Well here I am attempting to write my second FanFiction story. My other one for General Hospital was to complex and detailed with too many characters that it got away from me, and with school, work and other life events getting in the way I lost confidence, motivation, and the desire to finish the my over 200,000 word story. I keep saying I'll get around to it eventually, but still haven't. For my Bruce/Natasha story I am going to keep things simple and focus mainly on them as the world around them gets more complicated.
First before I get to the story I thought I'd add some back ground on why I decided to write a fanfiction story about these two. It was the combination of two things. First like others going into Avengers Age of Ultron I was skeptical of the Bruce and Natasha story as it wasn't so called Canon in the comics, but I've never been one of those anal people who has to have everything in TV or film based off a novel or comic exactly like the source material, so I kept up an open mind, and the more I saw of the friendship and romance the more I was looking forward to it, and after seeing Age of Ultron I loved the friendship/romance between Bruce and Natasha as it was one of the best things about Age of Ultron, and hope there will be more between the two in future films, and wanted to write a story about the two. The second reason was because of the undeserved hate that Joss, Mark, and a lesser extent Scarlett have gotten over the story line, and especially the scene at the farm that many, many people misinterpreted. Yes Joss's execution of that scene and the editing of the film wasn't the best, but anyone should be able to understand what he was trying to say in the script, and what Natasha was trying to say to Bruce.
All right moving on. I am a Marvel Comic fan first reading their comics in the late 1980's briefly stopping in 2003 after Marvel decided to go with the terrible ONE MORE DAY storyline of erasing Peter Parker's past from the world after his deal with Mephisto. I've slowly gotten back into comics since 2011. I never got into the Hulk comics with my only dealings with the character through the X-Men, Spiderman, Avengers, and other comics, so my depth of knowledge of the character isn't that vast. A few of my absolute favorite Marvel characters are Gambit, Spiderman, Daredevil, Hawkeye, Rogue, and Black Widow.
I'm not a huge shipper, as I think shipping especially in television can ruin people's enjoyment of a show, but if I were to ship Natasha with anyone it would be Matt Murdock. Natasha's relationship with Captain America (Steven Rogers) has been more of a friendship more than anything else. Natasha and Clint Barton did have some what of a relationship, but it had more to do with working together than love, and Clint will always love Bobbi Morse more than anyone else as she is the love of his life. Natasha even had a brief fling with Tony Stark which with it being Tony Stark you know that didn't last. That leaves us Bucky Barnes and Matt Murdock the two in my opinion are the only characters that Natasha has truly loved, and I believe she loved/loves Matt more. Those two in the comics with who ever wrote for them always fit together well had a long relationship before life events got in the way, but the two even have a child together in one of the best story lines I have ever read in Daredevil's END OF DAYS storyline. Writer Brian Michael Bendis knows Daredevil, and Natasha so well creating a wonderful tragic story that everyone should read. I am also surprised there isn't more Matt Murdock/Natasha FanFiction, and I would have loved to see the two team up in Marvel's Cinematic Universe, but like Clint/Bobbi Natasha/Buck that's not going to happen. I am sorry shippers hopping that's going to happen it isn't. In Captain America: Winter Soldier the writers already stated that Hydra kept Bucky cryogenically frozen as he isn't ageless only using him for important missions, and not going to waste time trying him with a program like the Red Room he had not connection with.
As for the plot it takes place after the events of the Age of Ultron and up until then end of my Marvel Civil War. It should be around 15 to maybe 20 chapters, and again mainly focusing on Bruce and Natasha. Just couple of other things. I haven't fully decided what to do with the ridiculous epilogue to the season finale of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. with the Inhumans stuff getting into fish and other sea creatures. I really like AOS, but that was one of the elements of the show that I just didn't like. Also there will be Mutants. That is something else I didn't like as Marvel has to do that since FOX owns the rights to the word and the X-Men. I don't understand how Marvel couldn't at least try to work out a deal to use the word, but anyway Marvel may not have the right, but I do, and will be using the word, and characters who are mutants. Also just a warning I have never been a fan of Tony Stark. Tony's just a terrible character, and here's a fact Stan Lee only created the character as a challenge to himself. Stan Lee wanted to create a superhero nobody would like and see if he could force people to like the character. Lee may have force other people to like the character, but I certainly don't. Robert Downey Jr. good performance only makes the character bearable in the films. Finally I am using both history from Marvel Comics, and Marvels Cinematic Universe wiki page which does have a lot of useful information.
