Traveler: Chapter 31

A/N: All characters in this fic are above the age of 20.

With a sharp crack, the group appeared inside Harry’s apartment. The sudden shift in space left Natasha momentarily adjusting her stance, Maria muttering something about never getting used to that kind of travel, and Betty barely stopping herself from puking her guts out. Bruce, however, remained steady—his new, massive frame making his presence in the magically reinforced room all the more noticeable.

“Sorry, girls,” Harry said sheepishly, eyeing the three uncomfortable women.

“I much prefer the flashy one,” Maria muttered, earning a chuckle from him.

Harry glanced around before giving Bruce an amused look. “Well, now that you’ve got yourself under control, maybe I don’t need to keep the magic in place?”

Bruce let out a sheepish chuckle, rubbing the back of his thick neck. “I mean… yeah, I guess. But maybe keep it for now? You know, just in case I trip and take half the building with me.”

Harry smirked. “Fair enough.” He lifted his hand and flicked his fingers, the magic in the room shifting subtly. The walls glowed faintly before the protective enchantments adjusted, now reinforcing the space without treating Bruce like a rampaging monster. Then, with another flick, everything in the room—chairs, the bed, even the coffee table—enlarged slightly to accommodate Bruce’s new proportions.

Bruce sighed in relief as he took a seat on the now appropriately sized couch. “You have no idea how weird it was to imagine having to try and squeeze into regular furniture, and then try to smash everything when the Hulk realized he wouldn’t fit.”

Maria quirked an eyebrow. “Maybe if you were still the old Hulk, but right now? You’re basically a giant nerd.”

Natasha smirked. “A nerd who could level a building with a punch or a slam, but yeah, still a nerd.”

Bruce rolled his eyes, though the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. “Glad to see my transformation hasn’t changed how you guys see me.”

“I mean, should it?” Helen asked, crossing her arms. “You’re still Bruce Banner, just… bigger.”

“And greener,” Maria added.

“Still a nerd,” Natasha finished with a smirk.

The group chuckled, the lighthearted atmosphere easing any lingering tension in the air. It was a strange situation—seeing Bruce like this, fully in control and no longer at war with himself. But despite how different he looked, he was still Bruce. The same man they had known, only now… more.

As they settled into conversation, they discussed everything and nothing—how Bruce was adjusting, what his next steps were, and even mundane things like the latest gossip Felicia had shared before leaving. Bruce admitted it would be some time before he was able to instantly sort out the practical side of things, like finding clothes that fit or navigating doorways without breaking them.

“I’d have to widen all the doorframes in my lab,” he admitted. “It’d be that or crawl through like a weird green troll.”

Natasha smirked. “I’d pay money to see that.”

Harry, shaking his head in amusement, finally leaned back. “Alright, big guy. As fun as this is, you should get some rest. You might not have the same energy drain as before, but adjusting to a permanent transformation can still be exhausting.”

Bruce stretched his arms, letting out a low hum of agreement. “You’re probably right.”

As they stood to leave, Betty hesitated. The movement was subtle, but Harry caught it. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and an understanding passed between them. Without needing to ask, he knew.

Betty wanted to stay.

Harry didn’t say anything, but as he turned toward Maria, Natasha, and Helen, he saw them exchanging knowing looks as well.

“We’ll head out,” Maria said smoothly.

“Yeah,” Natasha added, her gaze flickering between Betty and Bruce. “Catch you later, big guy.”

Bruce looked mildly surprised but nodded. “See you guys.”

As the others filed out of the room, the door shut softly behind them, leaving Betty and Bruce alone.

XXXXX

“You go ahead. We’ll be coming soon.”

That was what Maria had told him, and as asked, Harry stood leaning against the pool wall, his eyes closed and his breathing steady.

It had been a trying day for all of them, and it was reassuring that nothing had gone awry, apart from the obvious. Things had turned out as well as could be hoped. Sylvia and Wanda were perfectly fine, and Bruce had gotten rid of the nasty Hulk business. All in all, it had been a successful experiment and they could not really complain about it.

Harry’s thoughts drifted to Sylvia once again, and a small frown emerged on his face. She had been through a lot, and he had not helped matters in the slightest. He hoped that he, and everyone else around him, could help her, make things as easier for her as they could.

