Summary: Tony being Tony calls in a meeting with the Avengers and the extended family to tell the amazing idea he had: create Steve a playlist of their favorite songs to help with his adaptation.

or

… the time when Steve and Bruce talked about when the doctor left.

Characters: Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, Darcy Lewis, Jarvis.

Tags of the chapter: Protective Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner has issues, scientist wrangler Darcy Lewis, Jarvis' organizational skills.

A/N: Playlist available on Spotify with the songs of the chapters posted. Check it out and tune each song with your reading! Link available on my profile.

Something to Hold Onto

Chapter Nine, The More I See You, 1966

Steve quietly walked inside the lab, as he could see Bruce and Darcy were practicing meditation in one of the corners. He was early too his 'appointment', so he sat on one of the high chairs and pulled out his phone, intent on sending an email to Hill regarding some findings in Senator Stern's case.

Just as he hit the send button, Darcy appeared next to him and launched herself at his arms.

"It seems like weeks since I las saw you." She smiled, pecked his cheek and ushered him away from her chair, claiming she had work to do.

"Thanks for waiting, Cap." Bruce smiled his sad smile and gestured for Steve to sit at another chair. It was time for his bi-annual check-up. They had all agreed it was best as they did not know the effects of the serum and Steve did not exactly trust regular doctors with this matter.

"Oh, don't worry, I was early and it gave me time to answer some emails." He did not develop into the subject and Bruce did not ask.

There was an awkward silence surrounding them as the doctor gathered the material he needed.

"Jarvis, can you access my iPod and play Chris Montez's The More I See You album?"

"Certainly, Dr. Banner."

As the album started playing, both men started relaxing around each other. Steve noticed that Darcy was absentmindedly swinging to the song as she typed in her computer.

"The more I see you, the more I want you. Somehow, this feeling just grows and grows. With every sigh I become more mad about you, more lost without you and so it goes."

"I had a feeling you would like Chris Montez. My mom had this album in long play." He smiled sadly at the memory. "I like this song. And 'Call Me'."

Steve nodded, paying even more attention to the song playing but he got distracted when Bruce approached him with a needle to take the blood samples. He squared his jaw and his shoulders tensed up. Bruce obviously noticed this and put the needle down momentarily.

"I had some doubts, but I had noticed that you didn't completely trusted me." He said this matter-of-factly, like a scientist observing a variety and trying to figure out how it affected the equation.

"Trust is gained and can be broken, Banner." Steve answered truthfully. He noticed Darcy putting her headphones as a way to give them privacy.

"This is because I left after Ultron." Once again, Bruce stated, knowing that this was true.

Steve pursed his lips, clearly confirming the event that had been the tipping point.

"Can you imagine how much I love you? The more I see you as years go by. I know the only one for me can only be you. My arms won't free you and my heart won't try."

Bruce sat heavily at a different chair and was quiet for a few moments. He had thought his conversation with Tony about the matter had been difficult, but as he was about to re-explain his actions, he realized it would not be easier.

"I didn't know how to handle what Wanda made me see and what the Hulk did. I did not know how to accept and move past all of the wrong things in my life."¹

"And now you do?" Steve crossed his arms across his chest, a defensive move that did not go unnoticed.

"I went to talk to Betty Ross." His admission shocked Steve, as he knew Bruce generally avoided her at all costs. "It was unfair of me to disappear on her and it took a while to figure out our issues, but she helped me with some things."

He waited for Steve to say something but gave up when he realized the other was not yet ready to speak.

"I know you think I endangered the team by suddenly disappearing and resurfacing, but I can assure you that I won't Hulk out on anyone or something like that."

"I am not concerned about that, Banner. I told you at the helicarrier when we first met that I didn't care about what people thought about you and this never change. I agree with Tony when he says you've got more self control than you think you have."

"But?" Bruce did not beat around the bush, as he knew there was more that the other was not saying.

"But I can't ignore the fact that you left fully knowing who you would be hurting with your actions." Steve pursed his lips again, displeased at his memories. "We were all left vulnerable after what Wanda made us see – some more than other. But you completely ignored all of that and selfishly went away. This is not how a team works."

"I know." He briefly let his head hang in shame. "And I will never know exactly what I did to Natasha and I'll never forgive myself for it. I still haven't brought myself to acknowledge this with her and even though she acts like everything is normal between us, I know we will never reach that level again.

"I could have dealt with this situation better, but I didn't and there'd no going back now. But at the same time, I can't bring myself to regret leaving, as it gave me a new perspective on things and how I dealt with the people in my life.

"I know how hard it is to win back someone's trust and I hope that one day you will trust me completely again, Captain."

Steve nodded thoughtfully and slowly unwrapped his arms, offering one for Bruce to draw the blood samples.

A/N: Song: The More I See You, by Chris Montez - 1966.

¹ On the deleted scenes of Avengers Age of Ultron, Bruce and Natasha are talking after he leaves the shower – when they are laying low at Clint's farm. At the end of what feels like a very long talk, Bruce asks Natasha about the dead in their lives. Natasha tells him that they should forget them, to which Bruce roughly shakes his head and says that he would never forget them. This pisses Natasha off very badly, and she wraps up their talk.