We Need to Quit Meeting like This

AN: Drabbles. More on Bruce x Cori. Just because; no real reason. Most of these will happen post-Avengers and are not totally tied to the events of Doctor Patient Confidentiality. Honestly, these are funny little ideas I thought up on the ways that Coriander could've found Bruce Banner, or vice versa. These ideas aren't necessarily tied together and won't be in chronological order.

Enjoy! Feel free to suggest ideas! I'll try to hit at least a thousand words on all prompts.

Rating is 'M' just to be safe. I don't know where this will take me.

The Starbucks Savior

Bruce wiggled slightly in his seat, very aware of the many people around him. He'd only agreed to come because the stash of green tea in the tower mysteriously disappeared. Whether Pepper or Tony was to blame, he didn't know. Tony smiled as he sipped his coffee, enjoying his friend's nervousness. And to think, I didn't even have to lie and say Fury wanted him to socialize! mused Tony.

"Where's that barista? I thought you said the service was quick." frowned Bruce, fiddling with the wrapper of a straw Tony failed to use. Pepper insisted he use a straw to cut down on the coffee stains since he hated using whitening trays, but Tony didn't listen. Bruce didn't care; tying the white paper into knots and picking it apart did wonders for his nervousness. For Bruce Banner nervousness often led to anxiety, and anxiety led anger. His heart was already racing behind his purple button-down shirt.

"She'll be here. Cori has other customers, you know." Tony gestured with his coffee cup to the people around them. Most were seated quietly at nearby tables, talking on phones or tying on laptops. Others nibbled on overpriced sweets. Thankfully, they were all quiet. His nerves couldn't handle obnoxious people right now, as he was still getting used to streets clogged with noisy automobiles and the general hasty nature of New York.

He couldn't take the absence of his tea for another minute, either. It was going on fifteen minutes and it was just a damn cup of tea! Any minute Bruce expected someone to look at him – really look at him – and scream. Someone was going to make a fuss about The Other Guy. That's how it always was, and his life wouldn't be normal if it didn't happen.

His internal countdown had officially hit zero. All hell should've broken loose by now. Black-clad army specialists should be swarming the shop and pointing guns at his head. Three tear gas canisters – at least! – were supposed to be spinning, spilling their contents. And yet…nothing was happening.

Is this why Tony dragged me out? wondered Bruce. Was the billionaire trying to prove that he didn't need to hide anymore? Or was he just assuring Bruce that no one would hunt down an Avenger, not when there were other Avengers around? His act of kindness was not kind to Bruce's body. The outing was doing nothing more than aggravating him.

As if some unseen force orchestrated another test for Bruce Banner, car horns began to honk. It was more than one, he realized, because the timing was awful. Most of the Manhattan traffic was muffled by the glass, but this melody was especially clear. He could hear it pouring through the drive-through window. His pulse beat quicker under his collar, excess noise raising his anxiety.

The sound of clicking laptop keys lingered in the air, slowed and amplified by his panicked mind. Quiet sipping became insufferable slurping. Soft nibbles turned into large bites compliments of lips that smacked like a gunshot and teeth that chewed with the squeakiness of nails on a chalkboard. Bruce couldn't take it anymore.

"What is taking so long?" he barely refrained from snapping, managing disguise his will to stomp in a brisk stride. If Tony wanted him to go out, he could at least take him to a stress-free place!

"I'm sorry." the barista breathed, wavy, black hair contained by a cap. "I'm having a bit of a problem." breathed Coriander, flicking her eyes to the right where the drive-through window sat. Bruce felt his anger ebb, brain registering her shaky voice. Something's wrong, he frowned. Acting like he was readjusting his glasses, Bruce took a few seconds to analyze the window.

An unassuming man wearing a baseball cap and glasses stared at them through a car window. Bruce could barely see it, focused on the leather steering wheel cover and a pair of fuzzy dice hanging from the review mirror, but noticed a gun angled over his driving hand. Clearly he was going to shoot and drive off if she didn't comply. "We don't have a procedure to open up the register on our own." she explained. "If you came up here, well, I was hoping you'd buy something."

This is extortion at its finest, Bruce pressed his lips together thinly. The honking cars suddenly made sense. He bet no one knew of the crazy man holding up the line. "I will personally pay you back from my next check if you buy a candy bar. I just need something to open the register." said Cori, surprising him with her otherwise cool demeanor. Her voice was the only thing shaking.

Something in Bruce ached, able to relate to being a scared youngster. He would've never known fear as a child if he had a normal father. "Sir? Please, just—" she began.

"Hurry it up!" snarled the guy, shifting in his seat to flash more of the gun. Demanding honks followed. Bruce didn't think, he just acted. Hulk knew when he was uncomfortable and often gained the advantage when he used that knowledge. It was easier for The Other Guy to come out when Bruce was stressed.

When he wanted something to stop.

He wanted the insanely bold customer to go away. That would get him his green tea. Bruce strolled through the wooden swinging door separating experienced baristas from the customers. Coriander flinched as the hinges groaned and the door bounced off the wall like a loud slap. "Get away, please. You can't be on this side, sir!"

"Let the girl do her job!" instructed the man coolly.

"I should say the same to you!" Bruce returned coolly, handing Coriander his glasses. "Sit down." ordered Bruce, hot brown eyes tearing through Coriander like she was invisible. His eyes were solely focused on the man stupid enough to bring a gun in public. The man stupid enough to threaten a girl Tony and Pepper highly recommended. His voice was level, cool, but came out as a shallow hiss.

