3155/File Away

File Away
Date of Scene:	29 August 2020
Location:	Banner's Apartment
Synopsis:	Dr. Banner and Agent Carter meet at Banner's apartment. Carter brings Banner up to speed on her current work.
Cast of Characters:	Peggy Carter, Bruce Banner

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Peggy Carter has posed:
While part of her would rather be out working on a Saturday evening, that probably says a lot more about her than anything, she promised she'd take a few days off. The worst sorts of promises. But it means she can work on things in other ways -- friendships, possible recruitments for other projects, the usual. So, Bruce was given a call and an hour later she's buzzing at his door with her good arm full of a bag of chinese take out.

When he lets her in, the scents of chicken and mushrooms, some chow mein, hot and sour soups, egg rolls. It's way more food than two people would generally need, but she's used to feeding super soldiers. "...Thank you for not minding somewhere a bit more... Private. It's just easier to talk about... Everything, you know?" Peggy offers in her normal clipped accent, tone warm, happy to see him.

She's in a deep navy dress tonight, with a fairly high collar and elbow length sleeves to well hide any of the bruises from the last week. Her split lip is still healing but she's done a nice bit of make up around it. Her right arm is restrained in a loose, generic gray sling, the sort made for dislocations or strains but nothing overly bad. Nursing injuries or not, she's still in a pair of patent leather red heels that match the belt cinched around hourglass waist. Her hair's pulled back into a simple tail. Pincurls are a pain to do at night with only one arm.

Bruce Banner has posed:
As soon as Bruce hears that buzz from the door, He takes special care to let Peggy in. He still notices her ar sling and he looks deeply concerned, but he offers to help carry the chinese takeout into the dining room, despite knowing how independant Peggy is.

All the same, Peggy will notice that Bruce's apartment is very minimalist. It doesn't really appear like there's much personalization to be had, nary even a painting. Its very basic, but that seems to be Bruce's personality not to get attached to material things -- after all, he never knows when he'll have to pack up and run. He has and takes only what he needs to have a basic living. There is a large bed and a bathroom, along with a fully functioning (if slightly neglected) kitchen. He does have a television to pay attention to the news and a couch.

THe dining room table is large in itself, likely so Bruce can do his homework on it, but for tonight? Its good for eating.

"I understand. I appreciate you being willing to talk to me about things. How are you healing up?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
Indepedent, yes, but not always foolishly stubborn, Peggy happily hands over the bag of chinese food so she can shift her cross body bag to sitting a bit more comfortably. Seems she brought some other things with her, perhaps a bit of work. Who knows. "Mm, thank you. And I figured this... well, this was easier than dancing around implications and discussions because some waiter might get nosy." Peg admits with a bit of a wry smile, following him up into the apartment.

Dark eyes easily take in the place, adding more to the profile as she notes the lack of art. Comforts. Even simple things like photos. A slightly patina of sadness crosses her face, but she doesn't comment on it yet. She politely slips off her shoes, revealing the cuban heels of the stockings she's wearing, and follows him inside.

"I am... healing up fine, now. Got in another mess of a row on Wednesday and..." She sighs, not totally able to hide the frustration and strange embarrassment from her voice, "Well, it served as a good reminder that I am not quite as durable as some of our friends."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce accepts the bag and he lays out plates and the like so they can both eat, even if Peggy only brought food for Banner, he still seems intent on making sure she eats as well. "Much easier. Though I suppose its good that we finally have a measure of privacy without anybody wanting to experiment on me or overhear something they certainly shouldn't." he takes a breath.

He notices the sadness across her face and he quickly puts two and two together. "I'm sorry that its not the most lively place in the world. I guess old habits just die hard." he takes a breath, but he does nod as she replies that she's healing nicely. He moves close to her, his hands moving to rest on her shoulder. "You have here if you need to rest. I know you're an unstoppable machine, but remember to breathe." he smiles.

