I'm Not That Kind Of Doctor...

Pepper nodded, humming slightly. “Homemade gifts are always nice. I wish I had tie to make candy and such for some of my friends. I have a recipe to make excellent pecan frogs. I try to make time for them every year, but they take like three hours.”

She shrugged, “Tony is the only complicated person to buy for. Mostly because he’s got a lot of money so he never needs or really wants anything, you know. If he wants it, he buys it.”

Bruce gave her a sympathetic smile when she mentioned wanting to buy him something special.He understood that. That’s how he felt on all special occasions when he was with Betty. While she didn’t have as much money as Tony, she still had enough to buy anything she wanted. Plus the fact that she would tell Bruce she didn’t need anything.

“Like I said, I think he’ll like the sweater. Maybe you could have one made for Dum-E, then they could dress like twins,” Bruce joked lightly.

There were many different wells of power. Some came from within, others could be felt like gentle tugs on spider webs, and those were the vibrations that Loki followed. Some tasted of sweet things, some of bitter, others yet had colors that shone too brightly before disappearing as their wells were opened and then gone from all. Released, they were no more, and Loki could not keep such power there even if he wanted. 

But no, he wished for magic to return to the lands he now walked, for they were dry and grieving. He could make them anew but following his senses only led him far from his place of rest. Though not a home, it had become a comfort, a place to heal and lick his wounds until his time came again, and it seemed that time was this day. Before him lay an expanse of sands that held nothing but heat, and though it drove him to chills and displeasure, he must move into it for what he sought. So, a bright cloak drawn light about his head and he stepped into the dying sun to find what his talents drew him to. The night was long and cool, enough so that he did not shake from the temperature at last, but it was the dawn that drew him to hiding in the hopes that night would not be long to this place. 

Even if it had been a short daylight, Loki was upended from his place by the sounds of movement on the horizon. A truck, donned with mortal gadgets, had found its way to his shadows. 

And on it went, just as quickly. 

Curious, the god pulled a hand over his face and left the small alcove of red rocks, following at a sedate pace before he came upon the camp that seemed to have been settled there for at least a day or two. Strange to be so far from civilization until Loki spied the traveler and quickly dipped down to change his face. A shudder ran down his spine, though now his clothes were transformed to modern ones, the hood a jacket as he moves forward with hesitant steps, knowing his role quite well. 

It wasn’t what he was doing right now. Not really, anyway. He wasn’t running from anything, and he had no plans of being gone for longer than a week. He’d been doing some research and taking a few notes here and there from those he encountered thanks to SHIELD records and government records. In said research, he found out of a few... artifacts that might be useful. Even if they weren’t going to take him far in his studies on eliminating the Hulk--

Like clockwork, the Hulk screamed in his head and caused him to drop one of his tools, a tracker for the energy pulsing from the ground.

He’d have to be more careful with not angering the monster and letting him effect his work.

Anyway, even if it didn’t help his little... problem. Studying the artifact for just the reason of science was worth digging it up. Who knows, maybe it held a new power source, or could be used for something medicinal. 

Even if he had no used for it, Tony would have a field day studying whatever it was giving off such high readings.

He’d been camped out for a good three and a half days, and he was getting closer day by day. He’d made a few promises to actually take care of himself. So, breaks were frequent and as were meal and sleeping times. He only had another half a day to go, maybe a full day. Did he expect to run into anyone? Of course not. He was in the middle of nowhere. 

“Treasure hunter?” Bruce repeated as he took off the goggles he had been using to protect his eyes and exchanging them for his normal glasses. The man came into focus and Bruce managed a smile. “No, sir, I’m not. I’m an Archaeologist,” he lied expertly. “Just looking for bones. Then again, those are treasures in one way or another-- so I suppose,” he said with a soft chuckle.

“I have to say, I didn’t expect anyone else to be near either. We’re... quite some way from civilization and you look very unprepared for the journey,” Bruce noticed., Unless the other had his bags and equipment elsewhere. “I have food and drink -- extra, if you need it,” he offered. 

