Hushed Willows furnace

His soft admission hung between them and it sounded like music to her ears.  Banner blinked twice in rapid succession before letting out a sigh that sounded strangely.. content.  Such words had never been spoken to her before and they brought that lovely heat back to her cheeks.  The urge to close the gap between them was stronger than ever but she held herself back.  Buchanan apologized then for what he'd said and it caused her to panic internally.  Did he really not mean it?  Was he taking the words back?  No, then he quickly expaned on the apology and it took all she had not to heave a sigh of relief.

N.. no, she started, her voice small at first.  Please don't apologize.  Out of habit she began to chew on the inside of her cheek while she thought.  Banner had requested that they take things slow in a roundabout way.  It was sort of cowardly now that she thought about it, but Buchanan caught her meaning, which freed her of any responsibility to actually explain.  Like an adult.  Oh.  I'm just.. scared.  A pause.  I don't let others in very often because of my.. anger issues.  It's just easier..  Her gaze fell to the earth between his paws as she reached for how to explain herself.  Stark has always been able to handle me, so we're very close.  Okay, that was a random direction to take her little speech.

Banner wanted to say then that no one else had captured her heart, but with her words about Stark she thought it sounded far too awkward and decided against it.  So how did she let Buchanan know that he was the only one she thought of, the only one she wanted to spend all her time with, to truly let in?  I think you can handle me, she murmured, her bright green eyes searching his dark face for comfort.