Why she made a big deal from the smallest of things, Margoret had no idea. She'd been unsettled from the moment she walked out of Stark Industries, her mind at a disarray. Bruce had asked if she would like to spend time with him outside of work and she agreed. The problem wasn't that. The problem was that she may have been interpreting his words the wrong way. The two of them were simply co-workers looking to catch a break with one another outside of work and Margo may have taken his invite as if it were a date.
She could have laughed if she weren't so busy attempting to fight the urge to bite her nails off. An old habit she'd gotten rid of but seemed to be making its way through her system once more.
The idea of what she thought Bruce may have meant by their outing sent a feeling throughout her body. Something unfamiliar yet familiar. It didn't make sense yet at the same time it did and Margo was beginning to think that she may have been over thinking things with her jumbled up nerves. Outings weren't her specialty. At least outside of an academic or work sense.
The woman stared at herself through her bathroom mirror, analyzing and observing every shape, size, dip, and turn of her face. She was tempted to stretch her features back out of frustration but she had just redone her makeup and she feared the damage she could inflict.
When Margo came back home, she'd taken another shower in fear that when her and Banner met up again, that he would notice something foul about her. She brushed her teeth once more and bathed herself in her best and favorite perfume. Yeah, she'd been trying really hard at that point.
Smoothing down her shirt, she groaned.
Her outfit wasn't exactly something she would have worn to work; too casual. And it wasn't something she would have worn at a fancy dinner. Nothing to freak the physicist out and have him run out on her. She'd simply worn a pair of form-fitting jeans, cute little slip-ons, and an off-shoulder top.
"Oh my god!" Margoret growled out loud. "I'm trying too hard."
Reaching down, Margo ripped her shoes off and tossed them at the wall. Storming into the hallway, she stomped towards her room, her mood taking a turn for the worse. She would try a pair of sneakers to distort the "desperate for a date" look she'd put together. And she would take off those damned dangling earrings for a pair of studs. In doing so, her appearance looked a lot more along the lines of what she thought Bruce really had meant behind his words. She would keep the top to add some flare just in case he meant it the other way. In the way she originally thought.
Okay! What she had on was date appropriate and a "walk around the park" appropriate. So either way, she wasn't going to make a fool out of herself.
Sitting down on her bed, she looked at her watch. Thirty minutes before she would have to go and meet with Bruce. The two agreed to go for dinner at an Italian restaurant that, conveniently, was a few blocks away from Margoret's and apparently not that far from Bruce's either.
"Italian!" she yelled. "He's taking me to Italian!"
Margo stood and grabbed the sweater she'd taken out and tossed it back into her closet, opting for a more suitable outerwear. The amount of times she grabbed and tossed was beyond her. Her room was a mess. Her bathroom not far from it.
Margoret never expected herself to be in a position like this. She regularly criticized her friends from uni who exaggerated as she was doing now when they were invited to go out somewhere with someone they may have found... exceptional.
Banner wasn't a bad looking guy. If anything, besides his age, his attractive feats was what caught her attention the first time the two met. And his age wasn't a turn-off. If anything, it was a preference of hers. She didn't like to assume but one couldn't deny the obvious. He was a slightly older man and she was okay with that.
As time slowly passed them by, she'd gotten a hold of herself because naturally, work came first in her life and she didn't need to ogle the man. He never suspected a thing. No one did. She was good at hiding her true feelings and if anything, it sort of freaked her out when her co-worker had easily read her just by looking into her eyes.
When he lied to her.
She was over that but what she hadn't gotten over was how, by a quick slip out and back in of her wall that she'd built for protection, Bruce saw it all. She could have reacted in anger by his words, which she usually did with people. Occasionally Andrew, the man closest to her, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. Especially after she'd seen his reaction when she'd given him the cold shoulder... No, never again. She'd save the cold shoulder for when he really ticked her off, which she hoped would never happen. And if he did, it was either that or a punch in the face. No, a punch in the face was too harsh. A slap, maybe. Yeah a slap. A really hard one.
