Hulk and His Priestess

Chapter 20 The Competition

Natasha had arrived that morning from her mission. She went to her room to change and unwind when Clint knocked on her door.

"Hey welcome back, how did it go?"

Natasha was standing in front of the mirror brushing out her hair when she answered, "Thanks, it went as well as could be expected. Anything new going on around here?"

Clint paused, he walked into Natasha's room and sat down on her bed. He looked at her through the mirror, "Nat, Tony found him."

Natasha paused for a moment, then continued to brush her hair, "Found who?"

"You know who, Bruce."

"Oh yeah, where?"

"In Japan, apparently the Quinjet crash landed in Tokyo."

"And?"

"And, Tony made arrangements for him to come home."

"What about Ross?"

"Ross stepped down and named Everett Ross as his successor. Evidently, Tony came across some very interesting blackmail information on Ross, forcing him to step down."

Natasha began to apply her makeup then looked at Clint, "Good for Bruce."

"That's all you're going to say?"

"What else do you want me to say, Clint?"

"Oh I don't know maybe something along the lines as you missed him, and that you still love him?"

"Love is for children, Clint, I've told you that before."

Clint nods and stands up, "Oh, okay, then I guess it won't affect you at all to know that he's coming home today. Tony radioed us and told us they should be arriving sometime tonight."

Clint then leaves Natasha to her thoughts.

Natasha watched Clint leave through the mirror and sighs. At hearing that in a few short hours, Bruce would be arriving her heart had sped up. She honestly didn't know what she felt for Bruce anymore, it had been two long years since his departure. Could they go back to how it was before he left, she had to wonder. She decided that she was going to see how things went when she saw Bruce and not think about it until then.

So for the rest of the day Natasha rested, ate and stayed in her room. She tried not to think about Bruce, but her mind kept wandering to him. She wondered if he had changed if he had missed her? And there was a tiny part of her that wondered if they could pick up where they left off.

Natasha shook her head, "Don't set yourself up for disappointment," She told herself.

She finally couldn't take it anymore and decided that she should go socialize with everyone else instead of sitting in her room alone. She asked FRIDAY where the Avengers were gathered.

**They are all in the living room watching a movie** FRIDAY informed her.

Natasha makes her way to the living room and sits down next to Clint, he wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her in closer trying to comfort her. They go back to watching the movie. Fifteen minutes before 8:00 FRIDAY makes an announcement.

**Mr. Stark's Quinjet has just entered American airspace, they will be landing at the compound in fifteen minutes.**

Steve stood up and stretched, "I guess we should get ready to welcome back Bruce."

Everyone else agrees with Steve and gets up to head down to the hanger to meet the Quinjet when it lands. As Clint is leaving the living room he notices that Natasha is just sitting there on the sofa. He turns back and goes to sit by her. Clint puts an arm around Natasha's shoulders.