Civil War

Peach Street

I wondered if I might have already knew my father, my mother did have a relationship with everyone in Shield, but I wasn't sure how involved her relationships were. What If Phil was actually my father and she lied? At this time, it wouldn't surprise me. I had never enjoyed silent car rides, I was always either talking or reading case files. But I loved the silence in this car. It almost seemed more peaceful than sleeping, which I ended up doing for the whole way there. I felt the car stop as I rose up.

"You are in Gotham." The taxi driver, that I rudely never learned the name of, said. I nodded handing him the card for him to swipe it then hand it back. "What time is it?" I ask yawning, "Four in the morning." Banner said, his voice sounding exhausted. I wasn't sure exactly where Bruce lived, but I did remember the gazebo and how he told me his house was a mile away from it.

"Follow me." I said as I started jogging up a slippery grass hill. "Are you sure you're going the right way?" Banner said close behind me, "Yes. Now just keep up old man." I said getting to the top of the hill, in the distance I saw the cemetery where we had walked through a year ago. From what I could tell hadn't changed. "Old man, I'm only 42." He said as he got beside me, panting like a dog. "You sure you'll be able to make it?" I ask walking, Banner walking by my side. "Now, don't make me angry." He said as I giggled.

It was about a fifteen minute walk to the cemetery. It was eerily quiet as we navigated our way through the familiar passage. Then it shifted into my view, a vine covered gazebo, lights peeking through the greenery. "Wow, this is beautiful." Banner said as my heart raced. Walking behind the shelter, there was an actual small pathway. We walked it for about twenty minutes before a large and beautiful house entered our view. "I hope this is the right place." I mutter. We kept on walking.

The house was gray and very minimalistic. There was a gigantic lake behind it with lights surrounding it. Surrounding the house was a very tall, vine cover, concrete wall. I scaled it with ease, helping Banner up. As we got closer I watched as the front door open, I pulled Banner down in the shadows.

There he was, he had grew some scruff and he looked extremely toned. A women walked out, pulling her shirt down. She kissed his cheek then ran to a cab at the front gate. Hurt surged through my body, but I wasn't sure why. We never dated, and I wasn't exactly a saint either. But it hurt seeing him with another women. I swallowed hard.

"Maybe we should come back in the morning." I whisper as Banner shakes his head. Standing up, "Hey you!" He yells running towards Bruce. I get up, hesitating to follow. I overcome my awkwardness, jogging up to Banner. "Banner!" I call out. Bruce stands in his doorway, trying to make out our shapes. Banner finally got close to him, as I stopped at his side. Bruce's mouth dropped open for a moment.

"Ivy?" He asked, completely dumbfounded. He looked absolutely amazing, and it took me a moment to nod my head. "We need your help." My voice was surprisingly steady, because my heart was racing so fast. Bruce glanced as the cab pulled away, he knew I saw the girl leave his house. He moved, signalling for us to come in. As we got in, the house was amazingly spacious, and beautiful.

"I assume this is about the USB," He said locking the door. I nodded, avoiding looking him in the eyes. Banner looked between us, then opened his mouth to say something, but I cleared my throat and he closed his mouth quickly. "I printed off the files, I knew you'd be back for them someday, I didn't think it was gonna take several months, so it might take a little bit to find them." Bruce says. "By the way, I'm Bruce Banner, and I need to sleep. You two find them" He says holding out his hand for Bruce to shake, he chuckled, "The Hulk, nice. I'm Bruce Wayne." They shook as Bruce pointed to the living room for Banner to pass out in. He held up a thumbs up and collapsed on the sofa. "If you want you can go rest to." Bruce said, "No, I'm fine." I say, Bruce nods, "Alright, then you can help me find the files."

My eyes land on a few pictures on top of a hutch, my breath hitches as I see Bruce and that women from earlier in a wedding photo. I recognized her face, but couldn't remember her name. "Your married?" My heart almost broke as I said the words. He turns to face me, "Yeah," It was simplest answer. I just nodded and followed him to where he kept where he must've kept the files. He scavenged drawers as I saw more pictures of them together. Right there my heart stopped hurting, the way he held her in the photo gave me peace. He loved her, and I was just a stepping stone. Of course I was hurt, but I'd rather him happy than unhappy like me. "Her names Vicki Vale." He says walking behind him. The journalist. "You mean Vicki Wayne." I laugh as he nods with a smile, "Congrats." Although it sounded extremely condescending, I meant it. "Here's the file." He says. I turn to face him, grabbing it, I open it up, scanning it, I look back up at him, "Thank you for keeping this." He nods and keeps his eyes glued to mine.

There was tension between us, and it was strong. I slapped the file back together, tearing my eyes from him. As I go to walk away, I feel his hand gently wrap around my forearm. "I wanted to thank you." He says, I turn to face him. "For what?" I question, he let's go of my arm, "You made me not afraid to fall in love." His blue eyes crinkled as his lips curved. Without saying a word, I purse my lips and nod to him. With that I left the room. I wasn't sure how I really helped him, maybe it was our quick fling, but I was still afraid of rejection and I am not sure if that will ever fade. "Banner, let's go." I state, not waiting for Banner to stir, I opened the door into the brown eyes and bright blond hair of Vicki Vale. She gasps as I step back slightly. She looks me up and down as her eyes land on something behind me, I spin around, seeing Bruce, his eyes happy to meet hers.

"Who is this?" She asks politely, "Leaving, actually, Banner let's go." I say as Banner finally appears behind me. I advert my eyes, moving past her. A part of me wished I couldn't care about the whole situation. But once I saw the wedding photo's I lost the interest I had locked up for so long, he loved that women, not me. I was merely just a passing chapter in his life to the ending, better yet I was the subplot no one really cared about. As Banner called a taxi, tears streamed down my face. I cried a lot lately, but I couldn't help it. I had suppressed feelings for twelve years, also I am human. Banner looks to me, a confused look on his face.

"Can I ask something?" Banner nods as he hangs up the phone, "Do people like us ever find happiness?" Banner took a deep breath before grabbing me and pulling me into a hug. "It doesn't seem like it. But I found my happiness, and so will you."

It was hard to imagine happiness because I never truly knew what it felt like. I

hated being an optimist, but I believed Banner when he said I'd find happiness, only because I wanted to believe so bad. As the taxi arrived we got in. "Drive around," Banner says as we spill the contents of the file.

It contained only two documents, a bank statement and hospital record. Banner looks over the bank statement as I skim the medical record. "She visited the hospital a day after my birthday, aka the day my life went to hell. Says she got treatment for a week then disappeared, not having her release papers signed." I say as Banner looks up, "She deposited a couple grand from her bank account and signed the receipt with the name, 'Peach Street'?" I gasp looking up at him, "What?" He asks innocently. "Peach Street was this really fancy ice cream parlor my mother used to take me to, it was down the street from us, it was our favorite place." I say a smile forming on my face. "Though it must've been destroyed in the bombings." My smile disappears as Banner looks to the taxi driver. "Brookside, and step on it."