"Should've got paid up front, Banner," Bruce sighed, while looking around aimlessly. He knew it was them. They were onto him once again, like predators circling prey. Could he have no peace? He heard a slight movement behind him, and swerved around, unwilling to take any chances.

What he saw, was a surprise, to say the least.

Before him, was a strangely handsome man, with a crop of healthy brown hair and a suit which seemed fit for only a noble. The impish smile on the man's face was vaguely familiar, however being so secluded and isolated, Banner could not place it.

The man stepped forward with an air of warranted self-worth, while stretching out a hand for Banner to take. As Bruce tentatively shook the man's firm hand, he let a small smile break across his face.

"Tony Stark." The man began. His voice had a bizarre quality to it; it rang in Bruce's ears and made him shiver, "I'm a big fan of yours." The elusive man continued.

"Right. Are you sure about that?" Banner began, with a warning tone.

"Oh, yeah. Big fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous rage monster. Quite the show." Stark replied in so casual a manner. Bruce began to feel incredibly uncomfortable with this man he had just met. He knew what he was here for: SHIELD. They wanted him, and it was only so long before they caught up to him. They had sent this Stark man, solely to falsely befriend him before coercion.

It was only a matter of time.

"You know why I'm here?" Stark began, in a more serious tone. He began strutting from one end of the room from another as if he owned the damn place. Bruce nodded stiffly. "You know that we need you. I can't explain why at the moment, but I promise that I'll tell you more if you come with me." Stark went on; however his voice had lost the sharp edge and softened slightly. "S'up to you Brucey boy. Stay here if you want, but I can promise better RR where I come from."
Bruce began to squirm slightly, and pondered the idea thoroughly.

Was it worth it? Even though he had gone a while since his last... incident, Bruce had begun to struggle with himself as of late. If he were to lose control for even a second, the effect would be devastating. Case in point, New York.

"Bruce Banner, we need you. SHIELD's been without a resident green rage monster for a while, and we're beginning to get bad press for it." Tony said airily, stepping even closer towards Bruce. Banner did not laugh. He had become so isolated, that even his own name seemed alien to hear. It had been months, even years since he had heard those syllables uttered by another human being.

Stark was now very close to him, and had a glazed over look in his eyes. They were the eyes of a man who felt deeply, yet hid behind a facade of arrogance and humour. It had been too long since Bruce had read another human's face, so he glanced away uncomfortably.

"I assume the place is surrounded?" Bruce clearly asked.

Tony grinned.

"Maybe. Maybe not." He suggested playfully; the glazed look in his eyes had all but vanished.

Bruce smirked in response.

There was no point in fighting it. SHIELD would catch up to him sooner or later, and Bruce was certain that every single agent ever, plus all weapons were perched outside waiting for him to snap.

But he wouldn't snap.

He would go with Tony willingly.

Might as well get out of this dump of a cottage, Bruce thought dully. Even though a new world awaited him, he was unable to feel the slightest bit of excitement.

"Do I get my own lab?" Bruce asked shyly, while looking up at Stark with darting eyes.
Stark stepped away triumphantly.

"Sure. I'll make sure of that one myself." Stark replied, with a wag of his finger. Stark then placed a hand over Bruce's shoulder and led him towards the rickety door of the shack.

"Cool." Bruce said simply.

"You're kidding me buddy. You get offered the job of a lifetime, an opportunity to go where no man-" Tony stopped. "Or rage monster has ever gone, and you say cool?"

Bruce rolled his eyes, but conceded that his new appointment was a little beyond just 'mildly interesting.' As the two exited the shack and stood face to face with a number of high security Jeeps, Bruce sighed.

"I'm looking forward to my straightjacket."