code_blue | apologies mine [for Pepper (totherescue)]

"There's turkey, and an italian sub, one that's vegetarian, and actually I stopped at a falafel place because I thought maybe Tony might be around and he claimed that falafels weren't really a thing, so I was going to prove him wrong.... uh- that leaves us with a lot, doesn't it?"

Bruce sets one sandwich down after the other, taking up all of the space she's cleared off for him. A chair tugged up to the corner of her desk, he wrings his hands for a moment. "But I forgot the drinks."

He is going to get to her legitimately important question. Really, he will. The one thing that Bruce feels he can always control about the other guy, is talking about him, so he just puts it off until the sandwich ordeal is conquered first.

"You forgot the drinks?" She shakes her head in mock disappointment as she heads over to the mini refrigerator just to the side of one of her bookshelves. Generic bottled water isn't the fanciest beverage, especially when paired with gourmet subs, but she already knows better than to break out a bottle of wine (as hard as she works, she feels she's entitled to keep a good drink around when she's caught doing overtime).

"Well. I suppose I could forgive you this once," she concedes, slipping a bottle over his shoulder as she passes behind him on her way back to her seat. "Considering you did make the effort to bring enough food for the whole class. Only I think Tony's taken off for the weekend, so sadly, he won't get to experience the wonder that is a falafel."

He would have brought her a bottle of wine, and then awkwardly not had any. It was for the best that he forgot it. The water is more than a good enough substitution. Especially as it brushes his neck, passed down over his shoulder. The perfect chill of the water leaves Bruce closing his eyes momentarily, sighing softly.

"It seems like our thing is going to be me trespassing on your better nature." When he opens his eyes to meet her gaze, he tries to make it clear that he's not talking about the lack of wine.

"So, where did he jet off to?" Technically Tony using a jet was just so five years ago. What with his own private flying suit of armor and all. Bruce is aware that Tony and Pepper had recently gone through a tough time with the suits. As the Stark unofficial sounding board, he got the full story in detail, and more than that. Including childhood traumas that Tony felt he should be clued in on.

It was like having a best friend that you never actually chose for yourself. Mandatory besties? Whatever the term, Bruce didn't regret the surprise relationship, though it still confused him.

"Rio De Janeiro," she replies flatly. "On Wednesday, he just randomly got an itch to 'taste Brazilian this weekend', and so...that's where he is. I try not to ask too many questions when it comes to that sort of thing because I already know that when he says he's going to go somewhere for the weekend, it means we won't see him for ten days, at least." The perks of being a retired billionaire. Pepper could do with a vacation herself, but she's long since come to terms with the fact that being a CEO who also happens to be an extreme workaholic doesn't lend itself well to getaways. Alas...

"For what it's worth, you're not trespassing on anything," she continues, content to leave Tony to his vices for the time being. "It can't be trespassing if you have an open invitation." The statement hangs in the air for a moment, probably a little too suggestively, before her eyes fall to the sandwiches.

"Do you mind if I go for turkey?"

It has been a very, very long time since Bruce has done anything resembling flirting. That being said, there is a certain something to Pepper's tone that catches in his ear. He covers the sudden warmth in his face by taking a long drink of the water.

"Yes, no- I mean. Sure, I'm fine with the italian sub." And probably at least half of the falafel collection too. Food isn't a big priority for him, but he likes to enjoy it when he can.

He catches himself gazing at her, specifically that place where her shoulder meets her neck and the soft curl of hair that's slipped out of her more authoritative work hairstyle. Bruce's fingers tighten a fraction more on the bottle of water.

"He's been a little..." Searching for the right way to phrase this. Bruce doesn't want to speak badly of Tony. At least, not when the man isn't there to poke fun at him in return. "-flighty? Lately?"

"I think he's trying to figure out what to do with himself," she replies, casually pulling the sliced tomatoes out of her sandwich. "I'd give him back the reigns of his company, but he says he's done with business. Given where his head is these days, that's probably for the best."

Not that she really knows what's was going on in Tony's head. She doesn't even know what's going on in her own head these days. For instance, she didn't really mean to fall into flirtation mode with Bruce. Or...she did, but she really shouldn't, only because she doesn't want to complicate what's already a delicate situation. Tony and Bruce are friends, Bruce has his condition to deal with, and Tony is...well. Tony is Tony. If Pepper's smart, she would give the whole thing a very wide and very cautious berth.

But then Bruce picks out constellations for her and invites her to watch meteors. Then follows all of that up by bringing her dinner at work on a Friday evening when he could be - should be - just about anywhere else. How can she not find that endearing? How can she not enjoy being around someone who has a quiet, calm and peaceful way about them? Someone who isn't caught up in the high-stakes rat race that is global corporate?

Not that Bruce didn't come with his own slice of excitement...

