Circuit Breaker
The next day, Monday, Georgia started acting normally again. She got up in the morning, the time she would usually get up, and got ready for work. Today, she decided on a flattering yellow top with a black skirt and heels. She curled her hair for the first time in a long while.
Her appearance must have signaled that she was feeling a lot better, because Tony gave her a satisfied grin as she exited her room, her heels clicking. Banner was seated at the counter, as usual.
"Well somebody looks gorgeous today." Tony said with a wink. Georgia rolled her eyes at him.
"Pepper better be in here somewhere." she snapped, though it was accompanied with a smirk.
"What she doesn't know won't hurt her." he teased, grinning. Georgia gave him a pointed look as she opened the fridge, taking out a yogurt.
"Want anything, Bruce?" she asked turning to him. He looked surprised that she was talking to him again.
"Uh, no. Thanks." he stammered, going back to his coffee and paper. Georgia shrugged, grabbing a spoon and a cup of coffee. She had decided what she was going to do last night.
She was going to talk to Bruce. Make him understand that she was sorry for the mistake she made by kissing him. She had come to the conclusion the night before that nobody could want to be with someone as damaged as her. So she would simply ask to be friends again.
Easy, right?
"I'm heading down early, guys." she said, pressing the button on the elevator. She got in, eating her yogurt, and waited until she arrived on her floor.
Her lab was just as she left it, and as she opened the door she felt more at home than she had felt all week. She sighed contently as she typed in her passwords and started working on her project.
She spent the whole work day in her element, working with some of the prototypes that she had come up with. So far, either no dice or the device would prove to not be able to power even a lamp for more than five minutes before burning out.
It was frustrating work for Georgia. Back in Germany, she was the best. Though she pretended otherwise, watering down her skills so she could stay on the 'down low'. She could figure everything out with little to no prolonged effort. With this project, it was almost impossible for her to find a suitable clean, self-sustaining power source that could power Stark Towers for a long period of time.
Officially burnt out for the night, she decided to close up shop and head back upstairs. The time on her computer read 10:21. She had worked five hours later than usual, and she hadn't even noticed. She even skipped lunch and dinner. Time seemed to move faster when she was using her abilities.
Running a hand through her hair, she stood up, turning for the door... when she realized something. She had promised herself that she would speak to Bruce today, and get all the mess straightened out. She was determined to stay friends with him.
She took a deep breath as she walked down the short hallway to Bruce's lab. He was sitting at his desk, sifting through files on his computer. She knocked lightly on the glass door before swiping her card and entering the code, stepping inside.
"Hi, Bruce." she said, keeping her voice light and easy. She could do this. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure." he said, matching her calm tone. It still unnerved Georgia, how he was just too laid back about everything.
She decided to just dive right into it. "Listen, I'm sorry about what happened last week." she started, her voice only slightly nervous. "About me kissing you. It was totally unprofessional, and we're good friends, so I really don't want to jeopardize that."
He gave her a bemused look, so she continued with her apology. "I realize that it was a mistake, and that you probably agree with me that it was a mistake. I wasn't feeling well, and I guess I just acted on an impulse. A stupid... unprofessional impulse." she said, playing with the end of her shirt in a nervous habit. "So I'd really love it if we could stay friends and it not be, like, awkward between us."
Bruce still didn't say anything. Georgia smiled slightly. "I'm sorry." she repeated, and turned back towards the door. "Good night, Bruce."
She was at the door when Bruce finally spoke.
"I didn't think it was a mistake." he said quietly, rising from his desk and removing his glasses from his face. Georgia turned around once more to face him, her eyes guarded. She hadn't planned for this.
"Huh?" she asked dumbly, having not prepared for his response.
"I didn't think it was a mistake." he repeated, approaching her slowly. "Georgia. You are beautiful. I can't stress that enough."
"So... you don't regret it because you think I'm hot?" Georgia asked, her voice adorned with it's usual sarcastic edge. Bruce smiled, chuckling lightly.
"No, but that certainly is a bonus." Bruce said, still smiling. "I don't regret it because I think you're strong, confident, and intelligent. You don't take shit, and you know who you are and what you want. You're amazing. To put it in schoolboy terms; I like you, Georgia."
"Like, like me like me, or like me like me?" Georgia asked, cringing at the way her question sounded. They really did sound like middle schoolers.
Bruce grinned again. "Uh, let's go with the second one?" he said, amused. He stepped forward to stand directly in front of her. Their eyes met briefly before Bruce swept down to capture her lips with his in their second kiss. Georgia's eyes widened, but soon drifted closed as she responded in turn, wrapping her arms around his neck. He encircled her face with his larger hands, brushing her cheeks with his thumbs affectionately.
Again, it was Georgia who pulled away. Her eyes were sad as she thought of all her issues. Her parents. Her adoptive parents. Her abilities. Reed.
"You don't want me, Bruce." she said quietly, backed up against the glass. Unshed tears shown in her eyes. "I'm damaged goods."
Bruce smile sadly, stepping forward to regain the close proximity. "You think I don't understand issues?" he asked quietly, cupping the side of her face with his hand.
