((OPEN)) Have you hugged your physicist today?

[hyperkinesia]

Who: Bruce Banner and YOU
Where: Library, kitchen, dining room, gardens, basement lab, etc. ANYWHERE.
When: From the 16th to the 19th, state your date!
Rating: I don't expect anything past PG
Summary: Bruce is seeking the comfort of simple physical contact. Arms brushing, hands holding, hugging, anything. It doesn't even matter if he knows you or if he's never seen you before. He craves for it so much he might not even notice he's doing it at first.
Note: I'm alright with both brackets and prose, pick your poison.
The Story:

[ It starts with nothing but a feeling, something itching at the far back of his mind, something that's entirely different from the kind of clawing and scratching he's normally used to. But he brushes it aside, he doesn't think much of it - not until he starts crossing paths with random people on the hallways and the gardens and finds himself reaching to touch strangers he's never even seen before.

Most times, he manages to draw back and rush away before actually doing anything. Other times he finds himself detouring just so he can brush his fingers against someone else's, or feel his arm bump lightly against theirs. But somehow it's only when he's alone that he starts to fully realize that something's happening. The mind is quick to make the association, though knowing that this might very well be one of these events doesn't really help him in stopping this craving for touch from happening.

So instead he starts seeking solitude. He hides in corners of the library, and he uses the kitchen and the dining room when there's no one else around. The rest of the time, he retreats to the lab and stays there, surrounded by what's as close to familiarity as he can get, and at least there if someone approaches him, it's people he's more comfortable with. Relatively speaking. ]

Comments

[hyperkinesia]

[ The drawers are looking pristine, he'll give her that much. It looks very much like Pepper, or what he's learned about her in their short time here - that she's neat, organized, her work habits a near opposite to Tony's. It's a good thing too, he thinks. In many ways she keeps him grounded, sometimes even literally.

This, though, he's not so sure Tony would cope with. Actually he's giving it a day before it's all dumped into a complete mess of a pile again. ]

My money's on the latter. [ But he reaches for some of the unsorted pieces to help her anyway, moving just a hint closer that their lower arms and hands brush when they both pick up some of the parts. ] I don't mind, honestly. If I'm distracted enough I don't even notice.

[handing]

[A day is being generous, particularly if Tony decides he wants to tinker. Pepper is well aware of it, but even as Bruce points it out, the fact doesn't seem to bother her. In fact, when he agrees that Tony will likely have it all undone in short order, she actually smiles.

It isn't her typical reaction when talking about the disasters her boyfriend could make.]

Then I'll just have to do it all over again, won't I? [And that is a pleasant thought for her; the promise of work, of being able to bring order to the physical chaos Tony surrounds himself with. She's almost hoping he'll do just as they've guessed.

Curious thing though; despite Bruce's assumption, and the project he's presumably brought his own materials down for, he opts to help Pepper with her sorting. She doesn't mind the assistance, but by the third or fourth time they brush hands, she can't help but laugh.] I'm starting to feel a little clumsy. I don't mean to keep bumping into you.

[Though it's not entirely her fault, given how near Bruce is standing. That's strange too; she remembers just how reluctant he'd been to shake her hand when they'd first met. Now, however, Bruce suddenly seems much more comfortable with the close quarters.]

[hyperkinesia]

[ It's particularly puzzling that she'd find any kind of pleasure in doing the same thing all over again, only to see it undone just as many times. She may be dedicated, but Bruce knows for a fact that Tony's unbelievably stubborn, but then again--

He wonders if this resilience is born just out of habit of handling the man, or if she had always been like this. Hard-working, dedicated. Maybe just as stubborn as Tony, but in an entirely different way.

The last remark serves almost as a reminder to Bruce, and quickly he draws his hand back, though no focus in him to take more than half a step away from her. He knows he's doing it, it doesn't take her mentioning it, yet at the same time he can't bring himself to stop. Just this sudden lack of contact is already itching in his hand, but for now he manages to not give in again, shaking his head apologetically at her. ]

It's not you. [ There's little point in keeping it to himself, especially to someone like Pepper. She would understand, he thinks, even if she might pity him. There are worse things. ] It's me. It's something this place's doing to me.

[handing]

[Pepper herself might find it odd, if the notion itself hadn't been so appealing. As it stands, the thought of more work simply contents her enough to make her not question it. There's enough she has to do without picking apart her own motivations.

Bruce's, on the other hand, are fair game for scrutinizing, particularly when he suddenly pulls away. She hadn't meant to make him feel awkward, her expression apologetic as she looks up at him. Only for a moment though; not being productive in some manner isn't a sensation she can abide by for long, and after a glance she returns back to her sorting, though that doesn't stop her from listening to him.]

You mean it's what you're craving? [Because yes, Pepper has heard about this thanks to a hamburger-eating angel. She smiles faintly as she puts it together, all the seemingly accidental touches, and how he moved closer to her rather than work on his own project. It's so far removed from what she might expect, given their prior interactions.] You want to be touched.

[hyperkinesia]

[ It's particularly interesting how Pepper barely stops to look at him before she goes back to sorting out screws and nuts, but he says nothing to it. His eyes follow each of her motions distractedly until she speaks, knowing well what he's talking about even without him elaborating on it.

