((OPEN)) Enjoy the calm weeks.

[hyperkinesia]

Who: Bruce Banner and YOU
Where: Meditation & training room, or anywhere else
When: Throughout the week, from August 4th to 10th.
Rating: No more than PG, I don't think!
Summary: Bruce goes about enjoying a peaceful week. Also meditation and jiu-jitsu sessions just as he mentioned on the network.
The Story:

MEDITATION & TRAINING;

[ Once that particularly shifting event's over and everything returns to normal - or as normal as this place can get -, Bruce goes about setting up a room for a few meditation and jiu-jitsu sessions as he'd arranged with a few people over the network. He finds an empty room right on the first floor, spacious enough, and paves most of it with foam mats, then sets up this really old-looking stereo where they can play a few calming songs if people happen to be into that.

Then, with the whole place looking about decent enough, he sends out quick messages to anyone who'd expressed interest, letting them know which room he took up, and that he'll be there during both early mornings until 10, and late evenings after dinner.

And, of course, if anyone happens to be walking past and the slightly cracked door gets their attention, feel free to take a peek inside. ]


ANYWHERE ELSE;

[ Other than that, Bruce can be found in the usual spots throughout the week. He spends a good amount of his time at the lab, with pauses to go to the kitchen for food, and outside for walks with Juno a few times during the day. Feel free to bump into him anywhere, or if you're seeking him out just come knock on his door! ]

Comments

[Meditation/Training]

[widows_kiss]

[ They'd set this up over the network and Natasha shows up in the early morning, dressed in simple yoga pants and a simple tank, which is her go-to comfort outfit, really. Her hair's drawn back off her face in a pair of pigtails and she shoots Bruce a smile as she comes in, looking far more awake than anyone should at this hour. ]

Morning, Doc.

[hyperkinesia]

[ Bruce's crouched near the stereo when she comes in, and with the greeting he stands up to look at her. In a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt himself, he looks as bright and fresh as she does. Morning people, go figure. ]

Morning. [ Then he adds, equal parts amusement and honesty in his tone. ] Nice hairdo.

[widows_kiss]

[ That comment gets him a wry look and a bemused smile as she saunters casually towards him. ]

Thank you, I think. I get more people doing double-takes at me this way. Sam tried to dare me to try and strangle someone with them. Pity I never showed up at SHIELD this way. The interns really wouldn't have known what to do then.

[ And terrifying interns had been one of her favorite hobbies. ]

So. What are you feeling this morning? Energetic or zen?

[hyperkinesia]

[ Smile widening briefly, Bruce arches his eyebrows in a short nod. ]

Really? Can't say I wouldn't be impressed if you managed that. Poor interns, though, as if you don't intimidate them enough already.

[ Not that he's seen that himself, of course, but he can easily believe it. ]

Always zen. You know energetic isn't really my thing.

[widows_kiss]

[ She shrugs, casting him a sideways glance and a crooked grin. ]

They'll get over it, or they won't. Pretty sure that Fury used me for specifically that purpose a time or two. Test what they were made of. That or he'd send Clint and sometimes I was the nice one.

[ She glances around the room for a moment, hands propped on her hips, before looking back to him. ]

I don't know, jiu-jitsu can sometimes get a little energetic.

[hyperkinesia]

You're the nice one until you actually start training them, I'm guessing.

[ Because Clint may look more threatening, but Natasha can definitely be deadlier, especially in hand-to-hand combat. And looking small, pretty and harmless is another advantage to her too, surprising anyone who underestimates her. ]

Point. [ He tilts his head, recognizing she's right on that much. ] But it can still be calm and paced at the same time.

[widows_kiss]

I also don't tend to drop down out of the vents on them when they least expect it, either. He's really good at that.

[ But she gives him a grin at his guess because it was spot on. Being underestimated was often useful when she wanted it to be. People rarely made that mistake twice, however. Unless they were a particular brand of stupid. She's encountered her fair share of those too. ]

It can be. Which I can certainly accommodate. Would you rather try that, or meditating this morning? [ She gives him a crooked smile, patient and perfectly content with either option. ]

[hyperkinesia]

No, I guess you don't. [ Though that mental image is really amusing, and it's pretty obvious he's picturing it right now, what with the grin that shapes across his face. ]

We can do whichever you prefer. [ She must've come with something in mind, after all. ] Or a little bit of both, if you're not in a hurry to go anywhere.

