Important A/N: This is more friendship than romance. That is, to say, romance didn't bump the rating up.
Not-so-important A/N: In this fic, you'll find that the Avengers are really protective of each other. Also, they're OOC at times. Anyway, I disclaim 'The Avengers'; now you can go read this marvelous story (and you can still read it even though it's clearly not marvelous).
Hey, I Just Met You ; Chapter 1
Iron Man was falling. As his body tried to greet the ground, Captain America and Thor both prepared to save him.
They didn't need to, though, because the Hulk jumped up and caught the metal-clad man. He started to drop from the sky, protecting Iron Man from the buildings as well as the ground they raced toward. The other Avengers ran toward them and got to them just as the Hulk pushed Iron Man off his chest.
Captain America and Thor knelt beside him as the Hulk ripped Iron Man's mask off. Everybody looked down and saw the arc reactor, dull on Iron Man's unmoving chest. Captain America had a panicked, helpless expression and Thor was extremely shocked.
The Hulk's roar jolted Tony awake. First, eyes shot open and he took a deep breath of air. Then the arc reactor began glowing, bright and blue as ever. "Please tell me nobody kissed me."
"What is up with this guy? First he's the Incredible Hulk, then he's the Incredible Sulk," Tony said, elbowing Steve. He shifted his bag of ice so that it was being held by his other hand.
Steve gave him a glare. "That's not funny, Stark."
"Come on, it was a little funny," Tony said. "Is it because I hit on him?"
"If you were in your right mind, you wouldn't say these things."
"Of course I'm in my right mind. Just because I don't remember this Banner guy doesn't mean I'm in my wrong mind."
"Except that you remember the Hulk, but not Mr. Banner."
Natasha stomped up to Steve and Tony, who were on the couch. She slapped Tony across the face. "Your science bro is lonely without you." She pointed to Bruce, who was staring silently out of a window. "If you don't remember him soon, maybe getting hit in the head will help you, too!" She swiped at her eyes because tears had obscured her vision.
"My poor face," Tony sighed. He moved his ice bag to the place where he was slapped, because let's just face it, she slaps hard. "You guys are going to make me ugly."
"You're already ugly," Steve muttered.
Clint sighed and took her hand, dragging her away from the couch. "It's okay," he said. His face was blank, but his eyes were fire when he looked at Tony.
"It's not," Natasha replied sadly. Then they left the room.
"Hey, Steve, why is she crying?" Tony asked, eyes wide. "Also, what's a 'science bro'? Sounds like fun," he added.
Steve took a moment to think before he spoke. "Seeing Mr. Banner like this makes her upset – Miss Romanoff is very fond of him. As for 'science bro,' that is a term you came up with."
"Wow, Cap, you're actually being helpful," Tony joked. "Might need to get you a medal for all your help."
"And I might need to give you another bruise. I'm not doing this for you. Anyway, you and Mr. Banner are 'science bros,' according to you. Before you went and forgot him, you two were always in a lab of some sort. You followed him everywhere, and keep giving him blueberries for obscure reasons, and..."
By that point, Tony was starting to feel a deep guilt. But Tony Stark does not feel guilty for just anybody! Clearly, Bruce was pretty special to him. If only he could remember him...
"...seen you – aren't you listening?"
"Pfft, of course I'm listening," Tony lied.
Steve rolled his eyes. "As I was saying, everybody has seen you sneak glances at him from across the room. It's like you're an over-enthusiastic little puppy and-"
"So it's like that?" Tony asked quietly. He leaned back against the couch. "Me losing my memory... it's actually really awful?"
"Yes," Steve said. "It is."
Later that day, Pepper came back for lunch.
"Let's eat out," she suggested, recognizing Tony's troubled look. Fresh air and a walk could be good for him.
Tony shook his head. "I'll make something here."
Pepper watched him move about in the kitchen. Something was bothering him. She leaned against the counter and said, "The company is doing well. How is it with you guys?" They personally caught up that morning at breakfast, but Pepper actually had places to be, so she couldn't talk for long. She did fret over the whole nuke thing, though.
Tony didn't say anything for several seconds. "Everything's great."
Pepper raised her eyebrows. "Oh, really?"
"No," Tony said, turning the stove burner on. "Loki's still here, everybody's really mad at me, and I don't remember who Bruce is."
Pepper stood up straight. "Bruce? You don't remember your science bro? You only called me once, but I could tell –"
"I know it's bad," he cut in. "I know."
"So what are you going to do?"
He gave her a BLT before saying, "Remember him. I'll show him my lab today, for starters." He remembered that he had promised to show Bruce his lab. He was making progress, right?
A/N: So that's the first short chapter. I hope it's okey. The next chapter is longer and tells about Bruce.
