[Bruce knows very well how sometimes white lies are necessary and that everyone processes grief in their own time, so he will understand. He too understands the value in letting this be just about them. You both deserve a win, Steve said to him, a long time ago. They've gone through so much apart and they are happy, in this moment. They've been happy snuggling on the couch, flirting, talking through once painful things, and damned if he doesn't care at this moment about deserve.
He chuckles at the joke and caresses her cheek with his fingers.] I think a yes will suffice.
[She gives him one and he is filled with nerve but the good type. He doesn't hesitate now. Bruce leans down, closing what little space is between them, and kisses her softly. it's as if nothing else about this place matters but her, she is the eye of the storm, the singular thing his world revolves around at the moment. Her lips are soft and while he noticed how the moonlacing made all of their touches stronger, this kiss burns almost immediately.]
The world doesn't end. The roof doesn't cave in. The apocalypse doesn't trigger.
Maybe they're not as jinxed as they both fear?
She makes a soft sound against his lips, leaning up to meet him. One hand lifts to curl around to the nape of his neck, fingertips brushing through the dark hair there as she holds him close.
[There were so many times in the past he thought about kissing her, wanted to kiss her, before he even knew she was feeling the same way. It was somewhere along the lullaby, after it worked for the first time, and it was because of her. She gave him that, and he was exhausted but hopeful and he was struck with how beautiful her smile was. The impulse to kiss her then took him by complete shock but it happened more frequently after that. He's an expert at pining.
Their one kiss was so fast, desperate on her end since she knew what she had to do and this time he wants it to linger. It's been a long time since he's really gotten to kiss anyone, and he treasures it. Bruce lets the first kiss break but they're still so close and he says to hell with it and kisses her again, this time with more intent and passion.
And the best part about it is that his heart is definitely starting to pick up in speed, but there is no trace of Hulk's curiosity in him he can sense. All he knows is Nat's taste and smell and the feel of her long hair when his fingers run through it.]
[ She's careful - even though she's certainly willing, she's been around him long enough to know his own fears and doesn't want this moment spoiled by anything. He's still five years behind her and she has no idea what sort of deal he's got with the Hulk right this moment, and she's gotta admit, she's far more fond of kissing Bruce than she would be his counterpart.
But he doesn't seem concerned, so for the moment, she follows him, letting him control the speed and the pace of this, although she is right there to meet him every step of the way.
She shifts, arms resting against his shoulders as she tips her head up towards him, giving him free rein. Her tongue playfully teases against his lips as she makes a soft hum of enjoyment, thoroughly relishing every stolen moment of this. ]
[Bruce is always concerned, just a little, and the moment he feels anything nearing green he'll be the first to spring back and get himself under control. As he told Tony, the concept of turning into the Hulk in an intimate situation is the obvious reason he's never tried, and it's been an active worry of his since coming here. This place makes people feel a certain way and that can be trouble for a dangerous split personality like his. So far he's been very, very lucky.
And this has nothing to do with the moons at the moment. This is her and him and Bruce finds himself unusually greedy in the face of being allowed to want someone again. At the least he is allowed to kiss the woman who owns his heart without fear and that is a gift. All these years between them and this isn't dead. It's burning back to life again.
His arms wrap around her waist in a close embrace, slightly clumsy in execution because practice is not something he's had in a decade, but he is a quick learner. Bruce hums right back, in agreement and in amusement, only breaking the kiss due to a required few seconds of breathing. Which he's doing shallowly at the moment, nuzzling her nose affectionately with his, not pulling away.]
I adore you. [The word is used very precisely, the same ones she said to him. There's nothing to be pushed off of this time, so the sentiment stays instead. He never got to use the words or echo them at her, his feelings suppressed so skillfully. But he's done with it. He gently kisses her again to seal it to them. She doesn't need to say it again. She only needs to know where he's at.]
[ Kissing is recoverable. If they get more intimate... well, that could cause some problems if the Big Guy suddenly showed up, but it's not like she hasn't been aware of that from the beginning.
But she's not overly worried about that at the moment, not when he's so calm and relaxed and clearly enjoying himself. And this contentment is easy to immerse in, as she curves into the wrap of his arms around her. It feels... perfect. Laughing softly, she nuzzles back against him.
