Awakening

I own nothing, major companies and JK have all ownership. I am only barrowing their characters through this site. I shall return them (mostly) undamaged when finished.

ATTENTION, THIS IS MY REVAMPED VERSION FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET, IF YOU HAVE YET TO READ REVAMPED CHAPTER ONE I SUJEST YOU DO.

Thank you.

Penny's POV

The Stark Tower was a shining, bright, high-tech beacon in the mists of New York City. Dad, Pepper and I had been living in NYC for a little under a month now, and boy was it different then Cali. For one, Dad was actually letting me out on the town whenever I wanted, although I was usually accompanied by Hel and/or Insania.

The Tower was amazing, and the whole family had put a lot of effort into it (Mortem had even pitched in a few times), although I still saw our house in Malibu as home. Ever since Dad met Insania and Hel on my sixteenth birthday, they were over a lot and surprisingly, they all got along great, though we quickly learned to never let Insania and Dad be on the same side during a prank war. But everyone else said the same about me and Insania so there was only so much I could do.

Mortem was also over whenever his Dutys weren't calling him away, and he and Dad seemed to have a pretty stable relationship going on. Basically, as long as Mortem and I didn't get to touchy feely or kissed around him he was fine! Dad had even given Mortem his own room a few doors down from mine, though he usually wasn't in there. Insania and Hel had even been given their own room, though it was technically just a guest room that we three had decorated and used for sleepovers. After the first one Dad had sound proofed the room at Pepper's demand.

Pepper and I were getting along a lot better now, and had a pretty stable relationship. She was even getting more comfortable around Mortem, even though she still couldn't see him. It was hilarious though when she tried talking to him and ended up only speaking to air!

Phil and Rhodey were still coming by weekly, though Rhodey's visits had been less common since we moved to New York, considering he was stationed in Cali. Phil was doing well, and had been a great resource with keeping an eye on Fury, and keeping track of Selvig, Jane, and Darcy, who SHIELD had relocated a few weeks after the NW incident.

I hadn't talked to Selvig in ages, and neither had Jane or Darcy. But I had been keeping tabs on the girls, and now that I could use my powers around them I could visit them any time, no matter where on the globe they were. cough England cough

Bruce was definitely doing better, and there had been no 'incidents' in two months, though I did Flash Bruce somewhere empty whenever Hulk wanted to get some energy out. We usually ended up playing hide and seek or tag for a few hours, and sometimes Insania joined in. Mortem and Hel didn't, as Hulk didn't like the stench of death that surrounded them.

Right now it was an early September day, barely three months after the whole Palladium poisoning thing with Vanko happened. My birthday was in June almost exactly a month after Dad's whose birthday was in May.*

Hel, Insania and I were out, currently in Central Park, enjoying the last warm breezes of summer. We had been randomly exploring all day. I had wanted to take my bike out but the city really didn't have anywhere I could seriously ride, so we had just explored instead.

It was getting dark, and I knew that Pepper would be calling me home for dinner soon but I didn't really care, it would take me less than a second to get home anyway.

"Oh…look at that! It's such a nice little birdy!" Insania exclaimed, drawing me out of my thoughts and causing Hel's eyebrow to twitch. Insania had been extremely hyper today (I blame the ice cream we got) and had been pointing out everything that moved for the last hour.

"Sis," I sighed rolling my eyes at the elder immortal who was one of my best friends, "it's a pigeon."

I knew that nothing I said would change Insania's mind about anything, but I couldn't help it. Even I got annoyed by my Sister sooner or later.

"So?" Insania demanded with a pout, her multi-colored and multi-length hair bouncing around her as she crossed her hands over her chest.

"So, it's a filthy little…" Hel retorted but froze mid-sentence, and I watched as she paled.

Becoming worried I opened my mouth to ask her what was wrong when my Soul twisted and I froze as well, mere moments after Hel had.

I closed my eyes as I felt …something…come over me. It was like my very soul was being stretched too far and it was crying out in pain. I heard Hel and Insania both hiss and suddenly my chest tightened. I didn't know what was going on, but I had a feeling it had to do with my Realm, whatever it was. (Still no one was telling me, it was irritating.)

I didn't know what it was, but I could tell it was a surge of…something…that was large enough for even me, in my limited form, to sense. At first it just left like a feather was tickling my insides, but then it grew and grew until a massive wave of pure energy washed over me, it was a type of energy that I had never felt before, and I had no idea what it was.

I fell to my knees, my head spinning as the massive wave washed over me. My sparks sung with joy and screamed in agony at the foreign energy at the same time. It was strong, and was saturated with a deep, bone chilling cold that it left me gasping for breath and my veins burning.

The energy was vaguely familiar…I just couldn't put my figure on it. This of course I knew was because of my limited state.

It felt like forever, but finally the first energetic wave passed, but if it was possible my Soul just screamed louder in protest. Something was wrong with my Realm…whatever it was…and it caused my Duties…whatever they were…to call me…strongly.