Peggy Carter has posed:
While Peg isn't entirely certain just how much Bruce eats, she certainly brought a *lot* of food, and a pretty wide variety. It's likely she was planning on picking through some things as well, and happily accepts the plates and silverware. She still eats like a soldier herself, never quite certain when the next full meal will come and happy to get something warm and filling. Old habits die hard. "...Half the reason I suggested your place. Not that SHIELD would... necessary consider studying you the WHOLE time you were there visiting, but... It's not something I wanted to bother with." There is the slightest wariness about her concerning SHIELD right now. Something that wasn't entirely there before.

That slight apology that comes for his place brings her head to immediately shake, "No, no...there's no reason to be sorry, I just... Goodness, Bruce, not even some pictures? I want to give you a few warm blankets and printed photos. Just something to make it...Home." Her left hand comes up to rest over top of his palm, gving it a bit of a squeeze. "And I am breathing plenty. Three days out of the field and I'm going stir crazy."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce is a little surprised at the amount of food that?s been brought. All the same, he eats in a rather relaxed kind of way, not too fast and not too slow. "You don't trust SHIELD, do you?" he asks her curiously, but her words about him not being sorry makes him smile. "Well, what if we take pictures of each other and frame it? give it some life?" he chuckles.

Her hand on his palm, he smiles at her a little bit. "Well, you are also a little beat up. Unless I can kiss it and make it better, which I doubt, it may be wiser for you to recover fully before heading out."

Peggy Carter has posed:
The look in Peggy's eyes at the suggestion of fully recovering is not a happy one. Line to her lips, she gives the smallest bit of a tsk under her breath and just reaches for the noodles instead. "When they woke me up from cryo-stasis, the amount of genetic damage done the drug they had given me in the 70s was...extensive. Hell, Fury only *froze* me because I'd have been dead in a week at that point. Even with managing to fix most of the genetic damage, and that's still...experimental... I was in recovery for weeks. Physical therapy for another two months. I feel like I've rested enough for years." Or, she's simply just not good at staying still.

The thought of pictures does soften her, though. She grabs some chopsticks, digging into the noodles with gusto. "I think we can manage that. At least a few photos. If you need to leave and go somewhere? You can simply reprint them..." She's not exactly a mind reader, but she's a profiler. It's unnerving how accurate she gets thoughts, sometimes.

Silent lingers for another few moments, the sound of food being enjoyed and the city outside. She hasn't yet answered the question about SHIELD. Finally, dark eyes level at his. "I don't trust all of them, no."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce seems to listen very carefully to Peggy and can sense the frustration in her tone. "I know a few techniques to help you manage your frustration." he says with a teasing laugh. Peggy has been helping him really relax with himself and not be tense all the time.

With the pictures, Banner just nods. "Sounds like fun."

Then eyes lock onto hers. "Any I should keep an eye out for?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
The smile on her lips is a bit more genuine as she realizes how he is relaxing around her. It's nice to see. Even if she gives him a bit of a look at the offer of helping with frustration. "...Are you flirting with me, Dr. Banner?" She asks with a bit more of a smile.

But the question of SHIELD brings things back to more serious tones. She sighs, setting down her chop sticks and slightly shaking her head as he asks about anyone. "No, I...I don't think so. No one I can tell yet, at least. It might be... past issues. No one current. But I found some files missing and it's too... too much of a pattern to ignore."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"A little." Bruce tells Peggy with a smile. "If thats okay, anyway." Bruce blushes a little bit and averts his gaze from her. But its true. Whatever Peggy's effect is on Bruce, she relaxes him by heaps and bounds. Perhaps its because Peggy is largely one of the very few people who actually seem to -truly- care about him.

All the same, his attention becomes a tad bit more concerned as Peggy speaks. "What files?" He asks. He figures if it shakes Peggy, these files were likely extremely important.

