𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗳- ʙʀᴜᴄᴇ ʙᴀɴɴᴇʀ

He scared him off for her

A few days after their conversation, Bruce was sitting in his lab, tinkering with some equipment when he received an unexpected call. It was Emily’s neighbor, Mrs. Cartwright, sounding worried.

“Dr. Banner? I’m so sorry to bother you, but Emily… she’s sick. She’s been throwing up all night, and I thought you should know. I think it might be food poisoning.”

Bruce's heart dropped. “Is she alone?”

“Yes, she lives alone. I’ve tried helping, but she insists she’s fine.”

“I’m coming,” Bruce said, already grabbing his jacket. He quickly made his way to Emily’s apartment, a sense of urgency building inside him.

When he arrived, Bruce found Emily lying on her bed, looking pale and weak. She smiled weakly when she saw him, but it was clear she was in pain.

“Bruce, you didn’t have to come,” she whispered.

Bruce pulled a chair next to her bed. “Of course I did. I’m not letting you go through this alone.”

He stayed by her side, making sure she drank water, helped her sit up, and took care of her as she tried to recover. Despite the worry gnawing at him, he remained calm, determined not to let the other guy out, especially in this situation. Emily needed him, and she couldn’t afford the chaos the Hulk would bring.

Everything seemed peaceful for a while—until the front door burst open with a loud bang.

Bruce stood up immediately, alert. A man stumbled inside, unannounced and clearly agitated. It was Emily’s stepfather, a rough-looking man who carried the air of someone who’d caused trouble before.

“Emily!” he yelled as he walked further into the apartment. “I need money! Where is it?”

Bruce shot him a cold look as he stepped between him and the bedroom. “She’s sick. You need to leave.”

The man sneered at Bruce. “And who the hell are you? I don’t care if she’s sick. I need cash. Now.” He tried to push past Bruce, but Bruce stayed firm, blocking his path.

“I’m not going to let you near her,” Bruce said, his voice calm but firm.

The stepfather didn’t seem to care. He tried to push Bruce again, growing more aggressive. “Outta my way! You think you can stop me?”

Bruce clenched his jaw, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface. His fists tightened, and he could feel the familiar pulse of adrenaline surging through his veins. His vision flickered slightly, his eyes flashing green for a brief moment.

The man noticed the subtle change in Bruce’s demeanor and laughed mockingly. “What’s this? You think you’re tough? You think you can scare me off with your little act? I need the money, and you’re not gonna—”

Before he could finish, Bruce stepped forward, his expression darkening as he took control of the situation. He grabbed the man by the collar with surprising strength, lifting him off the ground effortlessly.

The man’s smug grin quickly turned to fear as he realized Bruce wasn’t just some ordinary guy. The veins in Bruce’s arms bulged slightly, and his grip tightened, causing the man to gasp for breath.

“You’re going to leave. Now,” Bruce growled, his voice dangerously low. His eyes glowed green, and for a moment, the stepfather saw something terrifying—a glimpse of the Hulk beneath the surface.

The man’s face went pale. “Okay, okay, man! I’m going!” he stammered, panic overtaking him as Bruce’s grip tightened further. “I don’t want any trouble!”

Bruce released him, shoving him toward the door. “If I ever see you here again, you won’t like what happens next.”

Without another word, the man stumbled backward, practically tripping over his own feet as he rushed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Bruce stood there for a moment, his breathing heavy as he fought to keep his anger in check. He could feel the Hulk clawing at the edges, but he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

When he finally turned around, he saw Emily sitting up in bed, her face a mixture of surprise and concern.

“Bruce... are you okay?” she asked softly.

He took another deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he sat back down beside her. “I’m fine. I just... couldn’t let him hurt you.”

Emily reached out, placing her hand over his. “You scared him off. Thank you.”

Bruce managed a small, relieved smile, but inside, he still felt the tension, the unease of knowing how close he had come to losing control. But when he looked at Emily, he knew it was worth it. He’d protect her no matter what.

For the rest of the evening, he stayed by her side, making sure she was safe and well, though the encounter left him more determined than ever to control the other guy. Emily trusted him, and he wouldn’t let her down again.