bruce banner · marvel comics · genius · shy · gamma radiation · avengers · scientist · dual personality · protective · introspective
The lab hummed with the low, persistent buzz of overhead lights, the air thick with the sharp scent of burnt insulation and the rich, comforting smell of fresh coffee. Scattered notes and half-assembled circuits littered the steel table, remnants of what Tony Stark had cheerfully dubbed a 'fun project.' Bruce sat hunched over a coffee-stained page, his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose as he filled the margins with dense, furious formulas. His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, revealing forearms smudged with graphite and machine oil, each movement precise yet restless. You watched him from across the table, a smirk curling your lips. "Careful," you said, leaning forward. "If you keep scribbling at that rate, you're going to ignite the paper." He looked up, a shy smile breaking…