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(no subject)

So, that happened.

And now there is a huge, absurdly muscular green person on the Milliways grounds, trudging through the foothills at the head of a long trail of oversized footprints. She gave up the stomping a while ago, but her steps are still fairly thunderous.

She is experiencing a significant lack of pants—and at her size, significant is definitely the word—but luckily for her dignity, she hasn't yet reverted back to a state where she cares.

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Okay.

So.

When today started out, it marked the second time Harleen had found the bar instead of the break room. She decided to take advantage of the great outdoors this place offers. Go for a walk, she thought. Nice and relaxing, she thought.

Five minutes ago, that was even true.

As of right now, Doctor Harleen Quinzel is standing very, very still and clutching her cup of coffee like a lifeline.

The Hulk rumbles to a halt, shades her eyes with an enormous hand, and peers at Dr. Quinzel.

"Hi there."

It comes out half an octave higher than normal, the kind of manic cheerfulness she hasn't fallen back on since medical school. She pries one hand off her coffee cup enough to offer a wave.

"Are you okay?"

She frowns deeply, considering the question.

A few seconds pass.

She lets out a huff of breath that briefly flattens a few blades of grass at the edge of the path and shakes her head, scowling. Her hand returns to her side.

"Are you hurt?"

She doesn't see any wounds--and she figures she wouldn't be able to miss them--but it still seems prudent to ask.

"No," she says, loudly. 'Quiet' is not an available setting on that voice.

Harleen manages not to startle visibly; she's more weirdly relieved that her new green friend can talk.

"That's good.

Do you need any help?"

She growls in frustration, rubbing her face with both hands. So much for talking.

Two steps forward, one step...hopefully not onto Harleen.

"Okay," she says.

"We don't have to talk if you don't want to."

The noise she makes at that is... gentler. Less angry.

Hesitantly, she starts to reach out a hand, then snatches it back a moment later.

"Hey."

She holds out a hand.

"We're okay."

The Hulk reaches out again, very very slowly, and touches her fingertip to the palm of Harley's hand.

It's the least frowny she's looked since this (for lack of a better term) conversation began.

Harleen smiles.

"It's nice to meet you."

She snorts gustily.

"Trust me, I don't do flattery."

She chuckles.

It's... loud.

But it's cheerful! She can work with cheerful.

"I was taking a walk," she adds.

"Can I walk with you? Or do you want to stay here for a while?"

Slowly, she smiles again.

Then she turns toward the mountains—on the path this time, which she wasn't bothering with before—and beckons Harley to come along.

Harleen trots over to her side.

"Thanks."

The Hulk huffs a laugh and shakes her head.

She's surprisingly fast for something so big, but she's not in a hurry, so she slows down enough for Harleen to keep up. The ground only shakes a little bit with each step.

She has to lengthen her stride a bit, but she falls into step easily enough.

"So."

She takes a sip of her coffee.

"I don't imagine you're actually from around here."

With a rumbling chuckle, she shakes her head again.

"Me neither.

Although it is really pretty. I'm a bit surprised nobody's stuck a house out here--an auxiliary bar or a cabin or something."

The Hulk shrugs, perhaps to indicate that the question really hasn't been much on her mind.

"I live in a city," she adds.

"We've got parks, but this--"

She gestures expansively with her coffee cup.

"--this is something else."

She nods. It's certainly a fitting description.

She's content to lapse into silence for a few minutes, just taking in the scenery.

Eventually, though:

"I'm Harleen, by the way."

The Hulk ponders her response to this for some time, and eventually comes up with:

"Hi."

She smiles up at the Hulk.

"Feeling any better?"

She makes what would best be described as a Discontented Wookiee Noise and shrugs.

Harleen nods once.

"Gotcha."

She gestures at the path before them with her coffee cup. "Wanna keep going?"

She nods—glances down the path—looks back at Harleen—hesitates for a moment.

"Why?" she asks. "Why - Harleen - stay?"

"Well.

I really did want to take a walk."

She rolls her cup between her palms.

"And you seemed like maybe you shouldn't be alone."

The Hulk heaves a sigh and nods.

"Should. Shouldn't," she says, somewhat cryptically. "Okay."

"Yeah?"

She smiles hesitantly. "I mean, I'm not trying to be a complete mother hen here.

But I am a doctor; trying to help is sort of an unavoidable side effect."

She raises large green eyebrows and quirks a smile.

"So it's okay, then? For me to stay?"

It seems worth verifying.

The Hulk nods again, her smile softening.

"Okay," she rumbles.

Harleen beams up at her.

"Cool."

She grins back.

It's, well, kind of cute.

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