Hey ya'll! Here's chapter 19, The Other guy is going to make an appearance in chapter 20 (I thought it fitting, since chapter 20 is the first time the Other Guy appears in "Which Me Do You Like?") Anyways, I hope you like this! The entire time I wrote it I had my Hulk bobblehead sitting next to me.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Marvel owns, and I don't take credit to the lyrics for "It's Now or Never" Kayla is growing up to be an Elvis fan, what can I say?
Nothing could beat the surprise I felt when I answered the phone and heard Tony bark "Minnie, where are you?"
"Wha- I- Tony?" I asked. "Oh my god, are you okay, what's going on-" Everyone looked back at me; Clint literally hit the brakes, almost sending me toppling over. Luckily Natasha was there and caught me quickly.
"No time for that, where's your husband?"
"He's right here, do you want to talk to him?" I asked as I looked at Bruce who was working with Selvig on something.
"Are you in a compact space?"
"Yeah...?"
"Well next time you're in open areas, let him know HYDRA lost his father." he said.
"Well Tony we're surrounded by open space, we're on our way to Columbus." I paused and then thought. "Where are you?"
"Where am I?" he repeated. "Oh I'm just getting dressed." he responded before he hung up. I stared down at the phone in slight shock before I let out a small laugh, covering my mouth in surprise.
"Is he okay?" Clint finally asked and I nodded, letting out a long sigh and a laugh as I ran a hand through my hair.
"He's fine." I grinned. I let out a small laugh and Bruce stood up, moving over to me. I threw my arms around him and he smiled as I hugged him tightly. "I didn't realize how worried I was." I said and he rubbed my back lightly.
"He's your friend." he said softly. "Of course you were worried."
"Yeah." I said and let go of him. I thought back to what Tony had told me and my smile faltered lightly, I looked back up at Bruce and smiled before I stood up on my tip toes and lightly kissed him. He smiled, though I could see the hesitation in his eyes. I bit my lip lightly, but then went to check on Kayla who was in the bedroom in the back with Amanda. As I was talking to them I got a text message from Pepper, telling me a little more of what Tony had told me.
"Clint?" I asked a little while later. "Do you think we can stop somewhere?" I walked over to him and he looked up at me, and then to the road.
"We do need to stop for gas pretty soon." he nodded and I smiled.
"Thank god, I need to get off of this thing."
"You're not the only one." he muttered as he navigated off of the road to a Roxxon gas station.
"Hey Amanda, will you take Kayla to the bathroom?" I asked and handed her some money. "Get yourselves some snacks."
"Thanks Minnie." she smiled. "Come on Kayla, let's go see if Uncle Tony's on any magazine covers."
"I wanna get the one with the spirals on it!" she said as she bound off of the RV, following Amanda to the gas station market.
"The spirals?" Steve asked.
"She means a DNA helix." I said as I watched them run into the market.
"She's three." he said after a pause and I looked up at him and nodded.
"Yeah. She's also her father's daughter." I smiled and then looked at Bruce who was stretching. "Excuse me Steve." I said before I walked over to Bruce and put my hands on his waist. "I need to talk to you." I said softly and he looked down at me with raised eyebrows. "Come on." I said and he nodded wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
I wrapped my arm around his waist and we walked away from the RV. There was a large field next to the gas station and he smiled tightly. "I have a feeling I'm not going to like what you have to say." he said softly and I looked at him innocently.
"Why would you say that?" I asked and he smiled.
"You've figured me out over the years. Send the girls inside, take me to an open space. You bring the EpiPen with you?" he asked and I shook my head.
"…Should I have?" I asked and he chuckled dryly.
"Don't bother." he said. "If I get real upset, the other guy would come out anyway."
"Really?" I asked and he shrugged.
"The worse I get, the stronger he gets." he said and I turned to him, lightly touching his arm.
"I don't want to upset you."
"You don't want to upset him." he attempted to correct me.
"No Bruce," I said. "I don't want to upset you." I said and he sighed. "It looks like I'm too late for that."
"I'm not upset. Trust me, you'll know when I'm upset." he said and I smiled lightly.
"The last thing I want to do is upset you." I said and he nodded. "But, apparently, um, does New Mexico mean anything to your father?" I asked hesitantly.