Her eyes lift to his, however, at his words. Her words, actually, offered back to her, all this time later. Her dimples deepen for a moment as she pulls back enough to search his face. ]
You remember...
[ Maybe that shouldn't surprise her, but in a way, it does. ]
[For the first time in a long time he wants to try. It might stall a few times, if only for his hang-ups and anxieties, but if she is willing to be patient ... it could happen. He also can't deny that knowing there is someone he and the Hulk can trust to be with will be a giant relief when it comes to this place and its control over people. If she wants him the way she seems to, if she can accept him for who and what he is, he'll have a refuge to come to, a safe place and a welcoming embrace. He feels hope. Also, well, excitement and desire and a touch of giddiness.
He loves her laugh and the soft intimacy of their little touches. He breathes in her air and starts trailing kisses on her cheek and draw, finding contentment in this bit of freedom. Bruce doesn't know how much he'll be allowed, but this is a request for it. One arm stays around her while the other moves up her back and through her hair. She's so close. He could see every eyelash if he looked closely enough.
He raises an eyebrow at her, surprised she didn't know that moment between them was seared onto his mind forever.]
You said I adore you, kissed me, and pushed me off a cliff. [Dryly.] Not something I'd forget. [The last thing he remembered, before coming back to himself on Sakaar.] I thought I would never get to kiss you again. I accepted I might adore you in secret from then on. [Color flushes into his face but he stays firm, close, open to her in a way he was closed before.] I know five years in the future I would feel the same. Those feelings don't go away, not for me.
[It's so focused and eternally loyal of him, but true. He still loves Betty with everything in him, albeit from a respectful distance since she moved on with her life. Just as he kept his distance from Nat.] I don't expect the same. I just never got to tell you the truth.
To be fair, I expected the cliff part to be the more memorable for you in that instance, but maybe I'm underestimating my charms.
[ Her tone is equally dry as she drops her gaze - the movement almost apologetic, in its own way. She doesn't regret that action - she'd been right and she would stand her ground on that - but the cost had been higher than she'd wished for.
Lifting her gaze again, she watches his face as he talks, her hand sliding to cup warmly against his cheek. ]
You don't have to make excuses you know. In case I was being too subtle, I still adore you, too.
[ That hadn't changed, not in all the years he'd been missing, and then the five since the Snap. Although things had been different back home. he'd left - again - instead of seeking her out. But they'd all been so broken down by regrets and grief... maybe it wouldn't have worked anyway? This place, though...
[Bruce laughs quietly, shaking his head.] Nat, you could have stabbed me in the heart, and I'd still remember the kiss first and foremost. [It was the only one he thought he'd ever get, and that moment of passion was something he could have lived within for eternity given the chance.
He doesn't want or need her to apologize. He agrees with her. It was the right thing to do. Running away is what he does best and it was his instinct, but he was reverting to his old self, not sticking with his personal growth since joining the Avengers. It did come at a high personal cost. The Hulk took over for years because of it, but he still would not put that on her shoulders.
Despite the kissing and their closeness, he still is surprised when she says it is mutual. He knows the affection is mutual, that she still wants him for some reason, she's been clear about that. But the depth her feelings and that it hasn't changed in all these years? It awes him. He smiles wider than usual and looks at her with all of his feelings plain on his face and gaze, but it fades as quickly as it comes.]
I'm, um, not sure ... how much I can offer yet. He's been quiet so far, but I haven't tried .... [This is a point of nerves for him. He hasn't had reason to talk about it, but it came up a few times here, with people checking in about him and the Hulk. Bruce's answer is that he doesn't know. This is the first time he wants to know, and this conversation is awkward, and a bit presumptuous, but it feels necessary too. They're adults.] I want to try, um, carefully, with your safety in mind. [He has the most beautiful woman in the world kissing him.] It might require some patience. If that's not a deal breaker? [He really hopes not.]
[ She leans in, kisses him again. It's still gentle, but there's more of a note of playfulness this time as she peers up at him and smiles, warm and open and content. ]
We can experiment. I hear you science types like doing that, right?
