Chapter 3
Of course, panic was working its way through him. If the Avengers were trying to find the Hulk, then they would find the Hulk. The Hulk would then lead them to Bruce and who knew what would happen after that. The uncertainty was not the only thing that was worrying him but also the probability of it being good was low, extremely low.
All of this set him on edge which Tony didn't even realise, and he was now standing right next to the man as he had walked over to where Tony was standing a few moments ago.
Natasha could feel his nervousness as she left but kept it to herself because right now, she had more important things to deal with.
"Since you are the gamma radiation specialist, I was figuring that you can just do your thing and it will be sorted."
"Yeah, uh huh, okay."
Dismantling the weapon was something that only kept Bruce's hands busy and not his mind, as for him it was a simple task.
The Hulk could feel Bruce's anxiety and was starting to get angry and frustrated so Bruce tried his best to calm himself though Tony's questions were not helping.
"So, where have you been all these years? You have become a literal ghost and if it weren't for your books the public wouldn't even know who you are."
"Maybe that's why I have been gone all these years. To get away from the public."
"No, I don't think so. Anyways I want you to stay."
"I am sorry, what?"
"Think of yourself as an almost Scientist for the Avengers."
"Almost?"
"Well, you haven't met anyone on the team apart from me and Natasha, though I should warn you that Natasha will threaten you and I would take her threats seriously cause she can literally kill you with an elastic band."
Bruce really wanted to scoff but kept it in.
She can try.
Not even a bullet had done the slight bit of damage to him, so an elastic band would be very unlikely.
"Oh, really?"
"I am not kidding. Anyways are you in or out? It is a onetime offer."
Realistically Bruce would have liked a day to consider his options. The life he had had before Tony came along was a good one but lonely and all the research he did often never got put to good use. With the Avengers Bruce knew he would be doing so much good and saving so many more people but the risk of his identity being revealed was much higher. However, he knew that the Avengers would still investigate and look into the Hulk even if he wasn't there. If he stayed maybe, he would be able to monitor their investigation.
The Hulk's mind was already made up and after some deliberation the two of them were in agreement.
"I guess I am in."
Bruce could just feel the smile on the Hulk's face.
The weapon had been dismantled and neutralised by the time Bruce had given his answer, so he put down his tools and looked at Tony.
"Great. I guess you should meet the rest of the team then."
"What, like now? Right now?"
"Well when else would I mean? Come on."
Bruce nervously followed Tony out of the lab and down the corridor before stepping into the elevator. He took his glasses off of his face and put them in his pocket as the elevator ascended.
To soon, the elevator stopped. The doors opened to reveal a large sitting room with a small kitchen and counter to the right. 4 doors, 2 on each side, led off from the room and a wide window made up the entirety of the back wall.
A man with blond hair was sitting on the sofa in front of them. He had had his back turned to them but had moved to face them once he had heard the elevator doors open.
Bruce recognised him as the man who always wore the blue outfit with the USA flag displayed across it. He didn't see Natasha the redheaded spy anywhere though only a few seconds later the door closest to the window on the left opened to reveal a man with dirty blond hair who Bruce recognised as the man who always had a bow. True to his nature the man was carrying a bow as he walked into the room.
"Who's the new guy?"
He was also the first to speak and grabbed an apple from the front bowl on the counter before dropping himself onto the nearest unoccupied sofa.
"Umm, I'm Bruce, Bruce Banner."
The blond man stood up and walked over to him while the man with the dirty blond hair stayed on the sofa and said,
"Ohhh, you're the Scientist."
"Please excuse him, I am Steve Rogers and that it is Clint Barton."
Bruce took Steve's outstretched hand and shook it.
"Right, the Avengers team?"
"Three Fifths of the team. Natasha isn't here, who you met earlier, and Point Break is up on Asgard."
Tony's nickname for Thor confused Bruce.
"Point Break?"
"Thor. He is the God of Thunder."
It seemed to Bruce that Steve was sticking to his old American politeness even though it was seriously outdated.
For some reason Steve rubbed the Hulk up the wrong way and he was now feeling incredibly angry. This scared Bruce which in turn made the Hulk even angrier.
"Is there something that I should work on?"
"Today is my day off and I am not giving that up for anything, so you can go and work, but I am staying right here."
Clint's words somehow soothed some of the Hulk's anger and so in turn made Bruce feel more comfortable. It was like the Hulk and Clint were on the same page but obviously Clint's page had less anger and frustration on it.
Tony had gone. Bruce looked around to try and find him once Clint had spoken, but he was no longer there. Neither Clint nor Steve seemed concerned about this, so it was clearly a normal thing.
Bruce took a seat that was next to Clint but as far away as he could get, without looking rude, from Steve.
"So... What are you watching?"