All right I know some people dislike when a FanFiction writer puts a long forward in chapters, and I some times dislike it to, so I will try not to, and only to when reviewers ask me questions. I hope you enjoy my story, and feel free to leave reviews. I love praise, but I have no problem with constructive criticism.
Chapter 1
Waves crashed soothingly against the shores of Mangaia as the first bit of daylight begin to rise beating away the darkness of night with the morning sun creeping into a small ragged cabin where once David Bixby slept or as he is better known to the outside world as Bruce Banner. Bruce loved the sound of the waves crashing against the shore as he rubbed his eyes waking from another night of sleep where his dreams and nightmares were no longer just about what the Hulk had done, but now also of a beautiful red head he missed, and to start another peaceful and tranquil new day on the quiet island of Mangaia. Bruce lived in a small two room hut with only a living room and bedroom. The shower was outdoors as was the cooking fire pit and toilet. It was simple, but Bruce did enjoy the simple life he had on Mangaia. After waking up on the shores of Fiji he had made his way southeast traveling from Tonga to Nue, and finally to the Cook Islands and Mangaia. Bruce was surprised by the kindness of the locals of the islands who willingly helped clothless and penniless foreigner, but they had helped him anyway with Bruce only being able to pay through his medical expertise, which he preferred over being the Hulk destroying everything he touches and killing countless people. Using the name David Bixby, Bruce had gotten a job as a local doctor at the clinic on Mangaia. The island was far away from the capital Avarua, sparsely populated quiet with few outsiders. It was a perfect place for Bruce to hide from the Avengers, General Ross, and himself.
After waking up from another deep stress free night where his own dreams or nightmares were of a certain red head Bruce went on his morning run along the beach, and after went to the local tavern the only place on the island with a television in two flat screen TVs, and one of the few places with electricity. The Mangaia was remote as it was making it difficult for construction and power to reach plus the locals preferred not to use modern technology only using it when it was absolutely necessary, so a small part of the west side of the island had power where the tiny airport was located with the tavern, a lone large resort for tourists located a half a mile from the airport and tavern one grocery story, the clinic, a research station for scientists when they came to the island to do studies, and a handful of homes were all powered by the small solar power grid that was installed.
"Morning Dr. Bixby." said grey haired New Zealander Liam who had opened the tavern on the island fifteen years ago.
"Good morning Liam." Bruce told the man sitting on the bar stool at the bar.
"The usual?"
"Yes." Bruce said turning his attention to the television getting its feed from New Zealand while Liam poured Bruce his coffee, and the cook prepared his vegetable omelet.
"Heading to Avarua for your weekly check and supplies?" Liam asked cleaning out some mugs getting ready for the morning rush. With the island having only one main tavern with a television Liam's place got the business of the two dozen foreigners who lived on the island, and a few of the locals who worked outside of the island who have to catch the seaplane to the other islands.
"Yes I am running low on gauze, bandages, anti-biotics and some other medical supplies for Dr. Palani." Bruce explained, but that wasn't the only reason he was heading to Avarua. For the first time since he came to Mangaia nearly a three months ago Bruce had made contact with the outside world sending a letter to an old friend and family member, but he was distracted by his thoughts when he heard the mention of the Avengers as the newscast switched from New Zealand news to international news and the growing threat of super powered beings in the world.
