Ultra Responsibility (My Hero Academia X Spider-Man Reader)

Issue 83 - Heroes Rising Part 3

The Quinjet touched down in Hong Kong with the soft hiss of hydraulics and the slow lowering of reinforced landing gear against polished concrete.

Morning haze hung over the private airfield, the skyline beyond still blurred in pale gold and glass. Even so, a formal reception had already been arranged. Officials stood in neat lines. Security kept respectful distance. Cameras were kept away, but not entirely absent. This was not a public event, yet it still carried the shape of one.

Bruce Banner stepped down the ramp looking like a man who had slept, but not enough. His shirt was freshly pressed, his glasses clean, his expression composed, though there was a tiredness about his eyes that no amount of ceremony could really hide.

At the foot of the ramp waited the ambassador, smiling warmly as he stepped forward with both hands out.

"Dr. Banner," he said, voice rich with practiced grace, "welcome. It is an honour to receive you. Truly. It is not every day a member of the Avengers touches down on our soil."

Bruce returned the handshake with polite respect, inclining his head just slightly. "The honour is mine. Thank you for having me."

There was a brief ceremony after that. Nothing overly grand, but enough to satisfy diplomacy. A handful of local representatives. A welcoming address. A small exchange of gifts. Applause from the gathered officials. Bruce stood through it all with the patient stillness of someone used to being treated as both saviour and disaster depending on who was holding the microphone.

Once the formalities were done, the ambassador guided Bruce away from the main reception and into a quieter stretch of the tarmac where they could speak more plainly.

"I was informed of the general purpose of your visit," the ambassador said. "You are searching for Emil Blonsky."

Bruce's expression tightened a fraction. "Yes."

The ambassador nodded. "He is not under our watch. Had he entered our jurisdiction officially, or if there had been credible intelligence suggesting he was operating under our nose, we would have been informed at once."

Bruce accepted that with a slow breath. "I understand. But the sightings and the readings place him somewhere in this region. If he is anywhere near here, I'd like to begin a search of the surrounding areas immediately."

The ambassador folded his hands in front of him, considering. "Then we will assist in whatever way we can. If there is a threat in the region, it is in all our interests to find it first."

He gave Bruce a small, meaningful smile.

"Let this be a joint effort. The American and Hong Kong branches together."

Bruce nodded, grateful despite the pressure sitting on his shoulders. "Thank you. That means a great deal."

He was just about to say more when hurried footsteps broke the measured calm of the airfield.

The Quinjet pilot came running down the ramp, breathing hard, one hand holding a tablet, the other still fumbling with a headset.

"Dr. Banner!" he called. "Sorry, sorry, but we just picked up something. A gamma burst."

Bruce turned immediately, the ambassador's presence forgotten for the moment. "Where?"

The pilot glanced down at the screen, face pale. "Near Japan. On an island called Nabu Island."

For one second Bruce just stared.

Then he stepped closer, voice lowering. "Population?"

"Yes."