13 Bruce meet David

Alivia's POV

"Miss..."

I roll over *hmm*

"Miss Alivia, it's... up."

I slowly blink my eyes.

"It time to get up, Miss."

*hmmmg* I stretch and yawn as I wake up.

In a deep, tired, raspy voice I reply, "Got it. ..."

I yawn again. "Thanks Jarvis."

"You're welcome."

I get up and get dressed in my uniform for the café, also grabbing a jacket to cover it. Seeing that I'm ready to go, I start to head out of my door. Then, I realize something.

"Shit." I drag my voice. "JARVIS could you do me a favor? ...again." I ask with a bit of shame.

"What is it Miss?"

"How do I get to work from here?" I'm ashamed.

I should have checked and practiced the route yesterday. Dumbo-me forgot. The odds of me getting lost ...again ...I'm estimating a 95% chance.

————Time Skip ————— (after getting lost) —————

I came into work, out of breath since I had to run. Luckily, I was only a few minutes late, even with JARVIS's instructions.

'That's what I get for not writing them down... idiot!' I'm seriously considering in investing in a GPS at this point. I do wonder if there's one for walking rather than one for cars.... or would it work for both? I've never tried it.

"Aren't you a little late?" Sophia calls, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, I slept in late." I lied with a shrug. I don't think I should tell her I've moved yet.

"Well, you'd better hurry. Looks like a tsunami of customers are on their way."

"Shiiiiiit!" I hiss, rushing behind the counter. "I'll get the register. You make the coffee. You're faster at brew'n." She nods to me.

If I could, I'd jump over the counter, but I ain't got time for that and sadly, it's not allowed. I check both registers to see if they're working today, we're not normally so lucky. "Hey, Sophia. Is Cassie coming in today?"

"Yeah. She comes in..." she checks the schedule, "two hours from now."

"And manager?"

We both look at each other, "Being lazy." We say at the same time. We sigh, both tired of manager's shenanigans.

Before we can say more, manager comes out of the break room, *cough* one of her hiding places *cough* to unlock the door and welcome the line of customers in. It's frustrating how she goes right back to the managers office to do 'manager stuff'. When in reality, she just heads back to play on her phone. Must be nice to be a manager, bending the rules.

Sophia and I found she likes to pass off her work to others, so we just call her 'Manager'. Sure it's a title or a job position, whatever. For us, it's just a secret insult for her. She doesn't deserve a name, so we don't call her one. She's happy with the title, we're happy with the insult, it's a win-win situation.

Great. So now, the two of us, have to deal with the early morning train. And let me tell you. Don't get between these customers and their coffee. You just don't. Not if you want to live. Making this morning train all the more unpleasant.

Oddly enough, today is quite the train. Like the ones you'd see in Chicago, ridiculously long. And just when you think you've seen the end, more come. I barely have time to think.

Even when a female customer with white hair, orders two drinks. She may look familiar, but I don't have time. I have to attend the next customer. I even have a bit of a headache too, like someone is poking around in there.

'Enough is ENOUGH! Go away!' Luckily, my headache stopped. Causing me to sigh in relief. 'Stupid pain. Always comes at the worst times.'

Sophia and I worked diligently, with no help from 'Manager'. Makes one really want to scream. Though I'm glad to see the crowd has finally died down.

"Hey guys!"

I look up to see Cassie walk in.

"Great timing." I retort rolling my eyes. "couldn't 've gotten here sooner?"

She just chuckles, "Morning rush I take it?"

"No Cas, you just missed Santa and his reindeer." I deadpanned, leaning over the counter my arms lying flat. I looked up at her then sighed. "Yeah, you just missed the rush." 'It wasn't her fault' I get up resting on my elbows, "'Man-jerky' back there" I use my thumb to point to the managers office, "bloody well, didn't want to come out."

I could tell Sophia was struggling to holding in her laughter, "Well, What were you expecting?" Cassie grinned as she got ready.

"A leader to pull their own damn weight. Not have us carry their lazy ass up the hill." I looked back towards Cassie, seeing her frown. "Sorry," I run my fingers through my hair. "Just frustrated."

