It wasn't that Tony thought a woman would never flirt with Bruce Banner, it was just that when it did happen, his friend remained blissfully unaware it was even happening. Every. Single. Time.

Bruce returns after eight months only to find out from the new team of Avengers that Natasha has disappeared without him. He's left with two choices; let her go or give chase.

There's twelve days until Christmas and Bruce was feeling a bit of the holiday blues until Natasha starts telling him ridiculous and dorky science jokes. Then, on day thirteen, he tells her one.

"You know, Banner, a healthy dose of fear usually knocks those right out of you," Bruce stared at him a little dumbfounded and watched as Natasha backhanded him on the chest. Clint cleared his throat, "Right, forget I even dared to suggest that."

Code Greens weren't a planned thing. Nobody expected it the first time that The Hulk came raging out into the middle of the fight. Nobody expected how it would end. But the Hulk had never been anything less than the unexpected. (Pre-AoU. First Lullaby. Slight Bruce/Natasha.)

The nights were always the worse, but the company of another can ease the pain. A collection of midnight talks, soft smiles, and cups of tea.

He watches the war from the sidelines, and spends every Wednesday afternoon at the only payphone on the island, waiting for her call.