"After the events of the local invasion of an alien race in New York, the growing rise in super powered beings across the globe, and devastation in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Sokovia countries around the world are asking themselves what needs to be done about the growing threat to the world. The South African government has along with other countries have been putting pressure on the United States to deal with the Hulk who is being a considered a man-made natural disaster that needs to be stopped, but has disappeared since the events of a month ago, and The Avengers either don't know where he is or are willing to tell where Bruce Banner and the Hulk are." The anchor explained. "The Avengers led by Captain America are being strained without the backing of the government and new inexperience members The Avengers, and would have been killed by a group of villains called The Masters of Evil if it hadn't been for General Ross and his elite military unit." The anchor explained showing Captain America, Black Widow, Falcon, Scarlett Witch, War Machine, and Vision taking on and losing against a group of villains Black Knight, Moonstone, Black Mamba, Klaw, Radioactive Man, and Whirlwind on the streets of Chicago. Bruce sees Natasha for the first time in weeks, and the first time on TV. Natasha looks as good as ever in her leather cat suit as she effortlessly dodges blasts from Black Knights weapons throwing a flash grenade in front of the villain blinding The Black Knight giving a clear opening for Cap to attack knocking the Black Knight off his flying horse, but Bruce quickly saw how overpowered the group is compared to The Masters of Evil. Moonstone easily takes down Rodney in his War Machine being photon blasted into the side of the Sears Tower, and then Moonstone and Klaw clip Falcon's wings sending him plummeting down on top of a car. Thing continued to go downhill for the Avengers leaving only Steve and Natasha still standing, but the Black Mamba hits Natasha from behind, and Bruce and feel the dread inside him, and the other guy coming out as he tightly grips the bar top causing his palms to bleed as Bruce realizes he might watch Natasha die, but then Black Mamba as well as Moonstone was hit by multiple energy blasts sending them to the ground as over three dozen advanced armored soldiers with energy weapons came onto the scene forcing The Masters of Evil to retreat.
"Nick Fury leader of the newly formed Avengers Intuitive explained that Sam Wilson known as Falcon was in critical condition with internal bleeding, broken ribs and head trauma, and James Rhodes known as War Machine as some two broken ribs, broken hand and a concussion, but the rest of the Avengers have only superficial wounds, and that the Avengers would not stay down or allow terror and fear to win in the world. After the events of Chicago General Ross had this to say about the growing threats to the United States and the rest of the world." The anchor explained as the screen flashed to a podium in front of the Sears Tower as a mean grizzly looking General Ross made an announcement.
"The world is changing and the United States has to change with it. For far too long we allowed outside influence into our country with S.H.I.E.L.D., and the World Security Council, and look where that that has gotten us as a nation. President Palmer has decided to make changes for the better meant of the country. First unless the United States government is no longer affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D. and considers S.H.I.E.L.D. an outlaw organization that is operating outsides the bounds of purview of the United States or any other nation, and international law. President Palmer is calling on the person in charge to present himself before congress and the president or S.H.I.E.L.D. will be hunted down. Second President Kelly has put me in charge of the growing super powered, mutant problem facing the United States. I have been charged in creating a military unit and a team of powered beings that answer directly to the President and dealing with mutant outlaws as well as advising the president and congress on what should ultimately be done about these mutants. Finally the Hulk and Bruce Banner is being designated a human natural disaster that is single handily capable of destroying cities and killing countless people, and he must be contained for not just the security of the United States, but of the world, and the President is calling on the corporation of its allies and other nations in apprehending Bruce Banner and the Hulk. The world is changing and the United States government will must change with it to better protect the citizens of the United States and of the world. That is all if you have any questions you ask Captain Reid." General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross said finishing up his announcement and handing the press off to his assistant. Bruce pitches the bridge of his nose and rubbing his eyes in frustration. Bruce is surprised at the lengths that Ross would go with the two no longer having a connection with Betty moving. After the events in Harlem she had dumped Leonard Samson Betty had begun date Glenn Talbot and two married in early 2012, and Bruce was happy for Betty, but it seems General Ross's hatred for Bruce has continued, and now with Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. no longer having the ability to keep Ross at bay General Ross is taking the opportunity to deal with Bruce. Bruce hoped Liam didn't recognize him as Bruce had learned a little about hiding and blending in wearing contacts that changed his eye color to blue, cut and dyed his hair from dark brown to blonde, and the natural tan of living on Mangaia helped disguise his appearance, but only go so far.