Coriander wasn't about to argue with a man speaking like that. Befuddled, she cautiously sat on the floor. "Call 911!" called Coriander to the girl in the back. She'd stayed by the ice bin when Coriander realized her customer had a gun. Tony's tablemate skin shuddered like he was having an intense seizure.

"Don't call 911!" growled out the man. He hoped the other girl listened. One angry customer in a purple shirt couldn't keep a bullet from traveling through his body to the back wall. The idea to rob the nearest business was getting more risky. More people had seen him. It was taking longer.

Someone had to have realized by now that his tag was fake. "I want the money!" he snarled lowly, motioning for Bruce to step aside.

"I want a stress-free environment that doesn't exacerbate my condition!" replied Bruce, snorting angrily.

"Your condition?" the man dared to laugh. "What's your condition?"

"Let me show you." Bruce swallowed thickly, feeling his throat flex as his shoulders shuddered again. He'd fought the Hulk down the first time, but wouldn't do so again. He wanted his tea and he wanted to go back to the tower. Hulk wanted to smash the man in effort to give Bruce that calming environment he so desperately needed.

"Don't do this. Just buy something. Get out of the way." the barista grabbed his pant leg. Bruce smiled down at her. It was a kind smile that belied the rest of his angrily scrunched face. He nudged her back into the corner with his foot. Her eyes widened as his clothes began to rip, snippets descending to the floor like feathers.

The sight of his skin visibly turning green spurred the driver to fire a bullet. It had people on the other side of the counter panicking, fleeing the coffee shop, but the real terror was behind the counter with Coriander. She didn't know what to think of the large, green thing leaning out of the window and roaring. Its large hands left depressions in the wall, cracking paint and concrete alike. Tires squealed as the man took off, sound disguising a surprised curse.

All was quiet in the coffee shop, save for the creature's heavy panting. Through interlaced fingers, Cori looked up. The big green thing was looking at her, aware that she was down by his feet. He stooped, offering a big hand. Terrified at his height but grateful for his actions, she climbed into the hand.

Considering the fact that he'd taken a bullet for her, it was the least she could do. "Banner not mad anymore. Banner understand. Bad man no hurt anymore. Hulk take care." said the green thing, officially mindfucking Coriander's brain. He was massive, green, ridiculously strong, and could actually talk! She didn't know what to think anymore.

"Good." managed Cori, trembling from the shock of it all. "Good Hulk. Good job. Your tea's right there." she swiveled in his gentle hand to point at a cup off to the right. She'd been on her way to the counter to call him when the gun became apparent.

"Banner like tea. Not Hulk. Hulk want brownie!" he pointed a thick finger at the case of sweets.

I will give you whatever the HELL you want. Coriander thought, largely dumbfounded. This guy gets shot, turns into a green giant, and all he wants is a brownie? That was definitely doable considering his drink was more than late. "Well, put me down." he complied, smoothly lowering his hand. Coriander removed the tray of unsold brownies and held them up to him, showing her willingness to obey.

If his fingers could leave holes in the wall, she didn't want to make him angry. Her eyes briefly skirted his massive feet. Those could cause damage worthy of a pricey remodeling; she didn't want to be the cause of said remodeling. "Barista feed Hulk!" he demanded. "Hulk's fingers too tiny for brownies!"

"Yeah, I'll feed you. We just have to do something about your—hey!" Cori yelped, almost losing her hold on the brownie tray as the green-skinned giant scooped her from the floor. It was exhilarating to zoom through the air, but startling because he was really fucking tall! God help me if he doesn't like the brownies, she thought, watching his bright green eyes flick back and forth across her form. He was cataloguing sudden movements, obviously. Hypnotized by his unnaturally exotic eyes, she tossed brownies into his gaping maw.

Satisfied, he lumbered through the overturned tables and puddles of spilled drink. Tony was in here somewhere, Hulk knew. Stark poked his head up from a table, grinning breathlessly. Hulk snorted at Coriander, his cue for another brownie. She hesitated slightly before peeling another brownie off the wax paper and throwing it into his mouth.

"I see you've met my friend, Dr. Bruce Banner." smiled Tony, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I have." Coriander reached out to pat a patch of dark hair.

"And you two look to be hitting it off well." he teased.

"You're not playing cupid for me, Tony. Just because Pepper wants to double-date doesn't mean I have to find a boyfriend."

"He's Stark approved!" added Tony, as if that would change her mind. Coriander rolled her eyes. She didn't know what to think about this guy! And she'd only met him once! How could she decide whether he'd be someone to date based on today?

Today had been crazy enough without Stark trying to hook her up. She was beginning to hate being Pepper Potts' favorite girlfriend. That meant Tony doing crazy things like this – whatever this was – on a regular basis. "He saved your life. You already have chemistry, look at that!" laughed Tony, clearly unafraid of this large creature with oddly amazing and proportional muscles.

"What do you think?"

"Banner no want date yet. Too shy. Not know barista. Feed Hulk. That make even."

"Sounds good to me." Coriander popped another brownie into his mouth.

"Good to Hulk. Good brownies." rumbled Hulk.

"Thank you, Hulk."

"Good barista." Hulk stroked her capped head gently to show that there was no ill will left from earlier.

"Good Hulk." Cori returned, tossing the last brownie into his mouth.

"Good trip to Starbucks." Tony threw the drained Styrofoam cup over his shoulder, putting his hands on his hips proudly.