Awakening

Ok…so things went completely insane and I didn't get any Xmas or New Year's specials up. *shrugs* Sorry!

Well, I guess that's not 100% true, I posted a random little oneshot that came to me while watching HomeAlone with my sibs…and then Penny popped into my head and tada, You and I, Defending was born.

Yup, so check it out…it takes place in a few chapters in the Awakening timeline. (I'll let ya know when we get there.)

So…enjoy, and I'll try to update more!

Penny's POV

I almost laughed hysterically in relief as I found the last memory to be sorted. I almost hadn't even seen it, but its bright silver color reflected the light of the sun/my Bond and caught my eye right before I left.

Appearing on top of the Astronomy Tower I gazed at the silver memory in curiosity. This one felt…different, heavier, denser, than the others; and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

Taking a deep 'breath' I reached out and brushed my fingers against the orb. Instantly my mindscape vanished in a swirl of color and I felt the odd but familiar tugging on my navel that signified a Portkey.

But why on earth would I have a Portkey in my mind?

I thought I saw the color solidifying into a scene, but before I could recognize my surroundings, strong power swept over me. I recognized this power; it was Infinitas' magic. She was pushing me away from the memory.

I tried to struggle against my Sister, what was in my mind that she didn't yet want me to find?

"Not yes, my dear, the time has yet to come."

Infinitas' voice echoed through my mind but before I could reply, or even dwell on her words my world faded to black.

Somehow, I just knew that when I awoke, I wouldn't remember anything about the strange silver orb at all.

Penny's POV

My headache was gone when I awoke, though my body and Soul felt strangely weary, like I had been struggling against my Duties for days. But I knew that wasn't true, my mind had just shut down.

I felt Mortem's happiness that I was awake before I even opened my eyes, and I sent him my own appreciation for his attentiveness.

My eyes blinked open slowly, the light in the room momentarily blinding me as my vision adjusted.

"Sir, Miss Penny is awake." Jarvis' relieved voice washed over me and I was barely able to notice that I was in my room before Dad's arms were wrapped around me and my face was centimeters away from his Arc Reactor.

"I'm so glad you're ok," He whispered into my hair as he clung to me tighter. Guilt swelled up inside of me for worrying him again. He shouldn't worry so much; I knew that it wasn't good for my father. Sadly, there wasn't much I could really do about that.

"I'm alright Daddy, I'm sorry for worrying you." I told him with a sigh before asking Mortem what on earth had happened. I remembered being in the lab, and then sorting through my mind, but had no idea what had happened between the two events.

I had a feeling that I fainted from mental overload, but wasn't 100% sure.

"You did." Mortem drawled in my mind and I realized that I hadn't pulled the barriers up so that my Bonded didn't hear every thought in my head. Oops.

Putting said barriers up, I could sense Mortem rolling his eyes.

"You passed out in the elevator from mental strain. Your mind shut itself down to reboot and protect itself. You were incredibly stupid to go for so long without dealing with your memories!" Mortem scolded and I winced.

"I didn't do it on purpose…I just didn't think that it had gotten to such a point." I told my bonded meekly, feeling very much like a child who had gotten caught coloring on the walls or something.

Mortem sighed as Dad let go of me, and I bit my lip as I recognized the expression on Dad's face. He was going to lecture me too.

"Just don't let it get that bad again. You really need to take better care of yourself." Mortem told me quietly before his attention shifted to other things.

Trying to avoid such a thing, since I really didn't want to be scolded for the same thing twice, I blurted out, "I know I was an idiot, pushing my mind to the limit and I should've just sat down and dealt with it besides ignoring the issue. I won't let it happen again!"

Tony sighed, before shaking his head and saying, "Mortem already chewed you out, didn't he?"

Well, technically he just scolded me, but yeah let's go with that.

"Yeah…" I said slowly as I nodded, not really feeling too bad about fibbing to my father. I knew I was an idiot, so moving on.