Peggy Carter has posed:
His blush gets a lofted brow from her, a bit of an amused smile, but it's warmly amused. Gentle. "I don't know if I entirely remember how to flirt. I was always rather married to the job, but... it's a perfectly pleasant way to pass the time." In other words, he was more than welcome to continue. Even if it made him blush adorably. Peggy's smile widens just a bit more, actually relaxing in inches herself, though that stops as her mind goes back to the current research mission.

"If... If I tell you, and you are in... You're in. If you don't want to be, you forget I said anything. Steve knows... SHIELD knows some of it but...not all. I trust about six people in the world with this right now and if you'd rather not have secrets to take to your grave, tell me. We can just enjoy noodles and forget the international spy agency hanging over both our shoulders for a night."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce smiles at Peggy as she permits him to flirt with her. "Well, I could help you remember." He tells her with a happy smile. and a little bit of a blush. But he notices her smile get a bit wider as his advances seem welcome, at least by way of verbal wordplay, before they get back to the serious stuff.

Its with a stretch of his hand that Banner intends to bring his to hers, intending to grasp her hand with his if she allows. "I'm in, Peggy." Wait, he's not even asking questions? "I'm in." he says softer.

Peggy Carter has posed:
His lack of questions draws a bit of a look from dark eyes, studying him deeper, trying to consider if he actually understands what he might be saying. But Bruce is a smart man, and one she trusts. He's shown her a lot of trust in turn. Peggy lets out a slow breath, setting down her chopsticks and letting her other hand linger in his. It's not a matter she enjoys eating while discussing.

"How much do you know of the US government... and SHIELD's... use of HYDRA and Nazi scientists after World War Two? It's not exactly a secret, but it's also not a pretty part of our history. And the HYDRA part really wasn't well known. Much due to my own intensive efforts to make certain it didn't happen...and keep it quiet when it did."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Bruce trusts Peggy explicitly. After all, its deserved. She's either smart enough or crazy enough to trust the Hulk. He figures that whatever it is, Peggy has earned his permanent trust. His hand encompassing with hers, if she even allows, he'll take it a step further and intertwine their fingers.

"Uhh...not much, actually. I mean, I've heard rumors, but I never believed they were true....even if its something either would absolutely do for resources and advancement." Bruce says and looks a little surprised at this information. "You don't mean..."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"We all have our...past mistakes and since, Bruce." Maybe that's why she's never, not once, disrespected or asked how he could let a mess like the Hulk happen. Sins and mistakes are something Peggy knows well how to live with, but the weight behind her eyes now? It speaks of something that goes deeper than that. This is, most likely, one of her greatest regrets in life, and he knows her well enough now to see that old ache even behind her stuffy British, calm exterior.

"After the war was over...SHIELD, in conjunction with the US government, helped pardon and reintegrate 24 nazi scientists, many of them HYDRA, into society. Mainly for the rocket program, though there was someone experimenting in early quantum theory. Nuclear physicists. I..." Peggy's eyes close, as if she could recall their files by memory alone. "...Once upon a time, I had all their names and files memorized. I still know most of them. And when SHIELD digitized all of our old files... Most of these records never made it into a computer."

Bruce Banner has posed:
"Yeah. We've all made our mistakes...I know I made a severe and terrible one." Bruce looks down for a second. "One that I still am paying everything for." he shakes his head for that long moment, before he takes a slow breath. "But we're not here to talk about me." His attention is still on Peggy as she informs him of information that...well, truth be told, could put Banner in great danger.

"You're kidding." Bruce says with widened eyes. "You're saying that SHIELD and the US government willing put key members of our mortal enemies into our government for reintroduction into society?" Bruce puts his hands on his face. "My god." he grumbles.

Yes, this was much more complicated than Banner thought.

Peggy Carter has posed:
Dark eyes soften a bit as he admits they've all made mistakes and actually brushes across his own. Peggy gives his hand a bit of a tighter squeeze. "We all... all... have made mistakes." She reaffirms for him, the weight behind her eyes well explaining how part of her does understand that level of regret. Especially since she's been stewing in reminders of her own for weeks now.

