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Natasha Romanoff was standing on the edge of the balcony watching the last light of the day slowly disappearing into the void. She had never been a sentimental person, but even the Assassin had to admit that it was a beautiful view to enjoy.
In a few hours the Team would set out for Wakanda and make their last stand against Thanos. This was not how she had expected her return to the Avengers facility. They had been on the run for a couple years now and this morning her and Steve’s biggest worry was finding another safe house to stay in. Now they were once again faceing the end of the world. At least this was going to make a good story to tell to Yelena if she would ever get to see her again.
The sound of footsteps on gravel interrupted the redheads musings and she didn’t have to turn around to know who was about to join her at her hidingspot.
“Well, this all seems horrible.” a warm voice greated her as Bruce Banner placed his arms on the railing next to her. He had changed into a purple dressshirt and greyish cotton trousers. The sad smile on his face reminded her of simpler days and the thought made her heart clench in her chest.
“You found your wardrobe.” she commented with an even tone, trying to hide just how much it hurt to see him this way.
“I honestly thought you guys would have thrown out most of my things, but everything is still there.” Bruce shrugged and looked into the distance as if facing Natasha was something he wasn’t ready for.
She joined him at watching the sunset. For a while they were just standing in silence. Natasha felt the fabric of his shirt slightly brushing against her bare arms whenever he moved and he moved a lot. Bruce wrung his hands, pressing his fingers together only to release them a minute later. She watched him fidget and shook her head, amused.
“You know, I have always liked sunsets and this new bulding you guys got? It’s really nice, Tony really outdid himself.” The scientists voice broke the fragile silence around them and Natasha exhaled a long breath.
Never one to take any bullshit the spy faced her former teammate. “What are you doing here, Bruce?” she asked. “Aren’t there other things you could do to occupy yourself with? I am pretty sure the lab has everything you need to fix up Veronica. If you are still serious about taking part in the fight.” Natasha couldn’t hide the bitterness that entered her tone as she spoke and he flinched.
Bruce’s disappearence had been hard on her. On one hand she blamed herself for pushing him into a hole on the other hand she hadn’t had much of a choice, but it didn’t change that she had been worried about him ever since. When he strolled into the facility earlier today she hadn’t been sure if she should yell at him or hug him. Now, she was just angry. At him, at herself, at the fact that they didn’t have time to figure things out before propably getting killed.
Bruce took a deep breath. “Ouch. Well, I propably deserved that.” He rubbed his hand over his features and turned a little to face Natasha before he continued.
“Nat, listen. I know you propably didn’t expect that we would see each other again like this. To be honest, the circumstances are pretty grim.”
“I have seen worse.” she joked dryly. Bruce regarded this with a pained smile, but soldiered on, nervous as he was. “The thing is... we kind of missed our last window, so I thought I’d create a new one.”
Natasha’s head snapped up. Her expression nearly stunned by the familiar words. “What are you saying, Bruce?” She didn’t want to believe it. After all this time and everything she had done, why would he choose these words to say to her now.
The Doctor released his arms from the railing and took a step closer. “What I am saying is that I want a chance. I know this is messed up and the world will propably collapse tomorrow, or sometime next week and we should worry about pretty much everything else then the thing we used to have a few years ago.”
He breathed out hard as if he was steeling himself for something, her rejection perhaps? But as Natasha kept silent he continued. “To me, Sokovia was just a few weeks ago. It feels distant. I don’t know how to describe it, but one moment you were kissing me and the next thing I remember is Thor telling me I had been the hulk for two years an” “Bruce?” Natasha interrupted. “Yes?”, “You are rambling.”
Bruce wanted to answer, but the two of them were interrupted by an announcement. “Miss Romanoff and Doctor Banner. Your attendance has been requested at the HQ” FRIDAY informed them and she sighed.
“Duty calls.” he said with a sad look on his face. Natasha nodded. She turned and walked a few steps, then stopped. No! She refused to just let it go.
The world would have to wait for a minute. Natasha whireld around and closed the distance between her and Bruce. Her hand found the back of his neck and their lips met.
It was like something melted inside her. Bruce smelled familiar. His aftershave and the smell of what she associated with a warm summer evening still clung to him like it did in Sokovia. Warmth spread through her body as he returned and deepened the kiss. Bruce’s arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer.
They remained like this until they were flushed an breathless, holding onto the other as if their life depended on it. “How, what?” Bruce was the first one to speak and clearly confused. “You’re right. We did miss our window.” She said with a smile. Bruce shrugged. “Sooo. If we’re really lucky and the world doesn’t end tomorrow. Could we create another one?” he asked now smiling too, holding Natasha close and secure in his arms.
She nodded against his chest. “I think that sounds like a good deal, Doc.”
They remained on their spot for a little while longer wrapped up in each other. Whatever was waiting for them in Wakanda they would face it together.