Hey ya'll! Today I'd like to dedicate this chapter to one of my most loyal readers, LittleMissMia123, your energetic and passionate reviews inspire me to keep writing. I love all reviews, but yours make it clear you're really invested in what's going on, and as a writer, that means a lot. So, LittleMissMia123, this chapter is for you. I hope you like it. I hope everyone likes it!
Disclaimer: I only own Minnie and Kayla. I'm not making any money writing this, I'm just making people happy. At least, I think I am... I hope I am.
Tony Stark was in his office when the door opened. In walked Norman Osborn, well, more like in sauntered Norman Osborn. Tony leaned back in his chair with a look of semi amusement and some annoyance as the man walked in, and made himself at home, sitting at the seat across from him. "Comfortable?" Tony asked dryly.
"I'll be a lot more comfortable when I've got what I come for." Norman said.
"There's a gift shop in the lobby." Tony nodded and Norman rolled his eyes.
"Information, Mr. Stark." Osborn sighed. "About the locations of every known hero."
"Well you don't waste any time do you?"
"Time is money Stark, something you should know very well about."
"Well, more than you obviously." Tony said.
"The names, Stark." Osborn said and Tony sat there and stared at him for a moment.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Tony said finally.
"Don't pull that with me." Osborn said dangerously.
I thought I was giving it to you." Tony grinned. "Here's a hero, isn't that good enough for you?" he held his arms out.
"Tony, have you heard of the Fifty State Initiative."
"All parties are created equal?" he asked and Osborn smirked lightly.
"The purpose of the Fifty State Initiative is to help everyone. By collecting all of the information and locations of known superheroes, we would be able to create teams, like the Avengers, for each state. Sure, we would put everyone through training; see who fits together and who doesn't."
"Train us to your H.A.M.M.E.R. preconceived notions of how we should fight and act." Tony continued. "Tell me, will we learn the perfect way to goose step too?" he asked looking interested.
"The information Tony. I know you're working on a database of all the known heroes."
"Well yeah, Pepper's gotta know where to send the dinner party invitations." he shrugged. "But if I was working on this type of database, do you really think I'd just hand it over to you?" he asked as he stood up and poured himself a drink. He looked back at Osborn. "I mean, you haven't exactly got the best reputation."
"And yours is crystal clear?"
"Yeah I thought you'd say that. Let's consider, for a moment. I saved an entire village from mindless and senseless slaughter, brought the longest war free period of peace to the world, and saved the world again, when we were invaded by a Demi-God, and a ton of aliens. You get into constant squabbles with a teenager with an affinity for spandex and killed the love of his life who also happened to be the mother of your children, because of a shady affair." Tony raised an eyebrow.
"Allegedly." Osborn added and Tony nodded as he returned to his desk and sat down.
"Allegedly." he agreed. "So tell me, how did you convince the summit you were the right guy to head H.A.M.M.E.R.? What does H.A.M.M.E.R. even stand for?"
"Sorry Stark, that's a need to know basis."
"Oh please, the suspense is killing me." Tony said and Osborn rolled his eyes.
"They picked me, because through the alleged past. They are aware of one thing. I'm the best. Plain and simple."
"So modest too." Tony grinned. The door opened and Pepper walked in looking annoyed.
"Mr. Osborn, you don't have an appointment and Tony does." she said making Norman look at Tony.
"That list."
"What list?" Tony asked innocently. Anger flashed in Norman's eyes as Pepper glared at him.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to make an appointment with the front desk if you'd like to see Tony again, they'll validate your parking as well. Have a good day." she said and he stood up.
"Tony, that list." he said as he stepped towards the desk. Tony jumped up and strolled over to him.
"Fraid I don't know what you're talking about; and even if I did, I would do everything in my power to make sure you never see it." he said lowly. The two powerful men glared at each other before Tony's eyes flickered to the door. He turned and walked over to Pepper and sat at his desk. "As you can see, I'm very busy and important. Have a good drive back to wherever you're going." he grinned before Osborn walked out of the office in a huff.
"Shelby," Pepper said into the intercom. "If Norman Osborn tries to make an appointment, tell him the next available one is in September."
"But that's in six months!" Shelby said sounding shocked.
"Yeah Shelby, that's the point." Pepper said. "Oh- and Shelby? Don't write it down." Pepper ordered before turning off the intercom.
"I love it when you get all devious." Tony grinned. Pepper smiled and leaned down to kiss him before she pulled back.
"Call Phil."
"For once, I'll agree with you on that one." he said.
