Life Happens

Bruce

"How come your pants never tare?" Bruce looked up from the newspaper to see Lila sitting across from him.

"They are... er special pants." He responded.

"That doesn't make any sense." She said blankly.

"Why not?" Bruce asked.

"All pants tare, even leggings."

"But mine are super special. Tony made them." He explained. Lila pulled a face.

"That's what dad calls convenient."

"Shut up Lila." Cooper said from the other side of the room.

"Don't tell me to shut up!" Lila shouted back.

"Well I just did."

"The pair of you zip it. Now." Laura said sternly walking into the kitchen. The room filled with silence. "Thank you." Laura sat Nathaniel in his high chair. "You know Bruce, if you ever have kids, my advice would be to buy ear plugs." Laura chuckled. "God I remember me and Clint desperately trying to get them to talk and now that they talk we just want them to be quiet."

"Yeah, I doubt I'll ever have that problem." Bruce said looking back down at his newspaper.

"You never know. Maybe one day Nat might want to retire with you. You can adopt."

"Did she tell you? About us? Bruce asked.

"No but I put two and two together. I was a spy after all." Laura winked.

"I forget about that. You don't seem like a spy." Bruce responded.

"And that's exactly why I was a spy." She smiled.

"Dr Banner, Sir is requesting you in his workshop." F.R.I.D.A.Y interrupted.

"I'll be there in a minute." He replied.

"Have fun." Laura said as she started to feed Nathaniel.

"Will do."

****

"Well that's weird every time I do something public they hate me but now I've been radio silent, they're worried. No, no, I get it. Pep chill, I'll just send a random tweet or something. Yes I'm fine. No nothings wrong I've just been busy. Pepper... Pep... I'll call back later I have to go. Love you." Tony put the phone down with a sigh. "Sorry 'bout that. She's stressing."

"Its ok. She's just worried." Bruce said.

"Pfft if she knew what we were dealing with she'd be worrying a hell of a lot more. Bruce do you remember Betty?"

Bruce froze.

"Steve sent me this video she went to the compound." Tony flipped the video on the screen. Bruce watched the video. It was Betty alright.

"I can't say much but... he's dangerous. Bruce will tell you the same. You need to be careful."

"I thought Ross was ok? I quickly changed my mind though since Betty showed up on our doorstep." Tony said.

"No... he's... bad... very bad." Bruce started to say. He clawed at the table. "Not now..." His neck started to turn green. Tony swung into action he told F.R.I.D.A.Y to call Nat and starting rubbing his back.

"It's ok. We don't have to talk about it now. How about some tea?"

"No... just..." Bruce closed his eyes and started to breathe deeply.

"We've called Nat. She wouldn't have left yet." Tony said rubbing Bruce's back.

"Might... help."

"She's on her way boss." F.R.I.D.A.Y said almost immediately.

Bruce slowly starting to calm down when Natasha arrived at the lab.

"Bruce are you ok?" She said as she knelt down next him. She grabbed his hand and held it in her own.

"I'm ok now. It was a close call." Bruce sighed.

"Do you wanna listen to your music?"

"No. I think I'll be ok. Just.. stay?"Bruce asked quietly.

"Of course. What happened?"

"One of my biggest fears is probably happening."

"Betty Ross. She went to the compound. She warned Steve about her father." Tony interjected.

"Is that Thaddeus Ross?" Natasha asked.

"That's the one."

"I thought he was good? Fury thought he was."

"So did I."

"He's not. He actually wants to make his own private army of powerful beings. He wanted Hulk. I think he wants more."

"Wanda, Vision, Cap maybe Thor... he just got promoted... I think I know what he wants."

"I hope we aren't thinking the same thing." Tony replied.

"We probably are." Natasha sighed.

"Well shit."