Kae laughed at that. "He is," she agreed, grinning at Hulk while Tony pouted. "Well, looks like you're going to be out for a little while. So I think we should agree to a few rules. Okay?"

"Rules?" Somehow, the Hulk managed to sound confused and distasteful at the same time. "No rules for Hulk. Hulk just smash!"

"No, Hulk can't smash all the time." Kae looked at him evenly. "Would you want to smash Tin man or Cupid?"

"Tin Man need smashing sometimes," Hulk grumbled. He scrunched up his face, trying to remember who 'Cupid' was. "Birdy always too high to smash."

Kae grinned at that. "Tell you what. If you agree to the rules, I'll agree to them too. So will Bruce and Tony. Sound fair?"

"Fair?" Hulk had to think about that. Fair. Fair sounded good. He nodded. "Fair."

Kae grinned and nodded. "Okay. Rule One. No smashing people." She glanced at Bruce to see if he had any input. Because really now she was just making things up as she went.

For the moment, Bruce was stunned. He hadn't expected nearly that level of comprehension from the Hulk. After a second, he nodded.

"No smashing, unless we tell you smashing is okay," he said. Hulk snarled, baring his teeth, but didn't argue.

"I'm sure we can bring you some things to smash. Not as much fun, probably, but better than nothing, right?" Kae smiled. Hey, this was working great.

And she'd have to get an "I told you so" in to Bruce later.

"Hulk not like rule," Hulk muttered. "Hulk likes smash."

"We know." Kae looked at him, trying to decide if that was refusal or just petulance. Maybe asking nicely would help, he probably didn't get that very often. "Please?"

That made Hulk pause. He recognized the word and what it meant, but it had never been directed at him before. Finally, he bobbed his head once. He had to listen to Kae.

Kae positively beamed. "Good. Are you hungry?" Now that they'd gotten Rule One, she figured it would be a little bit before they needed to figure out Rule Two. And getting him fed and bathed was higher on her list of priorities at the moment.

That was about the point Hulk didn't understand anymore, and he tilted his head sideways. The word 'hungry' just had no meaning for him.

"He doesn't understand," Bruce murmured to her. "He's never had to deal with hunger."

"Ah." Kae was quiet for a moment. "Think we should show him? Since we don't know how long this is going to last." She looked at Bruce again.

Bruce thought for a moment.

"I'm sure it's about time for you to at least have a snack anyways," he said. "It's been a while since our last meal. I can stay here and keep an eye on him if you want to go get something and bring it back." Because as much as he didn't like the idea of Kae being in the same room as the Hulk, she clearly had other ideas and wasn't going to let him tell her otherwise.

Kae nodded. "Alright. I'll be back soon, then. Let me know if he gives you any trouble." Hopefully he wouldn't now but just in case. She headed back upstairs to go get food to bring back. Bruce hadn't tried to lecture her yet about the dangers of being in the room with Hulk (although she'd disproved most of them rather spectacularly) so she would be good and get her snack.

Hulk started to get fidgety the instant that Kae left.

"Don't," Bruce said firmly, looking at the Hulk. "Stay there." His orders, at least, he was fairly certain would be obeyed. The Hulk was already conditioned to bend to Bruce's will, so this should be no different.

Fortunately Kae only took ten minutes or so to come back with food for all of them. She sat on the floor with only minor difficulty, setting the food down and shoving some at Tony and Bruce as well.

"If I'm snacking you are too." She grinned briefly at them.

Bruce helped Kae sit down carefully. The Hulk growled and fidgeted when Bruce touched Kae, and Bruce looked at him before the Hulk reluctantly sat down with a thump.

Kae snorted at the two males before she pulled some food over to herself, starting to munch. Because Bruce and Tony started getting pushy if she didn't eat regularly.

Hulk watched them all warily, not entirely sure what was going on. He had some vague recollections of rushed, furtive meals while Bruce was on the run, and some more recent memories of meals with the team, but he had no idea how those things related to him.

Bruce kept an eye on the Hulk, ready for any sign of violence. Somehow, he could tell the Hulk was confused and curious, and there was only ever one way for any sort of emotions to be expressed when it came to the Hulk.

After a few moments, Kae pushed some food over to Bruce and Hulk, giving Bruce a look. She'd go help Hulk but he seemed nervous when she was too close.

Bruce blinked at the look, and almost pouted. Clearly, the universe hated him. He spent the last several years trying to live around the Hulk, and now he had to cater to the beast as well. But he knew better than to argue with Kae, especially now when her moods could (and would) shift at the drop of a hat, so he too the food and cautiously went over to the Hulk.

Kae watched them closely to make sure she didn't have to interfere. She was fairly sure they'd be okay, but she wanted to be sure.

It would take her a minute to get to her feet, but she could still do something to help.