Banner hovered awkwardly in the air, his ghostly soul drifting above his unconscious body. While everyone around him was busy discussing magic, mages, and multiversal threats, he remained completely ignored.
"…Seriously?" he muttered. "Am I invisible or something?"
At his exasperated reminder, the group finally turned their attention back to him.
"Dr. Banner! Sorry, we kind of forgot about you," Stark said quickly, scratching his head. "But come on, you've got to admit—we just witnessed something insane."
Banner rolled his eyes. "I was the something insane! That slap sent me to heaven!"
Stark coughed awkwardly. "Right, right… Are you feeling okay? Any side effects from being—uh, spiritually ejected?"
Banner's expression shifted into a deadpan stare. "Other than the overwhelming terror? Not really. Could someone, you know, maybe put me back in my body now?"
"Wait," Stark said, squinting. "Are you sure the Hulk won't come back out the moment you re-enter?"
Banner hesitated, then responded honestly, "I think it's unlikely. That slap was traumatizing. He's probably hiding under a blanket somewhere."
After that brief exchange, Stark took the opportunity to formally introduce him.
"Henry, this is Dr. Bruce Banner. You may have just slapped the Hulk out of him, but generally, he's a pretty mild-mannered genius physicist."
Henry offered a small nod. "Pleasure to meet you, Dr. Banner."
Banner gave a nervous smile, still eyeing Henry like a cornered cat. "Uh… yeah. Likewise. And… sorry. For the whole rampage thing."
Before Henry could say anything, Nick Fury stepped forward with that signature tone of someone both tired and irritated.
"Dr. Banner, we had an agreement. You said you could control the Hulk. If S.H.I.E.L.D hadn't caught the signs early and cleared the area, we would've had a disaster on our hands."
"I know," Banner said quietly, guilt weighing in his voice. "I really am sorry. I've been trying to communicate with the Hulk, keeping my emotions in check. I don't know why it happened today. It just… did."
Before Fury could push further, Henry interrupted, calm and composed.
"Director Fury, I don't think this incident was Dr. Banner's fault."
Fury blinked, caught off guard. Normally, he'd launch into debate mode. But after what he'd seen Henry do… arguing felt like challenging a god with a stick.
"…And why's that?" he asked carefully.
Henry turned to him, voice light but cutting. "Stark just told me everything. Banner isolated himself in the mountains to avoid hurting people. He was trying to live peacefully. You went to Brazil and asked him to join S.H.I.E.L.D, knowing full well he couldn't completely control the Hulk."
Fury frowned.
"And yet," Henry continued, "you brought him back to a densely populated city, into your tightly guarded facility. But if the Hulk still broke out... doesn't that suggest your containment procedures failed?"
Fury's mouth opened—then closed.
He had no rebuttal.
If Banner had remained in the wilderness, the worst damage would've been to trees. But he had dragged him back, he had taken that risk.
And now here they were.
"…You're not wrong," Fury admitted finally, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I take responsibility. Dr. Banner, I apologize. I shouldn't have put this all on you."
Before Banner could respond, Henry added flatly, "Also, don't you think you owe me a thank-you?"
Fury froze. "…You mean for saving the city?"
Henry gave him a look. "Yes, for that tiny little favor."
"…Right," Fury muttered. "On behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers… thank you, Henry. You saved us from an international disaster."
Henry raised an eyebrow. "Is that all?"
Fury's expression twisted. He knew where this was going.
"You want… compensation?"
Henry didn't even blink. "Of course. Don't mages deserve to be compensated for handling problems that aren't their responsibility?"
"I thought you said protecting the Earth was part of your job."
"It is," Henry said, then pointed a finger at Banner. "But this isn't an alien invasion or a multiversal threat. This was your internal problem. I'm not part of S.H.I.E.L.D. I came because Stark asked me—not you."
Fury clenched his teeth. "You're asking for money?"
"Yes," Henry said. "A modest reward. You know, something to show appreciation. Mage or not, I still pay rent."
Fury sighed. "I thought you mages didn't care about money."
Henry snorted. "Please. We still have to eat. I'm not out here conjuring gold. Although I could empty the New York Federal Reserve if I wanted to. Want me to demonstrate?"
"Absolutely not!" Fury snapped.
Even though Henry had said it with a smile, the chill down Fury's spine was real.
"Fine. I'll approve a transfer," Fury muttered. "What kind of reward are we talking here?"
Henry thought for a moment. "Nothing too outrageous. Just some 'hard work money.' You know, enough to buy a few nice meals. Maybe a vacation."
Fury sighed like a man who'd just agreed to sell his house for a sandwich. "I'll have the finance team arrange it."
Satisfied, Henry nodded.
"Now then," Fury added, turning back to the floating soul. "Can you please return Dr. Banner to his body?"
Henry raised his hand. A soft light glowed in his palm.
In an instant, Banner's soul was pulled back into his body.
His eyes shot open.
"I'M BACK!!" he shouted, raising his arms in joy. "Oh, sweet gravity! Hello, heartbeat! I missed you!"
While everyone else chuckled, Fury stood off to the side, rubbing his temples.
His day had been a disaster.
Buildings destroyed. Civilians evacuated. Paperwork piled to the ceiling. Expenses higher than his budget could cover.
And now he owed Henry money.
As Henry chatted with Stark and Banner, smiling like this was all routine, Fury could only stare blankly at the wreckage around them.
Inside, he screamed:
Why the hell did I mess with him?!
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