[ Her hand still cupping against his cheek, she steals another kiss before continuing. ] Bruce, I'm not afraid of the Big Guy anymore. I haven't been for a long time. This isn't a deal breaker, it's part of who you are. Trust me when I say I'm okay with that. We can find out what you can do and maybe we can find out what his deal is at the same time.
[One of the struggles Bruce went through when this first came up between them was the reality that he wasn't sure he could even be a full partner for her. Not in the way he felt she deserved. He understands rationally that sex isn't everything, and she knew his limitations, but it still was a pain point of his. Another thing the Hulk took from him and made complicated so he couldn't have what he wanted.
He didn't realize part of that insecurity was still there until she reassured him. He takes both kisses and lets the surety she means them wash over him, pushing down his anxieties.] I really don't deserve you. [He brushes his fingers through her hair and looks into her eyes. He is ready to stop letting anything hold him back. She can make her own decisions and she chose this.]
I don't mean to be presumptuous about sex, we're only kissing, but I don't want miscommunication to get in the middle of us again. [He kisses her softly, nuzzling her nose after.] Also, I'm not sure you know this, but you are incredibly attractive. [Teasing now; of course she knows that.] I love everything about you, but wanting you is very easy.
[ She gives a soft laugh at that, just a whispered breath of one, and ducks her head a little, almost as if she hadn't been expecting that from him. Of course she knows what she looks like - she's honed every aspect of herself into a weapon for far too long, after all.
But there's still something in hearing those words from him that makes her stomach flutter in a way it never has before. A nervous sort of pleasure, giddy and flattered. It's ridiculous, but she's feeling it anyway. Maybe he's not the only one who can still be flustered by this... whatever this is.
Instead of voicing that, however, she just leans up to steal one more kiss, nuzzling in against him in return. ]
It's not presumptuous. It's... [ She pauses, humming softly as she playfully searches for the right words. ] ...keeping our options open? Maybe wide open in this case, since it may be that we can do whatever we want in this place. It certainly seems designed for it, after all.
[Bruce knows how attractive people are, especially the people around him, but that doesn't mean he's attracted to them. He was aware that Natasha was pretty, but he was already in a paranoid state of being, assuming they sent her thinking he would bend easier to a pretty woman, which wasn't the case. His feelings for her came later and by the time he realized that he longed for more reasons to talk to her, she went from aesthetically appealing to stunningly beautiful in his eyes.
They are too old and too weathered to find so much giddy warmth inside of them for something new and precious, and yet here they are. Thrilled and keyed into one another as the start of something is in front of them. Bruce nods and loves how close they are, how he can feel her warmth all along the side of his body and from their stolen kisses.]
Things have changed with the Hulk. He used to overreact to a faster pulse, thinking it was always danger. I had plenty of fast pulse moments later on and he didn't react. [When Ultron first attacked them, for example, or all their other heated moments. Bruce was in more control than ever before, and it helped that the Hulk rationally understood certain people were not a danger to them.] He also likes and trusts you. It makes a difference.
[Bruce sighs.] I just ... want to believe it's possible for us. [He wants to make love to her. He wants all those intimacies that he's purposely forgotten from his time with Betty. He wants to wake up with Nat beside him and to share that shower she joked about at Clint's house.]
[ She cups his face with both her hands this time before leaning in to kiss him again - deeper this time. Long and lingering and full of her own longing. When she pulls back, it's just because she needed air, and it's only as far to rest her forehead against his. Meeting his gaze again, she rests there, panting softly. ]
We'll figure it out, Bruce. Don't rule it out yet. We'll find our own way. Yeah?
[That kiss definitely purges his mind of most concerns. Bruce can only return it with a soft sound that might be the verge of a moan and he is a little out of breath when she stops.]
Yeah. [He laughs.] This is good. Let's do more of this. [It's been a long time since he kissed someone with no real goal other than enjoying it, and that's something they both deserve. Bruce draws her in and puts his energy from overthinking into distracting them both for awhile.]
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He chuckles at the joke and caresses her cheek with his fingers.] I think a yes will suffice.