She flopped down on her bed, her hair splaying out around her. She didn't like feeling vulnerable and she wished that whatever it was Bruce was doing to make her feel that way, that he would stop. Crushes were a no-no on her list because for one, her friends acted really stupid when they had them and two, she knew nothing big was going to form after this.
Her face fell slightly at the realization.
Even if he were truly interested, Margoret couldn't imagine something along the lines of a relationship happening between them. Not only because he'd get over her quicker than she would him, but because she wouldn't let it continue. He'd get over her because personally she believed-she knew-she was a horrible person. She was quite the introvert with a rather sour personality and if that wouldn't turn him off, well something would. She was a woman made up of flaws and only flaws. He was bound to find something he would dislike and stop all sorts of communication with her. And if he still tagged along, she'd stop it herself. There were some things better left unsaid, and Margoret had a tome filled with them, and one of those things dealt with relationships.
Attraction turns into crushes and crushes turn into likes. And gradually, likes turn into something farther and beyond, something Margo didn't believe in. Love.
She'd seen far too many things happen, many of them being bad, and she came to the conclusion that this "love" people felt wasn't actually what they all made it out to be. One either felt an infatuation or held an obsession. Love was something else that didn't exist. She had come to that conclusion at a very young age and she stuck with it. There was no such thing as love because if there was, it wouldn't be such a pain.
Margoret gathered herself together. By the time she would reach the restaurant she knew he would be there waiting for her.
Biting her lip, she slipped into her jacket and nodded slowly. She just hoped she wouldn't hurt Bruce in the process of it all.
"It's not a date though, remember?" she muttered.
Bracing the breeze that passed over the streets of New York, she was thankful for the fact that the weather was taking a turn for the better. The Winter season was turning into Spring and soon she would find herself in her more comfortable and favorite attire. And from her understanding, she was soon to have an office of her own as the employee who was set to leave was almost done their move. There was a giddy feeling of excitement that flowed through her at the news. The downside to it though was that she wouldn't see Bruce as often. The upside, she wouldn't see Tony as often. Though her boss made it pretty clear that he would come visit her from time to time seeing that, in his words "You're my favorite employee of the month." Then he'd gone on about if he had an employee of the month thing going on to which Jarvis responded with "no." And so then, a rather malicious scheme began to form in the man of iron's head.
Margo shook her head in amusement. What a man he was. And now knowing that he was in a relationship; she began to wonder what type of man Tony Stark was behind closed doors for someone like Pepper to want to be committed to him.
Another batch of buildings behind her, Margoret looked up to see the restaurant just an extra block away from her. From what she could see from the outside, the ambiance was lovely and she suddenly felt a bubble of nerves flow through her. Whether from nervousness or excitement, she didn't know.
She didn't see Bruce and she wondered if he was already inside. If it weren't for the fact that she knew what kind of person Bruce was, she would have thought the man may have ditched her. She knew him to a certain degree but it was enough for her to have good judgment of him.
Pulling the jacket tighter against her body, Margoret evaded the pedestrians and cars that came her way. New York was something extraordinary. She'd give it that, but it was definitely something else on the bad scale. It was too overcrowding for her and the noise that raved through day and night never came down to a considerable level. Did she love her job? Of course. Was she enjoying herself, especially with Andrew around? Definitely. Then there was the new friends she was making. It wasn't so bad when you included all of that. That was why she never spoke up on the more non-fairness side of the city.
She broke her way through the crowd that stood about the restaurant's entrance, taking in as much air as possible. Roth hadn't notice that she was holding her breath in the smog ridden place. Her anxiety had been picking up as the crowds grew thicker, leaving her to bump and push through. It seemed she and Banner weren't the only ones going for dinner that night.
"Sorry."
Margoret pulled back as her body collided with another. She looked to the man who mumbled an apology with a smile.
The two of them were reaching for the entrance when they bumped into each other, stalling them from reaching their goal.
"No, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention." Margoret returned his smile.
She watched as his tired eyes looked over her face. Bright blue-gray eyes she'd never forget as they seemed to pierce through her very being. He took in the sight of her as if he were trying to store the look of her in his mind.
In an awkward attempt to break away, Margo opened the door as a means to escape from his calculating gaze. Before she could leave, the man gripped it, keeping it from swinging out of control from the sheer force Roth pulled it with. She looked back at him, a small and gentle smile forming on his lips.
