Three months. It had been three months since the day Tony got injured in the lab. Darcy and Bruce hadn't mentioned the topic brought up that day again.

She kicked herself every day when she got home, she wanted to do something, say something that would change things. She knew he cared, she knew he had at least considered her in the romantic sense but...she doubted he would ever make a move.

It was an unlikely match, they were more than a decade apart in age. He was a brilliant scientist, recognised for that and more across the world and she was a glorified assistant. He was a super hero, she was terrified of the wrong person brushing past her shoulder. Still, she wanted him. She wanted to be able to hug him whenever she wanted, to lay next to him at night...to kiss him. She really, really wanted to kiss him.

Bruce didn't raise the topic either, whether it was her age, he status or her issues, the fact was he didn't make a move and he didn't bring up the subject. They were friends, dancing on that line that was more than friends and doing nothing about it. It made her wonder if he was actually interested in her that way or if it was just something he had considered a few times but decided they were better as friends.

It was a Friday lunchtime when New York found itself invaded by some kind of giant zombie dogs, or that's what Darcy was describing them as anyway. They were larger than the lion she saw at the zoo once and looked like a cross between a bear and a dog and wanted to eat people.

Darcy had been on a lunch run when the attack happened, not being an Avenger and not being able to do anything against a giant mutant dog wanting, she had fled for higher ground. Once it appeared like the attack was over she headed back down to the street. Of course she never did have the best luck.

"Hey Big Guy, am I ever glad to see you." She sighed in relief, as green clouded her vision. The beast was flung away from her as the Hulk swung his massive arms.

"Darcy safe." He grunted.

"Don't leave me." She said as he shifted to leave.

"Darcy safe." He repeated.

"I know," she nodded. "But you don't need to go away, the battle's pretty much over. We can just wait here, right?"

He seemed to think about that before lumbering over to where she stood. He moved next to her and clumsily sat on the ground. She moved to sit next to him, only to be surprised when his arm swept out and lifted her to sit on his leg.

"Ok big guy, can we just sit here for a while until things calm down?" She asked. She didn't really know why she didn't want him leaving, she didn't like the thought that the Hulk had to stumble off into the middle of no where to change back, all ashamed of what he was and fearing he would do damage. She definitely didn't like it when they had to gas him and knock him out. So why shouldn't he just sit here with here until he changed back? He'd never been violent with her so far.

She cringed as her phone rang and he flinched beneath her.

"Not a threat!" She said quickly. "It's OK. Just a phone making noise."

"Hulk smash phone." He said, reaching to take it.

"No, no. It can't hurt us. Just watch." She said, holding it away from him and tapping a button.

"Hey girlie, talk to me." Tony's voice came over the speaker.

"I'm good." She replied. "I'm safe."

"Cap said Banner was with you, did you see where he went? We're all heading back to the tower."

"He's here. He's just sat waiting to change back." She explained.

"So safe wasn't strictly true then." He murmured. "We are talking about this later. I'll send back up your way."

"We don't need back up. He's fine." She snapped. Since her and Tony had gotten slightly closer, he had been slightly irritable about her being around the Hulk. It frustrated her because Tony didn't actually have a problem with Bruce or the Hulk, his only problem with it was that he knew Darcy liked him. Before she could say anything else the phone was removed from her hand. She cringed as she heard it crack in his green fists.

"Phone upset Darcy," he grumbled. "Hulk smash phone."

"But...yeah sure...I can get another one." She sighed in defeat. If the only casualty was her phone, she could live with that, it would give Tony an excuse to give her a new one after all. She leant back against his front and placed her hand on his arm soothingly. "They might send some back up now though. Think you can change back before they get here? I don't like seeing them get you all upset."

"Darcy safe?"

"Darcy safe, I promise." She told him, squeezing at his arm. He made a strange mangled roaring sound, more like a whimper than a roar she decided. His other hand moved to his stomach clumsily and then she found herself falling from his leg to the ground between his legs as he shrank.

She heard Dr Banner groan behind her, noticing that he was just as warm behind her back as the Hulk was but more soft.

"You decent back there Doc?" She asked.

