The World Keeps Changing

Chapter 10

It was a long time before I felt Hulk begin to shift and change against my body. It was disconcerting, to say the least, feeling him shrink in my arms until I was cradling Dr. Banner's head against my breasts with him sprawled on the floor between my legs, arms wrapped tight around my waist, as he breathed deeply and gradually came back to himself. Even his smell changed, from spruce to more piney, more fresh and less musky with the faintest undertone of autoclave. He nuzzled against me groggily, fingers gripping me with a sleepy moan, and I softly said "Welcome back, Dr. Banner."

I felt his breath hitch and knew he had realized where he was now. He scrambled backward. "Oh, oh god... what happened... Did he hurt you?"

"Dr. Banner." I reached out to him but he scrambled back until he hit the table behind him. "Bruce. I'm just fine. I need you to breathe with me. Please. Everything is fine. You're gonna hyperventilate if you keep this up." I groaned in frustration and sat up. I let him watch me take a deep breath. "Reel it in, my dude, you're being ridiculous." He stopped, seemed to listen to something, and warily settled.

"He really didn't hurt you?"

"Of course not." I retorted, my voice relaying the offense I felt at the assumption he would have. "You know, you really don't know much about the big guy considering he's part of you." I got up with a groan. "Everything is fine now. I imagine Hulk is fairly content at the moment, and I cleaned up the mess. Sorry you lost whatever you were working on. I've got your lunch, too, or we can go down to the kitchen. I know you're usually famished after a Hulk visit. Besides, I know you probably have questions."

He looked slightly mystified.

"Come on down when you're ready," and I let the door to the lab shut behind me. I looked down at my phone and saw about fifty messages from the team. I had JARVIS send everyone a brief voice memo, so they could hear my voice and believe me when I gave them an, "All clear. No harm done, everyone, but thank you for checking in. Good luck on the rest of the mission. See you soon."

About half an hour later, I was making bread dough, singing to myself, as Banner abashedly entered the commons. "Hey," I smiled.

"Umm... hi, Cookie."

"Pull up a seat." He did, and I looked up at him in his fresh pair of khakis and light blue Oxford shirt, looking a little less rumpled than I normally saw him. "I'll get you something started," I met his brown eyes with a grin. "I just knead a couple more minutes."

I got a chuckle out of him, without even the shadow of an eyeroll. Bruce was the best audience a pun could wish for. He watched as I finished and plopped the blob in a bowl, covering it with a towel. "Did you want something in particular, or should I surprise you?"

"I ate what you left for me. Thanks."

I went over to the coffee maker and pulled a mug of hot water. I'd been working on an herbal blend for him that actually tasted good and not like potpourri or licorice. "Then, what can I answer for you, Dr. Banner?"

"I, uh... Wanted to thank you... and maybe talk?"

"Ah." I pushed his now steeping mug of tea over and got myself a cup of coffee.

"Oh. I'm sorry. You asked me to ...I thought maybe..."

I sighed, coming around to sit next to him. "No, you're right. I did. And I meant it. I hoped you would come down and talk."

"It's okay, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable..." He started to get up. "Thank you for the tea."

I put a hand on his arm. "No, I..." I groaned in frustration. "This isn't about you, Dr. Ban-" I stopped myself and looked up at him. "Bruce. I'm not being fair to you and I need to deal with it."