[widows_kiss]

[ She spreads her hands and returns his grin with one of her own. ]

My time is yours at the moment. I have no other pressing appointments on my plate. Start with some sparring and finish with meditation, maybe?

I think we should skip the actual sparring because I know next to nothing about jiu-jitsu...

[hyperkinesia]

Alright, that works for me.

[ With that, he moves more to the center of the mats, waiting for her to stand in front of him so they can greet with the proper bow and start. ]

works for me! *makes shit up*

[widows_kiss]

[ She joins him, falling easily into a relaxed stance across from him. She's careful at first, because she doesn't know how much experience or skill he has at this - it's her first time sparring with him in any sort of format. Well, him him, not his counterpart. She can do without that experience again. Not that there had been sparring so much as fleeing for her life. She didn't think 'practice sparring' was a concept the Other Guy would be all that quick to pick up on.

So she started light, gauging his level of skill and movement, giving them both time to test each other, learn each other's movement and rhythm. It was something she did automatically, because Coulson had used her on new recruits with a vast variety of skill and experience, so each time started out with her assessing her partner. SHIELD typically frowned on her breaking their promising new agents-to-be.

It doesn't take her long to figure out that he's good, his skill level above and beyond many people she's sparred with. He's obviously been doing this for a while and there's a smoothness and confidence in his movements that she can appreciate. She matches him, finding her own rhythm, matching it to his, echoing his moves with a fluidity that comes from instincts long honed. Back and forth, testing each other, sometimes pushing, sometimes balancing. She loses herself in the motions, her focus narrowing down to the mat under feet and the movements of the man across from her, everything else fading out.

It was her own way of focusing, re-centering. Nothing honed her attention in as sharply as someone she could match herself against, clearing her thoughts and her mind, bringing all her other senses fully in sync. It was her release, a freedom often so very absent in the rest of the hours of her day, a period of time when it didn't matter who she was, what she did or said, or anyone or anything else around her. ]

yesss. also omg that icon.

[hyperkinesia]

[ It doesn't take more than a few minutes for Bruce to realize their disparity as far as skill goes. He can tell with each blow and movement that she's measuring his ability and matching up to it little by little, never overdoing it but not making it any easy for him either. Couldn't have him getting bored after all.

He's sure she could have taken him down in seconds if she wanted to. But she doesn't, and the session stretches on for a good while, and most satisfying it is. A lot of peace and relaxation can be found in letting off his energy and steam in something physical like this, and even his mood improves, his body feels lighter. His muscles unwind from tension with every blow she manages to land successfully, and whenever she topples him over he can't help but let out a small laugh coupled with a groan.

Despite his best attempts, he can't really manage the same with her. Even when he thinks he has a good grip on her she still manages to snake her way out of the situation and flip them around completely. But he doesn't complain much about it, honestly. There's something oddly satisfying about all this, and most of all, freeing for him too. For a while he almost forgets, almost it feels like there's not something massive and weighing inside him, or around him even. And after the hard time he's been having coping with the events in this place, it's exactly what he needs. Freedom, release - no matter how temporary it is.

The training reaches an eventual end, almost natural when yet one more time Natasha trips him over and pins him to the ground, and he just falls on his back, his hands held up in surrender as the other times before. ]

Uncle! [ He takes a deep breath, keeping his heart rate low, chuckling and grinning at her from the floor. ] God. Alright, I think I'm done with you kicking my ass.

ahaha bring it, banner

[widows_kiss]

[ She'd followed the drop through with a natural move that has her half crouching over him, already ready for a counter that doesn't come. She's slightly winded and the short curls at the nape of her neck are damp with perspiration. But she smiles down at him and shifts so she can offer him a hand upright, at least to a sitting position if he wants. ]

You're good. Better than most I get to spar against. Where did you learn?

[hyperkinesia]

[ His responses are more often than not breathless airy laughter, the muscles too relaxed for him to keep them back. Words do come eventually, but with a slight lilt to them, short for now as he regains his breath, gladly taking her hand for support as he stands up. ]

Brazil. For the most part.

[widows_kiss]

[ She helps haul him upright, her smile warm and bright as she makes sure he has his balance before she goes for a pair of water bottles, tossing one over to him before uncapping her own. ]

Impressive. I'm glad you said something about looking for a partner. This was fun. At least for me.

