Inside Voices ▷ Bruce Banner | ✓

11 - AN UNDERSTANDING

SHE HAD WOKEN UP IN THE AFTERNOON AGAIN BECAUSE SHE WAS ALLOWED TO SLEEP FOR AS LONG AS SHE WANTED. She woke up voluntarily, rubbing her eyes as she looked towards the TV which she had left on, as she had been watching re-runs of the show she had watched in Steve's room. It was strange, her senses lowered to the point where she could drown out the noise, able to sleep for as long as she wanted. 

She wondered if it was nice. She wasn't quite sure.

She yawned, stretching, startling when a voice filled the room; JARVIS, as they had been formally introduced. "Good morning, miss. It is currently 12:36 p.m. There is lunch waiting for you in the kitchen, and you are requested in the training room once you are finished. Would you like me to direct you there when you are finished?"

She struggled to make a sound, though she found it was much easier than when she had first arrived. "No."

"Okay, miss, take your time, there is no hurry. Or so Dr. Banner says," JARVIS added, and she nodded to her empty room, stretching and laying back down for a few minutes, staring at the TV which was now playing an infomercial, as Steve had told her they were called, and she watched the two people advertise the clothing that sat on pure white tables.

When she grew tired, she climbed out of bed, debating whether she wanted to change out of her sweater and shorts. Deciding that, no, she didn't want to change, she made her way out of her room and into the kitchen, finding it strangely empty; she expected to find Clint drinking coffee straight from the pot, as he tended to talk about doing so on a regular basis.

She found a sandwich and small chip bag on a plate with a sticky note reading, 'Here's some grilled cheese to try, sorry I'm not there to see your reaction - Bruce,' and she felt herself smile as she picked it up, still unsure as to why, figuring that she could take it into the gym to see what they wanted from her.

JARVIS told her there was no hurry, but he specified that it was a statement coming from Bruce. She didn't want to upset Tony more than she already had.

Trying not to dwell on what would happen to her if she did, she made her way into the training room, deciding not to eat the sandwich until Bruce could see her, as he stated in the sticky note that he wanted to, so she figured that she would let him see.

She wanted to ask him about why she smiled at things she didn't quite understand, though she wondered if it was her subconscious; he mentioned that a lot when he talked about her and she pretended not to hear him.

When she stepped into the training room, she found everyone gathered inside, some training while others simply sat around, Tony and Bruce with tablets in hand, various machinery having been brought into the training room, placed haphazardly around, waiting to be used.

"Good morning," Steve said, he and Natasha turning to look at her even before she stepped into the room.

She nodded because she wasn't sure she wanted to speak and picked up the sandwich as she made her way over to Bruce who smiled, setting down his tablet to make his way towards her, his eyes trained on the sandwich.

She mimicked his expression, still unsure of whether she was successful, but nevertheless raised the sandwich to her lips, taking a rather large bite, her eyes twitching yet again and lips curling in a way she didn't quite understand, her tongue screaming though not necessarily from distaste.

"It's good," she said, as Bruce was still waiting for her reaction, and his smile widened as he laughed, glancing over to the others who were watching on, Clint giving her a thumbs up before turning his attention to Natasha who's suspicious expression had softened somewhat.

She looked around at the machines, tilting her head as she did, and while she opened her mouth to begin asking about them, it seemed that there was no need, as she was soon being led towards them by Bruce.