ducked inside. It was dark at this entrance, but there was the suggestion of light around the far corner. No one appeared to have noticed the unauthorized entry. Alice put a hand on the cool concrete wall to keep her balance and began to move forward.

"They call this level the Dungeon," she said over her shoulder to Klara, "It was meant to be a holding area for baddies, so there's all kinds of safety precautions and fail-safes. Getting in is easy, but we'll probably need Tony to let us out again."

"Criminals were held here?"

Alice detected the barest hint of a tremor in Klara's voice, and for the first time, she thought about where they were and what that might mean to the other girl. Shit.

"Oh no, it was never put to use," Alice said, trying to backpedal, "Mostly they're for show, a safety net in case something really bad happens. But we've never had any...any..."

She trailed off, losing her forward momentum. They had turned the corner, and light was blazing out of a large picture window, illuminating the forms of, not just Tony Stark, but also Natasha Romanov, Steve Rogers, and Thor. She could feel Klara at her back, peeking around her, she could see the others turning to stare at her with varying degrees of surprise. But that didn't matter. None of it did. What mattered was what she could see beyond the picture window, standing in the bright lights with eyes closed, brow furrowed in concentration, dressed in a strange suit of lycra-like material she had never seen before.

Bruce.

"Alice!" That was Tony's voice, her mind told her dimly, and she tore her eyes from what they didn't understand, but she had a sneaking suspicion... "How did you even get down here? I'm gonna have to have a serious talk with JARVIS about-"

He was pushing past Steve and Thor, striding toward her as if he meant to shoo her away like a wayward child...a child...

"Tony," she said, and even though she never raised her voice, something in the way she said it made him stop in his tracks, "Not that I don't appreciate seeing my boyfriend in a skintight onesie...but what the hell is going on?"

As Alice and Tony Stark argued, Klara moved to Lord Thor's side, dipping him a small curtsy. He nodded, acknowledging her without ire, but then returned his gaze to the arguing Midgardians.

"This what you've been hiding from me?"

"We didn't want to involve you."

"Well guess what, Tony, I'm involved!"

"May I ask what is happening?" Klara asked, leaning in and speaking just loud enough for Lord Thor to hear.

But to her surprise, it was Miss Romanov who answered.

"Alice had an idea that the Hulk might be evolving, gaining intelligence. That he might even be reasoned with, talked into working with Dr. Banner and with us, eliminating the need for brute force to bring him under control."

"That's good, isn't it?"

"It would be," Captain Rogers agreed, keeping his eyes on the argument, his arms crossed, "But so far, we haven't had a whole lot of luck."

"And Alice didn't know," Klara said, "That you've been trying, I mean."

"Bruce didn't want her to know," Captain Rogers said, glancing down at her, "Not yet. Probably for this exact reason."

"When are you guys gonna stop treating me like I don't know what I've gotten myself into?" Alice snapped.

Mister Stark let loose a frustrated sigh and shoved his hands through his hair.

"I know, alright, I know! But, come on Alice, be honest! You live your entire life one reckless step away from disaster, can you really blame us for at least trying to keep you safe?"

"It's not your job-!"

"Yes, it is!" Stark shouted, sending the girl reeling back a step, "God, you just... That's what friends do, Alice!"

There was a long, pointed pause. Alice's arms were tightly crossed and she still looked very angry, but now she looked strangely frightened as well. Stark sighed and rubbed his face.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" he said, "That was...stupid and pointless, and I know-"

A monstrous roar reverberated against the stone of the corridor and everybody whirled toward the large, brightly lit window. Where Dr. Banner had stood moments before, poised and controlled, there was now only a blur of green and black. The creature slammed into the window and, though there were no vibrations from his impact, a shimmering blue light rippled at every point of contact. The room seemed to contain the strength of his fury, but that did not stop him from trying, roaring and charging at every wall and corner in frustration.

