Okay, so like many people, I have fallen into an obsession with The Avengers movie. There are a lot of good fics out there (I like some of the oc ones especially), and I wanted to give it a try.

This begins around the point where Iron Man falls out of the sky, and they've won the battle. The main focus will be Bruce Banner, and his growing friendship with Tony, though the rest of the team will be featured as much as possible. As far as other relationships go, Tony is with Pepper, and Hawkeye may or may not be with Black Widow.

I really don't own The Avengers.

Bruce Banner stirred. "Our friend awakes!" Announced a booming voice in excitement. It was a voice that Bruce recognized. He squinted, trying to focus on the form of the Norse god Thor, who was leaning over him.

"Finally!" He heard Tony Stark exclaim. "Really Banner you can't keep me waiting like this. I'm hungry and after all this heroism I deserve some shawarma—whatever it is." Stark's visor was raised, though his face revealed only vague annoyance. Bruce frowned deeply at the sight of him. The Iron Man suit was badly banged up. There were scratches across the entire surface and sections of the paint had been forcibly scrapped away. Tony's arm hung loosely around Steve Rodgers, who was stiffly trying to support the billionaire's weight. Bruce struggled to stand up. Thor immediately reached down a strong arm and pulled the scientist to his feet.

"Are you, um, okay?" Bruce asked, his eyes flitting around to assess each member of the temperamental team. The Captain shifted for a moment, his hand gripping at his side. Blood dripped softly between his fingers. Agent Romanoff had a solid stance, and a tough look on her face, but her head was oddly quirked to the side. The solemn Agent Barton was favoring his left leg. Thor alone seemed physically uninjured, but his facial muscles were tensed. Bruce recognized all too well the pain of a person who was trying to hold back his emotions.

However, Rodgers managed an earnestly polite smile.

"It's nice of you to ask Dr. Banner...we'll all be fine. It's you we're worried about at the moment. How are you feeling?" Bruce rose an eyebrow, thinking that Steve's definition of 'fine' was debatable.

Bruce's body ached, but not as much as it would have after an involuntary transformation. He looked down at himself.

"At least I'm wearing pants," He answered with a shrug.

Thor nodded distractedly. "We shall be thankful for small blessings," He muttered.

"That's the spirit." Tony grinned widely. He stumbled forward, tripping on small chunk of building out of his way. He was undeterred. "Now onto the shawarma!" Bruce's unwitting smile flipped upside when Tony coughed violently, some of the dust from the rubble floating up around him. Rodgers grabbed his elbow, steadying him.

"You should really get yourself checked out," Bruce told him concernedly.

"And you should really put a shirt on," Tony countered. "But hey, I'm not complaining." Romanoff rolled her eyes, an amused glint in her eyes.

"Save your flirting for later you two, we still have some unfinished business to attend to." From her side, Barton's eyes narrowed decisively.

"Personal business," He added quietly. "I will put an arrow in his eye." Thor looked up suddenly.

"If you speak of my brother—"

"Yeah?"

"I would ask you not to harm him," Thor finished.

"You're joking." Barton clenched his fists, his eyes grew wide.

"I jest not," Thor tiredly assured him. His shoulders slumped. "I would ask you to leave his...punishment to my people. Loki will be brought to justice."

"And why not now? Why not by my hands?" Barton wanted to know. Rodgers was looking between the two, his jaw tightening.

"Loki has done much wrong, and I understand he has caused you terrible pain but...Please..." Thor's words got away from him. Barton shrunk back. The pure humility in the Asgardian prince's voice was surprising. Romanoff placed a gently firm hand on her partner's arm. Taking that he did not push her away as a good sign, she pulled him closer to her. Rodgers caught her eye, she gave him a quick nod. The young old solider relaxed.

"Alright then. After the damage Loki took from the Hulk," Bruce blinked, trying to recall the hazy memories. "I'll bet he hasn't moved from the top of Stark tower. We should go there right away and make sure the threat is contained."

"Agreed, I'll contact SHIELD." Romanoff put a hand up to her ear. "Director Fury?" She took a step away from the group to work things out. Barton stuck by her like a shadow.

Thor frowned. Rodgers gave him a sympathetic look.

"Thor, he has to be locked up. At least until we find away to get him back to Asgard."

"We could use the tesseract," Stark piped up. "That glowy cube thing's got way more than enough power."

"That could work. We would have to run some tests…" Bruce ran a hand over his chin, feeling excited by the prospect of working with such a mysterious object.

