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- Bruce and Tony late at night.
Bruce was peacefully enjoying a cup of his preferred tea in the kitchen when Tony appeared in the entrance. He was clearly dragging his feet and Bruce could only sigh. Again, Tony must have stayed for days in his workshop, and was here in search of some food or drink. Still, Bruce found it a little strange to see Tony here; it was only 11 p.m. Way too early for someone like Tony.
The latter went in direction of the fridge, took the orange juice, a cup in the counter and drowned his drink in less that two gulps. Only after that did he seemed to notice Bruce, and went to sit beside him. Tony dropped his head in his arms and sighed with all the suffering he could muster.
“I’m surprised to see you here at this hour.” To this, Tony sighed even more and lifted his head before adding, “JARVIS locked me out.”
Huh. Now Bruce understood better, and he hid discreetly his smile behind his mug.
“This isn’t waking me up, I want coffee.” Bruce stared at Tony, expecting to see him stand up and go fend himself his usual beverage, so when Tony stayed where he was and did nothing, Bruce tilted his head.
“Tony?”
Bruce wasn’t in any way encouraging Tony to drink coffee. It was so late and would prevent the genius from sleeping. He had tried once a time to offer Tony decaf coffee and no. Bruce didn’t want to have to think about this moment again.
So Bruce had kind of resigned himself since long ago, that there was nothing he could do against Tony and his coffee addiction.
Suspiciously, Tony blushed sightly and even before Tony opened his mouth, Bruce knew what it was about.
“Capsicle will not stop bugging me if I drink coffee at this hour!” Tried to say exasperatedly Tony, but he was clearly deceiving nobody with the pink spot in his cheeks.
Bruce decided to tease him a little.
“Since when do you listen to what Steve say when he’s not here to see it?” Asked with all feign innocence Bruce. But maybe he was also not good at deceiving, because Tony immediately narrowed his eyes at him.
“I know he will know it, he know everything and anyway! You should just listen my suffering and pat me on the shoulder!” Bruce could only roll his eyes to Tony’s dramatic.
After that, they engaged in some discussion related to science and departed each in their room around one hour later.
- Bruce and Bucky in the gym.
Bruce was lifting weights in the gym when Bucky entered the place. Bruce was surprised because he knew that in term of training, Steve, Natasha, Sam, and Bucky preferred to do it the morning, contrary to Tony, Clint and him who did it in either the afternoon or the evening. Thor had no real preference. So yes, outside team training, everybody had their own routine.
Bruce amazement was even more pronounced when it was clear that Bucky was searching for him… But was acting as if he was here for his own training. He kept sneaking glances in Bruce direction, that where absolutely not discreet. He finally grabbed weights, which were clearly nothing for him, and sat down beside Bruce. Bucky grunted softly in greeting before stuttering slightly:
“Y-you’re doing good today?”
Wow. Bruce was kind of speechless. It wasn’t like they never talked together but here, there was clearly something going on. Bruce was curious, so he decided to let Bucky lead the conversation as he saw fit.
“Yes, thank you. And you?”
Bucky nodded. He kept playing with the weights, before he asked, “So huh, you and Sam do quite often your yoga session. Is it interesting?”
Oh my god. Bucky must be the less subtle person in this whole universe. Bruce had to force himself to remain absolutely impassive because it was seriously kind of cute how smitten Bucky was with Sam. He kept bickering with Sam like a child who wanted to gain the attention of the one they were interested in. So, with a lot of control, he replied, “Yes, we do it when possible on weekends. You want to join sometimes?”
Bucky surprised face was really comical. He quickly regained composure and cleared his throat, “I wouldn’t want to impose–”
“You’re absolutely not imposing. I’m willingly suggesting it and I’m sure that Sam will be more than okay with it.” Interrupted Bruce. Concerning Sam, Bruce was positively sure that he was also interested in Bucky. However, he was more subtle and also it kind of seemed like he wasn’t really planning on acting on his “feelings.”
