"It's hard to talk to you when you're here and I'm not," Bruce pointed out frankly. "I'm waiting for you to tell me what's wrong."

"And what makes you think something's wrong?" Kae shifted to curl her feet under her, absently petting Bran. "Maybe I just wanted some quiet time. Or maybe I got sick of my cousin's bullshit."

Bruce just raised an eyebrow slightly at her.

"What? Even you have to get sick of him sometimes." Kae shrugged, looking off to the side. "Or maybe I just wanted some space to step back and try and see more clearly."

"What is it you needed to clear up, if you don't mind my asking?" Bruce asked.

Kae looked at him evenly. "Just some things. Like you." She shrugged, looking off to the side finally.

Bruce blinked. That was a little unexpected. Unless she was thinking about him in a bad way.

"You may need to explain that one," he said finally.

Kae laughed mirthlessly and set her glass down, getting up only to walk over to him and kiss him. And then quickly retreat again.

"Explanation enough, Doc?"

Bruce blinked again. But it wasn't the kiss that knocked him a bit off-balance; it was that it had kicked his heart rate up and the Hulk hadn't done anything. Not even so much as a grumble.

"Well, that was unexpected," he murmured.

"Uh huh. And that's why I decided I needed a few days away." Kae shrugged and settled on the couch again, downing her alcohol.

"The kiss was unexpected, yes," Bruce said, "and might be something to repeat. But I thought the Other Guy would... react."

Kae shrugged. "Maybe he approves?" she said, only half-joking. "He did spend the better part of an hour curled up in my lap."

Bruce thought about that for a moment.

"It's something to consider," he said at last. He looked at her. "You... don't mind?"

"What, the fact that the Other Guy is there and is fine with this, or the fact that you have to think about this? 'Cause I think I might be a little insulted that you have to think this over. Just a little." Kae shrugged and went to go get more alcohol. "No, Bruce, I don't mind."

"No, no, it's not that I have to think it over," Bruce tried. "I mean, I'm always thinking about things, but that's not it. I was asking why you don't mind the Other Guy."

Kae shrugged. "Why should I? You both helped save the world, he doesn't seem to mind me, and he hasn't given me any reason to dislike him." Kae settled in again with more alcohol, watching him.

"The Other Guy could also go off at any time," Bruce pointed out. "He's violent and dangerous and I don't want you to get hurt." He paused after he said that. Huh. That was interesting. But he didn't take it back, just watching her.

Kae shrugged. "So we'll deal with that if it becomes an issue," she said. "Besides, I could also get hit by a car, or blown up by aliens. There's always a chance, Bruce, increasingly so since I know you all. And no, don't take that as me blaming you, and don't use it as an excuse."

Indeed, Bruce had opened his mouth, about to use it as a reason for her not to want him. He closed it again. He was quiet for a moment, considering everything. Oddly, the Other Guy still wasn't against it. He almost seemed to... approve of Kae? And Bruce had to admit, he did like her, and if the Other Guy liked her, then maybe this was worth trying.

"Alright," he said. He looked at her. "I'm willing to try if you are."

"Really?" Kae blinked. "I kind of expected a lot more opposition than that. Okay. Sure. We can try it." She grinned briefly.

Bruce quirked a little half-smile. Maybe things would work out. Getting up, he went over to her and gave her a cautious, almost experimental kiss. Again, there was no reaction at all from the Hulk, and that made Bruce relax a bit more.

Kae looked at him for a moment before she snorted and pulled him down onto the couch next to her before kissing him again.

"I see no green," she teased with a grin.

"Not even a grumble," Bruce agreed, kissing her again. "I guess he really does like you."

Kae grinned, only a little smug. "Good. Now will you stop being stubborn?" She grinned to show there were no hard feelings and kissed him again.

"Maybe," Bruce replied with a bit of a grin. He didn't stop returning her kisses, though.