Whatever this chapter is. Sorry I'm on a plane. Rah! It's awesome. –Radio
Slightly ignore the above. I was on a plane but as it turns out I cannot read or type or even write in a moving metal contraption. So I held off typing this up when I began to get dizzy. I even forgot what chapter I was on. Whoops. It's chapter 4. [That's all in May]
[ Ok sorry folks about the lateness. Stuff happened and I have not been able to reach a decent laptop/computer in days! Or since I updated my Femme story which I could only do thanks to copy and paste. My laptop keys stopped working and the important ones too like " and ' and ; that whole section will not work. And my kindle has been not liking my Microsoft app. Sucks to suck. BUT! I am now stuck at college with access to computers! For another hour or so. ON WARD to comedy!] [That's August. This is September. Reason: College.] [This is actually five not four like my brain on the plane thought. Enjoy!]
Plans, Fury Intervention, and a Steve!
Emma typed happily away on her laptop while she sat on the black leather couch. Dressed in jeans and a simple purple tang top, Emma's long legs were draped over the length of the couch as she leaned against Tony. Said genius finally came out of the lab to laze about the tower in the usual attire of grease cover jeans and a rock band shirt. He, along with Bruce, studied a holographic 3D image the tower.
Bruce watched with amusement at the two as he sat upon the opposite couch. He dressed in nice black sweatpants and a loose gray button up. His glasses perched upon his nose as he over looked the oval table that held the hologram and wondered how many times he would have to stop Tony from making one of their teammates' room pink. Thank goodness Emma backed Bruce up.
"It's a few extra rooms, Tony. We have no idea if more people will come or not. Better to have prepared than scramble for space." Emma argued not removing her gaze from her work on the laptop.
The argument started earlier that day with Emma pointing out the growth in mutants—from the news reports— who could join forces with the team at any moment of Fury's say. Tony as always going against authority—Pepper and Agent excluded—wanted to stick it to the Director and make him house his next dream team of kids. Tony could have whoever he so wished stay in his—and Pepper's percentage—tower whether Fury liked it or not. Emma had to fight him and sing 'Be Prepared!' from the Lion King twice. With full lyrics. Thankfully it seemed Tony would cave before lunch today.
"Fine! You've made your point. Moving on. Now, seriously something's missing from the gym. Help me out here." Tony relented and instantly jumped topics as he normally did.
"Reinforced walls?" Emma suggested taking a glance at the designs. What had he not reinforced?
"Maybe more padding?" Bruce added earning a nod and chuckle from the genius as he added it to the details and shopping list.
""Those beam thingie things. OH! Rafters! Yeah those things. Rafter beam ceiling thingies whatever you call them?" Emma again suggested after a moment's thought. She waved her hands a bit during the process before returning to the keyboard. Like Tony, she used her hands in her excitement of the conversation.
"Rafters? Why?" Bruce asked before Tony could open his mouth, sparing Emma from a smart-assed version of it.
"I don't know. Didn't you say one of the 'vengers worked on top of buildings and stuff? Maybe having different levels above ground could help with training?" She attempted to back her idea. She ran her thumb over her ring nervously. Her anxiety flared a bit and she blushed slightly in embarrassment hoping they did not call her out on a possibly stupid idea.
Bruce noticed the timid action as he too fiddled with his glasses or hair when nervous. Emma held a magnitude of emotions that jumped all over the place. It reminded him that the young girl was exactly that. A young girl in her first real job away from home trying to do a good job. It helped that Tony took on a big brother role with her. Bruce had witnessed at least three times in which Emma's anxiety overtook her and Tony handled it wonderfully. Giving patience and gentle reassurances to her and reminding her of her worth in this place. It warmed something in Bruce to see the family that formed around him. That both people in the room and even Pepper held the will to give such care to each other and to himself. They made this tower home. It scared him how protective the mere thought of a home zapped him. It felt so different from how he felt when protecting Betty or even the city just a few short months ago. This protective force in him felt solid and unmoving. Something he knew he could not run from. Not like he wanted to or anything. Tony and Emma had made it very clear that Bruce held chair in the Science Bros platform. No going back they had told him.
The scientist smiled fondly as Tony grappled the idea and went wild with it. Something about hovering platforms and ledges with lasers that had Emma pulling up the insurance files.
The day continued on and the plans for the rooms set with only minor diversion and intervention on Bruce and Emma's part to keep Tony from making Captain Roger's room fluorescent pink.
