Chapter 3

Natasha's POV

  Bruce and I slept together all night, though not in a sexual way, one of comfort that felt so nice. I haven't been held by a man in so long that I'd forgotten what it felt like. I have to be honest with you, I absolutely love the way Bruce holds me. I feel completely safe in his arms. Bruce stirs and begins to wake up, talking in a rather husky voice. "Good morning Natasha. What time is it?" I glance at the clock on the bedside table. "It's ten in the morning, which is a little late for us." He nods and chuckles. "Yeah it sure is. You seemed to have slept well. I know I did. My sleep last night was the best that I've had in ages."

   I smile at him softly before he goes to take a shower. I'd join him if I could, but the both of us know that wouldn't be appropriate, at least not yet that is. I want to take one myself so I patiently wait for him to come out so that I can go in. When he gets out in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, it takes everything in my power for me not to want to jump his bones. Our conversation goes a little something like this:

Bruce Banner: I didn't realize you were waiting.

◾Natasha Romanoff: I would've joined you, but uh, it didn't seem like the right time.

◾Bruce Banner: They used up all the hot water.

◾Natasha Romanoff: I should've joined you.

◾Bruce Banner: Missed our window.

◾Natasha Romanoff: Did we?

◾Bruce Banner: The world just saw the Hulk. The real Hulk, for the first time. You know I have to leave.

◾Natasha Romanoff: But you assume that I have to stay? I had this, um, dream. The kind that seems normal at the time, but when you wake...

◾Bruce Banner: What did you dream?

◾Natasha Romanoff: That I was an Avenger. That I was anything more than the assassin they made me.

◾Bruce Banner: I think you're being hard on yourself.

◾Natasha Romanoff: Here I was hoping that was your job. [she leans close into him]

◾Bruce Banner: What are you doing?

◾Natasha Romanoff: I'm running with it, with you. If running's the plan, as far as you want.

◾Bruce Banner: Are you out of your mind? [Banner turns away from her]

◾Natasha Romanoff: I want you to understand that I'm...

◾Bruce Banner: Natasha, where can I go? Where in the world am I not a threat?

◾Natasha Romanoff: You're not a threat to me.

◾Bruce Banner: You sure? Even if I didn't just...there's no future with me. I can't ever...I can't have this, kids, do the math, I physically can't.

◾Natasha Romanoff: Neither can I. In the Red Room, where I was trained, where I was raised, um, they have a graduation ceremony. They sterilize you. It's efficient. One less thing to worry about. The one thing that might matter more than a mission. It makes everything easier. Even killing. [she hesitates a moment] You still think you're the only monster on the team?

◾Bruce Banner: What, so we disappear?

  I nod. "I'd love nothing more than for us to disappear to the middle of nowhere, at least for a little while. The both of us deserve a break from the chaos and destruction that we often create ourselves by simply being apart of the Avengers." Bruce nods in agreement. "Sounds like a plan then. We'll leave in the middle of the night and disappear for a little while. I know of an empty safe house in Milan. Have you ever been to Milan?" I grin from ear to ear. "I haven't but it sounds nice." Bruce pulls me into a hug. "Milan it is then."

  The two of us have breakfast with the rest of the Avengers, going about our new business so we don't raise any suspicion. If anyone were to figure out our secret plan to leave, it would be Steve. He has that creepy sixth sense of knowing about a lot of events before they actually happen. Tony has that sense too to some degree, but not as much as Steve does.

  The rest of our day consists of Tony and Steve bickering over a pile of wood, Bruce and I bonding with Clint's wonderful family, and Thor spending most of his time rambling to himself about how Loki will one day change his ways and join the good side. I snorted at that, there may have been some good in him at one point, but that ship has passed long ago.

   Clint's kids are absolute sweethearts. It breaks my heart that I can't ever have kids of my own. I know I don't seem like the motherly kind of woman, but it still would have been nice to have the option rather than it being stripped away from me without my consent. As for Bruce, he can't have any kids whatsoever because they could easily get infected with the gamma radiation in his body, possibly becoming mini Hulks and She Hulks. One Hulk is enough, trust me on that.

   Bruce and I are apparently dating. We haven't confirmed it verbally, but our actions have spoken for the both of us. We'll tell everyone when he feel comfortable doing so, but for now, it's best kept private.  "Bruce, just so I can confirm this, we are dating, right?" He smiles softly at me, stroking my cheek gently. "We are dating and we are leaving tonight, you have my word about both." I smile and nod at him, feeling content for once in my life. I don't know long this feeling of contentment will last, but I'm certainly going to enjoy it for as long as I can. This feeling may not come around again for a very long time. I'm pretty sure Bruce feels the same way too. Wish us luck getting out of her tonight without being seen, we're certainly going to need it.

That night...

  Bruce and I have all of our necessities packed and are sneaking out. Everyone is asleep including Steve, which makes this pretty easy. We quietly take our belongings, put them into Bruce's car, and drive off into the night, neither of us having any regrets about this plan.

Hoped that you guys liked this chapter! :) -Mary