"So, you just knew?"
"I just knew."
Bruce sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. He winced from the constant tug of his skin. His other hand grasped a cup of coffee; it's warmth dying down. Pepper sat across from him with a cup of her own, a small smile placed upon her lips. The two made their way over into a cafe in Stark's tower after their run-in in the elevator and had spent a better amount of time going over Pepper's love for his friend.
He had a mini breakdown from a flutter in his chest whenever he looked at his new co-worker. That was it. A minor fit of anxiety. He needed a little space away from the woman and that's when he met with the red-head. He didn't know if asking such a private question would get him an answer he would've like to hear but his mouth was quicker than his mind.
Banner, being his seemingly usual self was on edge. An edge no one knew about. He was just as he was in their eyes. When he approached Pepper with the question of when was it that she knew she liked Tony, he didn't know where he was going with the topic. Now, the two sat before each other about an hour later with Bruce feeling unsatisfied.
"But you're not really interested in my love life."
The quiet physicist looked at the woman whose face mirrored that of a knowing parent. Slowly, he lowered his gaze down to his drink.
"Mm," was all he could muster.
"Have you ever felt this way before?"
"More or less."
"Was there another girl in your life?" Bruce froze. "I'm only asking out of curiousity. If that's okay with you."
What was he supposed to say? Was it right to mention Betty? Was mentioning anything about the past right? Did it matter anymore?
"You don't have to say anything now if you don't want to. Actually, you don't have to say anything at all!" Pepper placed her hand on the table. It was a comforting gesture without actually touching him and probably making him feel uncomfortable. "Just know that it's nothing to freak out over. You have feelings. You're still human, Bruce."
He didn't know how to feel about that. He could have denied it but deep down, he knew there was something there. Something that still made him, him.
Banner nodded but he didn't know if he was doing it because he agreed with her or if it was an absent-minded thing.
"I'm sure things will work out perfectly fine between you and Margo."
The older man nodded again. Wait. "Wait." He brought his hands down onto his lap. "How do you know it's Margo? I never said anything about her before."
"Because." She smiled. "You just told me."
His mouth was ajar as a realization of what happened dawned upon him. "Oh." A sheepish look overcame his features.
"I think it's too early to say it's anything serious. It's more than likely a crush." Bruce pursed his lips at her words. "As I told you before, that's how it was for me the first time I saw Tony."
"Yeah." Bruce sighed. "I guess... I guess since I haven't," he used his hands as if to pull the words out of him. "I haven't felt this way in so long that, I don't know. It felt almost foreign to me. I panicked," he mumbled. Stupid.
"All in all, Bruce. Baby steps."
Bruce gave a reassuring nod. A genuinely sweet laugh passed between the two leaving them in a state of content.
Banner felt stupid. Really, really stupid but it was slowly becoming a thing of the past. And in that moment where him and Pepper shared that laugh, he actually felt normal. It was fairly short-lived but he felt it and that left him feeling a little confident in himself. There was a feeble amount of worry that plagued him from the fact that he bothered someone like Pepper for a matter so absurd but he also felt like a weight was lifted off of him.
He found himself acting more and more like someone out of this world than what he truly was in the end: a human being.
"One more thing." Pepper spoke. "If it would have been Tony waiting on the other side of the elevator, would you have asked him the same thing?"
Would he have done it? The thought reeled in his head.
"Probably not."
"Probably not." Pepper repeated with a grin. "Feel better?"
"Believe it or not, a little. Thanks," he said with a hesitant smile.
"I'm glad you came to me, Bruce."
It means a lot. It was a thought that could almost be heard between the two.
Never in his life, especially after his accident did he think he could have a moment like what he just had with Pepper Potts. Let alone with somebody like Pepper Potts. This wasn't a part of his norm. First Tony, then Margo (the cause of his current problems), and finally Pepper. The three of them had done something for him that no other tried in doing; making him feel normal.
"Anything else you'd like to tell me?"
Bruce shook his head before another word slipped from him. He didn't want to seem like a burden plus, he had nothing else to say.
