Chapter One
Steve Rodgers sat at the bar. He grimaced as he heard a giggle behind him and knocked a shot back. The burn distracted him for a moment but a low voice sounded again. He refilled his glass and leaned back. It really wasn't their fault. Tony had almost died a week ago. He really understood, but this was ridiculous. He sighed at the sound of another giggle. He drained the glass as it was muffled and morphed into a moan as the occupants of the couch tangled. He set his glass down and stood, ignoring the suddenly straightened and blushing couple on the couch. Tony placed an arm around Pepper and grinned as Steve walked by.
Steve nodded, but didn't pause as he made his way to the gym. His metabolism had already burned away any relief the alcohol gave him from the clarity of his memories. He shook his head as he remembered the one person that he might've had the chance to be with. Like Tony and Pepper. But then he woke up and everything was different and well… so was he. He shook off his thoughts again as he reached the gym and grabbed a bag. This was the only way for him, the only way to forget.
He hooked the bag onto the chain and started. He pounded the bag, imprinting his pain and memories into it instead of the front of his brain. He was relieved as his mind numbed and his body went on auto pilot, driving hit after hit into the canvas. It reached a crescendo when the ache passed into the trance-like state he was in. With a pained grunt and a particularly hard punch, the bag was knocked from its hook and hit the wall 10 feet behind it, splitting open and spilling sand across the floor. He sighed and grabbed another bag, hooking it to the chain. He started again. It was going to be a late night.
The lead of Dr. Bruce Banner's pencil broke. For the fifth time in about as many minutes. Maybe less. Jane's speech at the other end of the room was broken again by Thor. For the past few weeks, she had been trying to get him to understand that magic was only a higher form of science, nothing more. But Thor had been… distracting her. Thoroughly. At least once every minute.
That, coupled with his archaic descriptions of his love for her and his… too intimate talk of her body, had Bruce on edge and wanting to throw something. Possibly Thor. Through a wall. Bruce's train of thought ended sharply with a snap as his hand clenched too tightly around his pencil. He dropped the pieces and shoved violently away form his desk. His chair fell completely as he stood, clattering noisily to the ground. His hand automatically came up to run through his hair, brushing it from his eyes a he stormed form the room.
He felt his heartbeat increase well enough without the warning beeping from his monitoring bracelet. In fact, he could see it, every beat tinged in green. He made his way quickly to the room Tony had prepared for him, barreling through the halls, his shoes lying in shreds behind him. His shirt had almost ripped completely off by the time he made it. He squeezed his incredibly larger mass through the door and heard it seal behind him. He grunted a thanks to JARVIS but then all he knew was green.