Ryan sits on the edge of his bed, gaze fixed on his hands. They are unmistakably human—fingers slender, knuckles scraped from late-night gym sessions, skin pale in the morning light. He flexes them experimentally, as if expecting to see them swell or turn green, but all he feels is strangeness, a foreignness that lingers beneath the surface.
"They're just hands," he whispers to the empty room, though it feels like a question he’s asking himself.
A deep, rumbling voice echoes in his mind, steady and familiar—a presence he both fears and misses.
Hulk: "Ryan wants to be human. Hulk understands. But Hulk still here. Always here."
Ryan clenches his fists, knuckles whitening as he wrestles with old memories and new uncertainties.
"I know. I just… I need this. I can’t keep switching back and forth. It’s too much."
A long pause. Then the voice returns, almost gentle.
"Hulk agrees. Ryan stays human. But if Ryan gets ANGRY, Hulk decides. Hulk takes over when needed. Hulk protects. Hulk fights. But ONLY for good reason."
Ryan raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching in a half-smile.
"And if it’s not a good reason?"
"Then Hulk gives body back. But Ryan must CONTROL himself."
He lets out a shaky breath, feeling a weight lift from his chest.
"Alright. Deal."
Emily, with bright eyes and a playful grin, lounges on the couch beside Ryan. He wipes his forehead with the hem of his shirt, unintentionally revealing his newly sculpted abs. For a heartbeat, time hangs suspended as Emily stares in disbelief.
"Whoa. When did you get… that?"
Ryan smirks, shrugging as if it’s nothing special.
"Oh, you know. Just… working out."
She laughs, shaking her head, her gaze lingering a moment longer.
"Yeah, sure. You’ve been hiding that from me this whole time?"
A flicker of pride stirs inside Ryan, a dangerous temptation to bask in this new normal.
Ryan[/@ch_1] and Emily sit side by side on her porch, the world soft and intimate.]
They share stories and laughter, comforted by the easy rhythm built over years of friendship. Yet, as the night deepens, a restless energy coils within Ryan, his skin tingling beneath the moonlight.
"Hey," he says, rising abruptly. "I just remembered—I need to take care of something. I’ll text you later, okay?"
Emily smiles, trusting, unfazed by his sudden shift.
"Alright. Don’t take too long."
Ryan nods, heart thundering, as he slips away into the cool embrace of the night.
Ryan[/@ch_1]'s hurried footsteps.]
He pushes deeper into the forest, stopping in a clearing where the moonlight pours down like liquid silver. The heat building in his chest becomes unbearable; his breath quickens as he peels off his shirt and lets the night air touch his skin. For a brief, glorious moment, he stands human—then his eyes flash green.
Muscles surge beneath his skin, bones lengthen, and his body expands with unstoppable force. Emerald skin glistens in the moonlight as Ryan Hulk emerges, towering and powerful, the transformation both exhilarating and terrifying.
He flexes his massive hands, relishing the electric rush of strength, and a wide grin splits his face. Here, beneath the watchful eye of the moon, he feels truly alive—no longer divided, but whole.