Bruce held the room second closet to the kitchen. Emma's sat directly across from the kitchen and sandwiched between Bruce—to the left—and Tony's—to the right. Captain Roger's room rested right next to the elevator right before Bruce's. On the other side of the elevator were Hawkeye and Black Widow's rooms. Thor's room came after Tony's and that held the main level along with the kitchen, living room, and small study. The next few levels above and below were extra levels for guest and possible prisoners—though the real prison that Tony planned on making resided on an unknown island somewhere near Australia being in the making.
One of the floors above held a library and movie theater combo that took up almost two stories but hey, Tony goes big. It had been the floor that Loki apparently had taken over and been smashed in. Upon Emma's request, their floor below had a longer balcony than that floor. After that was a space for the jets Tony planned on making just for the team. Ending the upper rooms let the roof. All of this could only be accessed by a private elevator set only to the Avengers, Pepper, Emma, and anyone else Tony said could—if at all. He still could not stop Agent from entering no matter what he tried.
The whole rebuild plus lab upgrades and gym took only six days which floored both Bruce and Emma. Emma could only shrug at Bruce's awestruck look of confusion and comment on "when one has the money…" she left him with that to explore her new abode. So exciting!
Today marked day four of their living in the newly furnished Avenger's Tower—Tony even made the 'A' that was left bigger—the tower now stood for the team's home base.
Emma slipped across the smooth stone floor on soft green socks with cute skulls. Dressed in black comfy yoga pants and a red t-shirt that held the logo for the anime 'One Piece', a large smile was plastered on her face as she held out her arms for balance. With a quick 360 spin on her heel and a swift adjustment of her glasses, she danced down two steps, back up one, and then down the rest much to the amusement of her older companions who sat much like the day they planned the final details of the tower. On a couch, in similar clothing, with stuff everywhere. For superheroes they were pretty routine.
She hopped over the back of the couch. Landing next to Tony, she took up a nearby report from the table with a victorious smile.
"What has you so peppy, Dancing Queen?" Tony questioned with a laugh.
"I'm young and sweet but not 17!" She sang teasingly "I just told off an asshat who tried to trick me into leasing permits for weapons under our name and I did so fantastically!" She reported while throwing up her limbs with a cheer.
"Excellent! Up top!" Tony encouraged and they high fived with whoops of joy. "In a few weeks I think you'll be ready to step up to face to face meetings."
"We will have to see." Emma replied slightly nervous. Pepper coached her and they would hold some small meetings together to get her started next month if all goes to plan. Mainly meetings with the employees and a few with the President. Nothing big as Pepper had said.
Her job had already branched off into report deliveries and retrieving. So far most were friendly with her. She even had a very microscopic crush forming on an accountant on level 37. He always made it a point to talk to her and she always left with a smile from a complement but it did not give her a basis for judging a potential date with the guy and she had her concerns. Some of the older ladies of the tower—the gossip grans who always had time to make sure she had everything and was going the right direction, bless their hearts—pulled her aside to warn her about him. They positively adored the quirky girl that seemed to becoming a second Pepper in the making. The girl, the knitters decided, needed some guidance and they were sure to get to her before the meaner and less inviting workers took a hold of her. When word of a young girl working close with Mr. Stark came about, the rumor mill hit the roof(and the Tower has very high roofs). Talk of lost daughters and affairs ran rampant over the work stations. Until the dear girl showed off a picture of her uncle's wedding the year before. The grannies of the tower nearly got her whole life story and it made them love working for Tony Stark all the more. Besides the excellent retirement plan, Mr. Stark truly held a standing of a great boss. The women told Emma of the accountant's less than glamorous track record and advised her to tread carefully.
Emma took the words in full swing to take caution. She gut told her to be on guard with the flirt but no real red flags popped up when speaking with him. So she held off making any rash judgments based on gossip. When proof came about she would react properly.
The trio lapsed into a comforting lull of work. Tony and Bruce tossing out theories and Emma typing up reports. A few times she would pass one for Tony to sign or place a few in the Pepper pile which would be lessened by Tony who would never admit that he signed the ones in Pepper's pile.
This normalcy that settled broke only a few short hours later by a phone call.
"Mr. Stark, Director Fury is on the line. Shall I patch him through?" The British sounding AI informed.
