I could no longer be sure if the chill was from my environment or my nerves. I could see the tree branches trembling in the wind, but I still couldn't quite rule out my goosebumps as purely from the temperature outside.

Dr. Banner's dwelling was average, to say the least. I stood outside an apartment complex that was situated between a pizza joint that claimed to have the world's best deep dish and a laundromat. It seemed to have your average people living in it. That fit the description of Dr. Banner in the files: extensive traveling, an intense dislike of living above the average citizen that came with living in third world countries for so long.

I may have stood outside for a good twelve minutes, just staring up at the building and wondering what I should do. However, I suddenly realized that the hour that people just sat around their places was soon ending and he might leave soon. It was quite important that I arrive early to begin my first day, so I walked up and buzzed for his apartment.

"Hello?" I could only assume that was Dr. Banner's voice. Suddenly, I couldn't quite remember what my reason was for coming up to see him.

"Um…hi. I'm…I was sent…" I tried to explain myself, but he was two steps ahead of me already.

"Are you from SHIELD?"

"Uh…yes," I was about to continue, but instead I heard a sigh and the door unlocked for me. Not an exasperated sigh, more of a resigned one. Maybe I wasn't the first agent to come knocking on his door. I walked in, noting how uncomfortably loud my heels were on the tile floor. The lobby was a little funny-smelling, but the floor was swept and the green houseplant seemed in good shape. I turned and started walking up the stairs.

For an FBI agent, I probably could have been in better shape. It wasn't very good that a few flights of stairs winded me, but that just added to the whole I'm-trustworthy ruse, I supposed. As I reached the door, I noted how clean the area around the door was. His doorknob was nicely polished and I couldn't see any dust illuminated by the sunlight. Clean…but I couldn't label him obsessive compulsive yet.

I knocked on the door twice, and this brought some footsteps. They were of average decibel, so at least he wasn't dragging his feet or stomping or tiptoeing or something else that would indicate something odd. I couldn't help but think that I was the completely wrong person for this job. I psychoanalyzed murderers, not guys that the government thought could become a threat in the foreseeable future. The lock clicked out of place and I was suddenly greeted with a sleepy-looking man.

"Um…Dr. Banner?" I asked timidly. What if it wasn't him? Maybe I had gotten the wrong door.

"Yes?" He answered me softly, gently really. I was almost immediately comforted by the tone of his voice.

"Hello…I, um…my name is Leven Cliff. I'm supposed to be your new personal assistant?" I managed to get out, but my voice didn't shake as much now. I was still rather frightened that he would just kick me out. I couldn't let that happen. For the sake of my mother, I was determined to analyze this guy…even if I was rather certain that I was the complete wrong person to do this.

"I didn't file for a PA. You…ah, Leven, I'd suggest that you go back to headquarters. I'm sorry for the trouble, but I don't need an assistant," Dr. Banner explained to me and with the little half-smile he gave me, I was almost certain that he was doing me a favor by sending me back. But I couldn't go back!

"Please don't," I blurted out accidentally. As he raised an eyebrow, I felt my ears heat up in what I was sure was a big, embarrassing blush. "I…I really need…I…" I tried to come up with some reason as to why I needed to stay, but I was drawing a blank on some lie. All my mind was filled with was my sick mother and the big cord plugged into the hospital wall. "I…I really need this job…" I finally murmured.

"Ah. I see. Well…" I could already see the expression of I'm-sorry-but-I-can't-help-you on his face. That was the same expression I wore when I had to explain that someone was dead. I couldn't let him give that same sympathetic expression to me.

"I could…I could start by making you a cup of coffee or tea." Dr. Banner's other eyebrow rose now in slight surprise. I could see it on his face.

"Well…all right, then. Come in," Dr. Banner opened the door, revealing a neat apartment, though I could instantly see that he was simply a neat person and not obsessive-compulsive. A shirt on the couch, a few takeout boxes here and there, pictures on the shelves seemingly unorganized. I stepped inside and glanced around, noting the amount of pictures. That seemed important, but nothing I could ask him about right now.

