Chapter 9: Sunday pt 1
"So yeah, after that things got too awkward for me. Tony had Happy give Sharon and I a ride back and, yeah. So now here I am." Bruce finished.
Betty sat in her bed, a cup of hot tea in her hands. Bruce had Happy drop him off at her house after he took Sharon home first. He felt a little guilty for leaving his new friends, but there was only so much drama Bruce could take. He thought the problem was solved last night before they went out to dinner, but nope.
"Wow. Who would've thought. Tony Stark has a crush on the school's criminal." she said, her voice a lot less croaky than yesterday.
Bruce shook his head.
"I don't think Clint's a criminal. He's,...I don't know. You gotta spend time with him to understand."
Betty chuckled but shook her head.
"I probably won't. Nothing against the guy but after the things you just told me,...I don't know, Bruce."
Bruce ran his hand through his hair.
"Trust me, Betty, I understand. Hell I didn't even know he was coming. He and Natasha were a surprise. True they have some questionable behavior but, they're really not that bad."
Betty pursed her lips and slowly nodded her head.
"I see. So really everything just circles back to Tony."
Bruce shrugged.
"I don't know. I suppose. Natasha said Clint was so shaken up from the kiss that it was Tony's fault for driving him out."
Betty chuckled some as she sipped her tea.
"Boys are so stupid. The problem here is pretty basic."
Bruce arched a brow.
"What is it? Because all of this," he swirled his finger in the air, "is just looping me, I'm confused."
Betty drank some more tea and set it on her night stand.
"Of course there's a lot of context and variables involved, but it all boils down to this; Tony is a playboy who now has his eyes set on one person but went about it the wrong way. Clint is a bad boy who prefers to be closed off from most other people. He likes Tony back but is confused about his feelings."
Bruce let his head down. How could he not have seen that the whole time after Truth or Dare?
"Wow. You're right. We are stupid." he said with a smile.
"Well, it's a good thing you're slightly smarter than the average boy."
Bruce chuckled, his eyebrow raised.
"Oh really?" he asked.
Betty nodded.
"Just going off of what you've been telling me, Brucie. Clint and Tony? Complicated. Clint and Natasha? Complicated. Tony and Pepper? Complicated. Steve and Sharon? Apparently trouble in paradise now."
Bruce leaned forward and kissed her nose. She was still recovering but she wasn't so sick today.
"You know you're really cute when you know everything?"
Betty giggled.
"You realize that's all the time, right? I guess I'm a regular supermodel."
"Yes. You are."
Betty leaned her head on Bruce's shoulder and chuckled softly.
"I take back what I said. All boys are stupid, except you."
Bruce scoffed as he wrapped an arm around her back.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. I probably should've stayed here with you last night."
Betty raised her head and looked at his solemn face. She lightly hit his chest.
"Hey. Bruce, don't make me rethink my last statement. Ever since you came back here you've talked about nothing but how crazy last night was. The good and the bad. Didn't you have fun?"
Bruce smiled and nodded. It was true. He felt so happy he had so many interesting stories to share with her. Plus, he truly felt he had made some new friends. He was unsure about Clint, Natasha, Rhodey and Pepper, but he was hopeful that on Monday he would be sitting with the rest of them at lunch time. Especially Thor.
"Right again, Betty Boo." he said.
Betty closed her eyes and laid back on her pillow.
"I'm tired again. I'm just gonna rest for a while." she said, already half asleep.
Bruce sat on the edge of her bed, holding her hand as she nodded off.
"I'll be here when you wake up." he whispered.
Bruce was left alone with his thoughts as Betty dozed. It was early Saturday. He was sure he wouldn't be seeing any of his new friends today or tomorrow. He wondered how things would be on Monday. Would Clint work things out? Was Thor upset at him for leaving when he was the one who invited Bruce in the first place? Would Tony be alright? Would any of them want to talk to him again? Bruce sighed. He secretly hoped so.
**************************************************************
The next day,...
"Seriously? This song again?" Jane groaned.
Thor chuckled, his arm around Jane's shoulder. It was Sunday afternoon, and he was hanging out with Jane while she watched her neighbor's daughter, Darcy. The scrawny darkhaired little girl was in the kitchen, dancing wildly to "Promise Ring" by Tiffany Evans while sweeping. Darcy paused her dancing, looking at Jane with raised eyebrows.
"Hey! If you want me to clean, I have to do it to my music." she said.