"That's where he had his accident." he nodded and I nodded slowly. "Why?"
"Fuck, there's no easy way to say this." I said, and looked up at him. "HYDRA lost your father. They think he's in New Mexico." I said and I winced feeling his grip on my arms tighten.
"Great." he said softly, the corner of his mouth twitched lightly and he took his glasses off, and pinched the bridge of his nose. I stood there, before I did what every other Avenger had told me not to do. I moved forward and lightly put my hand on his shoulder. He looked at me and I smiled softly seeing the green in his eyes.
"Hey Big Guy." I said softly. "Now is not the time or the place to come out." I said gently. "I promise, I'll take you somewhere to let it all out, but right here and right now, that's a bad idea and you know it." I said as I rubbed his back lightly. I could feel Bruce's breathing increasing.
"Momma!" I heard Kayla shout from where she was over by the RV. "I got one with Tony!" she held up a magazine and started running towards the two of us.
Thor and Erik saw what was happening and instantly ran over, Thor got to her first and swept her into his arms before moving back to the RV. I felt the Hulk let out a low growl as Thor pulled Kayla away from him, something I assume the Hulk perceived as a threat, he took a step closer to them, before Bruce seemed to take over, and turn back to the field quickly. Bruce's hands were turning green; I took them quickly, making his green tinted face look to me quickly. His skin was darkening, and his body growing, his shirt was stretching, close to tearing. I took his hands, and pressed them against my face.
"Honey, look at me, it's just us." I said softly. "You can't do this, not right now, not in front of your daughter." He looked over to the RV and I reached up, turning his face so he was looking to me. "Talk to me baby." I said and he let out a long ragged breath.
"Upset." he finally said, and I nodded.
"You have every right to be." I told him. "It's okay to be upset." The Hulk's green eyes met my own and I reached up to lightly stroke the side of Bruce's changing face. "But you can't let it out now." I said. The Hulk searched my eyes.
"Minnie... Scared?" he asked and I smiled.
"Not of you Big Guy." I said before I moved in and wrapped my arms around his torso. The Hulk started to shrink back, until Bruce was the only one I was hugging. He slowly wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on top of my head. I pulled away and cupped his face lightly. "Does he really think I'm scared of him?" I asked and he smiled lightly before I pulled him to me and kissed him lightly. "Remind me next time he comes out we need to have a little talk." I said and he laughed as I took his hand and laced our fingers together before leading him to the RV.
"Is Daddy in trouble?" Kayla asked from where she was sitting on Thor's shoulders.
"No Baby." I said as I reached up and took her off of the Norse god's shoulders.
"You were having a talk with him." she pointed out.
"Just because I was having a talk with Daddy doesn't mean he's in trouble."
"When I'm in trouble you make me stand in the corner."
"I know that."
"Does Daddy need to go in the corner?" she asked.
"Makayla, Daddy is not in trouble!" I laughed.
"He looked like he was in trouble."
"Baby girl, keep it up and you'll be the one in the corner." I said and she wriggled out of my arms and ran over to her father.
"Daddy, mommy wants to put me in the corner and I was only asking why you need to go in the corner."
"No, she's going to put you in the corner for not listening. I'm not going in the corner Kayla."
"But you got in trouble."
"Would it make you feel better if I was in the corner?" he asked after a pause and she nodded.
"Alright, let's go." he rolled his eyes as she took his hand and led him into the RV.
"I have to say," Erik said as he watched Bruce walk into the RV. "You handled that very well. A little reckless, but, very well."
"You know what they say. Kill 'em with kindness." I said and he smiled.
"You handle him very well. Sometimes I forget he has that within him."
"I don't." I replied and he looked at me curiously. "I married him. I know what he's got in him, but I don't care. He's my husband, and I love him. All of him." I said and then looked at Thor. "Thanks for grabbing her." I said to him and he nodded.
"I did not think My-Kayla needed to see the man of anger."
"Thank you." I nodded.
"We all ready?" Steve asked clapping his hands together.
"Yeah, I think so." Erik said as Natasha and Amanda came out of the shop.