Hesitantly, Jean lowered her hand as she could sense that the person meant no harm to her nor the school. She stood up from the grass she was sitting on and tentatively approached the figure whom she could not see clearly thanks to the lack of light but as she got closer to the man she noted the poor state in which he was in, from the bruises to the torn up clothing or rather lack of it. If she wasn’t alarmed before she was now.   She was slightly taken aback when he spoke and her first instinct was to reach out to the professor for help but she figured she could do this on her own. After all, helping people was what she had been trained to do.      "It’s a couple miles that way.“ Jean said slowly, motioning her hands towards the empty road that would eventually lead into the city.       "What happened, did someone attack you?” She asked as her eyes inspected the bruises and scars.   She glanced hesitantly towards the institute before averting her eyes back to the man. He needed help now and the city nearest to them wasn’t exactly a few minutes away. Jean turned once again towards the mansion and carefully pried the gates open, enough for her and the man to slip through.        "Here, come with me, I can help you.“ She said as she offered her hand so that she could help him seeing as he didn’t look like he could manage walking himself.

Bruce would have moved back as she approached him, created some distance between them. It was an instinct that kicked in for not his own safety. But, he reminded himself that A) he was in far too much pain for all that unnecessary movement, and B) it was unnecessary because Hulk was definitely sleeping in the back of his mind. He had a migraine, still, but not from roaring and he gave a small thanks for that.

His eyes followed her hand and he looked in the direction of the city. A couple of miles. Close, yet... when each step taken feels like you’re walking barefoot on sharp glass-- it wasn’t so close. He just kept reminding himself that it could be worse. 

Bruce snapped back to attention at the question. “Attack?” he repeated, the word a bit slurred as his mouth caught up to his mind which was for some reason going a mile a minute as he pondered the question. “No... no, not -- define attack.”

And, despite that sounding... oh so suspicious, he gave a laugh with it that hurt his ribs. ‘Oh, fun, a broken rib or two,’ he thought to himself bitterly.

When she offered to take him through the gates (where he assumed she lived), his heart slightly warmed. He wasn’t used to random acts of kindness. Not anymore, at least. Before he could accept the offer and take her hand, his entire body stiffened as he froze, staring at the sight next to the gates.

The words were large, but without his reading glasses, it took a moment for them to sharpen. She lived -- worked -- at a school. University students were one thing, but youngsters. There were small children beyond those gates. All of the worry in his stomach bubbled up into his chest and constricted his breathing for a moment as he shook his head. He couldn’t go in there. Being around a even a crowd of adults was one thing, but putting children at risk if something, anything happened that caused him to lose control.

“No, no, but -- but thank you,” he managed as he pushed himself off a tree and diverted his way from the gates but in the direction of the city. “I really need to get back.” Bruce insisted, reaching out for another tree to use as stability, but missing it and his entire weight brought him to the ground hard, causing him to cough as he took a mouth full of dirt.

“I figured it out on my own,” Steve says with a shrug. “It wasn’t that hard to figure out. It’s not like the start of some of that stuff wasn’t around when I was. I’m not that old and I’ve been out of the ice for a couple years now…”

He doubts any of them really keep in contact, though, even if they all were to connect to the internet daily. They weren’t friends, and what once was, wasn’t anymore. Any ties that drew them together had been cut when they walked away at the end of Manhattan and Steve grunts in response, sipping at his drink this time around. It’s not that they weren’t… good people, though the Captain had his doubts about some of them and where their helpfulness really came from, but it wasn’t as if they all were a big, happy family.

It hadn’t been until recently that he even found out Barton was in the city, and make this the first time he’d heard of Banner being there as well.

“I think he’s far more independent than most of us give him credit for.”

Steve really doesn’t think the other would be chummy with the people that sent his brother off for retribution. Especially after all the other did to try and save the other god. Asgardian? Steve isn’t real sure he enjoys the idea of someone having all the power in the universe that was so easily swayed by emotion as the other seemed to be with his brother, but to each their own, he supposed. Brow furrowed, his thoughts continue on under Banner’s words, and there’s little he can say about the pause before ‘team’ that he agrees with.

“I don’t think they knew until they brought us all together,” the Captain grimaces. “We could have said no, though I don’t think they would have taken it for an answer.”

Which was really the problem with SHIELD. When people said no, they just found a way around it and it sets the Captain’s teeth on edge. Thankfully, he doesn’t work for them anymore, and his ability to find out what was going on was based solely on himself, not some chain of command that decided what he should and shouldn’t know as a field Commander.

Bruce bit back a small smile as Steve explained that he figured out his cellular phone all by himself. It wasn’t really a surprise. He didn’t think Steve was an idiot or anything (and, definitely not technologically stumped, as most assumed). He adapted well, from what Bruce had seen. All of them did -- the Avengers. Whether it was for survival or just to blend in everyday life. 