"Ladies first."
"Thanks."
There was a gasp of some sorts lodged in her throat. Margo could feel the need to inhale sharply to relieve the ache in her chest. She swallowed the urge down and made way for the host.
There was something about him that rubbed her the wrong way. He didn't exactly scare her but there was a discomfort that passed over her when he took her in like that. It wasn't just that. He seemed to be memorizing her face as his eyes scoped her features, but for a moment there, a quick second, his eyebrows seemed to furrow as a realization tried in forming itself within his mind. She'd seen that expression before. That same exact expression back in Australia. Back then, when it happened, at first she didn't feel alarmed. Nothing to it. Whatever happened. But as her week was coming to an end, things had taken to a sour twist.
Margo's teeth chattered involuntarily as a cold sweat swept over her body.
Let's just say that some tricks her parents taught her growing up hadn't gone wasted as she put it to use against an attacker. That attacker whose expression had been mirrored perfectly by the man she'd bumped into.
"Margo?"
She could hear a distant call but the woman's body grew rigid as memories flooded her mind. Her ears growing deaf to the noise around.
"Margoret." The call again. More foreful. "Margo."
There it was. The gasp that needed to escape. Loud and prominent as she came to. With hazy eyes, she looked at the man who brought her back to reality.
Bruce looked over her face that had grown pale in the matter of seconds he lied his eyes on her. He'd been waiting inside to avoid the cold and he was hoping the girl would come in and not think he'd abandoned her or something. When he saw her come in, he felt ecstatic but the smile that had formed on him slowly turned to a look of concern as Margoret's demeanor changed into a nauseating induced angst.
"You okay?" His words were laced with worries as he placed a hand on her cheek.
Her temperature seemed to warm at his touch, a slight flush coming back to her flesh.
With a sigh, Margo smiled wearily. Relief flooded through her at the sight of him. She nodded in response to his question.
"Are you sure? Did something happen? We can go home if yo-"
"No, no." She stated emphatically, reaching for his hand that was placed gently on her face. One hand encircled his wrist as the fingers of her other hand laced lazily around his. "I'm fine."
He didn't believe her. There was no way he could especially after seeing her looking so ill.
"Come on." Removing his hand, she she squeezed it for reassurance. Whether for her or for him, there was little convincing behind it as her grip faltered.
Bruce looked at their hands, their digits seemingly laced now, with hints of doubt and concern. He was quite the worrier and, as of late, there was an impression that some things were getting out of hand. He and Tony had gotten to talking earlier on a matter his friend was feeling concerned about. And then to have Margoret acting so strangely. There were two matters now that became a concern to Bruce and soon it would be Stark's as well seeing that the two people being involved in these circumstances were a lot closer than one would think.
First Andrew. Now Margo.
"Hey." Margoret started excitedly. "Let's get going. I'm starving."
The physicist's brow creased at her sudden change of attitude. It was as if she hadn't appeared like she were in a crisis that moment. Her skin was still a bit pallid against his own but she was teeming with an excitement he'd only seen from earlier. But there was a sway in her eyes that caught his attention leaving Banner to know that what happened did happen. That it wasn't a part of his imagination. She had brought her wall up once more, a tasteless impulsion, Bruce thought, not only as a barrier of protection but as a means to uplift herself. Barring away like that had its perks but from the outside staring in, it was an uneasy sight to take in.
Margo held onto the man's hand absent-mindedly as she turned to look towards the entrance of the restuarant. The blue-eyed guy wasn't there and she searched for him, seeing no evidence of his presence. Either he left or led himself to the back. With both reasons warring in her head, she hoped it wasn't the latter.
There was a tug to her hand as Bruce led them to the host who finished attending a group. Banner spoke with him, a smile etched into the attendee's face, and was led by a waitress who hurriedly made her way to a table for two. Despite the crowd outside, business was fast that night. And so Margoret stopped her pursuit on the blue-eyed man and set forth for a night she hoped would end agreeably.
The two seated themselves, looking at one another and to the waitress who took down the drinks they decided upon. Their attitudes were generous but their responses short; a need they both shared to find the time between themselves to talk.
