Bucky and His Widow

Let's Make A Mess

"This is nice."

"What?  Oh, the dinner?  Yes-"

"No, Bruce.  Us being alone together for a change."  Nat runs her hand over Banner's as they sit at a small table in a lowly lit Italian bistro. 

"Right, right.  I mean, I agree.  I like being with you too, alone."  Bruce's voice is noticeably unsteady and shaky.  His nerves are getting the best of him, he does his best to keep his heart rate down.

"So, I think we should talk, you know...about where we left things..."  Nat smiles mischievously, displaying her outer confidence, but inside she is quite the opposite.  Natasha is just as vulnerable as Bruce.

"Well, you kissed me then pushed me to my death, then the other guy showed up and-"

"And saved everyone.  You saved me, Bruce.  You didn't hurt me or any civilians, it worked out just fine.  You didn't need to go into hiding for so long."  Nat casts her gaze down awkwardly at the glass of wine sitting in front of her.  "It hurt when you left."  Natasha barely raises her voice above a whisper.

"I know, I missed you too, Natasha."  Bruce grips her fingers and smiles at her in a way that says 'sorry.'  "I never wanted to hurt you, I just felt that our relationship would never work because-"

"We can make it work."  Natasha protests.

Bruce smiles in shyness, he has never had someone pursue him before.  "Natasha...I-"  His phone starts ringing.  "I'm sorry, excuse me."  He checks his phone to see 'Nicky Fury' pop up on the caller ID.  "It's Director Fury."  Nat nods in approval for Banner to answer the phone.  "Hello?"

"I need you and Agent Romanoff to come in...immediately."  Nick spoke with nervousness and uneasiness, something he never displays.

"We'll be right there."  Banner hangs up.  "It sounds bad, Natasha."

Natasha rolls her eyes, disappointed at the interruption, but reluctantly leaves with Bruce.

"What happened?  I thought Cap and Barnes had everything under control."  Clint questions. 

Fury notes the suspicion, "I sent the two of them on a recon mission.  There have been some unusual sightings lately."

"Sightings of what?"  Wanda speaks up.  Thor takes a seat next to Clint. 

"Wait, where are Steve Rogers and his companion Barnes?"  Thor questions.

"They are in the infirmary, just precautionary.  No injuries."  Fury reassures Thor.  "This is what I sent the two to investigate."  Fury pulls up a digital image projecting in the air from a small device on the table.  "Here is-"

"What the hell couldn't wait till tomorrow?  I mean, I know I'm part of your secret boy band and on call all the time, but I was on a date with Pepper."  Tony swaggers in with a RockStar energy drink in his hand. 

Fury rolls his eyes, "Sit down, play boy.  Look at the tape."  Tony sits at the table next to Wanda.  "As I was saying, here is surveillance  footage from Berlin.  Now watch closely."  Fury zooms in on the figures appearing in the footage.  "See, normal...normal...boom, petrified person."

"What the hell?"  Sam leaned forward to stare closer into the images.  Fury rewinds the footage.  Banner and Nat return to the conference room where the briefing is being held.

"Look, the guy here is aiming the M-9 in this direction."  Fury points in the section of the screen of the man's aim.  A blurb appears on the screen, then disappears just as fast.  "Before the blurb on the screen, he's moving, and after the blurb, he's stone."