Klara had never seen anything like it. She had been told, of course, of the doctor's gift, that there was something inside him threatening at all times to consume him, but she knew now that it would be impossible to truly comprehend the magnitude without seeing it for oneself. He was not just a thing of rage and power, he was a force of nature. An explosive capsule of infinite possibility. Klara did not realize that she had been staring until she was brought back by the loud shouts of Tony Stark once more.

"See, this? This is why we didn't want to involve you!"

"Tony, I'm not scared!"

"That's exactly my point!"

"Well, you guys aren't having any luck, why not let me have a shot?" Alice insisted, arms still stubbornly crossed over her chest.

"Because you have no experience here, okay? None!" Stark said, "You have no idea what you're getting into!"

"Oh, and Nat has so much more experience than me."

"Actually, she does."

"One time, Tony! He chased her around the helicarrier one time!"

"Well, she got away didn't she?"

"I'm standing right here, actually," Miss Romanov said, but neither combatant seemed to notice and she didn't appear terribly concerned with being acknowledged. She leaned back against the wall and smirked as the fight raged on.

"Do you realize what would happen if I let you in there and something happened to you?" Stark said, pointing angrily at the window that the green-skinned giant was now banging against over and over, "Bruce would kill me! Literally, kill me!"

"Oh that's right, and it's all about you, isn't it Tony?"

"Okay, we're done," Captain Rogers said, stepping forward and putting his hands out to each angry party, as if warding off a sparring match, "Alice, I know you're upset, but we have work to do, and like it or not, Nat is more equipped to handle the situation right now than you are. I'm not saying you shouldn't have a shot, but I think you need to consider-"

Klara's eyes drifted back to the glass as the captain continued to soothe as best he could. The creature within had settled a bit now, though he still paced the width and breadth of the room that held him captive, huge hands clenching and unclenching as he snorted and surveyed the bland white walls of his surroundings. That was when she realized...she had seen this before. A man pacing a cage, longing to be free, confined by virtue of his very nature.

That thou art blamed shall not be thy defect...

She pressed her fingers to the glass. It did not fall away.

"May I try?"

The hallway was suddenly silent. Klara turned. They were all staring at her, wearing varying expressions of skepticism and mistrust. Only Lord Thor looked contemplative, and so it was to him that she directed her inquiry.

"Please," she said, standing straight with her hands clasped behind her, mustering all the courage she could find, "I would very much like to try."

Mister Stark tossed his hands into the air. "Jesus, everybody wants to be a hero!"

"Klara," Captain Rogers said, a furrow in his brow, "No offense, but you have even less experience with this than Alice."

"On the contrary, Captain Rogers, I have a great deal of experience managing prisoners confined to white boxes."

The captain blinked and Klara fought to conceal her own surprise at her cheek, not daring to back down now that it had been said.

"In fact, Klara may have the best chance of us all to make this work," Lord Thor said, still looking at Klara with that thoughtful expression, "As a natural Abjurate, she has the innate ability to deflect and disperse magic and its effects. She may indeed have the power to ease the transition for Dr. Banner, making it easier to regain control of his faculties, given the right conditions."

"But this isn't magic!" Stark insisted, "This is science!"

"And as I have many times tried to explain, on Asgard more often than not the two concepts are interchangeable."

"You're asking us to let her waltz in there based on some theory of magical science that may or may not prove true? Tasha, come on, back me up here."

Miss Romanov met Klara's eyes. She was still smirking as if the entire situation was no more than a silly child's game. She shrugged.

"It's her funeral."

Stark made a noise of profound frustration and whirled away, pounding at the keys belonging to a bank of electrical equipment stacked up next to the window. Alice was glaring at the floor and would not look at Klara. Klara didn't blame her. What had once been the man she loved roared at the ceiling behind her.

"God, fine, let's get this nightmare over with," Stark growled, sounding like a petulant child, "Nat, give her your panic button."

