AN: I loved the Avengers when I saw it in theaters. I've always loved the comics growing up and was so excited to hear that they were making a movie! Excuse my fan-girling, but I loved the cast and the character of Bruce Banner popped out at me more vividly then the other characters did. This will be a Bruce Banner/OC story, but a darker, twisted version that I envisioned because of the demons that plague him. I won't write a thesis here, but just giving you an idea for the background of the story. Hope you enjoy!

I don't own any of the Avengers, I only own my OC and the italicized quote below.

A blackened heart isn't a lonely heart,

It has shadows to keep it company.

It beats and bleeds as a heart should,

But once you hear the hollow sound,

It'll never leave you…

Months had passed since the Chitauri incident. New York was still trying to pick itself up from the tragedy that shook the world, and everyone had the same thought in their minds: When would it happen again? The thought of super-powered beings scared them, people have a hard time accepting what they don't know. They were grateful, but still frightened of the heroes. A press conference was held, assuring the people of New York that everything would be fine…

But would it be okay?

Tony Stark (Iron Man) stood looking out his window, he had a great view of New York. He watched the road crews clean up the streets, and sighed heavily. Bruce had agreed to stay in Stark towers and continue his research in a separate lab, but he was still worried. Everyone came to accept the heroes, but were still reluctant of the Hulk. Physically he was the strongest of the Avengers, emotionally however, not so much.

Pepper interrupted his thoughts as she came clacking behind him "Nick Fury has been trying to get a hold of you-"

Tony replied with a small smirk "I know, and I have been deliberately avoiding his calls because I am really not in a mood to deal with his impending doom attitude."

Pepper rolled her eyes and remarked "You know, if you don't answer, he'll just show up here."

Tony turned around and said with another smirk "Jarvis will alert me, then I can make a bee-line for the closest exit-"

Pepper interrupted "Leaving me with his impending doom attitude."

He nodded "Exactly!"

She gave another eye roll and continued to debrief him on his day "Also, Rhodey wants you to do a another demo or two for the Air Force, new recruits and all. You have a press conference at 3, hopefully you got that memo. And last but not least, a photo shoot with Forbes magazine followed by an interview."

Stark drummed his fingers against his arc reactor and finally replied "No."

Pepper stood with her mouth slightly agape, she wasn't surprised but she continued "What do you mean, no?"

He shrugged and before he could reply another voice sounded "Because, Stark has other matters to attend to…"

Both Pepper and Tony turned to face Nick Fury, and he didn't look pleased at all.

Tony said with a puzzled look "And how the hell did you get in here without Jarvis noticing?"

The A.I. responded " I do apologize sir, but he did indeed get passed me. Won't happen again."

Tony shook his head "Doesn't matter, what does matter is why you are frowning. I mean, you never look happy but-"

Fury bit out "Save it Stark, this is important and I need the Avengers to assemble. Where's Banner?"

Jarvis cut in "Laboratory 13, shall I call him up?"

Tony replied "Yes, thank you Jarvis. Pepper, cancel or move all my appointments. I have a feeling this is going to be awhile…"

Pepper nodded, and quickly rushed out of his lab to reschedule his appointments. Tony turned towards the computer to pin-point the rest of the Avenger's locations.

He mumbled to himself mostly "Alright, Steve Rogers is in…Memphis. Natasha and Hawkeye are back at Shield, and Thor…hmmm, interesting."

Fury questioned "What is it?"

Tony replied with a puzzled expression "I am not getting a reading on him. He must've gone back to Asgard to guard his brother. I thought he had stayed here with Jane?"

Fury growled "Apparently not, now how are we supposed to get a hold of him?"

Stark replied with a chuckle "You could try shouting at the sky."

Fury turned to face him and replied darkly "You can do a rain dance, shout at the sky, I don't care. Get in contact with Thor, see if you can ask Selvig or Jane if they can possibly reach him. I doubt it but we have no other options."

As Fury walked out of the lab Stark shook his head and commented quietly "Why is it always 'no other options' with this guy?"

AN: Review or subscribe please!