Roth searched her surroundings once more for the man but from what she could see, he was no where in sight. She couldn't have been imagining him.
He was there, she thought. He bumped into me.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
With the best grin she could muster, she looked to Bruce with a nod. She felt bad for, undoubtedly, ruining their whatever it was they were having, so far. She'd been letting her emotions get the best of her and not enjoying the night the way she should have been. It was time to put an end to that.
Bruce gave her a look of disbelief to which she laughed at.
"I'm fine." She waved her hand thoughtlessly. "I thought I saw something-someone but it was nothing."
The man's expression did little change to her words of reassurance.
"I'm serious!" she chuckled helplessly.
A tint of red appeared over her cheeks which were back to its natural hue. It brought a soothing calm to Bruce as she reverted back to the Margoret he knew and liked. He smiled dubiously but held to a positive attitude.
"Here are your drinks." The waitress placed them down onto the table and reached for her notepad. "Ready to order?"
"Sorry, no." Bruce chuckled.
"M'kay. Let me know when you are."
Margo and Bruce grabbed their menus and searched through them, Margoret finding something cheap but fulfilling in a matter of minutes. She didn't know how this would go but she knew that if he was going to be the one paying, she didn't want him spending so much. Judging by the rest of the menu she could see the prices were pretty high and the atmosphere of the restuarant was pretty classy.
So maybe it is a date. Margoret grinned despite herself.
"What's so funny?"
The woman looked up at Bruce who'd been watching her as she read through the list of dishes intently.
"Nothing. I'm just stupid."
"Why would you say that?" His expression mirrored hers.
"Because I'm stupid," she stated with a laugh.
Placing her menu down, Margoret reached for the zipper of her jacket. She rid herself from it as her nerves sent waves of heat through her body.
Taking a full look at her under the fluorescent light, Banner was in awe of her. He took notice to her hair which was swept over her shoulder remembering that it had been up earlier at work. Her choice in jewelry and makeup changed. And the off-shoulder shirt she wore now was definitely something different all in its own from the attire he usually saw her in. Not that it was bad. Not that any of what she changed was bad. And he began to wonder if the adjustments she made were intended to appear as if she were going on a date. This intention he little more than hoped was true because in fact, what he planned was a date. And if that was not the case, then it wasn't a date.
Bruce couldn't stand the idea of being made a fool of as he used to back in his days of constant torment on the behalf of others. If she took this as another outing of theirs with no romantic purpose, then so be it.
She knew he'd been staring at her, but she did her best to keep her cool. Margo hoped he wasn't calculating her appearance and thinking wrong of her for it.
Clearing his throat, Banner looked back down to his menu and searched for his meal. There was a hint of red that crossed his features to which Margoret smiled at.
From the moment they were seated, the man had removed his jacket and Roth took notice to his wear. It was befitting for what she believed her attire was appropriate for. Both date-wise and for "hanging out" and the style didn't stray too far from his usual look.
How easy it must be for you to dress up. Margoret thought.
Banner closed his menu after he found what he wanted and looked about the room.
The restuarant was a nice choice, he had to admit. And so far Margoret seemed to be enjoying herself. Well, now she was enjoying herself because earlier; not so much.
If there was one thing Bruce wasn't good at, it was letting things go. Even after someone managed to shut him up, he would still be thinking about whatever it was that left him uneasy. Or whatever left the other person uneasy.
"You alright?"
Bruce raised his eyebrows in attention to Margo's question.
"Now it's my turn to ask," she laughed.
His expression turned into that of a shy boy as he nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Margoret's brow furrowed slightly. Taking notice, Banner's face broke out into a mock look of blithe.
"I'm fine. I'm just stupid."
Squinting her eyes at him, Margo kicked the physicist's foot beneath the table. Her violent reaction was overshadowed by a glee when she smiled leaving her friend in a state of contentment.
"You're hanging out with Tony too much."
"He seems to believe I'm hanging out with you too much."
"Putting the blame on others, I see."
Or maybe you two are more alike than you'd like to believe. Bruce chuckled within.
"Ready to place your orders?"
