So here's your little extra/deleted scene. But before we get to that, I have a question for all you readers out there.

As I've stated, I've got two main ideas for my next story. They're both going to be written, it's just a matter of order. So, I'm going to decide by popular demand and let you guys choose. They are as follows:

1)A sort of prequel to Protective Reasoning that takes place right after the whole Loki/alien invasion thing and shows how the teams' relationships and bonds grew to what you've seen in this story. There will still be a fair bit of action, and a bit of Tony whump by request, and it will probably be longer.

2)More of a sequel that's based on Clint/Natasha and a very difficult situation between Natasha and SHIELD. The entire team will feature, though. And there may or may not be an unexpected guest, haven't decided yet. It's a good guest though.

So, there are your choices, so if you want a say, leave a review and tell me you preference.

Back to this, I know it's a little short, and I hope it doesn't disappoint. This is how I see Ross' reaction, and I find it very amusing.

As always, I own nothing.

Ross couldn't help smiling evilly to himself as he heard Hawkeye being more or less dragged behind him by the guards on his either side.

He may have underestimated the man in the beginning. Somehow, he'd managed to get free and incapacitate both of his guards, one with a snapped neck and the other with a partially crushed windpipe, before he'd moved on to free Banner. He'd then taken the doctor through the maze that was the building's hallways, leaving a trail of death behind him. By the time Ross had managed to subdue him, he'd only had four remaining from the group of twenty guards he'd set out with.

The former general had been furious that a supposed prisoner had managed to get such a leg up, but a part of his brain was nagging at him that he had been warned by multiple sources, including the cocky assassin himself, that he wasn't to be taken lightly. The fight in the movie theater alone should have been enough to prove that to him. Faced with eleven men and only a small collection of knives, Hawkeye hadn't even blinked. He grudgingly admitted to himself that both times, if he hadn't had Banner to use as leverage, the altercations might not have ended so well for him.

Even so, he had as it turned out, and he'd more than expressed his disapproval and anger towards the sandy-haired assassin in the brutal beating the two guards had delivered to him at the former general's order. Ross was sure that he'd heard the sound of ribs snapping, even if the assassin hadn't made a single sound.

And now, Ross was getting the chance for his final act of revenge against the assassin that had been an annoying thorn in his side for far too long. He had to admit that putting the great Hawkeye in the same room with the raging monster that he had been trying to protect had been one of his better ideas. He wanted to see the fear and horror that crossed even the younger man's normally indifferent face as the beast loomed over him before ripping him limb from limb in the destructive power he'd seen before.

He watched Hawkeye's face greedily once they were in the room, mildly disappointed to see only the same indifference as was typical, even as the man watched the beast's fruitless attempts to beat through the walls.

"We're very safe here." Ross said, still watching the assassin's expression, his tone carrying a mocking smugness. "There's no spot in the room that hasn't been reinforced to deal with its strength."

Even as the former general watched him carefully, Hawkeye didn't react other than to let his shoulders relax of all things. Ross found he couldn't help a slow, disbelieving shake of his head at his attitude before he continued, hoping to elicit some fear, or any reaction really from the assassin.

"How does it feel to know you're going to be killed by the very thing you were trying to protect?" he asked, keeping himself from giving a dark chuckle of anticipation.

He finally garnered a response from the man, but not the one he was looking for.

The glare was so full of heat and deadly promise that Ross felt some of his own fear of this man return, completely unbidden.

"He is not a thing. And I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but he's not going to kill me." Hawkeye's voice was low and certain, but Ross just raised an eyebrow at him, before turning to look at the beast just as it let out another roar that visibly shook the one-way glass they were looking through.

"At least you'll die optimistic." the former general said, his eyes flashing with mirth as he pressed down on the button that he knew would release the lock on the door into the room.

As soon as it clicked open, Ross waved the guards forward and stepped up to the glass himself to watch as the assassin rolled haphazardly into the room, his arms still pulled behind him.

By what had to be some nearly supernatural talent, the man was in a couch less than a second later, standing slowly with his eyes locked onto the massive green beast.

Ross watched, eyes bright and following the monster's every move as he gave a furious snarl and launched himself at Hawkeye, landing only a few feet in front of the assassin and growling down at him menacingly. He couldn't believe it when he saw that the younger man still didn't look concerned in the slightest, actually looking up to meet the beast's gaze and speaking.

