.17 | point break

Merida swung her legs back and forth on the small metal table in the medical wing, her hands lightly gripped the cold steel, her eyes watching the man named Bruce Banner, otherwise known as the Hulk, look over her chart with a careful and considerate nature. He looked like an average man that you would see on the street with a family, tussled dark hair, a prominent face with glasses.

He wore a white lab coat over a checkered blue button down with a pair of slacks and shoes. His hair was messy, but somehow worked for him, though if he was the scientist that Steve said he was...he was definitely looking the part of it. He had a serene and gentle sense to him, his aura was swimming around with an inquisitive green nature, much like a child on Christmas.

It made sense though because at the moment he was reading her chart and the phenomenon of her mutant gene.

Though knowing who Bruce Banner was after Steve explained to Merida Bruce's other identity, it took a few moments to adjust being in his presence. Knowing the man could turn into a raging green Hulk any moment wasn't all that unsettling, she didn't miss the likeness of the two being same but different.

He knew what it was like to turn into a monster. And that made Merida less apprehensive as she walked into the medical lab that day.

Steve had asked if Bruce could look her over, to check her vitals and make sure she was in otherwise good health. She agreed reluctantly but only because her last time waking up in headquarters she had been sedated and the S.H.I.E.L.D. doctors were poking and prodding her in a very maligned way.

The thought of waking up in that lab, without seeing Steve, cold and alone had made her skin breakout in goosebumps, an involuntary shiver escaping her as Steve furrowed his brows in mild concern.

However, upon meeting Bruce, and sitting in the lab with him, Tony and Steve for half an hour or so going over her medical history and mutant gene, she had no problem offering her arm to the man when he hesitantly asked for a sample of her blood once he got done going over her chart with them.

Tony was in a black shirt with a band on it that she didn't know and a pair of dark black pants with Converse that looked like they had grease stains on them. Steve was in a button down dark blue shirt and a pair of jeans. He smelled like apple pie and blueberries. She watched his aura bounce around, cautious and warm as Bruce went down her chart with her and asked her question after question.

She didn't mind though, if anything, here she felt safe.

At ease.

Though a little overwhelmed at the generosity at times, Merida felt this space was nothing like the one she had encountered in Chicago.

They had discussed her history, briefly glossing over the morbid details, but Merida managed to get out as much as she could. He had inspected her in a gentle and delicate way, not once asking her to put on a hospital gown and for that she was very grateful. She didn't want to feel like she was in another hospital. She was allowed to keep her clothes from yesterday on and Bruce worked around it.

He had checked her vitals and carefully made sure everything was in healthy working order, or as good as it was going to get considering her previous living arrangements and treatment.

He didn't mention her small size, the cheekbones that showed signs of undernourishment, or her harrowed chocolate brown eyes that grew dark upon mentioning her daily meal intake at the circus and when traveling with Killian.

She could see Steve's aura flicker a color of dark gray, a small blip of seething anger at Killian seeping through his normally calm exterior.

Tony's aura flashed a blip of black, palpable anger growing under the surface of his normally cocky demeanor.

She knew everyone in the room could see the signs of neglect, the scars that adorned her wrists that Bruce glanced at. He met her eyes hesitantly as she looked at all the men in the room and flipped them over quickly before adding aloud,

"My healing capabilities are present when I'm human as well," She looked away, still uncomfortable talking about her attempt to end her life long ago.

Steve and Tony shared a silent look before Bruce nodded respectively at her words, careful not to prod her for anymore information on the sensitive subject.

"How are you after shifting?" He asked, eyeing her over with mild concern.

"Sometimes I get sick, if I've-uhm," She swallowed and looked down at her dangling legs with shame flaming her cheeks, "If I've digested part of someone, bit someone..I can get violently ill once I'm back to being a human,"

Everyone in the room grew quiet.

Tony faltering lightly with the chip he was about to pop in his mouth. Steve continued to give her reassuring nods the whole time, a silent gesture that she was in good hands.

She believed him.

Bruce fixed his glasses and smiled encouragingly, "I want you to know that there isn't a single person in this room that will judge you," He paused, and added, "We've all done things we aren't proud of,"
He was earnest and Merida nodded solemnly at the scientist.

"How are your energy levels?" Bruce pressed inquisitively.

