dramadramaduck | three ☢ it's that time again

[ Interior: a really badly lit slum of a house somewhere that Martha Stewart isn't really a priority. There's the blur of dark hair across the feed and the patter of tiny feet as a young girl races across the room and climbs out a back window. Cue one (1) gangly looking guy with a sassy murse who's slowly realizing he has been played like a fiddle. He sighs as he leans against a support beam, shaking his head. ]

Should have gotten the money up front, Banner.

You know, for a guy who's supposed to be avoiding stress, you picked a hell of a place to settle.

[ the voice is distinctly female and may sound familiar to some, and then the woman it belongs to comes into view behind him. she's looking much different than she did in her previous community appearance, hair loose around her face, shoulders draped in a shawl and an outfit worn for comfort, not for seduction. still, it's worn for a purpose; it's projecting an image that she's there to persuade him to do something, that she's no threat to him. she gives him a small smile; again, projecting innocence and safety i know who you are, but am not a threat. ]

[ Bruce puts his bag down on the floor, sighing quietly and looking entirely unsurprised at his life. ]

Avoiding stress isn't the secret.

Then what is it? Yoga?

And you brought me to the edge of the city. Smart. [ Ignoring the question, he heads for a window, peering between the blinds. ] I, uh. I assume the whole is surrounded.

[ the shawl is removed and set aside, revealing that she's unarmed. ]

Just you and me.

And your actress buddy? [ He eyes her, not quite pacing the room, but. Definitely not looking to stand around just yet. ] She a spy too? ...They start that young?

I did.

Who are you?

Natasha Romanoff.

Are you here to kill me, Ms. Romanoff? [ A wry little smile at the idea. ] 'Cause that's not gonna work for everyone.

[ natasha who's been hanging back a bit up until now, starts to come forward, if not more confident about this, then at least very good at faking it. ]

No, no, of course not. I'm here on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.

S.H.I.E.L.D. [ This face is the face of somebody who really, really wants a Nick Fury picture pinned to a dartboard. The dick. ] How'd they find me?

We never lost you, Doctor, we've merely kept our distance. Even helped keep some interested parties off your scent.

Why?

Nick Fury seems to trust you. But now we need you to come in.

What if I say no?

[ there's a wry upturn of her lips; she knows this song and dance. ]

I'll persuade you.

[ Bruce chews on the inside of his cheek at that, then... Raises his eyebrows. ]

And what if the-- The other guy says no?

[ she's been worried about the possibility, truth be told. but she betrays no worry as she starts to move to retrieve something from off-screen. ]

You've been more than a year without an incident, I don't think want to break that streak.

Well. [ He's ended up by a beat up, empty cradle, pushes it gently. ] Don't always get what I want.

[ she comes back into view, a cell phone in her hands, and she continues as she starts to bring up a file on the phone. ] Doctor, we're facing a potential global catastrophe.

[ Ahaaaaaaa. ] Those I actively try to avoid.

This - [ and here, she holds out the phone and slides it toward him over the top of a table she takes a seat at ] - is the Tesseract. It has the potential energy to wipe out the planet.

[ A moment passes before curiosity wins out, and Bruce takes out his glasses to peer at the screen. ]

So what's Fury want me to do? Swallow it?

[ natasha leans forward a bit as he takes the phone and she explains. ] He wants you to find it. It's been taken. It emits a Gamma signature that's too weak for us to trace. There's no one who knows Gamma radiation like you do.

[ she leans back again. ] If there was, that's where I'd be.

[ He puts the phone back on the table, still obviously skeptical. ] So Fury isn't after the monster.

Not that he's told me.

And he tells you everything? [ Look. Look at just how much he believes that.

The feed cuts out at that point, and picks up after a few moments of blank screen.

Natasha's got a gun pulled in Bruce's face, on her feet and ready to shoot. Bruce... Does not look too concerned. ]

Sorry. [ His hands go up in the universal "chillax bro" gesture. ] That was mean. Just wanted to see what you'd do.

[ natasha, on the other hand, is unflinching, the warm and nonthreatening demeanor from before gone without a trace. everything about her now is ruthless and professional, a cold blooded killer, except for her eyes, which show genuine terror.

she's prepared to take him down if the worst comes to pass, but she really does not want it to come to pass. ]

Why don't we... Do this the easy way. Where you don't use that, and th- The other guy doesn't make a mess. Okay? ...Natasha.

[ her limbs begin to shake slightly, but it's unclear whether that's because of strain from holding the gun on him or because of fear. after a few long moments, she draws in a breath, lowers the gun, and brings a hand to her ear, where she speaks into an unseen piece. ]

Stand down. We're good here.