She didn’t have a home, and he wanted her to give him one by their side. It was heartening to see how Felicia and Wanda had bonded with her, and although it had been due to external forces at play, he was grateful that it had happened. It would help her transition better into the new life she had chosen for herself—to stay with the one she wanted to be with.

It had filled him with warmth when she’d looked at him as she said that. He knew the truth of her feelings and they were echoed deep within him, tugging at his heart. The time they had spent together were some of the most cherished he had, and he did not care that they were filled with deception. He knew that deep down, Sylvia’s feelings were real, and that was all that mattered.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the approaching footsteps and as he opened his eyes, he merely watched.

Maria, Natasha, and Helen entered the room, walking toward the pool with not a stitch of clothing on their sinful bodies. He knew it had been coming, but he still liked to be surprised like this.

Without a word, they stepped into the water, diving underneath. As they emerged, they eyed him like predators ready to pounce, and quite frankly, their prey was more than ready.

Harry’s gaze followed them, shifting from one to the other as they approached, water rippling against their naked, wet bodies. Their curves were hidden beneath the surface, but he did not need to see to know just how they looked or felt, having accustomed himself to the sensation multiple times already.

“You looked deep in thought,” Natasha said lightly as she reached him first, her tone teasing but warm. Her arm reached up to rest on his chest as she closed the distance between them, pressing herself fully against him. Maria and Helen mirrored her on either side, both their lips coming to rest on the sides of his neck. Harry leaned back and groaned, his arms reaching out to pull them close.

“I was,” he breathed as Natasha kept gazing up at him through her eyelashes.

She smirked, slowly trailing a finger down his chest and abdomen until she reached her destination. “And now?”

Harry’s lips twitched as he met their gazes, his hands running up and down the two women’s wet bodies as Natasha began to stroke him gently.

“Now, I’m appreciating both the view and the actions.”

“And?” Helen asked, arching an eyebrow as her lips quirked in a smirk.

Harry chuckled, his voice low and husky as he turned to the Asian beauty whose breathing had grown shallow. Suddenly, both she and Maria gasped as they felt his fingers part their folds and gently push inside them.

“And I’m very impressed,” Harry replied huskily. “But I’m sure that’s not what you three are here for.”

Natasha smirked, pushing her tits even more firmly against his chest as she rolled her thumb right over the tip of his cock, feeling it throb in her grasp.

“You’re goddamn right,” she said.

Smirking, Harry leaned forward and furiously slammed his lips against hers, and Natasha immediately felt his tongue move inside her mouth. A weird sensation grew within her and before she could react, she felt him pull away.

“I’m sure you’d love us to explore each other a bit more, but right now, I want something else,” Harry grinned as he magically forced Natasha to squat in front of him, pushing her under the water. The infamous Black Widow’s eyes widened when she realized she could breathe underwater, and she looked up to see him grinning at her.

“Go on, I’m sure you’d love it.”

An excited gleam entered her eyes and she did not need to be told twice. Grinning, she descended lower and immediately swallowed the entirety of his length underwater. Harry let out a surprised grunt. Even he hadn’t expected how excited she would be. Chuckling, he intensified his ministrations on the two beauties on either side of him.

“Magic is fucking wonderful,” Helen cried out as Harry began to push his fingers in and out of her, and Maria was quick to follow. She wrapped both her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a searing kiss, their tongues tangling together as she humped herself against his fingers. Her legs were tangled with Helen’s, with both women trapping his thighs between them.

Helen, not to be left on her own, pulled him away from Maria who let out a whine of protest. Uncaring, Helen turned his face towards her, slamming her lips against his and kissing him furiously. All the while, Harry kept ramming his fingers inside them, pushing another one for good measure.

Maria wasted only a few seconds in glaring at Helen before she reached out and clamped her lips right against Harry’s pulse point, making his breath hitch. She began to suck hard, her tongue darting out and licking all over his skin as she resolved to mark him.

Underwater, Natasha eagerly deepthroated him, breathing easily. She loved how every vein and ridge on the surface of his cock felt against her tongue and mouth, and how heavenly he tasted. She could always count on Harry to make their sex life more and more interesting. This was not something she had ever imagined, but it was as exciting as anything else they’d done for the first time, perhaps even more.

