Author Note – I have confession, I had quite a few ideas for this little collection and some of them were started but when I went back to them after finishing Rooftop Conversations I found it difficult to get back into the right frame of mind to complete them. Before I take an undecided sabbatical from Spies and Scientists, I wanted to add this scene. Please enjoy.
Also note, the rating has been changed to M for sexual content so if you're too young or those scenes upset you, skip the first part or don't read beyond here.
Chapter four – Ménage à trois
Moonlight fills their room as they lie together in bed after making love. Spring is on the cusp of turning into summer, and there is a light sheet covering their sweat-slick bodies as Bruce spoons close to Natasha. Using one of his arms as a pillow, she lies quietly with her eyes closed, small puffs of breath dance on his arm. Bruce would never describe her as a cuddler, although she certainly makes herself at home in his arms. Not that he's arguing. He's seen her agitated, restless, with a rage which can rival the Hulks', lying awake several nights when nothing except nightmares waits for her if she closes her eyes. He's sat with her through those nights just like she does when he has trouble finding peace. Then there are other nights, like tonight, when she's soft and pliant. He doesn't have a preference for either kind of night; he feels privileged that she allows him see these sides of her, content with the knowledge that she feels safe enough with him to show him.
Over the years, fear has instilled very specific boundaries in them when it comes to people being around them. Yet that's what initiated their relationship in the first place; they knew how to navigate each other because understood the lines they put between themselves and everyone else. It also meant they knew how to corrode them to establish a connection. Actual physical contact is rare unless they're alone; in private they convey their feelings through touch, a simple grasp of fingers, a graze of a hand on the back as they pass; both her presence and caress are soothing and electric at the same time. In public they manage to refrain from touching by gravitate each other's peripheral space, their personal bubble yet skating closer than anyone else.
He moved in with her nearly three years ago after he returned to Earth after his other half's jaunt into the cosmos. After a tense reunion, and a drawn-out-and-dragged-out battle to destroy Thanos, where they made friends and lost so many others, they got their chance to walk away rather than run.
Still reeling from the loss of friends and family, and nowhere else to go, Natasha invited him to accompany her to DC to check if one of her bolt holes was still standing. Tony offered them a place to stay, but after six years of fighting, he was too drained, and needed prolonged time alone with Pepper. Natasha seemed to agree, her threshold for the job finally reached. Besides, they needed some time together. They barely had time to say hello let alone resolve what happened after Sokovia.
Miraculously, her apartment was structurally sound when they arrived. Albeit, glass littered the floor from where the windows had been smashed during rioting stemming the initial panic when half the planet was wiped out. She hadn't been a victim of looting. Aside from being situated on the top floor, she didn't keep much at the apartment except the basic essentials and a table in open plan kitchen and living room, with a bed and built in wardrobe in the bedroom. What had surprised him was she moved her bed out of the way and found his personal research which she said she'd been hiding from Ross in her hefty floor safe. One of the several spare go bags he hid around the Tower for if he had to run at a moment's notice was in her wardrobe. Touched by her thoughtfulness, something he didn't deserve or expect after running away from her, he offered to help fix up the apartment, which she seemed intent on keeping.
They holed themselves up, the rest of the planet were licking their wounds, and rebuilding what was left of their lives, and they were no different. Natasha seemed comfortable enough as they spent the better part of a week clearing up her apartment. Somehow the building supervisor managed, by some miracle -bribe, more likely- to secure a glazier to replace the windows at some point near the end of that first week. All the atmospheric disturbance from the alien spaceships caused sporadic heavy rainfall, although the sturdy see-through tarp they used to cover the large windows managed to protect them from the elements.
What had always marvelled him was how they could comfortably work together without words, instinctively knowing what the other needed. Of course, she aimed the odd zinger at him to keep him on his toes; he would worry about her if she didn't.
At the time, Bruce presumed he would spend a few nights on her sofa before moving on. He had no idea where he would go, not that he truly wanted to leave her. His feelings for her hadn't changed during his absence, since it had only been hours really for him in between. On the other hand, those first few days only served to painfully remind him of the fact that too much time had passed for her to still be interested in pursuing their ill-timed feelings. Or so he thought.