Georgia looked away, sighing as she covered his hand with hers. "You don't want me." she repeated.
Bruce bent down to meet her eyes. "I think... that I'd like to decide that for myself." he whispered, kissing her again. This time, Georgia just accepted it. She pressed the length of her body against his as their lips melded together. One of his arms went around her waist, pulling her closer, and the other went around her back, threading his fingers into her hair. Her hands went to his face, and she ran her fingers through his mess of curly locks as well.
Their moment was interrupted, however, as Rock You Like A Hurricane by Scorpions began playing over the PA system.
Here I am! Rock you like a hurricane!
Georgia and Bruce's lips came apart as they stared at the ceiling. Georgia's face was disapproving, but when she turned back to Bruce, she couldn't help but smile and laugh along with him.
"Yeeah buddy! Looks like I'm gonna have to install censoring devices in Jarvis' systems!" Tony's voice said through the PA, laughing. Georgia rolled her eyes, and pecked Bruce's lips once more before untangling herself from him.
"Well." she said, clearing her throat. "Glad that's settled."
Bruce grinned. "You say that like it's a business deal." he teased, turning off the lights in his lab as he followed her to the elevator.
"I'd just like to say that elevator sex is the best. Just a suggestion." Tony's voice said as they entered the elevator. Georgia sighed.
"This is never going to end, is it?" she asked Bruce, her voice tired.
He chuckled. "Knowing Tony? No." he confirmed, grinning. Georgia sighed again.
"Don't make me short out your systems, Anthony." she threatened, looking directly into the camera on the elevator. Something like an evil cackle was the only response until they arrived on the penthouse floor.
Tony was waiting, leaning against the kitchen counter casually and grinning.
"Don't grin so wide, you may split your face in half." Georgia mumbled. "And we all know how simply tragic that would be."
Tony only grinned wider at her comment. "Hey. It would be tragic. Pepper here would be devastated." he retorted. "Right, honey?"
Pepper appeared from the stairs. "Eh. Slightly put off. But nothing I couldn't handle." she said easily, coming to stand next to him. He put his arm around her.
"See?" he said, laughing. Georgia raised an eyebrow. "My pretty face would be ruined. But Pepper would still love me."
"Sure. Yeah." Pepper agreed, grinning as she kissed his cheek. "Well I have to get home. Congratulations, you two. Don't let Tony ruin your fun." With a wink, she disappeared down the elevator.
The three of them were left standing there. Tony still grinned at them, his eyes darting back and forth from one person to another. Georgia pursed her lips at him before yawning.
"I'm going to bed before this day gets any weirder." she announced, turning to smile at Bruce. "Good night." she said quietly, standing on her tip toes to reach his lips. They only kissed a few seconds before Tony made a gagging noise.
"Ew. Okay, okay. I understand why you get mad when I kiss Pepper in front of you." he said, looking at Georgia. She sank back down to her normal height, raising an eyebrow at him.
"So you're not going to do it as often?" she demanded, laying her head on Banner's chest.
"Well, this room is still my room, so I reserve the right to do what I wish where I wish it to be." Tony snorted, grinning. Georgia rolled her eyes as she turned for her bedroom.
"Good night, Anthony." she said, her voice irritated.
"Don't keep me up with your wild sex now." he called to them as they entered their respective bedrooms.
"Good night, Anthony." she repeated, narrowing her eyes at him from her doorway.
"Okay, okay, you can keep me up. Just don't break anything." Stark continued, still grinning at her.
"Shut up, Anthony." with that, she disappeared into her room and fell asleep with a smile on her face.
...
THEY ARE FINALLY TOGETHER PEOPLE. FINALLY. *flails*
Ahh! But this isn't the end for their problems. You can't have someone as damaged as Georgia dating the Hulk without there being problems. And they live with Tony... sooo... yeah.
I'd like to thank Centinibron for their idea to have Tony interrupt Bruce and Georgia. Though you said that a while ago, I didn't forget! This chapter is dedicated to you! Rock on!
Next chapter: A new person comes to live with them at Stark Towers! Who is it? Natasha? Steve? Clint? Thor? I'll never tell! But I'm hoping to incorporate in having all the Avengers living together in Stark Towers eventually. Eventually. And they will be meeting up with some of the other Marvel heroes eventually. Especially the X-Men. Because I love the X-Men. I have a raging crush on Hugh Jackman and Wolverine. And there will definitely be some Spiderman eventually, as well. No real plans for that yet, but Peter lives in New York. So I kinda have to have it happen. Besides. I LOVE Andrew Garfield as the new generation of Spidey. I never liked Tobey McGuire, honestly. (Not at all because Andrew is hot as hell... Not a deciding factor in the least...;P)
So yeah! I hope you adored this chapter like I did! Let me know via review and/or PM me! Up to 101 reviews already! Thank you so much for your love and support, as always, and keep it coming! Reviews are like... I don't even know... like drugs to us fanfiction writers. It gives us drive and purpose! Not that drugs give you drive and purpose BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
Peace and blessings, peace anddd blessings!
Jess