"I wouldn't say decent but generally I've learned to consider still having pants to be a blessing." He replied. "What are you doing here?"

"The green you saved me." She shrugged. "So we just sat and waited for you to switch back."

"You sat this close? Again?" He asked looking horrified, at the fact she was now sat between his legs.

"Do I look hurt to you?" She huffed. "I'm fine, you didn't smash anything...accept my phone when I started getting annoyed with Tony."

"Oh God, he's going to kill me." He cringed, ushering her to shuffled away enough for him to get up. He clutched the now broken zipper and button of his pants around his waist. He paused and tried to mentally think through as much as he could about the other guys actions before the memories were lost and sealed away with the Hulk.

"You wouldn't hurt me."

"The other guy doesn't exactly have the best control." He pointed out.

"I've met him, several times now, he's all fluff! Well…mostly fluff… Are we going to have this conversation every time you find out I've talked to him?" She huffed angrily.

"I can see it becoming somewhat of a tradition, yes." He chuckled.

"You can argue all you want but evidence speaks for itself; he has never hurt me!" She said firmly, poking him in the chest and not feeling the tiniest bit sorry when he cringed and rubbed the spot. Although she probably should have felt embarrassed about the fact that he was currently shirtless and that she pretty much just wanted to nuzzle into his chest hair. It was an unusual feeling for her, feeling the desire to be so close to someone without feeling that fear right along side it. Even after several months of having casual contact with him it was still startling to realise that maybe, just maybe she could actually had a proper physical relationship with someone one day.

"Never say never." Bruce sighed.

"I doubt Hulk would be wanting cuddles if he thought he was going to squish me, since he seems so worried for my safety and all, squishing me would be counter productive." She grinned.

"Cuddles, again?" He cringed. "You have no sense of self preservation at all do you?"

"Yup Hulk cuddles, totally a thing now." She nodded. "Makes even Thor's hugs seem wussy huh?"

"Tony is going to kill me."

"You really don't have to listen to him, I don't." She shrugged. Sure enough they heard voices as a back up team approached them. Darcy waved over to them "We're all good here! Anyone have some spare clothes for Dr B?"

"He's your father." He commented quietly, still on their previous conversation.

"Yeah for a few months! He missed the boat on getting a say in my life choices, also since his life choices have been so stellar in the past, he should be grateful I'm not challenging terrorists and handing out my address on TV." She countered. "You know he only just finished having that house rebuilt."

"Still your father."

"Maybe that's why the green guy is so protective of me because he likes Tony and sees me as Tony's family? After all I'm not protected like Iron Man is." She offered. She didn't honestly believe that was why the Hulk protected her but it was an out to offer him. Bruce always seemed sort of embarrassed about his alter ego spending time with her and the team sometimes made jokes about the Hulk having a better love life than the physicist.

"I don't think that's it." He muttered as they walked calmly over to the Agents. They lowered their weapons as a very much human Bruce approached, which made Darcy feel less like she was walking towards a firing squad at least.

"What's your theory?" She asked him.

"Nothing I'd care to share." He frowned. It was as good as a confirmation that he did actually care about her but she still found herself a little disappointed that he hadn't just said so. It wasn't like she was asking for declarations of love and commitment, even just a "you're my friend" would have done the job. Which perhaps meant that he didn't consider her a friend…which was potentially a very good thing, despite the fact that he apparently refused to do anything about it.

"You got attacked by a genetically engineered Saint Bernard." Tony deadpanned as she entered his lab.

"As did most of the block." She agreed.

"You got attacked by a genetically engineered Saint Bernard." He repeated louder.

"And I'm fine, saying the same thing louder doesn't change the fact that I'm fine!" She snapped.

"But you might not have been," he sighed. "God I hate being a father."

"Love you too." She snorted. She saw his entire body freeze at the words and cringed. Why did he always do this to her? Apparently keeping her absent father at arms length while living under his roof wasn't going to happen because in some bizarre way, she did love him and he could see it. He reached out his hand and she stuck hers out in front of her quickly. "You hug me and I will slap you."

"Oh come on, I thought we were having a moment." He protested, throwing his arms up in the air.

"I'm never calling you dad." She said firmly, turning and leaving.