Aware that he was probably following her around like a lost puppy, they went on like that for nearly ten days before Natasha finally confronted him. Not so much confronted; the actual conversation consisted of a simple sentence from Natasha, "I'm sorry I pushed you."
It took Bruce a long minute to figure out that was his cue to kiss her and he'd missed it. As it turned out, it didn't matter because she kissed him.
A week turned into two, and he found himself helping at a pop-up clinic who were treating minor ailments to relieve the strain put upon local hospitals with more severe injuries from the recent invasion, while Natasha checked in regularly with SHIELD agents who were clearing the area of alien technology. It was an odd routine they fell into easily, spending nights re-establishing the close bond they formed before he found himself stranded on Sakaar. It was nice coming home to someone.
Part of him expected her to follow Barton back to the farm and send him back to Tony, but that wasn't in her immediate plans. She appeared intent to stick to his side as they heard from the rest of the Avengers intermittently, checking in to report their status and figure out whether or not they needed to touch base in person rather than by cell or vid link.
It took him almost another month to build up the nerve to initiate a kiss.
Which brings him back to his present dilemma.
Today has been a perfect day off for both of them. Leisurely relaxing in bed as they exchanged nonsense chatter about their week in between stolen kisses and laughter. After rising, they ate breakfast out and took a walk along the mall before making their back to the apartment to watch some old movies while curled up on the sofa he bought soon after moving in. Afternoon turned into evening when a day full of feather-light touches and affectionate caresses turned into something more passionate, and they tumbled into bed early.
Which is how his current predicament has developed. It's all Thor's fault really. That's what he tells himself anyway. The angry beady eyes of the hand-carved Hulk figurine he gave Natasha have been watching Bruce all night long, and he can't take the scrutiny anymore and needs to do something about it. Smash is the first thing which comes to mind and he thinks it's a tad destructive and rebellious but fitting idea considering Hulk's penchant for smashing especially when he feels a retaliatory growl in the back of his head if he follows through on the thought. Only it's on the other side of Natasha who's fiercely protective of the doll.
The woman in his arms might honestly be trying to rest, she gets so little he's tempted to leave her undisturbed. He knows her too well, however, to be fooled by her closed eyes. She's awake. Her breathing isn't shallow enough. Besides, he hopes she will enjoy the distraction he has planned to keep her occupied while he tries to reach his goal.
Feeling brave and playful he nuzzles her bare shoulder, peppering her skin with tiny kisses which grow bolder as his mouth nears the crook of her neck. He inhales the faint scent of her perfume she applied hours ago as the hand on her hip pulls her into his chest, moulding her body to him as he feels the gentle stirrings of arousal. Not that that's anything out the ordinary, the affect she has on him is profound and most of his self-control is lost to him when she's near. To feel her skin pressed against his is almost drugging.
The little whimper and the roll of her hips is almost enough for him to give up on his covert quest, except he is very aware that she instinctively knows his plan and is using the movements to deter him from his goal. His resistance is not futile.
Still, this could be an interesting battle of wills which they both will reap the benefits from. Except there is something he needs to take care of first.
With his mouth glued to the pulse point on her neck, his arm under her neck creeps toward her bedside table. A raspy moan escapes her mouth, her lifting up to cup the back of his head to keep him there. He just has to hold out a little longer before both their needs can be satiated.
One eye on Natasha, one eye on his fingers as they walk over the bedside table top, reaching up as they clasp their prize. The woman in his grip gasps as she undulates against him, nearly bucking him away from her and the tiny figure on her bedside table. He smiles against her skin and tightens his grip on her hip, holding her still.
She manages to twist her neck to face him, her mouth dropping open playfully at his retaliation. He loves blindsiding her, it's so rare for him to do anything which truly surprises her. Her mouth reaches for his, emitting a laugh, as he remains undeterred from his multi-tasking. Her body follows his movement in a stretch only she can manage gracefully as the light sheet covering them both slips down, exposing their bare bodies. Rearing back slightly to angle his head correctly so he can swoop down to capture her lips in a deep kiss once more. Their mouths move together as her free hand grasps the back of his head, holding him in place their kiss borders on frantic. One of them moans, and Bruce can't be certain who produces the sound.
