[Bruce turns his hand over so she can touch his palm instead if he'd like. It is reminiscent of the lullaby, and an almost immediate reaction of soothing from her. The line between him and the Hulk is much sharper than ever before, but they still are forever connected. He sighs and sips his wine, shaking his head.] He probably already was working on an angle to get me, if I hadn't have been somewhere else, it would have gotten much uglier.

[It might sound like paranoia about Ross, but it never truly was. It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you. The man proved time and time again what his intentions were, especially with Bruce. Bruce's jaw tenses.] I know exactly what fate would've been in store for Wanda, if he got a hold of her long term. He doesn't see powered people as humans, Nat, we're weapons. Dehumanization is the easiest way to give yourself carte blanche to cut a living being into parts.

[He realizes he's speaking a little too intensely, that his emotions are coming into play. Bruce isn't concerned about the Hulk, especially not with her, but it is a lifetime of practice that gets him to calm down. Breathe in, breathe out. Ross isn't here. For now, he's safe. He sets the wine to the side and rubs his eyes.] It's insane, isn't it? The only person the Hulk and I truly fear is this non-powered man. [Yes, even the Hulk fears him, at his core, because Banner fears him, at his core.]

I'm sorry, I get ... dramatic about him. [Understatement, he clears his throat.] People can read files about our history but it doesn't come close to explaining it. [And Bruce himself rarely speaks about it because it's painful. It's humiliating too, in a way.]