"Alright then," He said slowly before pulling me back into a hug. "But if you ever worry me like that again I swear I'll find some way to confine you to the lab for the rest of your life."

Rolling my eyes at my father I patted him on the back before standing. Of course he would threaten to lock me in the lab. But then he would never leave either and I don't think Pepper would like that very much.

"So…how long've I been out?" I asked as I stretched and popped my back. Taking into account how stiff I was, I would say it's been at least a few hours.

Tony's eyebrow twitched as he gave me a very stern look, and I hid a wince. Ok, Dad really wasn't very happy with me at the moment it seemed.

"The invasion was three days ago, you passed out yesterday. It's about five o'clock now; you've been asleep for over twenty-four hours Penny." Dad's stern glare came back on his face and I shrugged sheepishly.

Ok, I slept for a day…I really wasn't that surprised that I had been out for so long. I had sorted through a lot of memories after all.

"You've been asleep for twenty-seven hours and twelve minutes, Miss Penny." Jarvis informed me and I blinked, alright then, that was definitely a worried and scolding voice Jar was using.

"I didn't mean to worry anyone," I told Dad and Jarvis. I really hadn't, I guess I had just underestimated my own memories. You'd think I wouldn't, but oh well, even Immortals aren't perfect.

As my mind slowly got back up to its normal speed I realized that if I had slept a whole day then I had missed not only the press conference, which I had really wanted to watch, but also Loki and Adayna's arrival.

Lovely, I had wanted to be there for that.

"Did Loki and the family show up?" I asked as I climbed out of bed. I was still in the same jeans and Tshirt that I was wearing the day before, so I pulled a few things out of my closet. Yeah, sleeping in jeans always made feel…odd, so changing was the first thing on my to-do list.

"Yes, they got here around seven thirty yesterday." Dad informed me and it was only then that I realized that he had moved my armchair across my room and that it was now sitting right next to my bed. I could also see the numerous holograms floating behind Tony's head and wondered just how long he had been in my room.

"The kids were really happy with the Manor, and Adayna seemed to be very thankful that we were offering them a place to stay for a moment." Dad continued as I nodded absently, stepping into my adjoining bathroom to change.

"Miss Potts and Lady Adayna seemed quite fond of each other's company." Jarvis intoned, and I knew that Dad could hear him too.

"Really?" I asked the AI as I changed swiftly and then reopened the bathroom door while I brushed my teeth so that Dad and I could continue our conversation.

"That's an understatement. The two were practically joined at the hip for the rest of the evening." Tony shook his head slowly as he remembered. "I don't even want to know what they were talking."

"Girl stuff probably." I shrugged, spitting into the sink and then rinsing it. "But it sounds like they really hit it off."

"That they did, and surprisingly after Loki let Barton sock him right in the face, the two of them started to bond."

"Huh," I commented to myself as I exited the bathroom and started digging around for another headband. Yes, I knew that it was a bit late in the day to be getting dressed but I doubted I was going to be going back to sleep any time soon, especially after being unconscious for so long.

"Well, hopefully that means that there will be less awkward tension or need for revenge between the two." I continued as I slid a dark blue hairband into place.

"One can only hope." Dad sighed dramatically and I rolled my eyes at the man. Whether or not that statement was true, Dad would always be Dad.

There was a moment of silence in my room as Dad and I glanced at each other worriedly. I was worried about the fact it seemed like he had spent the last twenty-four hours in my room, and he was probably worried since I spent the last day asleep.

"Oh, that flaming chicken friend of yours showed up with Loki and the kids." Dad said nonchalantly as he pulled a hologram from behind his head and enlarged it.

I raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment on his behavior. Dad was a big boy; he could take care of himself.

"Really?" I said slowly, trying to figure out why Fawkes would come back with them. Wait, had he gone to Asgard with Loki? I hadn't noticed him leaving…to be honest, I couldn't remember seeing Fawkes after Loki left either.

