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*****
A light drizzle continued to fall. Gwen walked at the front, holding an umbrella and humming a cheerful tune, while Mike and Clark followed behind her.
Clark couldn't help but ask, "Dad, are you sure it's safe leaving that guy alone in the shop?"
Safe? As in… worried he might steal something?
Hearing the implication in his tone, Mike chuckled and shook his head. "It should be fine."
Bruce Banner—a man with multiple PhDs and one of the great minds in science. His character wasn't in question. And besides…
Mike looked at Gwen's back and smiled. "Even if he burns the shop down, it doesn't really matter."
"Huh?"
"Because this is something Gwen chose to do—and it's the right thing. She's grown through this, and that's enough."
From picking up Bruce to choosing to let him stay, it had all been Gwen's decision.
She wanted to do something good, so Mike simply accompanied her. Growing together with his child was, in itself, a joy.
Over the years, while raising Clark and the other two boys, Mike had learned a lot as well. Now it was Gwen's turn.
"Wait a second!"
Clark looked at Mike, speechless. "You didn't treat us like this when we were kids."
He clearly remembered the time he and his two brothers brought home a vicious dog. Despite their pleading and tears, Mike threw the dog out, insisting it was a wolf.
Though it later turned out the dog was a wolf, they had been trying to do something good too. Why hadn't they been encouraged or supported like this?
Mike patted Clark's shoulder and said with a smile, "Silly boy. That's different."
Clark: (⊙_⊙)?
…
Meanwhile, back at the shop, Bruce sat alone, staring at the open restaurant door, filled with a swirl of emotions.
It felt… warm.
Meeting this family was probably the warmest experience he'd had since becoming the Hulk.
He locked the restaurant door, grabbed the clean clothes, and stepped into the bathroom. After a hot shower and changing into the fresh clothes, he lay down on Mike's chair, pulled the blanket over himself, and let out a long sigh.
Just for tonight… let me enjoy this rare bit of warmth.
Not long after, he drifted off to sleep. But in his dreams, the events of the past kept flashing before his eyes.
Ever since becoming the Hulk, he had spent his life on the run, constantly trying to solve the problem of his transformations—pushing the limits of his emotional threshold and attempting to control when he changed.
Mr. Blue—a friend he met online.
It had started with Bruce asking technical questions on a highly specialized forum. After seeing how articulate and knowledgeable Mr. Blue was, they grew closer, and Bruce gradually opened up about the Hulk.
Their long-term discussions eventually led Bruce to trust him enough to send blood samples. Over time, he sent several more.
But then—when Mr. Blue claimed to have made a breakthrough—he vanished, leaving behind only a single, desperate message:
"Help! They're taking me—and my research."
Bruce's heart sank the moment he saw that message.
This could've been his chance to get rid of the Hulk—how could he possibly ignore it? In the end, he chose to leave his hiding place and go after Mr. Blue.
With the help of his ex-girlfriend, Betty, he tracked down Mr. Blue's lab. Based on their earlier discussions, he located Mr. Blue's hidden research and copied his findings. He successfully suppressed the Hulk within him.
Just when he was celebrating with Betty, soldiers under General Ross found them. But they weren't alone—among them was a monster created using Bruce's own serum, developed under Mr. Blue's guidance: Abomination.
It turned out Mr. Blue had used Bruce's blood to mass-produce serum. Hoping to gain fame and fortune from the research, he never got the chance—Ross found him first and took everything: the man, the lab, the serum.
Upon realizing the serum could replicate Hulk-like powers, General Ross began a new round of experiments. One of his soldiers, eager to gain more power, volunteered.
The result? A terrifying monster—
Abomination.
And the very first target Abomination chose to prove his strength… was Hulk.
After Bruce and Betty were captured and taken to General Ross's research facility, Abomination—upon learning that Hulk had been suppressed by Bruce—was enraged.
Defeating Hulk was his only way to validate his power. But without Hulk, how was he supposed to prove his worth?
Driven by fury, he lost all control. Ignoring General Ross's commands, he tried to force Bruce to transform—desperate for a fight.
But… Bruce simply couldn't transform.
Pushed to the edge, Abomination seized Betty in front of Bruce's eyes—and crushed her to death.
He got what he wanted.
In that moment of overwhelming grief and fury, the suppressed Hulk returned—and he and Abomination clashed in a ferocious battle inside the facility.
In the end, Abomination was defeated and fled, while Hulk also left the base.
As his strength faded, Bruce wandered aimlessly through the city. Weak, broken, and waiting for death… until Gwen found him.
That night, Bruce slept deeply.
When he woke the next morning, the rain that had fallen all night had finally stopped.
Bright sunlight poured in through the windows, making him squint as he stepped out of the shop. Breathing in the fresh morning air, he let out a long sigh.
"Uncle, you're up early!"
A cheerful voice rang out as Gwen ran over, carrying a lunchbox. Behind her, Mike followed with a relaxed look on his face.
"How'd you sleep?"
Hearing the question, Bruce finally smiled and said, "Haven't slept that well in a long time."
"Hehe!"
Gwen grinned and looked him over. "Uncle, you look much better than yesterday! Come on, I brought you something yummy."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the shop. Once inside, she opened the lunchbox and said proudly, "My dad made breakfast. Eat up! I've gotta go to school—Peter's waiting for me!"
She quickly rattled off her words, then turned at the door and glared back. "And don't think you can skip payment just 'cause it's breakfast! No leaving until you work off your debt!"
Bruce laughed and nodded.
Mike patted Bruce's shoulder and went into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Bruce finished the meal and washed the lunchbox carefully. Then he turned to Mike and said earnestly, "Thank you—for everything. But I really have to go."
He was worried staying any longer might bring trouble to their doorstep.
Mike looked at Bruce, who now had a hint of life back in his eyes, and smiled gently. "Goodbye."
Bruce smiled back. After one last word of thanks, he turned and quickly walked away under Mike's quiet gaze.
(End of Chapter)