"How do you like it, Dr. Banner?" I asked softly as I walked towards the tile floor that indicated the kitchen. It was open, just an arch for a door.

"Tea, just plain," he called in reply.

"Well…strong or weak?" My brow furrowed slightly. "Just plain" wasn't exactly the best descriptor for how to brew a cup of tea.

"Strong," came the reply and I nodded obediently. As I approached the counter, a tin stuffed to the brim with teabags greeted me. Some were labeled, some were not, so I took the liberty of smelling them to decide which tea. I didn't know a whole lot about tea, but one was labeled a peach flavor and was white tea, whatever that meant. It seemed like something good for the morning, though, so I began brewing it for him.

I felt a little awkward, just sitting around, waiting for the tea to steep. It was quiet, which was a state of being that I normally didn't mind, but around strangers the silence became uncomfortable. Dr. Banner, however, seemed perfectly at ease. I watched him as he sat down on his sofa, picking up a book and beginning to flip through. He turned the pages unusually quickly, so I wondered if he were just turning to a page he had stopped reading on. After a few minutes, though, it didn't seem that way.

I opened this cabinet and that one, locating a shelf of various mugs. I chose a bright yellow one, finding that it was a pleasant color. I had a strange inclination towards the color. I suppose one could call it favoritism. I poured the tea in and carried it to him. I didn't want to bother him, but he looked up at me and thanked me so quietly I could not hear him.

"Can you really read that quickly?" I couldn't help but ask him. A smile tugged at the edges of his lips.

"You've been watching?"

"Well…um, yes. It was either you or watch the water steep," I admitted and surprisingly enough, Dr. Banner laughed a little. It was a short laugh and seemed to cut off too soon, but he had a rich laugh. It sounded almost rusty from unuse.

"Yes, I read this quickly," He answered me and this time, I received a wider smile. I tried to smile back, but I felt like I must have looked constipated.

"That's…well…that's quite fast. Can you remember what you read, too?" I wondered aloud.

"Yes, I can," Dr. Banner was watching me now. His eyes were deep and captivating. He seemed to stare right into my soul and I wondered if he could see my real assignment or my deepest fears or sins. Then I noticed that he was not staring at me in an analyzing way, but he was simply putting his attention on me. That made me feel a little uncomfortable. I was not used to being so visible.

"Why don't you need an assistant, Dr. Banner? I'm sure that most men would love having a little extra help. Are you a bit of a workaholic, then?" At that, my psychologist instincts started kicking in.

"Well, I suppose you could say that. But I also don't actually do much these days."

"But surely someone like you couldn't stay so dormant for long," I said and then instantly regretted my response. That was not the response of someone without a degree in psychology.

"You're observant. I do…have a project or two. What makes you say that?" Dr. Banner asked the question now, looking at me with a curious expression.

"Well…they told me you were a scientist. I've met a few of them. You're a very curious people. My acquaintances could never stay still for very long and they always had to be doing something. An idle mind was never an option for them. Plus, it's very unhealthy to not learn. Different stimulation keeps the brain healthy. I mean, that's what they told me," I tried to cover up my tracks now. Of course it wasn't totally a lie. I had met scientists and they had said those things. I was just sort of…hiding the whole truth. A half-truth, really.

"Your acquaintances are right…but I prefer not to have anyone caught up with me," He answered and I detected a stiffening of his body now. Something that made him uncomfortable. Abort mission. I couldn't make him shut down now.

"Oh…well, I'm not sure that's for you to decide, Dr. Banner. Maybe you ought to trust your peers to care about you, hm?" I shrugged a little. Dr. Banner ran a hand through his dark, salt and pepper curls.

"Perhaps." I knew already that he didn't actually mean that, but I let it slide. There was no reason for him to confide in me as of yet. "It's nearly nine. Can I give you a ride?" he then asked me. I could almost see my face brightening in my head.

"Depends on where, Dr. Banner," I couldn't help but be hopeful that he was going to let me stay. I did really need this job.

"To work with me. I thought you were my new assistant, aren't you?" Dr. Banner chuckled. I beamed happily.