a/n; this chapter basically deal with the team take on the falling relationship. a bonus chapter, you can say.

The team had of course noticed, it was impossible not to.

If the absence of the handmade breakfast wasn't enough on one day to ring bells, the next day apparently was. Steve was the first one to notice. He had become used to entering the common room that would be filled with the smell of cinnamon and pancakes, after his morning run. That day though, it was the same and different in a hundred ways.

The breakfast was as delicious as ever, there was no doubt in it, but it lacked her touch. The small details by how she would arrange the plates making each one of them a masterpiece, how she would garnish the food, or even the small smile she would serve it with.

All of that seems broken, just like her eyes.

She was hunched over the kitchen counter when he approached her, her red rimmed emerald eyes staring at the cup of black coffee in her hands, like it held the answer to the questions that were tearing her apart.

"Nora, are you okay?" he softly said, she flinched as if being pulled out of an agonizing grip for some moments there was no movement before her eyes met his, forcing a small smile.

"I am okay, just had a rough...night,"

It was a lie. They both knew that.

"Is it about Tony-"

"Steve don't," she interrupted him, gulping the lump that had seemed to form in her throat. Her voice was like a delicate whisper, as if speaking a little loud would shatter something, "please don't."

His eyes softened immediately, his voice hesitant, "Well, if you need to talk...or anything,"

"Thanks," she whispered, she seemed to be hanging on by a thread and he knew pushing any further might just break it.

It was difficult, to say the least, seeing her like that. Seeing the light from her eyes burn out–not even vanishing, it was as if her every reason to be happy was stolen away. It was even more difficult when he remembered the evenings they had spent painting easels, her efforts amateur but consistent, her voice a soft whisper when she would tease him about Natasha.

God, he hadn't realized when she had become like a little sister to him.

Bruce was not that worried when the door to their lab wouldn't open the next day, it was normal for Tony to seek refuge in his lab when his emotions became too much for him to handle. Though there had been no instances like that since Nora came, he convinced himself that it might just be a normal disagreement between them that would resolve soon.

After all, he had seen the look in Tony's eyes when he look at her, the adoration, the love, possessiveness all mixed into an otherworldly shine that filled his eyes, lips tilting up into that smile of his automatically. He had noticed the way he talk about her- how most of the time now he only talk about her- with such love and care that it made Bruce doubt sometime that, if it was the real Tony Stark standing in front of him.

And he was sure they both couldn't ever disagree that much that they could possibly hurt each other's feelings.

But when the next and the next day the door wouldn't open too he grew worried, especially when Tony hadn't even once came out of his lab since then, the more concerning thing for him was that Nora also hadn't approached his lab even once.

And she was suffering. He could see that, Hulk could feel that.

Since she had joined the team Bruce had always felt a special sense of calm whenever he would be with her, like the raging battle that didn't stop even for a second between his and hulk consciousness finally calming down, the other guy getting content.

He was very confused at the start as to the reason for him to act such. But when Nora finally revealed her ability he could comprehend it to some level. She controlled nature, influenced it, of course she had a special connection to it and to its creation too, like animals.

And although Bruce had never considered hulk a animal, but more of a monster. It seemed that her special connection worked on that monster inside him too, and calmed him down enough to stop tormenting him even for a few seconds.

And weirdly, to some extent he- hulk- could also sense her emotion. Or more like how hulk emotions change with hers.

She was suffering, everybody can see that. But Bruce felt it on a more personal level and it tormented him. Made him anxious.

He never thought someone could be this broken. Sadness seemed to radiate off from her like waves, her health was already dropping. Body became fragile, bones jutting out, she was running with an unhealthy amount of caffeine in her system.

It was ironic almost, seeing that Tony could not touch a cup of coffee because it made the numbness inside of him spread its vine and engulf him, suffocating him. While she could only drink that, because it was the only thing that made her feel a bit closer to him. A bit closer to what they were.

Tony was one of his closest friends, hell, he was his closest friend. The one who saw him–he saw Bruce, the scientist who had published hundreds of research papers, someone who could understand his innovation and ideas, someone he could spend time with without the fear of being judged. He didn't work with him because of Hulk, nor did he ever make it a reserved topic like speaking about it would hurt Bruce.

