❝ Apparently so. Maybe I should be thanking HYDRA for that. ❞
❝ ❛ Thanking ❜ is a very kind choice of word considering HYDRA’s indefinite reputation. nevertheless, welcome back to the land of the living, Barnes. ❞
“Well, when you say it like that, you make me seem like I’m coming to watch a Freak show. That’s not why I’m here. Though I am fascinated by your anger aspect.” Jamie looked around her, seeing if there was anything she could lean against with out messing up his work area. Instead, she opted for just shifting her weight. “I tracked you to prove to myself I can. It was difficult and long, but I did it. You fascinate me because you don’t let your anger control you. You’re about positivity. That’s what I’m drawn to.”
❝ Positivity. Is that what you think I’m about? ❞
( bruce almost laughs. almost. though he does refresh himself on the location of each exit and concealed weapon in his small, sad excuse of a makeshift shack lab. for some reason, he doesn’t like this woman. he can tell she’s not a threat, but she leaves something sour behind with her words. a naïve aftertaste. )
❝ Well, congratulations on concluding your treasure hunt, though I’m afraid you haven’t found anything worth studying. If you think I’m about positivity, you need to check up on your sources. I don’t hide from the government or control my anger or count my days without incident through positivity, Jamie. I do it through praying to a god I don’t believe in that I don’t accidentally mutilate innocent people like yourself. ❞
“Yeah, it’s tonight, but don’t feel like you’re for some reason obligated to go. I just thought I would offer.
There are other ways that I can get to know you as a teammate. I know things can get hard to deal with when you’re not comfortable. Just not to the same extent, of course.”
❝ Truthfully, I don’t feel obligated to do anything. But I do know I’m awfully good at hiding in my own shadow. It’s habitual and it's also something I’m trying to change. ❞
❝ I’ll go, considering I don’t know you all too well, either. What time should I be ready? ❞
“Well that, at least, is reassuring. I’d hate to have to attempt to shut SHIELD schemes down because they were doing things behind my back. Which they do anyway, but I’m working on that.”
❝ The day SHIELD stops working under the table is the day I start questioning why they’d break such a long-standing tradition. I’m not quite sure how you expect to stop them. ❞
❝ Got you working to the bone, sounds about right for SHIELD. They haven’t contacted me yet, although I can’t say I’m surprised. I was more than what they could handle. ❞
❝ I suppose they figure they may as well utilize me while I’m still on the same continent. You are a handful, Tony. I’m sure they wouldn’t want to try & keep up with you. ❞
❝ You’re missing out on a lot of really fun paperwork, though. ❞
❝ ─ Certainly you must be joking. How on earth could you have survived that? You’re entire DNA must have altered for you to b-. That’s why you’ve come to me? M U T A T I O N in your cells.❞
❝ I’m not the kind of guy to joke about radiation poisoning. ❞ ❝ I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t think you’d have a fresh perspective on it. I’ve looked at and tested my DNA enough times to fill a lab full of slides. Gamma isn’t exactly a passive mutation, by any means. ❞
though his bones profess the test run to be a colossal failure there’s something to be said about prompting his otherwise quiet buddy to showcase even vague signs of amusement, the pain settling around his lower spine and rib cage dwindling to something more manageable than hostile in appreciation. he’s grinning through the discomfort, upper torso covered in an unfortunately jarring amount of soot.
❝Yeah—— no kidding. Made a rookie mistake. Something funny there, Doc? Having a little chuckle at my expense? For shame.❞
it proves itself a difficult task pretending to be stern in company of a decent laugh, unoccupied hand grasping onto the help offered to get back on his feet. a simple jump before he’s mobile enough to start dusting off the specs of embarrassment, turning the polite act of assistance into a firm handshake.
❝Charmed to have your company, by the way. Are you getting paid to babysit? They think I don’t know, but I do.❞
❝ I’m sorry, I should have prioritized. Checking for injuries and then laughter. Though, you did get up, so I think I’m scott-free for now. ❞
in all honesty, bruce is more than happy to stick around. it isn’t as if he finds tony intolerable; crass and bluntly opinionated, of course, but even when bruce finds the slums of Tibet his place of residence, he’s still cushioned. padded by large crowds & bustling tongues tripping over languages he doesn’t always understand. when he's not playing outsider, though, the title of ❛ the hulk ❜ comes into play and bruce is scrutinized for what lay beneath his flesh, protruding from his lanky nomad body even when he isn’t trampling around backhanding aliens as the other guy. ( the name ❛ mean, green fighting machine ❜ has already been politely rejected by bruce no matter how many times tony brings it up. ) the point is, bruce appreciates someone willing to tell him what’s what without all the extra stuffing surrounding it in fear that bruce might burst like an old grenade. ❝ Pepper offered. Rhodes offered. Fury offered, since Natasha mentioned she no longer dropped by. I’m wondering if I should start accepting monetary pay since even you’ve asked. But no The babysitting is complimentary. ❞
”The only thing that’ll come of me tellin’ you my life story is judgement, on your part sir. I’ve had a lot of shit and done a lot of shitty things that a lot of people would be proud to say they disapprove of.”
To be honest, were the girl not in her particular position, she’d probably disapprove of them too, and, as it is, she’s not proud, but ashamed of her actions. Not many people expect to find an alcoholic, drug-addicted, superpowered,19-year-old murderer when they come to work in the morning.
”I have three powers: telekinesis, teleportation, & telepathy. I’ve been abused, and tortured, and experimented on, and I honestly really don’t wanna be here right now.”
The title ❛ sir' ❜ made him flinch, at least at a core level. Bruce wasn’t sure how much he liked being in a state of authority, or at least being considered like he was in one. But he knew by the sounds of her response, she chose flight over fight in situations like the one she was currently in. Run, run. Bruce knew what that was like.
❝ You and me both, and yet I work for SHIELD. Or, I associate with them, because somehow they know what’s best for me. Or, at least they think they do. But I know what it’s like to be where you are. And personally, I know I get tired of it every once in a while. ❞
❝ I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t
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