"Natasha!" He spotted her once again on his walk back from Tony's. Her red bob of curls was a dead giveaway as she jogged several yards ahead of him. "Natasha!" he called out a second time.

She paused to turn around and found Bruce shyly waving in her direction. Natasha smiled and hurried over to his side. "You're in a good mood," she noticed.

Bruce returned the smile. "Am I?"

"You seem more you," she complimented.

"It must be the promise of dinner this evening," he hinted.

"Dinner," she dumbly repeated.

Bruce's mouth hung open for a second. "I-It is Friday-that's when we planned dinner, correct?" he stammered.

Natasha playfully nudged his side. "I'm playing, Doc. Don't worry-I've got dinner under control."

He exhaled a deep sigh of relief. "Good, good!"

"So how are things with Stark going?" she wondered.

"Great, actually."

"You get your elastic pants yet?" she snorted.

"We started," Bruce assured her. "Actually, Tony has greater schemes," he chuckled.

"That's never a good sign," Natasha snorted.

"He's aware of the General getting on my case," he began. "So he's offered to have me move in. I'll get a whole floor to myself," he added, a feeling of disbelief washing over him. Bruce couldn't give Tony a direct answer. The offer was far too generous-for him to have a permanent home at Stark Tower for no cost whatsoever was a kindness he would never be able to repay.

Natasha raised a brow in interest. "Wow. Pepper doesn't even live with him," she smirked. "I'd say Stark's really into you."

He wrinkled his nose and laughed off her insinuation. "I'm already there on a daily basis. And in return, I could work for him. Technically, I've already been doing that-but I'm enjoying myself!" he quickly added.

"What's holding you back?" she asked.

Bruce's eyes lowered to the sidewalk as they kept walking. "It's too much."

"That's what Stark is all about," Natasha reminded him. "He's over the top about everything, and despite him acting like an ass, he's a generous guy."

"He is," Bruce agreed. "The generous part."

The corner of Natasha's lip raised in a sly smirk. "He knows he's arrogant. You can call him out on it."

Bruce began to laugh. "I need to think on it. For now, it's too much."

"Please," she groaned, "you'd be doing him a favour by moving in. Hell, before you know it, he'll have us all suckered into living with him."

"Actually," Bruce hinted with a meek smile.

Natasha eyed him in disbelief. "You're kidding."

"Tony has big things planned."

Bruce arrived at seven on the dot wearing a navy suit and bearing a bottle of red wine and a white cardboard box. "Good evening, Ms. Romanoff," he happily greeted.

"Dr. Banner." Her eyes rested on the small white box balanced on his open palm. "Wine and dessert?" Natasha stepped aside to allow him in.

"There's a bakery down my street and I figured I'd treat us."

Natasha accepted the box and set it on her kitchen counter. "That's very thoughtful of you," she smiled. "Put the wine down and find a seat. I'll pour us some drinks."

"Can I help with anything?" he asked, setting the wine bottle down.

"I think Liho needs company," she winked. "Last I checked, she was on the couch."

"Oh," he nodded. "Ms. Liho, huh?" He stuffed his hand into his pockets and approached the couch. Bruce saw nothing occupying the black leather cushions. He furrowed his brows, but something stirring at the very top of the couch quickly caught his attention.

A pair of deep green eyes carefully observed the stranger.

"Liho, is it?" Bruce smiled and reached out to give the feline a pet, but she leapt off the back of the couch and darted down the hall. He laughed it off and decided to have a seat. "I tend to have that effect on people," he muttered.

"We both know that's not true." Natasha remarked as she approached with their drinks.

"Some people," Bruce corrected as he accepted his glass.

"I've seen you around people," she commented, taking a seat at his side. "And they're perfectly fine around you."

"You're too good to me, Natasha." His dark eyes glistened as he watched her in admiration.

"I'm only being honest," she replied, taking a sip of her wine.

"Honest." His features took on a stoic expression. She pledged her sincerity to him, and Bruce was willing to take her word. He found her to be a good friend, one he wasn't prepared to let go.