"Okay," she said with a smile. "If anything, and what I mean by anything I mean anything you don't feel comfortable telling Tony, you can come to me."
"Right." Bruce chuckled.
"Waitress." Pepper called.
The two waited in a comfortable silence as the bill was paid. Pep had insisted on doing so herself but Bruce couldn't live with the idea of having a lady do it. She was pretty adamant on getting it done but Banner had slipped his card to the waitress before Pepper had a chance to take out her wallet. Despite, the look she gave him, she couldn't help but smirk. He was a good guy and she wished he could see that himself.
Distancing themselves away from the other as they exited the cafe, Bruce watched the woman be on her way. He turned to the elevator he knew that would take him back up to his floor where Margo would be waiting.
He looked at his watch and cursed under his breath. He didn't notice how long he'd been gone from his work and he only hoped that Tony wasn't there to see.
With quick steps, Bruce made his way over and into the elevator. He pressed the button for his designated floor and leaned back against the cool metal surface as the doors closed.
His heart beat was normal and not erratic as it had been earlier. It worried him because he didn't want to turn into the Hulk all because of a feeling he hadn't felt in a while. A feeling he wasn't all too sure of. Something he couldn't properly decipher. It was a bit disheartening knowing that anything that brought a sort of excitement to him would trigger the other guy.
The doors opened as the elevator came to a stop. He twisted his wrist watch around as a nervous habit and walked into the room.
He would be fine.
"Hey, munchkin. Can you pass me that-"
Stopping short, Bruce's body froze at the sight. Tony had his arm stretched out in Margo's direction and his eyes were locked on him. He'd been working on something for the Iron Man suit until Bruce walked in. Margoret was standing not far from him, her work left unattended. She had been helping the other man while Banner was gone.
"Well, well. Look who's come to join us. Where you been at, Bruce?"
"Just uh," Bruce started nervously. "I was getting a cup of coffee."
"Really?" Tony looked at Margo who stiffened under both of the men's gaze. "For an hour?"
"How long have you been here?"
"For an hour." The edge of Tony's lip quirked. "Came down here a few minutes after you left according to pipsqueak."
An audible smack resounded through the room as Margo smacked Tony's arm. The man of iron laughed as he grabbed his arm.
"Ouch. You're pretty heavy-handed."
Without saying a word, Margoret looked over to Bruce, the scowl never leaving her face. She gave an eye-roll in his direction and leaned against the table Tony worked at.
"Just tell me what you want."
Stark's eyes switched from her to the physicist inquiringly. He could have made a crack at her words but her rising ire at the shy man piqued his interest.
Bruce's brow furrowed at the woman's, clearly visible, bad mood. What he may have done to cause it, he didn't know but he what he did know was that he didn't like it.
"I wanted you to hand me the screw gun." He pointed over to the tool that lied on the table next to them.
Pushing away from her spot, her body stayed rigged as she felt Banner's eyes on her. She reached for the gun and brought it back to her boss, placing it on his hand rather forcefully.
"Okaaay." Tony gave an awkward smile to the woman. "Now that Bruce is here, you can get back to what you were doing."
Margo turned back to her side of the room and took her place. With a deep sigh, she leaned her head on her hand and started back on her work.
She was annoyed, to say the least. It hadn't even been five minutes after Bruce left that Tony came down. When he asked where Bruce was she told him what the other man had told her. When Stark denied ever meeting with him, that's when Margo got a little miffed. Her co-worker lied to her. No other explanation than that. And if there was one lesson the two men were going to learn that day, it was that Margoret didn't take lying or liars for that matter, lightly.
The man being the source of the woman's anger stood glued to his spot. He wanted to move but the idea of her looking up at him while doing so left him feeling skittish.
"Bruce." Tony called. "I need you here, buddy."
Swallowing, he walked over to the engineer's side giving one last glance to Margo. She hadn't looked up and for some reason it left him feeling bad. Not one look. Not one bit of attention directed his way.
