When Agent Arielle Anson gets a new gig with Nick Fury and the Avengers, she's in for something much bigger than she could've ever dreamed of-quite literally. Her brains have gotten her this far, along with her kick ass punches. Arielle is the under...
I blink my tired eyes rapidly as I finish reading over the last page of only my half way point in the binder, placing a hand on my aching forehead to rest my head on. So far I've read everything there is to know about Stark, Romanoff, Barton, Thor, and I'm towards the end of Steve Rogers. I've hardly begun to read all about Dr. Banner. I think that's the most reading I've ever done in one sitting. It feels like my head is going to explode with too much information.
I look up at the clock on the wall to see that it's been hours. Six to be exact. I began around noon and it's now six in the evening. I know everything there is to know about this case:
Viola.
The evil, mind-controlling, powerful, radioactive queen of all experiment-gone-wrong stories. I wonder if this hits home at all with Dr. Banner, considering his condition is from a gamma radiation incident?
Viola is a twenty-something, stunning, mind-controlling manipulator. She has the power to control thoughts, visibility, and she can pass on visions—things she wants you to see; the future. Or sometimes, a fake future. However, she uses all of this to do bad—to have power over everyone. She's left strings of bank robberies, murders, and destruction all in between. She's a huge problem and one that needs to be solved. She's extremely powerful, and that's why Fury's called in the big guns. Her powers have wiped out almost every S.H.I.E.L.D squad Fury has sent after her. She's destroyed ships, aircrafts, and she can move things simply with her mind—it's unreal. Up until now, I've only dealt with human criminals. My job has been pretty semi-normal. Now, I'm onto superhuman enemies. This will be a first for me.
And my position in all of this? Fury needs an extra set of fists on the field, along with my PhD in Radiation Therapy and Biochemical Engineering. Despite my young age of 25, I attended a collegiate high school from 15 years old until 18, and then grad school until the ripe age of 23. I've always been ahead. Dr. Banner and I actually have some things in common. I could be of use to him, I'd what I'm assuming Fury's thought process is. However, if we're gonna be going up against someone as strong as Viola, I'm a bit dry on my physical training. I'll need to improve on that for sure, which was listed as a required activity of my every day routine as an agent here.
I let out a deep sigh as I begin to rub my eyes, the lighting inside of the lab is a bit more dim since the sky is darkening for the evening, and the yellow evening lights light up cozily. I look over at the microscope that sits beside my table, and I begin to examine it. My curiosity defeats my tiredness, per usual.
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A few minutes pass and I become a bit distracted by Bruce's file as I dive deeper into it. I read all about his accident, how it went wrong and why he survived. I read about the nuclear energy that fused with something inside of him that his father caused while experimenting on him as a child. My chest aches at the thought. I notice there's an whopping 3-4 pages dedicated solely to Bruce's birth father, David Banner, and the timeline of their relationship as well as David Banner's whereabouts. It made me think of my father, while no longer among the living, I realize how lucky I am to have had the relationship with him that I did. My mind begins to wander, and I drift into thinking about my own life—why I'm here. I hear the sounds from that day—crashing, screaming, gunshots. I remember smelling the dust in the air. I focus on the smell, in disbelief that I can still conjure it somehow.
Suddenly—I'm thrown out of my concentrated daze of focus as the door to the lab hisses as it opens up, and someone calmly walks in. I jump slightly at their sudden presence, and I gasp with surprise—seeing Bruce Banner—in the flesh—standing right in front of me, confusion plastered over his oh-so-handsome face. I take a deep breath and quickly stand up as I try my very best to be polite and professional. It feels like I'm standing in front of an extremely important political figure, or a celebrity. I'm terrified—Fury couldn't have briefed me for this.
I bite my lip as he gives me a warm smile, tilting his head with question. "Uhm—..." He starts, trying to begin a confusing conversation. Did Fury not tell him about his new lab partner?
"Hi—uh, Dr. Banner. I'm—my name is Arielle Anson—uh, Agent Anson...and also Doctor." I stutter nervously as my entire body stiffens up, my posture frozen as I take a deep breath in and hold it. Why am I such an awkward piece of potato? And also doctor. Really Arielle? You really sold that one.
