"I almost didn't." She didn't feel like elaborating that it was because she only found out at the last minute. She was too angry and it wasn't worth giving up the information.

Missions are missions, she knew that. She'd taken on some outright suicidal ones in her time. This shouldn't have been any different, and yet it was. Bruce wasn't a spy; he wasn't a warrior; he wasn't a trained agent, not like her, or Barton, or hell, even Phil. Banner was just a scientist she'd roped into joining S.H.I.E.L.D. He was the last person who should have been sent on a mission like this. It didn't matter had it been anyone else Natasha wouldn't have cared. Rationally it was just another job, like all the others. It shouldn't have bothered her, and yet here she was, Bruce's head cradled in her lap while she chewed him out for being an idiot.

She couldn't help feeling a little hypocritical.