[ There's a knowing quality to Bruce's chuckle. ] Just you and me.

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[ she doesn't let go of the gun, but she does tuck it into a holster hidden underneath her skirt. (she may have been unarmed while talking to him - it was important to appear non-threatening to gain his trust - but the piece had been set under the table just in case things went south.) ]

So is that a yes?

[ her tone, in spite of all her best efforts to stay calm, is the slightest bit uneasy. it's unlikely most would notice and she wouldn't expect him to if he hadn't just frightened her into honesty. ]

After an invitation like this?

[ After all, she went to all the trouble of a whole armed response team. Shows they really care, you know. ]

...This is the thing Dr. Selvig was working on, wasn't it.

[ well they would have sent a written one but they're kind of in a pinch, here. and hey at least they sent someone to ask politely rather than up and abducting you. ]

Yes.

[ Yeah, this is personal touch without straying into dart you and toss you in a bag. Bruce appreciates it. Truly.

He's still tempted to say no. Tempted to just turn on his heel and walk away. It's not his problem, and no matter what S.H.I.E.L.D. says they've done, he knows what they don't say. But this is Loki going off with something epically dangerous, and Erik's already in it... ]

Then yeah. Guess I'm in. [ Shouldering his bag, he turns back to Agent Romanoff. ] But only for this, all right? I find Fury's little box, you guys are in charge of getting it back.

[ look none of this was her idea okay, she'd prefer you on the ground where you can't tear apart their hq in mid-air but noooo, fury needs to be able to fly you wherever loki, selvig, and clint could be at a moment's notice.

she nods, some more tension easing from her body when he agrees to go with her. (them, if you count the SWAT team outside.) ]

Sure. Once you find it, we can take it from there.

[ Well, Fury is dumb and stupid and he should feel bad. Also he smells.

Something shutters across his face, resignation and tiredness and a bit of frustration before he slides it all back again. This is just how it's going to be, he tells himself. They don't know how it is, but I've got my control, it'll be all right, then it's done with. Easy squeezy lemon peasy. ]

Exactly. You guys get it, and then me, I get the door.

S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to have quite the problem with keeping their secrets secure.

[beat]

You won't find it, though.

[well not for like a little while until he wants you to, but details, details.]

[ There is the sound of scuffling as Bruce fishes this S.H.I.E.L.D. tech out of his pocket and-- ]

Ah, hell.

[ Because he knows that stupid accent now. And of all the people, really? Just. This day is going great. ]

They'll have to focus on the community after-- All of this. And as for the finding, well. We'll see.

[I think you mean amazing accent.]

Right, one step at a time. I'm sure Fury has his hands very full with everything. And now, he gets to add keeping you on a leash to the mix.

[ Nope, stupid. ]

I'm on nobody's le- Let's get that straight. There's no leashes. None, okay? So don't.

You can't really believe that. After all the time they've spent looking for you - you actually believe the proposal you've been given? Don't be so naive, Dr. Banner.

You know why they really want you.

Edited 2012-10-24 06:41 (UTC)

[ A beat because how in hell does Loki know about that. ]

It's not a matter of belief. Either they're on the level [ which he still doubts ] and I'll point them toward what they're looking for or they're not. In which case they're just wasting their time because they're not getting him. Simple as that.

[Have you met my mindslave, Clint Barton? He's great.]

That assumes they're willing to let you decide that for yourself.

[ I hope he screws up your Subway order and you are plagued with crappy toppings forever. ]

It's nobody else's decision. Either they force it and they see exactly why it won't happen, or they play their cards smart and don't. Push me.

I imagine they're more prepared for you than you think.

Doesn't matter how prepared they think they are, they don't know him. I do. And end of the day, that's all there is to it.

Then I hope your confidence works in your favor.

It's n- This is just. How it is. Simple as that.

You don't have to convince me.

Wasn't trying to.

[ Even if it might have sounded that way. I mean. Get your ears checked. ]

[yeah, bruce. wow.]

Then if you're trying to convince yourself, it's rather telling.

Then good thing I wasn't trying to do that either.

[ Shut. Up. Go cry about how daddy never loved you. ]

[Bruce Banner, don't you even try to play the daddy issue card with me unless you want me to punch you where it hurts.]

I suppose it is.

[ He has been hit harder, sir. So kindly get stuffed. ]

Exactly.

[well we know where that happened don't we

but look at how you're still trying to convince yourself. that's adorable. he's made that point tho so let's move on]

It's a shame you couldn't join Doctor Selvig.

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three ☢ it's that time again

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