Hi people!
This is my first Avengers fanfic! Sorry that my writing is atrocious and awful, but I tried my best!
Just to clarify, this is movie-verse, yet you don't have to see the movie to read it.
I don't own the Avengers. Obviously.
Review?
"Bruce?"
The scientist turned, slightly startled by the unexpected arrival of a visitor. He removed his glasses with his left hand and smiled, his customary greeting.
Accepting it as an invitation to proceed, Pepper Potts crossed the threshold and approached his desk.
On it were several screens, all sporting the Stark Industries logo. Alongside a lot of diagrams involving a twirling double helix of DNA was the title 'GAMMA RADIATION.'
Her attention swiftly returned to the reason she was there when he spoke.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Miss Potts?"
If this had been said by Tony or Director Fury, this statement could have seemed dismissive or indecorous, yet Bruce appeared genuinely positive.
"Yes, there is," she replied, leaning against the desk "Tony is taking us all out for dinner at the Italian restaurant a few blocks from here. Do you want to come?"
Unfortunately, he shook his head, eyes apologetic.
"I appreciate the offer, but I kind of have work to do."
Pepper looked crestfallen.
"You never join us when we go out for any kind of social gatherings."
The genius shrugged, placing his glasses on the bridge of his nose before returning to a computer keyboard.
A knock on the lab door made them both spin on their heels to face the newcomers. Tony Stark and Steve Rogers were standing there, wearing their jackets and were prepared to leave.
"You ready, Pepper?"
"Yeah, uh..." she hesitated, looking back at Bruce, who was examining what looked like a graph of results on a monitor. She moved out of his earshot before continuing. "Actually, I'm going to stay here."
Tony looked rejected.
"Come on, I know for a fact that Italian is your favourite."
"No, my favourite is Indian food."
"That's what I meant."
For a genius, he made an awful lot of mistakes.
After a few words of farewell, he and Steve had left with Natasha and Clint, and the sound of an expensive car was receding into the distance.
Strolling back into the room, Pepper perched on a stool and fished her mobile from her pocket.
"I'm ordering us a take-out. What would you like?"
The reaction she received was one of slightly stunned confusion.
"You know, you don't have to stay just to keep me company. I'm fine by myself.
Pepper sighed.
"You have to stop pushing people away, Bruce. Some people, including me, really want to get to know you."
Removing his glasses once again, he gave her a sad smile.
"Believe me, I don't think they would."
As the impact of this sentence settled in, it was as if she was viewing the man before his in an entirely new light.
When they had first met, she had seen him as the nervous, yet friendly scientist with a little... anger management issue. However, now she saw the person that was hidden from public view. This was a man who was in conflict with a part of himself that he was not willing to accept. A part that was fuelled by anger and rage. The Hulk.
"I do."
Bruce stared at the floor, realising the truth of what she had said.
His brown eyes met her blue ones.
"I think I'll have that take-out."