Miss Romanov detached a small device from around her wrist and Captain Rogers took it from her, approaching Klara in much the same fashion as he had when he'd prepared to wrap her hands in cloth, like a frightened animal that might bolt at any moment.

"Press this button," he said, slipping the device over Klara's hand and turning it so she could see the blue-lighted indicator, "Anytime you feel like the situation's gotten out of control. Got it?"

Klara nodded her understanding, but the Captain made her practice pressing the button several times to be certain. He tightened the strap again, triple-checking the fit, and then stepped back surveying her appearance with a critical eye that made Klara stand a bit straighter and seek out the place just beyond his shoulder to rest her gaze.

"You should have your hair up, out of the way," he finally said.

"I'll be sure to remember that next time, Captain," she answered, trying not to let any hint of unease bleed out in the form of sarcasm.

He crossed his arms and shook his head, staring down at the floor beside her feet. He was frowning. Why was he frowning?

"First sign of trouble," he said, finally looking up and meeting her gaze sternly, "I'm serious. We'll be watching, and if it even looks like something's about to go wrong, we're getting you out of there. Understood?"

Klara swallowed and nodded, though she wasn't really certain that she did. He was still frowning, almost as if he were...worried? No, that couldn't be right. Klara blinked and let the foolish thought pass.

Mister Stark finished fiddling with his controls and finally indicated (in the most sulking way possible) that he was ready. Klara approached a large metal door set into the wall at an angle to the room. Lord Thor stood off to the side, still watching her with that deeply contemplative look. She dropped him a small curtsy and he smiled, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder before he turned and retreated out of her line of sight.

Klara now faced only the door, a large metal square, plain and solid with no discernible markings on the outside. She took a breath and shut her eyes. She imagined another door, leading down into the familiar dark of a dungeon that was now far away. The mere thought of it straightened her shoulders, set her resolve, brought a familiar cool confidence to her blood. This was her duty. This was her realm.

"Are we ready?" Mister Stark asked, his petulant voice sounding small and far away.

Klara nodded. She heard a hiss as the pressurized door released and she opened her eyes as it swung open, stepping inside without a moment's hesitation.

The sound of his rage was enormous as he charged at the glass window, which Klara could now see was opaque on this side, though this did not seem to deter him. He had not yet noticed her entrance, and she stood very still for several moments as he slammed into the wall over and over again. Finally, he stepped back and shook his head, as if to clear a stray thought, snorting and resuming his pacing.

"Hello."

He turned toward her, a snarl already on his lips, but upon seeing her, he paused. Though having those furious eyes turned on her made her knees tremble, Klara clenched her hands behind her and held her ground.

"I don't believe we've been formally introduced. My name is Klara." She was able to manage the shock of her own terror by being marginally pleased her voice did not waver in the slightest. "I believe the others call you the Hulk?"

He snorted and shuffled, but did not seem opposed to the moniker. She steeled her nerves and took a single step into the room.

"I understand this must be very unnerving for you," she said, keeping her eyes fixed on his, "To be pulled into the world so suddenly, and then asked to give it up in much the same fashion."

He snorted again and pulled back slightly. Klara stopped her forward motion, waiting. She could see his indecision, his mistrust. She had once seen these things flicker across a very different face, a more guarded countenance, upon which such glimpses of the soul were rare and precious.

"Oh, that you were yourself, but love,

You are no longer yours..."

The words came to her as if from a dream barely remembered. They brought forth images of a broken room, a broken man, comforted only by the words of a long-dead poet.

Sentiment...

The Hulk paused in his shuffling. He looked at her, brow furrowed as if in concentration. Klara blinked away the tears that had threatened to rise up and tried to remember any more of the lines.

"Or...some fierce thing replete with too much rage," No, that wasn't right, she had gotten them mixed up somehow, but she couldn't stop the words now. "So I, for fear of trust, forget to say the perfect ceremony of love's rite."

