Lucky Thirteen

Skye was pretty sure her first week of high school could go down in the record books for worst first weeks and it wasn't even a full week. School had started on Wednesday and it was Friday and yet she found herself sitting in the discipline office with Vice Principal Hill breathing down her neck as she waited for her dad to show up. Already she missed Principal Coulson.

She glanced over at her now very ex-friend, Miles before turning away again and rolling her eyes. The boy had decided that their personal tech club – she, him, and a few others – should make a name for themselves and show off their hacking skills in a big way at the high school and hopefully catch the eyes of the high school hacktivist underground. So he had hacked the school server and published everybody's final grades from the previous year on the school website – and then had the audacity to list her and the others as accomplices.

"Ms. Hill," Principal Fury's voice barked through the intercom. "Send Miles to me; his mother is here." Skye glared at him as he left.

When she looked forward again, Hill was looking at her and shaking her head. "Principal Coulson says that you're a good kid."

"I am," Skye protested.

"Good kids don't—"

"I didn't do anything," she said before the vice principal could finish. "Sure, I believe in hacktivism, but only if it's for a good cause. Miles might think he was trying to expose which students might be getting special privilege, but what he really did was humiliate tons of students who never wanted their grades to be known to their friends. I'm not okay with that and I'm not okay that he tried to involve me and my other friends."

"So you're really sticking with the story that it was a lone gun act?" Hill asked with narrowed eyes. "You and your friends may be letting him take the rap," she pointed out.

"Yeah, we could be," Skye didn't argue. "But we're not. I haven't even spoken with him or the others since last year. In case you didn't notice, my family's been a little busy lately. And what about IT? Are they trying to trace the hack or at least isolate the time it went live? He might have tried to cover it, but I doubt it because he wanted everyone to know it was our club."

Hill tapped her fingers against the desk a few times before picking up the school phone. She hit a button and then held the receiver to her ear. "Vice Principal Hill. Tell me, are we working on tracing the hack or isolating any of the details about its purpose. Oh?" Hill glanced at her. "Right. Okay, thank you."

"Hope that was good news," Skye said earnestly.

"That remains to be determined. But your father arrived a half an hour ago and Principal Fury sent him to help IT get to the bottom of it," Hill explained.

Skye gave a very big sigh. "Thank goodness. If anyone can trace it dad can. And then hopefully it'll prove me and my real friends are innocent."

"Maybe," Hill semi-indulged. "But, Skye, do you really think the others are your friends? What happens when this happens again?" Suddenly the vice principal looked up and past Skye towards the door.

Skye turned to see Dr. Banner standing there. "Vice Principal Hill, do you think I could have a few moments alone with Skye?"

Hill didn't particularly look like she wanted to indulge the request, but she stood to her feet slowly. "I'm going to make a quick round of the halls. You have until I return," she clipped before leaving.

"I'm surprised you're here too," Skye said weakly as her dad's boyfriend pulled over one of the student chairs and sat down near her.

"Your dad wanted support I think," Bruce replied to that with a small laugh. "And we were going to leave a little early anyways to pick up Jemma and take her to American Girl as a surprise for her birthday."

"Aww," Skye said with a genuine smile.

"So, you know, Ms. Hill is right," Bruce then said before she could even blink. "I won't patronize you. I know that you know you're at an age when you need to pick your friends carefully."

"I really didn't know he was going to do that," Skye said firmly.

"I believe you. So does your dad. But Fury told me all about the little hacktivist underground and I just want to advise you to think long and hard about your involvement." Bruce paused and looked at the hands folded in his lap. "I know what it's like to want to do good, but feeling like you can't. I'm also very aware of what your friend—"

"Ex-friend," Skye said bitterly.

"Okay, what he's going through. Wanting to prove yourself or make a name for yourself? I know how all of that feels and I also know how very real the consequences are if you get in over your head or do it for the wrong reasons."

"Really?" Skye looked at him curiously. He didn't seem like a man who would know that sort of thing.

"My life hasn't been easy, Skye," he told her seriously. "Maybe I'll share the story with you sometime in the future, but the point is I made bad choices for selfish reasons when I was younger – not unlike your ex-friend. Then when I was older I made bad choices for reasons I thought were good, but ultimately nearly hurt people in the process."

"Don't you think that there's a worth in exposing things and making information available?" She asked him testily.

"Sure," Bruce said easily. "But do I think that you are ready to take that on? No. And I don't mean that to be condescending, I really don't. I only mean that you're still growing and developing your own moral code and now's the time to figure out who you are and effect change in the ways that don't involve you landing in a juvenile holding cell."

Skye felt her face pale. She hated to admit it, but the idea of getting caught didn't appeal to her.