"No more talking about Tony to side step talking about yourself," she quips with a small smile. "How have you been?" It's more than just a general question.

His eyebrows raise up, more for the tomatoes than the change of topic. That's odd, Miss Potts; and he's going to reach out and take them to add to his own sub if she's in the discarding frame of mind.

"I kind of envy that." Which is the last thing he'll say about Tony. Or so he tells himself.

"Me? Well-" What should he say? Bruce lives in the moment more often than not these days. It's the best way to cope with the life he's lost hope of separating himself from. "I've been pretty happy with things lately, aside from- you know." The whole incident at the farm was going to linger, but like the rest of the other guy's long list of debts, it's something that Bruce can compartmentalize for the moment.

"It's been nice spending time with you."

Nice didn't begin to cover it, really. This was the first time that he'd felt normal in years. Not on the run and hide, thanks to SHIELD, and not actively trying to play short-stop in the 'saving the world series'. His social life had gone from absolute zero to a confusing mix of spies, aliens, and one rich mad scientist. Pepper was a godsend.

He tried not to dwell on that.

Not even just okay, but happy. All things considered, that's a lot more than she ever would have expected. She herself continued to worry, not specifically about the other night, but in general. Who's to say that whoever sent those people after Bruce won't send an even bigger militia next time? How long had they been tracking him before they made their move? Were they still tracking him? These questions had danced around in her head since that night, and she'd wondered if he had been asking himself the same thing.

But instead, he's happy. She can tell it isn't lip service, either, just based on his demeanor and how relaxed he seems to be. And really, it makes sense. Right now, they're safe. They're not jumping out of cars or being chased by cronies with guns. They're in her office eating sandwiches and drinking bottled water as if they don't have a care in the world. It is relaxing, and more than that, it's nice. With that in mind, perhaps she ought to take a page out of his book and learn to enjoy the moment for what it is.

"I've enjoyed spending time with you, too." It's been a long time since she's danced this dance, but if there's anything Pepper has learned during her time at Stark Industries, it's that opportune moments should be seized the moment they present themselves. 'Leap first, look later' had worked for Tony, maybe she would be just as lucky?

"I...wouldn't be opposed to us spending more time together." No, that sounds too wishy-washy. Say what you mean and mean what you say, Potts. If she could hold her own in a room full of suits, certainly she can do this.

"I mean," she reaches for her water and forces herself to make eye contact. "I would like it if we spent more time together. If that's something you'd want to do."

The reason that Bruce isn't fretting over the unknown attack was that Natasha Romanoff had already contacted him about it. Unofficially, she'd become the one that SHIELD assigned him. At least, Bruce thought it was an unofficial understanding, who really knew? (Nick Fury, that's who.) Natasha hadn't been able to tell him anything specific. Though she did imply that she'd take a personal interest in the incident and if anyone could fish out information, it was their red-haired espionage extraordinaire.

"I-"

Back in the land of personal turmoil. Pepper's gaze has floored him. It's a good thing that Bruce is sitting down because he's not sure he remembers what do to when a woman is direct about what she wants. It reminds him briefly, painfully, of another very self assured set of eyes.

Bruce's forgotten italian sub waits in his hands.

"Yes." The affirmation comes out a little louder than he intended, and Bruce has to laugh at himself. One of his better coping mechanisms. "It's exactly what I want."

She doesn't realize she's holding her breath until after Bruce accepts her offer - at which point, she lets out a huffed laugh of her own. It's silly to feel so relieved by the lack of rejection (it's not like they're teenagers and she's just asked him to prom), but...she feels the way she feels. If nothing else, now she can relax and not give herself over to what was troubling her before.

"Sounds like a plan, then." Plan was a rather shoddy way of putting it, mostly because she doesn't want to get tangled up in pressure. Instead, she's set on going with flow, just as they've been doing, and seeing what happens.

Realistically speaking, though...they do need plans.

"Are you a theater person?" she asks, somewhat on a whim. "I have a season pass for Broadway that's been going to waste. It includes a plus one..."

The look that comes across Bruce's face is a hungry one. Though it's not for the sandwich, nor even is it for Pepper (though that is there too, a shade under the surface). It's for the idea of going out. Seeing something that was a mark of, in Bruce's opinion, a culture spoiled on richness. Bright things, bright people, and the lights of Broadway? Those are things that hadn't mattered to him before, but seem like impossible dreams now. Only here she was, just asking him if that's something he wants to do; like he could just have it, so easily.

The answer was no, he wasn't a theater person. Bruce was a people person. Not by natural inclination, but by being deprived of something, and learning to appreciate it.

"What shows?" Because he is hopelessly clueless, and it didn't even matter if it was the worst possible show anyway. Yet, Bruce doesn't want to seem like the desperate misfit that he truly is. Not around her.