His expression quickly changes from confusion to realization as he seemingly recognizes my name. "Oh—yes, my new lab partner, am I right?" He asks, smiling once more as he turns away from me. He walks over to the other table that sits across the room.
Damn, yes—lab partner. That's exactly what I was thinking?
"Yes." I say, smiling widely as I'm pleased with his response. He seems friendly.
"Fury informed me of your arrival. I assume you read all of the information and the case file itself?" He asks, showing me immediately that he expects a lot out of me. I swallow thickly, nodding as I continue to stand, the both of us staring at each other from across the room. I notice his gentle eyes sneakily looking me up and down, his head tilted as if he's trying to read me or figure me out. He slips his hands into his pockets before pausing a moment, just looking at me and waiting for me to speak. I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach. Of course he's handsome and clean and attractive but I'm so intrigued—with his other side. I'm curious of him.
I notice I'm pausing a bit too long so I quickly speak up. "Yes—yes I read the file. I'm completely up-to-date." I lie. He nods pleasingly as I say this and he smiles at me again.
"I'm glad to have you on board, Agent Anson—especially a woman's set of eyes will be quite nice. Anything's better than the constant annoyance of Stark coming in here critiquing all of my research." He chuckles, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. I crack a smile, laughing along with him.
"Well I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn—and to help, of course. I'm ready." I say, nodding as my demeanor becomes a bit more relaxed while I finally become more comfortable with him. I exhale deeply as if I'd been holding my breath for an eternity. I sit back down at my desk. He presses his lips together as he nods, turning his back to me to open up a drawer filled with packets and vanilla folders.
"I assume that also means you...read the file on myself, correct?" He questions, his back still turned toward me.
"Yes." I say in a softer tone. You mean the fact that when your heart rate is raised or you become angry you turn into a giant green hulk? Yep. I definitely noted that part.
"Well, I'll go ahead and address the elephant in the room." He starts, taking a deep breath as he turns around to face me again after closing the drawer. He slowly begins to walk toward me as he speaks. I hold eye contact.
"I don't want you to be afraid of me. Feel free to argue if you don't, uh...agree with research or prove me wrong if you think you've found something better. We won't have a problem with...the other guy as long as we're in here. I mean, anything can happen but—." He continues, his footsteps coming to a halt as he stops right in front of me, looking down at me. He stares at me, pausing for a moment as if he's trying to read what I'm thinking. Is he trying to intimidate me or is he...hitting on me or something? He hands me the packets and vanilla folders from his drawer, all titled on the covers with variations of Viola research from our case.
"I'll try to control it as best I can." He finishes, giving me a bit of a sarcastic smile as I grab the research from him. I take another deep breath nervously, holding it in as my chest rises.
"I'm not worried." I lie, pressing my lips together as I smile in return. He nods, backing away from me and walking over toward the door.
"I'll see you bright and early then?" He asks, pressing the button to open the door. He looks over at me one last time, waiting for my response.
I smile, giving him a quick nod. "Yes, of course. Bright and early." I reply.
He nods, swallowing thickly as he starts to see himself out. I remember him coming in here, appearing surprised at my presence.
"Wait!" I call after him. He stops, turning back to look at me.
"Was that it?" I ask.
He furrows his brows, titling his head. "Was what it?" He asks.
"Well—you seemed surprised that I was in here when you came in. Did you need something else? If you need to work in here alone tonight I can go ahead and head back to my room. It's late, anyways." I insist. He quickly begins to smile, his warm eyes looking away from me as he lets out a small laugh.
"No, no worries you're fine being right here. I came to look for those files I just gave to you, I planned on hand-delivering them to you, or leaving them at your door." He assures me.
"You sure?" I ask once more.
"One-hundred percent." He smiles again, giving me butterflies. Uh oh. I pause, smiling in return as I slowly begin to nod.
"Goodnight, Dr. Anson." He half smiles, shoving his hands in his pockets as the door hisses open again.
I smile at him nervously, air being held in my chest again.
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He turns, and walks out. I exhale with the longest sigh of relief.
![Being a Banner [ 1 of JA ] by kerrywritesbooks](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/29624135-80-k968831.jpg)