"And you know, some might think that you have no right to fight for people when you come from privilege and power," he pointed out when she didn't respond. "Your father swears that you're brilliant at tech and I believe him. And what I've seen in the past few months is a girl with a lot of heart and conviction. You want to change the world?"

"Yeah, of course," Skye said quickly.

"That's great. It needs change," he encouraged her with one of his smiles. They were so different from her dad's and yet they were just as nice and conveyed a lot somehow. "But don't lose sight of ethics along the way," he continued and she bit her lip, remembering her mom. "You may think hacktivism is a necessary evil and in some cases I would agree with you, but maybe there are other ways to change the power imbalance and fight to get information out there that nobody has thought of. Maybe the world is just waiting for you to look at it from a new angle."

"I wish I knew how. I feel like I don't have anything to offer that hasn't already been done and I'm just trying to do what I can," Skye said earnestly.

"I know. It's hard. You're 14 and it's true that some of the greatest movements have been by people your age, but that's because they found something worth fighting for. Do you have something specific you're fighting for? Do you really have a connection with the people who are affected for good or for bad by what hacktivist groups stand for?"

Skye thought about it long and hard, eyes narrow and brow furrowed as she looked down at the desk in front of her. "I don't know," she finally admitted. "I know that what Miles did isn't what I'm fighting for. I mean it's not fair when teachers favor certain students, but what was published doesn't prove anything or change anything. It doesn't feel like the necessary evil was worth it."

"You know, there are millions of people who believe weapons are a necessary evil to protect the world." Skye's eyes widened in understanding. "But your dad dared to say maybe that's not true. He dared to say maybe the world had been hurt enough by necessary evil and that the real path forward is through—"

"A warm light for all mankind to share," Skye finished his statement with a small nod. "He looked for a different angle. He decided to find a different way to protect the world. I think I get it."

"I hope you do, Miss Stark," Fury suddenly interrupted. They both turned to see him and her dad in the doorway. "Because I think you have potential and I'd hate to see you waste it getting caught up in petty things when there's a bigger world out there."

Fury moved into the room as did Tony. Bruce stood and moved the chair back to where it had been and went to stand next to her dad. Skye smiled at the way her dad smiled at Bruce before turning her attention back to the principal.

"Look, I'm sorry, Principal Fury. I wish I could say I would have stopped him if I had known, but I can't. I just know I do feel bad for what happened," she said genuinely.

"I'm inclined to believe you. And your dad and our team tracked it back to his personal laptop."

Skye blinked. "Really? He used his personal laptop?"

"Yes and you should be grateful for that," Tony warned her and she nodded.

"Because I'm going to let you and your other friends off the hook this time with a few exceptions," Fury stated and gave her a hard gaze. "One, you will all be under a tech ban for three weeks. You will not be allowed into the tech labs after school hours and if I catch you with your phone out on school property even at lunch you had better be having an emergency or there will be consequences. Two, if this happens again, I will not be merciful. So choose your battles and your friends wisely, Miss Stark because I have the potential to make your life here at S.H.I.E.L.D. difficult if you make mine difficult. Are we clear?"

Skye sighed, but nodded.

Skye shook her head as she looked at the two men in the seat across from her. If she had known getting out of school early would involve watching her dad attempt to accost Dr. Banner she might have elected to stay.

"Tony, stop," Bruce said with a small laugh, poking Tony in his side when he started kissing the spot just below his ear.

It was the third time in the short drive from the high school to the K-8 Academy. The first two times Bruce had indulged her dad, but now he seemed to be getting a little embarrassed given Skye's presence.

"Yeah, dad. Getting a little weird here," Skye teased.

"Sorry, he's just very hard to resist right now," Tony said with a smirk, but pulled back since they had reached Jemma's school.

Bruce gave him a fondly exasperated look before pecking him on the lips and getting out of the company SUV to go get his youngest daughter.

"You seem really happy with him," Skye said conversationally. Obviously he was if he'd invited the man and his kids to move in, but he seemed even happier now that Bruce was around all the time.

"I am," Tony said easily before fixing her with a fatherly look. "But a lot of things make me happy. And it would make me happy if you make good on your promise to Principal Fury not to get involved with the hacktivists. I know you mean well. I really do, but you're thinking small here, Skye."

"Yeah, kind of already had this pep talk from Dr. B, no offense," she deflected.

"And it was brilliant from what I heard of it," Tony said with a slightly goofy grin and suddenly she was uncomfortably aware of why her dad was currently a little hot under the collar for the other man. She made a pointed effort to ignore the weirdness of parents for the time being. "So let's skip the pep talk and move straight to your dad stepping in with a solution. Or an alternative if you will." She raised her brow questioningly. "What is it that you need to channel this, hmm? Let's talk about your interests. What is it that you want to do and what resources do you need to do it?"

