Father Daughter Chats (feat. Raven, Bruce and Carol)
Raven: [texts Bruce] Hey Dad... how are you today? 19:13
Bruce Banner: [text] Better now than I was this morning. You? 19:14
Raven: [texts Bruce] What happened this morning? 19:15
Bruce Banner: [text] Felt a bit lightheaded, and I had a fever. But I'm MUCH better now. Guess I shouldn't have gone out 4 coffee last night 19:16
Raven: [texts Bruce] Good grief, how much coffee did you have? 19:18
Bruce Banner: [text] I actually had tea! But I probably shouldn't have been walking around. 19:18
Bruce Banner: [text] I actually ran into Vic... 19:18
Raven: [texts Bruce] ... Victor Creed? What happened? 19:21
Bruce Banner: [text] I didn't recognize him at first, so we went to Starbucks. We had a brief conversation and then he left and I went home 19:23
Bruce Banner: [text] He also kissed my forehead. Is that like the mafia thing? Kiss of death? Should I be concerned? 19:23
Raven: [texts Bruce] How did you not recognize him? 19:25
Raven: [texts Bruce after a long pause] It's Vic... who knows what that means... 19:25
Bruce Banner: [text] He looked different 19:25
Bruce Banner: [text] ....... I'll start writing up a will and wedding vows, just in case 19:25
Raven: [texts Bruce] How different did he look that you wouldn't recognize him? 19:27
Raven: [texts Bruce] You write either and we'll have issues... Especially the latter... 19:28
Bruce Banner: [text] well he was blonde for one thing 19:29
Bruce Banner: [text] Haha, what's wrong? You don't want me and Victor to have a long, happy life together? 19:30
Raven: [texts Bruce] ... Is that a trick question? 19:31
Bruce Banner: [text] Yes, love. Don't worry, I am FAR too afraid of him to consider anything like that 19:33
Bruce Banner: [text] Does offer an interesting question though. What WOULD you do if I decided to get married/start dating? 19:33
Raven: [texts Bruce] Good... 19:35
Raven: [texts Bruce] Depends on who... 19:35
Bruce Banner: [text] Who would you disown me for trying to marry? 19:36
Raven: [texts Bruce] It's a rather large list... would take far too long to type up. 19:38
Bruce Banner: [text] Haha, wait! Now I want to hear it! 19:39
Raven: [texts Bruce] Some day... 19:40
Bruce Banner: [text] -insert me pouting here- 19:40
Bruce Banner: [text] Okay. Top 5? 19:41
Raven: [texts Bruce] Vic, Loki, Viper, Braddock, Fury... in no particular order 19:42
Bruce Banner: [text] I doubt Loki would want to marry me. There's no way in HELL I'd marry Viper. Or Fury. Elizabeth's a friend, and Vic's simply not my type Satisfied? 19:43
Raven: [texts Bruce] For now... but I'm watching you... 19:46
Bruce Banner: [text] Ooooh, I'm so scared! 19:46
Raven: [texts Bruce] You should be... I'm a very clever girl, Dad... 19:47
Bruce Banner: [text] Not clever enough to find a way over here... When are you coming to visit? 19:49
Raven: [texts Bruce] I'll get there soon... SHIELD's combing this part of town today... so I need to lie low. 19:51
Bruce Banner: [text] Ah, okay. 19:51
Bruce Banner: [text] Maybe I should tell one of the higher ups what happened to me... D'you think that would help distract them for a bit? I hate to think of you holed up by yourself 19:52
Raven: [texts Bruce] I'd rather they not focus on you... I can't protect you if I'm still on the run myself... 19:53
Bruce Banner: [texts] Aww sweetheart, you don't have to protect me. I might not be The Hulk, but I can take care of myself 20:03
Raven: [texts Bruce after a long pause] What do you mean you might not be The Hulk? 20:04
Bruce Banner: [texts back after a very long pause] We didn't discuss this? 20:06
Raven: [texts Bruce] No, we didn't. Why don't we discuss it now... 20:07
Raven: {Calls Bruce} 20:07
Bruce Banner: -hesitantly picks up the phone- ............. Hello? 20:08
Raven: Hello Dad... what is this about you not being the Hulk? 20:08
Bruce Banner: -squirms uncomfortably- It's... a long story. 20:10
Raven: Start talking. 20:10
