help

His hand moved swiftly across the page, stopping every once in a while to type on the computer. Numbers of all kinds ran across the paper, numbers that would look random and unorganized to most people.

But not to Bruce.

Maybe that's why he never had trouble with people looking into his work, no one would be able to read or understand it except himself. Or maybe, they just weren't interested in what he was doing and more so in what he was.

Bruce didn't know what he was trying to figure out, he only knew that there had to be an answer in these numbers as to why and how Loki could be innocent. He was a smart man, but no matter how many times he ran things over in his head, he couldn't figure it out.

Or maybe he didn't want to. Because the more he thought about that man, the more he realized how alike they were.

When Thor had told him, and the rest of the Avengers, about Loki's presumed death, he felt his heart stop. Loki let go because he didn't feel like there was anything left for him that was worth holding on to.

Just like Bruce had after becoming the Hulk.

It was as if one day changed his entire life and his view of the world. Science ruined his life, and for months he thought it could maybe save it. He tried everything and anything he could think of to try and rid himself of the Hulk but found nothing. And when he found nothing, he realized that he'd be stuck that way forever, and that thought alone led him to that day.

He had yet to understand how to control his other side, how he would keep going in life. He saw no other possible way to go back to the way things were and thought he didn't have anything left that was worth living for, just like Loki.

He was just like Loki, he tried to say goodbye to life, and life responded with a big fucking no.

Even today, he still felt that way, like he was constantly on the verge of something, but he didn't know what. People were always trying to keep him stable and treating him like glass, scared that if even a small scratch were to form, he'd break.

No one wanted to see him break, especially himself.

He didn't even know where to begin with Loki now. With Loki possibly being innocent, being mind-controlled, the entire situation was beyond him. Yet, he couldn't stop thinking of ways that he could help Loki if it were true. Because maybe it is true.

"Why so quiet, Stark?"

The voice, Natasha's voice, cut through his brain, and he heard Tony jump up beside him. No matter how many times he reminded himself that he learned to deal with situations like this, he still felt weird about it. He closed his computer and turned towards the other two, listening in to what they were saying.

Tony stared at him, confused. "How were you not frightened?"

Bruce sighed, god, he hated the assumption that he wasn't capable of controlling himself (though was he truly capable?). "If I was able to 'hulk out' simply by being startled, then most of the world would be severely destroyed by now."

Tony continued to stare at him. "So you learned not to be frightened."

He shrugged. "It's rather simple when you really think about it."

"So, what did you do?" Tony asked, intrigued. "Have a bunch of people scare you to see if you'd turn big or-?"

"Boys, we have more important things to discuss," Natasha interrupted.

"I will be hearing about this later," Tony said to him before turning towards Natasha. "Anyways, what's so important? Some secret meeting your setting up?"

"Actually, yes," Natasha responded.

Tony smiled. "Knew it. What are we waiting for then?"

"The others."

"Let me guess, Capsicle and Pointbreak?" Tony said with a sigh. "Those old men and gods never can keep track of time or stay up to date. Don't worry, I'll get them."

"You better hurry."

Tony got up and walked out.

Natasha looked towards him. "How long until he comes back?"

"What?" he said, confused by the comment.

"I didn't tell him where this meeting is."

Oh. "Oh, uh probably a few seconds."

Tony then came back, sticking his head into the room. "And where exactly would this not secret meeting-"

"4th floor. Room 126," Natasha responded.

Tony nodded. "Okay. See you at the not secret meeting-"

"Stark, you better leave now or else."

"Or else what?" Tony said with a smirk.

Natasha returned the smirk. "Do you really want to know?"

Tony's smirk fell. "Nope."

After Tony left, Natasha turned to him.

"Ready to go?"

"Uh yeah, sure," he answered.

They exited the room, heading towards the stairs. Bruce wanted to apologize to her, having had physically hurt her. While he had fought the others, Thor mostly, they were all well equipped and battle-ready, while Natasha wasn't.

"I never got to apologize about what happened with the Hulk," he finally said, breaking the silence.

"There's no need to, it wasn't your fault. It was a stressful situation."

"Still doesn't change that I hurt you and risked everyone's lives on this ship."

"Everyone on this ship went through the training. The minute they sign up, they know the risk and know that they may not come home one day. The agents here especially know that, as the things that happen here aren't normally the safest. And you don't have to worry about me, I've gotten way worse injuries from way worse people."