Skye blinked several times, taken off guard by his questions. She was used to her dad giving them whatever they needed, but he seemed to be challenging her to try and accomplish something she wanted with those resources rather than it being a recreational pursuit. It echoed Dr. Banner's question of what she felt like fighting for.

She looked down and considered it again. "I'll probably have to think about it, but… I know I want to make a difference. Like you, and mom and Dr. Banner. Or all of the people at…" Her eyes widened. "I want to work on something for the next Junior Tech conference."

Tony smiled. "I'd love to see that happen, Skye. And I feel a little like I've held you back with my paranoia and aversion to the conference scene," he said with a sigh.

"I don't blame you," she said earnestly. She then shrugged. "I never even considered it before. But now I really want to start contributing somehow. I mean, I want to do more than that. I want to help people in other ways, but I know that I want to at least do that. And I want to contribute in a way that challenges people to think long and hard about how we're using tech and what impact we're really leaving."

"It's not an easy road," her dad said knowingly and with a hint of something sad in his voice, "but it's the right road and I know it's one that you can take because you have the courage for it."

"Thanks, dad," Skye said with a smile just as one of the doors opened again and Jemma hopped in, followed by Bruce.

"Hey there, Birthday Princess," Tony said with an eager smile as the girl settled into the seat next to Skye.

"Hi, Tony," Jemma replied and then looked up at Skye. "Hi, Skye! Are you coming too? Daddy says it's a birthday surprise."

"I am," Skye said cheerfully. "And it's such a magical birthday surprise that I just had to tag along too." Skye then smirked at the two men. "Because our dads would have been way out of their depth if they didn't take along back up to where we're going."

Tony sighed and then looked at Bruce. "She's probably right. Took Darcy there once three years back. Had to call Pepper and Happy to come bail me out."

"The sad thing is, he's telling the truth," Skye said and Bruce laughed a little at her dad's expense.

"You laugh now, Dr. Banner. But you just wait," Tony replied with impishly narrowed eyes. "You'll see."

Skye laughed because she had to take her dad's side on that one.

"I swear, Ms. May already has it out for me," Skye complained around a bite of strawberry cake. "What did you do to make her hate Starks, Clint?"

"What are you talking about?" Clint shot her an incredulous glance. "May totally loved me. Thought I was a joy to have in class or whatever other canned response they use. She's just stern." He shrugged.

"I'd say cold," Skye muttered.

The sounds of Tchaikovsky suddenly filled the space around them and they all looked at Natasha as she pulled out her phone. "It's James. Can I take this?"

"I guess," Bruce replied.

"Hey you," Natasha said in answer to the call. "Okay, hold up. Hey, Jemma, James says happy birthday."

"Thank you, James!" Jemma called loudly.

"Did you hear?" Natasha asked. "Yeah?"

"Hey, that reminds me," Bruce said as Natasha continued to talk on the phone. "We're going to call Leo after we're done here."

"Really!?" The girl's eyes widened.

"Of course," her dad replied. "Don't you want to thank him for the nice bear he got you?"

Skye smiled as she looked down the table at where the little girl immediately looked down at the bear that sat on her lap along with her new American Girl doll.

"He didn't just get it for me," Jemma protested as if offended. "He built it. Just for me," she beamed.

"She's got you there," Skye agreed. "Building a bear is so much more special. And he made it a scientist bear for her and everything. He must be a very good friend," she said.

"My best friend," Jemma said decidedly before taking a bite of her own piece of cake. “And we're going to be friends forever,” she added matter-of-factly. “He promised.”

“Wow, that's a very serious promise,” Clint said in a tone as if he were awed by her comment. “Promises like that usually need to be sealed with a kiss. Or at least a pinky promise,” Skye's older brother said with a straight face.

“Oh, I did kiss him,” Jemma said plainly.

Bruce choked on his cake and quickly took a drink as they all, except Natasha and Jemma, laughed.

“Okay there, Brucey?” Tony asked him teasingly as he patted him on the back, since they were seated beside each other and Jemma was at one of the end seats instead.

“Um, yeah. What do you mean you kissed him?” Bruce looked at his daughter in shock.

“I kissed him on the cheek,” Jemma replied and Skye thought she sounded very nonplussed about it.

“Oh,” Bruce said.

“Crisis averted,” Sam joked.

“For now,” Skye added just as Natasha pushed violently away from the table beside her and left, still on the phone. “What was that about?”

“Homecoming," Steve answered with a sigh, picking slightly at his cake with his fork. Skye looked at him in confusion.

