He’s faced down terrorists and gangsters, criminals with wickedly long knives and machine guns, aliens with advanced technology and sticks that glow and possess your mind. He’s had a gun held to his head and poison slipped into his drink – he’s faced down death with a calm smile and a plan already forming in the back of his mind. Then he met Natasha and the Hulk and when he stared upon his impending doom he realised he didn’t have a plan.
A shiver runs down Bruce’s spine at the memory of that feeling. Throughout his career as a spy he has never felt as weak and defenceless as he did then. The fear has lessened with time but he still hates it when Natasha gets angry and loses control. He hates it not just because it makes him feel vulnerable but also because nobody should suffer such rage and pain. Bruce knows about pain – knows exactly how much you need to apply before a man falls apart at your fingers and spills his secrets, knows that if you go too far you can break them forever. He can only imagine how much pain Natasha has experienced and wonder at how she has yet to shatter into a thousand pieces. She looks like a fragile doll but Bruce knows that she is anything but fragile. She’s strong and has impeccable control over her emotions.
Neither of them talks about the smiles they have for only each other or for the lingering touches when they hand each other cups of tea. Relationships are complicated and lead to frustration. Natasha has learned not to get involved romantically with people as it only leads to heartbreak and mass property damage when the Hulk comes out to play. Bruce doesn’t do love – love is a weapon in his line of work and he’s not going to hand anyone such an easy weapon to use against him. He wouldn’t want to expose Natasha to that; she has enough enemies without adding his to the already depressingly long list. So they don’t talk about love or the fact that he’s the one who always comes for her after her transformations have ended, wraps her naked body in a blanket and carries her to safety; or that he is the one she always turns to when she’s angry. They don’t speak the words because there are some things better left unsaid.
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timeasmymeasure
Reversal
Date: 2012-07-04 09:42 am (UTC)A shiver runs down Bruce’s spine at the memory of that feeling. Throughout his career as a spy he has never felt as weak and defenceless as he did then. The fear has lessened with time but he still hates it when Natasha gets angry and loses control. He hates it not just because it makes him feel vulnerable but also because nobody should suffer such rage and pain. Bruce knows about pain – knows exactly how much you need to apply before a man falls apart at your fingers and spills his secrets, knows that if you go too far you can break them forever. He can only imagine how much pain Natasha has experienced and wonder at how she has yet to shatter into a thousand pieces. She looks like a fragile doll but Bruce knows that she is anything but fragile. She’s strong and has impeccable control over her emotions.
Neither of them talks about the smiles they have for only each other or for the lingering touches when they hand each other cups of tea. Relationships are complicated and lead to frustration. Natasha has learned not to get involved romantically with people as it only leads to heartbreak and mass property damage when the Hulk comes out to play. Bruce doesn’t do love – love is a weapon in his line of work and he’s not going to hand anyone such an easy weapon to use against him. He wouldn’t want to expose Natasha to that; she has enough enemies without adding his to the already depressingly long list. So they don’t talk about love or the fact that he’s the one who always comes for her after her transformations have ended, wraps her naked body in a blanket and carries her to safety; or that he is the one she always turns to when she’s angry. They don’t speak the words because there are some things better left unsaid.