Emma raised her eyes from the screen of the laptop to look pointed at Tony. For all that it was worth, during the time shared with the genius, he was in all consideration her big brother. So when The Big Brother, who had been point of countless rants or jokes by Tony, she felt her worry increase for her new forming family. Tony had given her the briefest of brief summarizes that ever had been briefed. It went a little like this;
"A soldier from the ice caps, a demi-god with flowing hair and wrestler muscles, a green giant, two super spies verses one crazed demi-god also brother but not brother to the first demi-god all puppeteer-ed by the furious Fury. Oh, and me of course."
Emma knew her brain was scattered and she could usually follow Tony's spiels but he lost her at ice caps and flowing hair. But she knew that Fury equaled a possible Avenger Assemble which meant Tony and Bruce going into the battle zone. Not the best thoughts for her stomach or her heart.
So she watched as Tony reluctantly gave JARVIS the go ahead. Pepper had made it clear that the next time Fury called he had to answer or he would lose Emma for a week—Emma felt so warm and fuzzy to be a threat, feeling so special.
"Go for it." Tony said sending a cocky smirk to Bruce and a wink to Emma. She stuck her tongue out at him causing him to begin to retort but Fury cut into their face off.
"Stark, I need you and Banner on the Quinjet to the Helicarrier. There's a meeting you need to attend." A no-nonsense male voice ordered over the speakers. It intimidated Emma just a bit.
"What's going on, Fury? Someone break one of your toys?" Tony snarked with a smirk knowing it would annoy the Director. Emma shook her head fondly at her boss.
"Get your asses on the jet. This is Avenger business. Besides, I don't need you to fix my toys." The Director countered and the line ended.
"He sounds like he's in a good mood." Bruce commented causing Emma to snicker and Tony to throw his head back with a laugh.
"Yeah. Alright. Let's go see what Fury has cooking for us. Hey, we can pitch the home-base idea." Tony said cheerfully as he stood up. Bruce rose to follow.
Emma set the computer on the table and launched herself at Tony. With her arms wrapped tightly around his waist she gave him a big hug. He stumbled at first but quickly returned the hug.
"Don't do anything so stupid it gets ya killed." She ordered but it came out mumbled from her face being pressed into his shoulder.
"Oh come on, when have I ever—oh right." Tony started but caught himself when Emma pulled away to give him 'the Look'.
The look most women—mainly moms, wives, older sisters of younger brothers, and grannies—that said bullshit was about to be called out on and they held evidence to kick you to the curb. Emma was slowly mastering it with the help from Pepper.
After 'the Look' had done its job, Emma turned and hugged Bruce—gentler than how she hugged Tony.
"Make sure they don't kill him for being a moronic walnut, will ya?" She asked and both ignored Tony's cry of outrage.
"I'll do my best." Bruce promised with a kind, teasing smile.
"That's all I ask." Emma replied with a firm nod of her head.
Those words encompassed what Tony and Emma stood for to Bruce. Neither expected greatness, only asked for him to do his best. She simply wanted him to be Bruce and Tony had already made it clear that he wanted the same. Emma made it stand to both men that she did not hold their faults as the base of who they are but simply accepted them.
It was something Bruce definitely was not used to. It had become the norm for everyone to fear him or poke him with a 39 and a half foot poll. To walk on eggshells around him. The ease Tony and Emma had simply fallen into his life as comfortably as they did astonished him. They saw Bruce. He saw Tony and Emma. Emma saw Bruce and Tony. Not a monster or genius in a suit. Bruce cherished the 'good mornings' from Emma and Tony's banter or latest idea. Bruce felt that Tony held the same thoughts by how the billionaire would look at Pepper or Emma, hell even at himself. The acceptance of ones being was grounding the group. Bruce hoped that the others would enjoy its comfort as he did.
Emma watched and gave a small wave when they entered the elevator.
"Noodles. Dinner. Beef. Please and thank you!" Tony shouted as the doors closed. She heard a chuckle follow.
"What a dork! He coulda told me sooner! Dear Lord, he better not get his ass kicked." Emma said with an amused smile.
"I agree Miss. Dewey. His timing is impeccable." JARVIS commented causing Emma to grin.
"Ain't that the truth." She giggled before heading to the kitchen to start a beef roast.
The ride in the jet was thankfully uneventful and the two geniuses soon found themselves sitting at the large glossy black table sooner than either really wished.
Steve sat in one of the chairs looking about aimlessly. Dressed in a simply grey blue muscle shirt, brown leather jacket and nice jeans, he met the two with a nod when his bright blue eyes locked onto their forms.
"Stark, Banner." He acknowledged.
"Hey Capsicle! How's it going?" Tony inquired with a smirk at the slight narrow of Steve's eyes.