"Our sister is upset that she won't be able to go with her boyfriend," Thor supplied although Skye had gathered that much. She just assumed that would have always been the case so Natasha should have been over it by now.

"It would have been their first dance," Loki elaborated with a roll of his eyes. "School board voted on a ban of freshmen at prom at our old school. Not even allowed by invitation."

"A decision I was very okay with," Bruce chimed in.

"Sometimes it confuses me that she's not a junior here," Clint said. "There are juniors who haven't turned 16 yet," he pointed out.

"Just because our cutoff date is the end of the year they're born in," Tony pointed out. "Most are in, what, September?"

"Some earlier," Bruce replied.

"Ouch," Skye said as she contemplated it. She hadn't thought one way or another about it previously. "Must suck being the oldest in the classroom."

"Maybe I should ask her about that," Bruce commented, the statement directed at Tony. Then he looked at them again. "So when's your homecoming."

"Weekend after next," Steve answered.

"Any of you have dates?" Tony then asked them with a smirk.

"Loki probably would if he asked Sig," Skye teased him.

"You're assuming I even want to go," Loki said coolly and she shrugged.

"Whatever. Supposedly Grant Ward wants to ask me," Skye offered conversationally, "but that's way too much pressure for my first homecoming. I'm fine with doing the friend thing."

"Your dad is fine with that too," Tony said and she scrunched her nose at him. "So are you all going to do the friend group thing then? I mean there're certainly enough of you," he pointed out with a laugh.

"Well, I have no date unless Bobbi comes around so, yeah, guess the friend thing," Clint said.

"Yeah, no date here either," Steve said next. "And it's not like I have an option of not going," he said with a shake of his head.

"Aww, is being football star getting you down?" Clint said with an exaggerated pout.

"A little," Steve answered with a small laugh.

"Really, Steve? Nobody at all you want to ask?" Skye asked him with a smirk and raised brow before taking the last bite of her cake.

Steve looked flustered for all of five seconds before shooting her a meaningful look. "Oh, yeah, you're right. There is someone." Everybody's eyes widened, and Skye didn't miss the quick glance that passed between their dads. Steve fixed her with a sickeningly sweet smile. "Skye, would you like to go to homecoming with me?"

"Ugh," she groaned. She rolled her eyes and threw her napkin at him. "You're hilarious."

Tony had a holographic screen projected in front of his desk as he looked over the schematic for Bruce's water filtration system. The physicist wasn't an engineer by trade, but he clearly knew enough about it for the proposed model to be sound enough that it was worth investing in developing a working prototype.

"Thoughts?" Bruce prompted.

"Several," Tony replied. Then he swiped the screen to the left so he had a clear view to leer at Bruce. "But you said office sex was off limits."

"Actually, I believe I said within business hours," Bruce corrected him nonchalantly.

"Yes, but half the thrill is being found out within business hours," Tony bantered back.

"Not everyone would call that a thrill," Bruce said with a slight shake of his head.

"But seriously, Bruce," Tony said, returning to the schematic without any detriment to the conversation being done by their bantering – which was one of the things he loved about how they worked. "You're brilliant. How long have you been sitting on this one?" He studied his boyfriend with slight suspicion as he stood and came around his desk to lean against it.

"CalTech," Bruce answered with a hitch of his shoulder.

"That's a crime," Tony said with a sharp point of his finger. "Seriously, that should be illegal. All of the people who denied you funding should be jailed for not giving money to you."

"Okay, Sherriff of Nottingham," Bruce said teasingly. "Sure I would have liked to have had a working model sooner, but maybe it's for the best. Science and tech have advanced by leaps and bounds since then and there are so many things I was able to adjust to hopefully work better because of it." He then smiled up at him. "Besides, we've been through this. There weren't many companies that would have seen it beyond a bottom line and that might have damaged the philanthropic nature of it. I don't think that's the case anymore."

Tony returned the smile before leaning forward and placing both hands on either arm of the chair Bruce sat in. "Definitely not a problem there," he promised. "By the way, did I mention I'm having several thoughts right now?"

"Hmm. You might have mentioned it," Bruce answered coyly.

Tony kissed him long and slow. Bruce tasted of one of those earthy teas he liked rather than coffee today, probably because it wasn't Monday, and his skin had a hint of lab smell that was more intoxicating than it had any business being. Why waste money on expensive cologne when all you needed was to work in a sterile room with chemicals all day?

"I never get tired of kissing you," Tony murmured before angling his head to the other side and pushing his tongue into Bruce's mouth with a well-practiced ease.

"This kind of fraternization is strictly prohibited during business hours."

Tony groaned as he pulled away from Bruce to see Pepper standing in the doorway with an impish gleam in her eyes.

