[There's a lot of things Bruce could say to that, soured, dark things about why he'd want any Hulk to protect him. But it's Betty, and he's never been able to unleash that on her. Never wanted to. It might be true, that how much he outright loathes his other half has made it impossible for him to think of any other universe's version of it, whether himself or anyone else, with a positive light-- but it's even more true that he can't think that of Betty.

She'd seemed abrasive. Focused on fighting, perpetually angry. But altogether more coherent than Bruce would have ever expected, and she'd changed, gone back to human, merely at his request. Bruce doesn't want Betty to protect him, doesn't think she should need to have to, but he won't deny her it if that's what she wants.

The urge to kiss her hand is sudden and overpowering, and also inappropriate. A learned response Bruce has learned on the wrong woman. He smiles just slightly, mostly down at the table.] I don't actually need that much protection here, [he prevaricates, slipping his hand from hers because he can't keep tempting himself with that closeness. But he takes the sting out of it by stroking his fingers across her palm as he detangles them, making the motion affectionate even as he retracts his hand.]

Maybe we could... just spend time together. Without all the, the worrying and protecting. [Bruce shoots her a quick glance, checking to see if she'd be okay with that.] Figuring out who each other is.