Jane put her hand on her head.
"But does it have to be the same song six times in a row? It's from 2007 for crying out loud."
Darcy put her hand on her hip, sliding her glasses down her nose and smirking at Jane.
"Hey, either I play the music I wanna hear or I tell my mom you and beefcake over there were making out the entire time instead of watching me."
Thor frowned at the girl.
"I have done nothing of the sort, young one!"
Jane rolled her eyes.
"Ugh! Fine, whatever."
Darcy whipped her hair and started the song over just to bug Jane. Thor laughed. Darcy was very sharp for a ten year old. Doing her best to tune out the song, Jane turned to Thor.
"So, how's Tony holding up after yesterday?"
Thor scratched his head. To say things got weird yesterday would be an understatement.
"I believe he is doing okay. I can only hope he will not resort to drinking his heart out."
Jane nodded but said no more on the subject. Thor looked back to Darcy. He wanted to laugh at her. Her gangly limbs were flailing all over the place. Maybe Clint and Natasha could help show her some moves. Thor's eyebrows lowered. Clint and Natasha. He didn't know whether to be mad at those two. Both of them had struck his friend, and that angered him. However, both of them had good reasons why; Tony's mouth. It was his greatest weapon and his Achilles' heel. In the case of the past few days, it was the latter. Thor felt torn. Tony was his friend, and he was hoping Clint and Natasha would be, too. He wanted everyone to be happy. Why couldn't they just all be happy? Jane looked at him when she heard his stomach growl.
"Hey Thor, I know you're hungry. Why don't you go out for a while and eat something. I can handle Darcy."
Thor looked down at her.
"Are you certain, Jane? What about you and the little one?"
Jane shook her head.
"Darcy had lunch before you came over and I'm not hungry."
Jane gave Thor a quick kiss.
"Trust me. Besides, she hasn't stopped sneaking glances since you got here. She's got chores to do and homework to finish."
Thor nodded and kissed her again.
"If you say so. I shall see you later then, lady Jane?"
Jane blushed and she pushed her hair behind her ears. Thor smiled at her. He knew she found it incredibly charming when he referred to her as lady Jane.
"Oh yeah. The second her parents come home I am outta here." she replied.
"I heard that, Jane! Don't act like you don't love being my sitter!" Darcy shouted from the kitchen.
Jane gently nudged Thor as he stood up from the couch.
"You see what I have to deal with. Go ahead, 'beefcake'." she teased.
Thor smiled and bowed to her.
"I'm off! Jane. Darcy. Farewell for now."
"Byyyyyyye." said Darcy with a wink.
Thor only laughed again as he made his exit. Children always made Thor smile, and Darcy was a special girl. Thor left the house and got in his car. As he drove down the street he realized something; he was enjoying his time with Darcy and Jane so much so that he didn't want to eat alone. He rarely turned down the chance to have company. Asgardians were very social people, and his father was busy today. He took out his Stark-Phone and looked at his contacts.
He thought about asking Bruce to join him, but he was unsure about what his reaction would be. After Bruce left without a word during yesterday's fiasco, Thor didn't think Bruce would want to talk to him. After all, Thor invited him to that party. He thought about Clint and Natasha maybe, but he didn't even know their numbers. Tony would most likely want to be left alone right now. That left Rhodey, Pepper, or Steve as the most likely. He dialed Steve's number first. The phone rang six times before he picked up.
"Hello?" he heard Steve ask, his voice low.
"It is I, Thor, friend Steve."
There was a pause on the other end and a sigh.
"Hi, Thor. What's going on?" Steve asked.
"I am headed off to lunch. Would you care to join me?" Thor asked hopefully.
Steve sighed again, and Thor could swear he sounded distraught.
"Have I done something wrong? Am I bothering you, friend Steve?" asked Thor.
"No. Oh god, no. It's just,... you know if you want you can come over. My mom made pizza bagels and uh, I could use some company."
Thor nodded knowingly to no one. Steve sounded distressed, so Thor would oblige his request.
"As could I, dear friend. I shall be there soon."
"Okay."
Steve hung up, and Thor made a turn around. Steve didn't live that far from him. Thor was oddly happy. He would be getting food and helping out a friend at the same time. That was, if Steve needed help. He hoped he was alright.