I knelt there, trapped as a second wave of the cold, massive, alien energy washed over me and the tormented protests coming from my Soul twisted my insides and blinded me. I had to bite my tongue as the energy and my Soul caused me immense pain. Finally, after what yet again had felt like hours the second wave passed and I collapsed fully onto the ground.

For a moment I couldn't move, and I just lay on the warm grass gasping for breath as my body tried to recover. Whatever that wave had been, it had worn me out.

Slowly I was able to blink open my eyes and I noticed that both Insania and Hel were kneeling next to me, also gasping for breath. Though I was obviously in worse shape than my friends.

"What... the hell…was that….?" I gasped as I slowly sat up, the darkening world spinning around me. Neither girl replied, but Insania stood up slowly before helping me to my feet.

The silver and blue haired girl gave me a small smile as she wrapped my arm around her waiste and helped support my weight. My whole body was shaking, and it felt like I had just run a marathon, my legs felt like led mixed with Jello; it wasn't good.

Pain still lingered and I had a feeling that I wouldn't feel completely better till after I crashed for a few hours.

"Guys?" I gasped as I looked between my Sister who was supporting me and the Goddess who was how standing beside me, but staring off into space.

Neither Insania nor Hel answered, though I saw the Asgardian narrow her eyes at something I couldn't see.

"Hel?" I inquired, worried about the girl. While technically she was the youngest in our group, they had passed the title onto me since I was currently human and therefore only sixteen.

I knew that the others had felt the surge as well and that they most likely had a better idea as to what it was then I did. However, since Hel was only an Asgardian, albeit a powerful one, if it had something to do with my Realm, or even another's Realm it shouldn't have bothered her as much as Insania and I. Though I couldn't' understand why it affected me the worst, considering at the moment I was only half Immortal.

Suddenly the Goddess snapped out of it as her eyes narrowed and turned red as her cheeks flushed in rage. Her fists clenched at her sides and I could see the already long shadows crawling towards her.

"I must go. There's been a major disturbance that has caused many Souls to pass into Boss' Realm before their Time. Everyone's been called in….I'll be back." Hel stated without looking at me, before stepping backwards into a darkened shadow and vanishing.

Damn, something serious must have happed. Sure, sometimes Souls moved into my Bonded's Realm, or died, before they were supposed to. Mostly when some natural disaster or massacre takes place, but for Mortem to call everyone in this dimension in…something must have happened

That something obviously was the surge that we had just experienced, but why had I felt it? And just what had it been, since no Mortals had apparently felt it.

"Insania?" I asked, looking towards my friend and Sister who had still yet to speak.

"The doorway long ago lost has been open; danger and destruction are at the threshold. The game has been set, and the pawn moved. Those called to Avenge will soon take up arms against a force that is only the beginning." Insania stated her voice aloft and dreamy though held an importance that I didn't miss.

I knew then that whatever had just happened was important; so important that Insania was trying to warn me, to the best of her ability anyways.

But of course, her words made little sense to me; and although I knew it was pointless I asked, "How do you know?"

She turned her gaze towards me and for once, her eyes weren't cast far away, and her gaze was solid.

"I am Chaos. I know all things that take place within my Realm." She said, and her words struck my heart. I had never heard her speak that way before, not even when she was flipping between emotions when she had stopped me from Awakening fully.

She never had given me a reason why she did that.

Her gaze then became clouded again and she looked down at me in humor.

"Little one's tired." She stated with a half-smile. "Let's get you home before your Daddy starts worrying."

I tried to protest, but the strange Immortal would hear none of it. She practically dragged me out of the park, before making us appear in the elevator in a swirl of dark mist.

"Good night, sister dearest." Insania chirped, giving me a small wave before vanishing.

I sighed as I practically collapsed against the elevator wall, looking up at the clock in the display screen I sighed. It wasn't even seven yet. Oh well, at least Dad would be happy, I was home three hours before curfew.

Insania POV

I giggled as I watched the Mortals run about like headless chickens. It had been unfortunate that Aequivalere had sensed the Tesseract's wormhole opening and collapsing… since her powers were beyond her reach and her Soul extremely bound her Duties tried to call to her but only cause pain. Sadly, there was nothing I could do about it.

There was nothing more for me to do then sit back and watch. It was Sister's turn to reclaim her Realm.

I had done what I could.

I giggled again as everything slowly fell into place.

"And so it has begun…" a wide smile split across my face and I laughed, "it's gonna be so much fun!"

Bruce's POV
three hours later

A few months ago, Penny had decided that me being alone with only her as company was a bad idea, and after quite some arguing…

She had convinced me to slowly reemerge myself into civilization.

I was currently in a small town deep within the jungle. A virus had hit the town, and people were dying left and right. Because of the fact that it was a viral infection and not a bacteria or fungus there was little I could do except treat the symptoms.

I was preparing some more water, to try and lower a man's fever when a small commotion caused by a young, desperate looking girl caught my eye.

