Mine V

Clint took a deep, calming breath as he made his way down the corridor to Bruce's room in Stark tower. After the… incident on the field that afternoon Clint had gone with Natasha in the medical carrier – after talking it through with Hulk first. The archer gave a small shake of the head. He still could not quite wrap his head around what had transpired that afternoon although Natasha had kindly informed him that she had had her suspicions. As had Tony. And they had shared them with Steve. Unfortunately they had not thought to warn the ridiculously friendly and physically affectionate Norse God, but Thor had assured him on his arrival at the tower that he was none the worse for wear for his encounter with Hulk's fist and his trip into the wall.

Clint sighed quietly as he reached Bruce's room. Upon their return to the tower their remaining teammates had informed the assassins that Bruce had immediately sought refuge following his return to normal form and his comrades informing him of what the Other Guy had done. Clint had instantly turned to go and speak with him. When asked what he was going to say… the archer had just shrugged.

Exhaling quickly Clint knocked quietly on the door. Upon receiving no response he knocked again, a little louder this time. Still no reply.

"Bruce?" he called, leaning close to the door. "I know you're in there – JARVIS told me already. We need to talk," still no reply. "Bruce please. You can't avoid me forever."

Finally the door clicked and swung open although no-one stood in the doorway, the occupant within the room already retreating to the far side. Slowly Clint entered, gently closing the door behind him.

"Hi…" he began tentatively, not entirely sure of the doctor's demeanour as all he could see was his back. He heard Bruce take a deep breath.

"Look Clint I am so sorry about today," he replied hastily but the doctor did not look round. "I had no idea he would… I mean I…"

"Bruce it's ok, I know you have no control over him," Clint inhaled deeply. "That being said is he… you know…" it was the archer's turn to stumble. "Is it… just the Other Guy who has a soft spot for cupid or…"

A dry laugh left Bruce's lips.

"For once this is actually something the two of us agree on."

Clint's eyes closed briefly although his lips curled into a smile.

"Well that's ok then," he could not help but laugh softly at the confused expression on Bruce's face as the doctor finally turned to look at him. The archer offered a meek shrug. "Well as fun as Hulk is I don't think he'd sit very nicely in a restaurant or at the movies."

Bruce blinked.

"You wanna go to the movies with me? And go out for dinner?" he asked uncertainly. Clint took a small step forward.

"Well I would offer to cook you something but the Other Guy would probably throw it back up," he shrugged sheepishly. "I'm not a very good cook."

Bruce cracked a smile, bowing his head briefly with a small, disbelieving shake of the head before looking back up again.

"Restaurant and movies sounds good," he agreed. Clint returned the smile, slowly making his way forward.

"Ok then. So I don't know if you can communicate with the Other Guy but unless he gets jealous of you then…" although his lips curled into a sheepish smile Clint met Bruce's eyes with an earnest gaze, now standing mere inches from the other man. "He really has nothing to worry about. Clint is Bruce's. So that makes Cupid his."