[One Week Later – SHIELD Base]
The metallic hum of the SHIELD base's training facility echoed as Jennifer Takeda stood in the center of the room, her expression resolute. A faint glow radiated from her fingertips—not uncontrolled like before, but steady, deliberate. She stopped wearing her containment suit but still kept the nanite bracelet that Bruce gave her, just in case of an emergency. As her training uniform, she was wearing a yellow suit made using special material, considering her fighting style. Her confidence had grown exponentially in the past week. She was just happy with the newfound ability to harness her powers without fear of losing control.
Across the room, Selina leaned against a railing, watching Jennifer's progress. Clint stood beside her, arms crossed and his expression focused as he assessed the younger woman's technique.
"She's come a long way," Clint remarked, his voice low but impressed.
Selina nodded, her eyes narrowing as Jennifer unleashed a focused beam of energy at a moving drone, obliterating it in midair. "She's got the potential. But..."
"Yup! She is still afraid," He replied.
Jennifer turned to them, her breath slightly labored but her eyes alight with determination. "How was that?"
"Better," Selina replied, her tone cool but approving. "But you're still hesitating before each strike. Trust your instincts. You don't have time to second-guess in the field."
Clint nodded in agreement. "Think less, act more. You've got control now—use it."
Jennifer straightened, her confidence bolstered by their feedback. "Got it. Let's go again."
After finishing her training, they moved on to the next two new recruits.
In the adjacent training hall, Ami Han—the White Fox—moved with blinding speed. Her fox-like features appeared briefly with each burst of energy, her claws slashing through holographic adversaries. Her strikes were precise, calculated, and devastating.
Selina and Clint entered just as Ami dismantled her latest target with a flurry of attacks, the training drone collapsing in sparks at her feet.
"Impressive," Selina commented, her lips curving into a faint smile.
"Thanks," Ami said, her tail flicking slightly as she glanced at the newcomers. "But I can do better. Yeah. Oh, Miss. Selina, have you talked to Mr. Wayne about our training session? I'd be glad to receive some pointers from him." Her cheeks were flushed as she spoke.
Selina's left eye twitched a bit. "Yes. I've talked to him. He's a little busy right now, so probably next Monday."
"Thank you so much," Ami gave her a quick hug.
Nearby, Tigra—Greer Nelson—was grappling with a high-tech combat bot, with high difficulty mode. Her tiger-like hybrid form gave her incredible strength, but her movements were still raw, unpolished. She roared, slamming the bot into the ground, but it quickly retaliated with a counterattack, knocking her off balance.
"Don't brute force it!" Clint called out. "Use your agility—anticipate its movements!"
Tigra growled under her breath but adjusted her stance, dodging the bot's next strike like a cat. With a swift flip, she landed on its back, tearing it apart with a triumphant snarl. "Rrrrrggg!"
Ami glanced over, offering Tigra an approving nod. "Nice recovery."
Tigra grinned, her feline eyes gleaming. "Thanks. Your moves weren't half bad either."
Selina's gaze flicked between the two recruits, her mind already calculating their potential roles in the New Avengers lineup. "So, which one of you is stronger?" She smirked.
Ami and Tigra exchanged a glance, each sizing the other up before looking back at Selina.
"Me," they both said at once.
The corner of Clint's lips twitched, holding back a chuckle. "Oh, boy, that could get interesting."
"Yes, it could," Selina replied, smirking. "Tomorrow. 8 am. A match between you two. Whoever wins will get a new suit made by Mr. Wayne himself."
Both girls nodded eagerly, exchanging a brief look of respect before heading toward the locker rooms, their competitive spirit already burning bright.
[Back at home]
On the outdoor training grounds, Morgan Stark stood in a carefully marked training circle, her arms extended as tendrils of golden infinity energy swirled around her. Across from her, Hela paced back and forth, her sharp eyes scrutinizing Morgan's every move.
"Control isn't just about the power itself," Hela said, her voice calm but commanding. "It's about discipline—knowing when to hold back and when to strike. Overextension will leave you vulnerable."
Morgan exhaled slowly, her energy fluctuating as she struggled to maintain the delicate balance between power and precision. "It's hard to stay focused. The energy feels alive—it's like it wants to do its own thing."
Hela stopped pacing and folded her arms, her expression firm but encouraging. "That's because you're letting it control you. You need to treat it like a weapon. It's not your master—it's your tool."
Morgan nodded, clenching her fists as she concentrated. The swirling energy began to stabilize, condensing into a radiant sphere between her hands. A satisfied smirk crept onto Hela's face.
"Better," Hela said. "Now, direct it toward a single target. Precision is more valuable than power."
Morgan turned toward a series of training dummies set up at varying distances. With a deep breath, she unleashed the energy, sending the sphere streaking through the air. It struck one target dead center before ricocheting into another, obliterating them both.
