Book Two - Part Two: Silk Spectre

Chapter Three

Laurie stares blankly at a tv screen that plays some news story about Stark Expo. She appears to be....vacant, her glowing green eyes distracted. 'She's your daughter'. Echoes through her head and she blinks, the green slowly ebbing out. Tears gather in her eyes. She remembers. She remembers what set her off. The pain at learning the truth. Those words had echoed through her mind like they had been said right in her ear. And then rage had filled her. Pure fiery rage had flooded through her at the lies. The lifetime of being lied to. The secrets. All the times the truth could have come out, but didn't. And then...she's here. She turns to look around, unsure of how she got here to this....apartment. She spins where she stands to look around to try and figure it out. She knows this place. This apartment. She's....back in Rio. In Bruce's old apartment. In their old apartment. But all the furniture has been pushed out the way. The walls are cracked from a heavy impact. The windows shattered, glass littering the floor. She looks to her hands and then up again. She did this to the room. Her hands shake and start to glow green as she clenches them into fists at her side.

"Philip" she whispers and moves through the rooms looking for him. But in her heart, she knows he is not here with her. The bedroom is empty, no one else is here. She is alone. She sits on the bed and takes a shaky breath. She doesn't even know where she is. How far she is from her son. Her breathing shifts. Erratic and panicked. "No" she breaths. "No" she lets her tears fall down her cheeks. She can't believe she left him. The one thing she thought she would never do. Just like everyone had done to her. Her hair starts to float around her as she cries. Her emotions triggering whatever power is flowing through her. She lifts her eyes to the mirror, watches her reflection, she cocks her head and stands moving closer to the reflective surface, her eyes drawn to the green streak of hair in her bangs. That wasn't there before. Before this...episode. She reaches up and touches the locks of hair. What is happening to her? She drops her hand and looks around. There is nothing left her. None of their things. They've all been taken, probably by Ross. It's like they were never here. She runs her hand over the bed before curling up on the sheets as she cries. Her life has taken such turns the last few years, back and forward and then back again. Her whole life has been one disaster after disaster. Why would it be different now? Of course, something was going to happen to her. It always does. She takes a heavy breath. She's so tired. Maybe she could have a nap. Just an hour or two and then she'll go back. She curls up on the top of the bed and takes a deep breath, already falling asleep.

..............

Bruce Banner stands staring out the kitchen window of a cabin in Bella Coola, British Columbia, his eyes watching the rain falling outside. It's peaceful out here. Not peaceful enough some days. His mind often wanders to Laurie. Morning. Noon. And night. He wakes to thoughts of her, and falls asleep to thoughts of her, and he always will. He takes a breath and looks down at the sink in front of him, the warm water quickly cooling. He supposes Laurie would have given birth by now, if she kept their child. He wouldn't blame her if she hadn't. He wonders if she read his letter, if she threw it away. He wonders if she went home to her farmland, or...the school. He wonders about a lot of things. He knows leaving wasn't entirely his decision, but the other guys. But he agreed. He agreed to stay away. He turns and heads into the space behind him, a couch facing the door, a coffee table in front. There is a small box open on the top of the table, all the draft and unsent letters he has to Laurie scattered over the surface. A cold mug of tea. A journal. A collection of Polaroid photos. He'd found those in a bag left on his doorstep. He doesn't know who sent them, or how, but he is glad for some reminders, some memento of his time with Laurie. He sighs as he takes a seat picking up a photo from the pile and looking down at it. He bends over with a piercing pain in his head, sharp, unyielding.

"Argh" he reaches up and clutches to his head, fingers threading through his hair. His vision swirls and he's suddenly looking down at Philip in a crib, the boy stares back up at him. Bright green eyes stark against his tinted skin. Bruce knows...instantly knows who this is. His son. Tainted with his curse in flesh. He reaches down to touch his cheek but his fingers cast right through his skin. He can't touch him. His breath catches a little. He has a son. "Hey" he whispers unsure if the baby can hear him. He looks up hearing a door open, his eyes landing on Laurie who walks in, dressed in a black vest and pair of black shorts. She closes the door and moves to the basket, Bruce's eyes never leaving her. She looks...beautiful. Even more so than the last time he saw her.

"Hey, Philip" she whispers leaning on the edge of the crib to look down at the boy.

"Laurel" Bruce states softly. She doesn't respond to him, just hums a little stroking Philip's cheek. "I'm sorry," he tells her, voice breaking. 'Thought you might like to see'. A voice states in his head before it all disappears, leaving Bruce catching his breath back on his couch. He touches his own cheek, brushing away tears. 

...........

Charles removes his Cerebro helmet and nods to himself. Telling Bruce about his son was the right thing to do, and he knows that Laurie would do it if she could. He also tried searching for her whilst plugged into the machine, he couldn't find her, couldn't reach her mind. He's not sure what to make of that.