"That makes sense." Sophia comes in for the save. "It'd be nice if she'd at least help."

Cassie goes back, to get ready.

"You know the saying..." I continue. "Leaders, lead by example?" Cassie looks at me as she comes up to the register, urging me to continue. "Well, she's more like a teacher."

"How so?" Sophia asks, shocked. While Cassie just looks lost.

"She's as Charlie Brown says." They just stare at me. " 'Those who can't do, Teach.' "

Sophia snorted.

"Where do you even get this stuff?" Cassie asks exasperated.

"Comics."

"Well you should stop. Real life isn't a comic book."

I smirked raising my eyebrow. 'And where am I now?'

I shrugged. 'Oh..., yeah. Hollywood. ....oh well, close enough. Both are Marvel at this point.'

———time skip ——— don't want to be stuck at work———

I don't know who the idiot was, that said 'retracing your steps is easy, just go back the way you came.' But they are officially on my hit list right now!

"Are you alright, Miss Alivia?"

"Yeah. Just tired." I answer as JARVIS takes me to the floor I'm staying on.

Dog tired, I lie down on the couch, face down. It been one Hell of a day so far.

First it's super busy, then add mama Cassie's nagging as the cherry on top. I thought that's why I moved out in the first place. To get away from my mother. I don't need another one.

I know my mother is glad I'm finally gone. Out of her hair. She wasn't to fond of this trash being around her. ... it was better when Dad was home. He was the one who cared. I miss him.

I sigh trying to get these thoughts out of my head. I don't want to go there right now. I don't know if I can afford to. This isn't my home. 'Not that, That was my home to begin with'.

I shake my head once again erasing those thoughts. I take out my phone to check the time. "JARVIS"

"Yes, Miss?"

I chuckle, hearing him call me miss even though I've asked him to call me by name, it's kind of funny. It does make sense though, JARVIS, if I recall correctly, is based off Tony's childhood butler Jarvis. Kind of reminds me of the butler from the movie, Kate and Leopold, Otis. Leo's butler ment so much to him he placed Otis's name in his invention. I can't help smiling at the thought, but then burst into laughter remembering that 'Sabertooth' ended up dating his Great, Great Grandma. I can't help but wonder if it's legal.

"Miss?"

"Oh, sorry." I respond, sitting up and chuckling again. "I just got lost in

thought. Is Bruce available right now?"

"He's currently in the lab, Miss."

"Could you let him know I'm here please?"

Bruce's POV

I've pretty much been anxious all day. Even being in the lab doesn't really help, even though it normally would. I talked to Alivia last night and she agreed to talk about David as another Hulk today. Having another Hulk is not good. I have enough trouble with mine. If somebody else could turn into the Hulk... the destruction would be .... catastrophic.

I'm just grateful Tony hasn't sai- "Distracted a little today are we, Brucie?" ...never mind.

Before I can say anything JARVIS interrupts, "Excuse me, Dr. Banner. Miss Alivia says she's back from work. She is currently on her floor."

"Thank you." I rush, putting my lab equipment away. The sooner I get there the better.

"Ah." Tony says as if he was enlightened. I glance at him only to see his smug face smiling.

'Ugh.'

He wiggles his eyebrows at me, "Science bro's finally getting some action!"

I deadpanned 'Really!?'

"No, Tony." I put the last of my equipment away. "She agreed to talk about the other Hulk." I started to walk away.

"You mean, 'David'?"

"Yes." I answer when I'm almost by the door.

"That's it!?!"

Without answering an exasperated Tony, I walk out the door.

Alivia's POV

I agreed to talk to Bruce about David, The Incredible Hulk, yesterday. So I'm sure he'll be on his way here soon. I may not have the DVD's of the show, but with my internet, I think I can show him what I was talking about. I go to grab my laptop and bring it to the living room.

"Miss, I've informed Dr. Banner, he's on his way."

"Thanks JARVIS."  I say as I go to sit on the couch.

*Ding!*

By the time I sit down, I hear the elevator. 'That didn't take long.' I look up to see Bruce speed walking towards me, causing me to smile. "Who died?"