Then a chuckle bubbles from him as he feels her hand inch along his forearm and he moves away from her mouth to look into her eyes shining back at him. Her fingers keep moving as she beams, pulling her lower lip between her teeth. She leans up, her nose nuzzling his as she impossibly reaches his hand before trying to pry the figure from his hand only for him to turn it at the last second and push out of both of their range. Then they both lose their composure completely, laughing freely before she relaxes and lies flat on the mattress.
He's far too interested in the shape of her lips as she smiles without a care. He swoops in to capture her lips quickly, cutting of her laughter. She chases his mouth to return his kiss, her mouth opening so he can deepen it. His arms fold around her, relishing the feel of her and how free she makes him feel. His heart is hammering inside his chest and he's certain she can feel it. Unlike during the early months of their physical relationship, he doesn't need to pull away from her. Instead she takes the lead, slows and draws out the kiss so he can compose himself. Before long, she pushes him onto his back so she can straddle him, sinking onto his arousal with a groan and setting a pace that is tried and tested for them.
After making love for the second time that night, Natasha relaxes in his embrace once more as they both eye the figure facing away from them.
"Why did you turn him around?" Natasha comments lightly, gesturing at the mini-Hulk.
"There are somethings which he shouldn't see, he's far too impressionable."
She rolls her chin to look him in the eyes, one perfectly shaped eye brow cocked teasingly. "Jealous?"
"More than you realise," Bruce breathes out. The Other Guy has a connection with her he doesn't pretend to understand, and he knows she misses him more than she'll admit to for his sake. It's been a long time since there's been a need to unleash him.
"I would tell you there's no need, though we both know it won't stop you," Natasha tells him kindly.
"You're not the least bit concerned there's three of us involved in this relationship, are you?" Her lips brush his chest just above his heart as beats strongly.
"Not at all," she hums. "You two argue with each other more than either of you do with me."
"That's because we're scared of you," he smirks, and looks down in time to see her eyes light up as she kisses his chest again in approval. His hand skims her bare back, finally resting at the small of her back as the enjoy the quiet intimacy.
"They got the eyes wrong," Natasha says to him about the toy almost absently.
"Not angry enough?"
"Not warm enough," she answers thoughtfully.
There are times when he wonders how he got this lucky, this moment being no different. The woman in his arms continuingly astounding him, the depth of her feelings for him and his alter ego alone boggles his mind. Truth is they're both terrified of losing her. Again.
When the dust settled after the war, he struggled to quell his fear of changing. The prolonged transformations only fuelled his reluctance to give in to his anger. The Hulk seemed even more reluctant to relinquish to him in any way than before, and Bruce worried how much control he really has over the Other Guy anymore. Before the Lullaby, before the Avengers, the Hulk would run out of energy and Bruce would wake up in whatever place he fell. Suddenly he was reliant on Natasha's intervention to bring him back and the idea didn't sit well with Bruce. He doesn't like being dependent on her, but if a way to change back was ever going to become more than a pipe dream, it would have to be on the Hulk's terms, and Natasha was the only one who could work with him on it. Not that it ever came to fruition, there was little need for the Hulk after the war.
"I can hear you thinking," Natasha says interrupting his thoughts.
"Nothing bad," he sighs.
"Nothing good either," Natasha surmises.
Instead of pushing up and away from him, she stays right where she is, unafraid of what he might say. They've said things in this room to each other they've never said to anyone else. Holding each other in the dark as darker whispers tumble from them. Facades forgotten, neither get angry at their past or offer anything other than comfort, though the punch bag in the living room usually gets a thorough work out from one or both of them the following morning.
"You miss him," Bruce sighs reaching out to turn the angry little figure around to face them.
"I do," Natasha says carefully. She then sits up, tucking the blanket around her to cover her nudity, and leans over Bruce to draw the figure into her lap. He's mesmerised by her soft expression as her finger brushes the small face which is poised in a snarl; she never fails to amaze him with the way she treats the Hulk with a gentleness which is foreign to the three of them. "It's not all the time, and not for the reasons you think I do."
"It's not?" He teases and is rewarded by her hitting him with tiny Hulk on the shoulder. "Ow," he exaggerates as he rubs the inflicted area.
"You're such a dork," she smiles as she shakes her head at his antics. "Do you need me to kiss it better?"
"Normally I'd say yes, except I'd rather hear what you were about to say," he replies sweetly. He lifts up to sit next to her.