"Yes. I cannot go back the way I came. We shall discover a new way to bring my brother home. Though before that, he must be imprisoned...I will accompany him," Thor said. Rodgers shot him a questioning look. Thor rumbled a sigh. "This time I will make certain my brother does not escape. I will not let him harm another." They were quiet as they thought of Coulson, as the took in the destruction that surrounded them.

"Good idea guys, but," Tony raised a finger in the air. "First we'll all get some grub together."

"Well, we are a team...I think," Rodgers said, glancing over to watch Romanoff and Barton coming back towards them. Romanoff discretely handed Bruce a first aid kit she seemed to have drawn out of thin air. Thor looked surprised for a moment by the invitation. Then he nodded enthusiastically.

"We have fought together, and now we will feast together! Though I shall not enjoy it as much as I would wish to."

"Fury is sending some agents to Stark Tower to collect Loki. Though he said we should get there first, just in case," Romanoff told them.

"Okay, so let's go people," Tony called. Rodgers moved to help him, but Tony swatted him away. "Keep your hands to yourself red white and blue—I've got Jarvis." Rodgers raised his hands in amused surrender. Tony started arguing with his A.I. "Jarvis? Really? What do you mean 'I'll have to walk.'? Iron Man should not have to walk Jarvis." Bruce inwardly chuckled at Tony's tone. "Yes, yes, I know the system is shot but there's got to be another way to…" Tony's eyes strayed to Thor's arms which were crossed, his hammer laying loosely at his side. "Oh Jarivs, you're going to love this! Just a second guys." Tony spoke fast to Thor, gesturing around wildly.

Bruce turned to Rodgers, holding up the first aid kit. "I can patch you up in the meantime. If you want."

"Thank you doctor," Rodgers agreed readily, settling down on a pile of rocks.

"Making sure Loki is detained is top priority, but since I doubt he's even woken up yet," Bruce winced. "I'm going on a supplies run," She announced. "I'll be back before Stark finishes playing around." She looked pointedly at Barton, and then sprinted off. He sourly watched her retreating form, his empty quiver bouncing on against her back.

Tony spent the next several minutes convincing Jarvis and Thor that it would be a good idea for Thor to call upon his lightning and strike Tony with it. Thor was dubious, and Jarvis even more so, but Thor deferred to Tony's experience with electronics, and Jarvis could not disobey a direct order from his creator. As usual, Tony Stark managed to get what he wanted.

"Hit me up!" He insisted, as Thor held his sparking weapon aloft. Bruce watched uncertainly, pausing in his ministrations to Rodgers.

There was a bright flash that ensconced the man completely, before Tony emerged from a cloud of dust, his helmet's bright eyes blazing.

"That felt great." Tony's voice came from inside the suit. Rodgers shook his head unbelievingly.

"That man has all the luck," He muttered under his breath. Bruce just grunted.

"What just happened?" Barton wondered aloud.

"It's just Stark being Stark," Romanoff told him, coming up from behind them. "By the way Banner, I got you another present." She tossed him a black t-shirt. Bruce pulled it on, sniffing it in surprise.

"It's clean," He voiced his appreciation.

"I went back to the Quinjet," Romanoff elaborated.

"Well uh, thanks." Bruce told her. He finished bandaging Steve's side.

"Thank you, and excuse me for a moment, someone needs to tell Stark to stop acting like a kid." Steve stood up quickly, going over to where Tony was flying loops in the air as Thor watched. Bruce pulled the first air kit onto his lap.

He eyed the two agents. "Do you need—" He started to ask.

"No," Romanoff and Barton cut him off in unison.

"Are you sure?" Bruce rubbed some dirt off his eyebrows.

"Yes," Romanoff said authoritatively. Bruce tried again.

"Listen, I just wanted to see... Agent Romanoff your neck could be sprained, and Agent Barton your leg..." He trailed off at the looks on their faces.

"No thanks Banner." Romanoff's eyes narrowed. "We'll get fixed up after we apprehend Loki. I don't want to face him covered in unnecessary bandages. It will be more effective if we look our strongest." She stood up a bit straighter.

"And our most dangerous," Barton continued, as Romanoff handed him his newly filled quiver.

"I'll give him my best mad scientist smirk then," Bruce said, having no intention of turning into the other guy again just yet.

"Do you practice it in the mirror?" Tony, who had just flown over, asked.

"I don't have to practice," Bruce told him, his lips curving upwards.

"Stark, would you stay still for just one second!" Rodgers came rushing after him. "We have to decide on our plan of action."

"Just give me two minutes," Tony shouted to the annoyed Captain. "This power-up is fun." His thrusters engaged and he speed upwards. "405 percent, woo!" Iron Man suddenly face planted into the side of a building.

"Tony...?" Bruce called.