Bruce wasn’t really sure why and didn’t plan on being nosy. Still, he wasn’t hurting anyone by giving them a chance to spend some more time together…
Okay, he did have the idea of pretending to not be able to come for the first session, so they would be left alone. Still, Bruce wouldn’t do more than that. And if Sam seemed really annoyed by it, he would refrain from doing anything else and would apologize.
“… Okay. I will come,” Smiled a little Bucky. Bruce smiled in return, and kind of continued his training in silence. Surprisingly, Bucky stayed the whole time.
- Bruce, Natasha and Clint in the kitchen.
When Bruce entered the kitchen, he already found here Clint and Natasha. They were engaged in a quite animated discussion, and while Bruce prepared himself a sandwich, he got that it was about Agent Coulson. It was no secret that the Agent and Clint were together. Well, no secret here in the Tower. SHIELD didn’t know about their relation and that was maybe for the best.
Bruce finished quickly and sat down at Natasha’s left. She seemed exasperated with Clint, and made it clear by sighing so loudly that Bruce winced a little.
“Come on Nat! You know this is important! I need your help!” Begged Clint and tried to reach for Natasha right arm, but she dodged quickly.
“I already helped you. I gave you so many ideas and you refused all of them.” She responded impatiently.
Bruce didn’t really know if he wanted to be part of this conversation, but for the preservation of Clint’s life (because really, Natasha looked like she was just a step away from stabbing Clint), he interjected, “This is about what? If you want to tell me, maybe I could help.”
Clint looked at Bruce and twisted his mouth. He quickly looked at Natasha and then sighed and said, “Phil and me are going to celebrate our one year together, and I’m still searching for a good present, but I’m really stuck. Any ideas?”
Bruce stopped his sandwich mid air and tried to think of something. It was true that it was an important date. “Have you thought of something hand made?” Suggested Bruce.
“But what in this case?”
“I… Don’t know. Just seems like to me that Coulson isn’t someone really interested in expensive gifts.”
“I said the same.” Interjected Natasha. She sipped her beverage, which clearly looked like alcohol.
“You’re not helping me!” Complained and pouted Clint.
Bruce internally cringed at that. It was true that he had clearly no idea what you could offer to someone for a one-year anniversary. He felt a little bad for that when he saw Clint standing up dramatically and exist the room. Natasha finished her drink and simply patted his shoulder in some sort of recomfort, before going herself.
Bruce finished his sandwich by himself.
- Bruce, the Avengers and the movie night.
All the Avengers were currently seated in front of the television, in the common room, for the Friday movie night. It was a rare sight for everyone to be able to attend it. Even Tony was present. Thor also came back from Asgard early the day, so the place was really cramped.
Tony and Clint were in an argument about what to watch, while Steve tried to calm them down with the disapproval face™. Natasha was holding tightly the remote, Thor and Sam were eating popcorns and Bucky was not doing anything in particular.
“Come on! Action movies are the best!” Pleaded Clint and Tony interjected with, “Science Fiction is the best!”
Two children.
“Natasha, pick something.” Throwed in Bucky.
“You stay out of this!” Intervened at the same time Clint and Tony. So, they could agree together.
“Thor is gonna finish with all the food.” Added Sam, even if he was also contributing to the decrease of the popcorns.
“I’m gonna do some more.” Offered Bucky and he went in the direction of the kitchen.
“Okay, you know what, neither of you are going to decide for the movie. You always decide. Someone else will choose” Finally declared Steve.
“That’s actually a good idea.” Smiled Natasha in a way that was absolutely not reassuring. And this had the desired effect because Clint and Tony completely stopped their bickering. Nobody wanted to argue with Natasha when she smiled like this.
“Bruce, do you want to watch something in particular?” Steve turned to him and asked.
Well, it was true that it was rare for Bruce to choose. He blushed sightly in preparation of what he was going to say, “I’ve always wanted to watch La La Land.”
There was a complete silence before Tony sighed so loudly, “Not the romantic musical pleaaaase!” Steve mouth twisted just slightly, Clint snickered, Sam said nothing, and Natasha smiled briefly.
