Hulk Grunted. "Banner Not Happy. Hulk..." Hulk Trailed Off, Frowning. He Began Rapidly Shrinking, His

Hulk grunted. "Banner not happy. Hulk..." Hulk trailed off, frowning. He began rapidly shrinking, his skin losing its toughness and green tint as he turned back into Bruce. Bruce sat up on the floor, rubbing at his temples.

"What the hell was that?" Bruce groaned.

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"

"I am responsible," Bruce said, trying valiantly to keep his pulse from skyrocketing from a combination of desire, frustration, and anger. He let his hands fall down to wrap around hers where hers were fisted in his shirt. He took a deep, steadying breath. 

"I am responsible for what H... for what the Other Guy does. It's a part of me. A part that split off, yeah, but it's there, inside of me. I'm there when he's out, and he's there when I'm out. And, you know, it should scare you. I worry, a little bit, that it doesn't." Bruce looked down at his hands over hers.

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"

"That's okay," Bruce assured her. "I prefer when nobody knows who I am. The fact that you had no idea just means it's working." Bruce sipped at his water. "What is this for, anyways?"

Bruce dropped his hands from hers and stepped away from her. "I've killed so many people, Andie. I don't want you to be a part of that. And you... this isn't a curse. You have a blessing. You're so... You're so special." He reached up and touched her jaw lightly, stroking his thumb over her cheek. "Don't be afraid of yourself. I've seen... I've seen what happens when you lose your temper, and you've seen what happens when I lose mine. We probably shouldn't..."

Bruce looked away, then looked back at her. "Well. I mean, we have right now. It doesn't have to... You know?"

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"

Bruce stood up on shaky legs, leaning against the wall for support. He frowned at Andie, studying her face as she spoke, still too separate from himself to process her words. He stumbled forward a couple of steps towards her.

"What did you say to him?" he said, quietly. "You said..." Bruce rubbed at his temples, then shook his head. "Why would you say that?"

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"

"Enjoy the moment," Bruce repeated. He kissed her again, his hands coming up to grab her waist. "Yeah, I can do that."

----------

When Bruce woke up in his shabby apartment the next morning, he rolled over in bed and reached out blindly. When Andie was not in bed, he sighed and rubbed at his closed eyes.

SPIT IT OUT!

"I’m not guilty!"