…
Inside a warehouse at the Selensky Building, Natasha Romanoff—the Black Widow—was in the middle of interrogating a high-ranking Russian arms smuggler.
Her chosen method?
Bound to a chair in deliberately provocative attire, playing helpless while extracting every confession she needed.
The call from Agent Phil Coulson came just as the terrified official—persuaded by the presence of an F-22 Raptor circling overhead courtesy of S.H.I.E.L.D.—meekly held his phone to Natasha's ear.
"Natasha, return to headquarters immediately. We need you," Coulson said.
"You're kidding, right?"
Still tied to the chair, Natasha tilted her head to hold the phone in place with her shoulder.
"I'm working. This idiot has already confessed to everything."
"What? I haven't confessed to anything!" the uniformed official protested instinctively.
The two guards beside him exchanged looks but wisely remained silent.
"Listen, Natasha." Coulson's normally mild tone sharpened. "This isn't a local skirmish. Barton and Fury had their arms broken by an alien—with a glance. He claims an alien army will descend on New York in three days and invade Earth."
"We can't locate Leon. That means we need you to bring back the big green guy."
At the mention of Hawkeye's injury, Natasha's expression hardened.
"…All right. That sounds more urgent."
Without even standing up, she dismantled the corrupt official and his two guards in seconds—chair and bindings included.
Minutes later, she was airborne in a S.H.I.E.L.D. jet en route to Kolkata, India, where Dr. Bruce Banner was currently in hiding—researching ways to control the Hulk.
Kolkata, India
"Please! You're a doctor, right?"
"Please save my mother!"
Bruce Banner had just finished treating a villager's fever when a little girl, no older than ten, tugged at his sleeve.
Trusting her instinctively, Banner followed her.
The moment they stepped inside the makeshift hut—
The girl darted out through a side window and vanished.
Banner blinked.
"I should've asked for payment first," he muttered with an awkward chuckle.
Then he noticed her.
Standing in stark contrast to the surrounding poverty and decay was a poised woman in urban attire.
Banner adjusted his tie calmly.
"Let's go, Miss Romanoff."
Natasha blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"Leon once told me," Banner explained with a faint smile, "that if you ever came looking for me, something big was about to happen."
"I can't suppress the beast inside me forever. Sometimes he needs to breathe. It's better—for me, for him, and for the world."
Natasha shrugged lightly.
"Looks like our 'Homelander' thought ahead."
At the nickname—
Banner's skin flushed green instantly.
"Leon! Friend! Play!" Hulk roared excitedly, triggered by the familiar association.
When Leon failed to appear, the transformation ebbed just as quickly.
"Leon… not here. Disappointed."
Hulk subsided like a sulking child.
Moments later, Banner returned, sheepish.
"Sorry about that."
Natasha had already lowered into a defensive crouch, one hand drifting toward her sidearm.
"He doesn't listen to anyone," Banner explained. "Except Leon. Leon plays with him. Brings him food. Treats him like… well…"
Natasha's eyes narrowed.
Like a pet?
The suspicion lingered.
"You're sure he won't come back out?" she asked carefully.
"I'm trying to negotiate terms," Banner replied. "Daytime me, nighttime him. Or I stay conscious, he takes over when I sleep. That way we share the body."
"But I won't let him loose without Leon present. Hulk gets angry easily. Even a small incident becomes catastrophic."
Natasha glanced at the cracked flooring beneath Banner's feet—the brief emergence of Hulk had already compromised the structure.
"…Fair enough."
She straightened, though her hand remained near her holster.
Stark Tower
Inside Dr. Helen Cho's laboratory—
"Amazing." ×2
Nick Fury and Hawkeye flexed their fully restored arms in disbelief.
The Regeneration Cradle had repaired their shattered bones flawlessly.
To them, the technology's potential extended far beyond medical treatment.
"Dr. Cho," Fury said eagerly, "have you considered joining S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Occupational habit. If it was valuable, Fury wanted it under S.H.I.E.L.D. jurisdiction.
Helen Cho smiled politely, tablet in hand as she reviewed biometric data.
"Feel free to discuss it with my boss. I go where he directs."
"Your boss? Pepper or Tony?"
"Neither."
She shook her head.
Fury paused.
"…On second thought, forget I asked."
There was only one remaining possibility.
And negotiating employment terms with Leon Stark was not on Fury's bucket list.
Helen laughed softly at his reaction.
After departing Stark Tower, Fury boarded a S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft immediately.
Hawkeye did not accompany him.
With an alien invasion looming, Barton chose to remain at Stark Tower. Under the guidance of scientific consultant Dr. Ho Yinsen, he began designing specialized high-tech arrowheads tailored for extreme combat scenarios.
Thanks to Leon's matchmaking, the two had collaborated before.
They worked efficiently.
Three days.
New York.
The Avengers would soon assemble.
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