*How the Avengers get a Therapist*

Chapter 3: (Uncle) Bruce

Hey yall! I promised another chapter today, and here I give you another chapter. This one is also a little short, but it is a transition to the next chapter. So... Here we go! R&R.

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Everyone noticed the change in Dr. Bruce Banner. As he walked the halls of the tower, as he talked to people, even as he worked. He was happier, calmer, less nervous around people. The Avengers were confused. This change literally happened overnight. A few people thought he had been replaced, but that was quickly shot down when FRIDAY did a scan confirming who it was.

It was five weeks later that pushed the confusion over the top. Tony Stark was wandering the labs looking for his science buddy, but he was having no luck in finding Bruce. He finally gave up and asked FRIDAY where he was. Hidden in a lab, maybe. Talking to some interns or scientists, likely. Not even in the tower, possible. But in the Hulk chamber, not a chance. So Tony was rushing to the rooms observance chamber to see what was wrong with his friend.

Nothing. Nothing was wrong. Bruce was just sitting there. It looked like he was meditating. Tony was just even more confused. What in the name of all things science was going on!? Tony leaped back when he saw it. In the blink of an eye, it was no longer Bruce. It was Hulk. Then it was Bruce again. Tony blinked. What. Happened? Before he could really think on it, Tony was distracted by Bruce. Who was jumping in the air and... cheering? Bruce checked his watch, then smiled and ran out of the room. Tony was too stunned to realize he should probably follow his science buddy. Realizing that Bruce was long gone, he resolved to question him at dinner.

Bruce POV

Bruce has never felt so good. Not even before the accident that gave him the Hulk. Dakota had worked a miracle. He laughed at that. Him, Bruce Banner, getting therapy from a 16-year-old ninja teacher. Bruce had been going back to that gym in the afternoons to talk to Kody. As far as anyone knew, he now had a niece. That had been a day.

*flashback*

Bruce had been watching the gymnasts work and sparing glances to watch the little 5-9 year-olds running back and forth, jumping over obstacles in their way. He laughed at the thought of the Avengers doing the same thing. Maybe he could introduce them to Kody, that would be something! The Earth's Mightiest Heroes being run like racehorses by a teenager. He laughed out loud at that. Kody glanced at him curiously, eyebrow raised. He shook his head at her and she turned back to her kids, calling for a water break. After the kids had gotten water from their parents and run back to the floor, one of the moms turned to him.

"Which one's your's?" she asked.

Bruce looked startled by the question. After it had processed in his brain, his hand went up and pointed at Dakota. The mom looked a little startled. Before his brain could formulate an explanation, his mouth started talking.

"She's my niece." Stupid mouth.

The mom smiled at him. "That's cool. She's such a wonderful teacher. My kid, Wes, loves her."

"She is something else." Bruce agreed, smiling. Neither noticed the subject's smile. Or the mischief in her eyes.

After class, the kids were all lining up for stamps as their moms gathered shoes and purses. Kody gave her kids some goodbye hugs and sent them off, before calling in her next class. They sat down in a circle to start and Bruce heard:

"Guys, say hello to my Uncle Bruce!" Dakota told her ninjas.

Calls of "hey, Mr. Bruce." "Hello." and "Hi, Mister!" rang out from the kids. He looked at Dakota and she smiled back at him. When she turned back to her kids, Bruce realized that he had broken out into a huge smile. He waved back at some of the kids still looking at him.

*flashback end*

Since then, Kody wouldn't call him anything other than Uncle Bruce. And her ninjas would always call him Mr. Bruce. He didn't even bother to correct them to Dr. Bruce or Dr. Banner like he would for anyone else. It made him happy that these kids didn't care for his seven PhDs or the fact that he was the Hulk. They knew the last one but mostly didn't care. They only brought it up when one would wear an Avengers shirt. Look, Mr. Bruce, It's you! They only cared about Mr. Bruce, their coach's uncle. The nice guy who could swing by the gym to say hi. Truth be told, Bruce loved the attention.

He had also made progress with Hulk. Once a week, he would meditate and talk to Hulk. They had come to an understanding. And after three weeks, Dakota had suggested working with Hulk to make the transformation back and forth smoother and more immediate. The next few days had found Bruce spending a lot of time meditating in the Hulk Containment Unit. Finally, after two weeks, he had done it. He had successfully transformed into the Hulk and back on command. Checking his watch, he realized he could make it before work started. He needed to tell Kody! He ran out and booked it down to the gym. Out of breath and sweating profusely, the grinning Bruce waved to the kids assembled. They jumped up and started high-fiving him and saying hello. Kody walked over and called for the class to start.

"Hey, Uncle Bruce."

"I did it." was all he could say.

Her eyes lit up in understanding. "Perfect. That's awesome, Bruce. You've got to keep working, but this is amazing." She stopped her ramble and promised to talk after class.

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Welp. Here you go. I'll see you later. Or you know. I'll hear from you. Or something. I don't actually know any of you.

... yeah.