After the Battle of New York, Bruce goes home.
Bruce & Walters Fam for @bruceweek 2023 💚
For the second time that day, Bruce wakes up in a pile of rubble.
He breathes in the smell of freshly-mown grass, struggling to anchor himself as the aftermath of Hulk threatens to overwhelm him. He remembers metal bending in his hands, and Thor’s triumphant grin, and… nothing else.
Head spinning, Bruce sits up. He was lying in the remains of a wooden shed; a lawnmower is now a crumpled metal pancake beneath him. It’s afternoon – but whether it’s the same day, Bruce can’t be sure. He has no sense of time when the other guy takes over.
It takes him a few moments to realise that he knows this backyard. In fact, he spent years out here: sitting on the grass with a book, making snowmen with Jen, endless barbeques in the summer…
Bruce clambers to his feet and looks around in shock. He’s in LA. He’s home.
The back door opens and Morris Walters steps out, frowning in confusion. ‘What the hell is going – ‘ Then he sees Bruce. He stops.
A thousand thoughts flicker through Bruce’s head. He hasn’t had any contact with his family since the accident. They must have thought he’d abandoned them – or turned into a dangerous monster. This isn’t the most tactful way to tell them he’s still alive.
‘Hi, Uncle Morris,’ he whispers.
Morris drifts towards him, staring as if he’s afraid Bruce will disappear. It’s been seven years but he’s aged more than that – the moustache has remained, though. Aunt Elaine can never convince him to shave it.
An apology rises to Bruce’s lips. He shouldn’t have come here, shouldn’t have literally come crashing back into their lives – but Morris grabs him in a hug. ‘Good to see you, kiddo,’ he says tightly.
And Bruce understands that everything is going to be okay. He hides his face in Morris’ thick sweater and clings to him like he did when he was a kid. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he mumbles, ‘I missed you all so much…’
‘You’re here now. That’s all that matters.’