"Well the world certainly seems to be falling apart." Liam said taking Bruce's plate. "Another reason I'm glad I'm in the middle of nowhere. It's peaceful, quiet, and no one cause's problems except for the occasional drunk, and don't have to worry about what's happing in the rest of the world." Liam continued.
"It's one of the reasons I enjoy it here." Bruce told Liam putting down a twenty to cover his breakfast and the tip, and got up to leave and a catch the sea plane to the main island.
"David." Liam called out stopping Bruce as Liam turned the television from the news to the sports station. Bruce who was getting more nervous as he turned to face the man. "I've never asked what really brought you an obvious well educated man and doctor to Mangaia… and it's none of my business. All of the foreigners here came to the middle of nowhere running from something, searching for something or both. Whatever the reason you are here whether it a being monetary, being fired from your job, failed marriage or running from the military and the world it's none of mine or anyone else's business, but if you ever need to talk about it my doors always open." Liam told Bruce, and Bruce smiled a genuine smile full of gratitude at the man.
"Thank you Liam." Bruce said and went to catch his plane.
On the three hour flight to Avarua Bruce's thoughts turned to Tasha. He had earned the right to call Natasha that after they built their friendship, which had surprised him how much they got along. Tasha had been assigned as his bodyguard after the battle with Loki and the Chitauri only getting pulled off of his detail when Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. had an urgent need for the Black Widow's skills. Tasha had taken a room in the Avengers Tower at the annoyance of Tony, but Stark didn't have much choice in the matter especially trying to win an augment against deadly Black Widow. He and Natasha slowly became more comfortable with each other as the two lived together in the Avengers Tower eating, watching films and television, and casually talking together, but both of them only talking about events of the world, and minor things not talking about their pasts or personal lives. Things between them wouldn't change in their growing friendship until after the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. Steve was gone with his friend Sam Wilson looking for his long lost friend Bucky Barnes, Hydra had transformed into a killing machine keeping him in cryostasis only thawing him out for a mission. Fury was dead, S.H.I.E.L.D. was gone, and Tasha disappeared off the face of the earth for, and Bruce didn't see her again for nearly three months until the night of July 27th when as one of New York's many summer thunderstorms slammed New York city with lightning and heavy rain Tasha showed up with a gunshot to her right shoulder, and a knife wound in her left thigh. Tasha didn't respond to Bruce as he helped her to the medical bay he and Tony had set up nor as he peeled back her Black Widow suit taking care of the bullet and her wounds. Tasha refused to tell him what had happened, but had managed to convince Tasha to stay in the Avengers Tower for two weeks to let her wounds heal some. Tasha remained cold and distant only looking at him with cold soulless dead eyes. It wasn't until two days before Tasha was going to leave that everything changed between them. Tony was away on business and Maria Hill had taken a day off for personal reasons. Bruce found her drinking heavily in Tony's community living space one early afternoon, and thought back to that day.
"Natasha this has to stop." Bruce finally said finally having enough of seeing his friend try to drink herself to death, and seeing the lack of the will to live in her eyes.
"Natasha what happened the night you came here. Please talk to me I want to help." Bruce begged of her wanting to ease her suffering. Natasha sat in silence for a long time, and Bruce was beginning to think the Natasha he had grown to know and like was gone when she quietly spoke.
