Chapter 4. Sparks

"Find anything yet?"

Bruce looked up from his hand held scanner to Ellie who sat beside him wringing out her hands, a flash of nostalgia washing through him at the action itself. Her hair was in a tight braid today, a whirlpool of red and yellow trailing down to pool on the ground behind where she sat and a green tank top replaced her usual red and yellow hoodie, the two green opals hanging around her neck complimenting it. She had strayed over to him when they had arrived at the floating fortress, seeing as Clark was immediately separated from her for Fury to debrief and Tony opted to catch up later, as his newest suit had more than a few dents put into it.

Focusing on the data flashing up at him, he shook his head, "There's definitely radiation, but I'm not sure what to look for when it comes to the different between one realm and the next, except maybe electrical waves, but those are already erratic…" It was confusing enough when Fury had to explain it to him, if others thought Tony and him where difficult to understand then it must be a similar feeling when he tried to understand a theory from a man who was trained in battle tactics more than the field of science. It came to the point where Ellie just showed him a comic book with a similar problem as theirs for him to grasp and formulate in his head.

"Sorry I can't do much" Ellie replied bringing her hands under her chin, "if you ever need a cool breeze, though, I'm your girl" Looking over to the shy doctor she grinned a bit, "would you mind if I pried a bit?"

"You've already seen the Other Guy" Bruce assured her, "so other issues seem trivial to me"

Leaning towards him a bit, eyes flashing around the sky they overlooked on the steps they occupied in front of the window, she whispered, "he doesn't like Tony much, does he?"

Catching himself before he could snort in amusement, he turned his head, momentarily dizzy at the close proximity of her face and his before answering, "he likes Tony more than a lot of people I've met, actually". He wasn't going to elaborate; it wasn't like he communicated with his alter ego over tea but the emotions he feels from the Other Guy are enough to go with. "They've seemed to grow on each other, the way Tony goes on about it"

"Didn't seem to like him today" Ellie bluntly pointed out, holding up a finger.

"The reason I keep telling him- everyone- not to put too much faith in me" he countered, "he doesn't mule over anything for long, he's a nerve, he's fueled by emotion and could turn on you on a dime if you did something he didn't like"

"Wouldn't anyone else?" she questioned, grinning humorously, "I mean, yeah, if I had his strength, I would show Tony exactly how I felt if he pushes my buttons, heck, I would even eat all of Clint's damn covers if I could"

"You're saying he's just like everyone else" raising an eyebrow at this Bruce adjusted his glasses to gaze at the lingering clouds, "that he's normal"

"What is normal?" Ellie shot back, waggling her fingers at him, "we're certainly not normal-" waving her hand towards a random hall "-Clint's not normal, neither is Fury"

"That's-"

"Different?" she poked his cheek, feeling amusement bubble up her throat when it twitched, "yes, our brains are funky, a chemical imbalance here and there, and hey, some people have better senses than others" clapping her hands together as if to clear the air she continued, "is a valedictorian normal? An Author? Crazy old cat lady?"

"Point taken" Bruce chuckled at her optimism.

"We each make up a part of this world, balancing it out" tapping his chest, over his heart, she added, "even our friend in here"

"You too?"

The mirror in front of him fogged over, muddling the view of the green beast on the other side. Bruce stayed bracing his hands on the sink counter while turning to the voice, blinking in surprise when he saw it was the new agent-Ellie-who was cleaning her hands in the sink next to his, the lights flickering above them.

"Not enough sleep" he sighed to himself rubbing the bridge of his nose, "too many dreams"

"We all hide monsters, Dr. Banner" Ellie stated turning to face him, "sometimes they're the ones we see in the mirrors, or we lock them away in our shadows" turning to look at the green bulk that was Bruce's reflection she gently swiped the moisture away, gazing at the fierce, green, gaze she caught. "they don't always like to be holed up so much, nightmares come about"

"This nightmare is reality" he waved at his reflection, dropping his head down, "I try to make it better, I help people, but all that's left is destruction, anger and bitterness"

"Don't we all?" she waved at the giant, not in the least concerned when his face got closer, hands gasping the other side of the mirror making it crack a bit, "we all have monsters inside, though I see a dutiful guardian here" she paused a bit, "he feels betrayed, lonely" caressing her own finger against the Hulks bigger one, "give him some faith, Doctor, we're all the same here"

He gave her a dry look, body tingling with his other side so close, last time he was so close he was dragged through the mirror.

"Look" swiping a hand across her own side of the mirror was a duplicate of herself, just more small and with brunette hair, wearing an abused sundress that looked too small for her teen years. Eyes swollen with tears, he saw her hands being wrung together, stained with blood, "scary, hu?"

"It's you" Bruce stated blandly, eyebrows knitting together.

"Exactly" she whispered, eyes wondering a bit, "when you see you as the monster, it's personal, too close to your soul" looking at the girl gazing back at her they both suddenly glared at one another, "I feel no betrayal from her just-accusation"

Looking up at the Hulk, he jumped when his gaze was returned too close for comfort.

