Enter the Maestro

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Beta'd by [Inquisitorial Beta] and [Podge, Chronicler of time]

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Chapter 1: The Strongest there is.

Quick Author's note. This is basically a one shot what if Idea concerning the Hulk of the MCU. Ive grown rather depressive concerning how the character was adapted and the She Hulk show has just made the damage more visible.

So im making this. Because im on vacation, it will be a bit split up. So the One shot will probably be cut into about 4 or 5 parts. Time Travel will obviously be relevant due to the title.

I might continue it into a full story or even a Quest… if it ends up fairly popular.

Gamma Base, Mexico

Bruce Banner

A certain green behemoth slowly groaned as the early rays of sun shined into his room. He never liked getting up early and he didn't function until he got his coffee. It was a habit he gained as a student back when he was slaving away for his doctorates.

It was worse when he had gained the Hulk. But now? Thanks to Tony, he could enjoy a highly concentrated brew that actually worked on him.

As Bruce stepped out into the kitchen after putting on a dressing gown large enough for him, he ponders the last time he properly spoke with his friend. Tony really had mellowed out with the birth of Morgan and he really came through to help Banner.

Hell, things would have been really different without him. Bruce would still be…. Well, he would still be Bruce and Hulk. Now he is one entity. Most people he knew thought he was just Banner and the hulk Persona was now subsumed, but he doesn't think that's the case.

Not since Jen happened. She didn't have an Alter Ego, Blonsky didn't have an Alter Ego…2 out of 3 Gamma mutates didn't have his form of mental illness. That made him the outlier…So what made him different? He researched all 3 of them, and what set him apart was his childhood trauma. Could that have been the cause? The abuse of his father created the Hulk?

The theory reminded him of a dream he once had. He was in a frozen cave, trying to find his way out. But in his way, there was something that terrified him. It was a hulk, but different. Covered in scales and bound by chains. He told Bruce that he loved him…because someone had to.

And Bruce, even while terrified of the creature, felt that it was genuine. And it begged him to release him. It said it should be let it out, so it could take care of Bruce. So it could remove all his worries. The way it spoke struck fear through Bruce's being. He refused to believe this could be a part of him. To him, this hulk was like a devil.

But that was a long time ago.

Now…He didn't have that dream. Because he doesn't have a split personality any more. He is whole. He always assumed that the hulk was a persona created by the gamma experiment…But maybe it was just always there. Always a part of his broken mind.

And it was because of Jen that this seemed to be confirmed now. In all honesty, he regretted how he handled the whole situation with her. He should have stood his ground better when it came to her, maybe let a bit more loose on her to hammer in the lesson he tried to teach.

But that wasn't really on his mind. He had warned Jen of touching his blood, and she ignored him. She crashed the car and thought it's right to pull him out, even though she knew full well he would be fine. He wasn't going to be a petty ass to her about it, But it did rub him the wrong way that she blamed him for it.

It was probably just a coping mechanism, so he didn't say much about it.

Her entitlement honestly amazed him into speechlessness. Her supposed control of her anger did not convince him one bit of her argument. But it seems she was rather set in her views of things. Starting a pissing competition of who had the worse life was beneath him…. Mainly because he would obviously win.

Just thinking of it had his face turning into an ugly frown. His sick father, Brian, who had beaten him a dozen times before eventually killing his mother right in front of him. This event had already shaped his early life beyond anything else.

And then things only got worse. The Gamma Experiment, Betty… Ross… The whole Fiasco with Sterns and Blonsky. His life was a downward spiral, growing worse every year.

Until the Avengers happened.

For the first time. In such a long time. He could feel human again. People that knew about what he was, but didn't scorn him for it. Tony, who playfully teased and poked the bear with wanton abandon. Rogers, who didn't want to exploit his combat potential but respected him nevertheless.

And Thor… Thor really changed over the years, but he was a great friend and… Banner wasn't. Just remembering the five years of depression, Thor underwent after the blip was….

He Should have been there for his friend. Should have helped him out… But he was too focused on himself. On his own happiness of no longer fighting for control. 18 months in isolation and afterwards it felt like it was too late to reach out. He felt terrible about it…and now, he just regretted it.

Hell, he regretted a lot of things concerning his relationship with the Avengers. Not just things like his incident during the Ultron Fiasco or the 2 years on Sakarr. Those things, one could get over.

But not the rest. His broken relationship with Romanov and how he never made the effort to rekindle it. His failure during the battle against Thanos as Hulk and Banner…and then the fact he never got the chance to prove himself during the final encounter… If he had been there, at the centre of the fighting…

Then Maybe… Tony might still be alive.

It's been a few months since the funeral, but it stung Bruce to his very core. Every god damn time, it just felt like Bruce never came through for the friends that were there for him. And he hated that.

As the green giant finished brushing his teeth, he received a call. Looking at the phone, he sees it to be Jen again. Her title of She-hulk amused him in all honesty. He had been keeping an eye on her just in case and to his relief, the public opinion of her seems pretty great in all honesty.

