Five Times…

By: InitialA

Disclaimer: I own nothing in the Marvel universe.

Author's Note: Thank you so much everyone, for your kind reviews and all the favorites and kudos and other wonderful notifications making my inbox explode!

She stopped just outside the lab door, hearing Tony yelp in pain. She glanced inside and saw Bruce saran-wrapping an ice pack to Tony's shoulder; a brace with a smaller pack covered his wrist on the same arm. Their backs were to her. "Sorry about that…" She heard Bruce say.

"Why? I told you to go for it. I'd do the same, if I could ever get a grip on you."

Bruce shook his head, and took a seat, writing something in a notebook. Tony got up, tossing an apple with his good hand. Pepper ducked back, listening to them talk. "It's totally fine to go completely nuts on me. We've done enough upgrades on the armor and the safety backups in the room that I'll be fine."

"Except…" Bruce drifted off; Pepper guessed he was gesturing to the injuries.

"Happens all the time, even when I'm not dealing with the Jolly Green Giant. Downside of being human, you get hurt. Whatever."

"You're the second person ever to not be afraid of me. You know that's weird for me, right?"

There was the crunch of the apple being eaten. "See, you shouldn't have told me that. I'm competitive. I don't like second place."

Bruce chuckled. "Yeah well… I haven't talked to her in months, you can have honorary first place."

"Her?"

Pepper peeked around the corner. Tony was looking pointedly at Bruce; Bruce, in turn, was pointedly not looking at him, and writing in the notebook. A full five minutes passed before Tony lost interest and wandered over to tinker with the schematics of his suit. She was contemplating going in and trying to break the awkward silence—without letting on that she knew about it—when Bruce spoke up, very quietly. "Her name's Betty."

Tony paused with the hologram briefly, and then continued modifying it. Bruce set down his pencil. "Betty Ross. She was my colleague, and… we had a thing together. I… hurt her, after the accident. She was there. She didn't hold it against me, for some reason. Even when I came back, she was the only one who wasn't afraid of… the other guy. She could get him to calm down, and I could be me again."

There was a pause. "Anyway, her father is a general. One of the guys after me. He's the biggest reason we haven't talked to each other in so long."

"General Ross?" Tony asked. "I met him. Long time ago, when S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted you to come out of hiding, they sent me. Fury thought I was the negotiating type, for some reason. He's a grade-A douchebag, which is something coming from me."

She heard Bruce laugh, in a hollow, self-deprecating sort of way. "Well, when it comes to me… he's not my biggest fan."

They were quiet for a while, until Tony spoke up again. "You haven't thought to contact her now? You're in a safe location, S.H.I.E.L.D. overrides the Army, and you live in a privately owned building. He can't stop her."

"He'd do something. I don't… I don't know what. I don't even want to know what he'd try to do… But it's… It's easier… easier to let her move on."

Pepper felt sorry for him. Bruce was so like Tony, but without the bravado and charisma and devil-may-care attitude about strangers wanting to control him. Where Tony would challenge them to try until they backed down, Bruce hid and hoped they would lose interest. He secluded himself from everyone, even the woman he—as she suspected he did—loved, just so he could be left in peace to deal with his terrible privilege. He probably thought he was protecting her. Pepper knew how she would feel if Tony ever decided to hop on that train of thought; she wondered if this Betty felt the same.

Another few minutes passed before she heard Bruce say lightly, "Anyway, I've got you now. Your methods are a bit unorthodox, but it seems to be working."

Pepper raised an eyebrow at the opposing wall as Tony said, "Gosh, big guy, I'm flattered… but you know I quit that whole dating around scene. I wish you'd've said something sooner."

They both chuckled. Pepper rolled her eyes, smiling. Her cell phone vibrated, annoyingly loud even in silent mode. She looked at the text: You can come in now. –T

She paused for only a moment to wonder how long he'd known she was out there before her phone buzzed again. And start locating Betty Ross. Please. Discreetly. Also please. And thank you. And other manners. –T

She sent back one message before walking into the lab. I'll remind u of this, next time u doubt u have a heart.