𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚃𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚛 {Bruce Banner}

Slovakia

_ _ _

"I really don't understand," says Kimberly, giving Tesla a sad look as the two of them stand outside the airport. Tesla reaches for her bag in the truck of Dan's car, thanking him as she closes the back door. Dan gives Tesla a wave, and waits patiently for Kimberly to say goodbye. Kimberly folds her arms, wrapping her long-sleeved cardigan around herself. The weather is getting colder as winter creeps in on all sides.

"What don't you understand, Kimmy?" Tesla questions, giving her a tired look. She has been getting the same question for weeks. As the days got closer to the trip her and Bruce are taking, the more curious everyone got. Stephen, Betty, and Kimberly feel like the two of them are hiding something from their friends. And while that's true, it isn't for a bad reason.

"Why are you lying?" asks Kimberly, her voice higher than usual. She looks stung.

Tesla frowns. "I—" she struggles to find something to say, staring at her best friend sadly. She searches Kimberly's face for help. Kimberly raises an eyebrow at her and shrugs her shoulders, letting Tesla know that this is all on her.

"I'm—I don't want to, but this is something very important, and if I'm being honest I'm not really sure what it is either."

"Tesla, do you not know what this sounds like?" Kimberly narrows her blue eyes. "It sounds like—okay, look, I know that you always want to find answers, and you're always trying to fix things because that's what science does, or whatever, but sometimes there's nothing to fix. There are no answers."

Tesla stares at her blankly. She tilts her head away from Kimberly. "You don't support me, do you?" Kimberly's expression shifts to pity for a split second, but Tesla sees it. "You pity me." Tesla sighs heavily as Kimberly shakes her head. "No, I can see it in your eyes. You're right, I do want to find answers, and I do want to fix things, because it's not just science. It's who I am. All my life, I've felt out of place and I've felt weird, and I've been pitied, but this..." Tesla gestures to the airport entrance behind her. "Where I'm going feels right. I'm doing something that has meaning to me, even if I'm not sure what that meaning is. I've been struggling with this all my life, and it's not even that bad! But when I'm with Bruce, and when I'm working on this goal, I feel good. Are you really going to try and deny me that?"

A flash of fear strikes through Kimberly. She hates when she and Tesla fight. She shakes her head rigorously. "No. No. No. I—I—" Kimberly scrunches up her nose, and Tesla can sense the panic rising in her friend. Tesla reaches for her hand, and Kimberly squeezes it tightly. "I don't."

Tesla smiles wearily. "This is what I want to do."

Reaching for Tesla's other hand, Kimberly holds both of her friend's hands in her own. Kimberly nods. "You can tell me anything, you know."

The feeling of shame rises in the back of Tesla's throat. At this moment, she doesn't feel good about not telling Kimberly the entire truth. Tesla swallows the guilt away and nods gently. "I know that. And I will, but I want to tell you when I know everything."

A car honks from behind Dan's car, signaling for the two of them to hurry up. Kimberly sighs, narrowing her eyes. Tesla pulls into a hug, closing her eyes tightly. "Don't worry, Kimmy. Everything will be fine. I promise."

"Okay. Be careful," she whispers.

"Nothing bad is going to happen," assures Tesla, removing herself from her friend's grasp. She reaches for the handle of her suitcase and checks that she has her license, passport, and plane ticket. Kimberly steps back toward the passenger door of the car. She watches as Tesla gives her one last wave and heads inside.