"I got you a sweet tea." Amanda said as she fished around in the bag and pulled out a large Arizona sweet tea.
"There was a sandwich shop attacked to the gas station," Natasha said. "We picked up sandwiches for everyone."
"Great idea." Clint said and she smiled lightly. We got into the RV and Clint pulled away from the gas station and back onto the interstate.
"Clint, how did you learn to drive an RV?" I asked as I got into the passenger's seat with him.
"I used to live with a traveling circus. I learned to drive on bigger things than this." he said and I smiled lightly.
"The circus?" I asked and he smiled lightly.
"Like you never wanted to run away with the circus." he said and I laughed.
"It's one of my main regrets in life." I said with a nod and he laughed.
"It's not all it's cracked up to be." he said and I nodded.
"Nothing really is." I said and he sighed.
"Ain't that the truth." he muttered.
"How much longer 'till we get there?"
"I'd say about two hours." he said. "That car accident really screwed us for time."
"God, no kidding." I muttered.
"Hey," Natasha said and I smiled looking back at her. "Here's your sandwich, its tomato mozzarella and basil."
"Oh yum, thanks Nat." I smiled as I took it from her. I patted Clint on the shoulder as I stood up and moved around her.
"This one's for Bruce." she said handing me another sandwich.
"Right, thanks." I said as I took it. She nodded and slipped around me to sit next to Clint as I walked over to the table where Erik was explaining something from the science magazine Kayla had purchased to Amanda. "Kayla," I said and she looked up at me. "Where's Daddy?"
"In the corner." she said pointing into the back bedroom.
"You're a brat you know that?" I asked and she wrinkled her nose.
"I'm just strong willed." she said and I laughed as I shook my head.
"Steve honey, will you please explain to Kayla who Shirley Temple is?" I asked and she looked at Steve who smiled.
"That, I can do." he said and Kayla grinned before running over to Steve.
"Honey?" I walked into the back bedroom, where Bruce was changing his shirt. He turned around as I picked up the shirt he had changed out of off of the bed. A few buttons had popped off down the chest, and the ones at his wrists had popped off. "Looks like the other guy owes you a new shirt." I said and he scoffed gently.
"The other guys owes me a lot more than a few new shirts." he said and I smiled lightly before I held out the sandwich.
"Nat bought you a sandwich."
"Thanks." he said as he ripped back the paper and took a bite. He sighed as he sat down on the edge of the bed and ran his hand through his hair.
"Your hair's getting pretty long." I said as I ran my fingers through it.
"I know," he sighed. He wrapped an arm around my waist as I sat down on the bed next to him. "I'd let you cut it, but I don't trust you with scissors while Clint is driving."
"I don't know if that's an insult to me or Clint."
"Clint, but it's also a statement of self preservation." he said casually and I hit his shoulder lightly making him smile.
"Just for that, when we do stop, I'm cutting your hair." I said and he laughed.
"Oh darn." he sighed and I smiled before kissing his temple.
When we got to the place we were going, just outside of Columbus, Ohio I could feel how tense Bruce was, he muttered something about never wanting to go to Ohio again, but followed after me as I carried a cranky Kayla out of the RV. We were at a very normal looking house in a very normal looking neighborhood, being greeted by not a very normal looking man.
"I didn't realize Thor had another brother." Clint muttered to Erik who smiled.
"Hi, Luke Cage," he shook my hand and then smiled at Kayla who buried her face in my neck. "She must be kinda cranky." he said and I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm Minnie, this is Kayla." I said as I patted her back. "This is Amanda," I turned to the girl who was smiling up at him.
"Nice to meet you." she smiled, and then looked at me. "I'd say Piotr is about that tall." she said nodding to Luke who laughed lightly.
"Hi, Bruce Banner." Bruce smiled at Luke who shook his hand.
"Good to meet you Doctor." he said before he turned to the house. "Come on inside, my wife is waiting." he said as he led us into the house.
Stepping into the house I was surprised to see a very familiar figure leaning in the hallway, eating a sandwich. "Tony!" I said and he grinned as Bruce took Kayla and I moved forward to hug him tightly.
"Miss me Kiddo?" he asked and I hit his arm.
