I Thought You Were Different

Trust

The door had been closed for over an hour and you hadn't heard a single sound from behind it; you supposed that it was a good thing, meaning that Bruce was still holding himself together, but it also meant that they must have been delving into deep territory. Banner insisted that Steve go in with him, uncharacteristic for your often private and reserved friend, but Steve would be the best to relate to what his mind was doing to him. Steve would have the empathy that Bruce needed, though he may not be consciously aware of that being why he had asked him to stay; he had asked him to be there in case he lost control.

"Ma'am, can I get you anything? Water or coffee?"

"No, thank you." You glanced at the receptionist with a small smile, nervously bouncing your leg and tapping your fingers on the arm rest of the chair. When you felt her still holding her stare on you, you realized that you were making quite the annoying sound. "Oh! I'm sorry, I'll stop. I didn't notice."

"It's okay, I've had much worse. And really, that wasn't bothering me."

"Oh, well, great," you sighed. "I just noticed that you were looking over here and I thought I was annoying you."

The young woman's cheeks began to flush having been caught staring, and she looked at you now with a slight sense of embarrassment. "Can I ask, if it's not too much trouble..."

"Did you want Steve's autograph?" you chuckled. "He always says yes, don't be scared to ask."

"Actually, I was going to ask for yours."

You had hoped your mouth wasn't hanging open as far as you thought, but you couldn't bring yourself to move from the shock that her words hit you with. "I'm sorry? Did I hear you right?"

"It's just that when you joined the Avengers you became my favorite right away," she replied, her words spilling out quickly. "When the news came out that you were with Captain America I almost died, and it was so exciting because I ship it so hard and he's my second favorite! Don't tell him that he's second though, okay? And I read that article they did on you in Time Magazine last month, talking about your accident, and then what you did for Mr. Stark? I mean, and now you're here helping Doctor Banner...it's just unbelievable. You're totally my hero."

"Wow, I just...I don't know what to say..." you paused, considering her words. "Yeah, I would be honored to give you an autograph. I have to admit though, you're my first one."

"Are you serious? I find that hard to believe, but how awesome for me!" she smiled, digging through her desk drawer for something appropriate for you to sign that wasn't just some piece of scratch paper; it had to be something worthy of your name.

You stood from your chair to go to her and reached for your cane, pausing before your hand connected with it. When you were first given it, you felt the excitement of being able to walk with only that, and what an accomplishment it was for you after so many long and grueling months of work. But now, all you could see was failure to move past it and disgust at needing it at all. With a glance to the office door and a thought of the strength of your two teammates behind it, you took the steps to her desk without it, stumbling only slightly and catching yourself on the edge just as you reached it.

"Was that the first time you walked without it?"

"Yeah, sorry that wasn't so graceful to watch," you shrugged with a small grin. "I figured I would give it a shot."

"I think you did great for your first effort, really. You'll be back in battle in no time, just you watch."

You nodded silently and gave her your signature, returning to your chair in the same wobbly manner that you had left it with, setting yourself down heavily. Your mind began to wander over the time you had spent rehabilitating and the work you had done; how often it was interrupted by one thing or another, and how you hadn't been giving it the attention it still deserved after your recent surgery. You hadn't thought about returning to missions for so long that it wasn't even on your radar anymore, but now it consumed your mind. Whoever this girl was, she was counting on you to be that other version of yourself again and you weren't about to let her down.