Chapter 4

Steve steps slowed slightly as he approached Bruce's laboratory. He wasn't sure why, but he got the distinct feeling that this area of the base was somewhat sacred to him, and was feeling increasingly uneasy about disturbing it with every step.

He stood stock still, facing the door, breathing in deeply. "Jarvis, is Dr. Banner in?"

The door slid open in answer and Steve took a few tentative steps across the threshold. Everything in here was dimly lit at best, but from what he could tell it was immaculate, with everything labeled and stored in careful arrangement. Steve smiled at how Bruce-like it all seemed.

He took another step forwards.

"Dr. Banner?" he called out hesitantly into the darker side of the room. "It's Capt-...Steve. I was wondering if we could talk."

Bruce's eyes had been open from the moment the door slid open, attempting to assess the threat posed by the intruder. Steve Rogers obviously posed no threat whatsoever, but he would have to be clearer next time with Jarvis about what constituted 'no visitors'.

He leaned forward off of his cot into the light, still partially obscured by shadow, and rubbed his eyes groggily.

"What can I do for you, Cap?"

Steve suddenly felt boyish and nervous, doubting his own intentions. Had he actually come all the way down here to check on Banner, or was there something more to it as Stark had implied? Of course, Dr. Banner was incredibly smart and never talked down to Steve, never mocked him for his fumbling with technology, and never made quips about the suit being ultra tight like the others. He also had to admit that Bruce had a rather ruggedly appealing look to him, dark hair curly and mussed, making him look as if he had perpetually just rolled out of bed, dark olive skin paled by hours in the lab. Then there were his eyes, hauntingly kind and sad and admittedly beautiful.

Bruce waited patiently and watched as a flurry of emotions passed across Steve's features.

"Uh, earth to Captain America. You ok?"

Steve snapped to attention, unsure of how long he had been lost in thought. He took a slow step forward. "I could ask the same about you. You seemed a little worse for the wear today."

Bruce sighed heavily and leaned back into the shadows. "He takes a lot out of me, that's all." He rested his head against the cool concrete behind him, hearing the Captain take several steps more in advance.

He felt the weight on the cot shift as Steve sat down beside him. "Maybe if you slept more, it would be easier. You can't be getting more than a few hours a night, Bruce. It's not enough."

Bruce's breath hitched at the use of his first name. Steve Rogers was nothing if not a formal sort of fellow, not terribly prone to sudden outbursts of affection, but the sound of his name rolling off of that tongue. His tongue. The mere thought of it send shivers up his spine, and caused the hulk to start poking at him from the inside. Try as he might to deny his feelings and keep his distance, the Hulk was practically purring at Steve's proximity, urging him to reach out and just touch. Banner flexed his right hand experimentally, and sighed.

"Would if I could, Cap. Not terribly easy when you're sharing brain space with something else." He tapped his temple ruefully.

Steve chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully, "well, maybe if you found a way to unwind, he might calm down a bit." He flushed a deep pink, suddenly grateful for the darkness. He hoped Banner did not catch the potential meaning of his statement.

Bruce chuckled, "what, you mean like sex? Why Cap, didn't know you had it in you." He gave Steve a teasing wink. "There aren't exactly a lot of people that can handle me here, if you haven't noticed. The other guy has his own needs, and it's just too risky."

"What about Agent Hill? She seems to have a soft spot for you."

"Small issue with her being, you know, female. But it's a nice thought."

Steve swallowed hard, his blush deepening and his mind wandering with this new information.

Bruce sighed deeply again. "At any rate, she would never be able to handle me if I, you know, lost a bit of my control over the big guy."

Steve spoke before he even had a chance to process what he was saying.

"I could handle you."