"He recognises something in me which others don't, it's why he first trusted me," she explains softly. "The Red Room made me focus my rage into my missions, but there were times when I just wanted to scream. Only with their programming, I didn't have the luxury of roaring. There are things I told him, and no one else, because I know he won't look at me like I'm a monster."
"You tell him things you don't tell me," Bruce blinks in surprise. In his head comes an image of her, a memory he's never experienced, sitting in the sun as her mouth forms words he can't hear yet can see the cost weighing on her. Internally, he thanks the Hulk for showing him this snippet from their private interaction and punctuating her point. He can be there for her too.
"I used to, before I realised you are a good listener, and just as understanding," Natasha shrugs with a crooked smile. "Who'd have the balls to interrogate either one of you?"
"You," Bruce gently provides. He's a little bothered by the fact that she opened up to the Hulk before him. Looking at her, forlorn and sad, he just wants to take it all away. "Mine," comes a growl from the back of his mind and he counters, "Ours". The Hulk quietly huffs his ascent and resumes his silence. Natasha is just as much a part of the Hulks' life as she is his.
"I'm just saying, it'd be nice to see him sometimes," Natasha tacks on, her thumb caressing the small face. "I understand why you don't want to transform after being him for so long, but he's a part of you and you don't have to hide him from me."
…
A week after their talk Bruce sits in his lab at the Avengers facility in Upstate New York. Staring into space, he repeatedly turns the small box in his hand.
He's very aware that he's dragging his feet. People having been dropping hints for years. Tony drunkenly called him on it soon after he and Natasha moved in together, lovingly berating him for putting off the inevitable. No matter of their declarations, it was too soon. Whatever else anyone said to push them to make it official, their commitment to one another was solid; Bruce didn't need a ring or a piece of paper to tell him how he felt about Natasha or vice versa.
He's had a ring for months, and the box has been gathering dust in his desk's bottom drawer. Beautiful and understated yet elegant. A light gold band with an emerald coloured stone sitting atop of it. He didn't buy it to be an engagement ring, not at the time anyway. He brought it home and realised how it would look if he presented it to her, and the sudden doubt that thought provoked has held him back ever since.
"You know it's a bad day at the office when I can sneak up on you," Tony announces as he suddenly walks into Bruce's vision. "Why so glum, chum?"
"Um," Bruce replies dumbly. His hand closes over the box and drops it to his side. He can't hide it; the act alone would bring more unwanted attention. "I was just thinking."
"About?" Of course Tony won't let it go. That's why he's his best friend, he is not afraid of pushing Bruce for the answers others wouldn't. Bruce holds out the box. Tony takes it and pops the lid, unsurprised by the contents. "Now I know why you look like a condemned man." He looks at the ring again. "About time."
"Natasha and I haven't talked about it," Bruce tells him as he takes the box back, snapping the lid shut.
"Romanoff and I have never been each other's biggest fans," Tony starts. Understatement of the year, Bruce thinks. "But I'm pretty sure she likes you. She's gonna say yes."
"Wish I had your confidence," Bruce sighs. "Natasha said something about the Hulk the other night and… I don't know… It got me thinking."
"You think you need the Big Guy's approval," Tony guesses.
"No," Bruce shakes his head as a growl rumbles in the back of his head. "No, he uh, he's completely on board with this. I just think she'd like him to be more present."
"I'm not going to pretend that thought hasn't crossed my mind but keep Red's kinks to yourself."
"You're an ass," Bruce chuckles despite himself.
"Look, they're close. He gets to experience a side of her you don't as you'll never be able to; the side when she's hopped up on adrenaline after a fight, tapering down on hers while she curbs his. You get flashes of his time in charge, yet who knows what goes the other way; what he experiences through your eyes when you're with her."
It's not like this is the first time they've had the discussion, but nothing ever comes of it because no one's ever gotten a definitive answer from the Hulk. Not even the guy sharing space with him. "I don't think now is the time to discuss that."
"Isn't it? You're thinking about bringing holy matrimony into your alternative threesome."
"There's a certain awareness when he wakes up, almost like he knows the situation he's coming into."
"That's not what I was talking about. Have you ever asked if he's her jolly green concubine?"
"I don't think that's an issue," he replies with a little chuckle in spite of the image which pops into his head unbidden.
