AN: It amazes me that this story has had so many views. Thanks for all the views, reviews, follows, and Favs. On with the story!
Bruce walked into the commons with Lydia still close at his side. The room was full of agents and other scientist. The sight of white coats had Lydia tensing up. Bruce rubbed her shoulder and steered her away from the crowd.
"Bruce!" He looked up at the sound of his name and saw Tony in the corner of the lunchroom.
The table he occupied had only a few people and he recognized them all. Thor was there stuffing his face as if he feared the food would suddenly vanish. Cap was eating heartily as well, but with a little less speed. Natasha watched the two as she ate at more reasonable speed. Tony was motioning for the two to come over.
Bruce and Lydia made their way over to the group. Once Lydia sat down next to Tony the man pulled her to his side for a quick hug.
"How are ya kiddo?" He looked at her and frowned.
"Yep grey not your color. I swear I did not think that grey could be any more boring, but congrats to this place they managed it. I tell you what Lydia, tomorrow me, you, and Pepper are going shopping, well you and Pepper can shop I'll be the credit card….." Tony rambled on and Lydia turned to Bruce who just shrugged he had expected as much from Tony.
"Oh! And Bruce will have to come to!"
"What! I have clothes, Tony."
"A few sweaters and pants do not a wardrobe make." Tony said seriously.
"I don't like shopping Tony."
"Who likes shopping? It is an essential part of life that all must deal with." Tony waved a dismissive hand at Bruce.
"Stores equal crowds. Crowds plus me could very well equal the other guy paying a visit."
Lydia watched the two men go back and forth for a few minutes and when they started throwing variables and equations into their arguments she could not help the small a laugh that escaped her.
Both men stopped their arguing and looked down at her. As it struck her how serious each had been in making their point she laughed again, and found she could not stop. By the time she got herself back under control every eye at the table was turned in her direction. She ducked her head as a few more giggles pushed past her lips.
Lydia's laugh had surprised Bruce. He had not expected it. The girl so far had been relatively quiet, and he thought her smiles caused the warm fuzzes.
"Sounds like it will be fun Mr. Stark." She sounded a little breathless.
"Tony."
"Alright, Tony. I would very much like to go, If D…dad goes as well." She looked up at Bruce through her lashes. Bruce melted.
"Why not." He sighed and let out quiet laugh.
Why did he get the feeling that he just gave Tony some sort of ammunition against him? For some reason he suddenly saw a lot of social events in his future.
"Alright how about tomorrow after lunch."
Bruce sighed and nodded.
"Would you two like something to eat?" Cap chimed in for the first time.
"Just some toast." Lydia and Bruce said at the same time.
"Well alright then." Natasha said and got up to get the toast.
"So any plans for the day?" Bruce asked.
"Just some training later."
"Yeah don't want our new mates to have the same start as we did when we faced, my brother." Thor said.
The team then began to reminisce about the events of the invasion, and other battles that they had. Natasha brought Lydia and Bruce their toast and then joined in the conversation as well. Lydia watched and smiled at the closeness that the group had. It was something she had not really known everyone she had been close to….
"So what were you doing during these event, Young Lydia?" Thor asked wanting to include her in the conversation.
"Um… I was…not much." She shrugged as she finished lamely.
"What do you mean?" Bruce asked quietly.
"I guess you could say I was off the grid. I only heard about all that happened with you guys, about three months ago." She looked pensive, and the table became suddenly the most interesting thing in the room.
"That's when the first tips were sent to me. Was that you?" Tony asked
Lydia nodded, and looked at Tony with a slight Smirk. "You should really lock that backdoor Tony"
"You'll have to show me how you got in. It couldn't have been easy."
"Took me two weeks to get the right backdoor." She shrugged "Took me less time to hack Shield, but that plan did not end as planned."
Thunder shook the room suddenly effectively ending the conversation.
"Storm's picking up." Cap said. The power flickered for a moment.
"Tony. Does this place have generators?" Bruce asked.
"Yeah, I'll go hook them up before…." The lights went out. "That happens." Tony groaned.
He stood up and Bruce followed after to help. Lydia was quickly at his side her hand clutched at the back of his shirt. He stopped long enough to grab her hand and pull her to his side, then once again followed after Tony. Bruce quickened his pace when Tony disappeared around the corner. He came to a stop when he saw Tony outside a room fiddling with a lock.
"Finally" Tony mumbled once he got it unlocked. He stepped in and pulled a flashlight from the wall. He then handed it to Bruce.
Tony started connecting wires to outlets and pulled out something that looked like a small Arc Reactor, and started to connect things to that as well.
"Had Lydia the light, it has a two man switch."
Bruce handed the light to Lydia and walked to the switch Tony had indicated. Tony counted down and at zero they threw their switches up. Sparks flew from the generator, and Bruce heard a gasp from behind him. Both he and Tony turned to look at Lydia. She has dropped the flash and had back herself all the way back out into the hall. Bruce eyed her critically as she slow slid down the wall to sit. Her hands were visibly shaking and she looked to be trying to control her breathing.
"Lydia?" Bruce asked as he made his way to her. He knew the beginnings of a panic attack when he saw them.
"Hey look at me." She slowly lifted her head to look at him.
"Sweetie, can you tell me what happened?"
"Electricity burns take longer to heal." She whispered. Tony knelt down next Bruce.
"You're okay Lydia, it was just a slight discharge." Tony assured. She nodded slowly.
"Oh, my poor little girl, what did they do to you?" Bruce whispered.
"You really want to know?" she asked suddenly.
"Only if you want to tell us." Bruce answered quickly before Tony could say anything.
"I will never talk about that place again." She paused at the disappointed look on Tony's face and sighed.
"But I can show you."
"How?" Tony asked
"You have a computer."
Tony scoffed at the question
"Tony's system is not the only one I can hack into."
AN: Chapter six done! The next two or three chapter will be home movie time. Lydia will show Bruce at the others some snippets from her child hood. Reviews are always welcome, I love to get feedback.
See you all next chapter!
Light's Lady