With a grunt, Harry pulled away from the kiss and before any of them could react, he applied the same charm on Maria and pushed her underwater, pulling Natasha off his cock so that the brunette could take her place.

“You all deserve the experience,” he grinned as Maria excitedly took the spot on her knees in front of him just as Natasha moaned out loud as his fingers pushed deep inside her.

“Which means I’m last,” Helen moaned into his neck as she gently guided Maria with her hand on top of her head underwater. Chuckling, Harry turned to her and leaned close.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure I fuck you first.”

“I’ll hold you to it,” the Asian beauty grinned and once again, slammed her lips against his.

XXXXX

Bruce blinked as the others left, his brows furrowing slightly. “Uh… what was that about?”

Betty let out a soft sigh and made her way over to the massive couch, lowering herself onto it slowly. She eyed Bruce and patted the space next to her. “Sit with me?”

Bruce’s brows furrowed slightly and he hesitated only for a second before he nodded, shifting his large frame to sit beside her. The couch, thankfully enlarged and reinforced by Harry’s magic, held steady beneath his weight.

For a moment, there was silence. Not an uncomfortable one, but a contemplative one.

Bruce glanced at Betty. “Something on your mind?”

Betty didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she studied him, her gaze lingering as if truly taking him in for the first time. Not just his size or the green hue of his skin, but everything—his posture, the way he carried himself, the way his eyes still held that same intelligence, and that same warmth.

Finally, she spoke. “It’s… different. Seeing you like this.”

Bruce nodded. “Yeah. Believe me, I get it.”

Betty exhaled softly, shifting so she could face him more directly. “I don’t know what I expected, but… I can’t help but feel sorry.”

Bruce frowned slightly. “Sorry?”

“For you,” Betty clarified. “For everything you’ve been through to get to this point.”

Bruce was quiet for a moment, and then he shook his head with a small smile. “Don’t be.”

Betty gave him a look. “How can I not? You’ve spent years fighting this—fighting him. And now you’re stuck like this.”

Bruce huffed a small laugh, though it wasn’t mocking. “You think I see this as a bad thing?”

Betty hesitated. “Don’t you?”

Bruce leaned back, exhaling. “You’re right about one thing—I did fight this for years. I saw the Hulk as something separate from me, something I had to control, suppress, keep locked away. But in the end, that wasn’t sustainable. Every time I pushed him down, he pushed back harder. It wasn’t a matter of if I’d lose control again—it was when.” He looked at Betty, his expression serious. “I’d rather have this than be a mindless beast fueled by rage.”

Betty studied him, her expression unreadable. “So, you’re okay with this? With being this way forever?”

Bruce thought about it before nodding. “Yeah. I think I am.”

Betty’s gaze searched him for a moment before she let out a slow breath. “I guess I just… I still remember the old you. And now, seeing you like this, it’s—” She stopped herself, shaking her head. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

Bruce gave her a small, understanding smile. “It’s a lot. I get it.”

Betty tilted her head slightly. “Don’t you miss it already? Being just… Bruce?”

Bruce considered that for a long moment. “I can’t say that I haven’t,” he admitted. “But if I had to choose between being only Bruce or only the Hulk, I’d pick this every time.” He gestured to himself. “I finally have balance. I can think without the constant fear of losing control. I can be… me.”

Betty softened at that, a small smile touching her lips. “That’s all I ever wanted for you, you know.”

Bruce smiled back. “I know.”

They sat in silence for a while. It wasn’t sadness, not really. It was just… change. And change, no matter how necessary, always took time to adjust to.

Finally, Betty let out a breath, giving Bruce a teasing smile. “Well, at least you don’t have to worry about pants ripping every time you get angry anymore.”

Bruce laughed. “Small victories.”

Betty chuckled, shaking her head. “I think you’re going to be okay, Bruce.”

Bruce met her gaze, his expression warm. “Yeah. I think so too.”

A small stretch of silence settled between them and slowly, a sad smile tugged at the corner of his lips before he spoke again, his voice softer now. “You know… if things had been different, I think I would’ve liked to see where things could’ve gone between us.”

Betty’s head snapped up, her eyes wide. “What?”