"You could ask on my behalf," Tony suggests. At Bruce's sour look he shrugs, "Enquiring minds want to know."
Bruce rolls his eyes. "I'm not sure if this is necessary. I know how Natasha feels, she knows how I feel about her. This isn't make or break for us."
While there is a certain fascination, the Hulk is so physically imposing it invites natural curiosity, Bruce knows sexual attraction is not something Natasha feels toward his greener half. She holds an affection for him and is one of the few people allowed to touch him without receiving a defensive response. Even now, she is tentative and shrewd when she does.
He is jealous of their relationship, an insecurity manifests born from a lack of awareness that one or both of them will do something to make her realise they're not worth the effort. He sometimes jokes about this to her, only for her to look at him with that piercing green gaze of hers to judge whether he's serious or not. She never rejects or dismisses his fear, instead makes him realise their unconventional relationship provides them with a chance of acceptance of her other. His respect of the Hulk has grown through her eyes, and experiences with him. Bruce can't deny the change in the Hulk, and when he expects a rebellious little growl to taunt him, there is none. Natasha's influence on them is profound.
"Neither of you are conventional by any definition, but no one's going to judge you if you stay as you are. For better or worse, you two, sorry technically three, are already bound to one another. You always have been… and you can't run away from what you are." Tony pauses. "Obviously, I'm overlooking your jaunt beyond the stars. Because that was a mistake and you paid your dues."
Bruce huffs lightly.
Undeterred, Tony continues, "Why is this important to you? You already have a ring, something made you buy it. If it was just a present you would have given it to her by now."
"This was simpler with Betty; I just took her to dinner and asked."
With Betty, engagement and marriage were expected, the concept was the natural progression of a relationship they were both raised with no matter how dire their upbringings were. When he, himself, thought there was no chance of him ever finding love or anyone to accept him. Natasha does. She readily accepts and delights in his eccentricities no matter how dorky or clumsy he is. Natasha, who holds on to insecurities about her ability to feel and express love, has shown him more than he thought possible after his accident, possibly more than he experienced before. She finally managed to break through his defences with the first Lullaby, and since then they've systematically removed all boundaries between them. With her past of revolving personas, she is uniquely equipped to understand the difference between him and the Hulk.
She gave them a whole other scope for life which he barely comprehended till they separated let alone embrace it. Or the deeper feelings which developed.
Beautiful, smart, unassuming. She deserves something special.
"I know you think this has to have bells and whistles, but it doesn't. It's just five simple words Buddy. Natasha, will you marry me."
He grabs the bag he brings to work, retrieving the tiny Hulk figure he'd smuggled in. He shows it to Tony. "I have an idea, except I need your help."
The billionaire holds his hands up in surrender. "You know she's going to find a way to kill you if anything happens to tiny Hulk. Buddy, I love you, but I'm not taking that particular bullet for you."
"I'm not asking you to propose for me, just the staging," Bruce assures him. "You know if she says yes, you get to be the Best Man."
"I'm already the Best Man," Tony puffs out his chest defensively. "But with Barton as the Man of Honour, I guess we can pull together one hell of a wedding reception."
"On second thoughts, maybe we should elope."
"I liked you better when you were tiptoeing."
….
Natasha is pushing through the locker room doors of the Compound's gym after showering and changing from her work out when her phone beeps. Steve's already gone to meet Hill to organise an upcoming training session with SHIELD recruits who are about to graduate to field assignments. Pulling the device from her pocket, she swipes her thumb over the screen to activate it, only to be presented with an image of her Hulk figurine looking through the observation window above the gym she'd just been sparring in with Steve. While she was sparring with Steve. Captioned with the words, 'Find me.'
Natasha frowns and checks the sender to find Bruce's name. Her significant other –both boyfriend and lover seemed like fall short when describing for their relationship— could easily blend into the background when he wants to, even on a base like this, yet he's never been able to sneak past her before, let alone observe her while she's working out.
Eyeing the screen again, she smirks, as he's obviously feeling mischievous and daring – he knows what that figurine means to her – and he certainly knows how to get her attention. Curious, she taps the call button at the top of her screen and lifts the device to her ear only for it to go to voicemail. She hangs up without leaving a message. Denied a chance to tease him, she looks at the image again, trying to figure out what he has in mind.
