Bruce chose to spend the early hours of the morning tinkering in his home office until he grew so tired that he couldn't see straight. He knew food would help, but the toast he made earlier was left to sit after one bite upset his stomach.
Bruce ended up sleeping in for another three hours after that until his stomach demanded to be fed. He managed to keep down a slice of toast, then moved on to a bowl of cereal. His phone started ringing shortly after breakfast, but Bruce was shy about answering when he saw that it was Tony calling. After three rings, Bruce began to feel guilty for purposefully ignoring his friend. Tony most likely wanted to know that he was okay. "Good morning, Tony."
"Back up and running?"
Bruce wondered how much of Tony's pep was forced. "For the most part."
"You in the lab?"
"My apartment," Bruce replied.
"Mind if I come up?"
A gut feeling told Bruce that he would soon hear what he needed to. "Yeah. Please do." Bruce's stomach felt unsettled as he impatiently awaited Tony's arrival. He couldn't shake the red bit of flesh he ingested. The sample was now sitting in a small plastic container that Bruce planned to show to Tony…just in case his friend tried to brush off his attack against Ross as a few meager punches.
Tony showed himself inside to find his partner moping by the kitchen counter. "How you holding up, buddy?" Bruce acknowledged him, his eyes swollen with fear and betrayal. Tony knew right away that he knew something was up. "Can we sit?" He led Bruce to his couch and the two men sat, separated by a single cushion. "Something happened yesterday," Tony began with a heavy sigh.
Bruce sat hunched forward with his hands folded in his lap. "I know…"
Tony was hesitant as his mind replayed yesterday's Hulk brawl in slow motion.
Banner's Hulk punched Ross' head back into the concrete. He roared, then squeezed his foe's neck before bowing his head and taking the red beast's ear between his teeth. The lobe was bitten off like a piece of meat. Banner's Hulk snarled, fully prepared to take another bite out of his opponent, but the sedatives kicked in, bringing the Hulk to the ground…
Tony was too quiet for Bruce's liking, and he refused to have his friend beat around the bush any longer. "Tony…" A lump formed in his throat. "I…I think I ate something yesterday…"
Hearing it said aloud had Tony tasting blood in his mouth. It made him want to puke.
"I… I know I ate something. Tony…" Bruce turned his head to find Tony with a hand clasped over his lips.
"You did," the inventor confirmed. "Ear," he added after a pause.
It could have been worse, Bruce assured himself. The thought hardly helped. "And Ross…"
Tony hesitated. "Missing his left earlobe."
A shudder ran up Bruce's spine. Given the General made a full recovery, his hatred towards him would be stronger than ever.
"I didn't tell the others," Tony continued. "Well…" he shrugged with a deep breath. "I said I hit his ear with a repulsor…"
"You saw the whole thing, then?" Bruce was almost too afraid to know the answer.
Tony pursed his lips. "I saw you bite him. So yeah…"
"I'm sorry, Tony…"
"You weren't in your brightest state," Tony reassured. "And hey, better him than me, right?"
Bruce failed to laugh at Tony's distasteful joke.
"The important thing is that we all made it out okay," Tony finished.
Bruce hardly felt any better. "I think I'd like to spend some time in the lab this afternoon."
"Sounds like a plan."
"I also really need to stop by the store," Bruce added, recalling the dinner date he had planned with Natasha. He didn't know what he would get-he didn't even feel like eating. They could always go out for pizza. He didn't think Natasha would mind too much…
"Romanoff night?" Tony casually asked.
Bruce nodded. "Sorry, Tony, but I have some things I want to discuss with her."
The corner of Tony's lip rose. "Sounds like things are getting heavy with you two."
Tony didn't know the half of it. "We're friends," Bruce confirmed.
Tony rolled his eyes as he left the couch. "Whatever you say, Brucie."
Bruce wrinkled his nose as he watched the inventor leave. He wondered if he was being obvious that he had more than a friendly fondness towards the assassin. The front door clicked shut and Bruce decided to shoot Natasha a quick text.
