InsaneJournal

Bruce & Jenn (Take Two)
Who: Bruce & Jenn
What: awkward reunions
When: Monday Oct 7, Balloon Plot
Where: Starting near Bruce’ office
Warnings: tbd



Jennifer had been planning to meet her cousin when he got off work, but that was before her every thought started being broadcast above her head. It would have been one thing if the balloons were simply narrating her activities, or adding sound-effects, but no. These ones were displaying things that she, as a professional adult, would never say out loud in public. It had already caused some minor embarrassment at the office.

She’d driven over, hoping the balloons might...wear off by the end of the day, but no dice. So there she sat, in her car, debating whether or not to go inside.

He’s probably busy, planning to work late, the balloon read, as if offering her an excuse to rethink her plan. Jennifer glared at it in the rearview. The letters were backward, but she knew what it said. “So not helping.”

Bruce worked odd hours, and his coworkers kept an eye on him. Today he had been shoved out to get something to eat at something like a reasonable hour. He sighed as he exited the building and glanced around. People had been being followed around by balloons that crossed the quantum line quite a lot and he had wanted to explore… but no, they wouldn’t let him back in for an hour, Darn it. He turned toward the street. There was a burger joint near by. Maybe that would work.

Jennifer spotted the scientist as he exited the building, and smiled. She caught a glimpse of her balloon as she stepped out of the car, and it went from oh, good! to oh, my god. Apparently, she still had mixed feelings about her cousin. They had so much to catch up on, and sometimes she still felt like she was thirteen and finally getting to sit at the grown-ups’ table.

Bruce! The balloon pinged about a half a second before she called his name out loud. “Bruce!”

Bruce blinked and turned his head toward the new voice. "Yes?" She looked familiar, but not. He peered more. Why did she look familiar?

He doesn't recognize you, silly. "I'm sorry. Dr Bruce Banner? It's been a while, but I'm Jennifer Walters. Elaine's and Morrie's daughter."

Bruce glanced up at her balloon, then down at her and gaped in surprise as she named herself. “Jennifer? But you were…” He waved a hand at knee height, and then stared at the very much developed and full size woman who was… wow, actually. He swallowed and cut off his thoughts, and stared. “But… “ and then he grinned. “Jennifer!” And he hugged her, a big, all out, no holds barred hug.

Jennifer laughed as she was engulfed in her cousin’s arms. This was going much better than her anxiety had tried to predict. She hugged him back, unconcerned with decorum for the moment. It wasn’t as if she could get much more unprofessional than having a thought balloon over her head. It occurred to her, Bruce would probably get a kick out of that. It occurred to her balloon as well.

“It’s really good to see you, too,” she said, when she caught her breath. “Are you on your dinner break? We could grab a bite to eat. Maybe figure out what’s up with my attache?”

“I’m off work now. I got back in at 3 am.” He grinned at her. “I’d love to get something to eat. Do you like pancakes? And what attache?” He peered around her as if it would appear.

"I love pancakes," Jennifer replied, "and that one." She pointed at the thing above her head. "I feel like I'm trapped in that Sims game, or something." The bubble showed pictures of her thoughts as she recalled the way that little numbers would appear over a character's head whenever a character built rapport with another. +2

Bruce peered up at her bubble, hmming. “A lot of people seem to have those lately.” He shook his head. “It seems almost like a window to the mind.” Odd,. that.

“Do you know any good pancake places? I’ve been meaning to find one.”

“How long have you been in town?” Jennifer asked, giving her cousin a curious look. “And you need the new girl to show you around?” She shook her head. “Lucky for you, I’ve been doing my homework. Want to ride with me--you can study my brain balloon.”

“A few years and… well, er, I don’t get out much.” He smiled sheepishly at her. “I’d like that. Maybe I can figure out why it is working.” He doubted it. But it was worth a try. He refocused on her and bit his lip. “Ah, how have you been? How long have you been in town?”

