CHAPTER 1

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, they belong to MARVEL.

So, this was a request by iabsolutelylovekong. It took longer than expected to get this together and betad. I hope the next few chapters will not take that long… Anyway, hope you'll enjoy it!

Have fun ^^

Chapter 1 The Battle of New York

As soon as Bruce saw Loki being led past, green eyes glimmering with mischief, he decided to stay as far away from him as possible. No matter, if they kept him in a glass cage that almost certainly was originally meant as a safety measure for the Hulk. He would do his job and that was that. No one except Fury and possibly Natasha and Barton knew of his double identity. The fewer reminders of the danger SHIELD brought onto their flying castle the better.

The resolve worked wonders. Tony and Bruce fell into an easy routine in the lab. They bounced ideas off of each other and let JARVIS run simulation after simulation. Tony barely even mentioned his side-project of finding out why Fury showed such profound interest in the Tesseract. At least not more than to tease Bruce good-naturedly to go slightly off the trodden paths.

Bruce only looked up from their work when someone entered the lab. Fury strode into the room, back straight and eye intent as he looked over their work, the holograms strewn around the room. "What are you doing, Mister Stark?"

"Uh," Tony looked up, keeping his seat on the pedestal for Loki's sceptre, "kind of been wondering the same thing about you."

"You're supposed to be locating the Tesseract."

Bruce raised his eyebrow at Director Fury. "We are." He pointed towards their still running search for the exact location of the Tesseract. "The model's locked and we're sweeping for the signature now," Fury turned to take a closer look at it, "When we get it, we'll have the location within half a mile."

"And you'll get your cube back, no muss, no fuss," Tony added. A beep informed them that Tony had finally managed to break through into the SHIELD database.

Bruce leaned in closer, pushing his glasses up his nose. Oh dear… He took his glasses off.

Tony glanced at the results, seemingly barely reading more than two words. "What is Phase Two?"

As if on cue, Steve strode into the room with something tucked under his arm. With a thunk he set down what looked like a large gun onto one of the work benches. "Phase Two is SHIELD using the Cube to make weapons." He shot Tony an ever so slightly apologetic look. "Sorry. Computer was moving a little slow for me."

Tony quickly flicked through the data.

Bruce shot Fury a surprised look. Well, would you look at that? I had certainly suspected something like this, but if the prototype is already on this ship… Dread settled in his stomach.

"Rogers," Fury splayed his hands in a placatory gesture, "we gathered everything related to the Tesseract." He moved to touch the gun on the table while Steve watched on, carefully sceptic. "This does not mean that we're -"

"I'm sorry, Nick." Tony turned the display so Steve and Fury could both see the simulation of an assembling missile. "What were you lying?"

Steve scoffed. "I was wrong, Director. The world hasn't changed a bit."

Before Fury could find any answer, Thor and Natasha entered the lab. By the looks on their faces, they had caught at least the tail end of their discussion. Natasha lowered her head, looking at the assembled men with a carefully blank expression before settling on Bruce.

"Did you know about this?" It seemed a fair question given that she had recruited him to this mission and seemed awfully loyal to Fury. A spy, a voice in his head echoed. She's trained to know things and use the information to her advantage. Just because she hasn't said anything until now…?

"You want to think about removing yourself from this environment, doctor?"

She knows, shot through Bruce's head. She knows, she knows about him. She knows, why they really brought me here. She knows I'm a potential weapon. A disbelieving laugh fell from his lips and Bruce found himself saying, "I was in Calcutta. I was pretty well removed."

His eyes strayed towards Thor. The Asgardian. The god of thunder. He might be strong enough to keep a hold of the Hulk. Something was very much going off script here. Bruce felt a shiver run down his spine.

"Loki's manipulating you."

"And you've been doing what exactly?"

"You didn't come here because I bat my eyelashes at you."

"Yes, and I'm not leaving because suddenly you get a little twitchy." Bruce chose to ignore the spy slinking towards him. Instead, he focused his attention back on Fury and the secret data Tony had managed to dig up. "I'd like to know why SHIELD is using the Tesseract to build weapons of mass destruction."