"I really didn't mean to force dinner on you if you weren't hungry," Natasha began.
Bruce shook his head with a smile as he checked on a pizza that was cooking in the oven. "I think my appetite's coming back," he mentioned with a shrug before shutting the door. After stepping out for some fresh afternoon air, Bruce decided to have a go at making his own pizza.
Natasha leaned against the counter as she carefully watched Bruce. His skin had a healthy glow to it, but his eyes lacked their warm shine. "You never know what's gonna happen after the other guy shows, do you?"
Bruce's grin weakened. "It's unpredictable." He turned his back to her to grab two plates.
Natasha knew he was hiding something, and as much as she wanted to know, she couldn't push Bruce despite how much she wanted to help him. "You know." She reached into her purse and unveiled a plastic container. "I brought dessert." She held up the pack of chocolate croissants. "I really hope these kept in the fridge."
Bruce chuckled. "They should be fine."
She slipped the purse off her shoulder and rested it on the counter. "And I brought condoms."
Bruce's tension quickly turned to embarrassment. "I…" He carried the plates to the table, his eyes avoiding Natasha for an entirely new reason. "Alright…"
She raised a brow. "So you want to?"
He didn't think his body would be capable of another incident. Bruce could picture making it into bed with Natasha and falling fast asleep. His achy muscles weren't up for anything rigorous. "I do," he wearily replied.
"You hide your lewd side well, Doc," Natasha smirked.
"You're awful," he teasingly replied.
"But you love it," she countered with a wink.
"A little," he playfully agreed before tending to the pizza. "Dinner looks about ready," he commented, shutting the oven off.
"If this pizza's better than the local spots, I'll be coming here more often."
"I doubt it will be better," he chuckled. "But I never mind your company, Natasha."
She drew close to his side and rested her hand on the small of his back. "That was really reckless of you to go in like that…"
His fingers twisted around the oven's handle. "You never attempted to stop me."
She rubbed a light circle against his back. "You had to do what you had to do, Bruce. If it was me, I wouldn't have let you stop me."
His eyes squeezed shut as he found himself imagining Betty as the ceiling came crashing down on her. Or maybe the floor caved in first… "I wasn't even afraid of dying. Hardly crossed my mind…"
"The other guy would've saved you," Natasha reassured. "He's done it before, right?"
Bruce lowered his head. "One of these days, he won't be there to save me…"
Natasha rested her chin against his shoulder. "Don't talk like that, Bruce."
He began to shake his head. "Sorry…I'm sorry, I just…" His head was beginning to throb.
Natasha cupped his cheek and forced him to meet her stare. "Look at me," she murmured. "Bruce… You're gonna be okay." He gave her a doubtful stare. "You're not leaving any of us, got that?" Her tone hardened. "We need you here, Bruce… Even I need you."
He couldn't hide the small grin that had crept across his lips.
"Hey," she smirked. "I mean it. You've really grown on me, Doc."
"Maybe too much?" he warily suggested.
Natasha's expression softened. "A little too much," she nodded. She bit her lower lip and Bruce leaned in to kiss her. Natasha rested her hand on his chest and brought a slow end to the kiss. "We'll never get a chance to eat if we continue."
Bruce lowered his head and laughed. "I really should eat something."
He managed to inhale six slices of the homemade pizza. While Natasha took her time with her two slices, Bruce took large bites without much care for chewing. He insisted that Natasha take the final slice, but she politely declined."It's not bad at all, Doc, but I think you need it a hell of a lot more than me."
He shyly smiled as he pulled apart a piece of crust. "I never realize how hungry I am until I start eating."
"Don't forget I brought those croissants over," she casually reminded him.
He nodded in between chews.
Natasha waited until he swallowed to pose her next big question. "Would it be weird if I stayed the night?"
Bruce knew his food would've gone down the wrong pipe had he still been chewing. His eyes must've been bugging out of his head, because Natasha was laughing. "The night…"
"I don't have to," she corrected. "Just figured that…you know, maybe it'll be nicer than leaving right away."
"Sex," Bruce dumbly stated, his eyes on Natasha's face.
