Age of Grace

Chapter 8- That's my secret

Disclaimer: The Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. belong to Marvel/Disney. Torchwood belongs to the BBC. I am merely borrowing them.

Dead silence hung over the table for several moments, everyone staring at one another. Then Harkness broke the silence.

"Capsicle—you need that explained," he said. "Rogers, want to do it?"

"I'd rather not," Rogers said.

"Capsicle is you?" Logan asked, interested. "I like it. Who came up with that?"

"Figures," Rogers muttered, appreciating the sympathetic look Banner shot him.

"Another Avenger you have yet to meet," Coulson said.

"So, Capsicle, how'd you earn that name?" Logan asked.

"More than 70 years on ice," Harkness said. "SHIELD found him last year, frozen in the plane he crashed back during the war."

Logan arched an eyebrow in interest. "Good to know you're harder to kill than I thought," he said.

"What about you? You look like you haven't aged a day," Rogers said. "Explain that."

"What I am, I don't think you're ready for," Logan said. "And you Harkness—still poking your nose in where it doesn't belong. I thought you would've learned your lesson by now."

Coulson started to say something, but Banner beat him to it. "OK, reunion is over. We have work to do," the doctor said, standing. "Logan, Harkness, you're coming with me. I have some tests I need to run. Coulson, you better stop by later, too. Kids, play nice."

"That went better than I could've hoped," Coulson said. "Considering."

"No kidding," Rogers said.

"Now that's out of the way, what do you expect of us?" Toshiko asked.

"You'll both be doing what you were before, only for SHIELD instead of Torchwood," Coulson said. "Or more specifically, the Avengers Initiative."

"Your job seems to involve herding cats," Ianto said.

"You have experience with that yourself," Coulson said. "And you can handle a gun. You both can. That'll come in handy."

"You don't expect these two to fight with us, do you?" Rogers asked.

"I expect them to do their jobs," Coulson said. "And you'll do yours."
"But. . ."

"They don't have super powers?" Coulson said.

"Yeah," Rogers said.

"You should hear about some of the things we've dealt with," Toshiko said. "It would give you nightmares."

"Fury let me read some of the files," Rogers said. "No thank you."

"We know what we're getting into," Ianto said. "Besides, this is safer than staying in Cardiff."

"I think I've just found my new assistant," Coulson said. "Jones, how does that sound? Sato, you'll be in charge of handling all our technical needs. Harnkess. . .Fury was right, I'll have to find something for him to do."

"I'm sure you'll think of something," Rogers said.

Coulson shrugged, seeing Logan heading back their way.

"I miss anything?" Logan asked, taking a seat by Sato. She smiled at him, and he nodded at her.

"No," Rogers said.

"Uptight much?" Logan said, putting his feet up on the table. "You haven't changed."

Rogers' eyes narrowed. Coulson decided to head off a confrontation before it started. Herding cats, indeed.

"We'll be heading back to New York tomorrow, so it would be best to familiarize yourself with the helicarrier and each other while you have the chance because once we're back stateside, we are going to hit the ground running," Coulson said. "I have some things I need to take care of. I'll see you later. Captain Rogers, would you mind giving them a tour?"

Rogers sighed. "Sure," he said. No problem. He'd do it for Coulson, and to keep an eye on the two new members of the group. Jones wasn't going to be a problem, but the way Logan was eying Sato was downright predatory. Another thing to worry about, but he'd deal with it later.

88888

Banner watched Harkness roll his sleeve back down, putting his blood samples away for testing later.

"How do you control it?" Harkness asked.

"What?" Banner asked.

"The Hulk, or whatever you call him," Harkness said.

"It's hard to explain," Banner said. "And I don't want to talk about it. How did you end up not being able to die?"

"You wouldn't believe it," Harnkess said.

"I turn into a giant green rage monster," Banner said.

"True, but like you said, I don't want to discuss it," Harkness said. "So we're even."

"Answer me this then—what is Logan? Do you know?"

"He's a mutant," Harkness said.

"I've heard about them, but never actually thought that was true until now," Banner said.

"I don't know how many there are, but they do exist. Most are able to blend in if they're careful," Harkness said. "Some choose not to. I think it's going to be a problem. No, I know it's going to become a problem. I've heard things you would not believe. . ."

"Try me," Banner said.

"Not today," Harnkess said. "It's one of the things I need to discuss with Nick."

"Have fun," Banner said.