Without even pausing to formulate a diplomatic answer, Fury pointed at Thor. "Because of him."

"Me?" Thor paused, visibly confused.

Bruce looked between the god and director. He noted Natasha following each and every movement of Fury's attentively, no doubt drawing her own conclusions beyond what was said. Steve just seemed both, utterly lost and vaguely disappointed in everything going down around him at the moment.

"Last year Earth had a visitor from another planet who had a grudge match that levelled a small town. We learned that not only are we not alone, we are hopelessly – hilariously, out-gunned."

Tony furrowed his brows.

Thor puffed up his chest. "My people want nothing but peace with your planet."

"But you're not the only people out there, are you? And you're not the only threat. The world's filling up with people who can't be matched, they can't be controlled."

"Like you controlled the cube," Steve demanded to know.

"Your work with the Tesseract is what drew Loki to it, and his allies." Thor started towards Fury, an edge to his voice that wasn't there before. "It is the signal to all the realms that the Earth is ready for a higher form of war."

"A higher form?" Steve's face flashed for a second, betraying the turmoil and power slumbering below the usually mellow appearance.

Bruce felt the shiver return. Down his neck, his back, into his legs and arms. This isn't any good… None of us are ready to face something like it. Definitely not here or now.

Fury, seemingly immune to the intimidation of an alien god, went on, "You forced our hand! We had to come up with -"

"Nuclear deterrent," Tony cut in, "'Cause that always calms everything right down." His eyes were glued to the floor. The realisation that SHIELD was planning to do what he had fought to repent for. To keep from getting more weapons out into the world. That he was being made part of what lay in his past.

And Fury knew that too. "Remind me again how you made your fortune, Stark?"

Bruce watched on, unable to think of anything to diffuse the rising tension. Would you even want to? A voice in the back of his head asked. You could take them all down easily. They are all trapped in a flying prison, with you. You could easily overpower them. Bruce crossed his arms over his chest, hiding his hands. Nails digging into his palms.

"Are you boys really that naïve? SHIELD monitors potential threats," Natasha argued.

"And Captain America is on the threat poll?" Bruce raised his eyebrows. She couldn't mean that seriously.

"We all are," Natasha said at the same time Fury reprimanded, "That's not your concern doctor."

They all started talking over each other. Agent Romanoff moved in to stand closer to Fury. Stark and Rogers were lost in their own little spitting match fuelled by whatever familial ties bound them together. Thor was standing his ground, gesturing towards whomever he was arguing with.

Something like static crackled at the edges of Bruce's hearing. It blended the noise around him. The mounting aggression. Bruce forced several calming breaths to get his senses back under control. His nails hurt where he dug them into the palms of his hands, scratched against the sleeves.

"You speak of control, yet you court chaos!" Thor said with a mocking smile on his face.

"It's his MO, isn't it? I mean, what are we, a team?" Bruce looked between each of the assembled. "No, no, no." Bruce felt the hairs on his arms rise. The air around him felt stifling. "We're a chemical mixture that makes chaos. We're, we're a time bomb." A weight settled on his chest, just under his clavicle.

Fury at last, seemed to catch on, what Bruce was trying to keep under control in the middle of all this chaos. He took a step towards him, his voice suddenly calmer than before. "You need to step away."

"Why shouldn't they let the guy let off a little steam?" Tony offered cordially. He laid a hand on Steve's shoulder, apparently misunderstanding whom the order was directed at. It was probably meant to be a somewhat friendly gesture.

Rogers pushed the hand off, glaring at Stark with renewed annoyance. "Back off."

"Oh, I'm starting to want you to make me."

The helicarrier swayed beneath Bruce's feet. The static intensified. A crackling making everything around him swim. Come on, not now. Not here. Get a hold of it. Go back to sleep, big guy. I don't need you right now.

He must have lost several pointed jabs between the others, because the next thing he heard was Fury very calmly suggesting, Agent Romanoff take him somewhere else. His eyes shot up. No.