"Killjoy. This had better be important. I was in the middle of seducing my boyfriend."

"Oh is that what was happening here?" Bruce asked archly. "I thought I was seducing you with my brilliant schematic."

Tony beamed. "Aha, so it isn't completely off limits after all, huh Doctor? You were just playing hard to get."

"You two are adorable, really," Pepper interrupted cheerfully before her face set into a hard line. "But, yes, this is important. I've checked with PR and they're already aware and working on it, but…" Pepper gestured toward the television.

Tony furrowed his brow but turned toward his desk and grabbed the remote before turning it on. It came on to a grid view of multiple news, media and business report stations. He scanned the smaller screens before noticing a familiar face.

"Is that…?" Bruce started.

Tony tuned to the channel which dealt with media and celebrities. "…and the General seems to be taking issue with anyone who could trust Dr. Banner with his kids let alone someone else's. Our source has also quoted Ross as saying: 'The man is unstable, violent and a criminal. It is a sad day for our country that a man like him was allowed to adopt let alone pass along his own genetics in a way that is unnatural and a blemish on this nation.' This comes on the tail of last week's spotting of Dr. Banner and billionaire Tony Stark with two of their daughters at American Girl Place. The internet has gone wild with fans of the new couple fawning over the impromptu visit, sources saying it was for the youngest Banner daughter's birthday, as well as finally getting a good glimpse of one of the elusive Banner children. Meanwhile critics have taken them to task for pulling either girl out of school early and for promoting the American Girl brand—"

Tony turned off the television and set aside the remote. "Ridiculous. Sensationalism," Tony argued immediately. "There were tons of girls Jemma's age there for birthday parties and lunch reservations."

"I don't think that's the issue here, Tony," Pepper countered.

"What? Ross?" Tony scoffed. "I'm more concerned about what people are saying about our kids. Ross took a potshot at surrogacy. That's enough of a reason for no one to take his statements seriously."

"I don't know," Bruce said ruefully. "Surrogacy is a hotbed issue right now. More so than when I had Jane and Jemma. I love my daughters and wouldn't have done anything differently because then they wouldn't be who they are today, but in retrospect I can see both sides of the coin."

"He's right," Pepper agreed. "Ross is a man who seems like he has a vendetta and he's using a hotbed topic to turn some of the population against you rather than taking the anti-gay stance."

"Not that he isn't," Bruce pointed out and Tony felt himself get angry, wondering at any of the things Ross might have said to him. "But if anyone's unstable, it's him. I'm not…" He sighed. "Look, I'm not perfect and I'll be the first to point out that technically he's not wrong. I do have a juvenile criminal record and have been treated for violent hysteria. But Ross' reputation really took a hit from what happened in New Mexico and he blames me because he tried to throw me under the bus and I wouldn't let him. He does have a vendetta," he said, looking back and forth between them. "He's tried to have me reported before. He's had me investigated enough times by the state that finally the state asked me if I thought it was malicious since obviously every investigation proved that I was still a fit parent. So I felt the need to get a restraining order against him just in case."

Tony looked at Pepper. "Would this violate a restraining order?" He pointed at the television to refer to the general's comments.

"We can bring it up to legal," she said. "But it sounds to me like now that Dr. Banner is in the limelight, he's taking his chances that he can use the sensationalism you mentioned to get more invasive investigations going. I'm sure PR will have some counter measures lined up before the day is done."

"I'm sorry, Bruce," Tony said earnestly, moving over to place a hand on his shoulder. "We'll fix this. The asshole won't get his way."

"It's not your fault. He's been a thorn in my side since I met Betty. This doesn't really surprise me. And… I feel a little bit better knowing that you have a team that can help me handle it."

"Even if the reason you having access to that team is partly why the General reared his ugly head again?" Tony asked in genuine concern.

"Even if," Bruce reassured him.

Natasha closed her locker perhaps a little more aggressively than was necessary, but if she heard about Homecoming one more damn time… As if it wasn't enough that her dad and Tony were taking her and Skye to look at dresses after school and to let the boys get dress suits. Well, Skye would be looking at dresses. Natasha and James had agreed that neither of them would go if they couldn't go together.

"Hey, moody," Sam said, leaning up against her locker as he often did during this passing period since they were in the same part of the school. "Still moping about Homecoming?"

"I don't know, are you?" She clipped and he threw up his hands in surrender.

"Look, our situations aren't the same and you know it," he said as he crossed his arms. "But you never struck me as the angst over a guy type."

She sighed. He had her there. A year ago she would have balked over her current state of mind and just gone and had a good time.

