A whole day of travel. Wanda had an optimistic smile on her face as she walked through the masses of people that she was entrusted to protect on a daily basis. It was always nice to see the good people in the city, made her feel like she actually played an important part in her role as an Avenger. Plus it helped her also block out Dr. Banner who, since they stepped from the mansion, had at least mentioned three hundred and forty two excuses or other plans to get him out of going to see Elizabeth Ross.
"...What do you think?" She zones back into Bruce again, trying to get out of it.
"I think it'll be nice." She told him plainly.
"Really?!" He had some hope in his voice.
"Yeah totally. I haven't seen Betty in a really long time. I miss her too." He let out a distressed sigh as they rounded the block down to the giant Parker Industries building. "Look, the end is in sight." He nodded as they walked down the street to the giant glass skyscraper. Crossing the street, they walked up the stone stairs to the entrance. Wanda stopped, Bruce did the same.
"You good?" He asked. She nodded.
"Okay. If you want to turn around, go back to the lab, we can." She placed her hands on her hips. "If you absolutely think this is the worst possible idea you could have. Then we can leave right now, and no one will say anything. You still want to walk away?" Bruce looked up at the giant building, his stomach was in knots. The feel of her embrace, the simple sensation of her lips, more than enough for him.
"Let's go." He said, going into the revolving doors and up to the lady at the front desk. "Hello-"
"Oh my god!" The receptionist was a dark haired chubby college student. She had glasses on her face and was scrolling through her tablet, and then glancing over to a worn down pink notebook. That is, until she saw Bruce at least. "You're-You're him!" She pointed, exclaiming in the otherwise quiet building. He raised his hand and nodded.
"Yeah. The big green guy. I know-"
"No!" She shouted. "I could care less! I mean yes, it's cool and a bit scary, but!" She paused dramatically then pointed at him. "You're Dr. Bruce Banner! THE Bruce Banner! Your journals into the world of nuclear physics with your experiments on gamma radiation, and then your anti-electron collision theories! It's-Oh my god. I'm so unprofessional... I am so sorry." She was turning a darker red than Wanda's clothing. Banner smiled.
"It's quite okay. I'm glad that someone actually reads my work." He tells her, her youthful eyes light up. "You found it interesting?" He asked.
"Interesting?! It was astounding! No one had ever thought that the effects of gamma radiation could ever cause any of that!" She was enthralled by Bruce. He was just as impressed that someone else actually found his work enlightening. "Your work definitely inspired me to go into the science field, nuclear physics and biochem especially. We studied your work in class. It's...it's an honor." She said. He offered his hand and she looked at it the way a person would stare at a gold bar.
"I'm honored to meet the future scientist that will no doubt replace me." She laughed nervously as she shook his hand. It was small, fragile and cold.
"I-I don't know about any of that. I'm still in school, I'm here as an internship." He shrugged.
"It's what you should aspire for. We are in need of great minds...I don't think I ever caught your name." She let out another exasperated sigh.
"Oh my-I am so-Karly. Karly Andrews." He nodded as he took out his pen.
"Can I see your notebook?" He asked. She nodded. Fumbling with it as she shakily handed it to him. He opened it, seeing the back of the front cover was pretty much unscathed save for a couple numbers with names. He wrote a nicety and then his name. "To the next nuclear physicist. Dr. Banner." He gave it back and she squealed out loud. "Don't be afraid to ask questions, and never be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone. You only learn as much as you allow yourself to Ms. Andrews." She nodded with a giant smile. "Now can you do me a favor?"
"Anything you need." She put the notebook down.
"Can you page an Elizabeth Ross? See if she's taking visitors?" He asked. She nodded.
"Yeah sure. Old friend of yours?" Something like that.
"Yeah. I haven't seen her in a while. Don't mention it's me." He said. She nodded as she dialed a number on the phone. They waited. It seemed like forever, then she nodded.
"Hello Ms. Ross? Are you in your lab? Alright. Thank you." She hung up. "End of the hallway, down the stairs. Second door on your left." They both nodded to her with a smile. "Thank you so much Doctor." He shook his head.
"Thank you for being so eager and unafraid to join my line of work. We can only benefit from having more minds." She nodded as they walked past her.
"And you say you're bad for people." Wanda nudged him. He shrugged.
"Anything for a fan. Besides, I remember how difficult it was for me to break into my fields. Anything helps. If she's doing it right, she's not sleeping." He said, reminiscing of his college days as he walked down the stairwell and then stopping outside of Betty's lab. "Alright. Korvac, Galactus, Thanos, Ultron, anyone want to attack right now and save me?" He asked out loud as he looked at the metal door. Wanda swatted at his arm.
"Stop ittt. Let's go." She knocked on the door. He backed up so she would get the first glimpse from Betty.
