Next morning
Elizabeth awoke before Bruce and anyone else, she knew her grandmother would be in bed until somewhere between nine and noon, and it just now being eight-thirty, she had plenty of time to make breakfast for herself and Bruce. Not knowing what Bruce would like, Elizabeth decided to make bacon, mainly because who doesn't like bacon? Elizabeth also made scrambled eggs and cut some fresh strawberries, one can never have enough fresh strawberries. Turning on the kitchen radio Elizabeth got to work. She was so engrossed in her cooking and music that Elizabeth didn't notice Bruce was standing awkwardly in the doorway, until she turned around.
"AAHH!" Elizabeth exclaimed while jumping up and burning her hand on the stove.
"I'm so sorry for startling you. Let me take a look at that." Bruce then examined Elizabeth's hand, but from his facial expression she could tell that she might just might make it. "I apologize, I didn't mean to surprise you, but I don't usually awake in houses and beds I am unfamiliar with. Let alone-"
"Why don't you set the table for us and we can talk over breakfast. I'm sure you're famished and full of questions, the plates and silverware are over there." Elizabeth pointed out to Bruce where everything was and finished breakfast before bring it all over to the table where Bruce was sitting uncomfortably. "Dig in Bruce." At first he was startled that Elizabeth knew his name, but upon seeing her grab bacon and eggs, he slowly followed suit. Probably because he knew she wouldn't talk until he did so. They ate in silence for about ten minutes or so before Elizabeth broke it.
"So I bet you're wondering how I know who you were, huh?"
"That among other things." Bruce mumbled. Elizabeth just giggled at that statement, mostly because she knew he would be curious, he is a scientist after all. Elizabeth figured she should just throw it out into the open, break the ice so to say.
"Hulk told me your name." Elizabeth Casually said before taking a drink of her coffee, while Bruce did the complete opposite, he spit out the sip he had just taken. Elizabeth mildly wondered if she should have paid attention to whether or not he was drinking when she blurted out her statement.
"What?!" Bruce exclaimed, while wiping his mouth with his arm, Elizabeth handed him a napkin.
"Yes, Hulk, he told me your name. He's told me quite a lot about you, you know. He listens as well as he talks by the way. Didn't think you'd know that." Bruce just stared at Elizabeth as is she was an alien or something.
"Wha….how….huh?" Elizabeth couldn't help but think of how he was supposed to have the intelligence of a doctor, but was rethinking that thought at this moment.
"Bruce do you get any of Hulk's memories as he does yours?" Bruce looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Sometimes something has to trigger them most of the time." She thought that that would make sense, make is seem almost like a dream, something triggers one to remember the dream if the person didn't remember it right away. "That still doesn't explain how you know me or more specifically how you are on such-terms with Hulk- I mean the other guy." Elizabeth sat her mug down and clasped her hands together thinking of what she should tell him or specifically how to tell him.
"To put it bluntly Hulk saved my life, I was leaving work and two men attacked me, one was going through my purse, while the other held me down trying to-trying to…well I think you could guess what he was trying to do." Bruce closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, almost as a way to control his emotions. He nodded that he understood as well as for Elizabeth to continue with her story.
"Before the man on top of me could get past my blouse, I heard a roar and felt the weight lifted off my body, it happened so quick that I'm not totally sure what exactly happened, but I did see a figure in the shadows and knew that this man had saved my life. I wanted to thank him, I drew closer and saw that he was larger and different from any man I had ever seen, he then walked into the light and concluded that I was right." By now Bruce had a look of horror etched onto his face as if he anticipated what was to unfold next, but Elizabeth could tell he was pleasantly surprised when she told him, that she thanked Hulk and he didn't harm her.
"But he harms anyone in his path, this doesn't make sense." Elizabeth could see the gears in Bruce's head working overtime, she figured she would help him to understand.
"Later during one of our many nightly conversations, I asked Hulk why he helped me and didn't hurt me as well, especially when he told me previously he usually hurts those around him. He told me he was curious that a person didn't run from him, but looked him in the eyes and didn't show fear. I think being one of the few if not the only person not to run from or show fear of him, is the reason he came back the next night." Bruce looked dumbfounded, he couldn't comprehend what she had said right away. Almost as if he didn't believe it.
"So you mean to tell me you're where the other guy would go when he forced me to transform?"
"Well, I believe so, he needed someone to talk to, to have a friend, release you know?"
"No, I don't know, he shouldn't have kept forcing me to change, he could have hurt innocents, or worse broke this city like her broke Harlem." By now Bruce was getting worked up and pinched his nose as Elizabeth now realized was a way to keep from losing control.
"I know Hulk has done that in the past, but he just wants to show himself, if not to others, but to you Bruce, that he isn't just destruction, that he is a part of you, a good part. I know what happened last night, Bruce." At this Bruce looked up at Elizabeth with wide eyes.
"I know you feel that it would have made everything simpler, but did you think of how Hulk felt, how he felt knowing you were trying to kill yourself because of him? Hulk was hurt, he came directly here to me for comfort, to the one person who treats him like a human being, like a person, not like a monster. Do you know what I saw last night? I saw a broken man, yes he was green, huge, and had childish tendencies, but I saw a man distraught, I saw a man cry. Yes Hulk cried because you hurt him!"
Elizabeth could tell Bruce had no idea what to say, she could see that Bruce didn't realize Hulk is just a part of himself, Hulk shows the emotions that Bruce is too afraid to show himself. During Elizabeth's rant to Bruce she somehow stood up and walked over to the sink and leaned over it.
"Why don't you go take a shower freshen up, I've placed clean clothes in the bathroom for you. Once we've both freshened up and cooled down I'll answer anything you want to know. But at least think about what I've told you about Hulk, please." The last part was more whispered, but Bruce heard her. Elizabeth didn't know if he realized why she wanted him to think about it, about Hulk. She only just realized why she cared so much, because somehow during their nightly chats, she got to know Bruce through Hulk, she learned the raw inner Bruce, she fell in lo- No she cared deeply for him through Hulk, she cared deeply for both of them.