bakerstreet | Fooling Around

Fooling Around

FOOLING AROUND

Somewhere further than making out yet not quite going all the way, "fooling around" is a time honored tradition. It's easy, low-pressure, and there are no real parameters - above the clothes or not. Sound good? Maybe you're young and want to try but not commit to anything too carnal. Similarly, you could want to explore somebody's, well, body because they're so different than you. There's also the possibility that you want to make them happy or see how they react to feeling beyond great. Could it be that you're a tease, even?

Or you could just be bored. There's nothing on TV, anyway.

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[ Partners over 25, please! Probably just kissing and mild petting at best. I'm comfortable with writing smut but chances are things wouldn't get too far unless Bruce keeps himself from participating too much. (aka, he can touch his partner but he'd stop things if they try to return the gesture.) ]

[Maybe a spinoff of their previous thread? Exploring the boundaries, and seeing what works for them these days?]

[ Oh yes please, I would love to! ♥ ]

Since their reunion, Betty had relocated to New York so that she and Bruce could renew their partnership, both academically, and romantically. The former had been easy--with Betty's credentials and her stubborn persistence, she'd gotten hired in no time. The latter, however was more tentative, with Bruce still hesitant to push the limits of his control, and Betty patiently thinking up creative ways for them to spend time together at a more relaxed pace.

Just because things weren't as hot and heavy as they'd been back when they'd first started dating, it didn't mean there wasn't any intimacy. If anything, they were getting to know each other in a deeper way. And Betty couldn't have been happier.

Getting close again after so long being apart was a slow process, at least in some aspects. For the most part, he felt like they'd just slipped easily into things again, like two pieces of a puzzle being put back together. Talking to Betty was easy, being with her was relaxing and fun, and he felt lighter and happier just knowing she was a part of his life again.

He was glad that she didn't push, though, giving him the time and space he sometimes needed. One thing that might seem casual to a lot of couples, but to him actually meant a lot, was the act of simply sharing a bed. Not even doing anything beyond going to sleep next to each other, and waking up in the morning, sun filtering through the blinds, with the warmth of her body lying next to his.

As was the case this morning. Once his eyes got used to the light, his gaze rested on the curve of her shoulder, and he smiled. One hand reached out, carefully brushing along a strand of her hair, and slowly he shifted closer, trying not to wake her up.

While Betty might never fully understand the struggle that Bruce faced within his mind and body every day, she had witnessed it from the beginning. She understood his concern, and she did her best to nurture and environment in which he could continue to be so open with her about what he needed, and wanted, in their relationship. Even if it was just the simple comfort of human contact.

Drifting awake with his quiet presence beside her, hearing the contented sound of his breathing told her just how much meant to him. It was so peaceful, she barely even stirred when she felt him snuggle up to her. She just sighed, and let herself sort of roll into his arms.

He stilled where he lay when she moved, hand hovering in the air for a moment until she settled again, closer to him now. Only once he was sure he hadn't woken her up did his fingers brush up her arm, reaching her face and tracing the outline of her jaw, finally tucking strands of hair behind her ear.

He loved watching her sleep, just like he loved being there when she woke up and opened her eyes, the first smile of her day for him and him alone. Tipping his head and leaning in, he pressed a ghost of a kiss to her temple, letting his lips linger on her skin for a while longer before he pulled away again.

Betty smiled now, her eyes still closed, her face blissfully content. Even in such a dreamlike state as she was, Bruce' touch drifted through her awareness, and she hummed softly in appreciation. Without any alarm clocks or phone calls to drag them both back to the real world, she could have happily stayed like that for hours.

Or at least a few more minutes, until she could no longer resist the urge to open her eyes and see the handsome face above her.

Her smile was mirrored in his own lips, his gaze soft and warm as he watched her drift slowly away from her deep sleep, and closer to wakefulness. He didn't push to wake her up any quicker, though, more than happy to simply watch her all the while, his fingers sifting lightly through the strands of her hair.

It wasn't until her eyes opened that he spoke up, his tone quiet, a fingertip brushing down the bridge of her nose and gently poking the tip. "Good morning."

"G'morning," she echoed sleepily, reaching up to touch his face. She couldn't think of a sweeter awakening than Bruce' gentle caress, or the feeling of belonging when she looked into his eyes. She'd always loved the way he looked at her like that.

