[Bruce is not at all used to being empathized with, and it takes him aback every time. Even those that like him tend to approach his situation from the perspective that he has no reason to feel guilty, that it wasn't under his control, but the thing is that it was. Maybe not easily, but it was. It all came back to being his responsibility, and it not only grates on him to hear others pretend that it isn't, it hurts. Denying his guilt isn't something he knows how to do.

He's honestly saddened to find someone that has had similar enough experiences that they can empathize with him, especially someone so young. He swallows, unable to smile or even attempt it. The truth is, Bruce has spent most of his life alone, to the extent that the moments when he wasn't lonely were punctuation marks in his life. It's just something he can't verbalize or admit to.

But aside from how private all of those thoughts are, this is a public conversation, so he says,] I've been thinking that, too. I'm more free here than I could ever be at home. That I can even say that openly... [A long exhale, pushing all the feelings down, leveling out.] I might not have anything to be sorry for, but I'm sorry that you had to go through it, [he finishes simply.]

Bruce Banner. Either one is fine. [A subtle lightening of his expression, an acceptance of forming a new connection.] The garden it is, then. I'm still getting the preliminary calculations together for water supply and scale. You can stop by Stark Industries in Fire sector during business hours and we can go over it.