AN: Enjoy!
With Clint's help, Wanda and Vision managed to build a suitable large, hopefully sturdy enough Playpen for Tommy and his large green friend. Tomorrow Morning, they would set out some suitable toys, and hopefully, all would be well.
"Are you guys really sure this Playdate with The Hulk is a good idea?" Clint asked as they were finishing up.
"Well.." Vision hesitated, but he trusted Wanda's judgement. "It's not a bad idea.."
"We wouldn't have agreed if we thought it was going to end badly" said Wanda.
"Your call" Clint shrugged. "I mean, I trust Bruce entirely. Bruce is just the kind of guy that you trust. The Hulk, though.. When he's on your side, he's great. But when he's not, well.. It was only four years ago that he rampaged through a city.."
Wanda's cheeks suddenly flushed, a memory rising in her mind.
"I want to finish the plan. I want the big one."
Wanda remembered invading Bruce Banner's mind as he waited in the Quinjet. Probing deep into his psyche, poking and prodding at the very worst of his memories to spark true fury inside him, drawing out the very worst version of the Hulk.
She remembered Bruce looking at her, in the final moments before he transformed, the tainted Hulk taking over. He'd looked so scared.
"You should run.. now.."
Pietro had scooped her up, speeding them both out of harm's way.
And for just a moment, Wanda felt guilty. But the guilt hadn't fully taken hold, not then. After all, he was one of them.. the enemy..
Now though, things were very different, especially since she had truly gotten to know Bruce Banner. Now, the fear in his eyes haunted her. The Hulk that had attacked that day wasn't really The Hulk.
Clint was still voicing his concerns, and Wanda's guilt and shame bubbled over.
"It wasn't Hulk's fault!" she snapped. Billy, still strapped to her chest, whined a little.
"What?" Clint jumped slightly at her raised voice.
"You should remember, Clint. You stopped me before I got to you.. The Hulk only attacked that City because of me!" Wanda stormed off, back inside the cottage.
Once inside, Wanda took a deep, calming breath. Billy, whining again, reached up a little hand to try and touch his Mother's cheek. Wanda managed a small smile at his comforting gesture, unbuckling the carrier so she could cuddle her son properly.
"Mama has done some bad things, Una pretioasa.." She whispered, kissing the top of his head. She wouldn't hide them from the twins. When they were old enough, they would talk about it, hopefully understand, and she could keep her boys from making the same mistakes.
A few minutes later, Vision entered the cottage. Tommy was whimpering, trying to reach for Wanda. He unbuckled him from the carrier, and Wanda sat down so she could more easily hold both boys, settling them in her lap when Vision handed Tommy over.
"Clint went home" He explained gently, sitting beside Wanda and draping an arm around her shoulders. "He said to tell you that he feels like an idiot, and he's sorry."
"I shouldn't have snapped.."
"I think he understands.. So do I. You're sensitive about these things. What you did then is so far from who you really are.."
"But I still did it.."
"You did" Vision kissed her temple. "But everyone has forgiven you and put it behind them. Perhaps you should too."
"Voi incerca" Wanda sighed. "But it is not easy.."
The next Morning, Natasha Romanoff woke up, jumping out of her skin when she saw The Hulk sitting at the foot of her bed. She'd only just managed to stop herself reaching for her gun.
"What the hell, Big guy? That is not cool!"
"Playdate" said Hulk, innocently oblivious as to why it was wrong to sneak into Natasha's room while she was sleeping. "'Tasha take Hulk."
"Yeah.. Yeah, I'm taking you" Nat murmured, blinking sleep from her eyes. "Just give me a few minutes, okay?"
"'Kay." The Hulk didn't move.
"Uh.. I'm gonna need you to wait outside, big guy" Natasha almost blushed. "It was warm last night, and I'm not wearing pants.."
Hulk finally seemed to get the hint, stomping out into the hall, and Nat breathed a sigh of relief.
Not too much later, just as they were done setting out toys, the Quinjet landed near Wanda and Vision's cottage.
The playdate had been going remarkably well so far. Tommy sped around the big playpen, happily showing off his toys to his new big green friend. Billy, a little uncertain at first, had joined in on the fun and games as well. However, Billy had not yet mastered the ability to crawl to the level that his brother had, so whenever Tommy would move on to the next attraction, The Hulk would, gently, scoop Billy into the palm of his large hand and follow Tommy.