Her index finger traced the rim of her glass. "I really am sorry about that. If you want me to talk to Ross, I can convince him you left town…"

"No." Bruce was quick to decline that offer. "He's my battle, Natasha. Please don't interfere."

Natasha noticed the unwavering determination in his eyes. "I respect that," she nodded. "Just don't… get angry." She raised the corner of her lip.

"He makes it hard not to," Bruce sighed.

"Living with Stark could easily solve your problem. I heard Ross has a beef with him."

"That isn't our business," Bruce cautioned.

Natasha gave him a playful pat on the cheek as she rose from the couch. "I'll check on dinner."

"May I ask what you made?" He caught Liho creeping into the living room.

"Sweet potato burritos," she announced from the kitchen.

"That sounds creative!" He outstretched a hand in Liho's direction, but she turned her tail up at him and went in search of her master.

"How about taking a seat?" Natasha suggested. "This is ready for serving."

Bruce took his wine glass to the table and sat at one of the two spots prepped with a plate and silverware.

"Want any soda, water, juice?"

"Water, please."

Natasha carried a metal pan over with a dishcloth to protect her hands. She set the pan down and dished out two burritos smothered in pale green sauce for each plate. "There's extra if you like it," she added.

Bruce inhaled the sweet smell and set his napkin on his lap. "I'm sure I'll stomach seconds."

Natasha returned with a bowl of green beans, then went to get Bruce a glass of water.

He waited until Natasha was seated to delve into his food. "Did you make the sauce green just for me?" he teased as he cut his serving into bite-sized portions.

"Avocado salsa, but we can pretend it's a tribute to the other guy," she smirked.

Bruce smiled as he swallowed his first bite. "It's delicious."

"Looks like I've mastered cooking for vegetarians."

"Are many aware that the Black Widow is quite the chef?" Bruce grinned as he reached for his water.

"Just my friends," she promised.

"Do you ever invite the gang over? Clint, Steve, Tony…"

Natasha shook her head and scooped up a mouthful of sweet potatoes and beans onto her fork. "My place is too cramped for all of them. Barton's really the only one to ever swing by here. And Nick."

"Maybe I'll consider playing host to them," Bruce thought aloud.

"Should be easy if you're living with Stark. The living space on any of those floors is insane for one person."

Bruce assumed that given he agreed to Tony's offer, he would most likely occupy a fraction of the space given to him. "More reason to have company."

"So you're really thinking about moving in?"

Bruce poked at his green beans in consideration. "I could use a fresh start. My apartment carries a lot of heavy baggage…"

Natasha watched him eat while sipping her wine. "As long as you're comfortable with it."

Bruce wasn't a fan of all the tension in the air. "I will be as long as you promise to visit," he offered with a shy smile.

She rolled her eyes and set her glass down. "I guess you're worth dealing with Stark for."

"You guess?" he chuckled. "I only hope Tony doesn't assume things."

Natasha swallowed a bite of food and wrinkled her nose. "Stark could care less about your dating life. But he will remember any lucky women he spots leaving your apartment."

Bruce stared down at his plate with a sideways grin. "I don't see myself making any commitments in the near future."

"I didn't mean to take the conversation there."

He waved a hand to her. "No-it's fine, really. I need to know what to expect from Tony if he's ever curious about my relationships"

"Pep told me he's spending more time in the lab than usual. Is he still acting strange?" she wondered.

Bruce softly exhaled through his nose. "He gets frustrated when things don't work out for him the first time around… As for the drinking, I'm not sure what the norm is..."

"It seems like you're keeping him content. At least Pepper mentioned that," Natasha shrugged.

"I'm relieved to hear that, then," Bruce smiled. They continued to eat in silence when Bruce felt something rub against his leg. He wanted to peek beneath the table to say hello to who he assumed to be Liho, but he didn't want to frighten her. Again.

Natasha's bare foot happened to feel a flicking tail against it. "I think Liho wants some, too."

"Is she begging?" he wondered. "Because if so, she was just trying to sucker me into giving her some."

