insurgents | OPEN POST.

With just the little Trish had said before, Bruce was already prepared for something pretty bad. Still, despite not too shocking, it leaves a sour taste in his mouth, almost like acid being poured down his throat - he's familiar with the sensation. But there's no point getting angry about this, even if he can control it. It's in the past, and as much as he already hates Trish's mother for what she did to her, he can't really change it.

The only thing he can do is show that it doesn't matter to him, and that he's here for her. For whatever she might need of him.

His fingers curl around her hands, thumbs brushing over her knuckles, and he tugs her closer, inviting her to take a seat on his lap if she wants to.

"I'm sorry, Patricia. That's... I'm glad you escaped that, but I know how those things just-- linger."

Even after years, decades, an entire life.

She does move forward to sit on his lap. Well, more like straddle his lap really since he was already sitting between her legs.

She wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his forehead.

"You know I'll listen if you ever want to talk about the things you don't talk about too."

Then she kisses his lips.

"And I'm okay, really."

She gives him a small smile.

"Just don't call me Patsy."

Kind of what he was expecting, and he wraps his arms around her, pulling her close once she sits on his lap.

"I know."

And he wants to tell her, really - despite having spent so long with all that buried deep within himself. He looks up at her with a small smile at the last remark, offering with a hint of amusement as an attempt to diffuse any tension.

"As long as you don't call me 'Bob'."

Yep, that's a thing.

It's a very comfortable way of sitting, she's always liked doing it.

"Wait... Bob?"

Why would anyone call him bob?

He drops his head back a little, mouth open for a moment before he sighs and just goes ahead and explains himself.

"My full name is Robert Bruce Banner."

"Robert Bruce Banner."

She has to repeat it, smiling as she does. Not because it's a funny name, she just likes knowing more about him.

"It has a nice ring to it. Good for that classic "I'm mad at you so now I'll use your full name" thing."

He nods at first in confirmation, then lets out a huff of amusement at her answer, though he tries to look as exasperated as can be. He kind of fails, though, because the thought of her calling him by his full name is kind of endearing. Even if it might spell trouble for him.

"Great. Now I'm going to dread the times when you use my full name on me."

"Maybe I'll use it in other contexts too, just to keep you on your toes."

It is just the cutest thing when Bruce tries and fails to seem frustrated.

"Robert Bruce Banner, take me to bed right now, or something similar."

He smiles at that, poking her on her sides playfully.

"Good. That does have a very nice ring to it."

She squirms a little and laughs.

"Yeah, I like it."

She considers making an 'I take you, Robert Bruce Banner...' joke but decides against it. She wouldn't want him to think she's trying to hint at anything there.

"I can't believe I didn't know that. Don't worry though, I'll never call you bob. It doesn't fit you at all."

That's a joke that can be saved for another time. A time when it can be a joke as much as something they both might actually want. So soon after getting back together definitely isn't the time.

"Thanks. I didn't think so either, it's why I decided to stick with Bruce."

"You definitely made the right call there."

She can sort of picture him as a Robert, but definitely not a Bob or Rob or any shortened version of the name, for some reason.

"I actually thought about changing my name completely for a while."

"Did you?"

He arches his eyebrows curiously at her, hands settling on her hips.

"I did too, at one point. I think that's why I settled with dropping Robert altogether. Did you ever think of a name to change into, though?"

That is a very good place for his hips to be, if you ask Trish.

"No, that's part of why I just went with 'Trish'. Nothing really felt right. What about you?"

"Actually... yes. David. But I considered keeping Bruce and just changing my last name more often than not."

It'd have detached him even more from all the things that had happened to him during his childhood and school years.

"David. Hm. Yeah, I could see you as a David. I like Bruce though."

Mostly because he is Bruce but never mind that.

"What last name would you want?"

"And I like Trish. I'm glad you didn't change it."

Even Patricia - it just suits her.

"I never thought about it." He shrugs. "Didn't get that far."

He's pretty much the only one who ever calls her Patricia, but it does sound pretty good coming from him.

"So what made you pick David?"

He likes being the only one, actually. He wouldn't call her by it if she minded it, but since she's never complained, he's never had reason to stop.

"No special reason. Just a name I liked, is all."

"Well,"

She gives him a slow, lingering kiss, fingers dragging through his hair while she makes sure that he is given a very thorough proof of her appreciation for him and all that he is.

"I like you and all of your names, Robert Bruce Banner."

He tips his head up and happily returns the kiss, his arms curling a little tighter around her as he leans in closer to her, smiling as they part.

"Right back at you, Patricia Walker."

She laughs, shifting as if trying to get even closer to him.

"We're disgusting."

He stays as he is, pressed up as close to her as possible in this position, answering that remark of hers with a shrug.

"So? We're in private. We can be as disgusting as we want."

"Yes, but it's still funny."

She has absolutely no problem with being completely cliche right now, because it means she gets to sit with her arms and legs around Bruce saying nice things to him, which is pretty much her favourite thing to do.

"I'm picturing Jessica's eyerolls."

"I promise I won't be this gross in front of her."

Mostly because he does appreciate his privacy, and he's never been one for public displays of affection. It just seems weird and awkward to him, and leaves him feeling a little too self-conscious.

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