The air was thick with the hum of the jungle, and Clark crouched low in the shadows, watching the small, innocent figure of the little girl as she moved towards the abandoned hut. He could hear her heartbeat—a quick, nervous rhythm. She had been briefed. Her role was simple: lead Bruce Banner into the trap.
Clark's sharp eyes followed every move, his super senses hyper-alert. He didn't like this plan. But Natasha insisted it was the only way to bring Bruce in without triggering the Hulk. His muscles tensed, his fists clenched at his sides as he watched the scene unfold.
Bruce Banner stepped cautiously into the dimly lit room, his eyes darting around, ever-watchful for any signs of danger. He was used to being hunted. He had been for years. But this was different—he was being led into a trap, and he knew it.
The little girl had slipped away the moment she'd led him here. The bait was already gone.
As Bruce took a few steps into the room, he muttered to himself, barely audible.
BANNER
"Should've got paid upfront, Banner..."
His voice trailed off as he scanned the room. No one was there. At least, no one he could see.
But then, from behind a thin curtain in the back of the hut, Natasha stepped into view, her presence calm and confident, betraying nothing.
NATASHA
"You knew we'd find you eventually, Bruce."
Bruce's breath hitched, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he stood still, his hands subtly curling into fists.
BANNER
"You've been tracking me... How long?"
Natasha's eyes didn't leave his as she took a few steps closer, the flicker of a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
NATASHA
"Long enough to know where you hide, long enough to know you're tired of running."
Bruce's jaw tightened. No one understood what it was like to be him. They never would.
BANNER
(gritting his teeth)
"What do you want from me?"
NATASHA
(quietly, sliding a phone across the table toward him)
"This."
Bruce's eyes followed the phone as it slid toward him. He looked down at the screen, and for a moment, all the tension in his body went still as his eyes locked on the image of the Tesseract—the glowing blue object, known for its reality-warping potential.
NATASHA
"It has the potential energy to wipe out this planet. He wants you to find it. It's been taken. It emits a Gamma signature. Only you can track it."
Bruce froze for a long moment, the weight of the words settling over him. The Tesseract. The very thing that had torn his world apart before. And now, they wanted his help to find it?
BANNER
(immediate response, angry)
"He needs me in a cage, doesn't he?"
Natasha's expression hardened, but she kept her voice even.
NATASHA
"No one's putting you in a cage, Bruce. Not anymore."
Bruce's temper flared, his hands trembling at his sides. He wanted to lash out—something, anything, to express how much he hated this life. This constant feeling of being controlled, hunted, manipulated. But he had to stay calm. He had to keep the Hulk down.
BANNER
(snapping, louder now)
"STOP LYING TO ME!"
Clark crouched low in the shadows just outside, listening intently. He could hear the tension building in the room. Bruce's heartbeat quickened, and his breath hitched with barely contained anger. Clark's muscles tensed, ready to move. He didn't like how close Bruce was to losing control.
When he heard Bruce shout, something inside Clark snapped into action. In an instant, he was moving at super speed, a blur as he streaked into the hut, appearing in the doorway with a soft rush of air.
He stood tall, eyes glowing red with barely contained energy, his posture one of calm but unyielding power. His fists were clenched, the temperature around him rising as the heat vision threatened to break free.
CLARK
"Bruce, stop. Now."
Bruce froze, his back stiffening, eyes narrowing as he took in Clark's imposing presence. He hadn't expected anyone to show up so quickly, certainly not someone like him.
BANNER
(snapping)
"What, you think you can intimidate me?"
Clark didn't move, his eyes still burning with intensity. The air around him seemed to thrum with barely restrained power.
CLARK
(steadily)
"I don't want to intimidate you. I just don't want anyone getting hurt."
Bruce glared at him, fists clenched at his sides, but there was something in Clark's unwavering stance that made him pause. For a brief moment, the tension in the room hung heavy, as if the Hulk's roar was just waiting to break free.
BANNER
(voice tight with rage)
"You think you can stop me?"
Natasha, standing quietly behind Clark, watched the exchange with a cool, calculating gaze. She had seen Bruce on the edge before, but this felt different. The pressure was mounting.
She stepped forward, her voice calm and measured, giving Clark a subtle nod.
NATASHA
(softly, reassuring)
"It's fine. He's not going to hurt anyone."
She turned her eyes to Bruce, who was still seething with barely contained fury. Her words, though quiet, were like a tether that anchored him.
NATASHA
(steady)
"Bruce, we just need your help. No one's putting you in a cage. Not anymore. You can still control this."
Bruce's chest heaved with a heavy breath. The rage still pulsed through him, but Natasha's voice had grounded him in some small way. Her words, though simple, had a calming effect.
BANNER
(quietly, conflicted)
"What if I refuse?"
Clark stayed silent, watching closely. He had to trust Natasha now.
NATASHA
(softly)
"Then we'll be out of options. The world will be in a lot more trouble than you think."
Bruce didn't respond immediately. He just stood there, his fists still shaking with pent-up energy. But after a long moment, he dropped his hands to his sides, breathing heavily.
BANNER
(quietly)
"Fine. But no cages. No more running."
Clark nodded slightly, his eyes still glowing faintly with heat vision, but he relaxed his posture. The immediate danger had passed—for now.