Dr. Bruce Banner sitting on a bar stool with a drink wasn't unusual to Rebecca Chamberlain. She had been working as a bartender to pay off student debts from medical school, which she immediately enrolled in after her graduate school debts had been paid off.
At eight o'clock sharp, Dr. Banner had strolled into the bar and slumped down his usual seat, leaning his arms on the counter and placing his head on them, sighing. Rebecca had noticed his glasses were missing and his hair was askew, unlike the combed look he usually maintained. He looked up at her, barely moving his head.
"The usual, Banner?" She asked, cleaning a glass with a rag and moving over to his usual vermouth.
"Hey, Rebecca?" Banner asked from his spot on the counter. Rebecca looked over her shoulder.
"Yeah?"
"I'd like something stronger, if you don't mind."
"Sure thing. Whatcha want?"
"Scotch, please."
Rebecca stopped in her tracks and turned to face the scientist, surprise gracing her features.
"Are you sure? The stuff we've got is twice as strong as your usual, doc." She said in concern as she put the bottle of vermouth back in its place and reached for the bottle of scotch.
"Yes." Banner replied sullenly, returning to examining the wooden countertop, studying every groove disinterestedly.
"Okay then…" Rebecca pulled the bottle of scotch and poured a glass for the scientist. She slid it expertly down the counter, not spilling a drop on the surface stained from past attempts.
Bruce nodded and took it in his hand. His eyes wandered over it for a brief moment before he downed the drink. Rebecca blinked in shock as he held out the glass to her, wordlessly asking for another round.
"S-sure." She refilled the glass and handed it back. Bruce downed it in seconds before placing it back on the counter.
"Hey, Rebecca?" Bruce asked again, looking up at Rebecca.
"Yeah?"
"Can we talk?"
Rebecca raised an eyebrow at the doctor's request. It was odd, but she went to school for that sort of thing. "If you want to, I don't see why not. What's up?"
Bruce sat in silence, head down, gazing at the counter.
"...You okay, Banner?"
"Everyone's against me, Rebecca. I know they are."
Rebecca blinked. "Who's against you, Banner?"
"My team."
Now, Rebecca was really confused. Team?
"Team, Banner?"
Bruce looked up at her. "Yeah. Team."
"What do you mean? I'm confused."
"The others. My team. You know."
"I really don't, Banner. You aren't making sense."
"The Avengers."
Rebecca didn't know what to say. Banner was an Avenger? 'That's crazy. He can't be an Avenger. There's no way. He must've over done it.' She thought.
"The Avengers?"
Banner looked Rebecca directly in the eye.
"Yes."
"Wh-why do you think they're against you?"
"I'm not thinking. I know they are."
"Why though?"
"I'm a monster, Rebecca. A huge, green, terrifying monster."
'He's talking about the Hulk.' Rebecca thought.
"You aren't a monster, Banner. I know you aren't."
The words flew out of her mouth before she knew it. Bruce looked up at her with sorrowful eyes.
"But I am, Rebecca. I destroy things. I could hurt people."
"You don't mean to, though."
"It happens whether I mean to or not. I can't control him." Bruce laid his head on the counter, facing Rebecca.
Realization dawned on Rebecca's face as she figured out how she could help the sullen scientist.
"Maybe instead of trying to control him, you could become friends with him. That way, you both could reach an understanding and you both would feel better about each other."
Banner looked up. 'She has a point…'
"Of course, that won't happen overnight. You both need to invest time and energy into building a friendship."
Bruce nodded. "I'll try, Rebecca. Thank you."
He stood up and reached into his pocket for his wallet. He pulled out money for the drinks. Rebecca put it into her pocket for the register, and started to walk over to the aforementioned machine, when Banner called out.
"Rebecca!"
She turned ever so slightly to face him. In his outstretched hand was a twenty dollar bill.
"Doc, you already payed." Rebecca responded, oblivious to what he was doing.
"It's your tip. Thank you for the advice, Rebecca. I'll definitely remember it."
"It's what I do. Have a good rest of your evening, Doc." She held the twenty in her hand and smiled at the doctor as he left the bar for the first and last time that evening.