"Tony." Bruce said in a warning tone as he took a seat near Steve.
"I'll play nice. Don't tell on me, K?" Tony replied with a smile.
Bruce rolled his eyes fondly while Tony took a seat on Bruce's open side.
Clint and Natasha walked in behind Fury. They swiftly took their seats as Fury made his way to the front.
"No Pointbreak?" Tony asked ignoring Bruce's look. Bruce knew that Tony knew that Thor was not available or on Earth.
"Thor's off planet as you already know. We'll put him in the loop when he comes back." Fury stated in his no-nonsense not taking any bullshit tone. "Right now though, there is a new terrorist system forming. That's why you're all here to be debriefed." Fury informed before diving into the details of the new forming syndicate.
"So electronic and genetic stealing terrorist? That's it?" Tony summarized after the two hours of Fury talking.
"That's what we have. Be prepared to suit up at any time Avengers. Dismissed." Fury ended before he strode away to the other side of the room to talk to Agent Hill.
"Hold up everyone!" Tony interjected as the others began to leave. "I have news."
Steve remained seated as the two assassins stood beside their chairs. Tony took that as a sign to continue.
"Since we're gonna be a 'team' and all, I've made Stark Towers the kinda headquarters or home-base whatever you call it for the Avengers. There's a room for each of you. Just saying, it's there all ready for you. Bruce's been there and is still breathing." Tony ended as he gestured like a game show host to Bruce who gave a smile and shy wave.
The assassins shared a 'look' while Steve gazed at the two scientist with an odd expression.
"You want us to live with you?" Steve asked slowly. Unsure of the meaning and intent of the action especially coming from Stark.
"Well duh? I already have the rooms set and we gotta work together outside of not killing each other. Besides, at least the damages will be on me and not Fury. I can fix anything you guys break, Bruce can patch up injuries, and so on." Tony countered with a wide grin.
"Don't worry. I made sure he didn't do anything offensive or crude." Bruce reassured at the tense looks they received. Tony huffed and muttered about being tag-teamed.
"We'll think about it." Natasha stated and walked out with Clint right by her side.
"Good enough. What about you Steve-o?" Tony asked turning his full attention to the soldier.
"I don't know-" Steve began.
"Just come by for dinner and look at the place. Maybe stay for a week. Bruce did and now he's stuck with me and M'M." Tony persuaded.
"Don't worry, Cap. It's not as bad as you think." Bruce comforted but it lost its strength at his teasing tone.
"M'M might take offense to that." Tony chimed with a smile.
"Alright. I'll give it a look." Steve relented with a heavy sign. He felt as though he signed a deal with the devil and began to march toward his doom.
"Yes! You'll love it. We even have a really really extremely reinforced gym. Tons of stuff to punch and other fight stuff. Your room even has a great view of the city well they all do but yours over looks most of central park and-" Tony rattled off as the three men headed off to the Quinjets.
As Tony went on and on about the Tower and the changes, Steve grew more confused though Bruce did what he could to help explain things here and there. One thing stood out in the conversations was the near consent reference to 'M'M'. It did not seem like he was talking about the candy but about a person. This worried Steve more since he had not heard of anyone outside of SHIELD and Tony's CEO Miss. Potts being in the loop or being under the known allies for the knowledge of the Avengers initiative. The way Tony spoke though made Steve believe the genius held 'M'M' very fondly and so did Doctor Banner. Steve simply hoped he would not regret this decision.
He regretted it. Not even twenty minutes in and the techno-babble flew over his head and out the nearest window. He had grown up with books dreaming of future technology and much of that seemed predicted right from his childhood favorites. Just how Tony exampled it all through Steve for a loop. Bruce did his best to help ease the confusion but Tony always jumped in to spring another something new on the soldier. His confusion both eased and increased—how did that even work?—when he stepped off the elevator into the 'Avenging levels' den or center area and saw a young girl standing there with her hands on her hips giving the group a look Steve had not seen since the nuns at his old school caught him and Bucky sneaking about when they were twelve.
"Would it really kill you to text me or tell JARVIS the fancy dancie dude that can rely messages to inform me that you did not offend anyone and actually brought home a friend? Hm? Seriously Tony, I could of made cookies!" Emma exclaimed spreading her arms out in exasperation.
The two scientist appeared chastised before Tony's grin graced his face as he laughed.
"Next time, K?" He compromised.
