Awakening

Updated faster, I know isn't it awesome! ^.^ Anyway, hope you all enjoy the chapter!

About twenty minutes later I was much more at ease, with food in my stomach and Mortem's presence helping to calm the throbbing in my mind. Fury's hologram being gone was helping, as was not looking at Thor.

I felt a bit bad about ignoring the Asgardian, but I had a feeling he understood, at least vaguely, what was going on and why I was doing such a thing. Which I was thankful for, as I wouldn't want to upset the big teddy bear of a god.

There was only one slice of pizza left, and everyone was very content with just lying around the small but comfortable room as we all listened with half an ear as Dad rambled on about anything and everything that came to his mind.

"…I assume that the top of the Tower will be fixed in a few days, and considering the fact that Xavier and his people helped a bit with repairs, NY should be back to top condition in about a month, usable condition in about a week and a half. Jarvis already has about four different disaster agencies in route, all of them being funded by Stark Industries. The government has sent another couple thousand people onto the cleanup project, and SHIELD has a few hundred lending a hand in various areas…"

Steve and Thor were paying Dad the most attention, interested in what he said, though he was basically just echoing the reports that Jarvis was giving him about the state of the city.

"…think we should go out tomorrow in full gear and help out. It'll be great PR for us, not to mention it would be good to counter measure any negative backlash we might receive for the attack. While at the moment most of the media around the globe see us in positive light, that won't last long.

"SHIELD also isn't going to be able to cover this up, too many witnesses and too much exposure. As such we can't rely on them keeping us from the wolves that are bound to emerge…"

"Damn Stark," Barton whistled in shock and appreciation as Dad slowed down just enough for him to get a word in. "Don't you ever…I don't know, stop working?"

I chuckled in amusement and all eyes were drawn to me, which was interesting since I was lying across Dad and Mortem's laps, my head resting in my Bonded's.

"He doesn't always work, but Starks can never stop thinking." I told them softly and Barton stared at me in surprise, as Rogers nodded.

I blinked once in surprise before realizing that Rogers had known Howard, so he did know how Starks' think to some degree.

"You are a very busy person, Man of Iron." Thor acknowledged with a nod and Dad gave the Asgardian a smile while I tried not to look at my friend's uncle, as the wall throbbed with his voice.

"That's the way I like it." Dad admitted as I nodded absently in agreement, trying to ignore the soft throbbing that was threatening to return. Even with my memories blocks my head was far from quiet. Immortal or not I still had a Stark mind, and for us…mental silence was a curse that all we all tried to avoid.

"Besides, this is relaxing for us." I continued as Mortem ran his fingers through my hair, and used the Bond to reinforce the wall. "Jarvis is just keeping us updated on what's going on, so we're not doing much."

"Ah," Bruce said as he nodded, from where he was leaning against the wall. "I can understand that."

There was a soft moment of silence before Dad's head suddenly snapped up and he stared at Bruce in shock.

"I haven't shown you candy-land yet, Brucie!" Dad almost wailed, sounding like he had just committed the worst horror known to man. Romanoff rolled her eyes while Barton raised an eyebrow. I tried not to notice what Thor was doing.

"Oh," Bruce said softly with a shake of his head, ignoring the nickname. "That's not necessary."

"Of course it is!" Dad protested as he pushed himself out from under my legs and stood. "If you're going to be staying here, you're going to need to know where the labs are!"

I rolled my eyes as his teammates all shifted in their seats; they probably weren't going to take Dad ordering them around very well; especially the Cap.

"You know, usually the people involved have a choice in whether or not they're moving in." Rogers said slowly, obviously trying not to offend my father while also trying to put his food

Dad rolled his eyes as he jumped to his feet. "So? I have more than enough space to spare therefore it's no skin off my back. Besides, do you really want to go crawling back to Fury for your current or future living conditions?"

Bruce and Thor both looked very uneasy at that and I was glad to see that Thor didn't completely trust SHIELD. While Fury, Hill, and Coulson were good people, they weren't the whole organization.

Not to mention the Council, they were a problem.

I blinked a few times trying to banish my wandering thoughts, as the wall throbbed in warning. I didn't need to dwell on SHIELD right now, or I just might break the wall early; something I had a feeling wasn't exactly pleasant.

"Come on Bruce," I said softly, looking at my friend. "You know us well enough, or rather, you know me well enough, and are getting to know Dad, so what are you worried about? I thought we already talked about this."

Bruce's quick glance over at Romanoff and Barton's direction was the only tell I needed. With a sigh I rolled off of my Bonded's lap and onto my feet.

"Well, it was more like the two of you were talking…" Bruce muttered to feel the silence but I could tell he didn't really mean the words.

Placing my hands on my hips I gave Bruce a stubborn look as I tried not to sigh in annoyance.

"Don't worry about the Big Guy getting loose," I scolded him, with an exasperated look on my face. How many times was I going to have to get Bruce not to be so uneasy about his other half? At least he wasn't so against him anymore, now he was just worried about how other people would react, and therefore make Hulk react.

"We have more than enough room to make an entire floor or two just for him to run around and let off some steam when need be." Dad said jumping in, seeing where the problem was and doing what he did best, fixing it.

"He can even help pick things out and design it." I offered and I could tell by the slightly distant look in Bruce's eye that he was actually talking to Hulk about it. A smile flickered on my lips as I saw the hesitation reappear in his eyes and assume what the problem was, tackled it.

"And if that isn't enough, I can always just teleport you somewhere far, far away for an afternoon like I've done before." I shrugged and Dad was nodding at my side. We both really wanted him to stay, it was always nice to have other smart and tolerable people around.

