"Falling in Lab"

Oh. My. God.

They were in Stark Tower.

STARK TOWER!

Jemma wasn't excited at all. Of course not. No.

…That would be a severe. Understatement.

"Calm down," Skye said, though her voice sounded tight.

"Me? Calm down? You calm down!"

"I'm calm. Look at me." Skye gestured down her body. "Perfectly calm."

"Liar." Skye bumped against her side. "Don't tell me you're not desperate to meet Tony Stark."

"Please." She snorted. "They want us to visit because of us. He wants to know how I managed to crack into his system and leave a trail of bread crumbs to our rescue. Three times, despite the upgrades. How did I do it? Because I am awesome. That's how."

"Yes, you are very awesome," Jemma said.

"Yeah, sounds awkward when you say it, but thanks for acknowledging my greatness."

Jemma squealed through her nose as they were led into the common area. Phil stood there calmly, despite the dirty looks being thrown his way.

"In my defence, I was actually dead for five days, and it kind of screws with the system," he said, pointing towards his head. "Before you start yelling at me – on the off-chance you were—"

"Oh, we're going to," Agent Barton said, glaring darkly at him. Phil cleared his throat.

"Let me introduce you to my team," he continued.

"We were supposed to be your team," Tony Stark said. Wow, she thought he would be bigger. But then logically the Iron Man suit had to be bigger than him.

"Whatever gave you that impression, Mr. Stark?" Phil said, his eyebrows drawing together.

"You… you were…"

"This is Melinda May, our… pilot," he said. May nodded. "You were interested in meeting Skye, though, am I right?"

"Is she the hacker?"

"Yes."

"Then yeah." His eyes slid over theirs, and Skye gave a little wave. "She's a kid!"

Skye's smiled dimmed, and she narrowed her eyes. Oh dear.

"Says the guy who graduated from MIT when he was a teenager," she said. "You don't have the concession on skill around here. Fitz and Simmons are geniuses, for example."

"Hello," Jemma said politely, waving. Tony raised an eyebrow.

"Jemma Simmons?" he said.

"Yes, sir." He crossed his arms and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"JARVIS, take her down to the labs," he said. "Elevator's behind you, sweetheart."

"Uh… really?" she asked.

"This way, Dr. Simmons," the AI in the building said.

"Oh! Right. Well, good luck," she whispered to Skye, squeezing her hand on the way past. She half-smiled at Fitz, but his eyes were on Stark. With a small sigh, she entered the lift, and let JARVIS take her downstairs.

"I am sure you will find the research and development area of great interest," JARVIS said. Jemma looked at the ceiling.

"It must be excellent equipment," she said.

"Top of the range, designed by Mr. Stark himself."

When the doors opened, she stepped out. No matter how breath-taking the view, she remembered the manners which had been drummed into her since birth.

"Thank you, JARVIS," she said breathlessly.

"You are welcome, Dr. Simmons."

"Please, call me Jemma."

"I will program that response now, Dr. Simmons."

She smiled gleefully as she looked both ways, before scurrying into the nearest lab. It was pristine, of course; much better than the labs in some of the HYDRA cells they had infiltrated of late. She couldn't even bring herself to run a finger along the dustless surfaces, or touch any of the glass beakers.

Each lab seemed to be equipped to serve a specific scientist, the machines and other resources differing from one to the next. Her favourite brand of glassware was in the third lab she explored, her heart thumping faster than ever. Everything was beautiful and shiny, and spacious. If only they had this kind of room back home. The labs were fairly empty at the moment, but it was a public holiday; only devout workaholics would even think about working… although the laboratories here were so exceptional…

One lab had things out of place, and she realised why. A holographic computer screen hung above one of the desks, although the images were dimmed. There were also paper notes over one of the tables, pen scribbled over napkins and paper scraps and takeout menus. Someone like her, who could never wait to write down a theory, and then had to make sense of her hurried scrawl later on.

Pausing to look at one, she became peripherally aware of someone else in the room. It couldn't be Fitz, come to have a look. It was most likely whoever had made the notes. A bit embarrassed at having been caught peeking at their work, Jemma backed away quickly. Unfortunately, it was into a stool which hadn't been pushed in, and she yelped as she tried to fall away from the tables of chemicals…

Into a pair of arms.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry about that, I didn't mean to cause any trouble," she said, clutching onto her rescuer.

"It's all right, I shouldn't have left the chair out," he said as he steadied her on her feet.

And then it clicked. Her soulmark.

"Oh!" She looked up at him, and her breath caught. The most adorable brown eyes stared into hers, wide with astonishment. Jemma could understand the feeling, and refused to let go of his… rather muscular arms. She was so taken aback that it took her half a minute to recognise him. By that time he was half-smiling – sort of a Harrison Ford smile – and stroking a misplaced clump of hair back behind her ear.

"Hey," he said. "I always wondered what would prompt you to think you were causing me any hassle."

She bit her lower lip, trying to contain her feelings.

"You're Bruce Banner," she whispered.