Seconds later, she turns on her heel and starts in the direction of his lab. She only takes ten steps when her phone beeps once more with a message from Bruce.
'Please. Follow the Hulk.'
Her smirk softens as reads it, imagining his voice asking her. She's not a fan of surprises, except she's learnt to enjoys his, often romantic, moments. The simplest are her favourite; bringing her coffee into the bedroom while she's in the shower, absently massaging her feet after a long day while they're huddled on the sofa, making her dinner, his hand finding hers after she's woken by a nightmare. It comes so naturally to him, she doubts he's conscious of it.
Fully aware whatever scavenger hunt he has planned is unlikely to end with public humiliation, he would never dare expose her to that, she turns around to walk in the direction of the observation deck. She'll play his game, happy that he's not afraid to play with her like most people.
There was a time when she tried to ignore what Bruce's presence did to her. What both sides of him did to her. Especially when they were midst of a fight. They make mindful of her reactions in all the ways she's never experienced, impulses she was trained to ignore unless they were paramount to her assignments. Regardless, both of them managed to capture her heart. It wasn't part of a grand seduction, Bruce didn't set out to pursue her, nor the other way around, it just crept up on both of them after New York and DC when they re-established their relationship.
Reaching the observation deck, Natasha looks around for Bruce, but there's no sign. Her phone beeps once more and she shakes her head as she swipes away the lock screen to find another image of her treasured figurine, only this time sitting on the kitchen island in the living quarters next to a cup of tea.
Natasha sighs and starts off in the direction of the kitchen, wondering exactly what her dork was up to.
Getting to know Bruce was a new experience for her. All of her associates were made on the job; Barton is a true friend, Steve too. Fury a mentor. Stark is a side product of it, and they'll always be an underlying tension following her undercover mission which exposed SHIELD to him, and the uncomplimentary profile she had made of him even though he concurred it was accurate. Bruce… Bruce is completely different, refreshing. He's never been afraid of her or what she's capable of. For someone who's been through the ringer when it comes to covert operatives, he isn't as closed off as he once made out.
Bruce is cautious, yet somehow, he's managed keep hold of something fundamental to his personality, that innate warmth she sees shining at her in the Hulk's gaze when he's calm and focused on her. Once you move past that initial test he doles out, he opens up and lets you see it. No matter how guarded Bruce and the Big Guy are, they're also delicate, like a hard-outer shell protecting something fragile and tortured inside. His dorky sense of humour has evolved from the dark, self-depreciation he used to fall back on; his excitement at something, anything, makes her smile. She discovered he is nurturing and kind. He is a good listener who gives reasonable and sound advice.
Working with him on the Lullaby was an exhilarating experience. The Hulk is so powerful, primitive and instinctual. When he lets her near him, adrenaline kicks in and her body feels like it's vibrating, the waves bouncing off of him like a shock wave. She's fought alongside people before; Barton, Steve, she has a good rhythm with them. Usually, when they've got the enemy all around, it's advisable to give the Big Guy a wide birth especially when he's tearing apart buildings or tanks single-handed. But there was a time when she leading –being chased by– a HYDRA agent into the fray, and she needed to make her move. She caught the Hulk's eye as he was blocking a doorway, maybe it was a hole blown in the wall, preventing more enemy agents from joining the fight. He huffed lightly and dropped into a braced stance while she took a run up, sprung off his knee onto his shoulder and used it to boost both feet to spin off high above him, twisting mid-air to land on her feet behind the agent who came face to face with a menacing snarl while she took him down from the rear before meeting the Big Guy's eyes with a grateful smirk.
The Big Guy recognises a part of her no one else does, not even Bruce. Probably why she was able to let him see some of her more vulnerable moments after a fight, as she tries to calm herself before she tries doing the same with him. Probably why she finds it so easy to open up to Bruce after they became friends.
The humble, yet brilliant scientist who managed to endear her with his concern to protect civilians from collateral damage he creates more than any mission, made a place for himself in her heart.
Her dork, a claim she makes readily.
The depth of her feelings for Bruce was a shock at the time. The sudden realisation was like the sound of cocking a trigger for her—the clarity goes hand in hand with the bullet loading into the chamber. The moment she knows someone will get hurt, will die, if she pulls the trigger.
