Navigate • B. Banner

4 • Big Scary Avengers

Soon enough, Annie got back to her own house, and although Julian didn't want to avoid her or hold that night against her, she didn't know where she stood with him anymore. Were they mere friends who participated in a night he regrets? Or was there something, even the tiniest spark, igniting between them?

Better call Bruce, he always has answers.

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Bruce Banner was playing a game of Blackjack with the team, his phone discarded on the kitchen counter.

With all the shouting and complaining from everyone playing, Annabelle's phone call was barely audible.

Tony dealt him a card and Bruce looked at it before groaning.

"Bust." He muttered, throwing his cards down on the coffee table.

"Bruce, you've lost every game so far!" Clint said.

"Take a shot, Doc," Tony said, and Bruce grumbled something incoherent before he consumed the alcohol.

There was no money going around in this game, instead, if you bust, you take a shot. Bruce had taken quite a few since the beginning of the game, not a surprise, really.

Soon enough, a louder voice rang throughout the compound.

"Dr Banner, Annie is calling," FRIDAY said, and that's when the team turned to Bruce.

"Who's Annie?" Steve asked, but Bruce ignored their confused murmurs, instead rushing over to his phone. He quickly answered the call.

"Hi." He answered, and all the Avengers heard after that was a very frantic voice, which eventually turned into a very shaky voice, and then a bit of crying, but they didn't actually hear what the conversation was about.

"Calm down, calm down. I...I don't know about that, but we can do that. Yeah, give me two minutes, I will call you back. You'll be fine, okay? Yeah, bye." Bruce sighed, ending the call and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"What was that about?" Tony asked.

"It's nothing, just...I'll be in the lab." Bruce said.

"Bruce, are you sure?" Nat asked, and Bruce froze up. How's he supposed to resist Natasha Romanoff?

Dammit, Nat.

"Uh, it's my niece," Bruce said.

"You have a niece?" Thor asked.

"Yeah, my cousin passed away when she was little, so I took care of her pretty much all her life. She's just stressed, wants to do something to take her mind off of some stuff." Bruce vaguely explained.

"Originally she asked if she could come over here but then she realised that I don't live alone," Bruce said humorously, gesturing to the team.

"She could still come over." Tony offered.

"Yeah, it'd be nice to meet your niece, actually," Nat said, and Bruce hummed in contemplation before pulling out his phone and calling Annie.

"Hello?" Annie asked, and the team could hear her a little clearer now, only a couple sniffles were heard.

"Hi. If you aren't busy, I was thinking that maybe you could come to visit. How would you like to meet the Avengers?" Bruce asked, and there was a long silence before a sigh was heard.

"What the fuck, Bruce?" Annie asked, and he heard her laugh a little, making him smile. The Avengers also laughed a little at Annie's response.

"Okay, one: language. And two: you could meet Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Wouldn't that cheer you up?" Bruce asked.

"Don't you guys hate regular people talking to them?" Annie asked, and the Avengers snorted and gave each other questioning looks because of her remark.

"Uhm, no? Where'd you hear that?" Bruce asked.

"The internet. We all think you're cool but everyone knows that there's a reason you're so reclusive. You just hate civilians." Annie said.

"No, it's because we have sensitive information about potential threats. We don't hate civilians, why do we save them then?" Bruce asked.

"Look, I know you guys save the world but the reason you don't get bombarded by fangirls is that you're too menacing to take a picture with. You're all rich, strong, or smooth enough to kill people." Annie said.

"Are you serious? It's not because we have very tight security?" Bruce deadpanned.

"Tight security? Yeah, we could probably raid you." Annie said.

"Really?" Bruce asked.

"Hypothetically, Bruce. You know that everyone who has a social presence online is a coward. That's why people make edits of the Avengers instead of asking for a picture at the compound. Why do you think I've never been to the compound?" Annie asked.

"Is that why?!" Bruce asked, raising his voice a little at the new information.

"Yeah, Big Scary Avengers - they'll save your life from Aliens just to intimidate you to death afterwards. From what I've seen online - and you know I've seen a lot - people are very scared of you but also love you so they admire you from a distance. You know, I don't think I've actually seen Black Widow genuinely smile. But maybe you have since you're in lo--"

"Okay! Calm down, kid! Are you coming over or not?" Bruce asked, abruptly turning the volume down to avoid Annie saying anything about Natasha.

"Yeah, why not. Teach you and your band of frightening fiends how to appear to be approachable."

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A/N: yesssss

I feel like someone's gonna be confused as to why Annie's personality is different with Bruce and different from Julian. I'm not gonna say anything else. Just pointing that out as a choice, not a mistake.

Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading!