Awakening Quake
By Misha

Disclaimer in Part One.

A.N- Clint seems to warm up fast here. He still has some reservations, but he trusts Natasha's gut and he also really hates Ward, so that makes him warm up to Skye fast.

Chapter Four: Dinner Time Chat

"Miss Skye, Mr. Stark has ordered food and it will be served in approximately 5 minutes." JARVIS informed Skye.

She nodded and closed her lap top. She didn't really have anything fancy to wear, so she couldn't dress for dinner. So she just ran to the bathroom and brushed her and put on some lip gloss and then exited her apartment.

Steve was coming out of his apartment at the same time.

"Hi." She said nervously.

"Hi." He greeted, looking surprised. "Tony put you on this floor?"

Skye nodded. "Is that ok?"

He paused. "It's fine," he said after a moment, "I just… I thought they were saving it for someone."

Skye was curious, but forced herself not to pry. "Well, I can always move later." She offered.

"No, it's fine." Steve assured her as they stepped into the elevator. "You settling in ok?"

"Yeah." Skye said, "though the apartment… It's a lot bigger than I'm used to."

"Me too." Steve agreed. "It feels like a waste for one person when you could comfortable fit a whole family in there."

He made his comment just as the elevator doors opened and Clint and Natasha joined them.

"Don't let Tony hear you say that," Natasha warned, "then he'll start planning for baby Avengers. I think he plans for us all to live her forever."

Everyone laughed.

"Hey, I personally think it's a pretty sweet set-up." Clint argued, he turned to Skye. "Have you had the full tour yet?"

"No." She said softly, surprised by his change in attitude. Maybe something else had been on his mind earlier.

"This place is like a luxury resort." Clint told her. "There's a pool in one of the lower levels and it has a hot tub and a sauna. Two full gyms and various other training areas. Basically if you could ask for it, Stark thought to provide it."

Skye could believe it. Though she wondered for the need for the hot tub in the pool area, given the giant whirlpool in her bathroom. But maybe the Avengers liked to hang out and drink in the hot tub? That was a fascinating image.

"We have girl's night down there sometimes." Natasha told her, guessing her thoughts. "Pepper shuts off all the cameras first and makes JARVIS keep the men out."

Skye laughed, particularly at Clint's expression. Just then the elevator stopped and they all got out and made their way to the dining room. To Skye's surprise, it was one giant table and everyone was sitting around it.

"Skye, over here!" Darcy Lewis, Jane's assistant called out, pointing to the empty chair beside her.

Skye smiled, grateful to not have to find her own seat. There was another empty chair beside it and Steve followed her. Though, to Skye's surprise, he pulled her chair out for her before sitting down.

"Thank you." She said with a smile.

"Just simple courtesy." Steve told her.

Skye had a feeling that those 1940s manners never got old. There was something incredibly special about a guy like Steve Rogers. But not for you. She reminded herself. This wasn't going to be permanent and besides, there was no way Captain America would be interested in her. She attracted scum like Miles and Ward.

Dinner was surprisingly nice and everyone was obviously trying to make her feel welcome.

"This place is SO big." Skye said wonderingly.

"Tony likes to show off." Pepper teased. "Originally, we had planned on renting out some of the apartments and some of the office space, but that was before we made it our permanent base."

Thor shuddered. "I for one am glad that this is our private domain."

"The groupies scare him." Jane told Skye with a laugh.

"They are so immodest." Thor protested wonderingly. "And do they not have better things to do than stand there all day? Who does such a thing?"

Skye blushed bright red. Natasha started laughing. "Say it ain't so?"

"It was once." Skye protested. "Right after the Battle of New York…"

She felt so humiliated to be confessing this to the Avengers, but there was no ridicule just some warm laughter.

"Who did you dress like?" Clint teased. "Did you dress like Tasha? Because that would be hot."

The woman in question elbowed him in the guy. "Ignore him." She told Skye. "I certainly do."

Skye's blush deepened. "Captain America." She coughed. "With a skirt."

Steve blushed slightly at her words as everyone else started making comments.

"A Cap girl, huh?" Tony teased. "He does seem to get the prettiest fans."

"Or at least the classy ones." Pepper said, rolling her eyes. "I'm sure Skye would never ask anyone to sign her breasts."

"That happens?" Skye asked.

"Oh, yes." Pepper confirmed. "And you should see the kind of things he gets in the mail."

"What can I say, women find me irresistible." Tony said arrogantly. "Too bad for them I'm strictly a one-woman man these days." He added, wrapping an arm around Pepper.

"Lucky me." Pepper muttered, but she was smiling.

"Skye, how do you feel about going right back to your training?" Natasha asked after a moment, changing the subject. "I thought we could start tomorrow."

Skye paused. "I… After San Juan…" She began. "My training stopped. May thought my powers could be a hazard."

"I'm not Agent May." Natasha assured her. "Melinda tends to be a little overly cautious. Besides, we have better facilities. We'll just start in the Hulk room."

"The Hulk room?" Skye asked in surprise.

"It's a triple re-enforced training room specifically for the Hulk." Bruce told her. "Tony had it built. We're trying to get the Other Guy familiar with the other members of the team."

"What exactly are your powers?" Tony asked. "Are you a rage-monster too? Because you can never have too many of those around."

"I make earth quakes." Skye said quietly. "When I get upset or angry, the Earth starts to shake."

Thor looked concerned. "Those are not powers that should be treated lightly nor have I heard of such thing amongst Midguardians."

"I was exposed to a Kree device." Skye told him quietly. "My parents… They weren't entirely human either and the artefact changed my DNA."

Thor looked grave. "I did not know that the Kree artefacts were resurfacing, that could be quite concerning. I will have to inform Heimdell of this." He looked at Skye. "Lady Skye, I may be able to be of some help, since my powers involve the various elements. I can assist you if you would like."

"I've spent a lot of time learning how to harness my rage and control it." Bruce added. "If you think that would help, I'd be happy to give you some tips."

"Thank you." Skye said honestly. Everyone was so warm, so welcoming and so willing to help. But then, unlike her other team, almost everyone hear was different. She wasn't the odd out here. Maybe, just maybe she finally had found a place she could belong.

No, she wouldn't let herself think like that. This was temporary. It had to be. But she would take all the help the Avengers could give her and she would appreciate the time she had with these surprisingly open, warm people.