[ She figures she should amend that, just in case, although she gives him a playful wink as she does so. ]

[hyperkinesia]

[ The bottle practically falls to the floor when she tosses it over, causing him to jump only slightly in surprise. But he does manage to catch it in time, probably after looking a little more ridiculous than he intended to. ]

It was fun for me too. [ He nods, uncapping the bottle and taking a swig from it. ] Surprisingly I didn't mind getting floored by you at all.

[widows_kiss]

Oops.

[ She shoots him an apologetic look as she returns to where he stands, taking another long swallow from hers. ]

You handled yourself really well. And sorry. I didn't think you'd like me taking it too easy on you. I guess it comes from having spent so long sparring with Clint. He gets downright irritable if I hold back too much. How's your backside? [ She adds the question in with a teasing smile, a hint of mischief in green eyes. ]

[hyperkinesia]

[ He shakes his head dismissively as he swallows the water, as if telling her it's nothing to apologize for. ]

I wouldn't go so far as to say I'd be upset about it. Actually I'm pretty sure you still held back on me a little, though it might just be for the best that you did [ Who knows how much faster this'd all have ended if she hadn't. But he's not in the habit of letting things like this get to him, all too used he is to coaching his moods and feelings.

He drops his eyes for a moment, lightly smoothing a hand down his back distractedly at the question. ] It's fine. Worst case scenario I'll get a bruise, but I always heal quick.

[widows_kiss]

Not much, but I didn't think we were here for a competition of skills anyway.

[ The sparring part of their morning accomplished, she sinks down on the mat, crossing her legs underneath her as she takes a few moment to cool down, still working her way through her bottle of water. ]

A useful thing, that. How are you feeling? [ She hadn't missed the way he'd loosened up and relaxed during the session, which pleased her. Especially since it almost always worked the same for her. And it's been a while since she's had a chance to sit down and catch up with him. The events had certainly been tossing a lot of unexpected surprises at them lately. ]

[hyperkinesia]

[ He follows her lead, taking a seat on the mat and crossing his legs, though for now only relaxing where he sits. Meditation can wait a bit longer. ]

I'm alright. [ His answer short and quick, almost as if he didn't want to answer it. Truth is, he's been having a harder time lately than he'd care to admit, mostly because of the events, but he's just not used to talking about it. When he has issues, he bottles them up and then deals with them by himself. It's been that way for years now.

To have some actually listen, even if they might not help much, it's something he's so unfamiliar with these days. ]

I'm... a little better now, actually. So thanks, really. For this.

[widows_kiss]

You're welcome. I'm feeling better for it, myself.

[ She cocks her head to the side to study him as he makes himself comfortable across from her, taking another measured drink before putting the question out there for him. ]

So what's been on your mind to have you all pensive, Doc?

[hyperkinesia]

Just these events.

[ Sitting in a relaxed position, he closes his eyes for only a few moments before looking back at her again. Obviously hesitant to talk about any of this, but at the same time, not making it a point to avoid her question altogether.

He smoothes his hands along his thighs, resting them on his knees with a sigh. ] I'm having a hard time coping, is all. It's been getting... more difficult, with time.

[widows_kiss]

[ She threads her fingers around her bottle, sitting there still and patient across from him, content to remain still and listening for the time being. If he felt like talking, she'd totally encourage that. he looked like he might need to, even if it was something she assumed he wasn't all that used to doing. ]

Can I ask which part?

[hyperkinesia]

The part where powers are taken away, actually.

[ He lowers his head a little, with a pause as he tries to think how to even approach the subject. It's a little difficult to explain exactly what's bad about suddenly finding himself without the monster inside waiting to jump out, though he does have a feeling Natasha will understand even if he doesn't get too into it. ]

It's difficult to keep balance afterwards. I like to think i'm still in control, but... I don't know how long that'll last. How many more times I can...

[ Have it taken away, only to be shoved back at him. Every time it feels more and more like a freight train collision. ]

How many more times I can handle any of this.

[widows_kiss]

[ His words give her pause to think, because she hadn't considered this avenue of things. Hadn't realized that these events that changed them, altered their memories, might actually change him. A few blessed days free at a time before coming back to the control he can't falter in. The constant upset of balances. Yes, she could understand. That would fuck with anyone's control. The fact that he'd handled it so far was a testament to the strength of his willpower. ]

I'm sorry. [ She murmurs the words softly after a moment, glancing up to meet his gaze, steady and calm. ] I hadn't pieced together how these were affecting you. What it was actually doing. Is there anything I can do?