"I'm not usually. James is just different. And it would have been nice to at least have one dance with him in case this long distance thing doesn't work." James was a senior after all and no matter how special James was, she wasn't naïve enough to think it would work once he went off to college.

"You know, this mopey thing isn't a good look on you, Red. I'm about to ask you to Homecoming myself," he said in humor.

She gave him an intentionally demure smile. "Thanks, but you don't do it for me."

Sam laughed and pushed off the lockers. "Yeah and I think you know the feeling's mutual."

"Unless this is an effort to make Steve jealous," she smirked and raised an arched brow. "In that case I accept. And I'm pretty sure James wouldn't mind that kind of exception."

"Haha," Sam said with a roll of his eyes. "I'm not interested in making Steve jealous." Natasha flicked her eyes past him briefly to see the other boy in question was already radiating jealously as he came to meet Sam for their next class, which they had together.

"Hey, guys," Steve said when he finally approached them and Sam looked panic stricken for a second, no doubt wondering if Steve had heard any of their conversation. "Um, Sam. I need to talk to my sister for a second. Mind if I catch up with you?"

"Uh, yeah. I mean, no… No, I don't mind." Sam shrugged and then left.

"What is with you?" Steve asked sharply once Sam was gone.

"If you're just now noticing I'm a little pissed about Homecoming…" She started dryly.

"Then why do you keep flirting with Sam?" Steve looked at her in obvious pent up frustration.

Natasha snorted. "You're cute. In an annoying blind as a bat kind of way," she added. "I have not been flirting with Sam. We're just friends. I'm not even that tight with him. And FYI, if what I'm doing is flirting then you're practically throwing yourself at him."

Steve backed up, slightly flustered, before shaking his head. "No, don't change the subject. What happened to you trying to make it work with James, huh? Are you really going to do Bucky like that?"

"I'm not doing anything," she said again since clearly he was too far up his own ass with feelings for Sam to get that.

"It doesn't look like that from where I'm standing," he countered.

She rolled her eyes, not having time for this. "Then move," she hissed before attempting to push past him. However he grabbed her by her arm. "You have ten seconds to let go of me," she warned.

He did. "If you lead him on—"

"I'm not leading James on. He knows exactly who I am. More than you do," Natasha said with a scowl.

"Whose fault is that?" Steve pointed out and she clenched her jaw. "But I didn't mean James," he said before leaving.

Natasha watched him go, brow furrowed and lips set in a slight frown. She wasn't the crying type unless there was a damn good reason. It didn't get her anywhere otherwise. But the fact that her own brother thought she would cheat on her boyfriend or lead someone else on needlessly stung. Then again, maybe she was leading them all on for not being honest with them.

Natasha scanned a rack of Homecoming dresses mindlessly as she waited for Skye to pick one out. She was currently trying on another one. The only ones that seemed possibly more bored than her were Peter, Harley and Pietro since their dads didn't let them go off with the older boys to pick out their dress clothes.

"Ah, that one's even prettier than before!" Jane exclaimed.

Natasha looked up to see Skye had emerged in a red, sleeveless, flared cocktail dress with a layer of peek-a-boo black lace at the edge of the skirt. She tilted her head in appraisal as the girl did the obligatory twirl for them all, in a much showier way than Natasha would even if she could do it on a perfect point.

"That's the one, sweetheart," Tony said with an awed and approving smile.

Natasha looked down at the specific dress that had caught her eye once again, feeling a slight twinge of jealousy that she didn't know what to do with. She wasn't sappy by default, but she wasn't against the idea of her father fawning over her the way Tony was with Skye. Sometimes being the daughter who had come along latest, and having had known her real parents, she felt like there was a small wall between them even if it was all in her mind and her dad never gave her real reason to think that.

Natasha looked back up just in time to see her father glancing away from her. She pulled out the dress she liked best so far and looked at it. It was a high collar, strapless and flared cocktail dress. The top half had black lace overlaid on a cream, satiny material. The skirt had the same cream colored satiny material overlaid by black sheer fabric.

"You'd probably look amazing in that," Tony said, startling her.

"Doesn't matter," she replied with a shrug.

"Well, if you like it you can still get it. There's a Christmas party you'll all be invited to at Stark Industries," he said breezily and she looked up at him inquisitively.

"Look, this is between you and me because he'd never admit it," Tony said, pitching his voice lower, "but I think your dad is a little bummed that he's not getting to do the whole dad thing right now."

"Dad thing?" Natasha raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, the whole 'whoa my little girl is turning into a beautiful young woman where the hell did the time go?' dad thing," he said in one long breath like it wasn't even a hassle. "I think if you try it on you won't regret it," he said with a gleam in his eyes as he passed her.

