Bruce couldn't remember exactly how he ended up in the cab- there was a blur of images, bodies bumping and grinding as he tried to escape, a flash of Lucie's blues eyes smiling at him, Natasha surrounded by men, an amused Steve leading them through the crowd towards the exit, a drunk Lucie leaning on him for support.

The two were in the cab for a good five minutes before the haze started to fade away, a good five minutes before he noticed Lucie's body pressed against his side, her head heavy on his shoulder. He wasn't even entirely sure where they were headed until he saw the tower up ahead. By then, the haze had faded completely and all he felt was a strange sense of stability.

As the cab slowed to a stop Bruce gently nudged Lucie awake; when her only response was a moan and shifting her weight to lean against the car door, Bruce got out of the cab and went to her side, taking some cash out of his wallet as he walked. Opening the door, Lucie started to slide out, but Bruce caught her and stood her. He tried to hand the money to the driver, but he waved it away. "Your blond friend paid up front," he explained.

"Right, thanks," Bruce mumbled. He hesitated, then turned to Lucie, who was swaying to a song in her head. "I'm not sure I trust you to get home in your…current state." He wondered if Steve had done this on purpose, but doubted Tony would convince him to do something like this.

"I don't wanna go home," she whined. Bruce gently tugged on one of her arms, trying to get her back into the cab, but she threw her arms around his waist. "Please Bruce, let me stay," she pled.

For a moment, Bruce only stared down at the top of her head, unsure of what to do. He knew what Tony would tell him to do, but he didn't want to take advantage of her in any way- not to mention, his Lucie, the sober one, would never approve of this behavior. When she woke, she'd be furious. And yet…

Bruce lightly wrapped one arm around her and closed the cab door with the other, caving in to her wishes. "Alright, fine, you can stay in one of Tony's extra rooms." If he could sneak her in before Jarvis locked all the doors.

Lucie broke away from him, turning to the tower. "This will be so cool! Like a slumber party for grown ups!"

Jeez, she was like a bipolar kid. Bruce started after her as the cab drove away. "A slumber party for grown ups?"

Lucie smiled up at him. "Yeah, I've neve-"

She stumbled and Bruce quickly caught her arm, steadying her. "Are you okay?"

Lucie looked from his hand wrapped around her arm to his eyes. "Yes," she whispered. Bruce cleared his throat and let go of her arm, opening the door and letting her in. The two rode up in silence, though Lucie wiggled a little, and didn't speak until they reached the empty living room.

"So what now? Can we watch a movie? With popcorn? And a pillow fight? And eat ice cream and-"

"Lucie," Bruce cut her off, pulling her gently down the hall. "Tony can't know you're here."

The girl pouted, pulling away from him. "Why not? Are you ashamed of me?"

"No, never," he said quickly. "It's just that… Tony doesn't like people using his spare rooms because he has to clean them," he made up, pulling her again, to the room closest to his. He tried the knock, but of course it was locked already. Sighing, he pulled her into his room and sat her on the bed. Yeah, Tony had gotten to Steve.

"So are we going to have a pillow fight here then?" Lucie asked, throwing herself backwards.

Bruce tensed and went to his dresser. "No Lucie, we're going to sleep." Opening drawers, he pulled out a pair of boxers and a t-shirt.

"But I'm not tired!" she whined, loudly, making Bruce jump slightly.

He turned, folding the clothes together in one hand, and crossed over to Lucie. "I am," he lied; he probably wouldn't sleep all night. He held a hand out to her, and she took it enthusiastically.

"Are we gonna dance again?" she asked as he pulled her up into a standing position, entwining his fingers with hers.

"No, you're going to go walk through that door and change into this," he said, turning her towards the bathroom and shoving the clothes in her hands. Lucie shrugged and went in, closing the door behind her.

Bruce sighed and rubbed his face with one hand, relieved to be alone for even a minute. He went out into the hall to find the linen closet, where he found an extra set of sheets. He could probably find a sleeping bag if he looked enough, but Bruce didn't mind the floor for one night- it was even carpeted. Returning to his room, he realized how tired he really was. Maybe he actually would get some sleep tonight.

Or so he thought, until Lucie returned from the bathroom.

He had to admit, he liked how she looked in his clothes, even if it was just nightclothes.

"I'm ready to fight now," she said, walking over to the bed.