"She must want your attention."

"I've earned her approval, then?" Bruce guessed.

Natasha raised her glass to him. "Maybe."

She took his plate from him once he was finished. As expected, Natasha denied any help and ordered him to stay seated. Bruce felt a certain feline at his legs and he slowly leaned over and found his eyes connect with the cat's. "Hello." He cautiously lowered his hand and waited until Liho allowed herself to be petted. "You're a pretty girl," he murmured, rubbing Liho's pitch black ears.

Natasha carried the white box over to the table and laughed when she noticed Bruce making a new friend.

"Please excuse me while I enjoy some dessert," he told Liho, stroking her side one last time.

"See?" Natasha hummed as she peeled back the box's lid. "You're likeable." Her eyes immediately locked on a chocolate cupcake drizzled in chocolate syrup and sprinkles. "If you don't mind, I'm taking this one." Natasha lifted the cupcake and grabbed herself a napkin.

Bruce chuckled and took the remaining vanilla one with a blueberry swirl icing. "I figured you'd like that. The ice cream you got last time told me you're a chocolate lover."

She raised a brow and licked some stray icing from her thumb. "Very observant."

"So I succeeded?"

Natasha peeled off the wrapper and tossed it onto her napkin. "Yes," she agreed upon taking a bite.

"We should go back again if we decide to make dinner and dessert a thing," he suggested. "But only if you want to."

"You know I'd like that," she agreed. "Same time next week?"

"That should work," he nodded. "I'll have to let you know about my living situation, though."

"I say take up Stark's offer." She separated the lower half of her cupcake from the top and dipped a piece from the bottom in icing.

Bruce dejectedly stared at his dessert's berry filling. "You're saying that because you think it's best for me."

Natasha's eyes rested on the rims of his glasses. "My orders from Fury play no part in that answer."

He lifted his chin and locked eyes with her. "Just making sure," he softly replied.

"I hope I can regain your trust back."

"You already have," he promised with a gentle smile.

"You're still wary of me." She wouldn't say it aloud, but she respected his choice. He was wise to not trust her.

"I'm curious," he corrected. "Natasha Romanoff is still a mystery to me." Natasha continued to stare and chew silently. "I know she's the best assassin there is. She likes chocolate, cats, and humiliating others…" he chuckled.

"Kinda making me sound like a bitch, Banner," she snorted.

He shook his head and laughed. "No. No, you're really not…" he paused so he could continue his analysis of her in a kind tone. "I also know that Agent Romanoff is very determined. She has a good heart, but it may not always show."

"The first half of your speech sounded more accurate," she joked.

"You're being modest."

"Was there something new you were hoping to figure out about me?" she wondered.

He had many questions for her, but he chose to start simple. "What's a typical day in your life like?" While she spoke, he continued enjoying his dessert.

"I wake up early, run to the gym, work out, run home, then shower and get ready for work."

"I know you don't work all day," he teased. "What comes after work?"

"I make dinner, watch TV, maybe read a bit…"

"What do you read?"

Natasha paused to chew. "Lately, the Game of Thrones books."

"Those seem a bit too much for me," Bruce laughed. "I heard the show gets violent."

"Weak stomach?"

"Not so much." He awkwardly smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. "I, uh, also heard things get a bit risqué..."

Natasha admired his boyish innocence. "Have you ever seen a movie or something that made the other guy come out?" she abruptly wondered.

Bruce blinked and adjusted his glasses. "No. I try avoiding that sort of content."

"Just in case?"

"I like to consider myself a pacifist."

"That I agree with," Natasha concurred.

When dessert was nothing but crumbs and paper wrappers, Bruce made a final offer to help with dishes. Natasha agreed, though she did most of the work.

"So how are those pants coming along?"

Bruce finished rinsing off a glass. "I started."

"I can't wait to see you wearing them." Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm sure you'll have your camera ready," he laughed. "I'm sorry-but are you expecting them to be neon parachute pants, or..?"

"I was thinking extra baggy green yoga pants, but please bring the parachute pants back into fashion."

