Sitting the test was not as easy as Rose had made it out to be. Getting to the school was both uncomfortable and awkward, as walking in New York always is. Rose did her best to keep Bruce calm, because the Hulk would be even more uncomfortable to have in the room as she sat her tests. Waiting to get called in for the tests was odd, especially as she was sitting next to a grown adult. They managed to avoid to some scrutiny by having him carry her bag as she went over her flashcards, but the implication was enough to have them both feel uncomfortable anyways.
Taking the tests themselves was quite possibly the most bothersome part. The test room was close enough to the waiting room to pass the ten feet rule, but waiting without Petra was nerve wrecking for Bruce. The one time that someone addressed Bruce was quite possibly the worst part. The simple "It's nice to see a father taking time off to be with his daughter" wasn't anything upsetting on its own, but the huge difference in the truth and assumption was enough to make Bruce's stomach turn in disgust. He barely managed to hide it, using years of meditation training a much different way. Luckily, or unluckily perhaps, Petra walked out of the room, feeling good about her tests just as that comment passed. She would have ignored it, but Bruce was so uncomfortable with anyone thinking that, she had to find some way to clear it up with the woman. There was no possible way that she would want to tell the whole truth to the woman. Still, looking at Bruce, his eyes now green, not that he noticed, she made her destination. Her job was to manage the Hulk. She would stop him from having an uncomfortable appearance. "He isn't my father" Petra said.
"Than who is he to you?" The woman asked, curiously.
Instead of answering right away, Petra thought about her answer. An argument was the last thing that she wanted or needed right now. It would likely bring Hulk all the way to the surface, and he needed to stay calm right now. An out of context answer would be the best solution. "Do the two of us look related? There was an incident with my biological father a week or so ago, and I feel safer with Bruce around" All of it was true, and it would paint a much different story of their reasons for their presence. It would picture Bruce's discomfort as caused by being compared to a less than admirable person, and the topic as being to uncomfortable to elaborate on.
"How awful!" The woman exclaimed, and as hoped for, dropped the conversation.
"Come on Bruce" Petra said, grabbing Bruce's hand and leading him out into the hall.
Once there, she let go of Bruce's hand, not pressing control over him. "Do you want to return now?"
Bruce looked at her in surprise. "What was that about?"
"You didn't notice? She was stressing you out, and my job is to keep you from that sort of upsetting situation. This isn't a convenient place for Hulk to trash, and you are out of that situation"
"Really, that isn't an exaggeration?" Bruce said, starting to panic.
"Calm down, Bruce" Petra told him, disapproving. "You are out of the situation, and there weren't any casualties. That sounds like a success to me! This proves that I'm doing my job right" She exclaimed.
"But that person" Bruce complained, not really believing what he was saying "Is there really that much of an age difference between us?"
"Calm down, Bruce. She didn't know any better"
"But it's just wrong!" Bruce complained, hardly believing what he was saying. "Your mine, why doesn't she know?" Why on earth was he complaining. He wasn't that clingy! Petra realized that to.
"Is that what you think, or are you speaking for Hulk?" Petra asked, "Because if you are speaking something for Hulk, that's fine, but I need to know so that I can differentiate between you two"
"That was Hulk's opinion" Bruce admitted, guiltily looking down.
"Than you can tell Hulk that I say that we both know what our relationship is, and that bystander's opinion doesn't matter. I would elaborate, but someone is coming around the corner"
"Good" Bruce said, and with a jealously that wasn't entirely his own, he pushed Petra against the wall and kissed her. After he was satisfied that whoever was nearby had seen them, Bruce spoke up again "You belong to me"
After a moment to regain her thoughts, Petra asked "Is that Hulk or you talking now?" in a quiet voice.
"Both" Bruce said in a strangled voice, before just leaning down and resting his head against hers.
After waiting long enough to give her boyfriend time to calm down, Petra spoke up "We do have to get back. If you'd like, we can talk or rest some more then"
"Alright" Bruce agreed after another moment. He took her hand, and they made the stressful journey back to the base.