"At least you're still in one piece. Thank you so much Bruce." Emma replied with a heavily dramatic sigh of relief.
"Hey! I wasn't that bad!" Tony interjected playfully.
"Welcome to Avenger Towers Mr." Emma looked to Tony for help cutting off her charm their socks off smile for a one of curious need to know.
"Steve Rogers." Bruce supplied earning a pout from Tony for stopping any kind of insult possibly thrown.
"Mr. Rogers." Emma stated before snickering. "I'm sorry" She quickly amended as she regained her composure. "It's just that there was a kid's show with a Mr. Rogers who wore a red sweater. Loved it when I was a kid. He got me nearly obsessed with trollies. It was also interesting to find out he was a war vet and used the sweater to cover his tattoos." She informed.
"Really? Now that's something." Tony admired with a chuckle already planning on buying a bunch of red sweaters.
"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am." Steve replied a bit dazed by the speedy information given to him and simply held out his hand. She took it and gave a firm shake.
"It's great to have you. Though, I think I'm a bit young to be a ma'am. Just call me Emma please sir." She responded taking her hand back.
"I smell food!" Tony stated excitedly.
"Shall we Breakfast Club it to the kitchen?" Emma suggested with a grin.
"Let's do it." Tony cheered.
They stood shoulder to should and shuffled their feet imitating the dance scene from "The Breakfast Club" movie.
"Walk like an Egyptian!" Emma called out. JARVIS played the tunes and away the two went dancing toward the kitchen.
Steve looked at Bruce with a stunned and dazed expression that caused the doctor to shake his head and chuckle.
"You'll get used to their antics." He supplied and lead Steve over to the already in full bicker mode duo.
"I didn't know Stark had a sister." Steve commented as they entered the pristine kitchen.
"Aw, I'm touched and slightly offended that I could pass as Tony's sister." Emma cooed and clutched the plastic spoon she held to her chest in mock swoon.
"Hey!" Tony chimed but sounded no less amused then before. "M'M here is my assistant slash Avenger's den mom. You need something she gets it. Hungry? She makes or orders it. Need clothes or some information stuff? Go to her." Tony listed wrapping an arm around Emma's shoulders.
"Don't be afraid to ask. I have Stark card ready to burn. But for now, Dinner!" Emma informed as she dived under Tony's arm and went to take plates out.
Dinner was an enjoyable affair. Tony was less of an ass but Steve chalked that up to all the bickering the genius and Emma did during the time. Bruce was kind and pleasant to chat with while also informing the soldier that the bickering was a norm.
The biggest surprise came with how natural it all felt and Steve wanted to peg that on the youngest member of the group. Emma. Tony and Bruce brought that same feeling only muted in intensity. Something blocked Tony from going to the length of companionship he went to with Emma and Bruce in the relationship with Steve. Steve would work on finding out just what he did to make the genius act in such a way. With Emma, she simply enhanced the energy in the room. Content, happiness, warmth, and so just radiated off her. She boosted the potential friendship between the people. She had the darnest randomness he ever saw when it came to practically everything. With Tony, she shattered at high speeds and bounced back ideas with the genius. Her ideas being more practical and less explosive than Tony's. She also had a more so morbid humor that just popped up. All in good spirit and it just amused Steve.
It was late when they could be found gathered on the couches watching TV when Tony asked the question that Steve had asked himself constantly that night.
"So Cap, you gonna stay?" The billionaire asked oh so casually from his seat.
"Yes Tony. I'll stay." Steve answered with a tiny smile as Tony and Emma grinned brightly. Bruce smiled shyly.
"Awesome! We'll get your stuff tomorrow." Tony stated and returned to talking with Bruce.
"Welcome to the club Steve." Emma said softly but smiling happily.
Steve found himself smiling back.
IT IS FINISHED! YES! God I am so sorry for all the delay. Shit hit the fan and other stuff. BUT I am not giving up. Slow as a non-ninja turtle, I will make it. THIS I VOW! Kinda.
My next update should be—more so hopefully—near the end of the month and beginning October. By then we should get into the first kind of arch or turning point. Things are starting to pick up here folks! I am so happy to have a keyboard that the 'L' and "" and other keys work. -tears of joy-
-Radioactive
What… what. FANFICTION IS DOWN! I CAN'T UPDATE?! NNNNNNNnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I just finished. I just. Why. Why? Why you do this to meeee!
Ok so that really did happen. Like yesterday and the three days before that Fanfiction would not work and I checked in class and it worked right after I logged off. So yeah. That happened.