"Okay, the steering is still off, that's not fun." Tony came back down a lot more slowly. "Perhaps walking isn't too bad." Rodgers looked oddly vindicated.

The Avengers found Loki passed out in the middle of Tony's penthouse floor. Barton immediately cocked an arrow into his bow, aiming it straight for the villain's eye.

"Hawk man, I thought we had agreed upon not harming my brother." Thor frowned.

"It's Hawkeye, or Barton. And I didn't say anything about not intimidating him," Clint responded. Thor breathed out loudly through his nose.

"If that is all you wish to do then I will not protest."

"Together then," Natasha said, pulling a out a gun. Steve held up his shield in his most impressive pose. Tony raised a glowing hand. Thor begrudgingly extended Mjölnir. Bruce pushed his glasses further up his nose. The others turned and stared at him.

"What?" He questioned.

"Perhaps the Lady Romanoff can lend the good doctor a weapon? If that would makes us stand more solidly as one," Thor suggested. Romanoff hesitantly fingered one of the loaded holsters on her body.

"Want one Banner?" She asked him. Bruce snorted.

"Thanks Romanoff, but I think I've reached my intimidation quota for the day. And I'm sure he remembers it more clearly than I do." The team suddenly felt their eyes drawn to the Loki sized hole that the former Asgardian was embedded in.

"I don't envy him," Romanoff shuddered slightly. Barton frowned, but Bruce gave her an apologetic smile, which she returned.

A groan echoed throughout the room. Loki began to sit up. As Bruce watched him a familiar heat smothered his coherency.

"Uh-oh."

Bruce ended up 'hulking out' again anyway. When he came to Tony lent him yet another set of clothes.

"With all these quick changes I feel like an actor," Bruce mumbled. However, he didn't have much time to consider the rising frequency of his incidents.

There was some disagreement when the Shield agents arrived. Thor would not let them take Loki away without his accompanying them, though he refused to leave yet, saying that he had promised to dine with his new friends. In the end the six superheroes left the uncomfortable group of agents standing over Loki, who was sitting at the penthouse bar, somewhat bashed up, but calmly sipping on his drink.

The team had mixed opinions about shawarma.

"I like it," Tony decided after a couple of bites.

"It's not bad," Bruce agreed after a large swallow. Transforming took a lot out of him, so really he would eat anything at the moment.

"Hmmm…" Romanoff made a noncommittal noise. Barton shrugged, leaning his injured leg up against her chair. She gave it a glance and took another small bite of her food. Thor was gobbling his down, already on his third serving.

"You might want to slow down," Rodgers told him, yawning. "You'll make yourself sick." Thor ignored him.

"You're falling asleep," Tony pointed out. "What's wrong, past your bedtime gramps?" Rodgers frowned at him, placing his elbow on the table, leaning his chin into his hand.

"Some coffee would be nice," Romanoff admitted. Heads nodded all around the table. Thor slammed his fist against the table and belched loudly.

"Excuse me," He said. Barton and Tony looked amused. "I enjoy that drink. I would welcome some very much." Tony wiped his greasy hands, balling up his napkin after he'd finished.

"Well then, coffee and a visit to your brother?"

"Yes, it is time." Thor stood solemnly. Then a look of nausea passed over his face. "I am feeling unwell," He said, quickly exiting the run down restaurant. Barton and Romanoff exchanged a look and slowly put down their food. Rodgers, who hadn't touched his, stood as well.

"Ma'am if you could lead us to some coffee," He stifled another yawn. Romanoff nodded sharply, helping Barton up. "Stark, Banner, let's head out now."

"You know, there's this coffee place I've been meaning to try out," Tony started thoughtfully. Romanoff glared. "Only joking." Tony raised his hands up in surrender, throwing some money down on the table, and following the other three out the door. Bruce blinked, noticing it was a lot more than would be necessary to pay for their meal. The middle-aged woman who had been sweeping up some wreckage in the corner came over and started counting the money excitedly.

"Oh thank you! Thank you!" She exclaimed. "This will be enough to pay for repairs." She beamed at him, and to Bruce's horror, engulfed him in a strong hug. When she let go, Bruce shifted uncomfortably, wanting to say that he had nothing to do with her sudden good fortune. "Here," The woman just kept talking. "I'll get the rest of this to go for you." In lightning fast speed she managed to wrap up everyone's leftovers and hand him a paper bag. Bruce took it, and walked out silently.

Tony was standing at the entrance waiting for him. "Took you long enough."

"…I would've been out sooner if you hadn't decided to be so damn charitable." Bruce wasn't sure what to think about the man's actions.