"I think they could be better. I get tired easily if I'm shifting back and forth quickly," Merida admitted as she took into account her small size and malnourished body.

"And your healing as the tiger?" He asked as a follow up.

"I'm not sure the extent of the healing powers, but I can heal pretty quickly. I was, uhm, shot when Steve and the others tried to get Killian, but somehow I'm able to heal more quickly when I'm the tiger," She added quietly, nervously fidgeting with her hands.

Bruce nodded and furrowed his bushy brows lightly as he peered at her chart, "Your muta-uhm, gifts, have evolved with you, is what Steve was saying, right?"

Both Merida and Steve nodded in unison as Tony walked closer to her, peering at her as if she were both a person and a mystery wrapped in one.

"I've grown stronger over time, I suppose," She added humbly with a grim gaze, knowing full well where that strength came from...how the tiger over time evolved with the abuse from Killian, protecting her and her spirit.

"They mentioned at Chicago that her gene adapted, but I think it's more than that.." Steve crossed his arms against his chest as he looked at Merida with silent hypothesis running through his mind.

"Yeah? And what do you figure, Capsicle?" Tony finally remarked as he looked at Steve with an awaiting gaze.

Steve ignored the nickname and continued, "I told them back in Chicago that I thought she coexisted with the tiger," He gazed at Merida, ignoring the other two in the room she could see the intensity in his gaze, "I think the tiger is your spirit, it's somehow an extension of you. Your protector, the inner you becoming stronger over time,"

He fumbled with his words, speaking them slowly, but keeping her gaze as Merida widened her own brown eyes in recognition of what he was saying. The tiger in her stirred, as if stretching and waking up upon hearing Steve's words.

She felt the odd pull to Steve rise again, but she quickly pushed it away as Bruce spoke.

"Interesting," Bruce murmured making a note on his clipboard.

"When you shift back...do your clothes stay in tact?" Bruce then asked as Merida's cheeks burned a thousand shades of red.

She laughed lightly at the curiosity that laced the scientists eyes. Steve bit back an amused smile at his gentle, yet curious question as well.

"Yes, Mr. Banner, they stay in tact. Thank goodness for that.."

Tony smirked and gave Steve a side eye just as the first Avenger looked down at the floor with a hint of red on his own cheeks. Tony was quiet for once, the only thing coming from him was the munching of chips that Merida could smell, the salt making her mouth water again.

"Sorry, just curious how your gifts work," Bruce mumbled as he pushed his glasses up his nose. Tony gave Bruce a small smirk knowing that the scientist in him couldn't resist asking.

"She's not a werewolf, Banner.." Tony mused as Merida couldn't help but giggle, a light-hearted lovely sound that caught Steve off guard but was definitely welcomed.

"Steve mentioned you can understand people when you're in the tiger form?" Bruce continued sheepishly as Steve nodded lightly.

Merida nodded, "I can, but there are times I blank out and the tiger completely takes over. It's almost out of my control, but for the most part I can understand and hear just as I can as human me right now,"

"So cool," Tony remarked with a touch of envy as Steve made a face at him.

Merida's cheeks burned at the tone of his voice, the compliment in them was something she was not used to. She had been so used to being the freak, the beast...it was odd seeing people look at her as if she were....interesting....cool even.

"I don't know if it helps, but I can always feel it in me, the tiger. It pushes and pulls, stirs even, like moments ago when Steve was speaking it's like the tiger woke up..I can feel her.."

It was also the first time that Merida had acknowledged the tiger as a her and the beast within stirred happily, as it were happy to finally be acknowledged as such a powerful feminine force.

"Her?" Bruce asked with a perplexed wide eye stare as Steve smiled gently.

Merida blushed, "It's definitely a female tiger,"

Tony eating another bag of chips again who silently offered her a bite as he leaned casually against the metal table she sat atop. She took one from his stash, eating it daintily as he flashed her a cheeky smile, "Thank you, Mr. Stark,"

"Please, call me Tony. You turned into a really big, awesome and cool tiger in front of me...I think we're beyond formalities," Tony smirked at her, popping another chip in his mouth with a devil may care aura.

Steve smiled coyly at Merida from across the room, leaning in a relaxed manner against the adjacent medical table from her. Merida silently offered her arm to Bruce as he prepared his medical supplies for taking her blood sample, taking careful care in the way he wrapped the latex strap around her upper arm, his eyes squinting as he pressed on her inner arm, feeling for a vein.

