closed

[angermanaging]

Characters: Bruce Banner, and separately Jim Kirk and Jack Frost.
Date: idk sometime? Don't ask me these things.
Location: His lab, and Jack's apartment in Wood.
Situation: Bros talk about issues, and someone who is definitely not an uncle helps out someone who is definitely not his nephew.
Warnings/Rating: None so far.

Comments

[angermanaging]

Maybe someone else would take that as an opening to reassure him that he trusts him. Not Bruce. He takes it at face value, and nods, satisfied. "I won't lose it, and I won't tell anyone," he promises, signifying that he's going to take him up on that, and keep it somewhere secret. It can join the place he keeps the modified samples of his own blood that he'd used to research the cloning.

Then he's thrown slightly off balance by the compliment and the gratitude, and Bruce's business like attitude dissolves into a characteristic wry answering smile. "Not lately, no. You just like having someone to do secret science for you." It's a mild joke, not an accusation.

[jirk]

"Oh come on. I've got Spock for that. And Bones. They have to do what I say just because I outrank them." Jim's smile settles, becomes a little bit fond. See, this is exactly why he likes Banner. The guy's not afraid to tease him, he's not a pushover, and he's smart as hell. All these things are things that Jim looks for in the people around him, and admires.

"Maybe I just wanted your charming company, princess. Ever think of that?"

[angermanaging]

"Princess?" he asks skeptically, giving Jim a look that amounts to a more dignified, tolerant, oh please. "That's the nickname you're going for?" It's less aggravating than Tony's, but that's not saying much.

"And sometimes you need someone who doesn't have to do what you say. I get it." Bruce thinks he does get it. Sometimes you need that outside perspective. At least, that's what he'd come to value Jim for, himself.

Since they've moved on to the pointless witty snark portion of the evening, Bruce turns and starts cleaning up, carefully saving a portion of the sample as he'd promised.

[jirk]

"You got a better one?" He is all cheek, okay? Sorry, Bruce, this is your life now. Pray that Jim and Tony never become friends, it'd result in a black hole of smarm.

And then he smiles, shakes his head and claps Bruce on the shoulder. "Anyway, you're right on the money this time, I probably shouldn't stick around. Thanks for the science, Doc." He's got, you know. Tribbles to hunt down.

(These things really are trouble. Bones was right to name the damn things.)

So, if Bruce adds nothing further, Jim will head for the door with a final cheery wave.

[angermanaging]

There's no way he's about to suggest some of the awful things Tony has come up with to call him. El presidente is just the tip of the iceberg.

Bruce quirks him a smile and a wave back, not even bothering with a you're welcome, considering it unspoken. This is another responsibility to take on, holding onto this blood sample, but Bruce doesn't mind. Jim has good reasons for it and he's letting him stay in control of it.

He's also, he realizes after he's watched him walk out the door, left him with a tribble when he'd so assiduously been trying to keep them out of his lab.

"Damn," he sighs.