The truth of the words came clear, despite her muddled memories. She stepped forward, held out a hand to him. He did not step away.

"Oh, learn to read what silent love hath writ..."

He hesitated. Then, slowly, he lifted one large hand and lowered it over her palm.

The skin was smooth and warm, and as Klara ran her fingers along the lines of veins, she felt something ripple beneath her touch.

"Then you were yourself again," she whispered as he groaned deep in his chest, dropping to one knee, "After yourself's decease."

The other knee collapsed beneath him and he curled inward, far more inward than he reasonably should have been able. It was like watching a cloth stretched too tightly over a drying line suddenly released from its bonds, retracting into its smaller, looser shape to pile on the ground. Klara knelt beside Dr. Banner, no longer daring to touch for fear of what her touch might do. He was gasping for breath, his skin covered in a sheen of sweat, his fingers pressed to the floor as if the strength of the stone might be imparted to him somehow. He caught his breath and looked up at her, his eyes twinkling despite the exhaustion lingering there.

"Shakespeare?" he huffed.

Klara could not help but return his smile.

"As best I could recall it," she said, "I mixed the lines a bit, I fear."

"Close enough," Mister Stark said, kneeling beside them, and Klara stood to get out of his way as he scanned Dr. Banner with a tablet device, "Where did you even learn Shakespearean sonnets?"

Klara stiffened slightly as a torrent of memory threatened to overwhelm her: a broken man, a broken room, the tears that went unnoticed and unchecked...

...for thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings...

"My mother."

Klara blinked and caught her breath against her grief. Lord Thor was smiling, though she could see falsehood in it, a boon of pity for her.

"Lady Frigga was quite fond of your Midgardian bard," he said, directing his words to the group at large, "I am certain Klara heard such lines often in her service."

Was that true? It certainly wasn't true that she had heard the sonnets on Lady Frigga's lips, but it was possible that the queen might have held a fondness for the poet. Was that where he had...?

...then you shall hear the surly sullen bell

Give warning to the world that I am fled...

"Hey, whatever works," Stark said, finishing his examination and sitting back to give Dr. Banner some space as he paged through the results on his tablet, "And it definitely works, wow, that was stunning, man, I mean, look at these figures!"

He handed the tablet to Dr. Banner, who took it and squinted at the screen.

"Oh, shit, here," Mister Stark patted his pockets for a moment and finally came up with Dr. Banner's glasses, which he took gratefully, perching them on his nose and examining the screen with much less strain. His eyebrows rose.

"Wow," he said, "That's-"

"-impressive?" Tony suggested, "Mind-boggling? Scientifically unique in every way?"

"I was going to say 'encouraging' actually," Dr. Banner said, paging through the figures, "But those all work too."

"Well, I'm glad we're all so impressed."

Alice Ripley's deadpan monotone slammed into the room with the weight of Mjolnir. The girl stood with her arms crossed, glaring at Dr. Banner as if she might set him on fire with her very gaze. The doctor, for his part, seemed to only now realize that she was even present.

"Tony-?" he began, his gaze and his tone accusing.

"Don't look at me!" Stark said, holding up his hands as if in surrender, "She snuck in! I'm gonna have to talk to JARVIS about security around here, it's clearly lacking..."

He trailed off as the silence in the room took on tangible weight. Alice had not stopped glaring and Dr. Banner looked as if he were beginning to understand the true nature of what had happened. Of what he had done.

"Alice-" he began, but she was already turning away, and she did not turn back at the sound of his plaintive call.

"You know what? It's fine. Do whatever you want."

And she disappeared into the dark. Dr. Banner covered his face and let out a frustrated sigh.

"I told you, man," Stark said, poking at his tablet as everyone else shifted uncomfortably, "Didn't I tell you? I mean, I knew she would-"

"Tony?" Dr. Banner said, his voice muffled, "Shut the hell up."

And for once, Mister Stark did just that.