When he met her eyes she smiled lightly, "I was just thinking this is much more welcoming than Chicago headquarters,"

Steve frowned lightly, a reminiscent gaze crossing his features as they both took a trip down memory lane at the not so welcoming wake up she had endured.

"Ah, well, Chicago people don't always have the best manners," Bruce murmured with a bashful smile as he lightly thumped her veins, waking them up and getting them to come to the service.

"Have you told her about the banquet?" Tony asked Steve aloud with a cocky smile forming on his lips.

"Banquet?" Merida repeated the word aloud and looked at Steve curiously as Bruce silently started drawing her blood, feeling the pinch but not flinching.

"Uh, no, not yet. I-uh, hadn't gotten around to asking her yet," Steve looked a little embarrassed as Tony put him on the spot. "I didn't know if she would feel up to go," He added with reddened cheeks.

"Sure she will," Tony quipped as he turned to her, "There's a banquet tomorrow night for a bunch of schmooze-y elites in the city that the Stark Foundation hosts each year. Boring conversations, but the food is delectable." Tony was so quick to speak, she had a feeling she would have to work to keep up with his quick fire nature.

She smiled lightly.

"I just go for the free cocktails, but don't tell anyone that," He added as if he were leaning in to whisper to her and only her.

Merida smiled slowly, "I've never been to a banquet before,"

"Great, then it's settled!" Tony added with a nod.

"Only if you want to," Steve added, giving Tony a hardened gaze.

"Are you going?" Merida asked Steve.

The room got quiet.

Steve shrugged lightly, a sheepish smile forming on his face, "I was planning on it,"

"Of course he's going, everyone wants to oggle Boy Wonder," Tony remarked as Steve rolled his eyes.

Merida answered before her mind was fully made up, her mouth moving quicker than anticipated, "Then I'll attend as well, if that's okay.."

Tony looked delighted, "I'll have Pepper find you something to wear," He was already taking out his phone with his free hand, speed texting. Steve gauged Merida's reaction, trying to silently tell her from across the room she didn't have to go if she didn't feel up for it.

She nodded encouragingly at him as he added kindly, "I just didn't know if you were going to feel up for it, is all."

Merida appreciated his concern, she could see it in his aura...and those eyes. The eyes of honesty and truth, "It would be nice to feel...normal for a night." Her words were a loud whisper and even Steve saw the silent yearning for a night of normalcy, to feel something other than pain and shadows from the past.

"Normal is overrated kiddo, trust me." Tony remarked as he put his phone back in his pocket.

Bruce cut in gently.

"I'd like to make sure we get you on a better, uh, eating regimen and definitely up the water. Staying hydrated and getting adequate nutrition will be key in your energy levels," He spoke to her only with a gentleness of someone that cared and it made her insides swirl around from the foreign kindness she was receiving from everyone that barely even knew her.

"I have a feeling it'll help amplify your gifts and your adrenaline won't peak as quickly with the proper nutrition," Bruce added as he saw the question forming in her eyes.

When Tony looked at his chips and then at Merida as she sat still while her blood was almost done being drawn,

Steve shook his head, "She can't live off chips, Stark."

Tony smirked, sniffed and proceeded to keep eating his chips, only pausing to look at both Bruce and Steve, "You think in full tiger form she can take on Point Break?"

There was a look of excitement to Tony's espresso brown eyes and Merida found herself enamored with the playboy billionaire's eccentric nature, despite Steve's eye rolls at the genius.

She had a feeling that Francesca would have loved to interact with Tony. She could see Francesca's smile now, feel her warmth and all her magic. Tony would have been smitten with the Oracle too.

As Bruce steadied her arm and finished drawing multiple vials of blood, he replaced the needle with a cotton ball quickly and moved her left hand to hold it quickly as he worked to get a bandage ready to tape against it. She held it as he got the white bandage ready, moving her fingers quickly as he taped it to her arm.

"You'll only need this on for a few minutes or so, the tape can get itchy," Bruce noted as she felt the tape for a minute and then looked up at Tony, before eyeing Steve who returned to a vigil stare, making sure she was okay throughout the whole process.

