Avengers Imagines: Volume I

The two of you leaned on the rail of the bridge, looking at the water. "I'm here." you whispered again, resting your head on Bruce's shoulder. You could feel every breath he took, you could feel when his breathing began to falter, then speed up.
"Bruce?" You lifted your head from his shoulder, looking towards his face. That's when you saw them, the tears that rolled slowly down his cheeks, his eyes rimmed with red. "Honey, are you alright?"

You were met with nothing but an ear splitting silence, Bruce's sobs becoming more intense. "Hey, shhh, it's okay. What happened back there, it doesn't matter, Sam's gonna be fine. I'm more worried about you."

Bruce looked at you, an unreadable expression on his face, "I'm sorry." He whispered, turning his face away from you.

You forced down the lump in your throat, trying to keep your composure, for him. "Bruce, honey, it's fine. Really." You paused for a moment, calculating your next words, before placing a hand on his bicep. "Could I ask you something?"

Bruce turned his face back towards you, giving you a slight nod, "Anything." He mumbled, tears still falling down his face.

"What happened back there? I thought you were good, then...I just want to know what..." you trailed off, unable to formulate a proper sentence.

A look of embarrassment and guilt flooded Bruce's face, his mouth dropped open, but he remained silent.

"You don't have to-", You started, only to be cut off by Bruce's arms around you, pulling you into his chest.

"I'm so sorry." Bruce sobbed out, gently releasing you from his grasp. "I...I got jealous. I don't even know why, but seeing you talking with Sam, I just...I lost it. The other guy just kinda took over. I'm so sorry." He sobbed again, leaning his back against the rail, and drifting down, until he was sitting on the ground.

You knelt down in front of him, a small smirk rested against your lips, as you lifted his head, so his eyes met yours. "You were jealous?" You asked, almost laughing, but trying to hide your amusement.

Bruce sat silently, nodding against your hand. You wiped a tear from his face, and leaned in, giving him a light kiss. Bruce looked at you, an expression of shock on his face, "You're not mad?" He almost whispered. 

"Mad?" You let your laugh escape. "How could I be mad? That's the most adorable thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Adorable?" Bruce quirked an eyebrow at you, the light in his eyes returned, and a small smile captured his lips. "You think I'm adorable?"

You moved, so that you were sitting beside him, and rested your head against his shoulder, "Yes, you, and the other guy."

Bruce tensed, his eyes pulled away from you, "The other guy isn't adorable, he's a monster." Bruce's breath hitched in his throat, and a stray tear ran down his face. "I'm a monster." He choked out. 

You pulled away from his shoulder, turning to look at him, "You're not a monster." Tears of your own began to fall, even though you trying to keep composed. "Neither is the Hulk." Bruce's breathing stopped, as you mentioned the Hulk by name, he wasn't brave enough to do it for himself.

"I could've killed him. I could've hurt you, or worse." Bruce stood up, on shaking legs, and turned back to you. "This can't work. I can't string you along. I could hurt you, (y/n), I could kill you. You deserve to be with someone," Bruce breathed lightly, before continuing. "Someone, who isn't a monster." Before you got a chance to speak, Bruce was walking away.

You couldn't breathe, the man you loved, though neither of you had said it yet, was walking away from you. You couldn't think, you just sat on the ground, your head in your hands, sobbing. "Damn it, Bruce." You mumbled through sobs. 

Standing up, you looked around, silently praying that Bruce was still there. He wasn't. You turned around, watching the river, tears still pouring from your eyes. You leaned on the rail, enough for it to creak, causing you to jump back, for fear of falling.

 You looked around, noticing a small path on the other side of the bridge, and decided to walk it. You walked for, what must have been, hours, until the sun began to set. A small log was laying on the ground, and sat on it, watching the sun set through the trees. You were wallowing, while simultaneously kicking yourself for not going after Bruce. You just sat there, letting him walk away,  letting him believe he was a monster. That thought alone made you cry again, but the sound of someone sobbing in the distance pulled you from your thoughts. 

You stood from the log, and began to walk towards the faint sound. You tried to walk as soundlessly as possible, which proved quite difficult, as you were surrounded by trees, and fallen branches. You made your way back towards the bridge, all the while following the sobs from the mystery person. 

As you neared the bridge, you saw him, sat on the ground, head in his hands, knees pulled to his chest, sobbing. Every part of your being told you to run to him, pull him close, but your feet stayed glued to their spot, unable to move. So, you stayed silent, watching the love of your life, sobbing on the ground. 

The sun had finally disappeared, and the moon began to reflect onto the rushing river. The only sounds were that of the river, and Bruce, still sobbing on the ground. You cursed your legs for staying still, when all you wanted to do was run to him. 

"I'm sorry, (y/n). I'm sorry, I'm a monster. I never wanted to hurt you, I couldn't bare it if I did. I'm so sorry." Bruce sobbed into the night, staring up at the moon. 

As if it was the magic words, unlocking the spell that had bound your legs, you lurched forward, dropping to your knees beside him, and engulfing him in a tight embrace. "Shhh." You whispered, running your hand through his disheveled hair. "Please." You begged, not knowing exactly what you were begging for. "You're not a monster. Neither is he. You are perfect. Please. I'm sorry." You whispered into him.

You knew the hug was risky, startling Bruce, could lead to him Hulking out, but you didn't care. You trusted Bruce with your life, you even trusted Hulk, though you didn't know why. You felt Bruce tense as you continued to hug him, unwilling to let go, you couldn't risk him leaving you, not again.

"I thought you left." He whispered into your chest.

You let the tears fall from your eyes, wiping them before they could land on his head. "I couldn't leave, I have no where to go, not without you." 

"(y/n)..." Bruce trailed off, as he pushed you away from him, looking into your eyes.

You smiled, but your heart broke, looking into his red rimmed eyes. "I love you."