A/N: Hey guys. This is a collaboration account, and this is our first piece of work together. This will be multi-chaptered, and un-betaed by anyone except for us two (and we're very, very careless). Anyway, here we go.
-Belle
The solution bubbled from the flask through the tube. Bruce watched as the level in the syringe steadily increased, and stepped out of the lab, satisfied.
"Mr. Banner," A strongly accented female voice called. "There's someone on the phone for you."
"Where is it from?" Bruce covered the receiver and took the phone from Rana's hands.
"America, Mr. Banner. New York."
Bruce looked up alarmingly. "I thought I had made it clear that no phone calls-"
"This isn't regarding your experiment, Mr. Banner. This is from a school."
"Did they say what they want from me?"
"I believe nothing to do you with your current experiment, Mr. Banner. They didn't seem concerned about it. Would you like to take the call and find out, Mr. Banner?"
Bruce hesitated, his palms still over the receiver. Finally, he took it off and raised the speaker to his phone.
"This is Bruce Banner."
There was a shuffle on the other end. "Hello, Dr. Banner? This is Natasha Romanoff, the secretary of Directory Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Right...S.H.I.E.L.D?" Bruce repeated, dragging a chair out from underneath the table. The name sounded familiar, but he could not get the exact image. The name was repeated in his head until he remembered. "S.H.I.E.L.D, as in the...university? S.H.I.E.L.D?" He questioned tentatively, not that he was very sure about the name himself.
"Yes. That is it. We have been in the search for you for a while now, Dr Banner."
"Right." The sense of uneasiness clung to him. 'In the search' was a phrase he dreaded.
"Have you ever taught? Or tried teaching?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Teaching. You are one of the most well-known gamma-physicist of today. Have you ever considered teaching?"
"No. I'm not-I'm not so sure I can do that." Bruce scrunched his eyebrows, trying to predict where the conversation is going. "You want me to-you want me to teach? At your school?"
"Yes, just that. S.H.I.E.L.D has recently gathered a new team of young scientists, elite students of the institute. We are in need of an experienced teacher to lead them. A chemical physics project. A lot to do with quantum physics, gamma rays, molecular forces...I presume you are familiar with it?"
"Yes, but-"
"Dr. Banner, we can discuss the details of the job after you arrive."
"Arrive?"
"Given that our school is located in New York City, it would be ideal if you could fly back to the United States. We will arrange the transportation."
"No, look, I'm sorry, but I'm not looking for a job. I have many studies going on here."
He could hear a muffled conversation going on in the background. It was Natasha, and a masculine voice. It did not go for long until the talk was replaced by the noise of typing. Bruce frowned in confusion and held the phone closer as if it would have give him more clue on what was going on.
Before he had time to think anything through, the female voice resumed.
"Dr. Banner, the Head of our school wishes to converse with you. I will switch you onto his line."
"What-?" Bruce barely stuttered out when he heard a click on the other end. There was a beep, and the line was picked up again.
"Hello, Dr. Banner, I understand you have chosen not to participate in this study?"
"Right, and who is this?"
"Director Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. Is there anything I need to explain?"
"No, look, the connection is bad here, but I don't think you've heard correctly-"
"Vacuums, Dr. Banner, I believe you are familiar with them."
"Yes, vacuums. Several has been built in Europe. Only the highest of authorities can access them. A research center in Oregon has been developing one for a few years now already."
"Well. I'm hoping you would like to learn that we have recently fully developed and built an underground vacuum. It is close to being complete. I am hoping you will be willing to co-lead a group of students through various new studies in the vacuum involving molecular forces and such."
"What?" Bruce gripped the phone a little bit tighter. "A...fully developed and built vacuum? In...New York? Underground?"
"Yes. I presume this is a lot to process. You are invited to instruct this group of students. Would you like to reconsider your answer?"
"But there was absolutely no talk about this, this vacuum?" Bruce scanned through the science forum sector of his mind. He HAS been away for a while now. What has he missed?
"It is something we'd rather keep private to just the institute for the time being. We will release more to the public once the experiments are initiated."
"And we-and I will get full access? To this...this vacuum?"
"Yes. Would you like to kindly inform us of you nearest available time so we can arrange the transportation for you to get here?" The voice on the other end was distant and impatient, but Bruce was too busy processing the information to notice.
"Nearest available-right. Uh..." Bruce was disoriented, feeling around for his glasses. "I'm not really-I'm not really that busy. I mean, my studies here can wait."
"Would it be convenient for our issued car to meet you outside your lab at eight am tomorrow?"
"My-my lab?"
"Yes. Your cellular data shows where your exact current location is. Would eight am be good?"
He was astonished at first by how omniscient they sounded, then he came to realised that they could probably do a lot more than just track his location down. The wonder of how much the S.H.I.E.L.D can do would probably be a never answered question in his head.
"Um, I see. I think that will work," Bruce was still overwhelmed, moving in a haze and reaching for a pen. He wasn't sure why, but he jotted the time on his calendar. "Right, um, I'll be there."
"We shall meet soon, Dr Banner." The other end clicked as his voice finished. Bruce held the phone by his ear for a few more seconds, still in shock, then promptly put it down upon realizing how dumb be must have looked.
"Mr Banner, is everything okay?" Rana approached him, reaching out for the phone.
Bruce rubbed his eyes, still feeling numb. He slipped off his glasses.
"Right...Yeah, sorry, yes, everything is alright. I'm-" There was a small pause, a hesitation, before he said it out loud. "I'm going back to the States tomorrow."