AN: Hey guys! I know this is my first AN this story, I really just felt like I wanted to let the movie explain the story and the story to be as seamless of a continuation as I could make it so I hope you don't mind. I wrote this one here today because WOW! You guys are awesome. I am astounded by all the great reviews and how much action this story has gotten; it is really encouraging and I really appreciate you all. I am already going through and editing my manuscript so I can update this story with a more error free version when it is finished, but I figure you would rather have more story than better grammar for right now so I know there are a lot of mistakes and thank you for just taking them in stride. I did want to answer one question that was asked, usually if you ask me a question I will PM you back unless several people ask the same one, but this person left a direct question and wan't logged in when they did so. So in this case I decided to tack it on here. They asked why I am using "Tasha" as a nickname for Natasha even though the movie clearly shows "Nat" as being her established nickname. In this case I did start the story with her as "Nat" or "Natasha", but as the story progresses and Bruce relaxes into his relationship with her I really wanted him to have something with her that set him apart at face value and that became the nickname "Tasha". It was my intent that Bruce as the only one to use that nickname for her to show some level of intimacy, if I have slipped up and let someone else use it somewhere please let me know so that I can fix it in my manuscript and it will be on the next editing update. I know it isn't in the movie, but Bruce never really gets the chance to become comfortable with their relationship in the movie either so I kinda took artistic licenser on this one. Hope that helps! If anyone has more questions please feel free to ask and I will respond to you the best I can. If you have an account please log in before leaving the question so that I may respond right away, if not I will be happy to leave it in an AN. Again thank you guys so much for your support and I love you all. I hope you enjoy! (I love this first scene!)
"Romanoff!" Someone yelled bagging on the door and waking Natasha and Bruce from their sleep. It took Natasha about a second and a half to draw the gun bolted behind the headboard and send three bullets through the door to her room in such a way that it would probably miss whoever was on the other side... Probably.
Natasha pulled Bruce back down shushing him soothingly and curled up on top of him again saying, "I got it go back to sleep hun."
"God damn it Natasha." Steve said kicking in the perforated door, "What if that was Banner outside? He could have taken down half the complex by now." Steve yelled at her sleepy form.
" 'ts not Banner." She mumbled.
"How do you know it wasn't Banner." Steve chastised.
"'ts not Banner." Dr. Banner mumbled and Steve froze in his tracks.
"Ok, so it wasn't Banner..." He mumbled clearly embarrassed at having caught them in bed together. "But what if it had been one of the shield agents?"
"What can I say, I like my men bulletproof." Natasha quipped sitting up with a groan Bruce's curly head appearing over her shoulder a moment later. "What do you want Rogers?" she asked grumpily.
"It's 5:30 time for practice."
"We gave the kids a day off." Natasha reminded him.
"And last I checked we weren't the kids so get your lazy ass up." he demanded.
Natasha drew and cocked the gun again and Steve held up his hands, "Later." She said groggily.
"Fine, but you owe me a round."
"I owe you three," She said pointing at the bullets in the wall behind him, "and you owe me a new door."
"Deal" He said with a nod and left the couple and their wrecked door to their slumber.
"JARVIS," Bruce said sleepily laying back down beside Natasha.
"Yes Master Bruce?"
"Be sure to inform anyone who comes down this way that Natasha is armed and will likely shoot at anyone who wakes her up. We don't need anyone less bulletproof pissing her off."
"Yes Sir." the AI said and Bruce pulled Natasha back to him and settled back down to finish his slumber.
It was well after eight in the morning when Natasha next woke. She groaned at the stiffness in her ribs and buried her face deeper into Bruce's chest. His hand came up sleepily to tangle in her hair and his other arm wrapped around her even tighter. "Morning." He grumbled.
"Hmmm" she agreed.
"Cap's probably pissed at you." Bruce observed remembering the events earlier that morning through a sleep hazed fog.
"Mmmhum." she agreed nodding against him.
