As the group drove into the Harlem diner, Steve warned Scott to prepare for a shock. Scott remembered the news reports on the raging, destructive force that was the hulk but none of that prepared him for what hunched on the chair by the table. It had the general physical statue of the Hulk, but he was dressed like an old college professor from the woollen cardigan to the large dorky spectacles. Scott watched as he consumed a mountain of pancakes the size of a toddler in one mouthful before turning around and cheerfully beckoning the others over.
They joined… whoever this was at the table, declining to order any food having just recently lost their appetite. Steve and Natasha proceeded to explain their plan once again to this jolly green giant. They occasionally prompted Scott to add his side of the story but he was far too busy being in wonder and awe on what was in front of him. Even after all the changes that had happened in the past 5 years, Scott simply couldn't work out what was going on with "Hulk". One minute he's inhaling titanic breakfasts like a wild monster, the next he's gently asking a waitress to pass his compliments to the chef. He still had the deep booming voice of Hulk but with all the mannerisms of mild-mannered Professor Bruce Banner.
"Come on, I feel like I'm the only one eating." Hulk/Banner said as he offered one of his many plates "Try some of that. Have some eggs."
"I'm so confused." Muttered Scott in complete disbelief
"These are confusing times." Hulk said ominously
"Right… No, no, that's not what I meant-."
"Ha Ha Ha! No, I get it. I'm kidding sorry! I know. It's crazy. I'm wearing shirts now."
"Yeah! Wh...How? Why?"
"Five years ago, we got our asses beaten. Except it was worse for me. Because I lost more then once. First, Hulk lost, then Banner lost, then Hulk and Banner lost. Then, we all lost."
"No one blamed you, Bruce." Interjected Natasha
"I did." For the first time that day the growl of hulks voice sounded almost…ashamed? "For years, the Hulk was treated like he's some kind of disease and Banner was seen as some parasite holding Hulk back, something to get rid of."
Bruce gently wiped his mouth with a fistful of napkins before continuing "But then after Thanos, we started to truly understand each other. Turns out getting hit by that Infinity Stone was the best thing to happen to us. It merged the brains and the brawn together. Afterwards we started looking at ways to perfect it, Eighteen months in a gamma lab. And now look at me. Better then Banner and Hulk ever were. Best of both worlds..."
"So…what do I call you?" Scott hesitantly asked
"Oh…I never really thought about it. The Incredible Banner? Professor Hulk? Mr fix-it? I don't really mind it's all chill as the kids say"
"…About we were saying-" Steve interjected wanting to move away from this very awkward backstory.
"-Right. The whole time travel do-over? Guys, it's outside my area of expertise."
"Well, you pulled this off. I remember a time when that seemed pretty impossible too." Reminded Natasha.
Bruce took a moment as he was invoked of the 15 year struggle between Bruce and Hulk. The decade of both sides fighting to supress or even exterminate each other. The last five years of mental battles, insane scientific discoveries and near-fatal experimentation all marked in green blood. Natasha was right. If the impossible can be achieved by the Hulk, then the Avengers can figure out the secrets to time travel.
