On the Road Again

"Seriously? Well I suppose it won't attract too much attention."

Walt nodded and patted the van. "She's more than she looks and that's why I chose it. You can ride with the girls in the jeep if you'd rather but..."

She-Hulk stood there hunched over with the hooded sweatshirt pulled up and the face mask and sunglasses on trying not to look like 6' 7" of suspicious. It wasn't very covincing. She nodded. "Yeah... I don't want to make the whole trip like this and I'll stand out even more with those two in the jeep."

Walt nodded and chuckled. He looked at the old jeep and wondered what Namor would think about it being turned into the girls party wagon? He'd managed to shoot down their ideas in the name of staying inconspicuous until their adventures were over... but he was starting to think he should buy them each a vehicle of their own for their personal use.

Jubilee was laughing at something and popping her gum waving at them while Gwen was playing with the radio and setting up their "driving tunes". Walt grinned. "True... but they're a good distraction too. Nobody's going to look twice at us in the van. Come on lets go."

He opened her door for her and Jen gave him a look. "Seriously?"

Walt blinked confused for a second. "What- oh, sorry. Force of habit. Just how I was raised. If you don't like it I'll try to remember that, Jen." He shrugged and walked around the van to get in the drivers side.

Jen got in the van thinking about that but momentarily got distracted by the vans interior. "Whoa... okay definitely more than meets the eye..." she said looking around taking the sunglasses and mask off.

Walt climbed in and shut his door. "Something else wrong?"

She shook her head. "Nope... just thinking about surprises... Sorry."

Walt started up the vehicle and got them underway. "For what?"

She nodded. "For coping an attitude. You've been super nice and I shouldn't have been-"

"I'm going to stop you there," Walt said. "You've got nothing to apologize for. It's old fashioned and I get that a lot of folks have problems with some of that old stuff... sometimes with good reasons. Depending on the person or context some could take things that way. Some folks could even intend it that way... but not me."

Walt shook his head. "It's partly how I was raised but it's just a sign of courtesy and respect. I hold doors for ladies... I also hold doors for old folks, children, guys making deliveries with their hands full and pretty much everyone. Some folks get really pissy about things like that but I think it's all about context... but if something like that bothers you that's the opposite of my intention and I'll try to keep that in mind, if you'll do me the favor of keeping my intentions in mind as well. Deal?"

She watched him stick out his hand and she laughed and shook it. "Deal and honestly? Now that I know that's how your mind works? Don't change. That's a good way to be and I like and respect that."

She sighed. "It was one of the things I used to hate... but once it was gone? I kind of missed it. Sure some people were jerks but I realize now that we got rid of a lot of the courtesies and niceties and some of the decency that went along with those things." She smiled. "I can't remember the last time someone bothered being a gentleman just out of respect... it's refreshing."

Walt smiled. "Well then I'm extra glad it made you happy, Jen! But seriously. If I do anything that makes you uncomfortable I'd appreciate it if you told me. I think that's the best way for us to be moving forward. Honesty I've found it's the only way to be living harmoniously with multiple beautiful women- uhh... s-sorry. My mouth er, sometimes... I fumble out saying the things I mean- oh, crap that wasn't any better... I..." Jen is laughing hard. "... I'm going to just shut up now."

She grinned and pushed the hood back. "Well you don't have to. Thank you for the compliment by the way. You're doing fine and I think you're not only right but wise about the honesty thing." *Okay so he's one of those guys,* She thought. *Not threatened by my appearance at all. Opposite maybe? I wasn't sure because of the other two...* "Walt?"

"Yeah?" He asked relieved that the conversation hadn't gotten too messed up.

"What is your relationship with them? Jubilee and Gwen?" She asked.

Walt smiled as Jen totally lead him into a minefield with a devastating smile on her face. "Honestly... it's a bit complicated but I love them. They're important to me. Like family... and their wellbeing and happiness is my responsibility. Just like my responsibility to try to fix your mess you found yourself in."

Jen sensed there was more there... but that was a more than acceptable answer for now. "You take responsibility very seriously, don't you? I can tell."

Walt nodded. "I do. There are a lot of people who are counting on me to do just that. Colleagues, employees, family... from strong people like yourself to little Shogo and even some who don't like me or want my help. I have to do the best I can for everyone of them."

Jen smiled. "That's your guiding principle isn't it? I like that." She nodded. "It's the same for me. That's why I do the things I do. Try to help people and fix my mistakes... I... it really bothers me."

Walt glanced over at her. "Running away? Not being able to just come out and fix something you were a part of?"

