Barwinka

Gold, Silver, and Bronze!🥇🥈🥉

We assume Natasha is able to get through to Hulk and bring Banner back because she has a connection with Banner, right?

But what if it's one layer deeper than that?

What if it's because someone has finally shown Hulk-- not Banner-- kindness. Someone has finally acknowledged his part in the Avenger's success. Sure, Nat is kind to him because she likes Banner, but she's still being kind.

We know from watching Ragnarok (and Infinity War) that Hulk has his own set of emotions and opinions about himself and his other half, just like Banner does.

Maybe those feelings arent particularly deep, but they're there nonetheless.

We even see in AOU itself that there's some level of pain and remorse underneath the rage and smashing. I mean, look at how he pauses after he's fallen through that building and has finally shaken off Wanda's magic.

Almost contemplative, yes? Ready to walk away from the fight, at least. That is, until someone cocks a gun at him.

It's pretty clear to Hulk after this incident-- after being beat up by a teammate that he fought alongside the last time he was awake, after being hated by Banner and by the world more than ever-- that he's not willing to go on like this.

When Natsha invites Hulk back by pushing Banner off a cliff (rude), he decidedly refuses to relinquish control to Banner. He chooses to remain himself and cut off communication from the one person who's been kind to him.

He's calm in that jet. We see for the first time that "anger=Hulk, calm=Banner" is no longer true, if it ever was.

Hulk wants to be appreciated, just like "puny Banner."

And in Ragnarok, he gets his chance.

There, on Sakaar, he shows remarkable control-- and dare I say even glee-- in training, relaxing, making friends, sharing emotions, and "smashing" only when appropriate.

That prison served as a controlled, supportive environment for him to grow as an individual. He learned how to live, think, and feel on his own.

The first time in his existence he's ever even been granted the chance.

But then he sees Nat again, and it all comes back.

He's reminded of the anger and the pain, yes, but also of his first connection-- and he's caught off guard. We see him fighting desperately against Banner's control, because for the first time in Hulk's life, he's got something other than control to lose.

But he's been surprised, Banner has a foothold, and his instinct of honoring Natasha's requests takes over. His individuality is stolen from him, and he's back to being a burden nobody wants.

I mean, think all the way back to the first Avengers, or even TIH, when we all knew on some level that when Banner invites Hulk out-- without the use of rage or pain-- Hulk is more amenable to reason.

So really, why shouldn't The Big Guy have his own feelings? No wonder he formed a bond with the only person who routinely invited him out. The only one who openly thanked him, and stated she needed him (both at least once). Not only that, she's the only one who politely (with the lullaby) requested he let Banner come back.

No wonder he listened to her.

Banner didn't even realize Hulk had his own feelings until he failed at forcing him out in battle.

Banner took until Endgame to work with Hulk "not as a disease, but as a cure." But even then, did Hulk have a say in their new form?

A symbiotic relationship, a shared form, and Banner took the longest to offer Hulk any emotion other than distaste.

But Natasha, she was the first to show this living, breathing, emotion-filled Big Guy kindness.

for me to float on

“You feel the bulge in his pants” - implies that you are feeling some guy’s penis, may be sexy depending on context