Characters: Bruce, Natasha, mentions of Clint

Summary: Bruce Banner on the subject of bank holdups. Or, a bank robber didn't realize he chose to rob a bank frequented by the Hulk.

Thanks to everyone that R&Red. Reviews tend to make my day, especially when I'm neglecting my studies.

Stalling

"Please," Bruce says, hands spread out disarmingly at his side. He can feel the Hulk straining at the edges of his bonds, testing for a way out. "You don't have to do this."

The man looks at him, almost curiously. He takes a step forward. "What makes you think that?" he asks, a hint of amusement in his voice. The man is dead, he just doesn't know it yet.

"Please," Bruce says, voice lilting slightly as he continues a frantic mantra of calm calm calm. "Please, don't try to kill me."

Bruce swallows a mouthful of blood, grimacing at its taste. He can't let the Hulk loose – not here. Not when there are civilians around, their fragile bodies ripe for abuse.

Doctor Bruce Banner, bleeding and tired and pissed to hell at the amount of people who think that the Hulk is just an overgrown puppy, kneels at the feet of a two-bit robber and begs for his life.

"Are you begging?" the robber looks rather satisfied.

"Look, I just wanted to withdraw some cash from my account," Bruce replies quickly and urgently. The Hulk's beginning to settle as the initial pulse of adrenaline fades a bit. "My roommates – they just wanted me to get the groceries and I wanted to-"

"Shut up," the man orders. The gun levels at Bruce's head and oh god he can feel the Hulk at the surface.

"Please," Bruce says again. The Hulk's so close, waiting to tear its way free. Bruce shudders. "Just… don't point the gun at me. Safer for everyone, right?"

"Stop begging," the man tells him, coming closer so that his gun was inches away from Bruce's head. "You're so fu-"

"I'm not begging," Bruce grits out as he feels his body tense. He can hear the Hulk roaring at the sight of the gun and Bruce feels like he can't fit in his body anymore, as though he's about to tear apart at the seams. "I'm stalling."

"Stalling?" the man's eyes widen, and suddenly he's not standing there anymore. In his place is Natasha, bloody knife in one hand and not a hair out of place. She even gives a slightly disdainful sniff as she looks down at the would-be bank robber.

"Doctor Banner," Natasha inclines her head respectfully, holding out her unarmed hand.

Bruce takes it gratefully and rises. "Miss Romanov," he tells her. The Hulk begins to fade, the lack of danger (Romanov excluded) causing the last dregs of adrenaline to wash from Bruce's body. "I expected you earlier."

Natasha shrugs. "Traffic," she explains, not even bothering to disguise the lie. Bruce crosses his arms as she gives thestand down signal out the window.

"For you or for Barton?" he asks.

From what Bruce can tell, her smile isn't completely faked. "Both."

Please consider dropping a review on your way out, loves. Thanks for the read! -V