[She gives him one and he is filled with nerve but the good type. He doesn't hesitate now. Bruce leans down, closing what little space is between them, and kisses her softly. it's as if nothing else about this place matters but her, she is the eye of the storm, the singular thing his world revolves around at the moment. Her lips are soft and while he noticed how the moonlacing made all of their touches stronger, this kiss burns almost immediately.]
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The world doesn't end. The roof doesn't cave in. The apocalypse doesn't trigger.
Maybe they're not as jinxed as they both fear?
She makes a soft sound against his lips, leaning up to meet him. One hand lifts to curl around to the nape of his neck, fingertips brushing through the dark hair there as she holds him close.
It's perfect. ]
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Their one kiss was so fast, desperate on her end since she knew what she had to do and this time he wants it to linger. It's been a long time since he's really gotten to kiss anyone, and he treasures it. Bruce lets the first kiss break but they're still so close and he says to hell with it and kisses her again, this time with more intent and passion.
And the best part about it is that his heart is definitely starting to pick up in speed, but there is no trace of Hulk's curiosity in him he can sense. All he knows is Nat's taste and smell and the feel of her long hair when his fingers run through it.]
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But he doesn't seem concerned, so for the moment, she follows him, letting him control the speed and the pace of this, although she is right there to meet him every step of the way.
She shifts, arms resting against his shoulders as she tips her head up towards him, giving him free rein. Her tongue playfully teases against his lips as she makes a soft hum of enjoyment, thoroughly relishing every stolen moment of this. ]
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And this has nothing to do with the moons at the moment. This is her and him and Bruce finds himself unusually greedy in the face of being allowed to want someone again. At the least he is allowed to kiss the woman who owns his heart without fear and that is a gift. All these years between them and this isn't dead. It's burning back to life again.
His arms wrap around her waist in a close embrace, slightly clumsy in execution because practice is not something he's had in a decade, but he is a quick learner. Bruce hums right back, in agreement and in amusement, only breaking the kiss due to a required few seconds of breathing. Which he's doing shallowly at the moment, nuzzling her nose affectionately with his, not pulling away.]
I adore you. [The word is used very precisely, the same ones she said to him. There's nothing to be pushed off of this time, so the sentiment stays instead. He never got to use the words or echo them at her, his feelings suppressed so skillfully. But he's done with it. He gently kisses her again to seal it to them. She doesn't need to say it again. She only needs to know where he's at.]
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But she's not overly worried about that at the moment, not when he's so calm and relaxed and clearly enjoying himself. And this contentment is easy to immerse in, as she curves into the wrap of his arms around her. It feels... perfect. Laughing softly, she nuzzles back against him.
Her eyes lift to his, however, at his words. Her words, actually, offered back to her, all this time later. Her dimples deepen for a moment as she pulls back enough to search his face. ]
You remember...
[ Maybe that shouldn't surprise her, but in a way, it does. ]
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He loves her laugh and the soft intimacy of their little touches. He breathes in her air and starts trailing kisses on her cheek and draw, finding contentment in this bit of freedom. Bruce doesn't know how much he'll be allowed, but this is a request for it. One arm stays around her while the other moves up her back and through her hair. She's so close. He could see every eyelash if he looked closely enough.
He raises an eyebrow at her, surprised she didn't know that moment between them was seared onto his mind forever.]
You said I adore you, kissed me, and pushed me off a cliff. [Dryly.] Not something I'd forget. [The last thing he remembered, before coming back to himself on Sakaar.] I thought I would never get to kiss you again. I accepted I might adore you in secret from then on. [Color flushes into his face but he stays firm, close, open to her in a way he was closed before.] I know five years in the future I would feel the same. Those feelings don't go away, not for me.
[It's so focused and eternally loyal of him, but true. He still loves Betty with everything in him, albeit from a respectful distance since she moved on with her life. Just as he kept his distance from Nat.] I don't expect the same. I just never got to tell you the truth.
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[ Her tone is equally dry as she drops her gaze - the movement almost apologetic, in its own way. She doesn't regret that action - she'd been right and she would stand her ground on that - but the cost had been higher than she'd wished for.
Lifting her gaze again, she watches his face as he talks, her hand sliding to cup warmly against his cheek. ]
You don't have to make excuses you know. In case I was being too subtle, I still adore you, too.
