Wooshhhhh!!
I'm inside Bruce's consciousness!
What? No explanation of why or how I got here?
Idk? Just imagine it yourself.
Alright, let's see what Bruce and Hulk are up to—oh my gosh.
In front of me, Hulk and Bruce are playing chess.
"Hulk doesn't know this one," Hulk said, pointing at the knight.
"That's the knight, moves in an L-shape, very unpredictable," Bruce explained.
"And this one?"
"The bishop, moves diagonally—basically a sniper."
"This one?"
"The rook, moves straight and sideways, a true tank."
"And this—"
"Alright, since when do you two play chess? I need a flashback!" I walked up to the middle of their board, catching their attention.
"Oh, Hulk's friend! What does Hulk's friend want?"
"Peter, I'm trying to reconcile with Hulk like you suggested," Bruce said.
And you've already gotten this far?! That fast?? Even Chinese novels wouldn't dare resolve relationships this quickly!
"How did you two even start talking like this?? I thought it'd take ages!"
"Well..." Bruce scratched his head and glanced at Hulk.
"Bruce and Hulk are brothers! Hulk respects Bruce!"
"Yeah... You see... It went like this."
Flashback~
On a beach, the sky had turned to night, and the moonlight shone brightly.
Hulk, the lonely giant whom no one understood, stood in the seawater, motionless, gazing at the moon.
"Hey."
A familiar voice rang out, startling Hulk slightly as he looked back.
It was Bruce.
The two stared at each other for a moment before Hulk turned back to the moon.
"Don't ignore me like that."
"Hulk not ignoring. Hulk did what Bruce wanted, including staying away."
"...Then turn around and face me?"
"Is Bruce sure? Hulk thinks Bruce was forced to say that."
Ugh… He hit the nail on the head.
Peter was right… Hulk knows me so well.
"No one forced me. Peter just reminded me, so I came here to talk."
As soon as Bruce said that, Hulk turned to face him and stepped closer.
Seeing this, Bruce nervously backed up a few steps.
"Say what you need to say. Hulk listens." Hulk stood close, looking at him.
Bruce scratched his head, facing the hulking figure whose face always seemed angry.
"…"
He didn't know what to say.
Honestly, a smart guy like him was terrible at communication, and this time he had to talk to someone with a very complicated relationship with him.
He wouldn't even be surprised if Hulk didn't like him at all because of how he'd treated him.
"Hulk losing patience. If no talk, Hulk goes back."
"W-Wait!"
Bruce looked at Hulk, then took a deep breath.
"…D-Do you like pregnant women?"
Dude, that's the worst question you could ask.
Hulk froze, then thought about it.
No way, this guy is actually taking that question seriously?
"Hulk doesn't like pregnant women. Hulk doesn't even like any girls."
"R-Really? Uh… Erm… Do you like… uh… science?!"
"No."
"…"
'Communicating is so hard!!!!!' Bruce thought, wanting to sink into the ground.
"But Hulk likes how Bruce is passionate about it."
"…Huh?"
Hulk looked straight into his eyes this time.
"Hulk always watches Bruce's life—happy, sad, touching, or funny. Hulk sees it all."
"When Bruce is happy, Hulk is happy. When Bruce is sad, Hulk gets angry because, to Hulk, Bruce is very important."
Hulk spoke with fervor.
"Hulk sees Bruce as a little brother to protect, even if Bruce hates Hulk."
"…" Bruce was stunned, listening to Hulk's words.
"…Really? You mean that?"
"Hulk means it."
"…"
Then Bruce remembered Peter's words:
[Stop treating Hulk like a weapon or whatever. He's more than that. Treat him well.]
"…" Bruce stayed silent for a long time. Hulk, seeing Bruce like this, thought Bruce didn't like him and started to leave.
"Hey… Do you like anything?"
"…Hulk likes Bruce being happy?"
"No, no, not that. Hobbies, you know."
"Hulk doesn't have any and doesn't think Hulk needs them."
"No… Don't say that."
Bruce scratched his head even more, practically sparking a fire in his hair.
"Alright, want to… play something? With me?"
"Hulk doesn't understand. Bruce told Hulk to stay away, and now Bruce wants to play with Hulk?"
"That… That old order? Throw it out! This time it's a request!"
"Request?"
"Yeah! A request! Not an order!"
"If it's Bruce's request, then okay."
And so, the two walked together.
"Here! See how this machine works?"
"Hulk doesn't understand much, but Bruce is amazing."
"Y-You think so? Good!"
They continued on.
"How's the food?"
"Delicious!"
"Hmph! Of course it's delicious when I cook!"
Maybe…
"How's the roller coaster?"
"It hurts. Those metal bars keep hitting Hulk's head."
"Really? Let me adjust it a bit."
Maybe… My purpose all this time wasn't to help humanity…
"Hulk likes elephants!"
"I like elephants too."
But… I wanted… I wanted someone to…
"Hey! There's a pretty girl over there! Go flirt with her!"
"Hulk doesn't know how to flirt."
"Just go for it, no one's gonna die!"
I wanted someone to value what I do… to value my interests… to value my existence…
"Hulk is happy."
"I'm happy too."
"Hulk is grateful for Bruce."
"Don't say that, you're embarrassing me…"
But… I treated Hulk so poorly… Do I even deserve to be valued?
"Hey."
Both of us watched the sunset on the beach.
Hulk turned to look at me.
"…Are you mad at me? For what I've done?"
"Hulk doesn't understand."
"I mean… using you! Treating you like a weapon!"
Hulk smiled upon hearing this.
"No."
"…Why not?"
"Because Bruce is important to Hulk. No matter how bad Bruce is… Hulk will always accept Bruce."
"…"
I wish I could go back in time and slap my past self to remind me to care for Hulk more.
Those slaps from my dad… Thinking about it, they were deserved.
End of flashback~
I was stunned, listening to Bruce recount everything while Hulk spoke cheerfully.
The heck?! Resolving a relationship is that simple?? I thought it'd take a few more days!
[Peter, the way to resolve things is just to be honest with each other. What's so hard about that?]
"But… I didn't expect it to be that easy."
[Well, Bruce has always been lonely. He just needed someone to understand him, and Hulk fits those criteria effortlessly.]
"And now he's only just opened up to Hulk, even though Hulk's been with him since he was a kid. That easy, huh?"
[Are you trying to nitpick me or what??]
I calmed myself down and looked at both of them.
"Alright, things outside aren't looking too good… That giant fish guy is fighting Moonie and his boss."
"Giant fish guy? You mean that guy?" Bruce said.
"Yeah, that guy's insanely strong. We need you two, pronto."
Bruce glanced at Hulk.
"Whatever Bruce says, Hulk follows."
"No, Hulk, you don't have to follow me anymore."
Bruce smiled and stood up.
"We'll fight together, like true men!"
Hulk stood up too, reaching out to clasp Bruce's hand.
"Hulk doesn't quite get it, but if that's what Bruce wants!"
Two people, one body, united in thought!