"One of the reasons I am so into not getting excited, not drinking, not fighting, is that I cannot. When I was younger, and far more foolish, I was a scientist working on understanding new forms of radiation. I was close, but not one wanted to give me grants... until the government came knocking. They flattered me, and fool that I was, I listened."
He swallowed.
"Before I knew it, I had designed a bomb, using this new form of radiation. On the test date, a kid from a local college was joy riding on the course and I went out to warn him off, telling the men around me to stop the experiment. They did not."
He shook his head, looking down.
"I save the kid, pushing him into safety, but I was fully irradiated by the energy. My last emotion was anger, sheer rage at the betrayal, and at the wrongness of it And a realization that no one should be hurt so."
He looked up at her.
"When I woke up, I found I had a new curse. When I lose control, when I get angry, or afraid, or drunk, I change. All the rage inside of me is unleashed. And I become a monster."
He smiled wryly, sadly.
"So, I have spent my lifetime working on finding ways to never get angry, never run away from my problems, never shut up, never get too stressed, if I can stop it... for when I do... he comes out."