the fight was over and they lost, nobody spoke or said anything, the silence was deafening on their way back to the facility after their fight with Thanos, when they finally got back everyone went on their own way to grief, it was late and Bruce wasn't sure he could even get any rest and decided to take a walk outside for some fresh air when he walked past the office of his team mate, the one he used to desperately yearn for, he decided to attempt to comfort her.
She's looking out of the big window with her back towards him. Bruce opens her office door and steps inside "hey"
Natasha shivers when she hears whose voice it is and continues staring out the window "I think we're past hi's and hello's Bruce"
"sorry" he says looking down while rubbing his hands together
"for what? because you said hi again or because you left" her tone is harsh and judging by how tired she sounds there's no mercy for him right now.
he sighs apologetically "for both... I... I never meant to hurt you Natasha" he walks closer till his standing behind her but not to close. She turns around acknowledging his presence and looks him dead in the eye
"what did you expect was going to happen when you leave... that..that I'd just... pretend we were nothing"
He keeps her gaze "of course not nat, but you need to understand I didn't leave...the hulk did" he moves a step closer "I wanted to be here...with you and I realized... I... it was very selfish of me to expect you to just drop your life here and leave with me"
She moves to the back "yes, yes it was.." and those words sting in the back of his head.
"I'm really sorry Natasha, if I could undo what happened I would and I'd stay here" he says in a low and sad voice, the one she heard him use when he explained he couldn't have a normal life at the barton's farm.
"but you can't" she shoots back and he sighs moving to lean against her kitchen counter. She missed him a lot she thought, why was she being so hard on him, the last thing she needs right now is for him to start avoiding her now when she needs him the most. She thought back to ultron and pushing him... maybe it was the big guy's decision and she can't hold Bruce responsible for his actions then she'll just be like everyone else and she wasn't about to be
After a long pause of silence she turns around and stares at him realizing his eyes never left her and he's convinced she's about to kill him but she speaks again "Bruce... I don't want to fight... we lost...a lot today and... I just can't deal with this right now"
"I understand nat... but.. um... I just need clarity that we're still friends because...even if all we'll ever be is just friends... I'll take it"
"We're always going to be friends no matter what life puts us through, I found a connection in you that I just can't seem to cut off and I hate that it pulls me towards you but it does, I'm tired Bruce... I'm tired"
He stands up straight moving so he's in front of her and lifts his hand to take hers in his and she lets him "let me take care of you" he breathes and she's looking up at him in their close proximity. She lays her head on his chest and exhales
"I'm sorry too... for pushing you and being mean a minute ago... and don't tell me I don't need to apologize because I do"
He smiles coyly and whispers "you don't need to apologize" and he can feel her smile on his chest and she pinches him in the ribs.
"Ow" he laughs lightly and he can hear her little giggle and was glad that he could make her smile during this roller-coaster of events that just unfolded today "so... what do we do now?"
She lifts her head to meet his eyes "now I believe..." she presses against him till she's close enough and kisses him ever so delicately and parts her lips and he takes that as a sign that he has permission and kisses her more intensely, they finally part for air and she speaks again after resuming her head to its rightful place on his chest "...you take care of me"
Bruce hugs her tightly towards him and makes a promise to himself to never disappoint her ever again.