Two days later the program was destroyed. Tony went through every measure to ensure that the technology could never be repaired, they could never salvage what information he had written, and that they would never know the location of the heroes. He then made sure to burn every file, to take everything out of every system SHIELD had, Fury had given him full access to it, and for once he wasn't going to snoop around and be his usual Tony Stark self, this was bigger than them.
Two days past that The Hulk had an incident and they were being brought back in. Tony was typing furiously, working on unwriting the last bits of information when Phil Coulson walked into the room. "We're going to Maine to pick up Dr. Banner and Minnie." he informed Tony who looked up.
"What happened? Someone let the green guy out of the cage?"
"Her name is Madame Hydra. We think she's working with H.A.M.M.E.R. she got his DNA."
"How is that possible?" Tony turned around.
"We're not alone in the universe Tony. You should know that all too well." Phil said and Tony nodded. "There's nothing on Earth that could hurt the Hulk, but out there? Who knows? Who knows what they've got their hands on, all I know is; the shit is going to hit the fan. Do you want to come to Maine?"
"No, I uh, I've just got to finish this." he said gesturing to the computer.
"Well when you're done, go to this address, and pick up a girl named Amanda Sorrenson. She'll be waiting." Phil said as he handed Tony and folded piece of paper.
"Who is she?"
"A friend of Minnie's, and someone who we're going to need."
"What about Agent Bluefox?"
"She's been briefed." Phil said and Tony nodded. "Don't forget Amanda." he ordered before he left, leaving Tony to finish deleting information. When he was satisfied he was finished he got into his car, and looked at the address Phil had given him.
"Jarvis map the route to Xavier's school for gifted youngsters." he said and the AI did just that, pulling it up on his screen.
When Tony got to the school he stopped at the gate and looked around for an intercom or something. He opened the door to his car and stepped out, just as the gates opened. He shrugged, got back into the car and drove down the long driveway. He could see kids everywhere, talking, hanging out, playing sports. He got out of the car after parking and looked at the paper from Phil again.
"Hey, Princess," he said to a young girl who was walking out of the school. She turned and looked him over. "Where can I find Amanda Sorrenson?" he asked.
"In the library." she said before walking away. He walked into the school and looked around for a moment before he shrugged and walked over to a set of stairs.
"Can I help you?" a gruff voice asked. Tony turned around and found himself face to face with a large, mutton chop wearing, cigar chewing, grizzly bear of a man.
"Yeah, looking for Amanda Sorrenson, seen her?"
"You her father?"
"Not that I know of, but with my past, who knows." Tony shrugged. "Tony Stark, I'm here to pick her up."
"Under who's orders?"
"SHIELD's, actually." Tony said. "So, what are you supposed to be? Ballet teacher?" he asked and the large man took another step.
"Logan, leave him alone." a female voice said. They both turned to see a dark skinned woman with white hair walking over. "Mr. Stark, I'm Ororo Munroe. Amanda is waiting just down the hall."
"Now was that so hard?" he asked, not taking his eyes off of Logan's.
"SHIELD, Storm?" Logan asked.
"Amanda is under SHIELD's care, Logan." she said. "And if they feel like pulling her out of school, what can we do about it?"
"Uh, actually, they're not pulling her out of school to piss you off, Tiny." Tony said. "They're doing it to protect the school."
"We can protect ourselves." Logan growled.
"Yeah, I bet you can. And SHIELD can protect Amanda." he continued. Amanda walked down the hallways with another woman with red hair; she looked at Tony, and found herself gaping for a moment.
"You're the SHIELD operative coming to pick me up?"
"I hate the word operative makes me feel like I'm working for them. I prefer consultant."
"You're Emily's friend?"
"Oh boy kiddo, do we have a lot to talk about." he smiled. "Come on, let's get out of here before this lumberjack decides to take a swing." he said walking over to Amanda. "Got your bags?" she nodded. "Good." he said, and led her out to the car. She put her bags in the trunk and thanked everyone before she got into the car. "So, tell me kiddo," Tony said as he started the car. "What do you know about the Avengers?"
I had managed to calm Kayla down as I packed her clothes into a duffle bag. I finished getting everything she needed, and moved to mine and Bruce's room with her following closely. Bruce was in there, throwing things into a suitcase, looking aggravated. "Kayla baby, go find mommy's sunglasses."
"Okay." she said in a small voice and left the room. I walked over to Bruce and put my hand on his shoulder. He stopped packing and just stood there as I leaned in and lightly kissed his jaw. I stepped around him so I was standing in front of him, trailing soft kisses as I did, until I lightly kissed his chin.
"Everything is going to be okay Bruce." I said softly.
"I just- I can't even keep you safe." he groaned.
