The Universe's Mixer

Bruce knew what today was without even having to look at the calendar or the screen of his computer. He knew it because it came so rarely that not being aware...well, he had been there before too and it was never a good thing to be that surprised. Especially when someone asked about it.

For all of the people that came and went in the Tower, it seemed emptier than usual. The void was growing steadily, the air didn't seem right...Tony was no where to be found which didn't surprise Bruce. Effie was gone doing...god knew what. Bruce didn't even want to fathom an iota of what she might be up to..or into. It would only serve to just set him off and he didn't need that.

Today was his birthday. He turned another year older and somehow he felt ancient. As if he had lived forever on this planet. He certainly felt much older than his age considering what he had seen recently. But unlike last year there would be nobody to celebrate with. Maybe that's the way that Bruce wanted it, to be by himself. Being alone came naturally to him but that didn't mean he didn't miss the certain people in his life that were gone.

His usually eager spirit for work had also fizzled, leaving him reeling in a world caught between boredom and depression. This was no way to celebrate a birthday but it wasn't looking as if he had much of a choice. His life up to this point was drastically different than he had ever imagined. And for a few moments at a time he had felt it was perfect. He couldn't ask for perfection. He never did because it wasn't fair, but some people demanded it. How could you demand something that was impossible? He wasn't sure but it just didn't seem right to ask.

And now there he sat, alone in his lab on a dusty old couch. His heart was split. Work didn't seem to be what it used to and thus he couldn't do it. Nothing else seemed particularly right with the world either. Bruce sighed and closed his eyes, shifting more comfortably against the cushions of the worn in couch. Many nights of sleeping had caused the furniture to become easily maneuverable. At least the couch was willing to cooperate.

he caught himself humming and stopped abruptly. The birthday song. Another sigh and Bruce settled in to another morning of no work and quiet. This would be a fine birthday. He would make sure of it.

The door to Bruce's lab dinged, Jarvis warning the man he had a visitor, and a courier wheeled in a food cart covered in a crisp white table cloth and two silver domed meals. He lit the candles on the table and placed a purple coloured rose in the vase before giving a bow and vanishing back out the door, job done.

Resting against the vase was a small card, Bruce's name written on the cover in glittery green ink.

Happy Birthday, Bruce!

Today is the second happiest day of my life, because it's the day you came into the world! I love you, Bruce Banner, for always and always. Give me a few minutes and I'll be downstairs...I'm more then likely upstairs getting ready for our birthday date! And no peeking at dinner before I get there!

-Effie Banner

At this point in his recovery from smashing into the upper invisible dome of The City in a shuttle he was hobbling around in an obnoxious black boot with velcro straps and an arm/wrist brace in replacement of the even bulkier (and smellier) casts he'd donned before. He was doing remarkably well but as he hobbled around his room in Jo's house he still felt like an invalid. It frustrated him and made him anxious to not have full use of his faculties. Still, all of this was better than being a puddle of a pilot in the middle of a crater. Not much, but a little.

He grumbled as he tugged on shorts and a hawaiian shirt. He hobbled out of his room using door frames and walls for support. That's when he noticed that he door to the coat closet was ajar. Maxine. She must've been playing in there. Little, sticky, stinky blonde five year old that he couldn't stop loving even though she could be really trying sometimes and Jo and him really needed to talk to her about...nevermind, he didn't want to think about that now.

Focus on what's ahead of him, he thought. The closet door was ajar. He could fix that. He came up to the closet and tried to close it, something was caught. Aggravated he opened the door after pushing did nothing to solve his problem.

Was that a mirror?

"Hello" Hoban Washburne's 'reflection' said, "Have you seen Maxine? She needs to take a bath and do her homework before going outside and playing with her friends."

"Aaaaah!" the real Wash said. He slammed the door shut with his breath near hyperventilating in surprise and fear.

Slowly he opened the door again and peeked in.

"Is Maxine here? She's my daughter and I seem to have lost track of her whereabouts. I believe we might be playing a game of hide-and-seek. But I've been hiding for several days now," the second Wash said with a worried and hopeful smile.

"Ta Ma De! Yi dwei da buen chuo roh--MAXINE!!!" Wash yelled.

"Oh good! She's here!" not-Wash said stepping out of the closet.

"You! Shh! Don't!" Wash replied, warning him with his finger up. He couldn't even look at his double. "Ah-ah! Not a word! Just--MAXIIIIINE!!!"