[ That hadn't changed, not in all the years he'd been missing, and then the five since the Snap. Although things had been different back home. he'd left - again - instead of seeking her out. But they'd all been so broken down by regrets and grief... maybe it wouldn't have worked anyway? This place, though...
She's almost scared to hope. ]
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He doesn't want or need her to apologize. He agrees with her. It was the right thing to do. Running away is what he does best and it was his instinct, but he was reverting to his old self, not sticking with his personal growth since joining the Avengers. It did come at a high personal cost. The Hulk took over for years because of it, but he still would not put that on her shoulders.
Despite the kissing and their closeness, he still is surprised when she says it is mutual. He knows the affection is mutual, that she still wants him for some reason, she's been clear about that. But the depth her feelings and that it hasn't changed in all these years? It awes him. He smiles wider than usual and looks at her with all of his feelings plain on his face and gaze, but it fades as quickly as it comes.]
I'm, um, not sure ... how much I can offer yet. He's been quiet so far, but I haven't tried .... [This is a point of nerves for him. He hasn't had reason to talk about it, but it came up a few times here, with people checking in about him and the Hulk. Bruce's answer is that he doesn't know. This is the first time he wants to know, and this conversation is awkward, and a bit presumptuous, but it feels necessary too. They're adults.] I want to try, um, carefully, with your safety in mind. [He has the most beautiful woman in the world kissing him.] It might require some patience. If that's not a deal breaker? [He really hopes not.]
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We can experiment. I hear you science types like doing that, right?
[ Her hand still cupping against his cheek, she steals another kiss before continuing. ] Bruce, I'm not afraid of the Big Guy anymore. I haven't been for a long time. This isn't a deal breaker, it's part of who you are. Trust me when I say I'm okay with that. We can find out what you can do and maybe we can find out what his deal is at the same time.
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He didn't realize part of that insecurity was still there until she reassured him. He takes both kisses and lets the surety she means them wash over him, pushing down his anxieties.] I really don't deserve you. [He brushes his fingers through her hair and looks into her eyes. He is ready to stop letting anything hold him back. She can make her own decisions and she chose this.]
I don't mean to be presumptuous about sex, we're only kissing, but I don't want miscommunication to get in the middle of us again. [He kisses her softly, nuzzling her nose after.] Also, I'm not sure you know this, but you are incredibly attractive. [Teasing now; of course she knows that.] I love everything about you, but wanting you is very easy.
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But there's still something in hearing those words from him that makes her stomach flutter in a way it never has before. A nervous sort of pleasure, giddy and flattered. It's ridiculous, but she's feeling it anyway. Maybe he's not the only one who can still be flustered by this... whatever this is.
Instead of voicing that, however, she just leans up to steal one more kiss, nuzzling in against him in return. ]
It's not presumptuous. It's... [ She pauses, humming softly as she playfully searches for the right words. ] ...keeping our options open? Maybe wide open in this case, since it may be that we can do whatever we want in this place. It certainly seems designed for it, after all.
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They are too old and too weathered to find so much giddy warmth inside of them for something new and precious, and yet here they are. Thrilled and keyed into one another as the start of something is in front of them. Bruce nods and loves how close they are, how he can feel her warmth all along the side of his body and from their stolen kisses.]
Things have changed with the Hulk. He used to overreact to a faster pulse, thinking it was always danger. I had plenty of fast pulse moments later on and he didn't react. [When Ultron first attacked them, for example, or all their other heated moments. Bruce was in more control than ever before, and it helped that the Hulk rationally understood certain people were not a danger to them.] He also likes and trusts you. It makes a difference.
[Bruce sighs.] I just ... want to believe it's possible for us. [He wants to make love to her. He wants all those intimacies that he's purposely forgotten from his time with Betty. He wants to wake up with Nat beside him and to share that shower she joked about at Clint's house.]
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We'll figure it out, Bruce. Don't rule it out yet. We'll find our own way. Yeah?
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Yeah. [He laughs.] This is good. Let's do more of this. [It's been a long time since he kissed someone with no real goal other than enjoying it, and that's something they both deserve. Bruce draws her in and puts his energy from overthinking into distracting them both for awhile.]