"Hopefully the experience was better than Chicago," Bruce added with a smile that reached his eyes. She nodded, "Much better,"

Bruce seemed pleased and swirled around to the other side of the room, putting the vials in their places and making notes on a file.

"What is a Point Break?" Merida asked them all innocently, her brown eyes wandering between each of them, awaiting an answer.

In that same moment an onslaught of foreign energy sent Merida's insides quivering, it rippled and vibrated throughout her entire body.

The beast within stirred defensively, on edge, pacing under her veins as adrenaline raced through her body, anticipating something to happen. Even her mutant counterpart could feel the shift of energy.

Bruce paused and each of the men in the room looked around, feeling the subtle shift in the energy as well, something palpable, but visible.

Everything that happened next was so quick it was almost like a blink, a blip of time, but for those in the room it was as if it was happening in slow motion, freeze frame by freeze frame.

The energy from the beam of light that came into the room activated the tiger within her.

As a bright light opened above them all, Merida's eyes turned a deep shade of fiery gold, her hands gripping the metal table so harshly that it bent beneath her powerful grip. As the radiant light sent a ripple of energy through her entire being, a large and very encompassing figure stepped out of the bright, blinding light...

Too close to Steve.

She didn't know who this was, who the person near Steve could be, but her tiger instincts and protective nature completely overruled the nimble and soft girl that was Merida. Steve went from looking at the beam of light, to the person who stepped out from the Bifrost, and then to Merida with a sense of dread.

The towering and Herculean person that stepped out of the Bifrost didn't get a chance to speak as the tiger erupted from her being, shedding her human skin for the protective beast within. She ignited and shifted terribly and both beautifully as everything happened too fast for words to warn her, for anyone to tell her that the person in the room was a friend, not an enemy.

Steve's voice died in his throat, he hadn't been quick enough. Neither had Bruce or Tony.

Merida's mighty roar sent a ripple affect through the room, pushing a gust of amplified energy toward the brawny being as she careened through the air, her thunderous paws having already pushed off the floor, the medical table flew backwards. She was now springing off the floor, flying into the being who had stepped from the light, too close to Steve.

Protect. Shield.

It was all she could think.

All the men in the room could feel the energy from her roar, Bruce was so stunned his mouth agape.

She crashed with a deafening thud into the being who the Avengers knew so well. Her mutant prowess sent the God askew, not expecting to be jumped by a mighty and raging tiger who was now settled angrily upon his chest, his back to the floor as his right hand gripped a mighty and heavy looking hammer, though she didn't know it was Mjolnir he was holding with an offensive gleam to his eyes.

He glowed a threateningly blue-light color as a flow of electricity rippled through his being, sending Merida to snarl at the powerful force before her.

Her claws were extended upon the padded and heavily armored outfit, her eyes taking in the golden blonde locks, the red cap that lay beneath him, slightly ruffled and askew from being toppled to the floor. Her teeth were mashed into a gnarly snarl, her incisors gleaming with a threat to not move.

She leaned in close as the man before her started to radiate an electrifying energy, but all she could think was to protect Steve...his entrance was unannounced and had spooked the tiger within.

"Stark, why is there an abnormally large tiger in the tower?"

Merida felt the beast shift as the man before her, though powerful and wielding mighty power, remained stoic and poised, despite having her claws and teeth inches away from his carotid artery. She was panting, heaving her large chest cavity up and down as her tower like structure and mutant size made the man before her widen his eyes in slight surprise.

"Merida," Steve's tender voice gave her pause.

It was soft, calm, not defensive.

Was this man not a threat?

She looked at Steve with her maw hanging open lightly, the muscles in her beastly form only loosening a fraction as Steve took a small step forward, both hands out, palms facing her to show her his submission and peace,

"Merida, it's okay..he's with us. He's not going to hurt us..."

Merida looked back down at the man as his eyes returned to a normal blue hue, not as gentle and forgiving as Steve's, but definitely blue, more human.

They were thunderous blue.

She backed off him quickly, the man's hammer looking weapon lowering slightly as the electricity in his veins calmed, making her feel less on edge by the second.

"Impeccable timing," Tony remarked with an exhilarated glint to his dark eyes.

Her eyes swiveled to Tony who was eating his chips with a brightened and excited look to his face, calm as a cucumber despite the fact that Merida had nearly ripped her claws into the man.

