ʙᴀᴄᴋ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ || 𝘓𝘰𝘬𝘪

"He Grows On You, Doesn't He?" || Chapter Five

I had been man-handled through the corridors and dumped in a chair around the circular table. Everyone sat or stood around it- most the avengers each had a seat where as Agent Hill and Director Fury stood at the front of the table to show they were in charge of the situation. It wasn't intimidating although they seemed to be delusional enough to think it was.

"So- are you going to tell us why you decided to visit our prisoner?" Fury questioned, leaning in towards me and narrowing his eyes.

"You spoke to Loki?" Natasha questioned, disgust painted her face.

"He really grows on you, doesn't he?" Bruce smiles, crossing his arms infront of his chest.

I kept silent but smiled back. I didn't want these people to get any answers out of me but as much as I wasn't sure if they could be trusted, I also didn't trust myself to keep quiet once I opened my mouth.

Steve sighed, realising the conversation was going nowhere, "Loki is going to drag this out. So, Thor, what's his play?"

"He has an army called the chitauri." Thor began, dragging a hand across his face, "They're not of Asgard, nor any world known. He means to lead them against your people." He turned to face the table, "They will win him the Earth and in return, I suspect, for the tesseract."

"An army?" Steve repeated, "From outer space..."

"So he's building another portal." Bruce acknowledged, "That's what he needs Erik Selvig for."

"Selvig?" Thor asked, looking at Banner then to me.

"He's an astrophysicist." Banner explained.

"He's a friend." Thor stated simply, looking down.

"Loki has him under some kind of spell." Natasha spoke up, "along with one of ours..."

I glanced around the table, "He has Barton?" I asked, partially worried but also curious. All I recieved in reply was a simple nod.

"I want to know why Loki let us take him." Steve was becoming impatient, "I mean- he's not leading an army from here."

"I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guys brain is a bag full of cats." Bruce scoffed, "you could smell crazy on him."

"Have care how you speak." Thor threatened, becoming protective , "Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard... And he is my brother!"

Natasha rolled her eyes, "He killed 80 people in 2 days."

Thor paused for just a moment and we sat in silence, "He's adopted."

I couldn't help but laugh. Everyone turned their heads in my direction, staring at me. "Sorry..." I mumbled, hanging my head as they continued with their conversation.

I could instantly tell that my time on this luxurious prison was going to be entertaining at the least. I could of ended up in an actual prison by the end of it but at least I will have had fun... right?

Throughout the meeting, I couldn't help but watch Dr Banner carefully. It seemed Loki was having the same effects on him as he was on me. I decided I would talk to him later that day when we were alone in the lab and everyone else was off doing their own thing. Annoying bit is: Stark had started coming in a lot more often than I would have liked.

~~~

"Monty- pass that screw would you?" Stark shouted up without taking his eyes off his work.

"Sure thing!" I grinned widely, reaching over for the screw. I slowly walked towards him, "putain de paresseux crétin."

"English, Monts." He chuckles, tapping the bench infront of him so I'd place the screw down - he hated being handed things. I simply smirked before walking away without another word. "Okay- that was weird, what did you say?" His expression was struck with worry and curiosity.

(A/N: I know Tony is meant to understand French but pretend he doesn't!)

I heard a quiet laugh coming from Dr Banner and my smirk turned into a smile.

For a guy who could turn into a green monster when angry, he was the calmest and sweetest person on the vessel. He had helped me in many ways and stood up for me when others didn't.

When I sent that application to Stark Industries, I saw it as a chance to learn but after learning about the change of plans I realised things were going to be different to what I expected.

I did learn one thing though: Dr Bruce Banner was not the Hulk. He was simply a body inhabited by a monster - Banner himself was a kind soul and hated even the idea of hurting people.
He wouldn't dare hurt a fly and, not that Stark hadn't tried, but it was nearly impossible to make him lose control.

I admired that.

~~~

It took a while, but eventually Stark left us in our own comfortable silence. A silence that didn't last long though.

"Could I-" Banner paused for just a moment, "Could I ask you something?"

I glanced up from Hope who was nearly done now- I only had to attach some wings or rocket boosters then check everything worked. "Of course."

He sighed, taking off his glasses and gently placing them on the lab counter before walking closer to me as he fiddled with his fingers. "It's about Loki."

I couldn't help but smile, instantly much more interested in the conversation. Since the meeting we had learned Lokis plan was to let the Hulk out and I was yet to hear what Bruce thought about tit. "I wanted to talk to you about him too."

"Ah- well then... ladies first."

"This might sound insane but... I don't think he's as bad as people think he is." I explained. My work had been completely discarded during the moment.

"He's crazy!" Banner scoffed and I couldn't help but think I might have read him wrong earlier.

"Well... that much is obvious to anyone but..." I paused for a second - trying to figure out the best way to phrase my words. "Nobody is born insane or evil or... a villain."

Bruce nodded to show he was listening, "Yeah I guess but.. it's the God of Mischief we're talking about! It's in his title.

"I know but he's also Thors brother. Adopted or not, they still grew up together - they were raised side by side and are completely different people... surely something must have happened." I took in a deep breath. I shouldn't be this emotional or passionate over a guy who's trying to take over my home planet.

Dr Banner just stared at me for a moment, opening his mouth then closing it again as though he wanted to speak but couldn't find the words.

So I decided to continue, "You agreed that it isn't in his nature so... it must be the way he was nurtured."

He let out a soft laugh, "Bringing science into this?"

I smiled, "That's exactly what I'm doing." His eyes were trained on the ground as I studied his face. "Come on Brucie. Surely you get where I'm coming from."

Finally, he looked up. "Yes." He gasped a long, shaky breath, "Yeah I get what you're saying."

"Do you agree?" I asked, unable to read his thoughts.

After a stretched out silence he gulped, "What do you think happened?" I allowed a smile to creep onto my face from his slow acceptance.

"He's acting out - rebelling!" I began to explain, "That's usually a trauma response or a want for attention."

"So he's an attention seeker?" Banners voice seemed unimpressed.

"I guess but not the kind that gets a kick out of it... the kind that doesn't get acknowledged enough so tries other ways of getting that attention they've craved through childhood."

Bruce nodded in understanding as I spoke. "So what? You want to save him?"