"Elements of Hydra and the remints of the Red Room tried to kill me, and they used one of the only good men I knew from my life in Russia. Misha Taras was a Major in the Russia KGB, and the Spetsnaz. Before S.H.I.E.L.D. and Clint came to find me I had abandoned the Red Room, they were after me along with many others. Major Taras and his men had found me, but like Clint made a different call. Misha never supported the Red Room program to turn young girls into soulless emotional less killers whose only goal was to completer their mission for mother Russia using whatever means necessary as he had two daughters of his own. Misha allowed and helped me escape Russia and evade the Red Room. His objection to the program, and though there was no evidence he or his men helped me it cost him any chance of advancement and later his career. Once was firmly entrenched in S.H.I.E.L.D. I got Misha and his family out of Russia and the United States where the US government and S.H.I.E.L.D. agreed to help protect Misha that is until everything came out with Hydra being entrenched in S.H.I.E.L.D. The US government might have allowed me to go free, but apparently the continued protection of Misha and other S.H.I.E.L.D. assets aren't a priority anymore. The Hydra and Red Room agents used Misha to lure me to their home just outside New York city where Misha was living hoping I could save him and his family, but I couldn't as they had already killed his wife and three children leaving him alive until I got there and then slit Misha's throat right in front of me." Natasha said stopping for a moment, and was growing surprisingly emotional for an independent and secretive woman who kept herself closed off from people and the outside world. Natasha didn't do emotional, but with the loss of one of the few kind people from her past, and the vast amount of alcohol, and what Bruce had hope the progress of their friendship. Whatever the case Natasha's walls she had built up were coming down, and Bruce took her hand and gently led her over to one of the couches in the living area, so they could get more comfortable, and once that had seated Bruce was once again surprised when Natasha didn't let go of his hand.
"Natasha I am so sorry." Bruce told her as he gently stroked the hand he held comforting her.
"There's more. I don't know how you can look at me, but after what I am going to tell you won't look at me with kindness ever again. After they killed Misha they tried to kill me. I could have escaped, but I chose not to. Hydra and the Red Room brought fourteen men to kill me. They should have brought more. I killed them all with some being killed slowly with the exception of the commander. The Red Room taught me to use my intelligence and beauty to get information, but they also taught me the art of torture, and with what I learned from S.H.I.E.L.D. I spent over an hour torturing the man even with my wounds I didn't stop torturing the man inflicting pain on the commander that no one should ever have to suffer through and then I left the broken man alive as I left leaving him to burn alive after I set the house on fire." Natasha calmly explained showing no remorse for her what she had done to the man, and then turned away from Bruce unable to look at the man's face full of disappointment and disgust.
"Tasha please look at me?" Bruce asked shorting Natasha's name without what he had done.
"Why are you still trying to comfort me after what I've done, and what you've learned about me after my file was released? The legendary Black Widow who kills, tortures, manipulates, uses people and her own body to complete the mission at whatever cost." Natasha told him still looking away and moving to get up and leave the room quickly, but Bruce wouldn't let her grabbing tightly to her hand, and getting her to sit back down on the couch.
"Tasha I never read your file or looked up your information on the internet after it was released." Bruce said using his other hand to move to her face and gently moving it so he could look into her face, and she could look into his.
"You…didn't?" Natasha asked looking at Bruce's face and into his deep brown eyes showing the truth of what he said and looking at her with nothing but kindness and understanding.
"No I didn't. Tony being Tony did, but I didn't. We're friends aren't we?
"Yes we are." Natasha answered with a small barely noticeable smile amazed at how being around Bruce makes her feel not only about the world, but herself as well, and realizes that she doesn't mind that he's calling her Tasha as long as it's coming from him.
"Then as a friend I would like to know you better, and about your past, but only if it comes from you." Bruce explained, and then decided to take the step. He didn't like talking about his childhood or past, but he would for Tasha if it helped her realize that she isn't alone. "I'm sure you've read me file right?" Bruce asked.
