Bruce Tugged The Sweatshirt On, Zipping It Up And Dropping His Head Into His Hands. He Rubbed At His

Bruce tugged the sweatshirt on, zipping it up and dropping his head into his hands. He rubbed at his scalp, further messing up his hair.

"Holy hell," Bruce murmured. "Andie, I can't... We can't be around each other if you're going to lose control like that. That's dangerous."

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"

Bruce froze on the spot, his pacing stopping as he struggled to process her words. He sat down in the dirt, right there, on the ground. He clutched the phone so tightly that it nearly cracked in his hand, and he felt the Other Guy lurking, just under the surface, ready to spring, but he forced him back down.

"You-" Bruce's words caught in his throat. "You- You're pregnant? Oh, my God, Andie, I... I thought I was sterile. I... the radiation alone, I just... Andie, I am so sorry. I'm- I'm coming home. Are you still at the mansion?"

Bruce was beginning to process her words, and already he began to panic. There was nothing like him in this world. He was born radioactive because of his father; there was no way any child of Bruce's wouldn't be radioactive, as well. But what else could be wrong with the child? Any number of physical or mental ailments, sure, but what if... what if it had a Hulk like him? Bruce swallowed and dropped his head against his knees, trying to force his heart to slow down.

Four months. That was how long it had been since she'd last seen Bruce and it was driving her crazy. Two months prior she had gone to see Hank, thinking she had caught the stomach flu that had been going around. It turned out that that wasn't the case. She was pregnant. She honestly hadn't known what to do, Bruce had already left for a calmer place and she didn't have a reliable way to reach him. Finally, two months later, she was able to get a text through. [text] I need to talk to you asap.

Bruce frowned down at his phone. The woman talking frantically next to him quieted, and he stood. He assured the woman, in Bengali, that all was okay, and he would be right back. He left the woman and his patient and ducked outside, tapping out a reply.

[text] Okay, what’s up? Unless you’d prefer I called?

Bruce stood up on shaky legs, leaning against the wall for support. He frowned at Andie, studying her face as she spoke, still too separate from himself to process her words. He stumbled forward a couple of steps towards her.

"What did you say to him?" he said, quietly. "You said..." Bruce rubbed at his temples, then shook his head. "Why would you say that?"

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"

Bruce frowned down at his phone. He hoped Andie wasn't sick... God, he felt helpless here, countries and seas and entire continents away from her, but there was nothing he could do right now. He tried to swallow back the nervousness in his throat as he dialed her number and held the phone up to his ear.

"Hello, Andie?"

Four months. That was how long it had been since she'd last seen Bruce and it was driving her crazy. Two months prior she had gone to see Hank, thinking she had caught the stomach flu that had been going around. It turned out that that wasn't the case. She was pregnant. She honestly hadn't known what to do, Bruce had already left for a calmer place and she didn't have a reliable way to reach him. Finally, two months later, she was able to get a text through. [text] I need to talk to you asap.

Bruce frowned down at his phone. The woman talking frantically next to him quieted, and he stood. He assured the woman, in Bengali, that all was okay, and he would be right back. He left the woman and his patient and ducked outside, tapping out a reply.

[text] Okay, what’s up? Unless you’d prefer I called?

Bruce sighed. "Hi. I'm... I'm fine, I'm fine. How are you? What's wrong?" Bruce stepped a little closer to the house, trying to get away from the sounds of the street. The Jeeps rolling by, the shouting people, the arguing children - it all made a distinct cacophony. His patient coughed inside the little house. "Andie? What's going on?"

Four months. That was how long it had been since she'd last seen Bruce and it was driving her crazy. Two months prior she had gone to see Hank, thinking she had caught the stomach flu that had been going around. It turned out that that wasn't the case. She was pregnant. She honestly hadn't known what to do, Bruce had already left for a calmer place and she didn't have a reliable way to reach him. Finally, two months later, she was able to get a text through. [text] I need to talk to you asap.

Bruce frowned down at his phone. The woman talking frantically next to him quieted, and he stood. He assured the woman, in Bengali, that all was okay, and he would be right back. He left the woman and his patient and ducked outside, tapping out a reply.

[text] Okay, what’s up? Unless you’d prefer I called?

"Enjoy the moment," Bruce repeated. He kissed her again, his hands coming up to grab her waist. "Yeah, I can do that."

----------

When Bruce woke up in his shabby apartment the next morning, he rolled over in bed and reached out blindly. When Andie was not in bed, he sighed and rubbed at his closed eyes.

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"