For a second, he thought he wouldn't say anything else, that what he said was enough, there was no need to dive farther. But something told him that he should tell the truth and that whatever he had to say, Natasha wouldn't judge it.

"It just doesn't feel like I should be on here. I only thought it would be a few days, but the longer I'm here, the worse I feel."

Natasha put her hand on his shoulder gently, stopping and making him turn towards her. "Every person on this ship fought and deserves to be here, including you. I can't authorize you to leave, but if you want to find someplace interesting on here, I can show you some spots."

"I would like that," he said with a small smile.

They both reach Natashas' room and enter. Immediately he noticed how much bigger her room was and how many weapons she had. Natasha walked over to speak with Clint, and Bruce sat down while observing the room. A few minutes later, the door opened, and the others entered. Though he didn't pay attention to what they said until Natasha spoke.

"Stark, time to shut up," she said.

"Okay," Tony responded.

Everyone sat down around the room and began to speak.

"So are we here to discuss the other secret meeting or to have our own secret meeting?" said Tony.

"Fury believes we all are compromised, so he asked me and Natasha to watch you guys," said Clint.

Tony shook his head. "So you three had your own secret meeting? I see how it is."

Steve sighed. "He asked me to keep an eye on Thor and to report if I find anything out."

"God, now we have 4 traitors," Tony said, exasperated. "Guess it's just the Three Amigos now."

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything Thor," Steve said to Thor. "And that's not why I went to speak with you. I meant everything I said."

"It is alright, Steve. I understand," Thor said with a smile.

"So let me get this straight," Tony began. "Three people were asked to go against each other's backs by Fury because he believes we're all compromised? I knew the man was crazy, but wow."

"He's not wrong," he said, prompting everyone to turn towards him.

He looked down at the ground, fidgeting with his shirt. "I mean, we all are kind of compromised. We've all had some confrontation, or something happened because of or with Loki. While some are closer than others, none of us want to see him be punished if what we think is happening is happening," he finished.

"Why did you two tell us anyway?" Tony asked Clint and Natasha. "Isn't that going against your boss?"

"It was the best move," Natasha answered.

"We will never get anything done if we keep things from each other," Steve began. "If we really want to try and find out what's happening with Loki, we need to be honest with each other. Starting with figuring out what happened with Loki before all of this and speaking with him."

"We need to figure out what made him break out," Tony began while pulling out his phone. "If he is really being controlled, then something must have happened that let him break free for a second."

"Or someone," Bruce said, looking at Thor.

"I am confused," Thor said.

He looked towards Thor. "You were speaking to Loki when he was able to escape from whatever was keeping him captured. Maybe him being able to escape right when you were there wasn't an accident, maybe-"

"He was trying to get back to consciousness because he knew that you would believe him," Tony interrupted. "And I'm guessing whoever was holding him didn't believe that Loki was much of a threat or was strong enough to break free. So-"

"So, if someone is controlling him, it will be harder now for him to escape their hold as they now know he can," finished Bruce.

Tony looked at him, a smile on the man's face. "Okay, I know we're supposed to be all serious now, but me and Bruce just read each other's minds basically."

"So my brother may not have the chance to come back?" asked Thor.

"We don't know that," he answered. "Honestly, we don't know anything."

"We don't even know if this whole thing is happening," Clint voiced. "Fury isn't going to go through with anything unless there is proof and damn good proof. He'll need more than one word, he'll need exact words."

"So we give them to him," said Steve, standing up and pacing, "We need to find a way to get Loki and not the other guy."

Realization dawned on him. "We keep him distracted."

"Got a plan, Doctor?" Natasha asked.

"Sort of," he replied. "So if someone is controlling Loki, then they are controlling a lot of things. They are controlling his movements, what he says, facial expressions, everything. They are also controlling their own body at the same time."

"Must be pretty tiring," Clint stated.

He nodded. "Exactly. So what if we give them a bit more to do? We need to distract and tire them out so Loki can fight back and gain control. Once he's in control, he can give the Director all the proof he needs."

"So, how in the hell do you suppose we distract and tire out a god?" Tony said. "Or well, someone in a god?"

"I have a few ideas."

----------------------------------------

Bruce sat at the lab table, thinking over everything that had been said. God, there was a lot to be done, these next few days (weeks? months?) would not be easy. He rubbed his forehead, trying to determine where to even begin.

