43 Banner not Banter

The entire crew looked horrified when they saw Banner become the Hulk. If the Hulk destroyed their ship while in hyperspace, there was a 90% that everyone, including the Hulk, was dead. Even so, Batman didn't flinch as the Hulk screamed at him.

"That's right, Banner is puny and the Hulk is the strongest. Do you know why Banner is puny Hulk?" Batman asked. 

The Hulk's fierce raging came to a sudden stop because the Hulk looked confused.

"Bat also thinks Banner puny?" Hulk asked.

"Yes, but do you know why?" 

"Tell Hulk." 

"Banner is puny because he doesn't have the strength to be honest. Whenever he's in trouble, he says "Hulk save me!" After Hulk saves Banner, he says "It was the Hulk who did the bad thing." Banner is always scared, but the Hulk never lies. The Hulk always tells the truth. The Hulk smashes the bad people, he always saves Banner. The Hulk saves innocent people. YOU never say "Banner Save Me!" Even when Banner blames the Hulk, the Hulk is strong and he lets Banner blame him. The Hulk is the strongest because the Hulk has the strongest heart. Banner is the weakest because he has the weakest heart. The Hulk is our friend, and he always helps us," Batman said as he placed his hand on the Hulk's shoulder and gently patted it.

The Hulk plopped onto the ground and gave Bruce a big hug. No one could believe their eyes. Especially when the Hulk started crying!

"Bat know Hulk! People say Hulk bad hurt people and break things. Banner always blame Hulk, but when Hulk come out Banner mad. Banner want break world and hurt people. Hulk want to be left alone. No one like Hulk not even Banner, Banner like father," Hulk's tears came down thicker and heavier.

"Batman, you can't make him sad or Kluh will come out!" Iceman said.

"Hulk's not sad, the Hulk is happy," Batman rubbed the Hulk's back and ruffled his hair. The Hulk looked down at Batman.

"Hulk happy," He smiled through snot and tears. 

"Well I'll be a monkey's uncle," Johnny said. The Hulk looked at Johnny confused.

"Why burning man be uncle for monkey?" He asked puzzled. 

"No one has ever seen you happy before. That's how you say that you're surprised. Everyone here wants to see the Hulk happy. If anyone says anything bad about Hulk, Batman Smash!" 

The Hulk started laughing, and as he laughed he melted away until Banner appeared again. Shocked, Banner looked at Batman.

"How did you..." Batman smashed Banner in the mouth.

"Stop picking on the Hulk! Act like an adult, can't you tell the Hulk is just a kid?" Batman shouted at Banner. Everyone clenched once more when they witnessed Batman smash Banner in the face. It was like Batman wanted to see just how much he could shake the nitroglycerin before it exploded. 

"Oh, something came out," Iceman said.

"Me too, I hope they remembered to install a washing machine for this ship," Johnny said.

"Don't worry, it's a good one," Omega Sentinel said. 

Everyone noticed that Darwin was quiet. 

"Adaptive evolution, he could punch me into hyperspace and I would probably turn into a human spaceship or something. I'll be fine," Darwin said. 

Banner sat up holding his jaw and froze. He looked at his hand and nothing happened. He didn't feel even the slightest change, even though he was mad! He was madder than he'd been in a long time. The Hulk should have exploded and smashed Batman into oblivion.

"What's going on?" Banner asked.

"I told Hulk that if anyone talked bad about him, I would smash that person. All you do is talk bad about the Hulk. You are like your father, abusive! That poor kid, the Hulk, you've been taking out your anger on him for years. Maybe if you showed him a little love things would be different," Batman said.

Banner's confused face gave Batman a strange look, "But Hulk isn't real, he can't feel pain..." Banner responded unsure of how much he believed his words. 

"Of course the Hulk is real, you are the Hulk, and the Hulk is you. So long as you live the Hulk lives and vice versa. All these years, the person you've been screaming at and blaming has been you, but you call that the Hulk. 

The Hulk is you as a kid, he's the innocence you had. You hid that innocence deep inside your mind when you were a child and protected it. Your father and the world could beat you up, but the world couldn't take away the innocent child who was abused. 

Then, you were wreckless and conducted an experiment you knew you shouldn't do. That experiment changed your innocence into a monster, The Hulk. That's what you thought all of these years, but it isn't a monster. Your innocence persists. The Hulk, it's still you. The gamma experiment gave you the strength to finally protect the part of you that's the most important. Embrace it and face it. The Hulk isn't your enemy, he's the best part of you!" Batman explained. 

Karima cried a little, Johnny couldn't help but think of his friend Ben Grimm who suffered so much over the years. He thought he was a monster, but Johnny always knew Ben was the best of the Fantastic Four.

Bobby couldn't help but think of all of those mutants who looked freakish and were hated by everyone. They were called so many nasty names, but they were innocent. Darwin remembered how he transformed for the first time to survive a deadly danger.

He took on an odd monstrous form, and when the people saw him they screamed in fear! He was called a monster, an evil beast, and so many different names. 

The four people walked to Dr. Banner and hugged him. Bruce didn't know what was going on until he found himself part of a group hug against his will. He finally shrugged his shoulders and hugged Banner along with the others. 

"Banner, I'm not afraid of the Hulk anymore. I've seen so many mutants being abused like him, like you. You're family, if anyone says anything bad about the Hulk, or you, Iceman Smash," Bobby said.

Dr. Banner laughed when he heard that.

"Me too, Human Torch Smash!"

"Omega Sentinel Smash!"

"Darwin Smash!"

"Batman Smash!" Bruce laughed. It was a genuine laugh, it didn't happen often and everyone was surprised but happy to hear it, including Banner. 

Banner didn't say anything, he smiled and something seemed to click inside of him. His body changed and morphed until he became the Hulk, but he was still Banner. Banner and the Hulk were one!