you fold his hands and smooth his tie

[greenisnteasy]

Who: Bruce and Nathan
When: Day 53 (before Nathan's network post)
Where: The pharmacy/clinic
What: Guess who's immortal!

Bruce is still struggling with the concept of guilt. Though he didn't kill Nathan with his own hands, though he never would've let him die in the first place, he's still guilty of his death somehow. Some dark part of Bruce's mind is responsible for letting him die, and Bruce is never going to be able to let that go.

He doesn't often get to see the results of the Hulk's violence this close. He follows reports in newspapers, and he watches the news, but he's usually long gone before he gets to see anything up close.

It really is time for him to say something, to announce his death, to give the cause, but Bruce has been reeling. He's tended to the body, redressed him, and now has to prepare him for burial. This time he'll arrange the funeral himself, though he might call Laura again for help organizing things.

Before he starts on any of that, he gives Nathan a few more minutes of respect. And an apology. He owes him that much.

"Nathan, I... I am so sorry. If I could have stopped him, if I could have done anything..." But Bruce doesn't even remember how it might've happened.

Comments

[designedtoparty]

It's as Bruce trails off the life returns to Nathan, just as suddenly as it had left him. He jerks up with a deep intake of breath, promptly lying back down again still breathing heavily. He doesn't remember anything to begin with. He takes in his surroundings with confusion, trying to place what had happened.

They come back slowly, his final memories before waking up here. That big green guy. He remembers being knocked back. Hadn't he hit his head? He reaches around to tentatively feel the back of his head, but there's nothing. It feels fine. Not that he's complaining.

It's only then that Nathan notices Bruce. Or at least it's then he takes his presence in. His breathing's a little slower now, but he's still still disorientated enough he only rasps out one thing.

"What happened?"

[greenisnteasy]

Holy shit.

Bruce jumps back when Nathan wakes up, and it's extremely fortunate he's done a good job of divorcing his changes from things unrelated to anger, as he could be startled enough to turn. He holds on though, and backs up until he hits the standing tray behind him with his medical equipment. His eyes are wide and his breathing is regular if only from regular practice at staying calm.

Nathan had been dead. He'd been extremely dead. Bruce had checked, and he's not that bad of a doctor. Maybe he missed it, maybe it was like Robert E. Lee's mom and Nathan had been in a coma and breathing shallowly -- but no, Bruce was sure. He was dead; no one could've survived that head injury.

He's slow to get his words back.

"You died."

[designedtoparty]

"Died?"

He frowns, staying half lying as he tries to puzzle that one out. It doesn't take him long. If he'd been dead, he must have come back. If he came back, he must have a power. He isn't normal after all. Nathan laughs, sitting up abruptly.

"Yes! I knew it," he cries, triumphantly, grin far too bright for a man who's just been informed he was dead only moments ago. "I have a power. I have a good power." He isn't even really speaking to Bruce, too excited by his own discovery to care much about anyone else.

[greenisnteasy]

That makes... some... kind of sense, and that fact brings Bruce back to his senses, at least partially. He squeezes his hands before he releases them, willing himself to calm down, pulling out all the tricks in his book. Okay, Banner. Forget that you killed this kid for a couple of days. Examine him. Step one.

He picks up his stethoscope and comes forward, eyes flicking over Nathan just to make sure he's not hallucinating again.

"Let me check your vitals."

[designedtoparty]

Nathan glances over at Bruce, then back around the clinic. He supposes it makes sense he'd wake up somewhere different. After all, who leaves bodies lying around on the street for just anyone to trip over? Even in a place like this that would be weird. This guy's reaction seems off, though. Nathan knows if either of the bodies he'd hidden suddenly came back to life in front of him he'd have freaked out way more. If he hadn't lashed out or fled he definitely still wouldn't be any hurry to get near them.

"You know, for someone who just witnessed my Jesus like resurrection you're acting way too calm about all of this." He glares at him accusingly. "How do you know I'm not a zombie? Or a serial killer whose victim finally got the best of him?"

[greenisnteasy]

Killers and victims are a touchy subject right now, but Bruce is trying not to lose his cool, and he might potentially be in a tiny bit of shock. He doesn't want to have a breakdown in front of Nathan, and he needs to figure out how he's going to explain what happened. Being hysterical probably wouldn't be a good start.

"Zombies don't talk." That's a good start to not freaking out. Bolstered, he finds some of his humor again. "A vampire would be more likely, which is why I want to check your vitals."

Also to see if his heart is beating normally for regular health reasons, but he'd rather veer away from reality.