"I mean- that sounds great to me. I just don't know the latest reviews."

"Mamma Mia has excellent reviews, as does Wicked." Of course, as she thinks of all these shows, she also tries to picture Bruce - mild-mannered, science-centric, serious Dr. Banner - sitting in on (to say nothing of actually liking) anything as camp as a Broadway musical. There's probably a reason why he's not up to snuff on the latest reviews...

She flashes a knowing grin. "But you're not a theater person, are you?" And honestly, she's not at all bothered by that. If they're going to spend time together, she'd rather them do things they would both enjoy. The courtesy, however, is very much appreciated.

"It's perfectly okay if Broadway isn't your cup of tea. The great thing about this city is that there's lots to do at any given time."

"No, but-" Words fail him, so he sets his uneaten sandwich back down on her desk. Bruce pulls his glasses off and uses them as an accent to what he's trying to convey. "there's nothing wrong with trying new things. In fact, it's become something of a tradition of mine."

New countries, new foods, new cultures. Bruce lived in a wonderful little boxed life before he had to deal with the other guy. It was impossible to shift backward into the man he once was. He'd grown, and it may not have been his choice to do so, but the new Bruce had learned to be a lot more accepting of some things.

"Mamma Mia actually sound interesting. I've seen parts of the movie version, though it was all in Portuguese at the time."

His range of experimenting doesn't extend to Wicked however.

Bless him. How many non-theater-going men were willing to sit through the campiness of Mamma Mia just for the sake of trying new things? She almost wants to propose a different outing, simply as an 'A for Effort' sort of deal. But alas, she really does need to use that pass, and even if they only do one show, she'll feel like it paid for herself on account of her date for the evening.

And besides, it may not be all that bad. At least he knows what to expect, having seen bits of the movie.

"I take it that's as a result of your time spent in Brazil?" she asks, a lilt of amusement in her voice. "The Portuguese, I mean."

All further proposals would be rejected with a friendly smile, anyway. It wasn't the Hulk that made him a stubborn man. It was just natural inclination. Now that Bruce has set his mind on the idea, he's rather looking forward to it.

"A little bit." Nodding, setting his glasses down in favor of reclaiming the sandwich, she'll have to forgive Bruce for taking a few hungry bites before continuing the conversation. Of course, he swallows first.

"I try to learn a little every place that I end up, if you stick to English, you always end up sticking out like a sore thumb."

Bruce isn't even really sure what the final tally of countries he's visited is. Somewhere between a couple dozen and maybe fifty. A lot of them being just passovers, or complete blackout due to the other guy.

She ought to be the one to apologize. After all, they're supposed to be having dinner, yet here she is playing 101 Questions. She can't help it, though. As much time as she's spent around Bruce, given his presence at the Tower, she doesn't know a whole lot about him outside of Tony's excited ramblings (Tony really does think highly of both Bruce and his green alter-ego). Any opportunity she has to get to know the good doctor on her own, outside of Tony or SHIELD, is a good one.

However, she does need to let him eat.

"In that case..." She shifts a bit to lean back against her chair, crossed legs swaying idly as she picks up her own sandwich. "Voulez-vous me rencontrer mercredi à sept?"

Will you meet me here Wednesday at seven? She doesn't know if he's spent any time in France, but she's cheeky enough to test the waters anyway.

Completely by accident, Bruce ends up being the man of mystery in the Avengers Clubhouse. He would gladly pass the title over, but his habit of not talking about himself to many people always keeps him in the running.

Swallowing first. "Oh, wow, my french is really- not good." Never France, but he did spend some time in Canada and Madagascar. "Oui, je te verrai ensuite." Yes, I'll see you then.

With that, he grins and takes another bite of his sub.

Maybe it is because Tony has force fed a friendship into him, but he finds this whole socializing thing a little easier than he would have a few years ago. Bruce has gone through a lot of changes, other than the obvious one. He is a calmer man, even when his anger never leaves him. Being with Pepper is one of the best things about reentering the world. Science was the other great thing, but that is beside the point.

Pepper isn't sure how appropriate it is to find a Doctor of Nuclear Physics adorable, but Bruce manages to pull it off so flawlessly that she has no other choice. Of course, at some point between now and Mamma Mia she'll need to figure out exactly what this all means. While Wednesday evening could very well could be nothing more than a simple evening show between friends, she knows better than to hang her hat on that notion. Pepper has plenty of friends, and not one of them has ever come to her office after hours to bring her dinner. And even if one had, she can't say she would feel compelled to show appreciation for the gesture by asking them to join her on Broadway.

She wonders if perhaps they're treading on shaky ground, but those thoughts are immediately squashed when he flashes her another grin.

From the frying pan into the fire...

apologies mine [for Pepper (totherescue)]

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