This was going to be one part – but then it kept getting bigger and the time between updates kept increasing so I decided to break it up instead and post it in parts that will (hopefully) come more quickly.
The entire time I was writing this chapter the first line read …no way he was in love with Clint Coulson. I'm taking it as a sign that I've mentally progressed their relationship past all of this denial and angst. One day I will write something for these two that is literally nothing but tooth rotting fluff. I want some tooth rotting fluff in my life – especially for these two so if you have any you'd recommend please let me know…I love recs.
/ A Lot of Speculation \\\ 01 – Dr Banner
Phil forced the photo out of his mind because there was no way that he was in love with Clint Barton.
And, there were a lot of blogs out there getting deeply invested in the relationships that might exist within the Avengers…and only the ones featuring the 'epic gay love story of the Winter Soldier and Captain America' were even remotely true.
So, obviously, there was no reason that Phil kept checking on the blog. He refused to follow it because then someone might think he believed the blog's message. And he knew that he wasn't in love with Clint.
As a result, on the Wednesday after he had returned to his controlled self, he was certainly not looking at that blog when Bruce searched him out.
"Dr Banner?" Phil said, putting down his tablet and smiling at the doctor.
"I would like to speak to you."
Phil nodded. "Of course, Dr Banner, what can I help you with?"
"It's a private conversation, perhaps you could come to my lab."
Phil stood and followed the doctor, half curious and half worried. As soon as they were inside Bruce turned around and slid his hands into his pockets.
"Dr Banner?"
"You can call me Bruce."
"Thank you…Bruce?"
"I had been running some tests on your blood and the results are in now."
Phil straightened his polo shirt, making sure that the hem was straight before asking what Bruce had found.
"Nothing."
Phil frowned. "Isn't that a good thing?"
"It was the blood I took when you were incapable of controlling your powers."
"You should contact Dr McCoy – I have informed him that you and Tony might do so."
"But that was over twenty years ago, anything he discovered in your blood, should be easily discoverable by all of this…" Bruce waved a hand to indicate all of the fancy equipment around them.
"I've tried," Phil said. "After he was able to supress the…I have never been able to come up with a reasonable name for it, any ideas?"
"The readings from Tony's suit put the powers as something like gamma radiation bursts but with no actual radioactive output. It was definitely energy but not one we could identify without more study."
"I couldn't access the energy again. And I have been tortured, beaten, almost died, and of course everything with Loki almost killing me, and nothing has triggered another incident. Whatever McCoy did I am no longer a danger to people."
Bruce looked like he had other questions but he stopped himself before he asked any of them.
"You're wondering if the same thing could contain the other guy?"
Bruce nodded.
"I will happily answer any questions you have, Dr Banner, and I'm sure Dr McCoy would as well. I understand your desire to control that which you cannot control."
Bruce froze and stared at Phil for a long moment and then he took a step closer. "That's why."
"Why what?"
"Why Fury never sent you after me, why you have never been the one to ask me to go Code Green."
Phil smiled. "I more than most understand the need for control in the face of chaos and your body and powers should be your choice. Something Tony understands as well, I am sure you have noticed."
"When he's not prodding me with sharp things."
"Tony doesn't know the difference between testing limits and pushing boundaries."
Bruce laughed. "Are you sure you don't mind me speaking to Hank?"
"Anything I can do to help," Phil promised.
"And if we could keep this from Tony."
"That is my standard operating position."
Phil left Bruce to his musings and slipped out of the lab. He made it to the elevator when the alarms started blaring through the building and Phil's phone rang. He hit the button to go to his room and…as Cap would call it – suit up.
/