The woman, who was the ill man's only remaining relative, tried to shoo the child away, telling her that sickness was here.

I stood up and gazed at the small girl as she begged for the 'doctor' as the locals had started to call me.

If only they knew what I really was.

"My father's not waking up!" The young girl pleaded with the older woman. "He has a fever and he's moaning…"

I walked over, while it had taken a while for me to learn their language, I now had a basic knowledge and to me, it sounded like the virus had claimed her father as it's victim.

"…but his eyes won't open!" she exclaimed, and I caught fewer and fewer of her words as she spoke faster and faster.

"Slow down." I stated motioning her to slow it down. I wiped my glasses, which had been a gift from Penny, off of my shirt and slid them on.

"My father…" she said, and glanced at the other side of the room where the ill man and two others, one a child, lay. My eyes narrowed slightly as I noticed that she seemed nervous.

Was she worried for her father or something else?

"Like them?" I asked, pointing towards the end of the room she glanced at. No matter the cause for her concern, she was just a child and I knew that I had to help her and her family. Even if there was little I could actually do.

Hulk hummed in agreement in the back of my mind, though I could also feel a small wave of distrust aimed at the girl. Although I thought the girl seemed honest and friendly enough, I knew by now to trust the Big Guy, he had much better instincts then I after all.

"Please," she begged in English, holding up two crumbled notes, probably all the money her family had.

I sighed, the small ball forming in my gut was telling me not to, but I stood and followed her anyway.

Hulk grunted at me to be careful from the back of my mind and I soothed him, why did we both have the feeling that something was going to go horribly wrong?

The child led me to an old makeshift hut on the far edge of the tow. I was instantly suspicious, as the fever had yet to travel this far to my knowledge, and there were too many heartbeats around then there should be.

My nose twitched as I smelled a car and I stopped the child just as a jeep holding military personnel drove by. I turned my head so they wouldn't notice the color of my skin and waited for a moment until they were out of sight before letting the young girl go.

Hulk growled at me again to be careful and I rolled my eyes, he was very protective.

We walked past two elderly men and a young boy sitting around a tiny TV that was barely getting a signal and instantly I knew that something was wrong. There were definitely too many heartbeats around, and the air smelled slightly different here.

Hulk grunted in agreement, and we both shared the thought of 'Trap', before I cleared my mind.

Either way, trap or no trap, Penny was only a call away. She had given us a panic button a few months ago to use if anyone ever caught up with us, or if something else bad happened.

I tightened the hold on my bag as I followed the girl through the torn cloths that served as a door, and instantly stiffened as our instincts were proven correct as I saw the child climb out the back window.

"Should've gotten paid upfront Banner…" I muttered to myself to distract whomever was here, as I tried to distinguish the many scents that riddled the home.

The girl had obviously been paid to lead me here…but by whom and for what reason was the real question.

Ever since Penny had been hounding me on 'becoming one with Hulk' I had been getting better control…although there was no quelling the wild rage that was always just beneath the surface.

Penny's many hours hadn't been wasted through, as I now could change on command…and at time Hulk and I could even have mental conversations.

They were mostly one sided though, with me talking and Hulk grunting and sending wild emotions back.

I wasn't surprised when a slight intake of breath and shifting of weight exposed the woman hiding in the shadows; I had heard her heart from outside.

"You know," a smooth female voice said, and I acted surprised as I turned to see a red head, with a haircut very similar to Penny's, step out of the shadows. "For a man who's supposed to be avoiding stress you choose…a hell of a place to settle."

She was dressed simply, like someone trying to blend in, but she was obviously American…though I wasn't sure if she was a natural born citizen or not.

"Yes, it is. But avoiding stress isn't the secret," I told her as I set my bag down onto the ground and focused my hearing on the men I could smell outside. They smelled like soap, steal, spandex, and gunpowder. That meant military or secret agency.

"Then what is? Yoga?" she asked, and I couldn't tell if she was serious or being sarcastic, but either way it didn't really matter.

I just smiled at her as I relaxed my stance and leaned back against the wall. "What is a secret, if it doesn't stay a secret?"

Well, let the game begin.

Ok, the first official chapter has been revamped, and I hope that it flowed a bit better, and made everything fit. I really am trying to fix all of this.

*I did the math, after figuring out what Tony's birthday is (May 29th) and then figuring out how long Pen had been with Tony and basically how long the story has been going on. So, I shall take the time to explain it to you for those who care.

Pen started to work for Tony in July, a month after she turned 15 (her Bday is 6/21) and they were kidnapped by the Ten Rings in August and were rescued in October. The six month time skin between movies 1 and 2 were November to May (yes I realize that I missed Christmas…I'll write a one shot to make up for it) everything rumbled down on May 29th (Tony's Bday) and the 30th and now it's three months later, the first week of September.

Thanks, I really hope that this is better,
Cp

Oh, and if the chapter title says unbeta'd in parenthesis, it's because it hasn't been beta's yet (even though I do have a beta).