And she was on the receiving end of that bullet when he disappeared for two years. Or at least that's what it felt like in her heart.
His absence had been hard on her, and she struggled to accept his presence when he returned, unwilling to go through that pain once again. He accepted her decision with his unshakeable understanding. After the failed battle with Thanos, he looked so lost with nowhere to go, just like the rest of them. Their friends separated, each of them needing space to deal with the Annihilation before regrouping to avenge and bring back those who had been lost. She needed space too, but she knew if she left, she may never see him again, and with the way things were back then, she didn't want to leave anything unsaid no matter how difficult it was to say. So, she asked him to tag along to check an apartment of hers.
Opening the door to the kitchen she finds it deserted once again. No Bruce, no little Hulk, none of the current roster of Avengers. She sighs and passes the island only for her phone to beep once more. Another image of her Hulk pops up, only this time he's on the bedside table in the private quarters they use whenever they're on the base. Shouldering her bag, she turns toward the corridor which leads to the private rooms.
It took time to build up the nerve to talk to him about how she felt when he left, to apologise for her part in it. He didn't treat her differently than he did before he left, sweet and shy, rekindling the natural flow between them and she found it hard to close herself off from him. She tried to hold him at arms-length, it was harder to pretend there was nothing between them.
Returning to the present, and arriving at their room, Natasha lays her ear against the door to hear if Bruce is actually inside this time. She would ask FRIDAY, but she suspects he's got some help to track her. Hearing his tell-tale shuffling, Natasha turns the handle to find the room dark except for tea lights dotted around the surfaces. Her eyes adjust to the decreased light as she steps in and hears the soft strains of Bruce's favourite aria. She spies his shirt discarded on the end of the bed and then she realises his shadow in the corner of her eye is much larger than she accounted for, the dim light bouncing off his green skin like camouflage. Her head turns and her eyes land on the Hulk as he sits cross-legged on the floor by the wall waiting patiently for her to notice him.
"Hey Big Guy," she purrs gently. She steps through the door and pushes it closed with her back a soft smile playing on her lips. Her bag drops to the floor.
"Tasha," he rumbles and she closes the distance, her hand rising to his cheek. He leans into her touch just Bruce does, his eyes drooping a fraction and she can almost hear Bruce's sigh in his breathing.
"Missed you," she whispers.
His luminous greens raise to hers and her heart kicks up a notch as he returns the sentiment. "Hulk miss Tasha."
Part of her wants to brush her lips across his forehead which, in his seated position, is level with her chin but she stops herself; she won't blur those lines for them. "This is a nice surprise Big Guy, care to explain?"
"Banner explain later," Hulk tells her without his usual disdain he uses when he says Banner.
"So, he's the spokesman, huh?" She quips gently. He nods. "And we get to hang out for a while?" She asks hopefully only for him to shake his head.
"Tasha good for Hulk, good for Banner. Make happy, here," he places one oversized hand over his heart. He lets her free hand cover his. "Tasha protect Banner?"
She knows he means it as a statement but it comes out as a question. She guesses that's what he equates to loving someone. She nods. "You too Big Guy."
He ducks his head with a little shake. "Hulk not needed to fight, Hulk not scared."
"No one's saying you are Big Guy."
"Hulk not hiding, still here."
"Still here," she taps his hand to reiterate his words. He pauses, his large eyebrows furrowing as he struggles with what he's trying to say. If she hadn't missed him as much, she would perform a Lullaby to just ask Bruce but apparently this part of this set-up is on the Big Guy. "Show me," she commands softly wondering if it's the right thing to say because she doesn't know what he's going to do.
He's grateful for the direction as he shakes her off and she has to step back as he moves to stand. His hair brushes the ceiling and he ducks to keep from hitting his head as he fills the space. Instead of feeling like he's looming over her, she feels safely cocooned in his presence.
"Show Tasha," he mumbles.
He slides his eyes shut and takes a deep breath. His body begins to shrink smoothly. She watches as the green skin gives way to flush pink. He stays rooted where he is as the transformation lacks the usual pain and twitches which accompanies it. A few minutes later, Bruce stands before her, both of them in awe of what the Hulk just did. The trust and approval he's given them.