As he says she's kidding, a tired, bitter sort of laugh escapes her lips. It has the exhaustion of decades behind it. She gives a faint shake of her head. "I'm not. Hell, if you look up Operation Paperclip on your wikipedia... The records that were unsealed on the US government side of things are all there. Of course, it went deeper. Far more messy. HYDRA operatives never made the news." Her jaw tightens a bit more. "I fought hard against a lot of it. But I lost those fights. SHIELD needed funding. Howard and I needed allies. That was a...demand on the table."

Bruce Banner has posed:
A tight squeeze to his hand and Bruce seems to have been brought back to reality, a smile on his face as he moves his chair closer to her as if to provide a sense of comfort for the both of them. But as she speaks, Bruce seems to look a bit more serious.

"So...you think that HYDRA might still exist in SHIELD. Double agents?" He asks of Peggy. He always was a quick study, but its also a pretty long shot to the most severe instant imagineable, but he squeezes Peggy's hand. "You forced your hand and you fought for what you thought was right. I don't blame you for that, Peggy."

Peggy Carter has posed:
That supposition gets a slight shake of her head. There's a small hint of a smile at the squeeze of her hand, but she's abandoned her food for the moment. Peg would rather focus on his face, the microexpressions that come when such revelations are there, which serve to prove she can only trust him more. Her thumb idly traces the back of his palm, reassuring him as much as she was herself.

"...I... I don't think so. There were almost none that worked directly with SHIELD. It's... possible? But it's far more likely that whomever was digitizing the files just didn't care to leave this legacy on the permanent record. Most of the scientists would be dead now, anyway. The likelihood they spawned second generation cells? Minor. For... most of them. But..." She exhales slowly, "I'm... just making certain all the old loose ends are tied up."

Bruce Banner has posed:
Okay, so it sounds like it coudn't be that bad. Bruce feels the smooth, soft rubbing of her thumb as it traces the back of his hand, a light blush coming back to his cheeks as he maintains that eye contact. He scoots a little bit closer to her, until they were pretty much shoulder-to-shoulder if she allowed.

"But the ones that did...or maybe descendents of those scientists that still do, but..." he takes a deep breath. "Which loose ends are you trying to tie up, I guess begs the question." He asks curiously. Who is Peggy trying to unravel?

"I'll help you."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"The... mess of things." She nods to her shoulder, which she pulled out of the sling to eat. It's not broken or anything, just sore and twisted enough that bracing it's a wise matter, "Was clean up from a man named Richter and his son. They had a small cell in the Bronx. It's done but... they didn't go down as quickly as I'd prefer." Peggy's talking about killing people. Is she? Most likely. With a neutral, flat tone. A woman who has seen a lot of death in her life and is still the one breathing.

"I've found 11 files, so far, from the physical archives. I need to start following up on the history of them. They might be nothing. They might be other cells. I've got a small team together to go in quick and quiet..." Her dark eyes turn up now, studying his features thoughtfully. "...Researching this might... get you on people's radars. But I could use another sharp mind."

Bruce Banner has posed:
The mess of things, it would seem indeed. A Hydra cell was found and a Hydra cell was put down. Unlike other heroes, Bruce understands that sometimes you just have to do what needs to be done, even if he doesn't necessarily like it. "I understand, Peggy. I'm sorry it ended in a scrap. I take it they're the ones who messed up your shoulder?"

But then she mentions she found 11 files so far from the archives. 11 is certainly better than zero, but Dr. Banner is, of course, still quite skeptical about what they will really find. "I understand. Though with friends like you and with people like the Avengers...I'm less afraid of that as I used to be." he smiles. "But enough talk about that. Eat, please. You must be starving."

For the rest of the night they talked and grew even closer, their bond strengthening as trust is far stronger than suspicion.