Hela raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. But you'll need to practice restraint. In the field, collateral damage can mean the difference between saving lives and endangering them."
Morgan grinned. "I'll get it. Just give me time."
"You've got potential," Hela replied, a rare note of praise in her tone. "But potential alone won't save you. We'll work on this every day until you master it."
Morgan wiped the sweat from her brow, her confidence renewed. "Deal."
....
[Later That Evening – New York City]
The neon lights of New York City cast colorful reflections on the rain-slick streets as Bruce drove through the bustling cityscape. Jennifer Walters sat beside him, her usual confidence tempered by a hint of relaxation. It had been a while... Well, more than 10 years to be precise, since they had shared a quiet evening without the pressures of their respective roles weighing on them.
"You sure you're alright with this?" Bruce asked, glancing over at her. "I know we've both been swamped lately, but..." Old memories, old feelings, the regrets... It made the scene a little awkward.
Jennifer smiled, her green eyes bright as she looked out at the city. "I've been looking forward to this. You've been working too hard lately. So, tonight no more work."
The car pulled up to a quaint, high-class restaurant hidden behind a corner in New York. It was removed from the midst of Midtown's bustle. The atmosphere was cozy: dim lighting and soft music created a feeling that one was moving away from the noise of the outside world. Bruce got out first, and then he held out his hand to Jennifer to help her step out of the car.
"Nice place," Jennifer remarked, glancing around with a relaxed expression. "I didn't think you were into the quiet spots."
Bruce smirked. "Sometimes, it's the quietest places that feel the most... comfortable."
They were led inside and seated at a secluded booth near the back. The sommelier poured each of them a glass of wine as they settled into their seats. Conversations flowed very easily— light and easy enough to talk about anything and nothing in particular. Jokingly discussing their training sessions, Bruce taunted Jennifer by saying she could now control the powers, to which Jennifer retaliated with playful punches at Bruce on his tech-obsession problem.
"I'll admit, you've made some progress," Bruce said, taking a sip of wine. "Though I still don't know how you manage to make it look so effortless."
Jennifer leaned forward, grinning. "Practice. But I'll make sure to keep a few surprises for our next spar."
Bruce chuckled, "I wouldn't expect anything less."
They spent the next hour enjoying the food and each other's company. Their conversations went from the frivolous to the meaningful, but there were times of silence as well—just the comfort of being in the same space without the need for constant words. There was something freeing about not needing to talk about battles, threats, or the weight of their respective worlds.
As dessert was served, Bruce set down his fork and looked thoughtfully across the table at Jennifer.
"I've missed this," he said, his tone softer than usual. "Just being able to enjoy a normal night, without distractions."
Jennifer nodded, her smile gentle. "I know what you mean. Sometimes it feels like we're always looking ahead, trying to stay ahead of whatever's next. It's hard to remember to just... be."
Bruce leaned back in his chair, a rare moment of ease in his demeanor. "Sometimes, it's good to stop and take a breath. I think we both deserve that tonight."
Jennifer reached across the table, her fingers brushing his in a simple, quiet gesture. "I think we do."
For a brief moment, the weight of their lives seemed to disappear, replaced by a calm contentment. They were two people, just enjoying a peaceful evening together in the middle of the city that never sleeps.
Jennifer wanted to talk about Pepper, but she stopped herself. She didn't want to open up closed wounds.
At the end of the night, they left the restaurant together, the air between them warm and comfortable. Jennifer leaned her head against Bruce's shoulder as they walked to the car, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
"Thank you, Bruce. It means a lot," Jennifer said.
Bruce looked down at her, his expression uncharacteristically open. "It was my pleasure."
"Oh," She quickly moved away. It was instinctive and she was not thinking when she leaned against him. "Uh... Sorry."
Bruce shook his head. "It's alright. If it's not comfortable for you, then it's fine."
"No! It's not like that." Jennifer bit her lip. "It's just... it's been a long time since..." Her voice trailed off, her expression unsure. "And we kinda..."
"Wanna go back to your place and maybe watch that movie like old times?" Bruce asked, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Jennifer arched an eyebrow, looking at Bruce with a curious expression. "Really? You mean it?"
He nodded. "Yes. I'd love to."
They got into the car, and the driver headed toward Jennifer's apartment building. The drive was silent, but it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable—it felt natural.
'Damn it! Although his face has changed, the way he talks and behaves... God! I can't resist him. It's like... I can't say no when I'm with him, I feel... Arggg! It's all in the past. He has Selina and Harley now. But...' Jennifer's mind raced, feeling conflicted.
....
AN: Imagine, SHE-HULK & Enhanced Bruce sex> 🤣🤣Well, next 2 chs, its happening.
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