"I'm sure SHIELD will always be happy to help as well." Rogers contributed and I slowly turned towards the man and just stared at him in shock as Bruce stiffened at the thought.

Was he seriously that naive? Or was he simply an idiot?

I wasn't sure.

A quick glance to the Agents showed their viable hesitation, and also the slight looks of disbelief aimed at Steve. Romanoff's were very well hidden, but still there, the others just didn't really notice.

"Well, I might not exactly phrase it like that..." Barton said slowly as Bruce's eyes flashed green as Hulk voiced his displeasure.

"Do not worry! I would be glad and quite willing to spar with your Other Half again!" Thor barked and I winced as my wall shuttered, as well as his word usage, his usual lack of tack has returned. I had been surprised that Thor had managed to be quiet and careful for so long. Even only going off of SHIELD's info and stories from Hel, I knew that subtly and silence wasn't the Asgardian's strong suit.

Bruce tried to give Thor a smile, but it failed horribly; and thankfully, I wasn't the only one who noticed the way Bruce's hands were shaking behind his back.

"Come on, Brucie, come stay with us! I need another male mind in the lab!" Dad exclaimed a bit too loud and I almost laughed when everyone's eyes turned to him.

Giving Dad a rather overly dramatic 'glare' I put my hands on my hips and spun around.

"And what's that supposed to mean exactly, Daddy dearest?" I asked slowly and silently cheered as Bruce's eyes returned to his own color and their aura's stabilized as Hulk calmed down now that the attention was no longer on them.

"Almost completely natural." Mortem commented as Dad glanced between me and Bruce, a slight look of confusion on his face.

"Why, thank you." I drawled and gave him a mental gesture that was supposed to be a bow. "We Starks pride ourselves on our acting ability."

"And your pride." Mortem added on and I really did pause just long enough in my act to glare at my Bonded before I turned my attention back towards Dad.

"Well..." Tony said slowly as Romanoff rolled her eyes at him. "While I love working with you...sometimes I just need another perspective on things that you simply couldn't understand..."

Barton snorted at Dad's word choices and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Oh just admit it Dad," I snipped as a smirk spread across my lips and I shifted my weight onto my leg and crossed my arms over my chest. "You just feel outdone by all of the girl-power in the house."

I couldn't hold back the chuckle this time, payback was sweet; Dad deserved it. I dropped the 'acting' part of the conversation and Dad's eyes glinted just slightly as he noticed.

Bruce realized the small change, as had Mortem, and they both started chuckling quietly as the others all just stared at Dad and I in shock; though Thor's expression was one more of curiosity, and Romanoff's annoyance.

"Hey!" Dad protested for real this time, with an almost pout. "I don't feel outdone! Besides, I have Happy..."

"Who's in Greece on vacation right now." I informed him with a smirk. Happy had been let in on my secret only a few weeks after the whole Vanko incident. He hadn't been very happy about being the last one to know, and about a month ago requested a two month vacation while he 'worked some things out'.

Or in reality, while he calmed himself down and thought about what he wanted to do with his life. (Dad had asked him if he wanted another job because claiming to be Iron Man's body guard was sorta sad.)

"And Rhodey," Dad continued as if I hadn't said a word, causing Thor to crack a smile as Bruce stifled a chuckle.

"Who doesn't live with us, and comes over about once or twice a week. Not to mention he still lives in Cali." I rebutted, but he still ignored me.

"...There's also Phil and your little boyfriend..." Dad said slowly as he tried to think of more males in our little makeshift family, causing me to burst out laughing.

"First, Phil doesn't live with us either, and you're actually counting Mortem?" I burst out into laughter again as Bruce and Thor were now openly laughing as well. "Sorry, my boyfriend doesn't count."

"And besides," Mortem said sternly, drawing all eyes to his irritated expression. "I'm not little, I'm Death."

"Whatever," Dad dismissed and Mortem's eyebrow twitched, causing Thor's laugh to turn into loud barks of amusement and the others to stare at him in shock. He had just dismissed Death.

"There's also Jarvis, U, Butterfingers and Dummy..." Tony continued on after a moment and I just shook my head.

"Sorry, AI's don't count; and seriously Dad? Turning towards your own creations to help boost male presence, that's just sad."

My eyes widened and I was quick to add on, "No offense of course Jar," as I glanced up at one of his hidden ceiling cameras.

"None taken Miss Penny," Jarvis replied dutifully only moments later. "And may I suggest consigning to defeat sir? I believe Miss Penny to have the upper hand here."

"Jarvis you traitor!" Dad yelled as he glared up at the ceiling with a pout.

"I have a feeling the two of you do this more often than not." Bruce commented fondly, obviously remembering out light bickering on the Helicarrier, and I was happy to see the two of them were completely stable.

"Oh of course!" I nodded as Thor continued to chuckle and Rogers finally closed his mouth. "It's just too fun to mess with Dad's head."

"And everyone else's." Barton muttered as he stared at the scene before him almost transfixed.

Rogers tried to lean over subtly, but we all noticed, though we paid him no mind.

"Is this seriously happening?" He asked the archer quietly, as if he was unsure about what he was seeing.

"I'm not one hundred percent sure," Barton said slowly as Romanoff tried to resist the urge to rub her temples. "But I'm pretty sure what little sanity we had left in our world just left."

Mortem and I shared knowing smirks as Romanoff's loud mental curse echoed through our telepathy.

"Damn it! Now there's another one to deal with!"

I knew, that wherever my Sister was at this moment, Insania was laughing too.

Hey all, would have had this up last Friday but a last minute camping trip with my sister was dropped on my head, and while it was great to see her (I don't get to very often) it really put me behind on school work and Pen.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, R&R if you feel like it (aka, please do)

You all rock!
Cp