"Only if you want to…"
Bruce pursed his lips. "We can see where the night takes us…"
Natasha snorted.
"Too corny for you?" he smiled.
"Since you're a dork, the corniness suits you," she commented. "I'll be honest, Bruce, it's been a while since I spent a whole night with a guy. I'm used to flings, but I've been through some romantic nights."
Bruce was silent for a moment. "Was it love?"
Natasha returned his silence in equal length. "I like to think that it wasn't. Saves the complication."
Bruce rubbed his palms along his thighs. "And if I said that I loved you, how would that affect us?"
Natasha lowered her head, allowing her hair to strategically hide her eyes. "Kinda been wondering if you were already in love with me."
Keeping his mouth shut would've felt like the best option, but Bruce feared that his silence would speak too loudly. "A little."
She snorted. "I won't push you away for falling for me, Banner. It's not your fault I'm so great."
"Don't say it so lightly," he gently warned. "You're a wonderful woman, Natasha."
She lifted her head to meet his gaze. "You're a sweet guy, Bruce…That's pry why I feel like I'm falling for you."
Her confession felt too forced for his liking, but it served as a reminder to Bruce, a reminder that he wasn't ready for a commitment. It felt too soon, but at the same time, it felt right. "Are we ready for this?"
Natasha shrugged a shoulder. "I don't think we'll ever be." She paused. "Do the Avengers have time for this? I only ask because I've seen something like this play out, and it's complicated."
"Even if we keep this a secret?"
He was making it obvious that he wanted something that she wasn't ready to commit to. "Don't you and Stark tell each other everything?"
"We don't have to," he uneasily replied.
Natasha could sense his discomfort in what she was asking of him. She knew how close he and Tony had become. Instant best friends. "I can't force you to do that."
"You're not." His hand reached for hers.
"I'm concerned, Bruce," she admitted as her fingers laced with his. "What happens when one of us goes running off and gets hurt?" Her voice lowered. "You'll be a wreck if something happened to me."
Bruce nodded, unable to deny that he would lose ten years off his life if Natasha received so much as a scratch.
"And I'll be pretty beat up if something happened to you," Natasha continued. Her hand slipped from his grip as she rose from her chair. "I know I'm in love, but I'd rather lie to myself about it…Makes leaving you that much easier…"
Bruce felt his chest ache as he moved to wrap his arms around her waist. "You don't have to leave."
Natasha's arm wrapped around him and her fingers tugged at his shirt. "Work's gonna keep us both away. Trust me, I know it will."
He nuzzled against her soft curls. "Then let's count on each other to return."
"Unharmed," Natasha added.
Bruce chuckled. "Unharmed," he agreed.
She broke their romantic embrace to shoot him a stern glare. "I mean it, Bruce."
He smiled. "I know you do," he answered before kissing her.
Natasha untucked his shirt as her tongue forced itself past his teeth.
The coolness of her fingertips against his bare sides made Bruce groan in surprise. He pulled her closer to his chest, but she hummed and took a step back.
"Let me get something out of my purse," she winked.
Bruce felt a nagging in his pants stir as he watched her turn away. He knew he was going to be okay.
Natasha flashed him a tiny packet locked between her fingers before guiding him into the bedroom. She tossed the foil wrapper onto Bruce's bed before lifting her shirt over her head and onto the floor.
He caught himself dumbly staring, his eyes particularly glued to her black lace bra.
Natasha admired the daze he was in as she unbuttoned her jeans. "I won't force you to do this."
He lowered his eyes to the ground and began unbuttoning his shirt. "I want to."
Natasha smiled and crawled onto his bed. "You sure you're not uncomfortable?" He was slow with taking off his shirt, almost purposefully. Natasha relaxed against his pillow and inhaled the scent of fresh laundry.
"Just sore, is all," Bruce mumbled as he let his pants fall to his ankles.
Natasha propped herself up on her elbows. "I don't think this'll help you much," she teased.
