"I would've introduced myself more or less in the same way- maybe minus the admiration for the hulk." Because the hulk wouldn't have happened yet. Dreamily, though- "I was a hot mess back then, Honeybear."

Trying too hard, drinking too much, working to build a future where he wouldn't have to go into weapons design- it'd been a bitch and a half to manage and he still didn't quite have it figured out before his parents died. The compliments have him huffing with quiet laughter, smile pressed against Bruce's cheek. Ridiculous, both of them.

"Sorry." And he genuinely is. "I'm here, I'm solid, I'll make it back to earth."