"Yes when the Hulk first was let loose, and then after the incident in Harlem, Clint and I were given you file. It didn't go into great detail mainly dealing with how the Other Guy or the Hulk came to be and what potential threat you posed." Natasha told Bruce.
"I am terrified of the Other Guy for more than his destructive capability. I'm afraid of him because he's the part of me that I got from my father. You aren't the only one who grew up unloved and abused." Bruce explained to Tasha, and then went on to talk about his child hood with his father Brian Banner, and his abuse he and his mother Rebecca took from him, and when Rebecca tried to escape with him his father killed his mother slamming her head against the driveway. He went on to explain how his aunts didn't want any part of him and his life in foster homes, and the death of his father. Once Bruce was finished he felt relieved to finally talk about his childhood and past with someone who could understand. Betty had loved him, but avoided his dark past, and childhood. Looking into Tasha's farce all he saw was sadness and understanding, and then Natasha opened up to Bruce about her life. She told Bruce in general way about her life in the Red Room leaving out some details, and even told Bruce about her childhood before Red Room took her, and her real name that wasn't even in the file that was released. Now the only people besides Bruce who know her real name is Natalia Alianovna Romanova are Clint and Fury.
"Where are you going to go?" Bruce asked Natasha after they had finished talking and getting an idea.
"I don't know. Clint has his own life that I don't want to intrude on. I guess I will just disappear. I have nothing left to fight for, and no place to call home, but I never did to begin with, and I'm sure no one will miss me." Natasha explained.
"I would miss you." Bruce said catching Natasha by surprise. "Tasha I've got an idea. Stay here." Bruce told her.
"Here?"
"Yes. Look Maria Hill works for Tony. I live here, and with S.H.I.E.L.D. gone I could use a body guard again to help keep threats from coming after me and unleashing the Hulk when I'm not ready plus you could help me deal with Tony. Yes Tony is my friend, but you know him he can be really aggravating to put it mildly sometimes and I could use another friend to help deal with him and escape from work every so often, but more importantly you could have a safe haven away from the outside world, and be among friends." Bruce told her, but then saw the irritated look in her eyes, and laughed know it was about his other friend. "All right you'd be among one friend, and Tony. What do you say Tasha?" Bruce asked. Natasha thought for a moment looking around the room and out the window as the sunlight was dwindling over the New York skyline, and then turned back to look at Bruce.
"All right I'll stay, but you tell nothing to Tony about what we talked about today."
"Done." Bruce told Tasha. Tony had issues with privacy and boundaries. It was one of his many problems.
"Also about you calling me Tasha I like it, but only coming from you, so let's keep it between us for now."
"Does that mean you are staying?" A hopeful Bruce Banner asked.
"It looks like you've got a roommate." Natasha said once again smiling at Bruce, but a fuller and real smile.
Everything changed between them after that. Tasha found something to fight for with the Avengers. When Steve came back to New York after the trail in the search for Bucky went cold he agreed to stay at the Avengers Tower as he had nowhere else to life at the moment. Steve, Tony, Tasha, Hawkeye grouped once again as the Avengers to deal with Hydra and other threats around the world. Bruce reluctantly agreed to help after the Tony convinced him to. Bruce knew that was a disaster waiting to happen as are many of Tony's ideas, as it happened on one mission in Argentina where Hydra team was still operating out of S.H.I.E.L.D. base and the Argentina military couldn't do anything to stop them. They asked for the Avengers help, and he and the team came down to help, and he stayed behind with the jet only for a Hydra team finding it and firing missiles at him and the jet destroying it. Bruce would have died if he weren't who he was or didn't have the other guy inside of him, and the Hulk was not happy killing all they Hydra men, and then going on a rampage through a small town, and then manhandling Captain America, Hawkeye, and Iron Man before he was confronted by the Black Widow. To both Tasha and Bruce's bewilderment it seemed like Bruce the Other Guy had taken a liking to Tasha as well as he hesitated to attack Tasha, and actually reluctantly obey Tasha when she told him to stop. They sun was getting low and it was time to go home, and then she reached out to touch the Hulk without any fear, and so did the Hulk. Tasha gently ran her fingers down his huge arm and into his hand, and then let go. The Hulk just sat down in front of Tasha and turned back into Bruce, which shocked the team. From then on out Tasha was chosen to deal with the Hulk keeping him from getting out of control, and turning back into Bruce.