Margo sat up straight and pulled a strand of hair behind her ear. The sudden movement caused Bruce to trip and bump into a stool. She looked to him quickly, the sound startling her. Tony sighed heavily as Bruce straightened the stool and took to his side. Margoret shook her and attended her work once more.
Smooth, Banner. Real smooth. Bruce mentally scolded himself. He was practically walking on eggshells around the woman. Something he'd expected her to do around him.
"Hey." Stark placed a hand on his table, the other placed firmly on his hip. Bruce gave him a questioning look. "I don't know what's going on between you and Thumbelina over there but save it until break."
Roth rolled her eyes, unbeknownst to the men.
"Then you can tell me how it all works out," he whispered, a smug grin forming on his face.
"Is everything a joke to you?" Bruce could hear the Captain's words echo in his mind.
Practically everything was funny to the philanthropist. If it wasn't happening to him. Though plenty of times, even if it was happening to him or if he were involved in some way he would settle on a joke or two to ease the tension. When Bruce and the other Avengers thought they "lost" him after his stunt with the missile during the attack in New York, Tony was more concerned if any of the men had kissed him after waking up.
Bruce almost laughed at the thought, but it was because of that that made Tony Stark a man of fascination and fun.
"Alright. So I was thinking." Tony pointed at his prototype suit's arm. "We dismantle it, apply your little concoction, put it back together and pop it in a microwave."
"But we haven't even figured out how it's going to get done let alone apply it."
"Then we should work on that, right?"
It felt like hours when it was merely minutes of labor that passed them by. Bruce concerning himself with the RG-27 and Tony dealing with the mechanical portion. The room was lit by a bright shade of blue as Jarvis exhibited a fragment of his true potential.
Trying to not let it distract her, Margo had to admit that she was pretty awestruck by it all. It was like a map-a blueprint of sorts dangling before their very eyes. Tony would extend an arm and retrieve something from the design and manipulate it effortlessly. It would twist and turn, amplify and contract from the movements of his fingers. Occasionally, Bruce would do the same so as to showcase a better explanation to his theory. It was all the same to the woman, though. It was beautiful and amazing.
Tony reached for yet another boundless orb, bringing it close for him to inspect. It's design was intricate and remarkable. A creation formed from combining two other globes. His face was unsettling as he observed it. With a deep scowl, he planted his hands on either side of it and flattened it.
"This is the ugliest thing I've ever seen," he mumbled as he rolled the hologram in between his palms.
As if on cue, a waste basket formed through Jarvis' doing and without any regret, Tony threw the object into the bin.
"Jarvis. Bring up some of my old stuff for the arc reactor on my suits."
"There's not much to "bring up." A design for your reactor wasn't much of a thought you settled on."
"Unacceptable. We'll be changing that now, I think."
"As you wish."
Margoret found Tony Stark at work amusing. As a worker he was unusual but incredible. When he put his mind to something, he got it done. Although his need for humor was always present, it did little to interfere with his profession. She hated to admit it but she was starting to see him in a whole new good light.
Bruce bore his weight on his left leg, relieving his right of it. His arms were crossed as his eyes skimmed over his notes. He would slide his finger over the screen of his computer and continue his read all the while adding a thing or two to it. He was another one that immersed himself in his work.
Despite how upset he had gotten her, Margo appreciated the sight of her co-worker. He was good at what he did and even though she knew how awkward he felt by her actions towards him, he did his best in not letting that affect his job.
She looked down at her watch and saw she had 20 minutes until break. Margo wasn't sure if Bruce was still up for sushi seeing how fidgety he became because of her. If he didn't want to go she wouldn't force him but she had no qualms of taking him out either.
There was little to no notice on Margo's part as the physicist would occasionally look her way. She didn't look as upset as earlier but he feared eye contact. Flashbacks ran through his mind of the times when people would turn on him. He didn't want to think that way but sometimes a little pessimism kept the hurt from pooling in. He grew too comfortable at the idea of having people treating him kindly. Of having them treat him with respect. If he were petty, he would blame Tony for it seeing as the man gave him a little hope of change. Though others were still rather unkind... Bruce had no one to blame but himself.