Vision was currently supervising, while Wanda had taken Nat inside to get her something to eat since The Hulk's eagerness to get to his playdate had made her miss breakfast. Still, Wanda kept one eye on things through the window.
"He's not really a monster anymore, is he?"
"The Hulk?" Nat munched on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "Kind of a big sweetie once he knows you. Just.. think of him like a toddler permanently on the verge of a temper tantrum. Keep him happy, and you're all good."
"Right.. bine de stiut.." Wanda murmured. Having the Hulk described as basically a child definitely didn't help with her guilt.
"So" Natasha continued nonchalantly, "Clint called last night. He was worried about you.."
"He doesn't need to worry. Just.. what he said.."
"Hey, we've all made mistakes. Some worse than others, but we've all made them. We know you regret what you did, there's no reason to keep beating yourself up over it."
"I know.." Wanda sighed. "But that particular mistake.. It feels so much worse, because I know Bruce now, and he's just.. so sweet.."
"He is" Nat nodded. "I have similar regrets about him, if that helps."
"You have?"
"Mmhm. On the Helicarrier, right before Bruce hulked out, he looked so afraid. Not so much for himself, but for me. And for a moment, I thought I never should have brought him in. But, if we hadn't had the Hulk during the battle of New York.." Natasha shuddered a little. "Point is, sometimes things just happen the way they're meant to."
"I suppose so.." Wanda glanced back out the window. "I've apologised to Bruce, but I hurt The Hulk too. I just wish I knew how to say I'm sorry.."
"Well.. go try."
"What?"
"Talk to the Big Guy" Nat slapped a hand on Wanda's shoulder, nodding towards the window. "I think you'll be surprised how much he understands."
Taking Nat's advice, Wanda slowly made her way outside. Vision was still supervising, seeming a lot more relaxed about the situation than he had been the day before.
"How's it going?" She asked him.
"All well" Vision replied. "Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves."
"That's good. Do you think they'd mind if I crashed the playdate for a minute?"
"No. I'm sure the boys would love a visit from Mama."
Wanda swung a leg over the playpen, climbing inside, and made her way over to him. Currently, all three were playing with building blocks. Of course, Hulk's building block's were actually some old crates that Clint had had lying around. The twins' block tower had was a little higher than either of them could comfortably reach, so Tommy was now handing the blocks to Billy, who used his powers to levitate them to the top of the tower.
"Hello, you three" Wanda sat down near them.
Billy cooed happily and began, slowly, crawling over to her. This annoyed Tommy, who had no way of adding to the tower without his brother.
"Hi, Twins' Mama" The Hulk replied.
"Hulk, I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment?"
"'Kay.." Hulk seemed a little confused.
"I.. I hurt you once" Wanda began, a little nervously. "When I forced you to come out. I wanted to say I was sorry.."
The Hulk stared at Wanda for a moment, confused. Then, he looked surprised.
"You.. Different then.." Hulk stared at her still, unsure he was even seeing the same person. "Angry.."
"I was.."
Hulk was silent for a bit then shrugged.
"That okay."
"It is?" Wanda blinked, surprised.
"Hulk angry sometimes too.." He hesitated a moment. "Hulk come play with twins again?"
"Of course" Wanda nodded. She was left rather surprised when the Hulk shrank away, leaving Bruce in his place.
Natasha, who had come outside at some point, threw a shirt at him.
"Thanks, Nat!" Bruce called.
"You're welcome!" Nat called back.
Tommy, forgetting his annoyance with his brother at the sight of his Uncle Bruce, whom he loved as much as his big green alter ego, happily crawled into Bruce's lap. Bruce smiled at the little boy, then turned to Wanda.
"So, there's something the Hulk and I wanted to say, and he decided I'd probably be a bit more articulate in saying it.."
"Okay.."
"We forgive you, Wanda" said Bruce. "Me and the big guy.. we know better than anyone what anger can do. So I'm sorry too, for the time I threatened to strangle you."
"It's okay" Wanda smiled softly, shrugging. "I almost deserved it."
"No you.." Bruce was cut off by a familiar voice behind them. They turned to see Clint, clutching a plate with a peace offering.
"Hey, where's the Hulk?" He frowned. "I made a big green cake!"
Bruce and Wanda looked at each other.
"I could eat a piece of big green cake" Bruce shrugged.
"Yeah" Wanda replied with a smile. "Let's go eat cake."
Translation:
Voi incerca: I'll try
bine de stiut: good to know.