She nodded her head. "I'm mad about being used and whoever it was who set this up hurting people and tarnishing my good name... but not being able to just come out and try to fix it? Yeah... that's the worst..."

Walt reached over and took her hand. "I'm sorry, Jen. I can only imagine how difficult this is for you. I promise... I'll try to help you however I can. Whatever you need."

She stared at his hand. It was... warm. Comforting. Gentle. She looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you... I appreciate that and... I promise to help you too. Together?"

Walt smiled at her and gave her hand a squeeze. "Alright. I'd like that. Together, then."

Jen squeezed his hand back. *Not the worst way to start a friendship,* she thought before asking. "So you're obviously not from around these parts. Where you from, Cowboy?"

Walt grinned and told her what he could.

"SERIOUSLY?!"

He chuckled and rubbed his ear. "Yup."

"Geez...Howard wasn't kidding. You really are from "far out of town"!" she said. "Richards would love to talk to you!"

Walt nodded. "I bet... which is exactly why I generally don't share that information except with friends. I trust you Jen and I owe you that much... speaking of asking questions, do you mind?"

She smiled and laughed. "After you just answered as much of my question as you did? Fire away!"

Walt nodded. "Why didn't you change?"

She blinked. "What?" That hadn't been the question she'd expected... it was just as personal but she thought he'd ask something else.

"On the run. In hiding. Everyone looking for the "She-Hulk". Why didn't you change into Jennifer Walters? It would have been easier."

She nodded. "I-I was hurt... and I needed to heal." She sighed shaking her head. "That isnt the whole truth though... it would have been easier but I don't like being "Jennifer Walters". I enjoy being the "She-Hulk". It makes me feel secure and I was feeling very insecure at the time. I mean look at me," she indicated herself. "I'm a beautiful and powerful bombshell! I'm strong, tough and durable! I can do so much more, be so much more, as the "She-Hulk" then Jennifer Walters ever could alone... I'm not like the others. I fully embrace this as "me". Somefolks..." she sighed thinking about past lovers and other important persons in her life. "Some don't get that. That I love who am I and I don't want to give either part up. It's..."

Walt smiled and since they were still holding hands he squeezed her hand again. "It's a part of you. It's like asking someone to remove a part of themselves. It's a vulnerable position and asking it of someone just because they're uncomfortable is kind of unfair."

Jen blinked. She was surprised they were still holding hands... almost as surprised as he got it right away! "Yeah... it's frightening. It's frightening thinking about giving that up and it's frightening for people to see me have power so..."

Walt nodded. "You can't control their fears but you can control your own... and that's a problem most "Hulks" face. The first place to do that is by accepting yourself the way you are. You're smarter than most so you figured it out pretty good considering. Now asking you to go back to just being Jen would be cruel. Like crippling yourself. I'm sorry I asked such an insensitive question, Jen."

She smiled looking at him. "No, don't be... I'm really glad you did! It's nice to know that some people get it. Like this I get the whole package... and it gives me so much confidence to be so much more and do... things... "Jennifer" never could or even would." She thought about "Jennifer's" limited experiences and how many "sexual conquests" she'd had as the "She-Hulk". Confidence was sexy as hell! She looked him over. He understood her rather well which made her curious. "Were you always se-*ahem* so big?"

Walt laughed. "Yes and no. I was always tall but not so built. I was strong but being a soldier made me stronger and my adventures made me stronger still. I can do some pretty crazy stuff... but I'm afraid too."

She tilted her head. "You are? Of what?"

Walt nodded and held up their hands. "Of this."

She blushed and went to let go. "Sorry. Intimacy is scary for so-"

Walt laughed and shook his head squeezing her hand tightly. "No. Not that. That doesn't bother me. The fear of losing it bothers me... I lost my wife a longtime ago... and I started these adventures trying to bring her back... it was in vain but I distracted myself from the obvious by pushing forward and getting stronger along the way. I changed... then I came back and my world had changed... I fear losing this."

Jen swallowed. That was heavy and there was a lot to unpack there but... "I... think I understand. You're... surprising..."

Walt raised an eyebrow smiling. "In a good way?"

She smiled back. "In a very good way."

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Rachel "Raven" Roth Manami "La Brava" Aiba Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui Haruhime Sanjouno Anastasia "The Baroness" Cisarovna/DeCobray Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O Merida Gwen "Gwenom" Stacy Jubilation "Jubilee" Lee and Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters

Will Return In

Secret Mission

Coming Soon]