In the movie Bruce apologizes to Natasha after he arrives on the motorcycle. She accepts his apology by saying "No, we could use a little worse."
This is operating as though that never happened. Which seems silly because I love that moment. lol Regardless, I hope you dig this.
The previous chapter took place a couple of days after the battle.
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Only a few days after the events, Natasha disappeared along with Barton. Nobody knew where they'd gone and nobody asked. The pair clearly needed time and space. It was quietly and collectively accepted that Clint especially needed to get away. They couldn't seen that Natasha needed it just as much.
Steve spent most of his time helping clear rubble in the city, and assisting police and firefighters in any way he could. He refused to speak to anybody who tried to interview him about The Avengers, but continued to show up and be a hero for the people.
Tony went to work on the tower and Pepper got back into the swing of things at Stark Industries. Thanks to an alien invasion, attending to business there became a lot more time consuming for the CEO.
Thor was still gone, back on Asgard.
Bruce was relaxing, or at least trying to. He was hiding in a safe place and struggling to remember that he didn't have to hide anymore. It was hard.
Maybe a month later, the tentative "team" found themselves one evening sitting around in Tony's penthouse. Clint perched on the back of one of the couches. Not even Pepper bothered to ask him not to keep his boots on the cushions. His right knee leaned subtly against Nastasha's left shoulder. He didn't say anything, but his greyish eyes carefully followed the faces and movements of everyone in the room. Natasha sat cross legged, holding a steaming cup of tea in her hands as she engaged in subdued conversation with Steve who was sitting across form them in a comfortable chair. Pepper, sat in another nearby chair and mostly listened. She was tired and really didn't have much to add to their conversation about the Soviet's role in WWII. Though, listening to it was interesting enough. She didn't mind.
They'd eaten dinner together and now each enjoyed tea or coffee.
Bruce sat at the table, sipping decaf coffee and trying to listen to Tony about something they had started work on in the lab. His attention, however, was elsewhere. It was on Natasha. He watched her from behind his mug. It was unclear to him why it mattered that she was afraid of him. So what? Most people were. Why was Natasha any different?
Maybe spending some weeks with mostly just Tony, Pepper, and a little bit of Steve had spoiled him. Only 3 days ago she and Clint had arrived from their hiatus. Again, nobody asked where they'd gone. Not even Tony. Since then, Bruce had seen her eyes follow his movements, and the rigidness in her body when he was around. He didn't like it. What was worse, he was annoyed at himself for caring.
Admittedly, he still felt a little stupid for going to her room four weeks ago to apologize. Both of them had been more vulnerable in that moment then either would ever prefer. But it happened, and he tried not to worry about it.
When Steve eventually finished his mug of coffee, he was the first to disappear off to bed. Pepper left soon after, and then Natasha. Oddly, Clint did not immediately follow her, but stayed a little longer just listening to Stark and Banner's conversation. Bruce told Tony he had to get to bed as soon as Clint showed signs of leaving. When he rose, Bruce went with him to the elevator.
When the doors closed there was silence. It wasn't awkward, it was just Clint.
Bruce had to ask. He felt like juvenile, but he was tired of guessing, of feeling unacceptable in this place where he finally belonged. Well, at least for now he felt like he did.
"Does Natasha hate me?"
Clint's head turned to him. His stormy eyes assessed Bruce's face, searching his intentions. His thoughts could not be guessed.
"She doesn't hate you." He said simply and didn't say anything else. He gaze returned to the elevator door.
Clint's impenetrable wall of a face stopped Bruce from asking anything more. He just had to take that for what it was. The elevator opened soon after and Clint left him there without another word.
Bruce heaved a sigh and watched the numbers recede a little more before it was his turn to get out.