“A few months, and I probably get out more than my boss,” Jennifer said, shrugging her shoulders. Of course, she didn’t have a family to juggle in addition to her work, so she tried to make work as uncomplicated for Harry as she could by running errands and whatever else she could think of. He was good people, and he never made her feel like she was being taken for granted. “I’ve been wanting to get in touch with you for ages.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t think to look…. since things went bad with Aunt Ophelia, I’ve had a bad taste in my mouth for looking for family.” He smiled slowly. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

"I guess I don't really blame you," she said, heading to the car. "Our family is kind of...eh. it is what it is."

“But you are different. You always were.” He smiled to her.” I’m glad you’re here.” He followed her and then nodded.

“Do you like knitted things?”

“So are you,” she said, “You talk to me like I’m an adult. Not everybody does that, even now. I think it’s my face, or something.” She laughed at her own joke as she unlocked the car doors. “What sort of knitted things? Scarves? Sweaters? Tea cozies?”

“You were always smarter than most. Stronger than most. Made me feel less alone among the family.” He chuckled at her and clambered into the car. “Yeah. All of the above. I knit when I am not inventing and working, when waiting for things to get done.”

“I’ve heard it can be a relaxing hobby,” Jennifer remarked, “I never got past crocheting a chain stitch myself--I don’t know how many yarn necklaces I made when I was a kid--but there’s just something comforting about a favorite scarf or sweater.”

I still have my baby blanket, said her thought-balloon.

Bruce grinned. “Nothing wrong with that at all. I like having things around like that.” He grinned wider.

“I could knit you a new blanket.”

Jennifer smiled back, then faced forward as she turned her attention to the task of driving. “That might come in handy, actually. My old one is only big enough to cover my lap.”

“Then I will. I have time when working on experiments, when all I can do it watch, so I need something for my hands to do.” He chuckled. “In PG-13 company.”

“Oh, is that so?” Jen snorted, trying not to laugh. “Well, I don’t think I need to know what you do when you’re alone in the lab with yourself!” She shook her head, tossing her hair a little, but she was smiling. “And you better try and resist the urge to snuggle too closely with my new blanket, doctor. Or else.”

She figured there was no point in trying to censor herself or hold back the jokes so long as there was a dialog box above her head displaying what she wanted to say. At least not with someone she knew and trusted.

Bruce snerked and smiled, chuckling. “I suppppposeeee, I can do that.” He grinned cheekily, and settled back. “I wont do anything R rated with your blankie, Jenn. That would be unfair to you.” He smirked. “Wouldn’t want you to feel left out.”

“Oh, my god, Bruce!” The laughs just kept on bubbling out, until she was pretty sure that if she looked in the mirror, her balloon would be on big LOL. “I’m trying to drive, here.” But better to drive slap-happy than angry, right? “I didn’t realize how much I missed your jokes. Or how much funnier they are now that half of them aren’t sailing right over my head. Figuratively speaking.”

There were probably a few jokes that were literally sailing over her head like a...well, like a banner, of course.

Bruce grinned at her. “Details details.” He smirked and just settled back. “I’m glad you’re here, and its nice to see you all grown up and become your own person. Though you were awfully cute once upon a time. I still have those old pics.”

“Was? What do you mean, was?” Jennifer glanced over at her cousin, then up in the mirror. “I look exactly the same as I did ten years ago.” She was leaner in the face, and curvier in other places, but still. Whip up a pair of pigtails, and most people on the street would never guess she was out of high school.

Bruce eyed her, then grinned. “Maybe it’s just because I knew you then, but you do look different now. More beautiful, less cute. More woman, less girl.” He nodded at her.

“Well, thank you,” she said, giving him a smile as she pulled into the lot of the diner with the all-day breakfast. “I tend to be my own worst critic, but I guess that’s pretty typical.”

“Yes. I know the feeling. He stepped out and then came around and hugged her. “And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re here. I get distracted by things, so I might not always say it but… I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad I found you,” she said, returning the embrace. “I’ll just keep dropping in, if that’s what it takes--but if it’s ever a bad time, and you need me to come back later, just say so. All right?”

“I will try to remember.” He grinned at her, then nodded to the waffle shop. “Lets get some lunch, and you can tell me more about what you are doing in the OC.”