He popped a chip in his mouth and looked bemused at Merida before looking at the man on the floor who was getting up and wiping his armor and outfit off, his long blonde locks trailing behind him as he swept some back with a grunt.

When he took note of the girl, who had just been a tiger, even the God paused.

"By Odin's beard....she is like Aurgelmir," He was speechless.

"Merida, meet Point Break, or better known as Thor, our resident God of Thunder," Tony remarked as Merida cowered back,her ears flattened not in defense, but in shame as she had nearly hurt a member of their team.

God of Thunder?

An Avenger.

Oh Gods. This was embarrassing.

Horrifying!

Bruce was looking between Steve and Merida, his eyes quizzically going over the interaction between the two, replaying the events and how her mutant abilities were amplified and activated by the magic of the Bifrost...and the strange overprotective nature she had with Steve.

None of it was lost to Bruce who was studying the scene as it played out like an experiment.

Steve was breathing heavily, but he could already tell the situation was calming second by second. He was gazing at Merida softly, gently even as he nodded his head,

"It's okay,"

She violently shifted back, her human form swaying slightly, but Steve had already crossed the room, grabbing her quickly before Tony could reach her. She leaned into him for support, the need for food or anything right now growing. She did need to start eating better so she could muster more energy for these shifts.

Her eyes sought the God called Thor and she bowed her head slightly in shame, embarrassment and horror laced her features at what she had just done.

"I'm sorry, so-so, sorry, I didn't mean-" Merida stumbled as she crossed her arms, collapsing in on herself as her head bowed, tears threatening to spill over the surface.

She could barely face the burly Avenger.

"It's quite alright, it's not every day I meet a powerful woman such as yourself," Thor stepped up, assessing the meek and fragile girl in her human form, feeling her power despite her small stature.

He was enthralled by her.

Woman.

It was odd to be so revered like that, not really believing it, but nonetheless trying to acclimate to their kindness and generosity. She supposed she didn't much feel like a woman in the past, nor a lady...just a beast.

Always a beast...or a freak with Killian.

Merida pushed this away hurriedly.

She swallowed thickly and looked up at the large and towering man who was standing with a very benign nature, his smile growing as he gazed at her quizzically and curiously.

A newfound warmth radiated from him in that moment as he stepped up to offer an introduction making her feel only slightly better about the situation, "Thor, son of Odin, Defender of the Nine Realms and Prince of Asgard,"

All of what he said was foreign to her, but she did know he was powerful. She could feel his energy and his aura billowing proudly.

She inspected his large hand as he held it out to her, a peace offering and a way to break the tension. The others in the room fell silent as she offered her hand, shaking his and feeling his power radiating through him, "Merida Reid, I'm-I'm a mutant,"

A streak of something flashed in her heart, maybe it was akin to growing acceptance at who and what she was. It was the first time the word didn't taste much like battery acid on her tongue.

"An alpha-level mutant," Tony added on her behalf with a prideful smile.

Thor stepped back and looked at the men in the room, nodding towards Merida with a respectable gleam to his electric blue eyes, "I like this one,"

He smiled widely.

Tony smirked.

Steve couldn't resist the small smile that escaped his lips as well.

"See? That's what I said too," Tony exclaimed, smirking at everyone.

Merida looked around at the camaraderie between the men, her eyes gazing at Steve as his aura tempered to a more soft and peaceful glow. When he looked down at her, she softened, the shame she felt moments ago subsiding into something more comfortable and soothing.

Silently, she could feel his energy soothing her, somehow calming her without even realizing what he was doing, lettering know that she was okay and so was he.

Bruce watched the exchange, as did Thor.

Merida could feel the ancient energy from the God-like man before her and for some reason she could feel something similar around Steve, not as ancient as the God, but common ground she supposed. They were both warriors, both fighters, and yet she got a sense that both their souls were tired. She didn't know where that feeling had come from, but she felt it, something in her gut she supposed.

She was definitely growing into her intuitiveness.

Thor shared a look with Steve and gave him a peculiar coy grin, "This one is protective of you, Rogers,"

They shared a silent look, everyone in the room clearing their throats oddly as Steve shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at his shoes sheepishly. Merida felt her skin prickle and her cheeks heat up. She cleared her throat as an instinctive response as well, not daring to look at Steve again until her cheeks simmered down with the heat.