”They’re not that difficult to figure out with the manual, so I’m not really surprised that you figured it out on your own,” Bruce claimed as he finished up his drink in one last swig. He almost gagged from the burn in his throat. He really didn’t drink often, probably shouldn’t be drinking right now. But, he figured running into the Captain -- the situation would be more... relaxing and not so much forced (or awkward) if they were both having a drink. Men did that, right? Friends did that. Not that they were friends. He wasn’t sure how the other Avengers felt about him or each other. Clint and Natasha -- that was a given. He and Tony -- another given. They had a lot in common. He figured at least Natasha and Steve would stay in touch more so than say himself and anyone other than Tony. At least, he thought they seemed like friends -- good friend candidates.

Bruce eyed the glass in front of him with distaste. He was sure he’d been silent for longer than he meant. One drink didn’t make him tipsy, no way. Maybe it was his inadvertent introvert nature. That was a hard one to escape, not even alcohol could help him.

“Yup,” Bruce agreed to... well, he wasn’t entire sure. Maybe to the topic about Fury, or maybe that SHIELD literally had no idea what they were doing when they threw them all in a room together and titled them a team. Probably both. That made sense.

There was a slight breeze that brushed along Jean’s skin which caused her to shiver slightly as she looked up at the gates that separated the outside world and the institute. She’d once felt so safe behind the walls of the institute but now that she knew that the real enemy existed in her own head she saw them as the prison walls that kept the outside world safe from her.

Jean hovered over the large gates and landed on the other side where she stood peering out towards the desolate wooded area. She had been so eager to venture out into the city but this was enough to satisfy her taste for liberty. Her lips lifted into a soft smile as she sat down on a patch of grass with her knees tightly tucked into her chest. A faint sigh escaped the red head’s lips and she let her mind bask in the utter silence that enveloped her.

The fatigue that had collectively built up inside her during the past week was beginning to take its toll and her eyelids became heavy with exhaustion. Yet she didn’t allow herself to sleep. She just couldn’t miss the liveliness of the world around her, she wanted to be conscious for it all. She wanted to keep feeling the faint light of the moon dancing across the skin, she wanted to feel the whisper of wind gliding around her - she wanted to witness it all.

Jean’s eyes fluttered wide open at the sound of a voice and she realized that the voice was of someone else’s thoughts. Instead of being alarmed or scared, she calmly scanned the area around her until she spotted the silhouette of a person walking towards the gates of the institute.

“Don’t take another step.” Jean said with a hint of hostility as she lifted her hand instinctively , ready to stop the intruder if he/she did not comply.

Bruce just had to keep telling himself: ‘I’ve woken up in worst places’. It had been a while since he had an unintentional Hulk out, and it surprised him how... out of sorts he was feeling after waking up. Hulk couldn’t have taken him far from New York. The... thing (because Bruce couldn’t really think of him as a monster anymore -- not entirely anyway) liked New York. He liked Tony, and the other Avengers. With them, he could come out and let off a little anger from time to time. Without getting yelled at by his fellow... people.

Every bone in his body ached. His skin felt like it was on fire and of course, he had lost his glasses. So, if he didn’t have a headache before... it was an annoyance. 

After an hour of laying in the dirt, trying to will the pain and not being very successful, he finally forced himself to get up. Stretching his muscles made things so much worse, but he knew he couldn’t stay in the forest in the middle of nowhere forever, or even until he felt better. After a Hulk out, it took him days to feel right again.

Luckily, he had... something on his side. Because after a good twenty minutes of walking (and he only made it half a mile if less), he heard some rustling and spotted a young woman. Civilization -- thank you for staying close to home, Big Guy.

As soon as he came into sight, the woman took notice and was warning him away. He didn’t think he had another step in him, anyway. Bruce fell against one of the trees and tried to catch his breath. He looked a mess: red eyes, bruises covering his body, and no longs on except his pants (or what was left of the shredded deal).

Dragging his tongue across his cracked lips, he gave her a moment to see he was in no mood to be hostile with her. The Big Guy was another story, but he seemed to be sleeping in Bruce’s head at the moment.

Steve actually laughs softly at the idea of being disturbed by the man at his side. The only people that truly perturbed him were those that thought they could stand in his way and demand answers or actions from him. A shake of his head and a small smile has him rolling off the comment, swirling his glass and downing the rest of it before ordering another. He didn’t exactly have a max but there was enough jangle in his pockets for only a few.

