Chapter 2: We'll Always Have Sokovia

"Alright, Avengers." Called Steve from the wheel of the quinjet. "We'll be in Wakanda in a couple hours; so anything you need to do to gather your bearings, do it now."

He turned towards the passenger seat and whispered to Natasha. "If you want to…you know." He nodded his head towards Bruce, who was standing alone tinkering with the Hulkbuster armor. "Now would be a good time."

Nat gave him a small smile and walked over towards Bruce.

"How's it looking, doc?"

"Not bad…with a few adjustments to the blasters in the right arm I should be able to…" Bruce broke out of his trance and realized who was talking to him.

"Oh, Nat! Hi!"

"Hi."

Bruce's eyes wandered to the floor as he ran his fingers through his hair. Nat watched him carefully, at a loss for words. Bruce finally broke the silence.

"You uh…you changed your hair."

"Yeah. I did. After everything went down with Steve and Stark, I had to lie low."

"I like it, it…suits you."

"Thanks. So, um…no Hulk, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess not. God knows that big green baby was never on my side to begin with."

"Guess you won't be needing any more lullabies."

"No, but I'll always need you."

Nat's face was frozen in shock. Bruce took her hand, and they sat together on the floor.

"Wow." She said, staring straight ahead as her cheeks flared red.

"If that was too strong I…I apologize. I didn't mean to…"

"No, no, you're fine, it's just…no one's ever said that to me before."

Bruce lightly brought his free hand to Natasha's cheek, and she turned to meet his eyes.

"I was the Hulk for two years, Nat. And the thing that finally pulled me out of it was you. Your voice on that intercom."

"Then why did you leave?" She asked, tears swelling in her eyes.

"That wasn't me, Nat, I swear. If it were up to me, I would have never left you."

Nat brought her forehead to his and sighed.

"I should have never pushed you."

"If you hadn't, we would have lost."

"We might lose now."

"But if we win…" Bruce got a gleam in his eye. "We should go on a date. A real one. There's this musical I've been dying to see, uh…Anastasia! We could go to that!"

Nat smiled despite herself. "The one with the Russian princess? Really?"

"Too on the nose?"

She chuckled. "No, I loved that movie."

"Then it's a date?"

"It's a date."

Nat squeezed Bruce's hand as he stood up to go back to his armor, still not quite believing he was finally with her again.

"Oh! And one more thing." He stooped, kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear,

"I adore you, too."