And that's something Bruce appreciated. The subtle jabs and jokes he would make about his control on Hulk or on Hulk...like it was normal, it made him feel normal. Tony's eyes were never guarded from the start when he worked with him, never guarded with the fear or annoyance that he might snap and become Hulk.

He trusted him.

And Bruce was not really sure anyone else did, not to that extent at least.

So, it jabbed at his heart even with more force when he would knock at the lab door, asking– pleading with him to open the door and come out, or let him in, when he would tell him that everything would be alright and the team was with him.

But Tony never opened the door, he would only say he was busy and fine.

Though, there had been moments, moments where his voice would break and Bruce would feel the same heart wrenching grief Hulk felt from Nora. There were moments, when the billionaire would whisper through the walls enough for him to hear, that he couldn't stop–Tony wasn't sure if he did stop and let his attention go to the broken pieces of him more than it already was, he would be able to start again.

Live again.

Bruce didn't know what to do. On one hand, Hulk could feel the grief from Nora that she didn't share, on the other he could feel the brokenness that was threatening to drown Tony deeper.

God, he had come to care about both of them, and he really didn't knew if there was some way to make it all better.

Thor had always envied the connection Tony and Nora had.

Not in the 'I-want-her' kind of way, but more of 'how-can-a-bond-be-so-strong' kind of way. He had seen hundreds if not thousands of people in relationships.

Mortals, Gods, Asgardians, Humans.

But, he wasn't sure he had ever seen a relationship so strong, so bonded in such a little time. Even though it had been only ten months since Nora had arrived, she had found someone for her. Tony had found someone for him.

Thor, though most of the time was annoyed by the billionaire's sassy attitude. But somewhere deep inside admired his resilience and will to save the world, especially when in the quiet moments the fragile, battered heart of Tony would be held bare, just a glimpse but it was enough for him to know that trust don't come easily to him after his life events.

And to see, to feel, the trust he kept so guarded being given to Nora without any manacles felt like the epitome of love.

How Tony would always keep her favorite coffee beans in stock, never even once letting them run out. How, his eyes would follow her across the room or surroundings. The subtle clench of his jaw when he would see her hurt, or the venomous murderous glare he would send the way of any member of the team who would accidentally say something that would make Nora stiffen, her form shrinking and instinctively leaning a little toward Tony.

He looked like he would bring stars to earth if that was what she would ask her.

Like he would kill hundreds or die himself if that was what would lead he to gain happiness.

Tony Stark loved rarely, but fiercely.

That was for sure.

And then there was Nora. When she had first entered the team, Thor hadn't paid much attention to her until the next morning when she cooked breakfast, a delicious breakfast.

And then she revealed she had the ability to control nature, a gift that was so rarely possessed that it made Thor blank for a moment. And a little envious, here he was a god and can control thunder while she as a mortal can control nature.

Tony had told them about her past at HYDRA, not everything, but enough. That led Thor to believe that Nora was not only admirable but also strong, very strong. Strong to still be able to fake a smile after all she went through. The smile that soon turned genuine with Tony.

She also loved fiercely in her own way.

She wasn't open about it as much as Tony, but it was there. Like her special efforts in the food Tony eats, her quiet footsteps that would wander the halls surrounding medbay at night when Tony would get a little injured in a mission. How the food would become too hot on one's plate if they made a comment– even jokingly, that can potentially hurt Tony, not like he would ever mention. But that would only make her more protective, like how if Steve would start saying something even remotely hurtful to Tony because of his carelessness or just because of the usual respite they bear for each other, her eyes would grow cold, tone clipped, as if daring him to speak one more word.

He still remembers the bruise Steve face had the next day in training when he said those words. It was a calculated blow, enough to leave a mark but not more than that.

And though Thor had considered that a little over the top, now he came to understand that Tony was the one who mattered the most to her. And that person, never ever, says if something hurts him or thrash his heart. He would retort with a sarcastic remark or quip, but never show the damage it may cause.

So people normally believe that he doesn't get hurt easily.

Of course, they also know that it is impossible that he would not even feel hurt by the comments that are made as a jab to him every time but because he dont say anything they don't change their way. Nora though had taken that place, the gentle camaraderie that had been built between her and the others was overshadowed by the love she held for the genius.

It shocked him and hurt him all at the same time when he could see how they were falling apart, both their relationship and themselves.

Just like he hadn't seen a love like theirs, he also hadn't ever seen the absolutely soul crushing grief like of theirs.