will graham open post

[grahamalytical]

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/gently touches you

[illecebra]

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[hyperkinesia]

[ Bruce Banner isn't the kind to make friends. He never was, even before the incident, but— especially now.

When it happens, it's always a kind of surprise for him, a mystery on how it comes to be. He grew close to the Avengers by proximity more than anything else, and he's sure that if it weren't for the whole world-saving business bringing them together, they definitely wouldn't be the kind of people he would chat up at a party or a bar. (Especially since Bruce would never be caught in either of those places.)

So this has been... unexpected. Something of a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. He still finds himself at a loss of what to do about it at times, but he figures that so far, things have gone well, so he sees no reason to change anything. He can ignore that tiny little voice whispering in his head about how he would like to change at least some things.

No; this is good. It's enough. For something that started with a tense smile over a shared table in an overcrowded coffeeshop, Bruce wouldn't dream to complain, not when he's found in Will a sure friend, even if nothing else.

And Will is very... peculiar, but there's a lot he's learned, even by observation alone. He likes silence, he keeps to himself, he loves dogs and owns more than most people would find charming (Bruce isn't one of those people, though). He seems to be able to connect to people's minds on a level that's almost supernatural, but still that only seems to make him want to isolate himself even more.

Bruce understands that; he's surprised that Will hasn't actively tried to keep his distance from him, actually, considering what he has lurking inside his own head. But he's not complaining about that either.

He knows a lot about Will, when compared to most other people he's close to. Today, though, as they walk through a park, Will's dogs running happily ahead of them, it occurs to him that there's one thing he doesn't know. ]

I just realized... I have no idea what your last name is.

[grahamalytical]

[ When Will makes friends, rare as that occurrence is, it's never with people who can be described as 'normal'. Maybe it's that he has a tendency to draw abnormality, or maybe it's that he feels more comfortable around others who are considered abnormal. All he's certain of is that Bruce is not a typical person, but he's a good friend, and Will likes having him around.

He's been aware from the start that Bruce has part of himself that he doesn't trust, that he's very careful around--and for good reason--but it hasn't been a deterrent. On the contrary, it's actually been a small part of what drew him in because... Will can relate, in a way. Even beyond his ability to empathize with anyone and their situation, he's felt, at times, like he can't trust himself. Like there's part of him that's monstrous, or could easily be.

All things considered, it's been good. They get along well, they have an understanding of each other, and... Will has actually been enjoying himself. Time spent with Bruce contains smiles that are completely genuine and surprisingly constant. He doesn't think he could fully explain it, even if he tried, but he's been less concerned with explaining it than he's been with simply enjoying the company.

As they walk, Will's hands are tucked inside the pockets of his jacket and his gaze is drawn over when Bruce speaks up. ...Huh. It hadn't occurred to him, either, that Bruce had never heard his full name. He's used to people knowing him as Will Graham, not simply as 'Will', so maybe the assumption has just been there. It can't have helped that it's hard to not be aware of Bruce's last name, either. ]

...You're right. Usually the people I spend any amount of time with know it before I even introduce myself.

[ But Bruce isn't involved in any criminal profiling or psychiatric circles, so it only makes sense. Still, the revelation has some amusement playing at the corner of Will's mouth. ]

I guess I never thought to mention it. But, uh, it's Graham.

[hyperkinesia]

[ In this instance, Bruce doesn't particularly mind being called 'abnormal'. Granted, he'd rather be described as unusual or strange, but the former isn't a lie either, and in this case it doesn't mean anything bad, just like it doesn't mean anything bad about Will either. Not in Bruce's eyes, anyway.

There are plenty of flaws in him, sure, but— well, Bruce can't talk much. Sometimes he feels like a bottomless pit of issues that more often than not he refuses to deal with, and he considers himself lucky that Will hasn't just gotten tired or given up on spending time with him. ]

Well, considering I learned your first name by seeing it scribbled onto a cup of coffee...

[ So yes, definitely a different scenario than the one Will's likely used to. ]

That's nice. I mean— not that it matters much, I guess. But I'd been wondering.