"Where? You rented my room," Bruce snapped. He made a vague gesture in the direction of the door and Loki's cell beyond that. An iron band closed around his chest. The others might not know what he was, but Fury and Romanoff sure did. If only by deduction. Bruce lifted his chin, jaws clenched as he took a measured step forward. "I was good until you dragged me back into this freak show and put everyone here at risk. You want to know my secret, Agent Romanoff?" He forced a breath against the weight squeezing his chest. "You want to know how I stay calm?"

Fury and Miss Romanoff reached for their respective guns. He almost laughed. As if that is going to do them any good other than get his attention quicker and make the attack on them swifter. The voice in his head tiredly added: As if it would help. I tried and he just spit the bullet right back out. Bruce absently scratched his nails against his exposed wrist.

A beeping across the room cut through the air. It startled Bruce out of his dark thoughts. "Sorry, this party trick will have to wait." Without a look left or right at his so-called Teammates, he crossed the room. Immediately a new debate started in his wake. Bruce let it blend into the background as he put his glasses back on. Once he had pulled up the results, he allowed his focus to tune back into the conversation around him.

Stark and Rogers were arguing over some minor perceived misstep. Thor apparently was staking claim to the Tesseract since it was a relic from his world and not Earth. For once at least Fury and Romanoff seemed to be at a loss for words.

Bruce calibrated the last parameters to get the exact position of the Tesseract. Strange. He narrowed his eyes.It seems the Tesseract is in the States. He scrolled farther into the frame to get better markers for the location. That looks like, Bruce pulled his glasses off. "Oh my god."

A blast of something rocked the helicarrier. Fire erupted from the ground in a blast that knocked Bruce off his feet. The last thing he saw of the lab was Thor and Fury toppling over each other behind a table and Rogers and Stark tumbling towards the entry way. Then he felt the glass give way under his and Romanoff's weight as they propelled right through it towards a lower-level equipment room.

The impact hurt. Flat on his stomach, surrounded by glass and other debris. Bruce felt the needles dig into his flesh. The other guy awakened with a jolt. Danger. There was danger to them. Protect.

His heart thundered in his ears. Distantly, he heard Agent Romanoff activating her ear piece to give status to Fury. Bruce tried to ground himself with that, focus on her voice or his own laboured breathing. She's got this. Whoever is attacking us is – probably here for Loki. Loki killed many people, he's a god. He caught sight of me. He's in my cage.

The other guy twitched, fighting for dominance over their shared body.

No, Brucefelt more than heard the pained sound leaving his throat. There's no danger here. I promise, there's no danger here. Please don't.

The glass dug into his palms as he tried to push himself up. Needles. Prodding at him, trying to replicate what had produced America's Golden Boy. His muscles spasmed. He fell back down, curling a hand against the ground, nails scraping on the grated floor. No, not again. Not like this. Please not again.

"We're okay, right?"

His head snapped around. Natasha was on the floor a few steps behind him, leg caught under a bit of debris. Danger. We're under attack. He bared his teeth in a grimace, still struggling. Bruce noticed his skin rippling with green from the corner of his eye.

"Doctor? Bruce, you got to fight it. This is just what Loki wants. We're going to be okay. Listen to me."

Loki? Where is he? We are under attack. Shot at. Miles in the air. They're going to find out what I am. They're going to – I need to get out of here. They're coming for me.

"We're going to be okay. Right? I swear on my life I will get you out of this, you will walk away, and never ever -"

They shot around to stare her down. "Your life?"

Cold air hit their face. Bruce tried to get away from the cold, the rushing in his ears. Oh god, what did I do? What did he do? What happened.

Behind him. Agent Romanoff. She lied to him. Her eyes widened. Panicked. She turned. Red hair flying. He tore after her.

Bruce curled in on himself. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. She knows. She knows and he almost hurt her. Why did this have to happen? She lied; she knows. He followed her. Bruce pressed his eyes shut.

Gunshot. His ears rang. Something hissed. Coating his face. He roared his anger.

Glass shattered. A cacophony of sound. She caused this. She had to stop.