"Why, what on earth are you talking about?" Tony asked in a faux incredulous tone. Bruce stared at him.

"Nothing," He answered finally.

"Good, now let's catch up with the others." Tony grabbed his arm and dragged him forward. Bruce tried to ignore his usual awkwardness at the physical contact, and reached a hand into the bag. He munched on the leftover food as they made their way over to a mostly undestroyed Starbucks.

Thor's goodbye was an emotional one. The now gagged and restrained Loki rolled his eyes as his brother hugged every one of the humans in turn.

"I will return to fight along side all of you," He promised. "There are matters I must take care of, but my heart still yearns for Midgard."

"We'll be happy to see you again." A still sleepy Steve smiled up at him.

"Yeah, yeah Billy S." Tony was leaning nonchalantly up against a wall. "Come on back down once you've dealt with all your family issues. And next time you'll have to introduce me to astrophysicist girlfriend of yours. It sounds like an unlikely match, but I've seen a picture. She's hot." Thor got a dreamy look on his face.

"Ah, New Mexico." Barton said under his breath. "Good times."

"Yes, I must see Jane Foster again, and soon." Thor responded, then he became confused. "Pictures are a device the departed Son of Coul has explained to me...but I do not understand, did Jane Foster appear feverish to you in the image you saw?"

"Um, no." Tony shook his head. "I just meant she's good looking. You are one lucky man."

"I am." Thor nodded. "She is a strong, wise, and very attractive woman."

"Mr. Stark." Jarvis's voice echoed throughout the room. Thor's eyes widened, and he glanced around the room, looking for the source. Rodgers was startled, automatically jumping into a fighting position. He had started to fall asleep standing up. "I thought I should inform you that Miss Potts has called your phone fourteen times. She is currently on her way to this building." Tony blinked strongly.

"Speaking of strong, wise, very attractive women." He turned on his heel and rushed off.

"Show yourself!" Thor shouted, puzzled.

"It's just Jarvis," Tony told him reassuringly. He came back with a Bluetooth shoved in his ear. "Pepper pick up, Pepper pick up…" He groaned. "Not again." He turned to Bruce. "She's going to blame me for this." Bruce wasn't sure how to respond.

"Who is Jarvis? And why can I not see him?" Thor wanted to know. Rodgers yawned.

"Some sort of electronic contraption?" He guessed.

"That is correct Captain Rodgers. I am an Artificial Intelligence system. Mr. Odin-son, I do not have a physical form." Jarvis explained himself to the two fish out of water.

"Oh," Rodgers mumbled, as if he understood.

"I see…" Thor spoke in a similar tone.

Shortly after Thor, the defeated Loki, and the SHIELD agents had departed, a tall redhead came bursting into the room. As soon as her eyes caught sight of Tony she rushed towards him. Tony smiled in spite of himself and opened his arms widely.

"Welcome home dear," He said brightly. Pepper stopped short in front of him, her gaze bouncing over his body, taking in his injuries. At the sight of his cocky grin, she scowled.

"Tony Stark," She started coldly. "You complete ass. Do you know what you've put me through the last couple of hours?"

"Now Pepper," Tony tried to reach out to her. She started punching at his chest. He winced slightly as her small fists hit his various bruises. Though he didn't move.

Barton looked at Romanoff. The two had decided not go back with the other agents. "Some woman," He mouthed to her, clearly impressed.

"She has to be to deal with him." She whispered back.

"Do you know how I would have felt if the last I ever heard from you was one missed call? If the last I saw of you was some news footage of you falling out of the sky? Tony, you are not allowed to die on me." She was winding down enough for him to catch her wrists and squeeze them gently.

"Okay. I won't. You know I'm Iron Man, I always make it out in the end." His words were as self-confident as ever, but his tone was soft.

"Should we leave?" Rodgers asked Romanoff quietly. The yelling had woken him up. Bruce's sharp ears caught the question. He looked over, wondering the same thing.

"Wait," Romanoff suggested.

Pepper let out a bitter laugh and traced the cut under Tony's eye with her thumb. "What if you don't make it out some day?" She asked seriously. Tony pursed his lips.

"You should have more faith in me Pepper," She just looked at him. "But if you're still so worried, you should consider the fact that I am now part of a team." He gestured behind him. Pepper blinked, as if only now noticing that there were four other people in the room. "They're pretty cool." Tony said, matter a factly. "Almost as cool as me."

"Nice to see you again Agent Romanoff." Pepper gave a brief nod of recognition to Romanoff. Tony had mentioned that after some initial dislike, the two had grown quite fond of each other. The other three she would only be able to recognize from their classified files.