Bruce chuckled nervously, turning to the dresser and getting another set of clothes. "Okay, Lucie, we can play- but first I have to change."

"Fine, but hurry up," she demanded, falling back and pulling a pillow onto her face.

"Right." Bruce entered the bathroom and changed, moving as slowly as possible. Once he'd taken care of his human needs he gathered Lucie's clothes and shoes- which she'd scattered through the bathroom- and returned to the room, wondering how to convince her to fall asleep.

Lucky for him, she already had, arms spread eagle with the pillow still on her face. Bruce sighed in relief, and chuckled, turning off the light and turning on the lamp. Tossing the clothes on the dresser, he spread the spare sheets on the floor and turned to Lucie, wondering how to do this; he couldn't exactly let her sleep half off the bed, she wasn't even under the blankets. He started with the blanket, folding it down as far as possible with her on top of them. He then sat next to her and moved down to her legs, lifting them up to the bed, slowly turning her body as he went. She stirred slightly, which only made things a little easier, but by the time she was fully turned on to the bed, it was too late for Bruce to realize the turning process had unfolded the blanket again, still completely under her. He cursed under his breath, rubbing his face. He was too tired for this, and the movies made this stuff seem so easy. But they're awake in movies. He rolled Lucie onto her side, pushing the blankets with her. Surprisingly, this woke her up more than turning her. The girl rolled onto her side, mumbling and putting a hand on his arm, eyes still closed. "What?" Bruce asked in a whisper.

"Sleep with me," she mumbled a little louder.

"Oh," Bruce said dumbly. "Lucie you're drunk, no." He pulled the blanket over her, tucking it in under her sides.

"Please?" she asked as he grabbed one of the pillows and turned off the lamp.

"No," he said, firmly, though he knew Tony would give him hell for it. He threw the pillow on the floor next to the bed and knelt to the floor, trying to make himself comfortable on the floor. After a few moments, Lucie fell silent again. Bruce figured she'd fallen asleep again until he heard her fumbling with the blankets. "What are you doing?" he asked, sitting up.

"Sleeping with you," she said, a frown in her voice. He heard her stand up, and Bruce rose, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"No." With the word, he gently pushed her back down to the bed, and she grabbed his wrists and fell back, forcefully pulling him down on top of her.

"Then sleep with me," she demanded, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Bruce's heart raced, not remembering when was the last time he had a girl in his bed as he gently detached her from him. "I can't, Lucie, it wouldn't be right."

"Please?" she begged, trailing a hand down his arm.

"Why, Lucie?" he asked, trying to ignore her touch in the dark.

She turned, finally letting go of him and crawling under the covers again, to his relief. "I missed you while I was gone and I don't want to feel alone tonight… But I get it, you don't like me," she said, turning away from him. "After everything I said last week, how could you?"

Bruce's heart leapt, and something compelled him to pull the covers back. "Move over." Maybe she wasn't that drunk.

Lucie turned to him, smiling as she slid over. "Really?" Or maybe she was. But less so than an hour ago.

"Really," he assured her, picking up his pillow from the floor and putting it next to hers. He hesitated briefly before sliding in with her, laying flat on his back with his hands folded on his chest. Lucie moved closer to Bruce under the sheets and turned onto her side, wrapping an arm over his chest and one of her legs over his, making Bruce's heart beat faster. Yep, no sleep tonight. He unfolded his legs and hesitantly wrapped his arms around her.

"Thanks, Bruce," Lucie mumbled; he could feel her finally drifting back to sleep.

"For what?"

"For being so nice when I'm so mean," she whispered, tightening her hold on him. "I'm sorry for what I said."

"It's fine," he whispered back, stroking her hair with one hand. They sat in silence for a few moments until he felt her shaking. "Lucie? Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.

"I just- I'm so sorry, Bruce." She buried her face into his chest and Bruce felt tears soak through his shirt.

"Hey, Lucie," he said, lifting her face to his. "It's fine, don't worry about it. I'm sorry for yelling at you like that." It actually had been bothering him all week, though Tony said he was being stupid.

Lucie laughed through her tears and slapped his chest before wiping her eyes. "Don't be silly. I yell at you all the time." With that, her tears came back, more violently, and she buried her face again.

"Oh, gosh, Lucie, shhh." He pressed her tightly against him with one arm and rubbed her arm and back with the other.

The two stayed like that until Lucie fell asleep. Bruce didn't fall asleep until the sun started to come up.