Natasha doesn't know who moves first or if they move at the same time but they meet halfway moments later. Her hand cradles his face, much like she did with the Hulk, as his hands find her waist to pull her close.
"Never thought he'd do that." Heart beat accelerating, her eyes snap back to Bruce and he blusters in that shy way of his despite his self-conscious smile. "Hi," he offers.
"Hi," she mimics with a smile. "How long...?"
"I don't think he's ever done that before," Bruce answers. "I wanted to do something special for you and I'm pretty sure he just topped it."
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" Natasha teases him with a watery smile. It's a momentous development and she thinks the Hulk is, in his own way, trying to help Bruce with whatever he has planned.
Slipping from her embrace, he moves to the other side of the room and the bedside table where the tiny Hulk stands and picks up the small box at its feet. Turning it uncertainly in his hands before opening it. His hesitation palpable though she realises it's more from the significance of the moment than unwillingness.
With a few steps he's in front of her and, his face solemn and full of self-awareness, presents it to her without saying a word. A ring nestled in its groove as the emerald gem gleaming upward. She takes the box, careful not to disturb the contents, looking at it with a neutral expression. "What's this for?"
He takes a deep breath and looks away till her hand touches his face to tilt it back to hers. His lips purse as he turns to kiss her fingers lightly.
"I've had the ring for months," he confesses. "We've never talked about getting married or even engaged."
"Do you want it to mean that?" Natasha asks gently, keeping her feelings out of this scenario until he can figure it out for himself. "And we need to talk about your new fondness for kidnapping," she jokes softly, as she breaks the chaste kiss to look pointedly at her toy.
"Uh," Bruce chuckles. "It wasn't kidnap, the Hulk needed a representative to be here, and he's portable," he defends awkwardly. "Then he decided he wanted to speak to you first. Originally, I was going to lead you home, except then I figured you'd be pissed by the time you got there following the hints Tony got FRIDAY to track your phone so I knew when to send the next clue. It's the next part I haven't figured out yet."
Their lives are spontaneous and off the cuff, this is conversation shouldn't be any different. It's also typical of Bruce. He knows what he wants, an idea on how to achieve it yet has difficulty expressing it, constantly warring with himself on whether he deems himself worthy of it. To her, he is worth all of it. Looking at the beautiful, graceful ring he chose she softens; it's something she'd choose for herself though, right now, the style has little meaning to her as she sees how divided Bruce is over a ring.
"This ring can mean whatever you want it to Bruce," she offers gently. It sounds like an out, but she's learnt over the years giving him the option usually pushes him to make a decision. However, this is the first time she holds her breath as she waits for his answer. She doesn't want any uncertainty hanging over them or cloud his judgement, though the Big Guy's display has made it clear he wants this.
"I need your help with that," he breathes out shakily. "You make me so happy, and I'm happy with what we have."
"But?"
"There is no 'but'," Bruce smiles. "We've been together for a while, and I know others will question if I give you a ring and it doesn't mean that, and I don't want you to field questions that will make you uncomfortable."
Natasha pecks him on the lips. "That's sweet, doesn't answer my question; Bruce, do you want to get married?"
"Do you?"
Her mouth twitches. "I don't think it'd much different from our relationship right now. It's not easy, but we've never had it easy. With our lives, we work at it every day, and I do that because I want you to know you're worth it, our connection is worth it," she sighs. "I was taught emotional attachments make you weak, something an enemy can exploit. Now I know that's wrong; bonds make you stronger, give you something to fight for, to come home too. You make me stronger Bruce and I love you for that." She swallows as her voice begins to catch at the back of her throat. "Never thought I'd say this, but I want everyone to know that."
His hand curls around hers still on his face and pulls it to his mouth to kiss her fingers. "When I met you, I was broken and you healed me, inside out. You helped me conquer my fears. Learning to see myself through your eyes made me see myself as something other than a monster. I know you miss him, but he stays away because he trusts us to protect each other. You make me smile, laugh and love without fear Natasha. You shared your heart with me. I'll be forever grateful that you let me back into your life, you gave me a life I thought was lost to me."
He releases her hand and plucks the ring from the box.
"Natasha," he breathes out. "I love you." He poises the ring between them. She lifts her hand, waiting for the words. "Marry me."
"Yes." Her finger slides into the ring as their lips meet softly.
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
― Lao Tzu