| change of scenery |

❝ u p d a t e d ❞

Brielle stands in the middle of a stark white laboratory, simply soaking up all of the advanced technology adorning every spare inch of the room. Considering the organization she worked for, the psychologist had never been able to get her hands on Stark technology before. Artificially intelligent machines roamed the floor, awaiting their next task as screens hovering above tables whirred, continuing previous research.

Being located in one of the top floors of the Avengers Tower, the floor to ceiling windows gave her a breathtaking view of the New York skyline as the sun reached it's highest point. The clear glass floor below her feet allows her to peer into another laboratory on the floor below, one that appears more suited for robotics research than anything that has to do with people.

She strides over to the nearest table, hesitant to pick up one of the many expensive beakers filled with brightly colored liquids, knowing she could never afford to replace it if it was to be broken.

The automatic doors slide open, causing Brielle to jump away from the equipment as two men enter the room.

"Dr. Thompson, this is Dr. Banner," Steve introduces once they reach her, gesturing to the stranger standing next to him. "Dr. Banner, meet Dr. Thompson."

"Please, call me Bruce," he offers, smiling warmly as he steps forward to shake her hand. His unruly hair and wrinkled sweater made it appear as though he had just rolled out of bed, or as though he hasn't been to sleep in quite a while. "I'm a fan of your work."

Brielle's smile hardens briefly, wondering how he could ever approve of it, before realizing he meant her breakthroughs before her time with HYDRA.

"I'm Brielle," she says, returning the smile. "I'm sorry to say I'm not familiar with your work, but I'm sure it's extraordinary - especially since Mr. Rogers has done nothing but praise you."

Steve chuckles embarrassedly, pretending something outside of the windows caught his attention so he could avoid facing them.

"I'll- uh- leave you to it then," he mutters, quickly walking back to the doors. He pauses, glancing back at Brielle with a hopeful expression. "Keep me updated?"

"As long as you keep me updated on your own progress," she counters.

"Deal."

As the doors slide shut behind the blond, an awkward silence envelops the duo. Both held questions for the other, but neither want to be the first to start asking. Bruce clears his throat and claps his hands together, more nervous than decisive, yet no sound left his lips. Brielle heaves a sigh, deciding to completely beat around the bush.

"What all were you told about me?" She questions, gesturing around the room to emphasize. "About why I'm here, that is."

The psychologist knew better than to hope he didn't have a clue as to who her past employers are. Now that both, HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D files were exposed for the world to see, that meant her background is available as well.

"Not too much," Bruce admits honestly. "Steve said something about you working on a serum, and that you've been staying with him because HYD- um . . . . Because you quit your last job."

Brielle's gaze falls to the floor, waiting for some sort of rebuke. When none comes, she risks glancing back up, thoroughly taken aback by the concern in his expression. Noticing her discomfort, Bruce is quick to change the subject.

"Let me go change into something up to lab standards," he suggests. "And, if it's okay with you, we can go ahead and get started once I'm back."

"Wait," Brielle murmurs, a small frown appearing as she furrows her eyebrows together. "You're actually okay with working with me? It doesn't bother you that I've worked with the same people the Avengers want to stop?"

"Of course not," Bruce reassures her, placing a comforting hand on her arm. Brielle involuntarily stiffens, causing his hand to immediately fall back to his side. "We've all done things we're not proud of."

⋆⋆⋆⋆

As the clock nears three in the morning, Brielle finds herself exiting an elevator and walking down the dark hall, heading towards the lab.

With all that has occurred in the past seventy-two hours, it was no wonder she had spent the last few hours tossing and turning in her newly anointed bedroom. Having given up on sleep, she turns to the one thing that does make sense to her in the midst of her life's chaos - her research.

Three days ago, Brielle devotedly worked for the most corrupt organization in the world, and now she's acquainted with several people her former job deemed enemies, and - partially due to Bruce's insistence after finding out she has no money nor a home to return to - has a bedroom in Avengers Tower. On top of all of the many changes of scenery she's went through, the psychologist undoubtedly knew she, along with the Winter Soldier, is ranked high on HYDRA's 'Most Wanted' list.

