( this is intended as more of an analysis of bruce’s development over time than ship meta, but honestly… )

okay, but talk to me about how in the avengers, bruce deliberately refers to natasha as "MISS” romanoff, an absolute && CLEAR dismissal of her straight from the get-go. a game, really ( especially when you’re addressing a government agent who is currently on the job )… intentionally illustrating how very little he respects her for being involved in this, how NOT seriously he takes her… even going as far as to mock her name when he does repeat it.

then talk to me about that nod he aims her way when we reach the end of the film– a sign of newfound reverence, one that has already been planted ( and progressed vastly, in increments ) within the small time allotted, time during which their sense of understanding for one another has grown to an immense extent. ( we can see this displayed twice: once prior to hulking out for the second time, and again later, as she passes him his belongings ).

talk to me about how, when AOU picks up, we get to see him calling her just plain ‘NATASHA’. not just to HER face– but to steve, to others. && he has BEEN calling her natasha, likely since that same day, since the battle of new york. because she’s not in the slightest, not one bit, the person he previously assumed she was. can we blame him, for judging without knowing? maybe. but upon first meeting, natasha represented everything bruce had been weary of for a multitude of years. she embodied the government, and was therefore a symbol of general distrust, of provocation, && ( based on his personal experiences ) ulterior motives with catastrophic consequences. ( this became evident when things got heated in the avengers, as bruce seemed to direct his suspicions of the group almost entirely at natasha ). 

funny how she turned out to be the polar opposite of all that. specifically to bruce, but to everyone she works with, and as a person. not dishonesty, but trust. not the initiation of chaos, but a blueprint for calm, a steadiness. not a person to fear, but a SANCTUARY. THAT is what she comes to epitomize in actuality. i literally cannot fathom the common claim there was ‘no development between bruce && natasha within age of ultron’. sure, we didn’t see all of it. a great deal of these things did blossom and transpire in those years between…but those foundations were absolutely established and planted in the avengers, three years prior. and let’s not forget to consider everything that happened within the aou film itself…

bruce is a smart guy, don’t get me wrong. but he isn’t always the first to catch onto the– often positive– perceptions that his teammates seem to have of him. he doesn’t even come to terms with the connection that he and natasha share, i would argue, until aou; until the conversation he has with steve at the bar, or possibly his talk with natasha at the farm. and even then, it takes it a while to process, to register for him completely. that is why ( until tony talks him up ) he is done. down for the count. resolved not to continue. but natasha is away for a bit and, quite honestly, that uncertainty is what brings things into perspective for him. the notion of what natasha romanoff IS, to all those around her, and to bruce– a motivator. and yes, there is romantic intent there, but it’s more than just that. he’s making a choice, one of the only choices he has ever been able to make. to contribute another time. not only for her, but BECAUSE of her, WITH her. BY HER SIDE. eventually as the hulk, but as bruce, first… 

talk to me about how, right when all of this dawns on him, we get to hear him refer to natasha as ‘NAT’ for what is perhaps the first time…

and it’s casual. if you rattle the popcorn bag, you’ll miss it. because it has always been there– the seed of respect. of admiration– whether it’s as partners, friends. more. however you prefer to see it, one simple fact remains: the story of trust between these two has always been an important one, and one which is crucial / essential to both bruce and natasha’s development.