"So, Thors ideas were definitely... interesting," Tony said, entering the lab.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

"Damn, nosy much? I was just taking a walk and enjoying the freedom while it lasts. We're going to be stuck in this room, sitting in these chairs for a while it seems."

Tony went over to the other lab table and collapsed into the chair. "So, what do you think about the plan? Well, it's more like a rough draft of a plan with many holes, but still."

He sighed. "I don't know, it seems like it's not really solving the problem, more like proving there is a problem."

Tony nodded. "Exactly what I think. So, how about while the others are all working on that shitty plan, we come up with a plan of our own?"

A frown formed on his face. "Are you saying you want to go against the others?"

"It's not really going against the others, it's more like helping them in secret. Look, none of those people are going to come up with a plan to release Reindeer Games from being controlled, so why not?"

"So you do believe he's being controlled?"

"No, but I do believe that someone else could be controlled and cause some chaos."

Bruce was confused for a second, not knowing who Tony was referring to until it hit him. "Clint."

"Ding ding ding, we have a winner."

"So you want to find a way to release Clint from Loki's control just in case it happens?"

"Essentially. But it could work for anyone, so if Loki tries to control anyone, we'd be ready. Hell, it could even be useful in the future if another big bad decides to take an unwelcome visit to Earth."

"So how do you propose we make this technology? Where would even get information from?"

"I have an idea, but it will probably take some convincing. Okay, maybe a lot of convincing."

"Convincing of Fury or me?"

"Both."

He started to put together what he thought Tony was thinking. "Tony, if you say what I think you are about to say, I will walk out of this room."

"I was just going to suggest possibly using the scepter."

"I shouldn't even have to explain the dangers to you, Tony. It's untested and unknown alien technology that causes everyone near it to go kind of psycho and that Loki used to attempt to conquer Earth."

"But it also was how Loki controlled Clint and all of his other men. If anything is going to give us some answers, it will be that scepter."

"Or, it could kill us and everyone on this ship, Loki could escape and then conquer Earth easily because no one would be there to stop him."

"Okay, that is possible but a little dramatic."

"It's not a good idea, Tony."

"I thought you, of all people, would be excited for this. New discoveries, new material."

"The last time I tested with unknown and experimental materials, I ended up becoming the monster I am today. So maybe I'm not exactly itching to work on a project where I have no idea what could happen if we even touch it."

Tony was silent, staring at the ground. Bruce didn't regret what he said, he meant every word. He just wished that he kept the 'monster' part to himself.

"You are not a monster, Bruce," Tony finally said after minutes of silence.

"You and everyone else can tell me that over and over again, but it won't make any difference."

"Maybe it won't to you, but it does to me. I can't help you see yourself as something more than a monster, but I can let you know that I don't. I think you are a genius and brilliant man, maybe more so than me."

That shocked him. "Really?"

"No, I take that back. You are a bit under me, not a lot, but enough."

Bruce smiled, and Tony looked at him. "You do matter, Bruce. And I know this idea isn't the best, but it's the only thing we've got. I'm not asking you to believe that this work is safe, because it's not, I'm asking you to trust me."

Bruce thought over what Tony said. This plan was stupid and most definitely won't work. But if there was a chance that it could, a chance to make sure that Clint, Loki (if he really was being controlled), and anyone else who gets caught in the crossfire can be saved, then he wasn't about to be the one who caused their deaths.

"Okay."

Tony smiled. "Glad to hear it. And hey, if we both get killed, then we'll get killed together."

"I think Fury will probably kill us both before we even begin working."

A surprised look entered Tony's face. "Is that a sense of humor I hear?"

"Very funny, Tony."

"You are right though, getting Fury on board will not be fun."

"Nope, it won't be fun at all for you."

"For me? Oh hell no, you are not getting out of this one."

"You are the one who came up with the idea."

"And the idea should be carried out together from the very beginning, including telling Fury."

"I don't think bringing the guy who goes psycho when angry, to a meeting with the man who is most definitely going to get angry, thus resulting in me getting angry, is the best idea."

A smirk crossed Tony's face. "Using the Jolly Green Giant as an excuse now? That's pretty low, even for you Brucie. Fine, I'll go by myself to convince the pirate that we aren't insane. Have fun."

Tony exited the lab, and Bruce stared at the doors as they closed.

"Brucie?"