"You're a sad man, Dr. Banner" Ellie's voice drifted to him, "I think the Big Guy balances you out like any other monster we see in ourselves"

Looking up at her own reflection, Bruce saw her hand rub her chest above her heart, and almost as if whispering to herself, said, "even our friend in here".

"Did I make yeah see life's purpose, or somethin', Dr. Banner?"

Shaking his head Bruce focused on the bubbly tone of Ellie who was looking at him goofily, "sorry, what?"

"Tony flicked us off" her own eyes showed a barely concealed crinkle as they sparkled at him and nodded to the window in front of them. When he looked, no one was there so he concluded he was already heading inside. Swinging his head back around he jerked when a hand ended up in his face, he looked up to see Ellie grinning sheepishly, "do you want to find him before he finds us?"

Taking the offered hand delicately, he stood, condensing the scanner to fit in his pocket before trailing after her up a stairway and down a catwalk to the control panels. Halfway down Ellie suddenly lurched forward, dizzying Bruce who's eyes tried to follow the windmill blurs that were her arms that sent a sudden gust of wind ruffling his shirt, before she righted herself to whip her head around to their immediate right where the culprit stood.

Clint grinned, bow lowered towards the ground, "maybe next time you'll give me a heads up before you pull a vanishing act, won't be so subtle next time"

Pulling the arrow out of the gated floor, Ellie had the urge to throw it back at him but refrained to tossing it back, "Did I give Mother Hen a fright?"

Her own lips pulled into a grin as his vanished, giving her a dry look.

"Uh" Bruce piped up, adjusting his glasses, "should I leave you two alone?"

"No" Ellie reaching back to grab his sleeve, "besides," she threw back to Clint, "I'm sure Fury sent you word".

"After you left" he clarified, walking in step with them as they moved, at Bruce's side, "I need notice before you decide to take a trip"

Looking back at him, she noticed Bruce's lost expression, "The Director assigned Clint as my guardian of sorts" she snorted, "not like I really get to do anything in the first place".

"Why would you need someone to look after you?" Bruce inquired, sparing Barton a look. It wasn't like Ellie knew a lot of people, coming from another world and all, from what she informed Tony and himself, she was taken in by an Institution before Fury caught wind of her and hauled her in not long after. Alone in a foreign world, one wouldn't stray too far from a place of comfort and security.

"Paranoia" Ellie shrugged, not really sure herself. She had asked Clint about Fury's decision but he was just as clueless as she was, saying he followed orders from the man without question- if questioned it ended up with the questioner getting an earful and a headache. "personally I would prefer someone like Mr. Rogers as company, polite and considerate"

"You didn't even know him at the time" Clint dead panned, "you still don't"

"Or even Bruce" she mulled it over like she didn't hear him, "he likes tea…"

"You didn't know him either" he inserted, catching Bruce's eye, "no offense, doctor"

"None taken" he assured the archer, "though she does make a point, I'm sure you're more useful to Fury out in the field instead of babysitting. Steve would have been a more logical choice; he needs company and is just as out of place as Ellie"

"I'm the only one that can follow her" Clint explained, "you've seen her Flash tricks right?" at his nod, "I can follow that speed and if needed catch her" he patted his bow, "have some special arrows just for her".

"It's a tranquilizer" Ellie snapped ahead of them, unconsciously rubbing her neck.

"We had to test it out" Clint explained to Bruce, "it was… refreshing"

"What- laying your eggs?" Tony's voice boomed into the room as he glided out of a hallway next to the assembly table that they just arrived at. He wore a fresh suit, trademark red and yellow suitcase in his hand.

"I knew there was a reason I still like you" Ellie hummed a bit, taking a seat in one of the fluffy chairs, letting it sink her into bliss.

"It's the charm" Tony assured her, sitting beside her to present her with a neck sized metal ring that had the trademark Stark Industries carved on in, "meet your newest friend, treat it well and I might give it to you"

"What is it?" she asked as Bruce stood in between their chairs to take a look at it, squinting at its blunt design.

"It's gonna read you like a book" he stated, unclasping it and jerked his chin to her neck, "move that tail of hair, kid"

Looking at Bruce for approval Ellie lifted her braid out of the way, a vibrating shiver running through her at the feel of cold metal that clicked into place around her neck like a necklace.

"Now, relax" Stark instructed, raising his hands slowly in warning before swiping a digit over his company's logo, making it light up with power. Ellie's eyes tried to catch a glimpse of what was happening but couldn't , her throat contracted at her dry gulp, and hands wrung at each other.

"Tony" Bruce inquired, crouching down to get a better look at his new invention, worried of what its purpose was, "is this safe?"

"Just wait" he urged, waving him off as his eyes stayed glued to Ellie's face. For a heartbeat nothing happened, then her face scrunched up as her body jerked in surprised and hands went to the metal collar.

Just as fast as it happened it disappeared, leaving Ellie gasping.

"You feeling alright?" Bruce asked, pressing a palm to her forehead before pressing two fingers to her wrist, recording her pulse then following up with peeling back her eyelid softly to check her pupils. Shaking him off she pushed off the chair to glower at a sheepish Tony Stark.