Bruce gave her a small, resigned chuckle, shrugging slightly. “I mean, I never said anything. Never even hinted at it because, well… I had a whole Hulk situation going on. Not exactly the kind of thing that makes a guy ideal relationship material.”

Betty blinked, completely caught off guard. “You… you had feelings for me? Like that?”

Bruce nodded, his smile wistful. “Yeah. For a long time.”

Betty opened her mouth, but no words came out. She searched his face, as if trying to determine whether he was joking, but the quiet sincerity in his expression told her everything she needed to know.

Bruce let out a small sigh, leaning forward and resting his forearms on his knees. “I never acted on it because it wouldn’t have been fair—to you or to myself. And now… well, now I know there’s no point in even thinking about it. Still, I had to get it off my chest.”

Betty’s chest tightened. “Why would you say that?”

Bruce gave her a knowing look. “Come on, Betty. Look at me.” He gestured to himself—the massive frame, the green skin, the unmistakable presence of the Hulk now permanently a part of who he was. “This is who I am now. There’s no going back to being just Bruce Banner. No normal life. No normal relationships.” He shook his head. “It’s just not in the cards for me.”

Betty swallowed, still processing his words. “Bruce… I never knew. I mean… I did wonder sometimes… kinda hard not to when you’ve worked together for so long… been through so much together… it’s just, I never truly knew you felt this way.”

He smiled at her, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Betty let out a shaky breath, her emotions swirling. She felt an ache in her chest—not just for Bruce, but for everything he had lost. Everything he had given up without ever letting anyone see how much it had cost him.

“You’ve always been a brilliant friend, you know that?” Bruce continued, looking at her fondly. “You’ve sacrificed your time, your safety… hell, probably your sanity, all for my sake.” He shook his head, his tone full of quiet appreciation. “And you didn’t do it because you had to. You did it because you’re just that good of a person.”

Betty frowned. “Why are you talking like this? Like you’re saying goodbye?”

Bruce let out a soft chuckle. “I’m not. I just… I guess I want you to know that I don’t expect anything from you. I know we can’t be together, and that’s okay. But what I would love is if we could keep being friends.”

Betty felt her throat tighten. “Bruce, of course. You don’t even have to ask.”

He smiled, something relieved in his expression. “Good.”

Betty exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “I just… I wish there was a way to fix this. To give you back your normal life. To let you just be Bruce Banner again, without all the complications.”

Bruce’s smile faded slightly, replaced by quiet acceptance. “It’s useless thinking about things that are impossible.”

Betty frowned. “Is it, though?”

Bruce gave her a look, as if searching for something, and then he shook his head. “Betty, I need you to promise me something.”

She tilted her head, her brows furrowed. “What?”

He hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice firm but kind. “Live your life. Truly live it. With someone you want to be with.”

Something about the way he said it made her pause. There was a knowing look in his eyes, and then—

He glanced toward the exit.

Betty’s eyes widened. “Wait… you know?”

Bruce chuckled, leaning back. “Betty, it’s pretty obvious.”

Betty’s cheeks burned slightly. “Oh, God.”

Bruce smirked. “The way you look at Harry? You might as well have a neon sign over your head.”

Betty covered her face with her hands for a moment before she let out a groan. “I thought I was being subtle.”

Bruce laughed genuinely, and it was a deep sound that filled the room. “Not even a little.”

Betty peeked at him through her fingers, half-amused, half-embarrassed. “Okay, fine. Maybe I like him. But—” She hesitated. “You’re sounding really okay with this. Especially after… well… after what you just told me.”

Bruce’s expression softened. “Betty, I like Harry. He’s a good guy. And yeah, the whole… unconventional relationship setup is different, but if it works for all of you, then who am I to judge?”

Betty sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. “This is so weird, talking to you about this.”

Bruce chuckled. “Yeah, we’ve never really had these kinds of talks, huh?”

Betty smirked. “Nope. You were always too busy trying not to Hulk out on everything.”

Bruce snorted. “Fair point.”

A comfortable silence settled between them. It was strange, really—talking about their lives like this, openly, without the weight of unspoken things pressing down on them. For the first time in a long time, Bruce felt like he wasn’t holding something back. And Betty…

Betty felt like she was finally seeing all of Bruce, not just the parts he let people see.