"Likewise Miss Potts," Natasha said. She gestured to her left. "This is my partner Agent Barton."

"Hi," He said simply.

"Hi," Pepper echoed, giving him a warm smile.

"Glad to meet you ma'am, I'm Steve Rodgers," Steve spoke up. "I apologize for interrupting your reunion."

"Miss," Pepper insisted. "Or Pepper is fine too." She looked over the super solider, appreciating his built physique and polite tone, but also concerned about his exhausted expression and bandaged side. "And it's fine Captain, in fact, why don't you sit down?" Steve looked as if he was going to refuse, but he saw the somehow unharmed couch, gazed longingly at it for a moment, and then sat down.

"Bruce Banner," Bruce introduced himself quietly, offering a hand. Pepper shook it. He thought her mind must be flashing to all the warning labels in his file.

"He's the sexy, smart green one," Tony informed her bluntly. Bruce resisted the urge to wince at Tony's words, carefully studying Pepper's reaction. She just raised an eyebrow. "Or do you prefer the old all American man's rippling muscles?" Tony questioned.

Steve blushed from his lounging position on the couch. "Stark!"

"Oh they're all very good looking," Pepper said honestly, winking at all three. Tony pouted. Bruce stared at her in a mixture of surprise and amusement. Barton smirked, looking pleased with himself.

"Who's the best though?" Tony asked insistently. "It's got to be me, right?" Pepper smiled mischievously. The previous argument seemed to have melted into thin air.

"Actually, I think Agent Romanoff would win that one. Though I have yet to met Thor…"

Romanoff let out a burst of laughter.

"Why thank you Miss Potts."

"No problem at all."

Rodgers gaped, Bruce coughed, Tony sucked in a breath.

"And somehow I'm okay with that," He said, catching Barton's eyes and wiggling his eyebrows. Barton nodded in agreement.

Somehow the five avengers and the lively Pepper all ended up staying in what was left of Stark Tower.

"Most floors are relatively fine," Tony informed them with a shrug. "There are several apartments scattered throughout with beds and everything. Really, you could each have your own floor if you felt like it." Suddenly his eyes gleamed. "Hey, now there's an idea." He turned to Pepper, who was sitting close up against him. "What do you say, want to make brand new baby with me?"

Rodgers fell off of the couch, and quickly stood up. "I think I'll head to bed now. Goodnight everyone." He looked around, realizing he didn't know where to go. "Um…"

"I can relay directions to you Captain Rodgers…If you could first step inside the elevator to your right," Jarvis said. Rodgers uncertainly got into the metal box.

"I want fifty percent," Pepper told Tony.

"Aw…how about thirty?"

"Fifty or nothing Tony."

"Well…if I get most of the design rights…"

Barton's head was starting to lull on to Romanoff's shoulder. Natasha clenched her teeth as she turned her neck to look over at him.

"You sure you don't want me to take a look at that?" Bruce asked. Natasha shook her head very slowly, massaging her neck.

"I'll take care of it," She prodded Barton with her foot. "Barton, get up, I'm going to fix your leg before we go to bed."

"Mmm…sure thing Tash." The two them stood up, following Jarvis's helpful instructions.

Bruce turned to see that Pepper and Tony had stopped talking and were now looking at him.

"You going to sleep too buddy, or are you in more of a partying mood?"

"I'm never in a partying mood." Bruce told him. Tony grinned.

"Monster movie marathon then?" He suggested. Bruce nearly laughed, nearly.

"Don't mind him." Pepper rolled her eyes. "He's hyperactive, like a child."

"Or a puppy," Bruce agreed. Tony nodded.

"Yes, I know, I'm very lovable."

All three of them laughed. Then Bruce stood up, cleaning his glasses while he tried to gather his thoughts. Bruce hadn't even been sure he should stay in the building, but it was only for one night, and the prospect of a clean bed sounded wonderful to him. But before that, "Are your injuries—" He started.

"Just scraps and bruises," Tony waved him away. "I've had worse." Bruce tried not to think too deeply on that. There was a protesting roar of anger in his mind when he thought about anyone harming Tony.

"Okay well, um, come and get me if you need anything," Bruce finished awkwardly. He made his way to the elevator, fully intending to go to sleep immediately. He was stopped by a playful punch to his arm. He stared at Tony.

"Night greenie," Tony said. "See you in the morning." Bruce shook his head. Tony Stark was unbelievable. He got into the elevator.

"Goodnight Tony," He added as an afterthought, just as the doors pulled shut.

So that's it for now. I've got some of the next bit written already, but I'm not completely sure where I'm going with this, so anything could happen.

Please review, let me know what you think.