"You fucking shocked me!" she screeched moving so fast Tony couldn't react and was found with his collar clinched around his neck and face centimeters from hers, "I ought to-"

"Miss Pennyworth!"

Mentally groaning at the tone, Ellie unceremoniously dropped the billionaire into his seat, turning to greet the sight of a stone faced Fury with Clark and Clint behind him. She scowled as she reached for Tony's unwanted collar, not caring for her own safety as she roughly ripped it off, letting it drop, still sparking, at his feet. "Yes, Director?"

"We do nice to our comrades" he instructed, inclining his head for her to take her seat, which she did immediately, "Dr. Banner, would you attend to her while I speak to Mr. Stark alone?"

"Of course" Bruce spoke, ripping a hand clothe from his back pocket to put it on Ellie's neck gently, directing her hand to hold it in place, "come on"

"Dr. Banner" Bruce looked up in response, a hand on the small of Ellie's back as he prepared to guide her to the lab, "take Mr. Kent with you".

Clark spared the Director an unpleased look before nodded for Bruce to continue on, a few steps behind him as they passed hallways and turned a few corners before passing through a glass door to a clean research room where Bruce directed Ellie to sit on a stool.

"Director Fury didn't chew you out, did he?" Ellie attempted to lighten up the mood, swinging her legs in a slow moving pattern.

"There was nothing to chew" Clark responded looking pointedly at her, "all I was asked was how and when I arrived here... seemed he already knew everything else about me"

"Don't look at me!" Ellie defended leaning forward but was gently pushed back so Bruce could sterilize the cuts on her neck, "they have books on you, conventions- they knew more about you than me!"

A curious light came into his eyes, though at the same time his stance stiffened in wariness.

"I know" Clark's eyes darted to Bruce's, his glasses catching light. Raising an eyebrow, he silently inclined him to continue, "it's unnerving to have strangers know what you are"

"Indeed" he answered slowly, now looking at the said doctor in a new light, "I'm guessing you have another alias as well?"

Bruce involuntarily stiffened, eyes suddenly skittish as they returned to Ellie's injury. Brief inspection had him rummaging through a small drawer, quickly pulling out a small tube of paste.

"Dr. Banner?" Clark asked inquiringly, now more curious of what the kind doctor was capable of and if he's heard of his other identity.

"Director Fury hasn't informed you of much, has he?" Bruce evaded hesitantly, glad that Ellie wasn't pushing him and had otherwise occupied herself by playing with one of Tony's metal bands.

"He doesn't seem too keen on sharing much of anything, Doctor" Clark answered, giving Ellie a glance but saw she wasn't going to help. She always kept others' secrets close to her and he couldn't blame her for keeping this one as well.

"Yes, well…" clearing his throat , he smoothly applied the paste to the red patches on Ellie's skin, apologizing when she shivered, "you've already met… my alias" it was always discomforting having to make himself known to an outsider.

"I don't believe so" Clark insisted, only having encountered Tony Stark and a mass of Green hulk, "Ellie spoke of you during my… encounter with your friends"

"You, Bruce and me had a nice chit-chat"

"You are Bruce, correct?" he continued, making sure he wasn't mistaken on who was who on board.

"That's me" he sighed putting a patch of cotton on some wider cuts and taping them gently there, "and… so is the other guy you met"

"You are the metal man?" Clark asked suddenly confused on the roles each of them took to.

"Ironman, people" Tony barged in smoothing out his wild hair, though it didn't help any, "Not metal man, man of iron, but Ironman"

"Then that makes you-" he looked at Bruce in a new light, slight disbelief on his features.

"Our friendly green giant?" Tony finished with a grin, giving Bruce a thumbs up, "don't worry, he just has a thing against flying people" he did frown a bit at this though as he revised his words, "with the exception of me, of course"

Ellie rolled her eyes, gently prodding her neck with her index, smiling sheepishly when Bruce gave her a warning glance.

"It must be quite a change, I suppose" Clark concluded, looking Bruce up and down and mentally comparing him to the green mass he met early in the day.

"You could say…" Bruce murmured turning to look at Tony suddenly, indicating Ellie with his chin briefly, "what did you do to her?"

"The trials of science, my dear" he held up the broken collar in question, "and it was her fault"

"I didn't touch anything until after it decided to shock me" Ellie grumbled crossing her arms but waved her them when Clark's gaze sharpened on Tony, "he was trying to help- I think"

"What else?" Tony quipped with a grin, "it was our dear Ellie here that conducted the electrical shocks-" holding up a hand to stop any outbursts that may follow"-it's the magnetic field around her, and I'm pretty sure it'd happen to spandex right here also"

"So I…" Ellie began, not really into the science department, "uh, I shocked myself?"

"Bingo!" Tony applauded tossing the collar at Bruce, "that was to measure the energy around you- I tested it out on Happy before I left, nothing exciting, really, but on you- sparks flew"

"I still didn't like it" Ellie stated willing herself not to rub at her neck.

"It got results" Tony mended turning to Clark, "willing to try out my toy? Got another one"

Life complicates Life. I keep on reminding myself the world isn't ending. Questions, question away.