"So, Doc, how's it going?" Clint asks, once he and Phil have introduced themselves..

"Slowly," he answers wryly. Clint smiles and jumps up to sit on one edge of the lab table that holds the equipment Bruce is fiddling with. Clint peers at the scrolling text on the glass screen above the table.

"So it's mostly just scanning at the moment, right?" he asks. Bruce nods, looking momentarily surprised that Clint can tell what the program is doing and then abashed at his snap judgement. Clint grins.

"Not just a pretty face," he says mildly, enough levity in his tone to convey that he's not really insulted. He waves off Bruce's embarrassed apology. "This thing gives out gamma rays, right?"

"Yes. Not a huge amount, but noticeable."

"You think you can come up with a way to block them? A case, or something?"

Bruce tilts his head thoughtfully. "I might be able to come up with some ideas, but I wouldn't have any idea how to build something like that."

"That's ok," Phil says. "We've got Stark for that part."

"Tony Stark?"

"Yup," Clint affirms. "He'll be here in a little bit. I know for a fact that he's looking forward to meeting you," he adds. Bruce raises a skeptical eyebrow.

"Is that supposed to be some sort of bribe to keep me here?"

"No," Phil answers immediately. "We would like you to stay, to work with us, but we won't stop you if you want to leave. You have my word."

"And Phil's word is his bond - he's old fashioned that way," Clint adds.

"And your director agrees with this?"

"Director Fury has put me in charge of the Avengers Initiative, and you have been on the list of potential recruits from the beginning. That means that I have the final say in any of SHIELD's interactions with you.

"At some point, hopefully after the current crisis has passed, I'd like to talk to you about the Initiative. But whatever decision you make, I will ensure that SHIELD abides by it."

Bruce stares at Phil for a few long moments and then, apparently satisfied that Phil is sincere, he relaxes slightly. Not entirely - like Clint, Bruce's trust issues are long-standing and ingrained - but enough that Clint decides that bringing up the topic he most wants to discuss probably won't result in property damage.

"So," he starts, having decided that honest and straightforward is the way to go, "what do you know about time loops or do-overs?"

Bruce startles and has a look of consternation on his face at the abrupt shift in conversation toward the even more bizarre and esoteric.

"You mean like those stories where time resets to a previous event until the 'right' (Bruce doesn't actually make air-quotes, but they are implied in his tone) outcome is achieved? It's science fiction," Bruce answers. Clint raises an eyebrow.

"No offense Doc, but so are you," he says with a grin. Bruce tilts his head to the side, conceding the point.

"Are you telling me that we are in one of these loops right now?" Bruce asks. He looks both intrigued and disconcerted at the idea. Clint relaxes slightly in relief - at least Bruce isn't jumping immediately into denial, although he still looks a bit skeptical.

"Dunno if it's a loop yet," Clint replies. "This is only my second time around. But yeah, something like that." Banner looks over at Phil.

"You too?" he asks. Phil shakes his head.

"No, but I trust Agent Barton. And several things that he predicted have already come true." Bruce nods and looks back at Clint.

"Why you?" he asks. Clint shrugs uncomfortably.

"I'm not really sure. I mean, I've got an idea but I don't really know what's going on here, just that it is. And the whole story is something I'd rather wait until the whole team is here to tell."

Bruce twitches a little at the word 'team' but doesn't actually say anything.

"So why are you telling me now?" he asks instead.

"A couple of reasons," Clint answers as Phil crosses his arms and leans up against the lab table Clint is perched on, Clint's knee brushing Phil's arm reassuringly. "The main thing is that I know you - I've known you for three months - but you don't know me. And that doesn't sit well with me."

"Please," Bruce scoffs. "You work for a spy agency. I would think knowing more about people than they know about you is standard operating procedure."

"Not for friends," Clint says softly. Bruce actually looks surprised at that.

"And I'm your friend?" Clint takes a deep breath.

"You both are," he says firmly. Bruce tenses instantly.

"Both?" he asks warily.

"And that's the second reason," Clint says, dropping down from the table to stand straight and look Bruce in the eye. He feels more than sees Phil snap to readiness beside him. Bruce takes one step back, desperate denial flashing in his eyes.

"That's-" he starts, then shakes his head. not safe, Clint hears. Bruce takes a deep breath and tries again. "He's not-"

"It's not," Clint responds to the first unfinished protest. "And he is. He's my friend. He's not mindless, and he's not stupid, and he fought with us and followed direction and saved Tony Stark's life all on his own the first time I met him."

"Doctor Banner," Phil speaks up softly, and Clint sees Bruce startle and knows he'd forgotten Phil was even there. "It's not the Hulk's fault you've only let him out when there are people trying to kill you."

"He comes out when I'm angry," Bruce protests.

"He comes out when you're scared," Clint returns, the sympathy in his voice directed at the hint of green he can see in Bruce's eyes. "You're always angry."

Bruce's hands curl into fists at his sides, and he closes his eyes, taking several deep breaths in through his nose and out through his mouth. When he opens his eyes again the green is gone but he is visibly cringing against the fear he expects to see.

Clint isn't afraid, and neither is Phil. Clint knows he's pushed harder than Phil was expecting, harder than he really intended, and Phil hasn't met the Hulk so he should be scared but he isn't. Phil is a calm, supportive strength at his side and Clint knows that Phil isn't afraid because Phil trusts Clint. It overwhelms him sometimes, how much he loves this man, and how much he is loved in return. Clint reaches out and takes Phil's hand gently because he needs the connection - and because he can.

"We're not afraid of you," Clint tells Bruce, whose gaze is flicking between their faces with the look of a man trying to find the catch.

"Just think about it, please," Clint says, and Bruce nods reluctantly.

"I need to work," he says firmly. Phil nods.

"We'll be over here if you need us," he tells Bruce, indicating a workstation on the other side of the lab. Clint gives Bruce a soft pat on the shoulder as he follows Phil, who is already logging into the station for an update.

Phil's phone goes off before Clint can ask about Tasha.

"Coulson," Phil answers, hitting the speaker button so Clint can hear as well.

"Romanov and Rogers just landed," Hill's voice reports. She hesitates for the briefest of moments, then, "They have Loki with them."

He'd known it was coming, had made the decision to let it happen, but all the preparation in the world can't stop this sudden chill of fear that runs down Clint's spine.

Loki's here.