Oh, well I was never going to tell Fawkes that. Employed under an Immortal or not, he probably had just as much pride as he did way back when. I really didn't need an irritated Phoenix on my hands.

"Hmhmm," Dad nodded as he twisted a few codes and added to a few equations, "was nestled right on Loki's shoulder. No one said anything of course, though I got the impression that Loki wants to talk to you."

I nodded, and debated on drugging my father. He looked exhausted; which considering how well we last without sleep was saying something. I knew that he had gotten a full night of sleep right after the invasion, but since then? I really had no idea; I don't think he slept at all. But I really wasn't all that surprised. Dad barely slept in the best of times; and recent times have been a bit rough.

"I'm sure he does," I commented calmly, tucking the left white strand behind my ear. I wasn't lying, I was just stalling while I thought of a plan.

"So where's everyone else?" I asked, curious if Pepper had seriously let Dad stay in my room for the last day. That didn't really seem like her at all; unless she had been worried sick as well, then she might've let him.

"Well, Rogers, Romanoff and Barton are all on the Helicarrier. Apparently they have to report to the Council, something about their written reports seeming too...thin. They're also getting their things off of that flying hunk of junk before it docks for repairs. Brucie was in the lab the last I talked to him, and Thor's at the Manor with his brother. Pepper is at the LA office taking care of some crisis that came up; and no, before you ask, I haven't seen any of your friends or Mortem since he vanished yesterday."

I nodded, realizing that was why Dad had managed to get away with being in here. The team didn't know Dad well enough to know that he'd be avoiding sleeping, and if Pepper was dealing with SI insanity, it wouldn't be on her mind.

Though I was going to get the total amount of time Dad spent in my room from Jarvis later; after that I was going to put him to sleep for twice that time. He was starting to worry me.

"So...how's reconstruction and renovations coming?" I asked, examoning the holograms floating around my father.

My dad shrugged, "The Tower will be done in a few days, adding anothter few floors is taking longer than estimated. Most stores and businesses have reopened, and the city looks a lot better, though it will be a few more days until everything is restored."

"Well, that's good at least." I said, I really didn't want to know how much it was costing our family, in finances, times and resources to get both the Tower and NY done.

I sighed before waving away the holograms, Dad really needed to get out of this room.

"Hey!" Dad protested but I just ignored him and grabbed onto his arm.

"I'm hungry and you've been stuck in this room probably for almost a whole day knowing you. So we're going out to eat. I feel like burgers, good burgers. What do you think?"

By the time I was done talking, Dad had sighed, pouted, and then nodded.

"Alright, that little place in Asheville?" Dad asked, though I had a feeling he already knew my answer.

"Yup," I said happily, skipping down the hall. Huh, I guess Dad wasn't the only one who needed to get out of the Tower.

"Well, then I'm glad I have my bracelet with me." Tony chuckled and I grinned at the man before pushing him towards the elevator.

"Go get changed," I told him as I crossed my arms over my chest. Dad nodded as he realized that I had played him a bit. "Cause you really stink."

"I do not!" He protested as Jarvis slid the doors shut, leaving me snickering in amument in the hallway.

"Keep an eye on him, would you Jar?" I asked as I gazed at the closed elevator doors.

"Of course, Miss Penny." Jarvis replied instantly, and I couldn't help but smile up at the ceiling. "I always do."

My lips twitched into a small smile as I turned on my heel. Yeah, Jarvis always watched out for us.

My powers serged as I walked down the hall, vanishing only six feet from the elevator. I should let Bruce know that we weren't going to be in the Tower for a little while.

Hey everyone, I'm really sorry for the lack of updates recently. Things have been rather busy, and I was feeling very lazy during my free time during break. But now that I'm back in school I think my writing mood is returning.

Anyway, I know it's short but I thought you'd rather have a short(ish) chapter than none at all. Forgive me if any of the formatting is weird, I'm updating this from my phone.

R&R (Cause you all rock!)
Cp