"I'm married with a kid, don't call me kiddo." I muttered and he laughed as he ruffled my hair, and then looked at Natasha. "Miss me Agent Romanoff?" he asked and she rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Don't I get a hug?" he asked before walking over and wrapping his arms around the stone face assassin. "That's nice." he said when he let go of her.
"Uncle Tony, can I have a Iron Man suit too?" Kayla asked as Bruce set her down.
"Sure." he smiled as he ruffled her hair.
"How is it your mind sees us as your friends?" Thor asked and Tony smiled lightly.
"Believe it or not, you've got Leona Hiss to thank for that, but I'll tell you later, Bruce, front and center Big Guy," Tony said as he pulled his phone out. "Jarvis found you a nice field with nothing around where you can go do your thing later tonight." he said and Bruce rolled his eyes before walking over to him.
"Honey, did you show them where they'll be staying?" a female voice asked.
"Yeah, sorry," Luke said as he walked over to a room. He led us into the room, where he went to one part of the wall, and slid open a secret panel. He typed in a code on the small keyboard and it opened a secret door. "Right through there and down the stairs." he said holding the door open. We all walked down the stairs curiously, Tony moved ahead and punched in a code before another door opened. We walked in there and found ourselves in what looked like the bridge of the JJ Abrams Enterprise. Bruce, Tony and Erik looked right at home.
"Right through there is the hallway, bedrooms, sorry, it's a little cramped, it was designed as a SHIELD safe house." Luke explained. "Uh, bathrooms through there, storage, and emergency exits." he pointed to areas. "And, obviously, this is the lab, and communications room."
"Oh good." Tony said before he went to a computer.
"Hacking into SHIELD's database, again?" Steve asked and Tony scoffed lightly.
"No point in hacking what doesn't exist." he said simply. "SHIELD's gone underground Capscicle- and not like this." he waved to the walls in front of us. "Their servers are offline, they encrypted everything, and even though I could get into their systems, I set up the encryption, so what's the point of hacking?" he asked and then smiled before patting Steve on the arm. "Don't worry. You'll catch up." he said before he looked back at the computer. He stared at the screen for a moment, before nodding to Selvig who walked over instantly. I followed Nat to the bedrooms, where I was slightly disturbed to see rows of bunk beds.
"This brings back memories." Clint grumbled.
"Soldier's headquarters haven't changed much." Steve said as I put Kayla down on a bunk bed.
"I wanna sleep on the top." she mumbled as she stuck her thumb in her mouth, a tell tale sign she was about to fall asleep.
"Maybe later sweetheart." I said softly.
"Sing Now and Never." she requested and I sighed, smiling lightly at her mistitle of the song.
"You got it Pretty Girl." I said as I started rubbing her back. I softly sang "It's Now or Never" par request of my daughter, knowing that Steve was no longer the only Avenger to hear me sing. She passed out as I rubbed her back and sang the song. "Again, I apologize for my crappy singing." I said to them and Natasha looked away, ducking her head as if to avoid my eyes. "Steve?" I asked and he looked at me. "Tonight, uh, Bruce, Tony, and I need to go take care of something. Do you think you can keep an eye on Kayla?" I asked and he cleared his throat.
"Of course." he said looking down at her, sprawled out on the bed, her thumb shoved in her mouth.
"She'll be really easy, I promise." I said. "She'll probably sleep. Amanda will be here, but Kayla gets cranky if there isn't a stern authority figure around." I shrugged and he smiled.
"It's not a problem Minnie." he said.
"Thanks." I smiled.
"Hey, Luke's wife wants everyone to come upstairs." Amanda poked her head into the bunk room. "Awesome, bunk beds!" she grinned. "Am I above Kayla?"
"Sure are sweetheart." I said and she grinned.
"So cool." she muttered with a grin, before walking out of the room.
"Well I'm glad someone's amused." Clint said making me and Nat both scoff lightly before we all followed after the girl.
Hope you like it! I'm trying to work with a little more Clint and Natasha. So, as a little bit of a teaser, I thought I'd tell you not only do we see the other guy, there's a lot of fighting, craziness, a thunderstorm, and a face no one wants to see in Ohio. That's the teaser. Please don't forget to review! =D