Bruce Banner: -sighs- Y-you know how Viper stole materials from my lab before she kidnapped me? Well... she took a serum that was meant to... get rid of the Hulk. Only I wasn't finished with it yet and-... well, to say the least, it was volitile…. That's what she injected me with... why I'm feeling so out of sorts... H-he's gone, Raven... I'm sorry... Th-there wasn't anything I could do to stop her... 20:13
Raven: ..................... So he's really gone... 20:14
Bruce Banner: -nods, then remembers he's on the phone... very quietly- I... I'm sorry... 20:15
Raven: I'm not angry, Dad... it's just... The Hulk, for better or for worse, was a part of you... he was also your protector. 20:18
Bruce Banner: -sighs- I know.... I feel like I've just had my insides removed... Sort of hollow. 20:19
Raven: And, I'm not going to lie... I was kind of partial to the big guy... 20:19
Bruce Banner: -sighs- 20:20
Raven: We'll get through this, Dad... 20:22
Bruce Banner: How? 20:22
Evie smiles, starting to get up. 20:22
Raven: Is your blood on file on the database? 20:23
Bruce Banner: No. SHIELD thought that might not be such a great idea. But I've got a few samples in the lab. 20:25
Raven: If you can get back there and get them for me... and we can analyze them... Get me a vial of your blood now and we'll take a look at that too... we'll see if we can reverse this. 20:26
Bruce Banner: -nods- I'll head in tomorrow. 20:27
Raven: Good. 20:28
Bruce Banner: -bites his lower lip- Raven? 20:29
Raven: Yes? 20:29
Bruce Banner: Will you do something for me? Or... rather... NOT do something for me, I guess... 20:29
Raven: What? 20:30
Bruce Banner: Can you... not mention this to anyone? -sighs- I know it's a stupid request, but... I'm just... I-I'm worried that if SHIELD finds out, th-they'd send me away... And I wouldn't be able to see you, or the family, or anyone else after that... 20:30
Carol enters the apartment quietly, thinking about Steve, and narrowly catches the last sentence, standing in the entryway and listening silently 20:31
Raven: I won't tell anyone... but if it comes up, I won't lie to Matt... I couldn't if I tried... you know that. 20:31
Bruce Banner: I know. But I trust him not to say anything. -sighs- This just can't get out. Not now, anyways... 20:33
Raven: Of course, Dad. 20:33
Raven: Who else knows? 20:34
Bruce Banner: -smiles weakly- Thanks... 20:34
Bruce Banner: No one. Just you. And Viper, of course... But other than that, I haven't told anyone 20:34
Carol shifts awkwardly, trying to decide if she should reveal that she's here, and has been listening in 20:34
Raven: What about Carol... you live with her... how long are you going to keep this from her? 20:35
Bruce Banner: 'Til I can get it fixed. Carol doesn't have to know. Not knowing won't hurt her, and telling her will just make her worry. 20:35
Raven: And if we can't fix it? 20:36
Bruce Banner: -sighs- Then I think we'd have bigger things to worry about, don't you? 20:36
Carol looks down, a little hurt, then sighs internally and pulls the door open, then closes it again, walking into the living room with a smile on her face. "Hey, Bruce." 20:36
Bruce Banner: -jumps slightly and turns to face her- Carol! Hi.... I didn't know you'd be home so early... 20:37
Raven: True... 20:37
Carol: Well, I can't be predictable all the time, can I? -nods at the phone, settling herself on an armchair- Who's that? 20:38
Raven: Dad? 20:38
Bruce Banner: It's Raven... 20:39
Bruce Banner: -into the phone- Raven? Honey, Carol just got back... 20:39
Carol: -brightly- Tell her I say hi. 20:40
Bruce Banner: -smiles- Carol says hi... 20:40
Raven: Hey Carol... -smirks- I think I'm going to let you go so you can talk to Carol... 20:41
Bruce Banner: Raven says hi... 20:41
Bruce Banner: -frowns- ..........Fine. I'll talk to you later then. Stay safe, alright? 20:42
Raven: I'll try... 20:42
Bruce Banner: Love you. 20:43
Raven: Love you too... have a good night. 20:44
Bruce Banner: Yeah, I'll try... 20:44
Raven: I'm sure it will be fine... bye Dad... 20:45
Raven: -hangs up- 20:45
Bruce Banner: Bye... 20:46
Bruce Banner: -sighs and flops onto the couch with a groan- 20:46