Had she been outed as a hulk 6 or 7 years ago, things would have been very different for her.

"Jen, how can I help you."

What followed was a rather shallow attempt of apologizing to him, which was actually an announcement that she was intending to represent Emil Blonsky in His parole hearing. After calling her out on it, he considered giving her the go ahead, but stopped himself at the last second.

Emil had….written him some weird little Haiku once and tried a correspondence in order to show his regret and reformation, but… Does that really change what he did? So for once when it came to his cousin, he was willing to tell the truth.

"Jen…. Blonsky should not be released under any circumstance. And I'm not saying this out of any personal grudge, but because he wasn't some Rage Monster back then. He was conscious of his actions. He could speak, he could think." He slowly spoke into the receiver.

"Bruce I've talked with him, he was experimented on by the Military, he thought he was going to be the next Captain America." He couldn't help but scoff. That was a kind twist of words.

"And you believed him? I have contacts in the military Jen, they can tell you the full story. The Serum didn't turn him into the abomination, he did! He threatened Sterns to give him the Gamma Treatment. He wanted to become a hulk, it was his choice!" He could feel power rippling underneath his skin as his anger built up.

"yeah, but-" He didn't bother letting her finish.

"But Nothing Jen! He then killed so many people just to draw me out. He doesn't have another guy on the wheel. It's just him. He's got the same level of control as you do….Hell, how is it even possible for him to get parole? He killed more than 40 people. That should have been multiple life sentences! There should be no chance for him to get parole after 19 years."

"Look, Bruce, I… I need to do this. I'm going to get fired if I don't take the case…And no one else will hire me. Please, I know you have your issues with him, but I need to do this."

And like that, his anger turned into something ugly, regretful. He didn't want her to lose her job…but it also spoke of her character that she wasn't willing to risk it for the sake of doing what's right. She really was right…the Hero Business isn't meant for her.

"Fine Jen…. Just tell me one thing. Who hired your firm to have you represent Blonsky. He doesn't have that kind of money."

"Ah…I'm not exactly supposed to tell you that but…"

"Jen, please, this is important."

"Fine…give me a second to check." He could hear rustling papers through the phone.

"It was…the State Department? I'm not sure why they wou-"

"it's fine Jen, I have all I wanted. Good luck with the case.." he said before quickly ending the call.

As he holds the oversized phone in his hand he couldn't keep himself from crushing the device. With an old fury, he flung the phone away, it's pieces embedding themselves in a nearby wall.

The Good Old State Department…And who exactly was Secretary of State right now…

ROSS

He wanted Blonsky, wanted him for his fucking gains. Banner didn't isolate himself, he knew that various agencies wanted an edge over what was left among the superheroes.

S.W.O.R.D illegally stole Vision's body, the US military wanted their hands on a refined Super soldier serum that Sam and Bucky were tracking.

And Ross wanted Blonsky again…there's no doubt in his mind that he wouldn't go after Jen as well.

It's been over a decade…and this was starting again. He hated it. He hated it so much….

So many lives lost. So much of his own life lost. He thought the avengers were the key to stopping it once and for all…but no. They just prevented this kind of evil, they didn't extinguish it.

It's only been a few months and the rats are coming out of the woodwork to destroy what the avengers represented…He missed them so much. All the people he's lost…all the friends he let down…He had no one now.

He couldn't take it anymore…

No more

Friday was a bit…hesitant in helping him, but even then, she gave him the data he needed. The Ai Still trusted him after all. She didn't think he would do anything other than talk with the people in question.

He asked her for two things. One of these things was General Ross' current address.

He was up in Massachusetts. A lovely little mansion in the countryside. Deserving of a General who had served for so long. But he wasn't just that anymore, was he?

When Bruce broke in, he didn't do it as the hulk, ironically. It was as his human form. It had been some time since he tried the proper forms of breathing and meditation he learned on the run. Things like yoga were fun little replacements, but didn't quite do the right thing for him.

He wasn't using some device to keep himself human this time. It was by his own will that he was like this now. Besides, Ross would be alerted if he came as the big guy.

Bruce thought it rather ironic, really. As he was breaking in and hacking into the security systems, he couldn't help but chuckle as he saw the gamma detectors in the house, oblivious to his presence.

The lack of guards were also a godsend. He couldn't help but think the reason was Ross' own arrogance, thinking he was untouchable, or didn't have enemies that would go this far to take him down.

As he snuck through the house, he couldn't help but envy the life of the general. A life of comfort, having others to clean and cook for you. This house probably had many attendants during the day.

It was such a contrast to what Banner was used to. Even in the home that Tony gave him, he still had to take care of himself with no outside help. A life of luxury was virtually unheard for him… At least until Sakaar.

It wasn't a purposeful life there, but it was comfortable and fulfilling. It was nice. He wasn't judged, he was adored. He wasn't just a monster to be let out for a fight before being shunned back into its box.