"Not a chance," he snorted.

"I think you could pull them off," she encouraged.

Bruce furrowed his brows at her with a playful grin. "I'll be needing you to stay far away from Tony until these pants are finished." Her laughter was contagious, but it really was the best medicine. "He doesn't need to know your bad ideas."

"Don't worry, Doc. One of these days, you'll find a way to get revenge on me." She placed the last of the silverware in the dish rack.

Bruce dried off his hands before rolling down his sleeves. He grabbed his dress jacket from off the counter and swore he spotted traces of cat hair as he put it on. "Thank you again for dinner." he buttoned his jacket and Natasha followed him to the door.

"I honestly don't mind. This is fun." She folded her arms across her chest and grinned at him. "Get home safely, alright, Banner?"

"I will," he nodded. "Thank you for your concern. I'll… see you around, then," he awkwardly finished. "Goodnight, Natasha."

"Something's funny, what happened?" Tony prodded when he caught Bruce grinning like a fool at his monitor. "Cat video?"

Bruce paused the video file he was watching that simulated his current fabric of choice's stretch capabilities. He didn't dare mention Natasha's parachute pants idea that was pressing on his mind. "This pair won't fit the other guy."

Tony resumed his own work, but it felt eerily quiet for him. "So…Make up your mind about moving in?"

Bruce decided now was a good time for a break. "I have."

"It's settled, then. Want me to send some movers your way?"

"Tony," Bruce cautioned. "Are you sure about this?"

"Pep won't let me fill this whole place up with my toys. Might as well rent a floor out."

"What does Pepper think about all of this?"

"As long as Malibu can be for 'us,' then Stark Tower will potentially go to the dogs." He motioned Bruce over to his monitor. "And by dogs, I mean you guys. Avengers Tower," he announced, showing off the design of an "A" logo. "Maybe. I'm still clinging to 'Stark,' because, well, it's me." He opened up a 3D model of potential penthouse set-ups for each Avenger, even Thor, who they assumed they'd never hear from again. "Furniture, wallpaper-I've got it all planned out. Started refurbishing your floor last night." Tony poked a Gamma symbol and the monitor displayed a hologram of Bruce's home-to-be.

The design was simple: nothing green, and nothing overly tacky. Bruce felt that his living room and bedroom layouts vaguely echoed those of his apartment's. "If this is okay with you…" His voice trailed off.

Tony playfully smacked Bruce's shoulder. "I'll send a truck over to your place tonight."

Bruce quickly shook his head. "I can handle it," he promised with a smile.

He made a call to Natasha on his walk home to tell her the good news, but there was no answer. Rather than hang up, he waited for her phone's default "leave a message" lecture and waited for a shrill beep. "Hi, Natasha. It's Bruce," he added, though she would most likely know. "I, uh, decided to move in with Tony. Not in the way you insinuate," he chuckled. "So dinner there? Maybe-I think I should let Tony know about guests. Or not…" He stopped when he caught himself rambling. "Sorry, Natasha. I'll call you back…Have a good night," he finished.

Bruce received a message during dinner. He checked his phone while enjoying a salad and felt a bit dismayed to see that it was another "movers" offer from Tony. Once his dinner was finished, he decided to send Natasha a brief message: "hope your day has been a good one!" Her lack of a reply made him worry that her day had turned into a bad one.

He spent nearly an hour folding and stacking his clothes into orderly piles. The only help he planned to ask Tony was for some boxes. After his closet was cleared of clothes, he found a shoebox housing a pair of his nicest dress shoes which he decided to use as a storage box for mementos. Natasha's letter and CD came first, then an article of Betty's he kept hidden in his nightstand. There was enough room in the box for his framed photos with Betty. Something didn't feel right about storing Natasha's letter and CD in with Betty's memories, so he removed them and rested them at the top. He would find a place for them after the move. Then, with a heavy heart, he secured the lid over the box and hoped nothing else's of Betty's would turn up while cleaning.

