You walked down the corridor of the Avengers tower you hummed along to the tune that had been stuck in your head all day as you took a left down towards the labs. You made sure not to spill the coffee you were carrying for Bruce.
The nuclear physicist hadn't left the labs for days and you grew increasingly worried for his health, he had told the others that he had been sleeping but you didn't believe him when Steve had brought it up once at breakfast, and you had decided to bring him caffeine.
He would tell you he didn't need it. That he was fine, and in perfectly decent health. But you would always shake your head and push the mug closer to his body.
If Bruce had to be honest, he loved that you thought of him when he was too absorbed in his work to take care of himself, and knew that he would be in worse health if you didn't spend hours nagging him to get the much needed sleep his body required to function.
You paused slightly as you came to the lab entrance, balancing the cup in one hand you slid the door open, causing Tony to look up whilst Bruce continued to furiously type at his computer.
"Hey Tony, Bruce" You greeted the two as you placed the coffee down in front of Bruce who remained looking at his screen, brow raised in annoyance. You smiled at him, he didn't know how adorable he could be at times. Tony looked at the coffee and at you faking being wounded.
"Y/N how could you!? You didn't bring me caffeine!" He fell to the floor dramatically and you laughed.
"Sorry Tony, you get enough coffee as it is, some people however" You point at Bruce. "Seem to be allergic to it, although they're the ones who don't get any sleep" You said putting emphasis on any.
Tony nodded and glanced around the lab, you followed his gaze, taking in the state of the room. Paper slay strewn across the floor and beakers filled with god knows what lay littered across the desk, and the smell....
"This is so not healthy" You stated, Bruce's head tilting away from the screen for a moment. Squinting as if seeing the room for the first time.
"It's not too bad" You glanced at him sceptically.
"Are you serious? It's a freaking' bio-hazard in here, I don't care if you're working, you are getting out of this room and breathing fresh air" Tony nodded and walked out of the room, leaving you and the apparently reluctant scientist to argue.
"I don't need to leave Y/N I'm working on something important at the moment" He says looking at you. You frowned and shook your head.
"Like I said I don't care if you're working, you Bruce are getting out of this God forsaken room, you spend too much time in here and it's unhealthy, and I swear to God I will drag you out of this room if I have too" You said putting your foot down. This needed to stop, you watched Bruce as he shook his head and muttered.
"What was that?" You asked him. He looked at you running a hand through his tussled hair.
"Jesus, I said couldn't you leave me alone for a single minute? I'm busy and I'm not leaving, God you can be so annoying at times, just go away!" The words left his mouth before he could take them back, your eyes widened and you looked down, your face turning red, you felt tears stinging in your eyes as Bruce stepped closer.
"Shit, I'm sorry Y/N, I didn't mean I just-"
"Don't, just please don't" You interrupted him, shakily trying to control the tears that were about to fall, he saw this and his heart shattered, he had ruined everything. You walked past him desperate to get out of the lab.
Once you were out of the door you broke into a sprint, heading for your room, you ran past Steve who called after you.
"Y/N? Are you okay?" You choked out a response and shut your bedroom door behind you, locking it as you sank to the floor.
The tears came freely now, your breathing was ragged and uneven.
He hated you.
He had to.
You had been too pushy, too worrying, you shouldn't of tried to looked after him he was old enough to take care of himself for goodness sakes.
~~~
"What the hell happened?!" Tony asked voice raised slightly, Bruce's head hung in shame as the other Avengers listened to Tony argue with him.
"I don't know I just lost it! I didn't mean it I oh God, I've blown it, I've ruined everything, she'll never forgive me" He babbled to himself, a fist clenched in his brown locks, his skin turning a pale shade of green, Tony noticed this and stepped backwards.
"Bruce. Just calm down. She'll forgive you, just... Calm down, go to her, talk to her, apologise" He said trying to calm the man before him down, the green faded slightly and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"O-Okay" The scientist replied as he walked off in the direction of your room.
~~~
You head shot up as you heard a knock at the door. You ignored it and buried your head in your lap again. The knocking continued and you heard what sounded like a head rest against the door.
"Y/N... Please, I'm... I'm sorry, earlier.. I just, lost it, I wasn't mad at you please. Just talk to me.... I hate this... I can't I just..." He trailed off, unsure of what to say and you slowly moved your body, you stood up, hand shaking, reaching for the lock.
"Please let me in" He said desperately. You unlocked the door, the click echoing through the corridor. Bruce pushed the door open and you stepped back, your shoes suddenly interesting to you. Your eyes were still red from crying and tears were still trailing down your cheeks, Bruce felt a pang of guilt, knowing he was the cause of your tears.
"Y/N, I'm sorry, I was never mad at you, believe me when I say that, I love how you always worry about me, It's not annoying, it's cute and I just.." He kept on talking and you blushed at the man's words, did he truly think that?
"Really?" you interrupted, seeking confirmation of what he had said. Bruce looked at you his face turning red.
"Yes" He said honestly. "You are always the one to make sure i'm okay, always the one to make sure I'm sleeping, even if you have to drag me to my room. And I appreciate it so much, but I know I can never return the amount of favours that you've given to me." You stared at the man as he poured out and spilled all of the secrets he had never dared tell you.
"I love that you put everyone above yourself even if you aren't in full health yourself, and I love how when you're doing something you hum a little tune which is just downright adorable, and I just, I never wanted to hurt you, it's the last thing I ever wanted. But I love yo-" He cut himself short, surprising both of you, he hadn't meant to say that, you weren't supposed to find out. He knew you never would return his feelings.
"Y-You love me?" You asked him incredulously. You couldn't believe it. Bruce. Bruce Banner the man you had fallen for over and over again, had just said he loves you.
Bruce shuffled nervously.
"I... I. Yes, I love you, I love you so much and I get tha-" You cut him off by kissing him, his eyes widened as your hand reached around his waist pulling him closer. Eventually he got over the fact you had just kissed him, and kissed you back. His arms wrapping around your waist in return.
The kiss was slow and gentle, Bruce not wanting to scare you and you too nervous to make it anything more. Eventually you pulled away, Bruce leant his forehead on yours and grinned.
"So I guess you like me too?" He asked, knowing the answer.
"Yeah, you could say that" You laughed in response. He pulled you closer and you stayed there holding each other.
Safe in each others arms.
