Spoilers from Age of Ultron.

It was easy to leave. Without any goodbyes or objections was the easiest way to leave. And that was what he did, or supposedly what the other guy did. One moment he was kissing her and then he wakes up on the shore. The thing was, it felt that both of him were acting on the same thought, and Bruce felt that he had some control on the other guy. Maybe that was how he was able to leave, or make the other guy leave. Either way, he had left the team and her.

He isn't stupid to think that Fury would just allow him to leave and not know where he is. He knew that they would find him, so he was constantly on the move. Fiji, Finland, Sweden, always on a move; it felt a routine was back on his life, the way he used to live. And he was somewhat happy with it. Sure he could not research science or openly help others, but it did make him feel okay knowing that he was protecting her from himself.

Natasha Romanoff, the well-known assassin, had feelings for him. What was the possibility that a beautiful assassin would want him, the anger-issues nerd like him? Come on, it is funny. At least to him.

And she wasn't afraid of the other guy. She should, considering the other guy tried to kill her earlier when he had just met her. He even considered it, the thought just him and her, until everything just crashed down.

The destruction he had caused in Africa, the fear he had after he saw the buildings. There was the nagging feel he had felt when he came back, and it took him a moment to realize that it was the other guy was feeling. He had seen the fear on the people, and it made him feel scared of himself. Bruce thinks that it was because of that incident did the other guy allowed him to run away so that he couldn't make an appearance and break her in two pieces like a building.

He doesn't want nightmares or reality waking up to see her dead, with her blood on his hands.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

It is when he is in Sri Lanka that SHIELD makes an appearance. Bruce is surprised, he had expected them to come earlier in the two years that he was away from the whole Ultron destroying the world thing. And he is more surprised with who they had sent to collect him.

Clint Barton. Hawkeye. He would never admit that he was expected someone else. "Doctor Banner," Barton said, his face neutral and voice not giving away anything. "Not surprised to see you actually," Bruce bitterly said. "How did you find me?"

"We never really lost your location actually."

"Makes sense," the doctor said. "So what is it now? Another god making an appearance to destroy the world or is it the robot now?" The doctor said in the jokingly manner, but the archer made no motion about it.

"I am not here as an agent, or even as team member but as a close friend of someone," Barton stated. Bruce had a sinking feeling that he was not going to like what was about to happen.

"Natasha is dying."

Bruce didn't even stop to listen to Clint's story as he started to pack up his bag for the minimal clothes possible. It was on their way that he heard Clint talking. Natasha was captured back by the people who had created the Black Widow program, and even succeeded to brainwash her to become the cold assassin she used to be. But she fought back and nearly destroyed the place she was held captive and tried to rescued another girl who was experimented on before he had come. When he arrived, he found her holding a dead body, and somehow, those bastard had injected some poison into Natasha's body. The Red Room had created her, they could definitely destroy her too.

All the time Bruce heard, it took him everything to just stay calm. He didn't allow himself to see her, and met with Tony to work for the cure. He didn't stay around to joke with Tony, and the billionaire thankfully got that and only helped him quietly. He had to stay focused on the subject because he could feel the other guy just waiting to unleash himself.

And after hard hours of work, he was finally able to find the cure. But he didn't allow himself to work into the hospital and try it himself. No, he was much of a coward for that, so he let Barton deliver the cure. He waited for someone to update him, and after an hour of torture, Barton finally called back.

Natasha was okay.

It was like a mantra he keep on repeating to himself. It was the only thing that allowed him to think. The only thing that could make him keep his sanity was her.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

There was an annoying beeping sound as Natasha gained her consciousness. It didn't even take her a second to realize where she is, considering she frequently visited the hospital to know exactly what would be going on. Quite honestly though, she didn't really expect to be alive, let alone be in a hospital. She slowly opened her eyes to find bright white walls rather than the dark red wall that she had been accustomed to over the few days (or was it months?). It took her moment to realize that she wasn't alone, and someone was holding her hand, allowing his calloused thumb to draw circles on the back of the hand. Something that only one person used to do.

She didn't want to hope too much. But she had to look to the right side to find him sitting next to her bed, her hand clasped in both of his hands. Green eyes meet the brown ones, and it still brought a small smile on her face to see him getting flustered around her. Bruce was in front of her, and somehow everything became alright. Nothing mattered, what had happen in the few days or what's going to happen. It was a strange feeling to have; the feeling where as long as Bruce was with her, she was absolutely fine.

"Hey," her voice raspy for not speaking for two days. He looked tired, she thought. There were bags under his eyes and he looked like he didn't shave for few days. He tiredly smiled at her, bringing their clasped hands near his lips.

"Don't scare me like that," his soft voice spoke, and somehow that brought a smirk on his face. "Well, that's kind of hard considering what I do for a living," she quipped. It brought a small smile on his face.

They didn't talk for a while, just letting the comfortable silence assure them that everything was alright, and they were okay. "Are you coming back home?" Natasha quietly asks, perfectly hiding her fear.

He looks at her, his heart calm though he could feel the other guy's presence. Somehow, they both reached a decision that they both agreed on, which only made Bruce to accept the other guy as not so being scary. He was still afraid, but not as afraid of losing her again. He looks into her eyes, perfectly knowing her fear of rejection.

"Yeah," he whispers, knowing he won't regret it. As long as home is you.