The two's relationship changed as well. When they weren't on missions or working Bruce would always try to take Tasha out to have fun once a week as neither of them had any growing up. They played miniature golf, went to museums, ice skating, to plays, and Tasha even sometimes went with him when Bruce volunteered at the local free clinics helping with patients. They laughed and enjoyed each other's company until nearly two months before the incident with Ultron and a few days before Thor showed back up on Earth in search of Loki's scepter. Tasha was good at hiding it, but while they were out he'd notice Tasha looking at differently with those piercing green eyes sometimes filled with wonder, awe, mischief, and something else he didn't recognize or refuse to recognize. Bruce also found he looked at Tasha differently. He always saw more in her as her friend. He saw there was more to the woman known as the Black Widow that only a small select handful of people of got to see, and even then Bruce doubted they got to see the fun-loving care free Tasha that he got to see, and she only showed for him. No he knew things were getting to a dangerous point when he truly noticed how beautiful a woman Tasha was. Bruce always known Tasha was pretty, but he realized he loved Tasha's hair, but loved it best when it was long and full of curls, so he could run his fingers through it like had one time when Tasha took him dancing. Bruce had also loved Tasha's emerald green eyes that somehow lit up brighter when he was around. Of course there was the gorgeous body of Tasha that blew by any other woman he had met or seen making his body respond in ways he didn't it want it to. Bruce had begun to feel something he had only ever felt since he was Betty, but what he was feeling for Tasha was more… deeper, and knew both he and Tasha were reaching dangerous territory, and it scared him.
As the sea plane began its decent toward the city of Avarua Bruce realized he made a mistake leaving Tasha. Both he and the Other Guy wanted to get away, but with Tasha. Yes he was hurt by Tasha's decision to throw him into the pit choosing the mission over him, and for a little while thought she had only used him to gain control of the Hulk, but looking back on it he understood why Tasha did what she did. He saw the pain in her eyes when she kissed him, and threw him off the cliff. Bruce understood her decision. The Avengers wouldn't have won without Tasha or the Hulk there to fight Ultron and his minions. Tasha made the hard choice while he ran. He was still scared of becoming a monster like his father and afraid of the Hulk as he tries to get better control and an understanding with the beast inside of him, and doesn't want to go back to outside world at the moment, but realizes he wants to contact, talk to and see Tasha, and begins to think off a way to contact her without anyone finding out where he is, and might have an idea with the person he's meeting.
Once he arrived in Avarua, Bruce quickly went to the main hospital in Avarua, picked up his pay for the week, ordered supplies told the clerk to have them delivered to the Avarua airport, and put on the plane to Mangaia, and then Bruce rented a jeep, and headed drove along to the coast to Aroa Beach where he found a secluded spot on the beach with tree giving him shade from the sun Bruce took out some paper from his bag and began to write a letter to Tasha putting all his thoughts and feelings down on paper for her to read, and lost track of time.
"Well if it isn't my friend David Bixby." A woman with a familiar called out from behind Bruce surprising him as he had just finished his letter, and had put it in an envelope. Bruce turned and standing before him was his cousin Jennifer Walters. Jennifer was the only family member Bruce had that stayed and contact with him and supported him. Jennifer hugged her smaller cousin tightly. "You scared me David. I thought you had disappeared from my life or worse."
"Jen you know what happened I had to get away from the world."
"Yes the Hulk problem. I heard the reports and seen the news. From what I read the Hulk wasn't at fault. The one known as Scarlett Witch got into his head forcing the Hulk out of control."