"And you're Jemma Simmons. I was told you'd be coming down here. I had no idea you'd end up in my arms."

"Especially due to my clumsiness," she said. "Ugh, how embarrassing."

"Not at all," he said, chuckling. "I've been looking forward to meeting you, especially after that essay you wrote about me."

"I received top marks for that!" she said brightly. Then she realised how it sounded. "I now know how it must've felt for Director Coulson when he first met Captain America."

"Wow, that's flattering," he said, combing his fingers through his dishevelled hair.

"I was one of the co-founders of the Bruce Banner fan club at university," she said. "Along with my lab partner, Fitz."

"Leo Fitz? Then…" He laughed again. "I thought FitzSimmons was the name of the founder. I didn't realise it was Fitz and Simmons."

"Oh no, people used to call us FitzSimmons. Not anymore, though." Her face fell, and Bruce cocked his head.

"I don't like to see my soulmate frowning like that," he said, tipping her chin up. "Smile for me?" She complied, although it felt odd, because at this angle and this close, she really just wanted to kiss him, which made smiling a bit more difficult. "That's better."

"You smile nicely as well," she said. "I like it. And your laugh."

"I don't laugh all that much," he admitted.

"I'll change that, don't you worry." It was her Determined Voice and Determined Face.

"I believe you." He glanced away, and smiled. "Want to see what I was working on? I think that, out of everyone here – excepting JARVIS – you're the one who would understand it the best."

"Must be why we're meant to be together," she said. A second later, she pulled out of his arms and rolled down one of her stockings. She raised her leg so that Bruce could read her words. He stroked his fingers along them, and she shivered, holding onto his shoulder to keep her balance.

"Mine are on my other leg," he said, and he rolled up a trouser leg. Jemma knelt down, reading the words of the mark between the hairs. Her handwriting had never been more wonderful to see.

"I can hardly believe this is happening," she said, shaking her hand as she stood up.

"You realise I'm about twenty years older than you."

"You realise that I still feel like the luckiest girl in the universe." She stepped into his embrace again. "I was always so sure that my soulmate would either not be able to keep up with me intellectually, or would be a bland fellow geek. Certainly not a recognised genius who's… cut like a diamond." She buried her blush in his purple shirt, trying her best not to feel up his abs. His hands rested lightly on the middle of her lower back.

"So you really don't care about the age difference?" he asked.

"Of course not!"

"And what about… my big, green problem?"

"Frankly?"

"I'm terrified of the answer, but yeah."

"I find the Hulk fascinating. Do you think he has a soulmark?"

"Yes," he said. "It's the same, but on his left thumb."

She cleared her throat delicately. "A few years ago, my soulmark burnt green, just briefly. I never told anyone because it seemed strange, and it only happened the once. It never quite left my mind, but there were no similar instances documented anywhere. I dismissed it as an anomaly, or something brought on by the stress of exams. Even a hallucination."

"But it was because of the Other Guy. I'm so sorry."

"Hey, hey." She touched his cheek. "It didn't last long. It's… quite exciting to have been part of a unique scientific eve—"

Bruce pressed his lips to hers, silencing her successfully.

"Right, JARVIS, take us downstairs," Tony said, in the elevator with Fitz, Mack, and Skye. "Better show the kids candyland before they burst."

"I am afraid Dr. Banner and Dr. Simmons are busy at the moment, sir. Perhaps you could start with the garage?"

"We'll stick to the other labs, I promise. We won't interrupt any sciencing going on."

"Sir… it is not exactly…"

Tony thumped his fist against the wall. "Breaking up there, buddy. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. But I can assure you that you would be better served going—"

"Okay, time for Daddy's override," Tony said, keying something into the panel. He hit the button for the research and development level. The elevator juddered for a second, and then continued its way down. The doors opened slowly, and Tony led them towards the lab where Bruce was supposed to be… working…

"That would explain why your AI wanted us to go see the cars instead," Mack said. He and Fitz tilted their heads simultaneously, getting a slightly better view of Jemma and Bruce entangled and semi-clothed, Jemma perched on a lab stool and Bruce plastered against her.

"Ooo-kay," Skye said, pushing the guys back towards the elevator. "Garage sounds good. Tech and science labs can wait, am I right?"

"They better disinfect afterwards," Tony grumbled. "I'm sure that's in violation of health and safety."

"Sir," JARVIS said, "you told everyone to ignore most of the health and safety codes in the pursuit of science. The phrase 'only a little mess' was employed. Miss Potts had rather a lot to say on the matter. Shall I play the footage—"

"Not necessary," Tony said through clenched teeth as the elevator doors slid shut again.

"If it is any consolation, sir—"

"Probably not."

"They are soulmates."

There was silence.

"Jemma found her soulmate! Oh my God, I have to tell DC," Skye said, pulling out her cell phone.

Taking a break between coming up with ideas based on ship requests. This was one of the first pairings I wanted to try. I should probably make them meet in the field sometime, not just have Jemma tripping over in the lab, but meh. More private this way. And clearly they needed that privacy right away. ;)

Title of chapter is a terrible pun.

Please review!