She turned her head slightly, but then looked back down at the dress. She debated with herself a few more moments before deciding there was nothing wrong with trying it on. The sooner she got over this annoying teenage girl routine she'd somehow fallen into against her will, the better anyhow.

So she went into the dressing room and did just that. She felt a small thrill as she looked herself over in the mirror. It wasn't even something she could explain. If she had to put a finger on it maybe it was the sensation of her rapidly changing world and how she was still figuring herself out, the sensation of perhaps another puzzle piece falling into place. Of course, she also thought that this puzzle piece was missing the other it clicked with because he was hundreds of miles away.

When she emerged she was greeted by gasps she hadn't been expecting. She looked around at them curiously.

"Natasha you look beautiful," Jemma said first and Jane nodded.

"You look hot," Harley supplied.

"His father's son," Tony intoned with an amused shake of his head.

"You look like someone out of a classic movie," Skye offered with a smile. "Come on, you have to twirl."

Natasha quirked her lips and then indulged them. Upon reaching front and center again she barely had time to blink before her dad's arms were wrapped around her in a warm hug.

"You're always beautiful," he said first. "I love you so much and I'm so proud of you. I'm sorry your parents…" He started, but then just let the sentence trail because he knew she knew what he meant.

She hugged him tighter and closed her eyes. At this particular moment there was no wall in her mind. He was her dad and she counted herself lucky because he loved her deeply and truly. She didn't want to take him for granted.

"I love you too, dad. Thank you," she said and hoped he knew she meant for everything, for taking her in and caring for her and putting up with her even when she was being a confused teenager, and just for always being there for her.

"James will be the luckiest guy at Homecoming," Bruce then said, pulling away and looking her over.

She blinked several times. "I don't understand."

"I'm willing to let you fly to Willowdale on Saturday under one condition," Bruce started very slowly. "Betty takes you and Betty picks you up. I know a lot of your old friends will probably want to eat or hang out afterwards, but that's the deal. You go home with Betty when it ends and stay the night there. I've already talked to her and Leonard. They'll meet you at the airport and take you back Sunday morning."

Tony came over to stand beside her dad with that same gleam in his eyes and she realized he'd been pushing her to try on the dress for this very reason. "So you think that boyfriend of yours can have a suit and tickets ready on such short notice?" He asked with a teasing smirk.

"He'd better if he knows what's good for him," Natasha replied with a thin smile of her own, usual confidence returning.

"And, hey, now you can come hang with us next week too," Skye pointed out. She would have to see if James was okay with that arrangement since she'd be there without him, but she nodded tentatively. "And while I think that's the dress, you have to at least try on one more," Skye said, nudging her.

Natasha smiled. Maybe one more wouldn't hurt. Then she would call James.

Natasha hadn't said more than a few words to Steve or him to her since their argument earlier that day. When he and the other older boys had found out that she would be going to Homecoming with James after all, he'd merely mumbled a "congratulations" and then pointedly ignored adding to any of the conversation that followed. Earlier in the day she would have gotten into another argument with him over his rude response, but now knowing how drastically her own mood had changed finally getting what she'd really wanted she restrained from doing so. It was obvious he was just as upset about something he thought he couldn't have.

At first she'd hoped that this would prove to him that she wasn't into Sam, but as the silent treatment continued awkwardly through dinner she decided it would take something else. And it wasn't just Steve. Maybe it was the rush of euphoria she still felt, but she was tired of keeping secrets. She didn't owe anyone any explanations, but she did feel like she owed it to her dad to trust him and owed it to herself to not be afraid to be all of who she was.

Natasha listened to the chatter around the table. Pietro was complaining about seventh grade math. Darcy was talking a mile a minute about something that had happened in class. Steve, Sam and Thor were talking about football practice. Skye was still convinced she would never get along with Ms. May. Clint looked like he wanted to take out his hearing aid. Loki and Wanda were discussing the progression of his lessons as well as hers. She'd given up trying to figure out what Peter and Harley were talking about. Jemma was the only other one who remained quiet. All the while her dad and Tony were very conspicuously flirting across the table amidst listening to the chatter themselves.

As they began to finish up their dinner, Tony was the first to get up with his empty plate and head for the kitchen. However he stopped and stole a kiss from Bruce. Her dad laughed and looked up at him with a slightly scrunched face.

"What was that for?"

"Just kissing the cook because that was delicious."

Natasha smiled at the pleased look that spread across her father's face. He was so happy and she couldn't help but find it strangely encouraging.

"I'm asexual," she declared evenly, mind made up at last that this was the right time.

Unsurprisingly everyone stopped and looked at her. She made it a point to see her dad's reaction first, and Tony's by proxy of his still standing beside him; both men's faces were minutely surprised. She then made it a point to look at Steve to see him practically gaping at her.