What was it that he did that could have offended her? Was it because...
Bruce ran his hand over his face.
She thinks he lied to her. Well, he did lie but he didn't mean to. He just needed a minute or two away from her to get his head on straight. He could have gone to the bathroom to do that but then again, if he hadn't met Pepper.
He sighed.
He was weaving a mess of headaches and pains.
Stretching, Margo looked over to Bruce. Her heart jumped as she caught his sight. He had been staring at her and judging by the fluster on his face, he didn't mean to get caught.
Bringing her arms in close to her, she raised her eyebrows at him with a purse to her lips. The edges of Banner's lips quirked slightly as his eyes tried to settle on something else but her.
That wasn't suppose to happen.
Bruce looked to her again. Her eyes had never left him. Her face was twisted as if she were having an internal battle with herself.
She wanted to say something. To kill the tension she knew very well was her fault. Margo wanted to punch herself in the head sometimes at her crassness. Andrew did tell her it would get her in deep shit one day.
Tony cleared his throat bringing the two out of their thoughts. He puckered his lips with an eyebrow raised.
He had been observing the two for a while. Bruce was like an open book and if he really thought no one would notice him staring at the new girl from time to time, he was stupid. And Margo's emotions and thoughts that raged violently through her mind could clearly be seen through her eyes. Even from a distance.
"If you want to play star-crossed lovers then I guess I'll call break early." He jested.
Though his patience wore a bit thin from the lack of communication he needed to get through for his suit, Bruce and Margo's situation was somewhat entertaining.
"I'm going for take-out. You guys do whatever." With a wave of his hand, he left the two alone as he walked over to the elevator. "I need a drink," he croaked.
Silence loomed over the co-workers. It was deafening and left them feeling awkward. The air felt thick and it took Margo all the power in the world to not inhale sharply.
Banner bit his lip as his brow furrowed.
Was he supposed to say something? Was she? Who would say what? Who would do what?
"You uh..." Margo's voice was quiet.
Bruce looked at her in surprise.
"You still want to go for sushi? It's up to you, really. It's whatever with me," she said with a shrug.
There was a slight hint of defeat that emanated from Bruce's being as his shoulders visibly slumped.
That wasn't the way I meant for it to come out. Margo chided herself.
Despite her inner admonishment, her face stayed placid.
Thinking of a way to make it up to her, Bruce thought it okay to take up on the offer. At least she still granted him the choice of going with her to eat out. It felt odd to him, especially with her acting aloof towards him. He didn't want to feel like a burden either.
Rubbing his hands together he started, "Uh, yeah. Sure."
"K."
Margo gathered her things as quickly as possible. She tried in slowing down her movements to a great minimum so as to keep Bruce from thinking she was in a rush for things. She didn't want him to see it as her wanting to get their break "over with" nor have any other negative thoughts that could possibly plague his mind.
Bruce didn't bother with collecting any of his own things. He had his phone and his wallet already; there wasn't much else for him to take. He was a simple type of man in that department.
"Ready?"
He nodded.
The two headed towards the elevator with awkward gaits. There was a distance between them that grew less as they neared the doors. It bothered Margo to say the least. If there was one thing people knew about her besides her temper it was that she held onto grudges far longer than necessary. And she didn't want a little white lie on Bruce's part to be a reason to hold onto yet another one.
A bell chimed in the room as the carriage reached their floor after having retrieving it. The doors of the elevator opened, the two filing in with heads bowed. Margoret crossed her arms and peaked from the corner of her eye at Banner who pressed the button for the Lobby. He leaned back against the wall with his hands slipping into his pockets. His expression hadn't changed much. He showed no type of sadness nor anger but neither did he look happy or at peace. Then again that was how he always looked.
Bringing a hand up to the back of her neck, Margoret pinched and twisted the flesh as she spoke.
"Don't lie to me, okay?" Her voice was soft.
Bruce had to do a double take at her words.
So she was mad about that.
