Moon River

On Your Side

Bruce stirs his morning tea in the common room, hand under his chin. His book is untouched while he sits with a vacant stare toward the table.

It is the end of the second week of awkward smirks and nonverbal communications with Romanoff who has started taking the opposite staircase and path to her apartment.

His thoughts stay on her when he hears the footsteps. Banner looks up with a silent hope it is the redhead, settling his focus back toward the mug when he sees Thor.

The demigod offers a wide grin as he digs through the fruit basket;

"Hello Banner, wonderful morning."

"Is it?"

Bruce mumbles, suddenly aware of the closed window when Thor opens the blinds.

"You seem to have missed the gorgeous sunrise. Vibrant in it's reds."

"Red's not my color."

Bruce moves to open the bookmarked page of his book.

Thor scoffs, "Nonsense, I've seen you in red. Dashing if I do say so."

The physicist lifts an eyebrow, cautious when the demigod settles at the table.

"...thanks."

"What is your publication about?"

Bruce checks the cover, "How much do you know about science."

Thor bites into his apple, "My girlfriend, she's a scientist. She studies the stars. So I know all of the science."

The doctor can't respond without taking a moment to process, "Right. Well this is physics."

"Ah physics. May I?"

Bruce slides his book. His eyes shift when Natasha enters with her lips in a line and her attention fixated on her most current mission; morning coffee.

Banner leans forward as she enters. She grins mechanically, "Good morning Thor, Dr. Banner."

"Morning," Bruce mumbles.

Thor lifts the book and points to a page of haphazard equations that remind him of an image in Miss Foster's home;

"Ah! This! This is what Lady Jane studies."

"Oh."

"She's quite amazing,' he daydreams, 'You two would have a lot in common, conversations for hours on all things space and science."

"Hmm."

Natasha's head whips as her instant coffee completes itself. She stirs in her creamer with a sudden aggressive slamming of the cabinet. She plays it off as a slip with her whispered 'oops.'

Thor continues with Bruce half listening;

"She has a friend as well, the magnificent Darcy Lewis. Perhaps you would get along as well!"

Natasha turns her body around with a dark grin sprawled over her features only Bruce picks up on. She lifts her shoulders and sips her drink as she leaves abruptly;

"Sounds like the perfect match. Good thinking Thor."

"I'm not really interested-."

"I tend to agree with Lady Romanoff, it is a good match!"

Banner sighs, moving his hand to his forehead as Thor elaborates on his discussion and Natasha continues to walk away without any further acknowledgment.

He watches as Tony collided with the redhead. She snaps loudly;

"Ugh. What?!"

An out of character, well dressed Stark pulls her in for a whisper. She reaches for his tie and pulls him toward the corner. The physicist narrows a refocus on the demigod;