I slowly opened my eyes only to be blinded by bright lights, letting out a groan I covered my eyes "where am I?" "Shield HQ" Clint was there with me "why the in the actual fuck am I at Shield HQ?" I looked over to him "you needed to get checked out and Bruce was kinda green" "he hulked out" I sighed "is everyone okay?" "Yeah Bruce got to the green room before it got too out of hand" I moved to sit up wincing Clint pushed me back down "your over exerting yourself" "I'm fine" "you were raped!" I blinked at Clint "there's nothing fine about that Toni" Clint said quietly looking at the ground "as of today we are to assume that Loki has a personal vendetta against you" Clint spoke still looking at the ground "so until further notice you are to have someone with you at all times" "but I-" "this is non-negotiable Toni. Loki has seriously harmed you twice; next he may just-" Clint broke off there pain filled his eyes "fine" I sighed in defeat "how long am I stuck here?" "The doctors are checking over test results and then me and Tony are going to take you back to the tower" "Thank you; Clint. For being here for me," I mumbled he gave me a small smile "that's what I'm here for Toni, I am family after all."

I was actually glad to be back at the tower not to glad to have someone around me at 'all' times, it was hard to get some alone time. I starred at my shirtless reflection in the mirror figuring out what I really wanted to do I brought the scissors up when my current watch called my name frantically I dropped the scissors and the bathroom door opened "Toni?" Bruce stood in the doorway, he quickly shut the door with a muffled 'sorry' I chuckled picking the scissors up again and cutting my hair to my desired length. I stepped out of the shower wiping the moisture from the mirror admiring my new hair cut; it was now shoulder length and fringed I slipped into some shorts and a spaghetti strap; seeing as everyone knew about the scars now there was no need to hide them, I brushed some moose through my hair "Hey, Jar; is Bruce still here or did he get embarrassed and run off?" I asked "Dr. Banner is currently in your living room Madam Sparrow, though I must warn you his heart rate is slightly elevated" Jarvis replied "consider me warned" I said placing the brush down and headed down stairs "hey, sorry about that" I chuckled noting the blush on Bruce's face "you were asleep I didn't want to wake you" "no. No I'm sorry I rushed in like that. It's just I uh- heard the clatter and thought Loki might have showed up. It was silly of me" he said shyly "no. It' completely understandable" I tried to calm his nerves as fun as it was to make him so nervous and as much as I liked 'The Other Guy' I really didn't want to deal with the mean and green "you want something to drink Dr. Banner? Milk? Juice? Green Tea?" "I'll take some Green tea if it's not too much trouble. And please call me Bruce" he gave a smile getting up from the couch and walked over to the window "sure thing". I sat at the table with Bruce enjoying a cup of Nutella Hot Chocolate, we talked about random things; "I like the new hair" Bruce said stirring what was left of his tea "oh, thanks" I chuckled "being on the run for five years you lose track of things like hair cuts and what not" I joked "yeah I know that feeling." We sat in silence for a while nothing uncomfortable it was very comfortable; I finally got up "you want to watch a movie with me?" "Yeah sure".

We made ourselves comfortable on the couch as Disney's Beauty and the Beast began; it was one of my favorites I loved how a simple daydreamer like Belle could see past all of the anger that Beast showed to see the Prince a perfect fairy tail. I felt my eyes begin to get heavy around the part when Gaston went after the Beast I only blinked for a second and opened my eyes to see the T.V was off and Bruce was gone. I rubbed my eyes "Bruce?" I called out tiredly someone breathed behind me and they were big; I slowly turned around to see Mr. Big and green looking at me I raised to my knees "uh hi there big guy" I gave a friendly smile "what brings you here?" did I say something in my sleep that would make Bruce mad? But hulk didn't look mad he looked content. . "Toni" he said softly wow I did not know that the hulk talked "Madam Sparrow, the team has been notified of your predicament and are on the way" the Hulk growled angrily "hey-hey don't go smashing big; lets just calm down" I said quietly holding my hands up as I got off the couch "tell them to hold off Jarvis" "Ma'am I would suggest-" "I have this under control, now tell them to hold off" I said again with more control the AI hesitated "very well ma'am" "Toni like Hulk?" "Yeah I like you big guy. Your awesome" I smiled walking closer slowly "not scared?" "Never" "Hulk like Toni" he placed a large hand on my cheek "ma'am?" "Hold off Jarvis" I placed a hand on his.The Hulk began shrinking down to Bruce size I still held on to his hand he fell to his knees gasping for breath "Bruce are you okay?" I knelt before him now placing my other hand on his shoulder "w-what happened?" he breathed, "uh- 'The Other Guy' wanted to say hi I guess" Bruce tensed up "It's okay Bruce he didn't hurt anyone" "he didn't?" Bruce looked up at me our noses nearly touched "he didn't even smash anything" I gave a reassuring smile Bruce moved in closer slowly my heart skipped a beat "k-kiss me" I said quietly; our lips molded together slowly and intimately this is what a kiss should feel like I tangled my fingers through his curls and he placed a hand on my hip brushing against one of my ribs making me wince "sorry" he said against the kiss "your so fucking adorable Bruce" I pushed him back deepening the kiss not caring about the pain in my side.

