He was reading some recently published academic journals on his laptop, a steaming cup of coffee at his hand. He was just mentally bashing the idiots in the field of gamma radiation, when JARVIS's voice came over the intercom.
"Dr. Banner," the robotic butler addressed him.
"Yes Jarvis?" Bruce replied, not looking up from the screen of his laptop.
"There's a visitor for you."
That got Bruce's attention. He looked up towards the speaker on the ceiling,
"Who is it?"
"They wished to remain anonymous, sir, save for that they are an 'old friend'."
Bruce wasn't sure he trusted this "old friend". After the battle in New York, S.H.I.E.L.D. had, by means unknown, gotten the U.S. military to give Bruce amnesty. That is, his days of running were over. He still didn't feel safe though, and felt it best if he stay with Tony and the other "Avengers" for as long as possible.
"Thank you Jarvis." He said, standing up.
"My pleasure, sir."
He stood up, and went to go put something more presentable than his pajamas on. As he made his way to the elevator, his mind raced. What would happen if this "visitor" wanted to hurt him, or the others? What if it was Ross, with a veritable army, ready to take him in? Bruce shook his head, as he stepped into the elevator, and pressed the button for the Lobby. The conditions of his amnesty were thus, as long as the Hulk remained contained, and was only released for official Avengers business, people like General Ross couldn't touch him. Still, he steeled himself, as the elevator approached the Lobby, ready for who or whatever was on the other side of those doors.
When the doors opened, Bruce slowly stepped out onto the polished floor, the sunlight streaming through the large window-wall opposite him. He looked left and right, scanning the Lobby to see that it was almost empty. Almost.
He saw a woman looking out of one of the windows, and he felt his heart begin to race in a way it hadn't in a long time when she turned around.
"Betty." He half-breathed.
She smiled at him, her eyebrows coming together,
"Hi," she whispered.
He sped over to her, stopping a few feet from her, unsure.
"What are you doing here?" he couldn't be sure she wasn't under some kind of pressure from her father.
"I saw him…you, on the news." She said referring to the battle, "I came as soon as I heard you were here."
Bruce stood there silent for a moment, and then, unable to restrain himself, wrapped Betty up in a long overdue embrace.
Her arms immediately wrapped themselves around his shoulders,
"I'm here." She whispered.
There they stood, two lost puzzle pieces that had been strewn across the planet, finally together again.