“Interesting choice.” Finally said Steve. Well, even if he could still feel that his cheeks were red, Bruce thought that it was better than rewatching the same movies Tony and Clint always suggested, or worse, one of those old movies that Steve seemed to be fond of.
“Okay, let’s go for this movie JARVIS please.” Said Natasha.
“Noted, miss Natasha.” Replied the A.I with slight amusement. Tony whined a little more before Natasha threatened to shut him up efficiently. To which, he just pouted in silence.
“I’m sure this will be an interesting movie! Let’s all enjoy this!” Replied with enthusiasm Thor, who never complained with the movies he got to watch. Even if clearly, sometimes he didn’t understand them, considering all the questions he asked at the end.
Bucky came back with a new bowl of popcorns and settled down. JARVIS then lowered the light and started the movie.
In the end, everybody enjoyed La La Land.
- Bruce and Natasha in the infirmary.
Bruce was with Natasha in the medical facility. The Avengers came back from a mission where Natasha was slightly wounded. Thankfully, the Hulk helped and preserved her from anything more serious. She just had a superficial wound on the forehead, and her left arm was sensitive to the touch; an Ibuprofen and some sleep would help in her recovery.
The other were currently in a debrief with Fury and Coulson that was surely going to end in not that long.
“You should go rest.” Offered Natasha. Bruce who was arranging the first aid kit, turned towards her, and simply said, “Don’t worry for me.” He came back and sat down beside her, in the chair at her right.
She turned her head and smiled at him shyly. It was one rare smile, but not one Bruce hadn’t witnessed Natasha directing at him. It always made him slightly uncomfortable because there seemed to be so much behind it.
“I should also thank the big guy.” She added.
“He will always help you.”
“Like you.” She then took his hand with her right’ one. The hair in the back of Bruce neck suddenly stood up and he kind of wanted to take back his hand, but he also didn’t want to be rude.
“Natasha…” Bruce winced slightly and averted his gaze. Natasha sometimes, seemed like she wanted… More from him. But he didn’t know how to explain that it was something that he couldn’t give to her. Natasha was fantastic, a great friend that he valued. She was so much more than just the cold spy she pretended to be.
But he just… Couldn’t.
She squeezed his hand, and he forced his gaze back to her. Her eyes held so many emotions that he didn’t feel like he deserved. From his lack of reaction, she suddenly seemed to understand and tamed her display of affection. She withdrew her hand and smiled apologetically. Bruce felt so bad.
“This isn’t you, it’s just…” He didn’t know how to explain it.
“It’s okay.” She simply said.
Bruce didn’t feel like it was.
+1. Bruce and the Avengers in the morning.
It was one of those mornings where everybody was present. Steve was currently in front of the stove preparing for everyone eggs and bacon. The table was already prepared thanks to everybody’s help and Thor passed along the plates already done. Bruce was drinking his tea when Tony nudged him slightly.
“I had forgotten, but there’s a lady who wanted me to give you her number from the other night gala.” Bruce suddenly froze and he could feel the eyes of all his comrades on him.
“Wow, Bruce the charmer!” Sniggered Sam.
“You want it?” Asked Tony with a smile. Bruce swallowed and closed his eyes uncomfortably.
“Bruce?” Called Tony with a confused voice.
“It’s okay if you don’t want it, man.” Provided Clint. Bruce reopened his eyes and looked at the table. He could feel Tony being reckless beside him and he was fairly sure that his friend wanted to ask what was wrong. In the back of his mind, Bruce thought that maybe they thought that he was disturbed by the gender. Which was not the case.
“It’s just… I’m happy like this. In here with all of you. By myself… I don’t need more.” Bruce tried to convey. Face with the silence of his reply, Bruce looked up and was surprised to see everyone smiling, as if they knew somehow. Maybe not in depth what Bruce meant, but somehow.
“It’s okay Bruce.” Uttered Natasha with a twinkle in her eyes.
And Bruce thought that he wanted to believe her.
It was okay.