I blinked my eyes open, the end credits of the movie were playing "oh" I mumbled sadly I sat up rubbing my eyes "something wrong Little Sparrow?" Bruce asked "nah, it's-" my pulse quickened "what did you call me?" I looked over to Bruce who was sitting next to me smiling, this didn't feel right I got of the couch "Little. Sparrow" Bruce smiled getting up also; I backed away "Jarvis?" I gulped "there's no help for you Little Sparrow all of the Avengers are gone, there is just you and me" the Bruce melted away to reveal Loki "what did you do to Bruce?" "Bruce!" I called out getting nothing, Loki chuckled "the doctor is currently unavailable" I heard pain filled groans coming from behind the couch I glanced in that direction to see Bruce unconscious face scrunched up in pain and despair he was sobbing my heart sank. I looked back to Loki the look in his eyes, the look that frightened me I went to take a step back words that Thor had spoke to me echoed in my mind 'You are a strong woman Lady Sparrow' I stopped taking a deep breath, time to stop running. I glared back at Loki "your plan failed Loki, no matter how much you hurt me. I will never look to as a king or a god, because you are anything but. Your nothing but a pathetic excuse of a being who gets off on others pain" his hand curled around my throat lifting me up, I clawed at his grip kicking my feet I heard Bruce cry my name "can you fly; Little Sparrow?" Loki smirked throwing me back I crashed through the window free falling. The wind rushing past my ears made it hard to think clearly but I finally stopped my self shooting back up to my floor I smiled at the shocked look on Loki's face "actually yeah I can" I chuckled, Hulk roared Loki turned to face him only to be pebbled repeatedly into the floor "Puny god hurt my Toni!" he roared with the final swing; my heart skipped a beat hearing this, Loki now laid in a hole in the floor unable to move. I lowered myself through the new opening "Hulk?" I spoke softly he turned toward me with a growl I stood my ground "Hi big guy" I smiled sweetly, his facial features softened as he walked toward me "Toni okay?" he brushed a large thumb across my cheek "yeah." Hulk began to shrink; hopefully this wasn't another dream, Bruce fell forward his weight pushed me down both of us now lying on the floor I couldn't help but to laugh "Bruce? You alright?" I smoothed down some unruly curls; he appeared to be sleeping again and I couldn't lift him, I was hoping Loki didn't disappear but thankfully Thor smashed through a window hammer raised Iron Man laded next to him repulsors armed, Thor marched forward lifting Loki up, Iron Man looked around before he located me "little help" I smiled still pinned under Bruce. "What happened to him?" Iron Man lifted his face plate walking forward lifting Bruce up placing him on the couch I pushed myself up "I think Loki has him trapped in a nightmare," I looked at Bruce sadly "I stood up to Loki he threw me out the window, and Bruce turned into Hulk who in turn pebbled Loki for uh. ." I slightly blushed "hurting his Toni" I mumbled "I shall take Loki to face Asgardian justice" Thor growled flying off with Loki in tow "good riddance" I grumbled kneeling beside the couch brushing some hair from Bruce's face "question" Iron Man spoke "yes?" I looked back at him "if Loki threw you out the window, how is it your still here?" "Don't any of you pay attention to files?" I sighed, "I am suspected to have mutant abilities. Which would be flight" I noticed how no one else showed up "Hey, guys everything is A-Okay here, Thor has Loki and is taking him to receive Asgardian justice. Sparrow and Banner are okay as well, within reason anyway" Iron Man spoke I returned my attention to Bruce, his brow was scrunched up he was probably still in the nightmare.

I bit my lip trying to think of how to wake him "Bruce?" I stroked his cheek softly; Tony was manually rebooting Jarvis mumbling something about upgrades. Deep in side it had always been this man that had convinced me to stay without even trying, I never felt this way about anyone and we barely ever spoke. Bruce whimpered "Toni, no. No please don't die. Toni I-I" he mumbled in his sleep; a shiver worked its way down my spine could Bruce possibly feel the same way toward me. "Bruce" I whispered, the prince was able to wake Sleeping Beauty with a simple kiss; sure it sounded childish and maybe, just maybe the roles could be reversed, it was worth a try. I leaned down planting a chaste kiss on Bruce's trembling lips, I leaned back on my legs brushing some hair from his forehead "wake up Bruce" and just like the fairy tales that my mom told me Bruce opened his eyes taking in a shaky breath, before turning his gaze to me "Toni?" he breathed "hey" I gave a smile; Bruce made it so easy "y-your not dead? It was just a nightmare" he sat up holding his head "yeah, aren't those the worst?" Bruce froze looking around the room, two broken windows and a couple of Loki sized craters "did I miss something?" I stood and sat behind him "you have no idea" I chuckled, Bruce laid back across my lap making me blush "maybe I do" he smiled; oh I knew where this was going "Thor told you about the sketches didn't he?" I sighed "I uh.. actually.. maybe saw them when you fell asleep drawing" Bruce said sheepishly I smiled at him smoothing down some unruly curls "you mended my wings Bruce," I smiled sweetly at him "I love you" I said quietly, he reached up and brushed a thumb down my jaw bone "I love you too, Toni. From the moment I saw you. And the 'other guy' likes you too" he smiled "yeah, I know."

END