"Hey, power to you," Skye said first, unfazed as she often was. "I follow this really awesome ace Tumblr you should follow."

"I thought only plants and insects could be asexual," Peter said, scrunching his face in confusion.

"Uh…" Bruce started and she turned to see him glance up at Tony and then back at Peter. "No. It's… You know how I like men?" Peter nodded.

"And you know how I like men and women?" Tony piggybacked on that. Natasha looked at the younger kids to see them nod.

"It's like that," Bruce said. "Only…" He gestured to her. "Would you care to explain it, Tasha?"

She nodded. "Most of the time I don't like either men or women like that. I like them as friends and even then I appreciate certain boundaries. But I'm okay not dating or kissing or—"

Bruce shook his head.

"Yeah, I think they've got the point," Tony told her with a laugh.

"But you have a boyfriend," Jemma innocently pointed out. "You kiss him."

Natasha smiled. "I do, but only because he's unique. I'm attracted to him in a way I'm not to other people." She looked at Steve and his face fell in understanding. "I know it doesn't make sense to a lot of people and some people probably wouldn't believe me…" She let her sentence trail momentarily and glanced at her father to see his brow creased. "But that doesn't mean it's not true. I work a little differently than other people, but I'm still me. Just like dad would still be dad if he wanted to date women instead."

"I'm selfishly glad that he doesn't," Tony inserted.

"James is aware?" Bruce asked her. She nodded. "And he treats you… That is, he respects your boundaries and doesn't push?"

"He hasn't so far," she answered.

"Alright, well, I trust you," he said then and one corner of her lips turned up in a half smile. "I just want you to be safe. I also wish you would have told me sooner so I could have supported you, but I understand this kind of thing can be confusing. I definitely understand. Thank you for sharing now," he said in a reassuring tone. "Since this might be a bit of a learning curve, you just tell me if something makes you feel uncomfortable, okay?"

She grinned more broadly and shook her head. "Okay, but it's been fine so far for the most part. Maybe now it'll clear up some things." Natasha stood to her feet with her empty plate and Steve followed suit.

"I'm sorry," he said as he passed her toward the kitchen.

"I am too," she said in return. "We were both being a little unreasonable."

"I'm starting to think I know less about my kids than I do these cars of yours," Bruce said with a sigh as he watched Tony fiddle under the hood of one.

The billionaire wasn't able to sleep, - Bruce wondered if it had anything to do with the situation with Ross that had come to light - so he had decided to keep him company for a while. He was a little on edge about his parenting skills at the moment anyhow and sleeping in an empty bed didn't seem ideal even if he'd done it for so long. Of course, the very basal part of him also just liked having an excuse to watch Tony work in loose fitting jeans and a beater. The oil smudges were also surprisingly doing things to him.

"You're not a bad dad, Bruce," Tony said as he moved over to grab a different tool. He turned then and looked at him. "It's like Natasha said. It's one of those things that still doesn't make sense to a lot of people. I mean, there are still people who don't understand what you and I are fully, but they at least understand sex and get that people like us are still sexually driven regardless of our preferences. Most people can't imagine how anyone would not be an inherently sexual being, you know? I can't say I even do if I'm being honest. Not to say I don't believe her or think she's broken so don't freak out on me," he gabbled and Bruce thought he saw something hiding behind his eyes.

"I know what you're trying to say," Bruce reassured him. "I can go long…" He paused and laughed, looking down at the floor. "Well, okay, I used to be able to go long periods without sex because it was a fairly controllable urge for me and the idea of the casual partner thing just didn't do much for me, but I still knew I was sexually attracted to other males and sometimes I wanted to act on it even if I didn't."

When Bruce looked up again Tony looked like he had gone somewhere a million miles away. It worried him. "Tony?" He prompted.

Tony blinked and then shook his head. "Sorry. I was just…" He sighed. "I was thinking about all of the times people probably thought they had a right to hurt you just because."

Bruce hung his head. "It's not important anymore."

Suddenly Tony was in front of him, lifting his head gently by the chin. "It's important to me. You are so amazing and smart and kind and handsome and just damn beautiful all around, Bruce. And the fact that there have been people who couldn't see that because all they could see was who you feel inclined to love… It makes me angry. You deserve the whole fucking world, babe. I mean that."

Bruce smiled. He could say thank you or he could confirm Tony's suspicions with the horrible things he'd endured, even in his adult life. He could especially fuel Tony's anger against General Ross, but he wouldn't. Tony didn't need any of that and simply knowing Tony was willing to be angry on his behalf was enough.

"I don't need the world, Tony," he said earnestly. "I'm good with what I've got."