"What?"

I chuckle, "No need to rush, Bruce. I don't plan on running away."

"Oh, uh... right." Bruce scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry."

"Come on, sit down." I say patting the spot next to me. "It'll be easier if I show you."

He sat down next to me, somewhat uncomfortably, like he was sitting next to a stranger on a park bench. I can't blame him, we are practically strangers. I placed my laptop on the coffee table to make it easier for him to see and hopefully more comfortable, since I couldn't place it on his lap.

I try to pull up the first episode on YouTube. Sadly, a lot of the videos are ...blocked. I go to search Google when Bruce speaks up.

"That's the Hulk?"

"Yeah." I smile. Since we can see the Hulk even with the videos blocked. "He's my first Hulk."

"Isn't ..." Bruce hesitated. "Isn't he ... a little small?"

I let out a laugh. "True. Compared to your Hulk, David's might be small...but the both of you..." I turn to Bruce with a gentle smile, " have some of the biggest hearts I've seen."

He coughed a little and turned his head. "Besides," I continue turning back to my laptop and gesturing to it, " at the time, that was the best they could do."

Bruce turns towards me, sharply confused.

"Special effects and all."

He still seemed confused, but when I found the first episode of season one he let out an, "Oh." Probably realizing David Banner was a character on a TV show and not in this world.

"Sorry." I said. "I probably should have said from the beginning that David is a character from the show, The Incredible Hulk. I didn't mean to worry you, it's just for me.... I knew you both as characters. It's kind of hard to switch gears at this point."

Bruce was quiet so I said. "You know you guys are really popular in my world."

"The Avengers?"

"Well, Yeah. But I'm referring to you and the Hulk."

He turned to me, this time with wide eyes, "Why!?"

"Why not?" I ask, starting the episode. I put it on low volume with subtitles so we can still talk if he wants. "You're smart, and help people as a scientist. Hulk is super strong which makes the boys envious."

I stopped to think for a bit, " in school terms, you're a nerd who can protect himself."

He was flabbergasted, "You call getting angry as 'protecting myself '?"

"Yep." I smile, turning to watch the show. "It's your power isn't it?"

"You know?" I pause, leaning back on the couch. "Hulk's anger kind of reminds me of my dad's." Maybe if I was looking at Bruce, I would've seen him flinch, but I didn't. "A strong outburst that can rattle the rafters."  I laughed at my fond memory.

I turned to looked at Bruce, "but he's also different. Getting angry like a kid."

"What?" He asked, bewildered that I would compare the Hulk to my dad and then a kid.

I smile. "An honest anger." I see Bruce's confused and possibly worried face. "Hulks anger is honest." I say again. "He attacks those who make him angry or what he deems a threat. And like a child, even if he does or does not know his own strength, he doesn't pay attention to the consequences."

Bruce still looks worried. "Bruce, the Hulk cares, he protects. Sure it's a little ruff around the edges, but he, you, Both of you have your own way to protect people. Maybe there's some destruction, maybe someone dies. But it happens. Life happens. It's not perfect and it will never be. We will never be. We just have to live with it."  '...yeah,... live with it...'

"But-"

"Bruce, 'perfect' is just a term, defined by someone's perspective. It can be your own or someone else's."

Bruce was silent. He stared for a bit, then turned his attention towards he show. I don't know if it was a good silence or bad.

I too turned my head to watch. It was just my opinion from what I've seen but, "I just wanted you to know." Slipped out.

———show skip———

Bruce's POV

We had watched a few episodes. Every tine David turn into the Hulk I flinched.  The destruction he caused, how much everyone around him was in danger... I didn't like it. The worst hadn't happened...yet.

I occasionally glanced at (Y/N), she seemed engrossed in it. Sometimes smiling, sometimes on the edge of her seat. Even fist pumping when Hulk 'smashed' the bad guys. The 'Other Guy' seemed to be getting excited too, wanting to grunt in approval.