"We should get some breakfast in you before you have to go and fight him." Bruce said trailing his fingers through her hair.
"Hmmmm are you cooking?" She asked playing with the hair on his chest again.
"Sure." he said kissing the top of her head.
"Hmmmm well that might be worth getting up for then." She said smiling and kissing him before heaving herself out of bed.
Bruce stood up himself and had his jeans on and buttoned by the time she came back out in a pair of her skin tight stretchy pants and a black... "Is that a corset?"
"Ya," She said heaving on the laces with a groan as her bruised ribs protested, "It's cheaper then ace bandage when you get your ribs banged up as much as I do." She reasoned.
"You know modern medicine says yo shouldn't bandage bruised ribs anymore." Bruce said walking over to her concerned.
"Well I say you should." She said tying off the strings and tucking them in.
"Seriously Natasha, you shouldn't be wearing this." Bruce said putting two fingers in the back of the device to measure its tightness. "You've got it on really tight. It's going to take longer for the bruises to heal like this and you're reducing circulation to your lungs which could cause all sorts of issues." He argued.
"Doc, when was the last time Captain America barrel kicked you in the banged up ribs?" She asked. Bruce had the dignity to look sheepish so she continued, "It keeps the swelling from pushing them out and getting them broken and it just feels better if they aren't constantly contracting and expanding, especially when that contracting involves a star spangled foot to the ribs."
"Ok." Bruce agreed kissing her on the temple and knowing better then to suggest she take a brake from training to heal.
"Thank you." She said running the backs of her fingers up and down his chest and said, "Now are we going to put on shirts or are we going to breakfast like this, because I could be ok with either. "
Bruce smiled and stepped away to retrieve his shirt as Natasha slipped hers on before both headed for the kitchen.
As they were about to turn the corner the pair heard a group of voices around the corner saying, "I heard that Captain America walked in on them doing it..."
"Bet that was awkward."
"That's not the worst part, I heard Dr. Banner was starting to go a little green around the edges."
"Well she is the Black Widow for all we know... Good morning Agent Romanoff, Dr. Banner." The young cadets barked having the decency to sound terrified. Natasha just kept walking ignoring them only her smirk telling those around her she had heard.
Bruce didn't look up from the floor until an apple hit him on the chest and a voice said, "Look alive Doc." and a smiling Steve waved him over to the breakfast bar in the oversized kitchen where he had already prepared a private breakfast. Bruce was relieved to see that Steve didn't seem to think any less of him after the encounter this morning and made his way around the kitchen preparing coffee, tea, and food as Natasha sat on the bar and chatted with Steve her legs swinging in a carefree manner.
"So little lady, ready to get your ass handed to you?" Steve teased through a bight of toast.
"I don't know old man, I'm feeling pretty lithe." She teased kicking him in the arm and causing him to miss his mouth.
Steve snorted, "Ya I'm sure." dodging another kick from his partner Steve said, "What are you up to today Doc?"
"I was going to start work on the oscillation cancellation chamber for Vision. He's coming down to run some tests today. I'm hoping to be able to make a helmet or a device that will be able to be activated so that he can 'unring' himself in the field." Bruce explained.
"Better you than me." Steve said snatching up his last piece of bacon before Natasha could steal it off his plate.
Natasha pouted at Steve, but her begging was short lived when Bruce put a steaming plate of eggs, sausage, bacon and a bowl of oatmeal with fruit under her nose. She hopped off the counter and sat at the bar eating her food in diligent silence. She looked up at Bruce with wide pleading eyes and was rewarded as he smiled and handed her a cup of black coffee.
The trio finished eating in companionable chatter, but soon the bar was clear and the kitchen was cleaned and none of them could avoid the real world any longer.
"I'll be putting that door in tonight." Steve said standing to go, "Ready to hit the training room?"
Natasha sighed and glanced sidelong at Bruce who raised an eyebrow at her, "Ya lets go old man." she said and headed for the door.