"It's just-I don't like that stuff. Even if it's something simple or stupid, just say it. And even if you didn't want to tell me where you were going, you didn't have to. It's not my business."
This was the most open she had been with him. He could see it in her face. She hadn't even tried to make eye contact with him and her uncomfortable state screamed a barrier had been broken into. It left Bruce feeling something he was all too familiar with: pain.
"You've been lied to before. Badly. That's why it bothers so much."
The doors opened as Margo looked to Bruce. His brows were furrowed as her wide eyes looked up at him. It made sense to the physicist at that moment. How the eyes were the windows to one's soul. It startled him for a second to see how open she had become just after he had said those words. Words he didn't mean to blurt out.
Quickly, her eyes grew hard as they normally were when she became pensive. A smirk appeared on her lips as she walked out of the elevator.
"How observant." Her tone was mocking but she hadn't meant it to be entirely offensive.
His words weren't out of observation, much, but out of something a little more mutual. He didn't want to address the feelings that came with that truth so he shrugged it off as if it were a nuisance.
Margo turned away from him and began to walk leaving Banner behind.
Bruce managed to pick up his pace to match her strides from behind. She may have been small but she was quick.
"Sorry." Bruce started. "For everything."
Margo stopped short before touching the handle of one of the entrance doors. She looked down at her feet with a purse to her lips.
She didn't want him to apologize. He didn't need to apologize. Frustration comes and goes and Andrew would have her head if she kept up with her unnecessary attitude.
Her lips parted into an open smile as she turned to him.
"I'm sorry."
Banner scrunched his eyebrows together at her apology. He didn't want her to apologize. She didn't need to apologize. But all the same he smiled back at her.
Pulling on the door handle, Margo reached for her co-worker and looped her arm with his. Bruce's face became flushed at her rash move. She felt warm against his side and he against hers. It was an innocent action on her part. She was showing him that whatever it was that occurred between them hadn't affected their friendship at all. Their friendship or acquaintanceship. Whatever it was, it was left unharmed.
His thoughts went back to his conversation with Pepper earlier into the day. He could deal with her being a crush. There was nothing else to it. There was no threat to their affiliation with one another. There would be no danger for there wouldn't be that type of commitment. This was safe. It was impeccable, blameless, and innocent.
Margoret loosened the grip she had on Bruce's arm but kept them linked. All of the optimism that had driven her from earlier today had come back tenfold and all seemed well. She felt like she could take on the whole world at that point. The physicist hadn't protested her touch. He felt stiff by her side and she laughed inside her head. She'd seen this side of him when Tony would become affectionate with him. It wasn't something he was used to. Margo paid little mind to that in hopes of breaking him out of his shell. He reminded her of herself when she was younger and had been sent off to Australia right after graduating from home-school. She was a recluse as he was. Being able to have the experience she had in university, though, brought something out of her. Something she wasn't entirely unfamiliar with and someone she hadn't felt in a long time. Herself.
Despite the fact that she knew one of his main reasons of being such an introvert was because of the Hulk; it didn't matter to her. She wanted him to feel okay. She wanted Bruce to understand that Hulk would be Hulk and Bruce Banner would always be Bruce Banner.
She was crossing hot waters. Dangerous territory. She knew that but she also came to terms with the fact that she really didn't care.
There was a friendship there. Not just with her but with Tony and Andrew and whoever else that was currently involved in his life. And he needed to see that.
AN:Friendship is magic! And what a better way to start a new year than by posting a new chapter? Happy New Year, everyone. May you live long and prosper.
So now we're back to Margo and Bruce. Please don't get me started on where I'm going with their relationship. It's sometimes a hassle to get their whatever is going on thing going but other times it's fun.
Yay for Pepper and Bruce becoming friends and yay for Tony being... well, Tony.
Always appreciative of all the new follows + favorites.
Reviews:
Guest: Thank you and I can't wait to get all the other chapters out. It's going to get pretty fun and exciting!
You guys are awesome. Point blank.
Reviews are always welcome and I apologize for any grammar mistakes that I may have skipped over.
Until next time, hindi importanteng bagay! 3
