Sorry again for posting so late! Things got a little hectic today, but on the bright side, I totally channeled my inner eight year old and caved and bought a Hulk Build a bear today! His name is Bruce Banner and he is officially my new best friend lol. But anyway, here's another chapter… hopefully things work out/make sense? Thanks for the support! Much love 3

"Why the hell is Loki back?" Clint asked.

"Language!" Cap called from his position at the head of the jet. His hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel as Clint corrected himself, "Sorry- I meant, why the heck is Loki back?"

Tony twirled around in his chair, "I think the more serious question is how did he get back?"

Natasha turned toward Thor, an eyebrow raised, "How exactly did he get back?"

Thor shrugged, "I am not sure. When I was returning to earth everything was not out of the norms."

Bruce stood from his chair and began to pace. He froze when he felt the eyes of the team on him. Shifting his weight from foot to foot, he arched his eyebrows in question. "Why is everyone looking at me?"

Steve's gaze caught Bruce's in the review mirror. A beat of silence passed, "We are just a bit… wary as to how you'll react around Loki."

"Why?"

"Did the angry green man not attack my brother?" Thor asked.

Bruce shook his head as if the explanation was simple, "He made me angry."

Wanda looked up from her seat, eyes wide. Clint leaned toward Natasha and muttered, "I thought you liked him because he wasn't a fighter, Nat."

Natasha threw an elbow to her left, connecting with Hawkeye's ribs. Clint double over, letting a muffled groan escape his lips, followed by an apology, "Right. Right, ok sorry."

Bruce gave him a smile, having overheard. "I really don't think there's anything to be frightened about. I reassure you, I have never felt like this before." He took a deep breath, "For once… I think it worked."

Steve dropped his gaze and focused his eyes on the sky in front of them. He tried to ignore the uneasiness that coursed through his veins every time he thought about the Hulk disappearing for good. It just didn't make sense. It shouldn't have been that easy.

Natasha felt the same way. She wasn't sure how to approach Bruce, especially with the uncertainty of the serum. She loved him, god she did, but watching him be so confident made her concerned in a way she couldn't explain. She wasn't used to Bruce being like this, with his eyes meeting everyone's and not blinking or looking away. Not having that typical twitch in his lower jaw as he struggled to reign in his control. Not being subtle, or even gentle, anymore, for even the way he was walking seemed more sure. More purposeful.

"Alright, well we're landing in five, so everyone get ready. We've got to figure out what Loki wants and how to keep him in check." Steve said.

Clint stood and began to pass out the weapons that were attached to the back wall of the aircraft. Strapping on his arrows, he tossed Natasha an extra gun when she looked his way. Tony began messing with a screw in the corner of his suit, mumbling to himself while Thor clenched his fist around his hammer, a faraway look in his eyes. Steve's shield lay next to his seat, his fingers already itching to use it. And Wanda sat back, nervous to fight beside the avengers once again, for the last time she did, she had lost someone important to her. Someone she could never get back.

Natasha caught Wanda's eye and gave her an encouraging nod. Despite the differences they had had earlier in the week, the discrepancy was mainly forgotten. Besides, they needed to have each other's backs right now.

Wanda flexed her hands, fingers flicking outward as red smoke formed near their tips. A smile, or more like a smirk, pulled at her lips.

Natasha stood and approached Bruce.

"What are you going to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well if you're so sure that the other guy is gone, isn't it best for you to stay in the aircraft?"

"And miss a good fight?" Bruce brought his hands together, cracking one of his knuckles. Natasha shook her head.

"We can't risk having something happen to you."

"Because I might be human?"

Natasha nodded.

"Clint's human." Bruce said, then turned to the left to address the assassin, "No offense."

Clint's mouth turned down, "Offense taken."

Bruce opened his mouth to say more, but clamped it shut. That was rude of him, but it was the truth. If Clint was going, so was he.

He turned back toward Natasha, "Besides," he grabbed her hands, "I can't let you go out there alone."

"Bruce you'll become more of a distraction if you can't defend yourself."

Bruce reached for the extra gun that was locked in a holster behind her back. His hand trailed down the length of her spine until he found it, fingers lingering too long before he pulled the gun out. Natasha prayed no one noticed.

"I've been practicing." he said, twirling the gun between his fingers.

"Jesus!" Tony exclaimed, catching sight of the exchange, "You better put that down Doc before you blow someone's fingers off."

Bruce stilled his hand and shrugged, "I can hold my own. I can fight."

"But do you want too?"

Natasha didn't want to hear the answer. She already knew what it would be, but she didn't want to hear it. If Bruce wanted to fight… if he wanted to be a part of the action then he was not the man he was two weeks ago. It was as if the serum didn't get rid of the Hulk, but rather, merged the personalities of the Hulk and Bruce into one, intertwining their DNA with small strings and crosshatches until Natasha couldn't tell who was who anymore.

"Landing. Get ready to move." Steve called as he jerked up on the steering rod of the aircraft. The sudden decrease in pressure caused Natasha's ears to pop. She rolled her jaw to get rid of the annoying echo, still waiting for Bruce's response, and still not wanting it.

Bruce slid the gun into the waistband of his pocket and smiled, "Of course I do."