"Doctor Banner, please. Just relax and breathe. Everything will be alright."
"No, Natasha… It won't. This isn't what I do. I avoid situations like this for a very specific reason."
"Really, Doctor Banner, it will be alright. It's just reconnaissance."
"No. Agent Romanoff, you don't understand. What happens if I lose control? What happens if… the other guy-"
"Doctor Banner!"
His name escaped bright red lips in a low hiss, green eyes narrowing as Natasha wheeled on him. Long, blonde strands of hair flipped around her shoulders, coming to rest lightly over her right shoulder as she stared at her comrade, clearly displeased. They were here on a mission… and if Bruce couldn't get that through his head, then no. Everything would not be fine. Why had Fury insisted he be the one to come with her anyway? Sure… they were investigating potential nuclear threats from another country… But this was something she could have handled on her own. She worked better alone anyways.
"If you continue to fret then you will only create a self fulfilling prophecy. You need to relax." After a moment, the short assassin let out a breath and closed her eyes. One gloved hand came up to rest lightly at the bridge of her nose, pinching there to fight off a headache… Because this was the last thing she'd wanted. To be sent out on a mission with the person whom she'd connected least with on her team. He'd tried to kill her for Christ's sake!
Bruce, who was now staring at her with slightly widened eyes, swallowed hard and nodded. Control… Keeping calm and controlling his emotions. He could do that… he'd been doing it. He'd done it successfully for the last few months.
"Right…" He managed after a minute or so of uncomfortable silence, his voice coming out barely higher than a whisper. "It's just a ball. I can do that without… the other guy."
"Yes you can, Doctor Banner." Natasha replied, finally opening her eyes to look at him. And, though she'd never verbalize it, she had to admit he looked… handsome. His dark, slightly graying hair had been cut recently, giving him a well kempt look that he usually strayed away from. A dark shadow of hair was growing in along his jaw, and he'd even begun to sport facial hair that was reminiscent of his partner and friend's, Tony Stark. That coupled with the fact that he was dressed head to toe in an expensive Armani tuxedo gave him a distinguished look that screamed he belonged here… In the rich, upper class circle that they were about to enter.
"I have faith in you… or else I would not have agreed to allowing you to come along." She added quietly as she bent low, her fingers finding their way into the fur of a leopard that had been standing at her side. It wasn't as though she'd truly had much of a choice, but that was beside the point.
"Right." The word slipped from Banner in a slightly reassured tone, his own dark brown eyes watching Natasha as she moved. She, like him, had dressed for the occasion… And as usual she was enough to make any man's jaw drop. Her thin, petite frame was covered in a tan, satin, floor length gown that seemed to hug all of the right curves before falling away at her feet. A similarly colored shawl was draped over her shoulders, falling back and away as she bent over to reveal her gloved hands as they stroked the leopard's fur. Hair that was typically short and red had been played with, mutating into long, beautiful golden locks that spilled over her shoulder and down her back as she moved. All in all, she was stunning.
"I still don't see why it was necessary that we bring that along…" Bruce added, lifting a hand and gesturing to the surprisingly docile jungle cat that was resting at her side.
"It's an exotic animal show, Doctor Banner. We can't exactly show up without an exotic animal…" Natasha replied, lifting her eyes to him and arching a thin eyebrow.
"If that thing bites me… I make no promises for the well being of the people here tonight." Bruce retorted, narrowing his eyes at the large cat before sighing out and turning his gaze to Natasha. "And it's Bruce. Please call me Bruce… We're on a team now."
"Right… Bruce." It was foreign on her tongue… Strange to say and even stranger to acknowledge. He'd always been 'Doctor Banner'… To call him by anything else felt wrong. But if it was what he preferred, and it would make him more comfortable, then she'd oblige. Anything to keep him at ease and relaxed.
"What we are doing is simple. We get in, mingle, find the room, get the information, and get out. I believe you can do this without endangering anyone." Natasha paused then as she pushed herself up, her body extending to a height of around 5'6"… A good three inch taller than she should be normally thanks to the beautiful heels on her feet. After a moment, green eyes found dark brown and she lingered there, searching for a moment before a slow smile turned up the corner of her cherry red lips.
"You can do this, Bruce. I have faith in you."
(To be cont.)