He chuckled as he approached the bed. "It's a welcomed distraction." He crawled over her and rested a hand on her side. She smiled and ran her fingers up his bare chest. "Sorry," he breathed. "That doesn't sound right…"
Her hands reached his neck and she proceeded to wrap her arms around him. "No offense taken," she promised. "You really need a good distraction."
Bruce wrinkled his nose. "It sounds awful when you say it like that."
She shook her head and added pressure against his neck. "Let's call it stress relief... I can really use some," Natasha crooned.
He lowered his head and allowed their lips to touch.
Natasha hummed, raising her hips in approval as her fingers buried into his curls.
Bruce felt his body begin to relax, and he lowered his body against hers, not once refusing to break the kiss. He could feel Natasha's hips start to rub against his crotch and he reached down to tug at his briefs.
Natasha ended the lip-locking to follow suit. She watched Bruce with a lopsided grin as he kicked off his underwear while scanning the sheets for the condom. He was already hard. Natasha felt his eyes on her as a hand shielded his cock from her view. She lifted her gaze and quietly laughed. "You want the lights off?"
He shook his head with a faint smile as he ripped open the foil packet. "A little self-conscious."
"Don't be." She reached behind her to unclasp her bra.
Bruce stared past the frames of his glasses to watch a blur of black fall between Natasha's legs. He quickly lowered his head, allowing himself to finish rolling the condom down his length.
Natasha crawled towards him and kissed his cheek. "You've got nothing to be ashamed of, Bruce Banner."
The sly tone in her comment made his face flush. He reached out to run a hand through her hair. Natasha's arms locked around his neck and she proceeded to pull him down into the sheets with her.
She felt him between her legs and she rubbed her core against him. "Bruce," she hummed.
He had to bite his lip to stifle a moan. "Yes?"
She laughed, "nothing." Natasha wrapped her arms around his torso and proceeded to kiss his neck. Her lips grazed his jaw, his cheek, but a playful nibble to his ear forced Bruce to jerk away.
He didn't utter an apology as he strayed from her embrace and hunched over the edge of his bed.
Natasha was quick to react and she curled up to Bruce's side, watching as his brows furrowed and his jaw clenched. "Did something set him off?"
Bruce shook his head.
"Bruce."
His hand covered his mouth as he shook his head a second time. "Something happened when I attacked Ross…" He prayed he would be able to keep his dinner down as the lost piece of ear resurfaced to his thoughts.
Natasha rested a hand on his back. "Did you have control?"
A sardonic laugh escaped his throat. "I wish I did… Natasha, I… the other guy bit off a piece of his ear. And swallowed…"
"He deserved it," she muttered.
Bruce watched her in his peripheral vision. "That's not the point, Natasha. Had those drugs not kicked in, I could've done worse."
"I still say the bastard deserv -"
"That's not the point, Natasha!" he shouted, his voice echoing.
Natasha instinctively shrank back, fully prepared to run for the stinger bracelets in her purse if he lashed out again.
Bruce unclenched his jaw and turned to Natasha to find a cold glare in her eyes. "I'm sorry…" Her shoulders remained tense. "Natasha…" He bowed his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "I just…I tell myself 'what if that was you?' What if I lose control and just…"
Natasha rejoined his side and reached for his hand. "I won't let that happen. You know I'll have you knocked out before that ever happens."
His incident on the helicarrier told him that wasn't true. Bruce could remember the pure terror in her eyes that day. It only strengthened his fears that she would be helpless in a one-on-one fight against the other guy.
"The other guy hates Ross as much as you do," Natasha continued. "He wanted to attack him."
"That doesn't explain why he ate Tony's hand…"
"Iron Man's hand," she corrected, but she knew it didn't make him feel any better. "Lay down with me?" she softly suggested. His muscles felt tense beneath her touch, so she crawled away. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."
Bruce felt a slight shift in the bed's weight as she left. He heard the rustling of clothes and in minutes, he heard the bedroom door click shut. Bruce rolled onto his side and buried his face into his pillow. His fists clenched at the sheets as he stared at an empty wall. He wasn't sure how long he stared at the wall, but sleep overcame him, a welcomed escape from his dreary day.