"Why The Hell..." Bruce Began, His Grip On Andie's Face Tightening, Just A Bit. "Why The Hell Would You

"Why the hell..." Bruce began, his grip on Andie's face tightening, just a bit. "Why the hell would you think that you would hurt me?" Bruce asked. "You might see me... differently, but that doesn't change what I am." Bruce laughed. "I'm so sorry. Andie, I love you, and I am so sorry about that. You deserve better than something like me."

Bruce hesitated, then leaned in, pressing his lips to hers very, very gingerly, trying to be as careful as he could with her. She felt breakable under his hands, against his lips, and he was terrified.

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"

"I am responsible," Bruce said, trying valiantly to keep his pulse from skyrocketing from a combination of desire, frustration, and anger. He let his hands fall down to wrap around hers where hers were fisted in his shirt. He took a deep, steadying breath. 

"I am responsible for what H... for what the Other Guy does. It's a part of me. A part that split off, yeah, but it's there, inside of me. I'm there when he's out, and he's there when I'm out. And, you know, it should scare you. I worry, a little bit, that it doesn't." Bruce looked down at his hands over hers.

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"

Hulk grunted. "Banner not happy. Hulk..." Hulk trailed off, frowning. He began rapidly shrinking, his skin losing its toughness and green tint as he turned back into Bruce. Bruce sat up on the floor, rubbing at his temples.

"What the hell was that?" Bruce groaned.

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?

Hulk frowned. "Banner angry. Banner upset. Hulk here to protect Banner from Angry Lady. Why Hulk let Angry Lady back in?" Hulk pressed his knuckles closer to the floor, letting his hands flatten out. He moved his hands so he could press his palms flat against the floor.

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"

"Okay, good," Bruce said. "Thank them both for me for taking care of you. I'll be home as soon as I can be." Bruce took a deep breath, pressing his forehead to his knees. "I'll call Tony, I'm sure... I'll be there soon."

Bruce let his head fall back against the outside wall of the house, taking several steadying breaths, trying to match his pace with Andie's on the line to keep himself calm. "Are you sure you're okay? No... no nosebleeds or dehydration or anything? Vomiting blood? Skin burns? Anything like that?"

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?