It surprised me how she has such a good opinion of the Hulk, even with all his destruction tendencies. I'm always scared of hurting someone when I get angry. It gets so bad I lose control. ... even that time with Loki in the jet. I've isolated myself all these years-

"You alright there Bruce?" She asks pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, just..." I trail off.

"A lot to take in?"

"Yeah."

"Sorry." I look at her. Why was she apologizing? She was only answering my question. She looks sad but then quickly smiles.

"Wanna know why David's Hulk is so 'small'?" I know she's changing the topic, but I let it pass.

"Sure." I smile.

"The Hulk is played by Lou Ferrigno, a body builder!" That makes sense, he seemed bigger than an average man.

"I found out when I was watching the documentary! You know that scene where the hulk flipped that parked car at night, in the rain?"

"Yes?"

"Turns out, the contraption that was supposed to flip the car actually broke. It was really raining and dark out and Lou got so frustrated that he flipped the car himself! How cool is that!" She was so excited explaining this to me, I could help chuckling.

"That is something."

"Right!? Anger really can enhance a persons strength!" She looked like she wanted to say something else, so I stayed quite, but to no avail. Maybe it wasn't important.

Another episode had finished, this time instead of watching another one, she turns her computer off and closes it, leaning back on the couch.

After a little while she opens her mouth saying, "It's funny how emotions are both a strength and a weakness." She chuckles. "It really depends on when, where and what you feel that determines if it'll help or not."

"Yeah," I say in agreement "timing is everything isn't it."

She chuckles again, "Yes," she turns to me smiling, "yes it is."

I get up and she fallows, "Thank you for showing me David."

"It was my pleasure. Just let me know if you want to see more, or some of your movies." She says as she raises her hand for a shake.

I go to shake her hand but stop, "There's more!?"

She just laughs, "Of course. You guys are popular after all." We shake hands and I start to leave.

"Just so you know," she caused me to stop by the door. "Its a good thing you're the Hulk, Bruce." I turn to look at her, but all I see is a genuine smile on her face. She means every word.

I exist through the door, heading back to the lab, going over our previous conversations.

'Both of you have your own way to protect people.' Rings through my head. I can't help it, a small smile forms on my face as I enter the elevator.

As I push the button I couldn't help but think, 'Today wasn't so bad.'

—————————

2/12/2019

2895 words

Wow....that took a while. Thanks for waiting! I mean it! The support I've been getting means a lot. Over 400 views on Wattpad and close 24K views for Webnovel. I really appreciate all the comments and reviews. And to the people who have this in their library, thank you ❤️❤️❤️

I was working on this chapter bit by bit, and seriously... that took awhile. Sadly I've been working morning so I haven't been getting quite time to work on this. As long as you guys don't mind waiting I plan to keep the quality up rather than produce chapters like no tomorrow. I have a few ideas saved, but they are only so many. If there's something you want to see please let me know, it may show up in the story sooner or later. I will gladly mention who's idea it was.

Also in Webnovel I've been asked to get rid of (Y/N), so in Wattpad I'm going to keep (Y/N) but for webnovel I'm going to change her name to Alivia Sky ( thanks for helping me FlowerPower217 !!! Also if you like Glee check out their story "I'm a Character?!" It's so much fun ❤️❤️❤️ and a Thank you to Mr_Waffles87 from Webnovel for the middle name I love it, may end up as a new chapter, and MastersgtJames from Webnovel for suggesting a few names, it helped.)

Also I will mention I have found my story has somehow been uploaded without my knowledge to wuxiaworld.co can't say I'm too thrilled 👿😡

I mean I AM happy people are enjoying this story, but please let me know if you want to post this and where. This story is a lot of work, and I do not own the avengers, Wuxiaworld has deleted my disclaimer in my stories description, cutting it off at the "ha ha". I want to say I am not making any money off this and this is for pure enjoyment and fantasy.

Back to a happy note, all of my announcements will come after a chapter, so if you see an "update" it's an update.

Question, should I add more photos and videos, or just do words and leave the videos and photo at the top of the chapter?

Thanks for waiting and reading! Please vote and comment!!! It means the world to me. 😉