30
The Avengers Tower
New York City.
Alone with the lights down low, Bruce Banner sat in his ‘office’ which was more like an apartment, spending more time in there than the room he had in Avengers Tower, sleeping at his desk or the floor or not sleeping at all. Lately he had not been sleeping, purely for the fact that he couldn’t rest and sleep was not a comfort for him, even with advice from Steve Rogers and Thor to work out and exhaust his body, he couldn’t.
Rubbing his eyes Bruce looked up at the projected digital clock on the opposite wall, it read it was 5.33am, which meant he had had another night of not sleeping. Running his fingers through his hair, Bruce stood up and walked over to the brewed coffee pot and poured himself a coffee, still warm but burnt tasting from having been sat there for the last few hours. Drinking the coffee Bruce walked out of his office down the corridor and out to where he could go the 360 degree view of the New York skyline from the 7 paned glass window. When he reached there he took in the view and saw the gentle winter quietness of the city, just starting to come to life.
There wasn’t any more snowing felling down now, it lay on the ground from where it had fallen a few hours previously, which he glad about, it meant he could have a decent view.
Bruce enjoyed the view more than he liked to admit, he wasn’t sure why, it wasn’t for any fulfilled desire of a King Over His land, that was something Tony Stark might feel, not for Bruce it something else, it was, despite the fact that he so high up, so early in the morning, with no-one around or awake, that he felt so not as alone as he could sometimes feel.
“You can see the pollution on the skyline.” Daisy had teased him when he had first showed it to her. “And I think I can see a guy mugging an old lady down there!”
Leaning forward, Bruce smiled, he knew Daisy could always make a joke of something like the view, she knew that it meant something to him but she didn’t to let him know she knew, they were close enough to know when things mattered to the other. It had been in India, when they had taken one of the Medi Trucks out to one of the poorer communities and they traveled back too late and had to spend the night in the truck over night rather travel back in the night, so when morning rose over the land and city far far beyond both Bruce and Daisy had sat on the roof and saw as the world before them came to life in the most the amazing moving colours they had ever seen. After that, the two would go to see the sunrise with each other in India and wherever they were. Bruce knew that New York wasn’t the natural beauty that all the other countries he had been to, but it was a wonder to be in it and be a part of it.
Watching the view for a few minutes more, Bruce heard footsteps behind him, though they were gentle and quiet he knew who they were, he gave a weak smile.
“Hey Nat.” Bruce said, still facing the view.
Walking closer, Natasha Romanov stood beside him, she was wearing leisure wear, more than likely ready to go to the gym, her hair was pinned out of her eyes and she wore no makeup.
Looking down at Bruce was always amazed when he saw Natasha without make-up, she was still flawless and stunning to look at, but she also looked young. Bruce for a moment compared Natasha to Daisy, wondering that if Natasha was missing would he be as worried about her the same way he was about Daisy…and thought yes, because even though Natasha was able to fight her way out anything, the two woman were still his friends and all wants and purposes his family now.
“Morning.” Natasha said looking out to the city with him. “No sleep again?”
Drinking his coffee Bruce shrugs and said. “Didn’t even try…”
Not looking away from the view Natasha said. “I spoke to Clint,” Bruce looked over at her away from the view, “he said he’s not found anything from that tip he mentioned. Fury said he’ll get back today about-“
“I know Nat…” Bruce said softly. “I read the messages…I know we’re back to square one.”
Reaching out, Natasha touched Bruce’s arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “We’re not back at square one.”
Looking at her hand on his arm, Bruce momentarily tensed up, he wasn’t used to being touched but Natasha knew the best way to make contact with him, there hadn’t been an incident like there had been on the Hellicarrier with Loki, but in the back of his mind Bruce was always aware of the possibility, he liked to think he was a lot less angry than he had been back than, even starting to believe his turning into the green other guy helped, instead of keeping him hidden but it was still always there.
“Nat…” Bruce said sadly. “I don’t want to think she’s dead but her family had a lot of enemies and the fact she’s just vanished-“
“Means we’re going to have to work harder.” Natasha shot in. Stepping in front of him, so she could make eye contact, Natasha said in a firm voice. “We’re going to find her Bruce, we’re not without hope. Daisy needs you to not give up hope.”
Bruce felt guilty, he knew Natasha was right but he just couldn’t stop what he felt. “I know…but I just know what happens to good people in this world Nat, they’re the ones who die and get killed…the rest of us live.”
“Your a good person Bruce.” Natasha smiled at him. “Don’t forget that…ever.”
Outside the window the dawn begun to break, rising from under the skyscrapers, slipping the river and the bridge, illumining the city for the new day. Bruce looked back at the view, he reached his other hand over to touch Natasha’s hand on his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you Nat.”
Turning her head to look at the view as well, Natasha leant the side of head on Bruce’s shoulder, enjoying the view and saying nothing as she stood next to Bruce. Standing there Bruce felt at peace, for a while at least.