She reached out, placing a hand on his huge green arm. “Bruce.”

He looked at her, his eyebrows raised.

She offered him a small but genuine smile. “You know I’ll always be here for you, right?”

Bruce nodded, his expression warm. “Yeah. And I’ll always be here for you too.”

Betty squeezed his arm before pulling back. “Good.”

Bruce let out a deep breath, glancing toward the exit again. “And seriously, Betty… don’t run from something that makes you happy.”

She studied him for a moment before she nodded with a small, genuine smile. “I won’t.”

Bruce gave her a lopsided smile. “Good.”

Betty chuckled. “You know, for someone who spent years avoiding emotional conversations, you’re actually kind of good at this.”

Bruce grinned. “Eh, I’ve had practice.”

Betty shook her head with a laugh before leaning back against the couch, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. Maybe things weren’t perfect. Maybe they never would be.

But for the first time in a long time, everything felt right.

And that was enough.

XXXXX

Sylvia walked ahead of Wanda and Felicia, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as if bracing herself against an unseen force. Her pace was brisk, her mind a whirlwind of emotions she couldn't quite sort through. The confrontation with Thor had left her shaken, though she would never admit it. She had spoken her mind, let him know exactly how she felt, and yet something inside her still twisted uncomfortably.

The quiet footsteps behind her reminded her that she wasn’t alone, though she felt as if she was drowning in her own thoughts. Wanda and Felicia had stayed by her side, letting her walk off the tension, but they stayed close by, their presence a silent promise that they wouldn’t let her slip away into herself completely. The thought was both comforting and frustrating.

“Sooo…,” Felicia finally broke the silence, drawing the word out. “That was... a lot.”

Sylvia exhaled sharply through her nose. “Yeah.”

Wanda exchanged a glance with Felicia before stepping closer to Sylvia’s side. “You really let him have it.” Her tone wasn’t judgmental, just observant. “He still didn’t fight back, though.”

Sylvia scoffed, rolling her eyes as she continued to walk. “What was he supposed to say? He knows he’s guilty.”

Wanda hummed in response, watching Sylvia carefully. “Maybe. But guilt isn’t always enough to make someone own up to their mistakes.”

Sylvia tensed at that. “I don’t care what he owns up to. He can cry about it all he wants; it doesn’t change anything.”

Felicia sighed dramatically, running a hand through her blonde hair. “Look, I’m all for holding grudges, especially when people royally screw you over, but I think you at least made your point.” She nudged Sylvia playfully. “The guy looked ready to fall apart.”

Sylvia’s jaw tightened. “Good.”

“Is it?” Wanda asked gently. “Do you really want him to be in pain?”

Sylvia halted abruptly, forcing Wanda and Felicia to stop alongside her. She turned to Wanda, her expression guarded. “After everything, do you seriously expect me to just accept him? To let him waltz in and pretend he cares?”

“No,” Wanda said simply, a frown on her face. “I don’t. But I think he does care. And that’s what makes this so hard, doesn’t it?”

Sylvia’s throat tightened as she felt the intensity of Wanda’s gaze on her. There was something unnerving about how easily Wanda seemed to see through her. It made Sylvia feel exposed and vulnerable—something she was not used to. But it was the reality she had to face ever since the coma, ever since the ritual. Everything that had happened had made her feel weaker and more exposed. And it wasn’t just Harry who now had access to her most intimate motivations and memories—it was Wanda and Felicia too.

The bond she shared with Felicia had formed during their time in the coma. They had connected on a deep level, communicating in ways that felt almost impossible. The same connection had happened with Wanda during the ritual, and now, all of them—Harry included—knew everything about each other. Their pasts, their motivations, even their deepest fears. There were no secrets left, not between any of them.

Sylvia knew it applied to the other three women who had been with them inside that chamber—Helen, Maria, and Natasha, and she understood how all this had come to be. Harry’s magic had played a crucial role in bringing them all together. His power was what had tied them into this shared experience, linking their minds in ways none of them could have predicted. He knew everything about them, just as they knew everything about him. What was strange, though, was that despite Banner’s involvement in the ritual, he had not been included in this bond. Sylvia didn’t know why, but it was clear that Harry’s magic had chosen who would be affected and who would remain outside the link.