It's not Bruce that doesn't like touching, it's not for himself that he draws away and closes into himself so often. It's a defensive mechanism, a preemptive measure, like keeping the lock on a gun, rather than having it ready to fire. As if keeping himself away from people will make the bars holding the other guy inside stronger.

(It doesn't, but it's a comfort to lie to himself like that.) ]

Yes. [ He nods, head lowered as he adds with a smile. ] Sad, I know.

[handing]

I don't think it's sad at all. [Because there is more to Pepper than the pressing work ethic and the professional image she tends to portray. She's a very sensual person by nature, one who knows how much can be said with the brush of a hand, or by resting one forehead against another, or through a gentle embrace. Those she considers friends are often greeted by warm hugs, and as Bruce himself knows, even acquaintances earn handshakes.

So, there's no hesitation on her part. She smiles up at him, then holds out her hand to him. This is nothing new for her anyway; Pepper has plenty of practice doing work while simultaneously offering affection. It's almost a necessary skill given her personality--not to mention who she's with.]

It's alright, Bruce.

[hyperkinesia]

[ There's reassurance in both her gesture and her tone, and though he's far from trusting or comfortable about these kinds of things, there's such mindless relief in having someone offering so openly like that, someone he knows, someone he trusts a lot more than most people in this place.

So despite being something he'd be hesitant about on any other given day, this time he reaches out, slow but firmly wrapping his hand around hers. It's tentative, but he smiles. ]

... thanks.

[handing]

Of course. [Pepper brushes her thumb over the back of his hand, smiling as he does. It's nice to see that sort of look on his face for once, instead of the bitter humor that's more common.]

Is this enough? [In her mind it's such a small thing. While there are obviously lines they won't cross, Pepper wants to help as much as she can. She turns away from the sorting for a moment, glancing around the lab.] We can probably move onto one of the couches. That could be more comfortable for you, and if we pull over a table I could keep working.

[hyperkinesia]

[ It would be such a small thing to most people, and maybe to Bruce too before. He's grown so used to keeping away from people, though, that he hadn't ever even realized how this simple gesture became so meaningful to him, something this event has just brought to the surface. ]

No, I... [ He trails off, because the way his second hand joins the first contradicts his very words. ] I don't want to get in your way.

[handing]

[She laughs a little at the consideration, not because it isn't kind, but unnecessary.] Bruce, you're talking to someone who's had to work around Tony Stark. I think I can manage to share a couch with you and keep sorting screws. [She hasn't stopped even while they've held hands, going at the same steady pace, seemingly not missing a beat. But she stops after one more screw--just one more--put into the drawer, having to catch herself before she picks up another and rising instead.]

Just help me move the table over? If we go slowly enough, nothing should fall. [She's got her little pile surrounded already, a few notebooks and make-shift barriers in place to prevent runaways.]

[hyperkinesia]

[ With a slight arch of his eyebrows, Bruce drops his head in a small nod. He hadn't thought about it like that, obviously, but the way she puts it does make it seem a little silly that he'd think he could disrupt her work just by sitting near her. ]

... alright, then. [ It takes him a moment all too long to let go of her hand but he does, then one hesitant step before he walks around the edge of the table to lift it on one side. ] Grab that end?

[handing]

Right. [Even though she herself said they should move slowly, Pepper is suddenly eager to have the table moved. She suspects Bruce feels the same, particular with how he hesitates to move away even for that short time. So Pepper gets the opposite end, lifting it on his cue. Thankfully it's not too heavy to move with just the two of them.

Once they manage to get it over, she's quick to settle onto the couch. What she really wants is to get back to her self-imposed chores, but she manages to bite back the urge in favor of looking up at Bruce instead.] Okay. If you sit next to me, you can lean against my side.

[hyperkinesia]

[ He feels much the same, and just as quickly as her he's helping with moving the table, though carefully as not to let anything drop or mess up all of Pepper's work so far. Though he's pretty sure she wouldn't mind doing it all over again.

There's a pause, but it's a short one. Despite his own awkwardness towards this all, he knows she's eager to continue, and not wanting to hold her back he just sits down next to her, a second or two before he shifts closer. ]

I can help you, if you want. [ Then again, it might just be better to leave all the work for her, to at least keep her distracted for as long as possible. ]

[handing]

[She's less hesitant than Bruce when it comes to getting him settled; Pepper has never been afraid of showing affection to people she considered friends, and moreover, once Bruce has relaxed she can get back to work. So when he shifts closer, Pepper moves an arm behind his shoulders, giving a gentle tug so he leans against her side.]

You don't have to. I think it might work out better for us both if you just relaxed for awhile. [Because it gives Pepper more the work to complete herself, and Bruce longer to indulge his craving. She gets back to her sorting then, keeping one arm around Bruce still, hoping he actually will let himself indulge for a bit.]

[hyperkinesia]

[ There's no tension to that touch, unusually so, and he lets himself get pulled closer until he's leaning against her. His figure is larger than hers even when he hunches, though in terms of height they're almost the same.

He nods in quiet agreement, and doesn't insist on helping out, instead simply enjoying the closeness and the contact that seems to mute the incessant numb drone at the back of his mind. It's most likely a thoughtless thing when, after a few seconds, he tilts his head and rests it lightly on her shoulder. ] Thanks, Pepper.