#mm;task008

Christmas was never something Bruce looked forward to, having been haunted by his father year after year--even now in his adulthood. He could recall the reek of alcohol on his breath, hear the protests his dear mother would make to protect their son, and taste the blood that leaked from his split lip. Not a holiday went by without Bruce being reminded that he was a monster, even though he never understood why. 

The only Christmas memory that remained vivid was when he was just a child, excitement bubbled inside of him as he climbed the stairs to marvel at the gifts beneath the tree. He knew better than to open them too soon, but he was so excited, and told himself just one gift. He settled his guardian on a gift, shushing him and asking he stay watch while he opened a rather large box. An intricate building kit was inside and the four-year old completed most of it that night with only the light of the tree guiding him. 

In stumbled in Brian Banner in a drunken stupor, annoyed that the boy was awake and digging into the presents. Outraged, he started to yell and knock ornaments off of the tree, shattering a few of the glass orbs. Bruce was too young to do anything, so he clutched Guardian tightly for dear life in fear. Why couldn’t he do anything? Suddenly, his mother came to his defense and attempted to scoop up her son to protect him--only to receive a resounding smack in the face. 

“Mommy!” Bruce wailed and the father then turned his attention to the boy. 

“You should never have been born in the first place, you little monster!” he bellowed and kicked over Bruce’s project, breaking the toy to shambles, After, what felt like hours, of yelling and breaking things, Brian Banner finally retreated to the bedroom with Bruce’s mother, leaving the child crying, clutching his ragdoll beside his destroyed toy. 

It wasn’t until Bruce’s adulthood where he started to realize that monster Brian always yelled at him about was the Hulk that resided inside of him. For years, Bruce hated the monster and still tried to eliminate the creature. Something about being free made him want to prove that he wasn’t what his father always struck him for. He tried and he tried for many years until he stopped the day his mother passed away. His heart was heavy as he attended her burial that rainy day. That Christmas eve. 

Again, Brian was drunk and confronted Bruce to tell him it was all his fault. Fists were hurled at the mild-mannered scientist when, finally, Bruce fought back and shoved Brian away. That was the first and only time Bruce ever stood up to his abuser and Brian’s fate was dismal, as a result. The drunken, former scientist slipped and his head cracked on the tombstone belonging to his wife. Horrified, Bruce did the only thing he was ever good at...

Running away. 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day always brought horrific memories and he often surrendered himself to the Hulk in order to not have to be haunted by them, however, things changed when he entered the Avengers and made friends with the likes of Tony Stark and others--eventually dating Thor himself.