"There's only been two people I've been affectionate with." Tony and Betty. He and Natasha are only beginning; they've touched a few times and that's it. He likes it, but he hasn't reached a comfort level where he could reach out to her at any point and feel welcome. Not her, all him. "It's not that I don't want to be, it just ... doesn't come naturally." Bruce's mother died when he was young, his father was abusive, his extended family were cold, and all his relationships otherwise were professional and distant.

"You got me used to it. It could be because instead of ignoring my clear physical 'don't touch me' signals you decided to do it anyway." Bruce laughs. He wouldn't recommend that to anyone else in dealing with him, and he's not about to offer hugs to people in the community. He let Steve hug him and that's because Bruce cares for him a great deal. Even if things are tense.

He hates the costume because he can't see Tony clearly. He's almost entirely forgotten about the embarrassment of his, since he can hide out over here with his friend. As long as Nat doesn't see him. "We went on a walk. It was great." It was too. Bruce felt warm inside afterward, like something so simple could light him up. "I'm just glad I'm past the time in my life where even looking at another person made me feel like I was betraying Betty."