Upon reaching the laboratory doors, she hesitates at the sight of the lights inside already being on, not wanting to disturb Bruce since it was clear he couldn't sleep either. The doors slide open, alerting the man inside to her presence and further enticing Brielle's curiosity.

"You're not Banner."

The unfamiliar voice causes her to jump as the man turns around, revealing that he is, in fact, not Bruce.

Tony Stark stands before her, clad in jeans and a t-shirt - a startling contrast compared to the expensive suits the media depicts him in - and a confused expression written across his features. Brielle frowns, her posture straightening as she automatically returns to her normal, austere professionalism.

Surely Steve had spoken to the billionaire about her coming here, especially since he owns the building. And Bruce must have mentioned her when he decided she ought to stay in one of the several spare bedrooms.

"I'm-"

"Brielle Thompson. Can I call you Bri?" Tony cuts her off, turning back to the screens he had been studying. His attention is fixated on them, and a thousand other things. He hasn't even noticed Brielle didn't answer his question. "Yeah, I know who you are. I was just looking for Bruce. JARVIS, did you find him?"

"Dr. Banner has requested to be left alone until, and I quote, 'the sun has risen, for God's sake'," an artificially intelligent voice speaks, coming from nowhere and everywhere all at once.

Brielle fights a smile, amazed by the nearly sentient machine in the walls. She couldn't wait to figure out exactly how it works. Tony turns back to the woman, instantly regaining her attention as he takes a seat at the lab table, motioning for her to sit next to him.

He doesn't say anything as she joins him, instead enlarging the screen hovering in front of them. An article pops up with Brielle's HYDRA i.d photo in the center.

Brielle Thompson : Psychologist or Psychopath?

Dr. Brielle Thompson, who first made her name known at a young age through her astounding breakthroughs in the medical field, has become the talk of the scientific world once again.

Hundreds of classified files were released for the entire population to see, many depicting experiments horrible enough to rival those that occured during Hitler's tirade. The approving signature scrawled across the bottom happens to belong to the psychologist herself.

With her doctorates and degrees, as well as her stability, being questioned-

"JARVIS, pull up all documents mentioning Brielle Thompson," Tony states, distracting Brielle from finishing the article.

In the blink of an eye, hundreds of articles and documents begin to appear on the screens, cluttering the original article from view. The psychologist's stomach drops and she stares down at her hands as though she's studying them, refusing to meet Tony's gaze.

"So, what's the story?" He asks. "What made you decide to leave?"

"Family issues," she admits quietly, inwardly cringing at how lame her reasoning sounds. "Plus, I tried to help their favorite brainwashed assassin escape, so they're not exactly my biggest fan right now."

Silence falls between the two, in which Brielle doesn't stop wringing her hands together nervously. Tony sighs, though it's impossible to tell if she caused it or if it's simply fatigue.

"I hope I don't regret this," the man mutters to himself, running a hand through his hair before clapping them together. "What if I told you I could make all of these documents go away?"

Brielle's head snaps towards him so quickly it nearly gives her whiplash, and she shoots him an incredulous look, eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

"I'd ask why you haven't used that ability to delete all of S.H.I.E.L.D's bad publicity."

"They can handle it," Tony says offhandedly, shrugging his shoulders casually. "Besides, they deserve it. In some weird, twisted way."

The ghost of a laugh escapes the woman's lips, but disappears just as fast when she thinks of something else. "What's the catch?"

"No catch. Just don't turn out to be a HYDRA spy." Before she can reply, he returns his attention to his AI. "JARVIS, clear these records from every database you find them on."

"That requires overriding encryptions and security measures, which, I'm sure I don't need to remind you, is illegal. Do you still wish for me to continue?"

Tony glances to Brielle, raising an eyebrow questioningly, and she finds herself unable to help the genuine smile that crosses her face.

"I do."