honeyibrokeharlem | Closed Post to eleutheria

[ Not being a person to break her promises or leave anyone hanging, Stephanie is on her way to collect Bruce for their outgoing, and really it’s not as if anyone was going to suspect or jump to conclusions when they saw her going to the lab, except for the usual one of her going to probably yell at Tony for whatever stunt he had pulled at her to amuse himself then, but not that she was actually going for the other person that tended to spend most of his time there.

And really when she finds him, she kind of feels bad for taking him from his work; he looks so engrossed on it and hard at work. But he had given her permission and he did needed to get out of here from times to times. ] Bruce.

[Bruce immediately looks up, blinking owlishly at Stephanie before the light bulb goes off.]

Oh, are you ready to go?

[He writes down one last thing before pulling off his glasses and shrugs off his lab coat.]

[ She smiles at him and waits for him to remember why she was here and she chuckled just a bit. ] Yes, though I hope I’m not interrupting anything too important, right?

Nothing that can't wait.

[He stands up and puts his hands in his pockets, giving her a small smile before beginning to walk.]

Where do you usually get coffee, anyway?

Alright then, I will try not to take much of your time.

[ Try was the key word here, she could keep him from the lab most of the day if she set her mind to it. She started to walk with him and smiled. ]

It’s a small place, not one under the Starbucks brand though, not that I have anything against that chain but that place is a bit more relaxing.

Don't let the media find out you go there. They'll turn you into an icon for local business.

[He presses the button to the elevator.]

Then again, Starbucks would probably try to turn you into a spokesperson, so damned if you do and damned if you don't

I try to be careful when I go there, besides the place already looks to be doing rather good despite having Starbucks as competition. I think it might be due to the pastries, they are heavenly.

[ And there was a certain one that kind of reminded her to what her mother used to make, when they had the means for it. ]

Well then now you know why I tend to avoid Starbucks, unless someone decides to go there.

[He wanders into the elevator when the door opens, clicking the ground floor.]

How have you managed to avoid media attention, anyway? Was your mask in the Chitauri fight really that good at hiding your face?

Well I have my tricks, but really never underestimate the power of a good hat or baseball cap or a hoodie, you won’t believe how good those are at keeping you low key for a bit.

I wouldn't dare underestimate them. I've used things like that plenty of times when I was on the run.

So you can understand how useful they can be and once you learn how to be natural and if you belong, no one notices you.

Like I said, I've been on the run. Sometimes just acting like you belong is all you need.

[The corner of his mouth quirks, but it's not quite a smile.]

I imagine it's harder when you're not familiar with the times, though.

[ She chuckles just a bit and shrugs her shoulders. ]

It is a bit hard, even somewhere that was as familiar as New York, can present a bit of trouble for me since some things have changed after all. I just need to get used to it all again.

What do you think has been hardest?

[He's genuinely curious.]

If you don't mind talking about it.

[ She quiet for a bit and actually pondering on that for a bit. ]

Maybe the fact that so many of the things I knew are gone now, and that the people I called friends have been gone for years now.

I could see how that would be hard.

[Understatement of the century. He sympathizes with her, honestly, but he has never learned a way to express his sympathies in a way that isn't stilted, so he ends up being understated in any attempt at comfort or kindness.]

I'm sorry I asked. If it helps, you have friends in this time too.

No, it’s okay, don’t worry about it…it’s getting better.

[ And it was, she was finally starting to close that circle and being done with that mourning period and the acceptance that came with it, she had even gotten brave enough to drop by and visit Peggy, not wanting to waste whatever time she could still have with her. ]

I know and I’m glad for that.

Otherwise, I hope you're adjusting okay. I've had to switch up cultures, and that's rough enough. I couldn't imagine whole time periods.

[He's not good with emotions, but he means what he says. He's her friend. She has friends in this time.]

I’m getting there, slowly but surely so I’m sure I will be able to manage it or I hope I am doing fine, but if a phone is giving me trouble, I guess you can imagine how the rest might be going.

[ She truly appreciates that he at least tries, the others either poke fun at her or don’t exactly mention it since they don’t consider it that important for the overall picture. ]

I would normally suggest asking Tony, since it's his specialty, but we all know how that would go. As long as I'm in town, you can ask me to show you how to use something if you're at a loss.

[The come out onto the street. He seems to shrink in on himself, ducking down his head instinctively to avoid attracting attention. He's still not very comfortable walking in public, even though there isn't anyone around who will recognize him.]

I know and I did thought about it, but the only time I dared to ask, his teasing got a bit out of hand and I nearly punched him, something that would have ended rather ugly. Thank you, Bruce; I think I prefer you over Tony as a teacher.

[ She noticed his reaction right away and how could she not? It was after all something she had done in the past, before she got the serum and all. With a small smile, she laced her arm with his and started to lead him away. ]

Since it’s rather close, I think we can oversee using a cab and the exercise will do us good anyway.

I don't think Tony would have a face anymore if you punched it. [He's talking to a woman who can push bulldozers. Probably for the best if she avoids unnecessary violence.

He stiffens, then relaxes gradually. He's not used to being touched, but he trusts Stephanie, and he knows it's her way of telling him that she's got his back.]

It's a beautiful day anyway. Might as well enjoy the weather when someone drags me out of the lab.

[She seems comfortable enough, but part of him is still mildly skeptical that she's okay being arm and arm with a man that looks twice her age and way out of her league. Given that she's probably one of the kindest-hearted people he's ever met, she probably doesn't care all that much.]

Which is the main reason I didn’t do it and Miss Potts would have been quite displeased, [ She doubted killing or maiming Stark was going to end looking good on her image overall and she had managed to reign herself in.

When he stiffens, she doesn’t lets him go and she did wanted him to feel relaxed since this was supposed to be a relaxing out going between them. ]

It is, isn’t it? You really do need to get out of the laboratory more often; I don’t think that’s healthy.

[ If they were drawing some glances their way, she didn’t paid them any mind since there was nothing to be embarrassed about, after all. ]

I don't see Pepper being very happy about that, no.

[He smiles at her, then follows her lead in ignoring the stares. If she didn't care, then neither did he.]

I told you, I'm making up for lost time. It's been a while since I've been in a properly functioning lab.

Yes, I didn’t thought she was going to be either and I actually like her, so I don’t want to add more to her plate already.

[ After all the woman had more than enough dealing with Tony as it was and she really didn’t envy her at all. ]

Yes, I know and as happy as I am that you’re free to do something you clearly love, you also need to come out every once in awhile you know.

I've never been very good at looking after my own health.

[Says the guy who thought pumping gamma radiation into himself was an A+ idea.]

[ Stephanie chuckled just a bit and shook her head a bit. ]

Can’t say I am better, I used to be a bit stubborn with it and I had someone else to oversee my health when I was being stubborn about it.

Closed Post to eleutheria

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