#ace!bruce

2. Tony is eager to help his friend finding a partner. Sadly, Tony’s many friends are... not really... a good fit for a shy, introverted scientist like Bruce. Which means lots of dates going south quickly.

“After two months of going out with a different woman each night, Bruce was tired and discouraged and the dates seemed to be going worse and worse. He felt further away from ever having a long-term girlfriend than when Abigail had broken up with him.”

3. Tony insists Natasha is the girl perfect for him. Bruce is skeptical, but he agrees on one last date - if Tony promises that no more will follow.

“She took his hand with a smile and slid into her seat. “Well, this is nice. When I heard you were friends with Stark, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Some ridiculous pickup line, probably.”

Bruce winced. “First of all, I’d like to apologize for whatever crass and inappropriate comments he made to you because I know he won’t. I swear, he’s not a bad guy, he just doesn’t always think before he opens his mouth.”

She waved him off. “I’ve heard worse. And he certainly handled rejection well. I’ve never seen anyone so excited to be turned down before.””

4. The date continues, and it goes wonderful...

“She grimaced and wrinkled her nose. “That’s not my fault. There is just way too much whipped cream on this thing.”

“I don’t know. I think it takes a special kind of talent to get it way up on your nose.”

“No, it doesn’t.” She dabbed a small bit of cream on his nose. “See? Easy.”

His eyes narrowed. “Oh, is that how it is?” He reached over to smear a line down her cheek.

Natasha chuckled darkly. “Oh, now you’ve done it. This means war.”

Bruce had never participated in any food fights in elementary or high school. He was far too serious a student and too worried about the possibility of getting in trouble. But if this was how those fights had been in school, then he had clearly been missing out.”

5. Two years later...

“Not for the first time, he wished they had eloped after all. He couldn’t wait to be a married man and spend the rest of his life with Natasha, but actually getting married was more stressful than he had expected.

(...)

She was so beautiful in her strapless, cream-colored gown, her hair long and free flowing over her shoulders, and her smile blindingly radiant.

Bruce forgot to be nervous.

He didn’t pay attention to most of the ceremony. He focused on Natasha and his body went along on autopilot. Somehow he stayed upright and conscious, said all the right words at the right time, and when the minister pronounced them husband and wife, he leaned in for a gentle, chaste kiss.”