"Have you been awake long?"

"Not really," he shook his head, his head tipping so he could plant a soft peck to the palm of her hand. Truth was, he didn't even notice what time it was, or how long he'd been watching her until she woke up.

"I was just watching you sleep," he murmured, pausing before he added in a more amused tone. "Like a big creep."

"Yeah--how dare you use your shoulder as my pillow, you perv," she teased, laughing under her breath. Bruce Banner was probably one of the least creepy men she had ever known, but she liked the way that they could laugh together.

She smiled, and traced his smiling mouth with her thumb. "I like seeing you so happy."

"I know, I have no shame," he joked right back, grinning and leaning in to brush the tip of his nose against hers, drawing away again. His hand reached for hers, cupping her fingers and kissing each of her fingertips.

"Well, I like being this happy." It was almost like a brand new feeling, so long it had been since he last felt like this. "I always am, with you."

"Me, too," she said, still smiling. She was glad that he felt comfortable enough to crack jokes, and be playful with her. It might not seem like much from the outside, but Betty knew how far Bruce had come to get to this moment. "So what else have you been thinking about while you've been watching me, handsome?"

"Good. That's good to know." He wanted nothing quite as strongly as he wanted for her to be happy. Once he had thought that the best way to do that was to stay away from her, to let her build a life away from him, but now he was happy beyond words that he had been proven wrong.

He hummed thoughtfully at her question, his head canting slightly. "Well, I am facing a bit of a dilemma right now."

"Yeah?" She mirrored the gesture, her hair fanning across the pillow. She liked the way he looked when he got all thoughtful. "Do you want to talk about it? Maybe I can help."

"Well, I... really want to kiss you right now. But..." He paused, clearing his throat and licking his lips before adding. "I'm pretty sure I have horrible morning breath right now."

"Ooh...I probably do, too." She chewed on her lip as she reached for the drawer in the nightstand. She didn't really try to move away from his arms, though. "I might have brought a tin of Altoids. Would that help?"

"You really came prepared, didn't you?" He let out an amused little chuckle, arching his eyebrows and nodding as he accepted a mint from her once she got them from the drawer. "Very handy. Thank you."

Reluctantly, she rolled away, just long enough to grab the mints and pop one into her mouth. Then she rolled back toward Bruce. "I try," she said, blushing faintly as she snuggled against him. "I'm glad it wasn't just wishful thinking on my part."

Even if all they'd really done was snuggle, and sleep, it still made her happy.

"It's a pretty legitimate wishful thinking," he hummed, sucking a little on the mint before he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a soft and brief kiss. One elbow propped to keep his weight up, his other hand rested on her side, as he watched her quietly for a moment. "You can ask for things, you know? Just... things you want us to do - or you want me to do. If I can't do it, I'll say so."

Betty smiled against his lips, nodding as they lay there together. "I know," she said, "I just don't want you to think that I'm not happy with the way things are going. I am."

She laughed softly, almost shyly. "I guess...maybe I was a little nervous about what you might say."

"I wouldn't think otherwise. You don't have to worry about that." He kissed her again slowly, pulling back enough to look her in the eye, his hand moving up so his knuckles brushed along her cheek.

"And you don't have to be nervous. You know you can tell me anything, right? We can talk about anything." Communication had always been important when they were together before, and it was crucial that it stayed that way, now more than ever. Worst case scenario, he would have to say no to something she suggested, but she shouldn't take that as a rejection. They just had a lot to work through, and it would take time - but he did want to work through it.

"I know," she said again. She knew, now, that a no wouldn't be a rejection, and her asking if he was ready to try something probably wouldn't send him running for the hills. "I just don't want to make you nervous, either. But I really want to kiss you, too. A lot."

"You won't make me nervous." Alright, maybe he would be a little nervous, but then he would feel like that at the prospect of trying just about any kind of intimacy that went further than a kiss at this point. It didn't mean he felt uncomfortable, though, or that he didn't want to try anyway. It also wouldn't make him any less sure that he wanted to be here, with her.

"And your wish is my command," he smiled, tilting his head and leaning in to kiss her again, lips parting slowly to deepen the contact, his hand cupping the side of her neck.

Bruce Banner » MCU » M/F

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