“Contrary to popular belief, I’m not technologically challenged,” he murmurs, brow quirking as he brings his now full glass up to his lips to hover there. Smells like his father and that has all the amber liquid sliding down his throat in one go. “I don’t exactly have anyone to call me, however. Fury doesn’t call me anymore, thank God.”

If he did, there would quickly be a dial tone on Steve’s side of the line.

“Surprising, considering he’s not supposed to be SHIELD anymore,” he mutters, lips curling ever so slightly into a half sneer that is quickly tampered down and pushed into thinned lips. “He agreed to no more. But, considering the run ins I’ve had with SHIELD here and there, I’m guessing he didn’t exactly let it go as much as he let on when I last saw him.”

Not surprising at all, really, and Steve makes a motion to stop the pouring at a double that will be his last. To poke at any one of them, especially the man beside him, is abysmal lying once more. Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, the Captain shakes his head again.

“I’m sorry they won’t leave you alone. At least I signed up for this. Not all of us did and I wish I could pull some of you out of the limelight to do what you need to do.”

Bruce held up his hands in a defensive gesture. “Nobody said technologically challenged. I just wasn’t sure if anyone taught you about it, yet. No doubt Tony has jumped on the opportunity,” he guessed. “I think not knowing how to use a computer or a cell phone is against Tony’s religion -- seen as an insult.” Bruce joked lightly. 

When the bartender once again returned, Bruce pulled out his wallet to hand the man a card to charge their drinks to. “No doubt if Thor were given a phone, he would be bothering you,” he said with a small smile. “I don’t keep a cell phone on me. Too... inconvenient,” he claimed. More like dangerous -- his definition of dangerous. Cell phones were too easily tracked and Bruce hated being watched with a passion. Whether it was from tower to tower or more personal.

His eyes briefly went to the small television they had in the corner of the bar. Watching... whatever game was on, he could hardly tell with the grey lines interrupting the screen. Though his eyes were elsewhere, he was listening to and agreeing with Steve. No doubt Fury had his nose in SHIELD, despite the organization supposedly being out of his hands now.

Christmas in Stark Tower was a bit of a big deal for Tony Stark. During this time of the year, various rooms were redecorated into a Christmas theme, usually by Tony himself. Stockings on the wall, reefs in the lounge, and even a giant, disfigured stuffed animal bunny which Tony had salvaged from the wreckage of of his Malibu home 3 years ago. There was also an abundance of mistletoe, placed wherever Romanoff and Pepper tended to hang out. Even the robots were part of the Christmas cheer, with Dum-E having his own specialized Santa hat, and JARVIS being programmed to play Christmas Carols at the start of every hour.

Truth be told, Tony wasn’t /big/ on the holidays himself. As a child, Christmas was fairly simple. He always received what he wanted. But…for people like Natasha, Clint, Hill, and especially Pepper, a little bit of Christmas Spirit was bound to be a pick me up. All except for Bruce, he supposed.

As Tony approached the lab door where the scientist spent most of his time, he could hear the foreign curse in the man’s frustrated tone. A hiss was heard as the chrome doors slid open, revealing the hilarious sight of DUM-E trying his hardest to place a Christmas hat on the head of Bruce Banner. Tony’s lips give way to a grin as he walks inside the lab, arms folded before speaking up.

“DUM-E, take a break, he’s green, so he’s supposed to be a Grinch.”

In response to Tony’s words, there’s a sad whir from the robot, but he obliges, sliding away with the hat within his clamps.

“Now now, Banner. With all the Christmas carols and candy canes, I’m surprised you aren’t rainbows and sunshine. Did Thor take your present?”

As Tony spoke, he made his way to the man’s side, enabling him to lay a hand on Bruce’s shoulder.

Bruce decided he made the right call to put away his work when Tony sauntered in. The others in the tower could make... some sense of the work, he was sure, but to Tony, reading notes in the jargon was like reading a dr. Seuss book. Very simple. He was torn between going back to typing away on the computer he insisted to use rather than having ARVIS write everything up for him, or huffing at Dum-E, who was still trying his hardest to get the hat settled correctly atop Bruce’s head.

Luckily, Tony made that decision for him. He did watch the robot roll off and disappear between the tables, ignoring it’s very disappointed sounds. How Tony made beeping sound emotional, he didn’t know. He really didn’t want to know, either. That’s all they needed -- robots who could feel. Then again... he should be used to it. Jarvis had sarcasm that topped the best of them at times.

