Chapter Text
The Council guys arrive soon enough. Fury makes everyone leave, especially the Hulk, getting them out of sight before the black cars pull up to the scene. Fury pretends that he set up the circle and captured the Abomination without assistance. Clint can see from his hiding spot that no one believes him, but they seem willing to let him get away with the fiction. Once or twice, the men in dark suits scan the area, obviously looking for accomplices, but they don’t search.
One of them pulls out a book and chants a few ancient sounding words. The Abomination closes its eyes starts to snore, falling over with an earth-shattering thud. Fury toes a break in the chalk line and the circle collapses. The Council men bind the monster with weird-looking rope that must be magically enhanced or something. A reinforced transport truck pulls up and the Hulk is levitated inside. The men leave with a last word to Fury.
The Hulk falls asleep while they're waiting. Fury is just walking over as the Big Guy shrinks back into Bruce. He and Steve are dead to the world, so Clint and Tony carry them back to Fury’s car. Clint looks up and down the street, but the man and his dog are long gone. Fury drops everyone off at the Stark Mansion, and Clint and Tony tuck them into bed.
Tony’s got more than enough room to house everyone, but Clint doesn’t miss the fond look he gives Bruce as he settles him in. Clint doesn’t think Tony has any intention of letting Bruce leave.
The next day is quiet. Bruce is suspended and Tony stays home with him. Clint stops by Bruce’s room before leaving that morning; Bruce looks terrible, exhausted and drawn, but there’s a lightness to him that Clint hasn’t seen before.
“He was obsessed,” Bruce is telling Tony as Clint walks into the room. “For years, ever since he got fired. I tried to help him, and that made things worse, because I was always better at chemistry than him. He knew magic though, more than I did. We made progress. I thought, for a while, that things would be okay. They got worse, though. Mom left a few months ago.”
Bruce’s eyes clench shut, and Tony grips his hand. Bruce grips back so hard his knuckles turn white. Clint decides to tip-toe out, but Bruce stops him.
“No – Clint, I’m sorry.” Bruce opens his eyes and stares at him. “You deserve to hear this. I should have listened to you, I wanted to, but I didn’t understand. I didn’t think anyone would believe me about the magic.” He looks so sorry, Clint couldn’t have held a grudge, even if he’d wanted too.
“I thought we could fix the formula – we could alter it so it would do what it was supposed to do, make people younger and stronger. But it was flawed. I don’t know if it was the chemistry, or the magic, but something made it… wrong.”
Bruce’s hand clenches Tony’s again. Clint wonders if he even realizes he’s doing it.
“Dad made me drink it first. The first time I transformed, I didn’t remember what had happened. It’s still fuzzy, but it gets a little clearer each time.”
“Is it only triggered by injury?” Tony asks. His voice is even, free of judgement.
Bruce smiles at him. “No. It seems to be linked to strong emotion. I think I’ve been a little dead lately, trying to keep on top of it. When I got frustrated or angry, I could feel it under my skin. I tried to contain it. My dad didn’t. The night Clint came by, he flipped. I heard him transform once he hit the street. I know he chased you, Clint. I’m glad you got away.”
Clint nods, thinking of the monster running him down in the forest, of Phil’s proffered hand. “I had help.”
Bruce’s smile is unsteady, but its real. “That’s good. I don’t know what you are – what you do – but thank you for helping us.”
Clint reaches forward and squeezes Bruce’s shoulder. “Always.”
Tony grins. “I have got a lot to catch you up on, buddy. Just wait until you hear all the juicy details!”
Clint groans and rolls his eyes. “I am going to avoid these startling revelations and go to school.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Tony flaps a hand. “We’ll gossip salaciously behind your back. Give my love to Miss Carter.”
Clint flips him the bird and leaves.
School is weird – people are talking about the police being called to Bruce’s house last night, whispering about what the old man had done. Half the house was destroyed, and someone thinks it was a bomb. It seems Mr. Banner has skipped town, and people are realizing that Mrs. Banner is gone, too. Clint wonders what Bruce will do, but he hopes he decides to stay. He thinks it’ll be good for Tony.
Steve is at school, even though Clint thinks he should go home. His eyes still glow with exhaustion, but he has his nose buried in a book on magic. Fury limps into the library, his left arm bound in a sling.
“The boy’s got talent,” Fury says to Clint under his breath. “I just hope it doesn’t kill him to use it.”
“Steve’s stronger than he looks,” Clint whispers back. He knows it’s true. “What’s he researching?”
“Spells that work on vampires,” Fury says. He sounds worried. “Any sign of Mr. Barnes?”
Clint shakes his head. “No. I wonder if he’s skipped town.”
Behind him, Fury shrugs. “Maybe. I don’t think so, though.”
“The Master?”
Fury nods. “He hasn’t given up his dream of being free. He’ll find a way, sooner or later.”
“If he does, we’ll stop him.”
“Yes,” Fury says, his voice soft but serious. “We will.”
Epilogue:
“Phil. It’s good to see you. I’m surprised you checked the drop.”
Phil stops in the middle of the sidewalk and turns around. It’s dark on the street at night, the few streetlights casting more shadows than light.
Phil has his hands in the pockets of his trousers and his face is composed into a bland look of unconcern. Nick feels old, looking at him. It’s been a long time.
“With you in town, old friend? How could I not?”
Nick nods and closes the distance between them. He has a stake in his pocket and a gun at his back. He doesn’t reach for them. Phil could kill him before he tried.
“I appreciate it,” Nick tells him honestly.
Phil nods. His lips quirk up in a smile. “I can guess your purpose here, tonight.”
Nick waits. Phil sighs.
“You’re right, of course. I’m being stupid.”
“You’re the one with centuries of experience.”
Phil snorts. “True.” He shakes his head. “There’s something about him, though…”
Nick frowns. “You have to let him go, Phil. He’s the Slayer. I don’t need to tell you the mess you’re making here.”
Phil gives him another half-smile. “No. You don’t.” He pauses, thinking. “I’ll leave town,” he says finally. “Cut all ties.”
Nick exhales. “Thank you. It’s the best for him.”
“You’ll watch over him, though?”
Nick stares, caught by the unexpected note of real concern in Phil’s voice. “Of course.”
“Because there are things at stake here, and the others –”
“Phil, of course I’ll protect him. To the best of my ability. That’s my job.”
Phil smiles sadly. “Clint’s more than a job. He has a way of getting under your skin.”
Nick sighs. “He does, at that. If he didn’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, now would we?”
Phil grins, a wick twist of his lips. Nick is reminded, very suddenly, of who he is dealing with.
“No. We wouldn’t.”
“You’ll leave?”
Phil nods. “I will. I’ll tell him tomorrow.”
Nick shakes his head. “It would be better if you just –”
“Nick,” Phil stops him. His voice is cold. “I will tell him tomorrow. I am being very generous, here. Do not presume more.”
Nick’s voice catches in his throat. Some primal part of his brain is telling him to shut up and sit down. He swallows. “My apologies.”
Phil smiles. “Accepted.” He shoos Nick away. “Go on. Run back to your school.”
Nick hesitates. “Where will you go?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Phil shakes his head. “I won’t see you again.”
Nick releases a breath. He’s not sure how he feels about that. “Okay. Travel well.”
“I will,” Phil says. He smiles.
Nick turns to go. He’s at the corner before Phil calls out. “Nick? You need to look out for him.”
“I will,” Nick promises, again. He stops and turns around.
Phil’s already gone.