She tried to shoot. He tried to hurt her. He almost hurt her. She should have – she knows. She'll tell them. She'll try again.

"We're not your enemies, Banner! Try to think!"

Too loud. Bared his teeth.

Attack. Fight. He could have taken – he knows. He knows. Saw. He'll tell. He'll tell and they'll kill. They'll turn their back. I'll – I can't go back.

Can't go back.

The thought cut through the haze.

I can't go back. They'll tell the others. They'll turn their back. Bruce squeezed his eyes shut. Why did this have to happen?

The wind tore at their body. Their skin pricked. Tears filled their eyes. Cold air hit their stomach. Their stomach? Oh no, they scrambled for something, anything to hold on to.

The wind tore at them. Tears ran down their face. Cold air enveloped them. Black spots danced across their vision. Their breath rattled in their chest, ripped from their lips by the howling wind. I really hope, I don't hurt anyone, was their last thought.

Bruce tugged at the hem of his borrowed shirt. I'm glad no one got hurt. And I got some clothes… He looked up towards the looming skyline of New York. Somewhere in there the others are fighting against Loki and his lackies. His insides twisted. I just hope they didn't tell anyone else about their find. Otherwise, the military will be right back on my tracks… No. I can't think like that.

Taking deep breaths and counting, Bruce felt his heart rate calm down once more. He looked back towards the city. A blue glimmering portal had opened up above where he suspected the Stark Tower was located. Small shapes fell from the beyond, racing into the city. Loki's army had arrived.

Right. Fury wanted us to tackle this problem. He selected me knowing what the other guy is capable of. I just have to get to the portal, then I should be able to shut it down. Bruce pushed off into traffic, his Vespa – borrowed from the man that had found him in the abandoned warehouse – rattled to life. I'll just have to get in and out without anyone noticing me. And then hopefully I'll be able to disassemble whatever Loki has built with the Tesseract. Let SHIELD deal with that part when the threat is dismantled.

The closer he got to the city, the clearer Bruce could hear screams and shots being fired. Sirens echoed along the streets and somehow the flying jet ski-looking things the aliens flew just added to the cacophony. The roads out of the city were even more blocked than usual.

A large shadow lazily crossed over the sky. Bruce dared a glance upward and almost ran his Vespa into a lamppost. A giant thing, armoured and stacked with more alien warriors descended from the portal. It looked about the size of a blue whale, possibly even larger. What in god's name has Loki brought upon us… The others cannot possibly win against these things on their own. Not even with Thor on their side.

And you could be of any help? the voice in the back of his head mocked, you would just add to the carnage. Nothing more and nothing less. You're just as much of a monster as they are. His gaze was drawn skyward towards the aliens once more.

It doesn't matter. I need to help them. I cannot let them see me, but I have to help them.

The giant space whale tore through a building, roaring its success.

"Crumpets," Bruce muttered under his breath. He shoved the Vespa onto the sidewalk. As he turned to look for the monster once more, he spotted a red and golden lightning speeding after it. Iron Man. He fired a stream of ammunition at the thing. In response, the monster turned to follow him instead. Oh. Oh, that's not good.

A group of police officers came jogging from somewhere farther ahead. They shooed every civilian still hunkering or openly staring in the street away. Bruce watched their progress, tilting his head. They're building a barricade. His gaze darted around. Hide. Come on, hide.

He ducked into a side alley, slinking behind a large trash container and making himself as small as possible in the shadows.

"Someone there?" a voice called. "We're getting ya out of here. Keep off the streets."

Bruce curled further into the shadows, forcing his breathing to quiet down. Got enough practice of that from my running from the government. He only allowed his muscles to relax once the steps of the police officer disappeared further down the street towards a crying person. He caught the tail end of the officer reassuring whoever was crying that they would escort them to safety with all the others. Away from the streets and the aliens to avoid getting in the line of fire.

