Chapter 4
By: MysticFantasy
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Bruce found himself smiling sleepily as he woke up.
A peaceful two weeks had gone by since the disbanning of Project Hulk Buster and even though the thought of Ross still trying to drag him in was still present in his mind, Bruce found himself a little more relaxed.
Without the worry of being hunted, he found himself bonding even more with his teammates. The fear of having to keep his distance around them wasn't present along with the fear that he'd suddenly have to pick up and leave again.
Naturally he and Tony already had a great friendship and Tony even labeled them Science Brother's. It was fitting but Bruce would never admit that outloud because it would give Tony a bigger swelled head and ego than he already has.
Clint and Natasha were teaching him how to shoot and sweet talk his way out a situation if he was ever in one. Although Clint was teaching him how to sweet talk a woman.
Thor was telling him all of the things about Asgard there was to know. Bruce had believed that he knew the Norse myths well enough to know what Thor was talking about but he was quickly proven wrong when Thor got into details that either no one knew or were twisted around completely.
Then there was Steve.
Bruce felt that he owed a lot to the captain. The reputation of the world's only super soldier is what had sort of gotten him into the mess in the first place but it was the good heart of the man who'd recieved the serum who'd gotten him out of it.
Steve learning that he was the only person the Hulk would listen to was proving to benefit everyone. Ending Ross' team of moster hunters was only the first step.
He and Steve had been good friends before but now it seemed their friendship was getting stronger.
Bruce helped Steve figure out things that were still confusing to him and Steve loved to tell Bruce about how things were back in his time. It was a great learning experience for both of them and the doctor found it as a 'learning of different worlds' experience.
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"Mail call!" Tony announced as he walked into the room.
"What mail? People still do that?" Clint exclaimed. "We never get mail unless it's from Fury and that's through computers."
"There's only one letter and it's for our resident doctor." Tony answered as he handed the letter to Bruce.
"Well, this isn't odd." Bruce said sarcastically as he opened the letter.
"Who's it from?" Tony asked.
"Believe it or not, it's from Ross." Bruce answered as he put his glasses on and quickly read the letter. "He's inviting all of us to a party."
"Well, that sounds a little...freaky." Clint said. "I never thought I'd see the day when Thunderbolt Ross is trying to patch things up with Bruce Banner."
"Neither did I." Bruce said. "Especially after what he said at the signing."
"What are you going to do?" Tony asked.
"I don't know." Bruce answered honestly. "I really have no idea what to make of this."
"When's the party?" Tony asked.
"Next Saturday."
"So you have eight days to decide. I say don't do it." Tony said.
"But what if it's real?" Clint asked.
"From Ross?" Bruce questioned. "This is the man who talked me into trying to replicate the very serum that was used to make Captain America and when it all went wrong basically sent the entire army after me. To either kill or capture me. Mostly capture so that I could be used as a weapon."
"You make a good point." Clint stated. "I say don't go then."
"Maybe you should go talk to Steve about it." Tony suggeted. "You told us about how Ross was practically drooling at meeting him."
"He was." Bruce said with a smirk at having seen a crack in the generals usually serious expression. "Anyone know where Steve is?"
"Captain Rogers is currently in the gym with Agent Romanoff." Jarvis answered.
"Thank you Jarvis." Bruce said about to walk out of the room.
"You're really going to into the gym when those two are training?" Clint asked looking a little surprised.
"Why?"
"Have you seen those two sparring?" Tony asked. "Let's just say that it's a good thing we're on the same team."
"Ok." Bruce chuckled and walked out of the room with Tony and Clint claiming they'd say something nice at his funeral. Quickly taking the elevator to the training area, Bruce quickly made his way to the Avengers private gym.
Upon entering the gym, Bruce quickly realized why Tony and Clint were nervous about him coming here.
Steve and Natasha were easily well known as two of the best hand to hand fighters on the planet and the doctor could see why.
Currently, the captain and spy were trying to outdo each other in a series of acrobatic and skillful fighter moves.
It looked like they had been going at it for a while and it seemed like it wasn't going to stop any time soon.
"Hey Bruce." Natasha greeted as she threw a kick to Steve who easily dodged.
"Hey guys." the doctor greeted. "I'm not interrupting am I?"
"Not really." Natasha answered as she ducked from a punch.
"Steve, when you're done here, think we could have a word later?" Bruce asked.
"Of course." Steve answered. "Something wrong?"
"Not really." Bruce answered. "It's something about General Ross."
"Is he up to no good again?" Natasha asked as she and Steve halted in their sparring.
"That's what I can't figure out." Bruce answered walking over to the sparring ring and handed Steve the invitation.
The soldier and spy quickly scanned the letter before turning back to Bruce.
"Are you going to accept?" Natasha asked.
"I don't know." Bruce answered. "It seems a little strange to me."
"Me too." Steve said. "It sounds like a peace offering but from a man who, I myself heard, said that he was going to continue keeping an eye on you."
"After everything that happened I highly doubt that Ross is going to lighten up on his attempt to lock me up." Bruce said. "I personally think that he might be up to something."
"I think that too." Steve said. "But there has to be a reason he's doing this and allowing you to bring the team with you. If he were up to something then why would he have all of the Avengers present?"
"You think we should accept?" Natasha asked.
"I think we should." Steve answered handing the invitation back to Bruce. "If we stick together in pairs or groups then it'll be harder for Ross to try to pull anything. Just make sure that someone is always with you Bruce."
"Alright." Bruce agreed. "I'll reply saying that we're coming."
"Good. Once we're there, we can try to figure out what he's up to."
"Alright. Thanks for the help." Bruce said and left the room.
The second the doctor was out of the gym, Steve found himself falling into his back and his wrists pinned by his head.
"That was a cheat shot." he groaned to Natasha.
"You should know me better by now." she replied releasing him and they both sat up. "You really think that Ross might be trying to pull something to make Bruce look bad?"
"Not sure." Steve answered. "I don't know this Ross guy very well but I did read the files on him and the connection he has to Bruce. He doesn't seem like he'd give up trying to make the Hulk into a weapon. Either way, one or two of us should stick close to Bruce the entire night we're there."
"I can see why Fury put you in charge of this little time bomb team." Natasha said running her fingers through the blushing soldier's hair. "You've got such good ideas."
"Uh...th-thanks."