On EARTH, It was because of a few key people that he endured such Hardships, but Ross was the main one. He hated Banner from the start, and it only grew worse when he started dating his daughter. He wouldn't have admitted it back then. Not only that, but he would have claimed that banner just did it because he loved Betty… But it didn't change the joy he felt in turning her against her father.

But now, he couldn't be sated with a small victory like that. It was what Ross was trying with Jen after all.

And Banner wouldn't be playing this game any more.

As he finally made it to the bedroom, his target came to view. Ross was calmly sleeping in his bed, oblivious to the monster that had just entered his room. The scent of cigar smoke and old cologne lingered in the air. It was a smell Bruce hadn't really smelled in such a long time. After he became the Hulk, Ross was always after him, but he was never this close.

Ross was always too much of a coward for that.

Bruce walked over to a nearby chair and carried it to the foot of the bed as he pulled out something from his jacket. It was a heavy metallic object wrapped up in an old piece of cloth. He slowly unwrapped it and shuddered as his hand grazed the cold metal underneath. It was a revolver…

He didn't know its make or name, just what it meant to him. It was the same gun….that he used on himself so long ago. It still held the shell of the bullet that he sent into his own skull. And it held 5 more. Back then, he wanted more in case one didn't finish the job… Except that it did. He died that day. Just as he died the day he became the hulk. Many people probably didn't realise it, but Banner was essentially immortal. Even if you somehow managed to kill him, the Hulk would come roaring from beneath the grave.

As he readied the gun, he was surprised by the sound of a gun clicking its hammer back. Mainly because it wasn't his gun. Turning around in his seat, he saw Ross pointing his own pistol straight at him.

"If you think you can get the drop on me, then you have another thing coming" Ross said with an angered tone. Banner couldn't help but chuckle, though. Ross probably just woke up and hadn't recognized the man in front of him.

"What's so funny punk!" He reached with his other arm towards the bedside table, probably to turn on the lamp that was sitting on it. "You'll be leaving this house in a bag, you fucking luna-" His words promptly froze as the light turned on and he recognized the man in his room. "Banner"

The surprise on Ross' face quickly changed to an expression of spite. Bruce now aimed his own gun at the General, not wanting to give him the time of day. "Put the gun down Ross. You know by now that I'm the only one walking away from this.

Seconds pass, but with an angry scoff, Ross tosses aside the gun, having it clutter to the floor. He then slowly raises his arms in a mock surrender.

"You have any idea of the consequences of this Banner? Breaking into my house like this? I have every right to hunt you down until the end of your days. I'm going to vivisect you and no one can say a god damn word about it." Ross quickly began.

But Bruce wasn't having it. He gripped the barrel of his revolver and moved towards Ross who had got out of bed by now. "Even surrendering won't save you now. And with Stark in the grou-"

The grip of the revolver violently cracks across Ross' face, prompting him to shut up. With him now holding his bloodied mouth, his eyes widened when he saw the rage in Banner's face.

"Don't mention his name Ross. I'm not here to scare you. I'm not here to threaten you… I know of what you've been up to with Blonsky."

Ross's eye's narrowed in anger as he slowly removed his hand and spat out a tooth. Using his sleeve to wipe away the blood from his mouth, "So what about it Banner? Blonksy been out of use enough and he is stable. Letting an asset like that rot just isn't a viable option in this day and age. And besides, I've broken no laws with his release. Unlike you"

Banner couldn't help but scoff now as he moved back to his seat," Right… The Law. The Great Legal system you've always hidden behind…. You know… I've been in space, to a place with no true laws. The only law was basically, "Might makes right"…And if you think about it, it's the same here."

"Are you comparing us to some alien savages like your friend Thor?!" Ross spat out, making his disdain for the other avenger clear.

Bruce only waved his gun to have him become quiet once more. "No, it wasn't Thor. It was where I was for the 2 years I was gone. When you tore up the avengers…And yes, it was a savage place. But so were humans once.

And then we brought laws to the table. Laws were initially agreements and edicts between the people based on morality and the common good. But with time, they were corrupted for something else.

Now, it is merely the demands of the government enforced upon the people. Morality barely has anything to do with it any more. But the question is, how does a government get to set the laws?

Because might makes right. Because they hold the power of violence over the people. Sure, you've come up with other ways. Take away someone's money, freeze their accounts, invalidate their documents… But at the core, the threat of the government's power is the strongest.

Or at least it was…. Because at the end of the Day, Ross. "

Bruce pauses for a second to cock the hammer of his own gun.

"Im the strongest there is"

He didn't hesitate for a single moment. Before he could even process it, Ross' body was on the ground, blood flowing out the back of his head. It was finally done…

And Bruce was only getting started.

As mentioned, i will probably finish the one shot and then either drop it or make a quest of it.

Hope you enjoy it. Please review.