Well, that helps paint a little bit more of a picture. Bruce glanced at the sky. From what he could tell, the aliens were still swarming, firing at whatever moved in the streets. He also caught the tell-tale sound of thunder growling in the distance so Thor had to be close by somewhere. I already saw Iron Man engage one of the monsters. That leaves Agent Romanoff, Rogers and potentially Barton. Knowing the Agent, she'll have found a way to return him to our side. Bruce made for the mouth of the alley, ducked and pressed close to the wall. Given that they're probably holding off the smaller aliens as best as they can while evacuating civilians.

Bruce took a moment to observe the streets around him. Aliens were flying overhead and jumping, climbing, throwing humans down or tearing into them. Above the space whales crossed the sky with more warriors stuck to their sides. Fuck this. Come on, big guy. Time to play.

Both slower and quicker than on the helicarrier, Hulk clambered from beneath Bruce's skin. Took control of their body. Protect, was the last thought Bruce sent towards the other guy.

Protect. Hulk protect. They roared.

More cries answered. They growled. Smash.

An enemy dropped before them. Snout. Sharp teeth. Wrong. Screeching. Loud. They shook their head. Hulk smash.

Another came at them. More. Even more. They bared their teeth. Tore them limb from limb. The big ones were strong. They leaned against them. They smashed them into the empty street.

Bright light. Important, rang in the back of their mind. Why important?

More noise. Ringing. Shots. They whirled around. Not at them. At the others. Shouted commands. Meaningless.

Eyes on the light. Smash others. Crunch of armour beneath their fists.

Bright light. They snarled. Good light, the voice in their head whispered. Tower. Up.

They gave in to the voice. Tower.

"Ah, there you are," someone purred.

They turned. A man. Dark hair. Bright eyes. Bad. They bared their teeth.

"Now, now, none of this." The man sounded sickly sweet. Danger!

They growled. They lunged for the man.

He grinned.

They fell through him.

A cackling laugh. "Well, that was entertaining," the man hummed. "However, we do not have the time to continue thusly." Green fog surrounded them.

They thrashed. Immobile. No. Trapped. No. Not good. Trapped. Free. They roared.

Someone answered. Below. In air? Red lightning. Good. Help! Here, the voice in their head called out. They gave a rumbling sound that could generously be described as a word like "Help."

"Enough," the man snarled. "You are beneath me." He walked up to them, a sceptre in hand. Glowing blue. Their inner voice quieted in terror. "Imagine what I could do with a beast like you on my leash."

They growled.

"And there is no need for that."

Their mouth shut. They couldn't breathe. They couldn't breathe. They couldn't breathe. No breath.

"Much better." The man leaned back. Looked around them. "Your friends will be here any -"

A loud thud. "Brother!"

A snarl twisted his face. They struggled. Useless. The others close. Close. Could see.

"Oh dear, he looks much bigger from up close…"

"Ah," the man straightens, smirks, "Don't tell me you do not recognize your friends, Man of Iron."

"Tony." A woman. A warning. Red hair. Memory. Chase. Buzzing narrow room. "I know you're pissed Fury didn't tell you everything," she glanced at red man, "This is the last secret."

"Loki, we can talk! Chose a different path! This is madness!"

"You repeat yourself, Thor and I thought I got it through your thick skull that I do not intend to give up." The man turned. Eyes glinted. Sceptre gleamed, close. Too close. They couldn't move.

"Loki," a new voice. Man. Colourful suit. Shield. "Turn the Tesseract off or we will destroy it and you."

"You cannot." He looked up at them. Strange expression. "There is no stopping it." Cool metal on their chest. "Transform."

Their body shrunk. They roared their anger. They couldn't move. Air on their face. Air on his face. Bruce gasped for breath, still held in place by the strange power. He could however grab the trousers now too big for him and hold them to him.

"Banner!"

It took him a moment to recognise Stark's voice. Distorted through the helmet of his suit. Slowly, Bruce opened his eyes. His teammates all stood assembled on the roof of Stark Tower. Staring at him. Staring at him transformed from one to the other.

Take a good look at them. Remember their faces.

The ground parted beneath Bruce's feet just as Barton loosened an arrow.