"Hey, no one's attacked me in almost four years. I think you've gone a pretty damn good job at keeping me safe." I said gently. "At keeping both of us safe. That little girl downstairs? You're her entire world. She adores you. I adore you. You're my entire world, you have been since I met you." he smiled lightly and wrapped his arm around my waist. "I've never felt safer than when I'm with you, so don't you say you can't keep us safe. There's only one of you and god knows how many of them, so for it to take them close to four years to find us, it means you're doing something right." I said and he smiled.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not." I said. "And you shouldn't be either. Look at it this way. They're public now. SHIELD will find them, and we won't have to be in hiding anymore." I smiled.
"Just when I was getting used to the name Roberts." he said and I laughed. "I never got used to calling you Emily."
"I never got used to hearing it."
"So we're agreed?" he asked and I nodded.
"When have we not been?" I asked and he smiled.
"God, did I- Do the right thing?" he asked turning away from me.
"Bruce, what's done is done. Don't worry about the past, focus on the future. Because out there is your DNA, and if those bastards can use it against us, Harlem will look like frolicking in the flowers, compared to what can happen. No one has your control; no one knows how to focus him, no one but you." I said and he smiled lightly as he looked at me.
"You know he only answers to you." he said and I laughed.
"He doesn't answer to anyone." I said as I cupped his cheek lightly. I ran my thumb across the slight stubble growing on his cheek, feeing the roughness on my skin. "But he seems to like me."
"He's not the only one." he said.
"Oh good, now maybe you'll listen to me and stop beating yourself up. Finish packing." I said and moved away from him. He smiled and I went to the closet as Kayla ran into the room holding my sunglasses. "What took you so long?" I asked.
"Jarvis told me where you hid the cookies." she said and I noticed the chocolate stains on her face.
"Jarvis." I said looking at the ceiling.
"I haven't the slightest idea what she's talking about Mrs. Banner." Jarvis said innocently. I rolled my eyes with a sigh and picked her up. I put her on the bed and started packing for myself. Kayla ran around on the bed between my suitcase and Bruce's, trying to help, until we heard a knock on the door. "It's Agent Coulson, Dr. Banner." Jarvis said, and Bruce nodded before he went downstairs. A few moments later two SHIELD agents came upstairs.
"Mrs. Banner, we'll take over from here." one of the agents said.
"Thank you." I said as I picked Kayla up, and carried her downstairs. She started wailing and freaking out when we got outside, I was surprised to see a large SHIELD helicoptor in the middle of the Cul-de-sac, still running.
"What's wrong?" Bruce asked as he ran over to us.
"Mommy Forgot Dallas!" she sobbed and I shook my head.
"No Sweetie, it's okay, he'll be fine!" I said as I moved to the helicopter. Coulson was in the back; he helped lift Kayla out of my arms and put her into a seat while Bruce took my hand and helped me into the helicopter. I could see our neighbors watching up curiously as we got in, he followed and I strapped myself into the seat next to Kayla, trying to soothe her sobs as we took off.
"It's alright Kayla," Bruce said leaning forward. He was sitting right across from us. "Everything is going to be okay, I promise." he said as she continued to cry. He looked at me and I smiled hopefully. "I promise." he said to me and I turned my attention back to Kayla who was still freaking out, now it was due to the noise.
Phil got her a pair of headphones that were too big for her, but with some adjusting and improvising, she soon quieted down, her thumb was shoved in her mouth and she still let out the occasional sob or sniffle.
"Daddy?" she asked when the helicopter got us to SHIELD's New York HQ.
"Yeah baby?" he asked as he helped unbuckle her.
"Why does Jarvis call you Dr. Banner?"
"Because it's my name."
"Are you a doctor Daddy?"
"I'm a scientist."
"Why is my name Makayla Roberts?"
"It's not, it's Makayla Banner." he said as he picked her up, Phil helped me unbuckle the helicopter straps on my seat and we climbed out, and Bruce carried her out. Nick Fury and Natasha Romanoff were waiting by the doorway as we walked over.
"Mrs. Banner," she smiled at me and I smiled before I hugged her tightly. She hugged be back, and then looked at Bruce. "Dr. Banner." she said to him, and then looked to Kayla. "She's beautiful." she looked at me and I smiled. "Minnie I'm-"
"Don't apologize again Nat." I said holding my hands up. "Let's go inside, I'm sure you guys have a lot to brief us on." I looked at Director Fury who nodded.
"After you, Agent Banner." he said, opening the door. I smiled lightly as Bruce, Kayla and I walked through followed by Natasha, Phil and Director Fury.
At that moment I could honestly say, it felt good to be home.