The two drew their attention back to the waitress and were attended accordingly. They chatted aimlessly as they waited. Little things here and there. The usual. Never anything too deep. Just the basics of their work, of the ones around them, "how are yous," etc.. And when they received their food, which Margoret took happily and hungrily, they continued their chit-chat. But Margo wanted more.
She knew, as should everyone, that there was more to people than meets the eye. She believed she could say the same for herself and could only imagine what that meant for Bruce.
Unasked questions from the moment the two worked with each other poured through the girls mind. She picked at them effortlessly as she looked for something to keep their night going strong, but without turning Bruce away.
"So," she started as she reached for her glass. "If you don't mind me asking..."
Banner looked at Margo questioningly, his mouth twisting as he stopped mid-chew.
Taking a much needed sip to get herself rolling, Margo rubbed her lips against each other awkwardly as she tried in pushing the words out of her.
"The work you have me doing." She paused again, carefully assessing his next possible reactions to what she was about to ask. "Do you just have me working on something random until I get to the stuff I should be dealing with or am I doing something that's a little more personal to you?"
Swallowing his mouthful, Bruce seemed to process her hesitant question.
"More personal." He looked down at his plate, running the fork over his food.
Margoret nodded. She had a feeling it was. Especially after having done her own research on certain things.
The more she delved into the work he gave her, she began to see a pattern of such. A lot of it related back to radiation and reversing molecular changes and Margo started to believe that maybe what he had her doing was a lot more important than she at first suspected.
"Bruce." He looked up at her. "Are you-"
"Don't say it."
The physicist gave her a symphatizing look.
Nodding in understanding, Margo sat back as a realization dawned upon her. Bruce, all this time, had been looking for ways to stop or at least reduce his thing (she didn't know what else to call it) with the Hulk. And to know he had her, someone he didn't know so well, doing something as important as this... It took all that she could to not hyperventilate. That was a lot of trust he was instilling upon her.
"I've managed to keep things in my own head." Banner tapped at his temple with his finger. "He has too."
In other words: don't say what you wanted to say. Don't want him to know.
She could almost hear the silent words cross between them.
"Sorry," he sighed. "This was a bad idea-"
"No. No, Bruce. I'm here."Margo placed her hands on her chest. "I'm here for you. If anything-For anything."
She always surprised him with her action and her talk. Each day more than the last.
Where their conversation was going and how it was taking place, he didn't know. He didn't feel uncomfortable with her question, which was probably the third most personal thing shared between them. He felt unsure. Her unreadable expression and her hesitance; Bruce was ready to back out before she could get another word out. A random and brash move but he couldn't think of a reason... He couldn't think. Wasn't thinking right.
"You always say these things," he sighed. "Not a lot of people are like you. You, you say these things where-I don't know. It's good. Sometimes crazy." He smiled.
Margoret's attention was drawn in from the moment he started. She was sure she looked dazed like a moron but this want she had to hear him say what she thought he was going to say. And yet, the fight that warred in her to keep herself unattached. It was deaf to her.
"Margo." Bruce looked to the woman across from him.
His eyes began to waver as something caught his attention from behind her. Squinting, Bruce was shocked, to say the least, at the sight.
Several tables away, in a booth leaning casually against the plush backing of his seat, Clint Barton sat and watched. With his brows twisted and his tongue pressed firmly against his cheek, he stared back at Bruce with curiousity. His blue-grey eyes grew dry from the lack of blinking but he held onto the image before him.
"Um." Banner started again. "Thank you, Margo. Thank you."
He felt the urge to bite the living hell out of his tongue. "Thank you" was not what he meant to say. He was sure, he was ready to tell Margoret his feelings, or to at least hint at them, until he was distracted.
Bruce looked back to Clint who was seemingly talking into an unseen device.
Is he spying on me?
"You're welcome."
Banner shook his head involuntarily as Margoret brought him back from his thoughts.
"You're welcome, Bruce," she said again. Her tone was bleak as she gave him a small smile. "Can you give me a minute? I have to go to the bathroom."
Margoret stood on heavy legs and led herself away from one of the most ridiculous situations she believed she had ever put herself in.