He arrived at Steve's house fifteen minutes later. He saw Steve open his door when Thor parked on the curb in front of the house. It was the afternoon, but Steve was dressed in a rumpled t-shirt and baggy blue sweat pants. He looked as though he'd just gotten out of bed. Thor got out of his car and walked up to the front door, pulling Steve into a tight hug.
"Good afternoon, my friend." Thor greeted.
Steve smiled at him with tired eyes, not saying anything as he motioned for Thor to come in. Sarah Rogers waved at Thor from the living-room. She was talking on the phone and dusting the table. Thor bowed to her and followed Steve to the kitchen. Indeed, Sarah had made two big pans of delicious smelling pizza bagels. Steve took a seat at the table, looking down at the back of his hands while Thor took off his long red coat and hung it over a seat.
"These look and smell marvelous." said Thor, mouth watering as he made his way over to the trays.
"Mmhmm." was all Steve said.
Thor grabbed ten of the bagels and put them on a plate. He sat down opposite of Steve at the table and ate three of them right away.
"Poptarts remain my favorite American snack, but these are most delicious." he said after he swallowed.
Steve smiled at him, but Thor noticed his eyes. They looked dimmer. Less welcoming like normal. The blue in them faded somewhat.
Thor ate two more pizza bagels and put a hand on Steve's wrist.
"What is wrong, friend Steve?" he asked quietly.
Their eyes locked, and Steve exhaled deeply. He knew something had to be up.
"Might as well cut to the chase. Last night, Sharon broke up with me."
"WHAT?!" Thor yelled, and Steve flinched at his volume.
"I apologize, friend Steve. But why? There is no man more gracious than you."
Steve chuckled, flattered at Thor's compliment.
"She said our entire relationship, she felt like she was just going along for the ride. That we don't share any true connection."
Steve scratched behind his ear.
"Guess I should've seen this coming. I feel so stupid for not noticing before."
Thor put his hand on Steve's shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze.
"Listen to my words, Steve; I mean no ill will towards Sharon, but she made a big mistake in ending your relationship. You are too much of a good man to think it's your fault."
Steve pursed his lips and looked down at the table.
"Maybe that's the issue here, Thor. Maybe I'm too good. Too much of a boyscout. Sharon was actually mad at me for staying behind to help Tony instead of leaving with her. I thought we could handle each other's differences."
A lump formed in Steve's throat as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I guess not."
Thor scooted his chair closer to Steve's. He grabbed the young man and pulled him into another tight hug. Thor didn't know what to say to that. He had only ever been in a relationship with Jane, and so far things were great with them. He may not have been able to relate to Steve's problem, but dammit if he wouldn't do his best to make him feel better. Steve hugged him back, sighing against Thor's ham shaped biceps through his gray t-shirt. They stayed there like that for two or three minutes before Steve gently pulled them apart. A few tears had streaked down Steve's face, but he looked a little better.
"You know what's kind of funny, though? I think she might've wanted whatever Clint and Natasha have."
Thor arched an eyebrow at Steve.
"Perhaps seeing how they interact impaired her judgment. I still do not understand what those two are to each other."
Steve let out a weak chuckle, wiping his tear away with his arm.
"If it makes you feel any better, I don't think anybody is supposed to fully understand what they are. Not even them. Anyway, I don't think her judgment was impaired. She just got a better idea of what she wanted. What she wanted to feel, and it wasn't with me."
Thor nodded. He still didn't fully understand, but he understood enough.
"Who else knows of your break-up?" he asked.
"Just you for now. Do you uh, think you could just hang out with me today?" Steve asked, his voice cracking.
He almost sounded like a sad child, and Thor's heart was hurting for him.
"I mean, Sam's out of town and Bucky,...Bucky's just not talking to me that much anymore." Steve squeezed his eyes closed, fighting off more tears.
Thor thew his arm around Steve's shoulder and gave him a friendly shake.
"The fact that you believe you have even have to ask that is almost offensive. Just as with Tony, I shall stay with you until you feel better."
Steve wiped his eyes. He took a deep breath and managed a smile. One not so sad.
"Thank you, Thor." he said.
Thor went back to his chair and began chewing on another pizza bagel.
"Now, I suggest you partake in eating these with me. Otherwise I shall consume them all."
Steve laughed and Thor smiled. Steve was still hurt but Thor could tell he was making a significant difference. Steve grabbed a bagel off of Thor's plate.
"No you won't. You know my mom and her stance on greed. She would kill you if you did."
Thor nodded and chuckled warmly.
"Indeed she would."