When the hand touched his shoulder, Bruce involuntarily tensed up for a brief moment. It was just a noticeable second or two before he relaxed and turned back to his computer. At least he was better about others invading his personal space than before he... joined the Avengers.

“It’s a little too early for presents. Isn’t the rule: you get one on Christmas Eve and the remainder on Christmas day? We still have...” He paused and it struck him that he wasn’t quite sure what day it was. “A day or two, no doubt. I do hope you’re not letting him open gifts earlier than that.”

“True. Maybe it’ll just be a bunch of pictures of me looking really angry. That might be enough.” Pepper laughed She took another look at the watches, frowning. “Yeah,. The watches are not good enough this year.”  She turned towards the sweaters, wrinkling her nose slightly. “A sweater is good, and something useful, but I don’t know. I was hoping to find something special, you know?”

Pepper wandered over to the red sweater, examining it closer. “I think I’ll get it, and hope something more unique comes along.” She nodded, adding it to the basket.

“So what has you here so late in the game? i’d have thought you’d have your shopping all done by now.”

Bruce pushed off the counter and followed her over to the red sweater she was eyeing. It looked like a nice enough fabric, and the color of red definitely stood out. Which was perfect for Tony. “There’s still... time,” he offered her. Not much time, granted. Christmas was on a countdown tipping fast. Still, it was New York -- stores were at every turn.

“I think he’ll like the sweater.” Bruce claimed as she put it in her basket. “Hm? Oh, yes, I... well, I didn’t get everyone much. Just something small. I might cook some sweets for everyone. I know a few recipes from -- uh, well,” he trailed off, adjusting his glasses. He didn’t want to ramble. 

While the winter had not been as bad as his memories had served him, the Captain isn’t exactly one for the cold anymore. It doesn’t necessarily affect him, but there is a dislike for the ice that he wakes up to, the frost on everything that melts in the afternoon sun. Shaking his head, he does agree with the other man with a grunt, shoulders rounded over his glass as he shifts back towards the bar quietly.

It’s thankfully not sullen, more worn down from time and tried patience. The same as others who came to the bar to take time off from work or family or whatever else they were dealing with.

Granted, Steve didn’t have any of that to worry about, but there were things he fought through daily that he hopes most wouldn’t understand.

It’s always worse somewhere else, Steve agrees with a nod.

“Food,” he grumbles, taking a small swish from his glass. The answer is both right and wrong, but it’s the best he can do in the circumstances. “Sometimes you just need to get out from under the bright lights of the living and take in places you remember from. Well…”

A long time ago, at this point. But he can still see the fresh marks of distilled paint and, if he concentrates, he can hear carts outside on the road instead of cars. Well, not only cars. He wasn’t that old.

“Wasn’t expecting company though,” he does admit, glancing to the side. Especially not this company, but it couldn’t hurt to have someone around. The path that he’d set walking into this place had only been going down and at least now, there was a stopper to those bitter thoughts. “What brings you back to town, Doctor? Please don’t tell me I need to suit up…”

Could be fun though. He could use a good rumble every once and awhile.

When the bartender returned, Bruce ordered a bottle of water rather than a refill. His hand flexed around the glass as the temptation rose to order another, but he resisted and slid the glass aside. 

“Food...” Bruce repeated as he gave another look around the dingy bar. Why a man would choose to eat in this place over... Denny’s? Even McDonalds, he didn’t know. Especially when they weren’t drunk out of their mind and couldn’t taste the food anyway.

Bruce gave the other a side-glance. Now, that he understood. Bruce had his times when he needed to... get away. 

... Okay, those times were all the time. He was an introvert. He preferred to be alone. Especially if being alone meant he had a lab or at the very least, a computer to himself.

“I get you. Sorry for disturbing,” Bruce said, though he made no move to leave. He owed a tab at the moment, anyway. Popping open his bottle of water, he took a sip of it. 

Bruce brought his hand up to remove his glasses, using his shirt to clean the lens as he chuckled. “I hardly doubt they would send me if we were needed to suit up. Not that I suit up, anyway.” Bruce added. “Haven’t they given you a phone? I’m surprised they haven’t set up SMS alerts for suiting up, or we could have a large signal in the sky, like Batman.”

He was rambling at this point, but it was better than awkwardly sitting in silence, in a dingy bar, with Steve, and neither of them getting drunk.

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