Thor beamed, "You humans are so adorable,"

Bruce cleared his throat, noting Merida's growing redness, "Uhm, that's really all I needed today. Thank you for letting me check you over, Merida. I can have the sample results later tonight and we can go over a good nutrition plan and start monitoring your energy levels and how you perform in both human and, uhm, tiger form,"

Merida smiled and nodded, grateful for the interruption from Bruce.

"Ah, Banner! How long has it been, friend?" Thor asked, clapping the scientist on the back as Bruce grunted, his glasses getting knocked askew.

"Not long enough," Bruce muttered as Thor smirked.

There was a moment of silence as Thor looked at Stark, then at Steve and shrugged, "So, which of you is going to fill me on what happened here on Midgard while I was absent?"

Steve scratched the back of his head and nodded towards the doorway of the medical field, "It's kind of a long story," Merida looked between them as Thor made his way to the doorway, as if beckoning for Steve and Merida to follow, "I have nowhere I need to be. All is well within the realms, though I could really use a pop-tart,"

Merida smiled and took the initiative to step forward slightly, "It's a long story, but we can fill you in. I'd like a pop-tart too," She smiled, anything to get out of the room, it was getting slightly suffocating with all of them in there and she was beginning to grow hungry.

Thor beamed, "I knew I liked this one. Come Lady Reid, let us go commandeer some pop-tarts from the break room."

Merida looked up at Steve and he smiled smoothly, not able to resist her urging as she nodded towards the door for him to follow with her.

"Thank you Mr. Banner!" Merida called out, waving to the scientist and giving Tony a coy smile as he winked, watching the three of them walk out together, their voice carrying until they became muffled, fading in the distance as Merida asked what the bright beam of light was, and Thor's voice becoming more muffled as he explained the Bifrost.

Tony looked at Bruce, just as Bruce looked at him, sharing a knowing look.

"What do you think?" Bruce asked first, gazing at her chart.

"I think..." Tony paused, flipping her chart and getting in Bruce's space, before stepping away and crumbling up his bag of chips and tossing it in the trashcan as he started towards the door,

"She needs to stay as far away from General Wellington as possible,"

He gave Bruce a pointed look before sauntering of the room, leaving Bruce to his studies as he headed to his garage to get started on a new project.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to feel her strength, feel the magic that poured off her in waves, be it mutant magic or something deeper, Tony wasn't going to take any chances and allow for anyone to take her away from them. She was in the best hands she could be in right now, and much like Steve's determination at keeping her safe, Tony was not going to allow a creature and woman such as that to ever go back in a cage.

Author's Note:

First things first..

Aurgelmir was the father of all the giants, so Thor was referring to her giant size as the tiger!! ;)

WOAH. That happened. We got to finally see THOR! YAY! I'm really looking forward to their relationship and their shared loved for pop-tarts and sweet treats. It'll be such a cute friendship, I can't wait!

Can we just say how adorable Steve and Merida are?!?! She's enamored and doesn't even realize the impact of their link and imprinting, if she even realizes it at all. I love Thor's subtle little ship. He gets it and he literally just came into the story LOL

How can we not ship Merida and Steve?!?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Bruce being so gentle and sweet with her. This whole scene just made me realize how unaccustomed she is to be treated with such...reverence and honor and kindness. Like this smole bean only knows abuse and mistreatment, so I'm sure the entire time she is just spinning from all the kindness. I think it's important to note that she is being treated so kindly by MEN - and her only experience with men have been to this point before Steve really distorted considering her being brought up with Killian controlling her every waking moment. I'd say she's doing great at strengthening her trust with all these new people around her, especially the men!

I know things like this take time, so I don't want her to instantly be "healed" or "better" - she's getting better by just being around the Avengers and Steve, but she still has so much to heal and so much worthiness and growth to still go through, though I am so in love with her character and the growth we have seen thus far. She's a smol bean that must be protected.

I love Tony - how we can not? His little jabs here and there are always hilarious and I love his silent protectiveness over her. He sees such an asset to the team and beyond that someone who was mistreated. He might not be as vocal as Steve about it, but I think he may have a thing or two up his sleeve to help keep her away from General Wellington. We'll just have to see. ;)

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE BANQUET CHAPTER! :)