It was late summer when Bruce found out about Natasha's scars. The heat had been unbearable for the last week and most of the time all the male avenger's spent in the pool trying to cool down. They hadn't seen Natasha since the heat wave hit; even Steve didn't know where she had retreated to.
It was early one morning when Bruce ran into Nat as she was coming in from the pool. "So you are still around in the tower."
"Of course, where else would I be?" The redhead was drying her hair off as she waited for the kettle to boil. She looked so comfortable in her shorts and tank top, but it was when she jumped onto the counter the shiny skin on her legs caught his attention.
"Tony thought you had gone back to the ice lands of Russia. But the rest of us thought you had gone back to the Avengers training facility because they have a working Air-Con." Bruce looked extremely uncomfortable being this close to The Black Widow even after all the time they have worked together.
The air tensed as Natasha sat silently swinging her legs back and forth as she waited for Bruce to ask his question.
"Just spit it out Bruce!" Nat finally blurted out as she grew impatient with the scientist. Her out burst startled the man as he poured out his cereal, spilling it everywhere.
"Question… what question?" He stuttered, avoiding eye contact with the spy.
"You want to know what's with the scars on my legs."
"Umm, maybe." He moved away from the kitchen and toward the dinning table, putting a little distance between the two of them.
"I don't bite you know, weeeeell as long as your on my good side." A signature smirk graced Nat's features. "Since I can tell you want to know, I will tell you. But this is a one time thing, as I know you should remember this incident as well as I do.
"You remember when Loki got his goons to attack the helicarrier and you lost your hold on the hulk?" She asked him, with his nod Natasha continued. "Well a load of debris fell on me when the explosion went off and almost crushed my legs. If it had, I wouldn't be here today making you uncomfortable. These," She stated as she traced the small lines with her index finger, "are the reminder I have of when my best friend and my ass-kicking partner tried to kill me."
Bruce looked at Natasha will sorrow-filled eyes but didn't say anymore as the kettle finished boiling and the redhead quickly made the herbal tea – that only Bruce and her drank – and left with her cup.
It was almost comical that as soon as Nat was out of sight, all the other Avengers appeared from their rooms and didn't see her.