The tension after the breakup only escalated after the so called "resolution" between all those involved. The uncomfortable atmosphere was even more so to those not involved. Poor Bruce found himself not knowing what to do without stepping on someone's toes.

After some settling, he stepped in front of Clint to get to the fridge in time for a cold glass of orange juice.

"What the hell are you doing?" Clint asked with an accusing tone.

"Just getting a glass of orange juice."

"Oh, no. It's my damn turn!" he barked. "Get to the back of the goddamn line!"

Bruce, looking like a kicked puppy, walked to the back of the line.

After the awkwardly silent breakfast was over, it was time for the Avengers to start their daily training. Bruce's job was to observe and point out the flaws in everyone's technique, given the fact that his power was the other guy.

"Nice form, Loki," he said from outside the ring. "But I would suggest-"

"Who cares?!" Clint shouted from the shooting range as he volleyed arrows one after another. "He's the enemy anyway! Why the hell would you enable him?!"

"He's not the enemy anymore, Clint," Steve said from across the arena. "You know he's changed."

"Banishment means nothing to me," he said sourly as he launched an arrow in Bruce's direction, narrowly missing his ear.

Both Loki and Bruce ducked at the closeness of the arrow.

Dinner that night was just as horrid as breakfast. Blood was nearly shed over the cream cheese wontons, fingers were broken over the spring rolls, and Thor almost broke Clint's arm over the chow mein.

With bruises inflicted and spirits broken, everyone stalked off to their bedrooms or respective changing rooms.

"I don't see why people can't forgive each other," Pamplemousse said to Toni as they walked into the bathroom to brush their teeth. "Do they really hate each other that much?"

"I don't know. I think they're just clashing."

The two of them walked out of the bathroom and down the hall until they reached the point where they would part ways.

"Where's Cj been all day?" Pamplemousse asked. "Has she been in bed or something?"

Toni stopped in her tracks and looked at the young girl. "I don't know. Maybe she's not feeling well."

"Oh. I hope she feels better," and with that, Pamplemousse walked into Bruce's room and closed the door behind her.

***

At around two in the morning, Toni awoke to a strange, whirring sound outside her door.

She sat up and looked at the dim, blue light showing in the cracks around her door. The whirring got louder and the light got brighter.

"Dad?" she mumbled.

Then, the door exploded and revealed a floating disc the size of a basketball giving off a blinding light. Toni screamed and held up her hand to block out the extreme rays as the whirring made it nearly impossible to hear.

All the Avengers ran towards the sound of the explosion, pjs and all. Loki, being a magic user, managed to get his armor on over his footy pajamas and was in the head of the pack directly behind Tony who programmed JARVIS to automatically prep his suit for this kind of emergency.

When they finally reached Toni's room and the center of the commotion, the shock they felt was palpable.

"Toni?" her father shouted through the broken door frame as the disc moved closer to her.

"Help me!" she shouted back.

Tony looked back at Steve, begging him to be the leader he usually was. Steve shared Tony's gaze for a moment, taking in the shock, desperation, and imminent rage that the new father held inside him.

"Loki," Steve said as he finally tore his eyes away from Tony. "Can you get in there and find a way to get Toni out?"

"No, I'll do it!" Clint shouted. "Let me save her!"

"Not now, Hawkeye!" he replied quickly. "Loki is the only one with proper armor."

Just then, another wave of loud whirring came as the wall directly to their left exploded. Another blue glowing disc appeared, whirring loudly and interrupting the sight of all the heroes.

Pamplemousse's scream echoed through the house as another explosion rang out.

Steve turned to Bruce who was trembling as his eyes went from a chocolate brown to a raging green.

"Thor, cover Bruce. Go find Pamplemousse and get her close to everyone else."

"I will protect my brother and the young grapefruit with all I have!" Thor bellowed as he summoned his hammer and chases after Bruce.

"Brooke, stay next to one of us. We'll protect you."

Brooke nodded and took a step behind the star spangled man. "Don't have to tell me twice, Cap."

Steve looked at Loki and Clint. "You two need to work together to get Toni out of that room. It's a death trap in there."

"Oh no! I'm not working with Sir Tricks-A-Lot!"

"I don't care, Clint!" Steve shouted as more whirring approached. "Either work with him, or Antoinette and Pamplemousse won't make it to tomorrow!"

Another explosion resounded from the kitchen area and a blue light flooded into the hall.

Clint looked at Loki and then back at Steve. "There has to be another way, Cap."

"Archer, we must save her," Loki said from the doorway. "Not for your sake, my sake, or even the sake of her father, but for her own!"

The disk from the kitchen started to close the distance between itself and the group of heroes.

"Clint, go!" Steve shouted.

Clint screamed loudly and barbarically as he threw himself into the room behind Loki, who was making good use of his magic.

"Tony," Steve started. "You, Nat, and I need to keep these other things occupied for the time being. Keep an eye on Brooke and watch for the others."

"Sure thing, captain," Natasha replied as she jumped up on one of the disks nearest her.

"Wait!" Brooke's shouted. "Wheres Cj?!"

Steve looked around, and just as he opened his mouth to respond, Cj walked down the hallway with three more disks hovering behind her. She said nothing to them, but instead watched as the disks started to whir louder and louder.

Back in Toni's room, Loki and Clint were busy fighting and protecting.

"Archer, shoot!" Loki shouted as Clint took careful aim. "This forcefield can't last forever!"

Clint shot and the disk shattered into three equally sized pieces. The blue light switched off and the whirring faded out to nothingness as the three of them watched in horror, Toni's hands still attempting to shield herself from the imposing light and sound.

"Well that was easy," Clint said in a cocky manner.

"Too easy, my friend," Loki said somberly.

As of on cue, the three pieces started to vibrate and whir, taking shape as disks and illuminating with a bright blue light.

Clint watched as the disks rose off the ground in shook and awe. "What the hell?"

***

"Young grapefruit! Come to me!" Thor bellowed over the sound of the large disk as he reached his hand out to the shaking and whimpering little girl.

She tried to reach under the disk, only to have it send an electrical current through her hand. She recoiled and screamed in pain.

The Hulk had never been one for sentiment, but this sound made him sad, not to mention angrier than usual. He roared and tried to smash the disk in front of him, only to receive a shock himself. He roared in pain and then again in rage.

Thor wound up and slammed his hammer down on top of the disk which promptly smashed into three equally sized pieces.

Pamplemousse stared at the pieces in horror, then up at Thor with gratitude.

"Thank you, Thor," she said quietly.

"You're very welcome, young one," he replied calmly.

Pamplemousse stood carefully and walked to the Hulk. "Thank you, Bruce," she said. Then, she closed the distance between them and hugged his large green leg. Just as the other guy started to turn back into Bruce, the whirring started to return and Steve was bursting in the door shouting something about not destroying the disks.