Now, they were all connected in ways that were both confusing and unsettling. Sylvia wasn’t sure what to make of it, but it was something she had to accept. There was no turning back from this new reality.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Sylvia replied, clearing her head of all the thoughts as she regarded Wanda with pursed lips. “He cared too late. They all did.”

Wanda lowered her gaze for a moment before speaking again. “I get it.”

Sylvia arched a brow. “Do you?”

Wanda met her eyes, and both Felicia and Sylvia could see the weight of her own sorrow evident in them. “Yes. I do.”

Sylvia swallowed with a grimace, knowing exactly what Wanda was referring to. Pietro. His death. It had not been long, and it was understandable that the grief would still linger in Wanda’s eyes even though she did not display it as often. She and Felicia both wanted to be there for Wanda when she would be at her lowest, to see her shatter and help her try to put herself back together again. As one, they moved closer and wrapped their arms around the woman, knowing that Wanda was using that grief to reach out to Sylvia. It was impossible for her to fault her for it.

“My brother was everything to me,” Wanda continued, her voice shaky and laced with immense pain and sorrow. Felicia and Sylvia held her, allowing her to finally grieve. Wanda sniffed, tears sliding down her cheeks as she blinked. “And I lost him before I ever got the chance to really talk to him about everything I needed to. Every fight we had, every moment I took for granted, it all still lingers.” She exhaled, shaking her head. “And I would do anything to have even one more day with him.”

Sylvia shifted uncomfortably, but she didn’t interrupt.

“You still have Thor,” Wanda said softly as she pulled back, reaching up to cup Sylvia’s cheek. She was still crying, but even through that pain, she managed a supportive smile. “You don’t have to forgive him. You don’t even have to let him in. But he’s trying. That has to mean something, Sylvia.”

Sylvia clenched her jaw as Wanda wiped her tears away. “That’s different.”

“Is it?” Wanda challenged. “You and Thor were family once, weren’t you? Maybe not in the way you wanted, maybe not in a way that was good for you, but he was there. As your brother. And I know there was a time when you loved him as much as I loved Pietro. And now he’s here again, trying. Not demanding, not forcing his way in—just trying.”

Sylvia turned away, her arms tightening around herself. She hated this. Hated that Wanda was making sense. Hated that a small, stubborn part of her was already questioning the anger she had held onto for so long. Hated that the voice inside her was asking if Thor was truly the one deserving of so much scorn and anger when it was Odin who had truly wronged her. After all, Thor’s only fault was that he was a blockhead who couldn’t use his brain even if his life depended on it. Couldn’t see what was happening right in front of his eyes. He was an idiot, and that was his fault.

Felicia, for once, was serious. “Look, Syl… You know how much I love to mock the guy—his whole golden retriever, ‘woe is me’ act is a little much—but he wasn’t faking it back there. That was real.” She shook her head. “I’ve seen plenty of people fake remorse, Sylvia. That wasn’t it.”

Sylvia exhaled through her nose, staring at the ground. “It’s not enough.”

“No, it’s not,” Wanda agreed. “But it’s something.”

A heavy silence settled between them, and Sylvia let the words sink in. She wasn’t ready to accept anything. She wasn’t ready to let go of her anger. But she also wasn’t ready to dismiss what had just happened. Thor had stood before her, raw and vulnerable, admitting his failures. That was more than she had ever expected.

Felicia clapped her hands together suddenly, breaking the tension. “Alright, that’s enough deep emotional reflection for one day. I think we all deserve a drink. Or, at the very least, a very large, very unhealthy meal.”

Sylvia let out a small, almost reluctant chuckle, and Wanda followed suit. “You’re impossible.”

Felicia grinned. “I try.”

Wanda touched Sylvia’s arm lightly, offering her a small smile. “Just think about it. That’s all I’m asking.”

Sylvia didn’t respond right away, but she didn’t shrug Wanda off either. Instead, she sighed and resumed walking, this time at a slower pace. “Let’s just get out of here for a bit.”

Felicia slung an arm over her shoulder. “Now that, I can definitely get behind.”

Wanda walked beside them, her heart a little lighter knowing that, even if it wasn’t forgiveness, it was a step forward. And sometimes, that was enough.

To be continued…