❝Whatever happens, just know that I never stopped trying.❞
. . .in which she must do whatever she can to protect the world and what's left of the ones she loves.
[BOOK THREE]
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★ ★ ★
The next morning, Marlena was sitting in a quaint little diner beside Steve. Scott and Natasha sat across from them, while Bruce sat at the end of the table. She wasn't sure if she'd ever get used to seeing Bruce live his every day life as the Hulk, but she was glad he found a way to make things work for him. She knew how much he struggled with his relationship with the Hulk, but struggling now seemed to be a thing of the past for him, and for that, Marlena was glad.
"C'mon, I feel like I'm the only one eating," Bruce shoved a spoonful of eggs into his mouth. He had a large bowl of eggs at his left side and a large plate of other breakfast foods sitting in front of him. There was only enough room left for their drinks and the bagel Marlena ordered. She hadn't even touched it. "Marlena, are you gonna eat your bagel?"
Marlena simply pushed her plate towards him in response. He grabbed the bagel immediately and started munching on it, while the four of them watched on incredulously. It was still so strange to see him in such a setting.
"I'm so confused," Scott shook his head, though his eyes didn't leave Bruce.
"These are confusing times."
"No, no, that's not what I meant."
"Nah, I get it," Bruce chuckled, "I'm kidding. I know it's crazy, I'm wearing shirts now."
"Yeah," Scott was in disbelief, but he was right to be. He'd been gone five hours and came back to a completely different world. "What? How? Why?"
"Five years ago, we got our asses beat," Bruce wiped his mouth, "Except it was worse for me, because I lost twice. First Hulk lost, then Banner lost, and then we all lost."
"No one blamed you, Bruce," Natasha reassured him.
"I did," Bruce said. "For years, I treated the Hulk like he was some kind of disease, but then I started looking at him as the cure. Eighteen months in the gamma lab, I put the brains and the brawn together, and now look at me. I'm the best of both worlds."
Before anyone could reply, three children walked up to Bruce with their phone out. They asked him for a picture, something of which Bruce was ecstatic about. He handed the phone to Scott, who wasn't so much bothered by taking the picture, rather he was bothered by the fact no one wanted a picture of him. Watching the exchange made Marlena feel bad for him, but she blamed it on the hormones.
"If it makes you feel any better, they didn't even want a picture with Captain America," Marlena said to Scott after the kids had disappeared.
"Kinda does," Scott replied. "Thanks, Marlena."
"Anytime."
"Bruce," Steve called. "About what we were saying."
"Right," Bruce looked at Steve. "About the whole time travel do-over? It's outside my area of expertise."