Watching to see her enter the lady's room, in the instant she was out of sight, Bruce stood abruptly.
Seeing him make his way to his side of the restuarant, Barton relieved himself of his seat and walked hurridedly to the entrance. Almost breaking free, he was stopped as a hand pulled his arm back.
"No, no, no, no." Bruce huffed earnestly. "What are you doing here? Are you spying on me?"
"Not here." Clint said in an agitated hush.
"Are you spying on me?"
"No."
Clint tried to turn his body away from the open crowd of the restaurant but Bruce held on.
"Then what are you doing here?"
"I'm not spying on you. I'm here for someone else."
Releasing his arm, the archer took that chance of freedom to turn his back on the man. Bruce came around to face him head on again. His persistance coming off in agitation after having his night coming to a slow ruin.
"Before he suspects a thing, which knowing him, he probably has; keep your face out of view." He pushed closer to Bruce, keeping him hidden. "I was here watching Andrew."
"Andrew?" The physicist face twisted into confusion. "Andrew's here?"
"He was watching you and your... date."
"What?" Banner whirled around to look into the sea of people but was pulled back around by his fellow Avenger.
"Look. I'm here on a mission, okay? You'll be briefed on it tomorrow when I come to talk to Stark. All I can say is that we-"
"We" as in the "Avengers,"" he quoted with his fingers. "Or "we" as in S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"We," Clint started again strongly. "Have a problem and Andrew..." He sighed as he mulled over his next words. "We'll talk about it tomorrow."
There was a spark of something that had spread through Bruce's being leaving him slightly unhinged. All he wanted to do was shake his head to relieve himself of the nightmare that began to spin around him. A way or means to reverse time and... do what? To get him and Margo out of this mess.
"The girl you're with."
The physicist frowned.
"Do you know who she is?"
Bruce opened his mouth, giving Clint a look of disbelief. "Of course."
"What's her name?"
"Why do you-" Stopping himself short, Bruce exhaled deeply.
At some point or another S.H.I.E.L.D. was going to get involved. They always got involved. Complying was a choice he himself needed to make but in the end, they usually got their way. Even at the expense of others.
So complying it was.
"Her name is Margo."
"Full name?"
He bit the inside of his cheek, feeling regret at confronting his ally.
"Margoret Roth."
"Roth." Barton murmured.
The agent's mind brooded over the name, a sense of many things close to dread and confusion looming over him.
"Keep her out of this, Clint. She's an innocent girl."
Barton frowned. "No she's not." He shook his head. When he and her had bumped into each other earlier, he didn't assume much. But after having a good look at her face. The man knew trouble was afoot. "I think you just got yourself in deeper shit than you would've liked."
"Clint, what are you talking about?"
"You're going out with one of the craziest women on the planet."
Bruce's face scrunched up in a dumbfounded regard.
"You're on a date with a master assasin. HYDRA's master assasin."
AN: What the hell is Clint on? And what a c*ck-block, right? Or maybe Margoret isn't telling the whole truth. And why is Andrew watching Bruce and Margo? Who knows? We'll have to wait and see.
Margoret really likes Bruce and she would like a relationship but at the same time; she's having a dilemma. Which you all will find out why at some point or another.
Again, thank you all for the favorites and follows as well as reviews.
Reviews:
Amber-Jade James: Thank you for your kind words. Means a lot to me 3
werewolfrunner: Sorry for making you wait, haha. I hope you enjoy.
Wrockstar4: I love the enthusiasm! It always gets me going. I hope you and the other readers enjoy this chapter and the many more to come. And to all of your unanswered questions, you'll have to wait and see!
Thank you again guys. Reviews are always appreciated.
And lastly, I will never not apologize in the AN and so, the first apology. Sorry for the late update. I kind of forgot to tell you guys that I'm quite the basket case. I'm still recovering from the stomach virus and I had three wisdom teeth removed which then the recovery was horrible. I'm still dealing with headaches and nausea but not as bad. I do continue to write despite my illnesses and/or situations it's just that it takes longer for proof-reading to get done because my mind gets a little hazy.
Second apology, I apologize for any grammatical errors.
Until then, everyone!