'Hey Big Guy.' Hawkeye said, his tone light and unwavering and holding none of the fear Ross was hoping for. The evidently stupid man didn't even try to move or find something to hide himself behind, not that there would be anything.

Ross allowed himself the dark chuckle he'd held back before as the green monster bared his teeth in another threatening snarl, waiting for the attack that would not only kill the meddling assassin, but break Banner's spirit as well. One look at Hawkeye's mangled body would destroy the doctor, he knew.

He felt his eyes narrow into confusion however when the beast paused, relaxed for itself, and grunted out a single questioning word.

'Cupid.'

Ross' smirk faltered and he swore he felt his eye twitch when Hawkeye gave a relieved grin and a nod.

Cupid.

Cupid.

The abomination that was the Hulk had given the assassin Hawkeye a nickname of Cupid. And what's more, it apparently wasn't anything new, with the way the younger man was nodding.

There wasn't any smashing. There wasn't any snarling or growling. Hell, there wasn't even another threatening glance in Hawkeye's direction.

Ross physically felt his blood pressure begin to rise, and he was certain his face was reddening with barely contained anger. Even so, he forced himself to listen as the assassin spoke again, his tone as light and furiously grating as always.

'Yeah, buddy. Looks like me and you in some deep shit, huh?'

The former general allowed himself to hope again when the beast gave another threatening snarl and Hawkeye actually took a small step back.

'Ross hurt Bruce. Hurt Hulk.' the beast snarled, and Ross felt himself grow somewhat lightheaded. The anger from the monster wasn't directed at Hawkeye. It was directed at him.

His denial almost caused him to miss the green beast next words.

'Cupid hurt?'

And now the beast was inquiring as to the assassin's welfare.

Ross swore he almost started choking, his eyes bugging out in his head as his fists clenched furiously at his sides. How was this possible? How had the snarling, murdering, smashing monster that he had seen and dealt with before; the unreasonable beast; turned into what he was looking at now?

His racing thoughts made him miss Hawkeye's next words, though his eyes narrowed when the assassin turned slightly, putting his back to the Hulk. The smirk that Hawkeye sent almost directly at him carried an easily discernible message: I told you so.

"You little god-damned bastard." Ross swore, finally finding his voice again, as the clearly shocked eyes of everyone else in the room turned to him as well.

His eyes narrowed to slits when Hawkeye tossed a relieved 'Thanks.' over his shoulder at the beast and then slowly brought his now handcuff-free arms forward. Looking to the beast again, Ross felt his eye twitch again when he saw unmasked concern in the usually furious green eyes. Then the monster physically sat down in front of the assassin and proceeded to point out that he was bleeding and asked if Banner would be of help to him.

Ross idly began to wonder if this was what the beginning of a heart attack felt like.

"This certainly doesn't look like a mindless rage-fueled monster, Mr. Ross." Simmons' voice beside him startled him and caused him to practically jump, his eyes widening.

"This shouldn't be possible." Ross hissed, anger and disbelief in his voice. "I don't…. The beast…."

He became aware that he was more or less shaking with rage, and couldn't find the ability to fully articulate sentences.

"There is clearly more to Banner's condition than we realized." Simmons cut across Ross' spluttering; waving the team of four guards that had seemingly accompanied him to the door. "It would seem that it has grown more accustomed to human presence."

Ross watched dumbly, having more or less deflated as the four men entered the room as well. The beast's eyes snapped to the newcomers before back to Hawkeye, who raised his hands, eyes narrowed as well.

Simmons growled, but Ross couldn't bring himself to react as the monster flung itself at the guards, slammed the door shut and then continued obliterating the four men.

"Or, maybe it's just the Hawk." the dark haired man corrected himself as a sigh, shaking his head as the Hulk sat against the door to effectively block anyone else from entering and gently pulled Hawkeye with him.

'Ross no hurt Cupid.' the monster grunted, and Ross felt Simmons' eyes turned to him.

"It does seem that it has no fondness for you." the man who had hired him said matter of factly, but the former general couldn't bring himself to respond, the fury, despair and denial overwhelming him as he watched the assassin have a conversation with the massive, green monster.

There you are, the official end to Protective Reasoning. Once I get a decision, it shouldn't take long to get the new story up, so keep your eyes peeled. Until then, thank you all for your support for this story!
~Dogstar