Steve happened to cross paths with Bruce during a shopping trip the next afternoon. He was genuinely happy for Bruce when he learned about the move and offered him some boxes he had laying around. Bruce invited him to come drop them off, and Steve accepted.

"I've been trying to let Natasha know, but she must be busy." Bruce presented Steve with a glass of water after Steve insisted on helping him pack up his book collection.

"She seems to be a real mystery." Steve went to sit on the edge of the couch while sipping his water.

"Mystery. Yes…" The notion made him wonder if he should re-think her promise of a "truce." Bruce shook that idea from his head. He had seen quite a bit of Natasha as of late, and he saw an honest woman in spite of her occupation as a spy. She was probably busy, maybe having a bad day. Bruce didn't dare think of anything beyond that. After Steve left, he called her again, but she didn't answer.

His failed calls and fretting triggered a dream about Natasha that night, one that in no way put his mind at ease.

She was hiding her face as she sat alone on his couch.

"Natasha?" He cautiously approached her side and sat. "Are you alright?"

She turned her head as far away from him as far as possible.

"Natasha…" He reached for her shoulder, only to have his hand slapped away. "Natasha!" His hand roughly grabbed her shoulder and he jerked her back into the couch.

"I hate you!" she scowled. There was a gruesome purple and red blotch covering her entire left cheek.

Bruce glanced down at his hands, large and green.

"You're a monster!"

His alarm clock read 4:37 when he woke with his heart racing and sweat on his brow. Bruce took a deep breath and reached for his phone. There was still nothing from Natasha, and that only furthered his cause for concern. He closed his eyes and hoped that sleep would come to him, but his mind was fixated on running through all possible scenarios as to how the Natasha in his dream was mauled by the other guy.

Bruce needed a strong distraction, so he took a hot shower until the water ran cold. Packing also helped until his stomach demanded to be fed. During breakfast, Bruce made it his day's priority to pay Natasha a visit. She mentioned waking up early. Six am seemed like a good hour to get one's day going…

She didn't answer the door. Not after several doorbell rings, or even when his knocks went from light taps to urgent door punching. Bruce could only fear for the worst. "Natasha!" he shouted, fist smacking her door.

An older man down the hall cracked open his door. "She's not listening!" he gruffly sneered. "Knock it the hell off!"

Bruce whipped his head around and stared at the man, wild-eyed. "D-do you know if she's even home?" he stuttered.

The man slammed his door in reply.

Fury was the only one likely to know where Natasha was. He hurried out of her apartment complex, his mind desperately trying to recall if Natasha mentioned anything about going away during their dinner. They planned to meet in a week-that was all he knew. Bruce was growing more and more positive that something happened to her. Strong as she was, he knew she wasn't entirely invincible. His fingers trembled as he called Tony's number.

"Dr. Banner." JARVIS' voice greeted. "Mr. Stark just fell asleep. How may I help you?"

"I…" He took a deep breath and counted to four. "I need Director Fury's number. Please." He exhaled, mentally counting to four. JARVIS was happy to assist Bruce without questioning his urgency. Bruce thanked him and quickly typed in Fury's number before his scattered brain could disorganize the seven-digit code. Bruce's breathing was ragged and his heart pounded in his chest with every ring.

"Hello?"

He tensed upon hearing Fury's gruff voice. "D-Director, It's Bruce."

"Doctor." Nick's voice took on a grave tone. "What happened?"

"Natasha's gone!" he breathed. "I, I, I…I called two days ago, and now I'm-"

"She's away on a mission, Doctor." Nick almost wanted to smile. "An urgent one, at that. She'll be home by Thursday."

Bruce's breathing exercises began to steady as relief washed over him. "She's alright?"

"Perfectly fine, Doctor," Fury promised.

"Oh, God," he breathed. "Thank you. Thank you-I'm so sorry for calling this early."

"I'll let her know of your concern."

"No." Bruce forced a laugh. "Please, no… I can tell her myself." He ended the call, but he couldn't feel properly humiliated-not when he felt so grateful in knowing that Natasha was safe.