So here's another random chapter of this story. I intended to leave it at the last one but this is a major stress reliever. I hope you enjoy!
For the first time in the years that I have known him, I decided to actively seek out Bruce Banner. My fiancé argued against it. He said that I shouldn't bother one of the world defenders or something along those lines; I stopped listening to him once I realized that he wasn't going to agree with me. My baba, in turn, said that she would stop talking to me if I didn't try to talk to Bruce. She's wanted to meet him when he's not green ever since he saved her life when her home city was almost used to wipe out humankind. I just thought it was worth a try.
That's why I was sitting in a very tastefully decorated room in Avenger's Tower, or whatever it was called now days. I thought it was beautiful but too impersonal for my tastes. It lacked the fleeting marks of being human. I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't even handprints on the walls. As soon as Bruce walked in, closely followed by Natasha Romanoff, he rolled his eyes.
"You again?"
"Me again."
"Who again?" Natasha asked, looking between us.
"Hi! It's nice to meet you." I sprang up and held out my hand to shake. She moved out from underneath the doorway to take it, "You're my favorite Avenger, sorry, Dr. Banner, you know that's still true."
"So—what are you doing here?" Bruce asked at last, awkwardly sitting on the sofa with Natasha sitting as well.
She took his hand. I smiled at the gesture before clearing my throat, "I'm that random person that Bruce keeps meeting."
"Wait, you're the bystander that found him in Nepal?"
"Ooh, you told her about me. That's so nice. And it saves time!" I dug the invitation out of my bag and handed it to him, "I'm getting married. I'd like it if you came. And Natasha too." I nodded at her.
Bruce took the invitation, frowning, "I don't know if I should—"
"Baba insists."
Natasha snorted, "This is the first time anyone's invited us to a wedding."
"Seriously? I would think that a lot of people would be scrambling for having someone like you there."
"No—not really." Bruce shook his head, "I still cause too much trouble."
"Please, please, please, please—"
"Sure."
"Thank you!" I hugged him and even Natasha, both stiffening from contact, "It's going to be great. We're doing the whole traditional wedding with the chuppah and everything. If anyone else wants to come along, just RSVP with their names so that we have enough chairs. We're also going to have lots and lots of food and really, receptions are so much fun."
"So how does your fiancé feel about all of this?" Bruce asked dryly.
"Oh he thinks trying to invite you was a horrible idea. However, I am the bride, and that means I do more than choose the napkin colors. That reminds me, I have an appointment to get to." I rose smiling widely, "This bystander gets to be the center of attention for once. Isn't that great?"
o
In the end, four instead of two Avengers showed up to my wedding. Wanda Maximoff and Vision were an interesting addition to the crowd, drawing a few odd looks before, in typical fashion with all of my friends and family, they decided they wouldn't dwell on it too long. My fiancé had been alternating between breathing in a paper bag and pacing all week.
"What if I forget how to do it?"
"You've been practicing for months, love. It's going to be fine."
"What if the glass doesn't break."
"We're using a light bulb! You can break one of those if you pinch it too hard. It won't withstand a man stomping on it!"
I sighed, "Even if it doesn't go well, at least that'll be one hell of a story."
"You shouldn't curse."
"You shouldn't have eaten a bacon cheeseburger two days after your conversion."
"You ate one too!"
"Exactly. This is simply for my parents and my baba. It's no big deal. Besides, I totally got Bruce Banner to come to our wedding. I can do anything."
"I suppose."
"Say it."
"You can do anything." He murmured.
"Louder please."
"You can do anything!"
"Good! Now throw away that bag and take some Klonopin."
0
The wedding went beautifully. After our brief seclusion, we went to join everyone else at the reception, laughing the entire way. When Wanda and Vision came up to congratulate me, I didn't know what to expect but I certainly didn't expect tears on Wanda's part.
"What is it?" I asked, "What's the matter?"
"N—nothing, it just reminded me so much of home." Wanda wiped her eyes and I gave her a hug.
Vision frowned, seemingly confused, "I can't tell if you're happy or sad, Wanda. Please enlighten me."
"I'm happy, don't worry." Wanda pulled back, "I never met you two before today, but I hope you are both very, very happy."
"Thank you." My now husband smiled, "It's lovely meeting you."
She and Vision walked away as she whispered in Vision's ear about something. Bruce approached me cautiously, a tiny smile tugging the corner of his mouth, "Wanda's rarely so easily pleased."
"She's a sad one, now isn't she?" I mused, "But she feels vicarious joy for other's successes. She'll be fine."
"Dr. Banner. It's nice to finally meet you." My husband shook his hand, "You've done so much."
"Sorry I didn't get by earlier, your grandmother was talking to me. Nat's still trapped with her." Bruce grinned, "This was—interesting."
"Excuse me, I have to go for a moment." My husband kissed my cheek and walked away, leaving Bruce and I alone in the corner.
"Can you believe the light bulb didn't break on the first try?" Bruce asked, looking a little smug, "He looked like he was going to vomit."
"Yeah. It was pretty strange. Thanks for fitting it with reinforced glass by the way. That was so funny. He'd kill us if he ever found out."