Like Father, Like Son Part 1
Pairing: dad!Banner x Reader’s Son, background Bruce Banner x Reader
Prompt: Continuation of Not Even Flowers?
Warnings: Maybe language, I don’t remember lol
Words: 1.2k+
It was Bruce’s turn to watch your son, Robert. You were going to the gym for a while to burn off the weight you gained during the pregnancy, and Natasha was determined to help you. So you trusted Bruce to watch the baby for a few hours.
Bruce knew that you would be pissed at him if he brought Robert to the lab, so he decided to take him for a walk around the nature trail surrounding the Avengers Headquarters. It was cloudy outside, so the trail didn’t have the same excitement that it would if the sun was illuminating the bright flowers and streams. But it was still a sight to see.
Robert was cradled in his father’s arms, gazing around at the unknown scenery. Bruce looked down to him, and their eyes met, the same chocolate brown eyes.
“One day, I’m gonna take you out here and show you how to test the pH levels of the streams. Those are like tiny rivers.” Bruce said to the baby. “And one day, if you’re up to it, I can help you classify the algae that grow on the rocks.”
Robert stared at his father, not comprehending the words he said, but still paying attention to his voice. The voice that comforted him so many times at night when you told Bruce that is was his turn to check on Robert.
Bruce finally reached a small area of the trail, where Tony had put a bench (for the old people, namely Clint). He sat down, holding Robert a little closer to his chest.
“Your mother is insisting that I play classical music for you while you sleep so that your brain’s plasticity will increase. But I think if I just read out of a chemistry textbook, we can get the same results. Plus you’ll actually learn something.” Bruce explained, brushing his fingers against Robert’s face gently.
Robert reached his arms out to his father and giggled, trying to grab the material of his shirt. Bruce chuckled softly. “I bet you wouldn’t be able to sleep if I was talking to you, huh? You like to stay awake and keep me company.” He teased before bringing him closer to kiss his tiny nose.
Then raindrops began to sprinkle from the sky. Bruce looked up before exhaling and standing up. “Looks like our outdoors time is being cut short, buddy.” He said.
The rain didn’t bother Robert since Bruce was shielding his head with his hand. Just as the end of the trial was nearing, lightning struck a tree in front of the two, the power sending Bruce flying backward and hitting his head on a rock. He managed to shield and secure Robert in his arms, so the baby remained unharmed.
Bruce felt the Hulk’s rage heat up in his chest. “No, no, no…” Bruce mumbled. The Hulk sent a torturous migraine to Bruce’s head, adding on to the pain already existing from the collision with the rock. “NO! ROBERT IS WITH ME!” Bruce yelled, breathing becoming rushed.
While Bruce was dealing with the mental fight against the Hulk, he didn’t notice Robert’s cries. The cries that were becoming more and more strained. And Bruce only noticed when he saw a flash of green. The Hulk saw it, too, and they both stopped fighting for power for a moment. Robert’s eyes were a piercing green, and his veins were bulging, tinted with more green.
Bruce’s heart nearly stopped. “Robert, no.” He breathed. “Please, no, darling. Don’t do this, you’re not like this. This isn’t what you need to do.” He begged, tears welling up in his eyes. “Don’t turn green, don’t turn green, don’t turn green…”
Those pleads he always made to himself, but now he was making them to his newborn son. Soon Robert had fully transformed, still tiny, but green and angry, his strength amplified. He grabbed at Bruce’s shirt, still wanting the security of his father’s embrace. But he ripped the fabric, leaving a hole in the shirt.
Bruce nearly had to put Robert down because he thought that he might pass out from his emotions. Guilt, panic, agony, the list goes on. But then he felt the familiar strain against his head.
Bruce shook his head. “Not now, Robert is turning into YOU. He’s got your disease. He’s green and destructive!” He hissed. But then he felt another rush of a migraine coming on. “Okay, okay, fine! It’s MY disease. But now is not the time, he needs help.” Bruce added.
But he knew he wasn’t going to win this conversation. Bruce placed Robert on the ground carefully before running back a few steps, eventually tripping as he lost his senses. The Hulk regained his balance and immediately began to search for the source of the cries. He saw Robert, screaming on the ground. He rushed over, hoisting the child into his arms.
Robert continued to scream, but the Hulk brushed his large finger against the infant’s chest, rubbing small circles. Slowly but surely, Robert’s cries began to cease. The Hulk smiled slightly at the green infant.
“Little Hulk.” He growled proudly.
Robert curiously reached his hands up to the Hulk’s face, his fingers latching to one of his ears. And then he pulled. Harder than the Hulk expected. In his mind, he could hear Banner scolding him for not even thinking about the infant’s amplified strength. The Hulk growled softly at his conscious but returned his attention to Robert.
The baby nuzzled his nose against the Hulk’s chest, finally calmed down, despite the rain. The Hulk smiled proudly at the tiny, green creature. Something that was his. It was his child. Of course, Robert’s human state was also his child. But nobody was like the Hulk. Nobody had ever just cuddled against him the way that Robert did.
The Hulk carefully dropped to his knees, still holding Robert carefully. “Hulk loves Little Hulk.” He growled before placing a rough but gentle kiss on the top of Robert’s head. “Little Hulk maybe loves Hulk.” He grunted, considering the possibility.
He’s your son. He could hear Bruce saying in the back of his mind. Of course, he loves you.
The Hulk chuckled and pressed his forehead against Robert’s. “Puny Banner is right for once.” He said. And he could feel the sting that Bruce sent through the back of his mind. The Hulk growled a little, but still remained forehead to forehead with his son.
As the rain seemed to intensify, the Hulk shrunk down and lost his green tint, forming back into Bruce. When Bruce opened his eyes, he was met with chocolate orbs staring back at his own. Bruce’s forehead was still pressed to Robert’s. And Robert’s skin had also drained of the green skin color.
Fortunately for Robert, he still had his yellow onesie clinging to his small body. Bruce, however, was bare-bodied other than his tattered pants holding on loosely to his waist. The rain sent shivers through Bruce’s body. Then he remembered. The radiation sickness. If he had it, then Robert might have it, too.
“Okay, we need to get inside.” He mumbled, weakly rising to his feet and heading back to the headquarters entrance.
To Be Continued…