"The Hulk is always out of control, and a threat to the world."
"No Hulk isn't the problem his alter ego Bruce Banner is the problem." Jen said smiling for a moment at her cousin, but then got serious. "Bruce my dear cousin is the problem. You see David what Bruce fails to realize or refuses to see is that Bruce and the Hulk are on and the same, so the emotions and feelings seep are still there when the Hulk comes out. Like the time in 2009 when the Hulk saved dozens of people from collapsing building in Turkey after a small earthquake. Afterwards a little girl walked up to the Hulk hugged his leg and said thank you. Do you know what the Hulk did David? The Hulk instead of getting angry hurting the little girl or leaving the Hulk stayed for a moment bent down smiled at the girl and patted her gently on her head and then left."
"That's just one of only a few instances. More often or not the Hulk is out of control." Bruce said trying to counter his cousin's argument, but Bruce was arguing against a skilled lawyer who could walk circles around Tony
"I beg to differ. The only time the Hulk ever goes completely out of control is when he's caught off guard or someone messes with his mind or someone hurts someone Bruce cares about. Otherwise the Hulk is in control and once with Bruce. They know what needs to be done. Bruce needs to realize he isn't his father. Bruce is better than his father, and overcame his father to become a good man who as both as a doctor and scientist and as the Hulk as the ability to help countless people. As a lawyer and a good one at that I try to make a difference in the world, but I wish I had the power Bruce has then I could truly make a meaningful difference in the world. I look up to my cousin as a friend and hero as both Bruce and the Hulk." Jen told her cousin. Bruce just looks at his cousin reverence. No one in his family has ever spoken to him that way before.
"Thank you Jen." Bruce simply said with no other response needed.
"All right I brought what you needed." Jen said handing Bruce a bag. "Well David my friend you were lucky I was needed out here to meet a client who had gotten himself in hot water back in the states." Jen explained thought technically the man wasn't her client, but she needed an excuse to come to the Cook Islands and meet Bruce.
"Thank you Jen for everything." Bruce said quickly going through the bag with New Zealand passport and drivers license matching to the name David Bixby and ten thousand dollars in us currency, which would go a long way here on the Cook Islands. "Before you go there is one more big favor I need to ask of you. I need you to deliver a letter to a friend." Bruce said giving Jen the sealed envelope with the letter he had written to Tasha.
"Is this for a woman?" Jen asked looking at the blank envelope with only Tasha written on it. "David are you in love?" Jen asked half joking hoping Bruce would finally move on from Betty, but then looked at the seriousness of Bruce's face. "Oh my god you are in love." Jen said hugging Bruce again. "Who is the woman?"
"Jen this is really important." Bruce told her grabbing his pen and writing a name on his hand and showing it to Jen. "You need to get this only to her, and no one else. Besides you she's the only one I trust with my location."
"You've fallen for her?" asked after seeing two words written on his hand saying Black Widow, and watched Bruce wash his hand off in the Pacific Ocean surf.
"Can you do this for me Jen?" Bruce asked with a mix of hopefulness and desperation in his eyes.
"Of course David. I am happy you've found love, and a woman who can accept both sides of you. I don't know right now, but I will find a way to get this to her without anyone knowing."
"Thank you."
"That's what friends are for. Now David I hope you think about what I told you earlier. I think it's the only way you'll be happy or find lasting love with this woman." Jen told her cousin as she gathered her stuff.
"I will Jen, and thank you."
"Of course David those are what friends are for and David don't be a stranger. Oh by the way I like the tan, but the eyes and hair just is hair just isn't you." Jen said to her cousin and then headed away leaving Bruce on the standing on the Beach. Bruce sat back down, and just watched the waves roll in and out as his thoughts once again turned to Tasha, and hoped she could forgive him for running without her, and not letting her know where he is, and hope they can have some kind of future together.
