When Bruce invited Natasha to go with him to a scientist dinner, she didn't expect him to stay at her side for most of the night like most couples did. They had been dating for months, but this was the first time she'd gone to an event with him and also the first time they had been on a date since Ultron.
After the Hulk left on the quinjet and wasn't found in weeks, Natasha had begun to wonder if he was ever coming back. Then one day Bruce had called her saying that he was stuck in Fiji, and it took him days to figure out where he was, find clothes and a phone. He had estimated that he didn't de-hulk for a few weeks and once the quinjet crashed, he returned to his human form.
Since he came back, their relationship had been stronger than ever and he made it clear that he was done running from everything. But when the time came, he would retire when she did.
Natasha couldn't help but look at him as he stood next to her. He was in a tux, his curls tamed and even though he hated crowds, he was slightly more at ease since he was in his element. She was in her best black dress, black heels and her short hair styled in a Lauren Bacall type way.
Bruce was deep in conversation as she excused herself to get a drink from the bar. After she told the bartender what she wanted and ordered a non-alcoholic drink for Bruce, she turned her head when she felt a presence next to her.
"Hi, you're Natasha Romanoff, right?"
"Yeah."
The woman next to her was a brunette in a black dress and matching heels.
"I'm Betty Ross."
"Nice to meet you," Natasha said as she smiled politely, but on the inside, she was feeling a mixture of nervousness and jealousy over Bruce's ex-girlfriend.
In front of the former spy was the woman who held Bruce's heart long before she came into the picture. His first love, the woman he ran with for a short amount of time before the Abomination and Hulk battle, and the one who was there when the accident happened.
Bruce said the last time he saw Betty was after he joined the team, but it was purely for closure. She remembered him mentioning that he had moved on before he was recruited to join the team but needed to see her one last time to fully put the relationship behind him.
"So, who are you here with," the other woman asked.
"Bruce Banner," she said almost shyly. Despite feeling slightly jealous of the female scientist, Natasha didn't want to throw it in her face that Bruce was her boyfriend.
"Oh, you're here with Bruce?"
"Yeah. We-"
Natasha was interrupted when she noticed Bruce had approached her side and was smiling at her, the look in his eyes were that soft expression he only seemed to get around her. Natasha couldn't help but smile back as she greeted him.
When Bruce saw Betty he nodded politely, but Natasha saw him instantly become nervous, especially when he began to wring his hands together.
Betty nodded in greeting and asked, "So, Bruce what have you been up to lately?"
"Well when I'm not letting the Hulk out to save the world from robots and aliens, I usually spend my time in the lab or with Nat," he said politely and nervously.
"Oh, are you two," she asked while pointing a finger between Bruce and Natasha.
"Yeah," Bruce said as Natasha turned her head to him just before he faced her. His smile was wider, and she couldn't hold back her own smile at his look of adoration.
When they turned to face Betty again, she was smiling as a man with brown hair and wearing a tux came up her side. That was when Natasha noticed the wedding ring on Betty's left finger.
