Dialogue with Bruce

Tony was still talking though Steve was quiet.

Bruce was aware of that much as his mind wondered to the point in his life he got so low that he didn't see a way out of it except a bullet.

It was not a moment he was proud of in his life – though sometimes he can't help but be disappointed that the Other Guy saved his life.

It would just be so much easier if he just wasn't here anymore.

Easier for everyone else too.

Bruce knows that Tony knows he was lying about seeing the Master of Death. His question to Steve proved that, but Bruce didn't care.

He also couldn't help thinking back to his conversation, regardless of the planning Tony undoubtedly was doing while he started to zone out, but it was something he couldn't stop once it started.

Bruce opened his eyes and sat up, trying to keep calm, while staying angry simultaneously.

Staying angry keeps the Other Guy away and from making a very big mess.

He frowned slightly. He was in a forest – far away from people.

He was confused though – hadn't he been? – didn't he just?

"Yes," a voice answered, sounding sad.

Bruce whipped his head around, standing up quickly, looking for the voice and moving away from them, just in case.

"You can't hurt me here," the voice answered his unasked question.

"Oh yeah?" asked Bruce incredulously. He hurt everyone eventually.

Bruce finally found where the voice was coming from. Someone – though probably a male, judging from the voice – was standing next to a tree, keeping their distance, and dressed in a black hooded cloak.

"Yes."

"Who are you?" Bruce asked as he looked around. He felt a breeze and looked down.

Oh.

He was naked. He needed to fix that.

Just as he thought that, clothes materialized right beside him - slacks and a button down shirt.

Oh.

"I go by plenty of names; however, you can call me Master of Death while we are here. Those clothes won't bite. Go ahead and get dressed."

Bruce wasn't sure but as the man said those last two sentences he was sure there was a grin in his voice.

He did get dressed. He hated standing around naked, especially when he has no idea how it happened. It reminds him too much of the times he turns into the Other Guy.

There was silence as Bruce buttoned up his shirt. The Master of Death – what did that mean? Bruce didn't even know that death could be mastered.

"Eh, I wouldn't try it on a good day."

Bruce looked up at the guy.

"What?"

"Trying to master death. The last person who tried…well, let's just say it ended horribly for him."

"Him?"

"Women are too smart for that."

Bruce raised an eyebrow.

"It's true. They're much too sensible…well most of them, some women are insane."

That was…fair, Bruce supposed. Not that he talked to many women, but from what he could tell from afar, it was an accurate statement.

"Smart man."

Bruce sensed he was smiling again…though how was he reading his mind?

The Master of Death let out a choked sound, as if he was laughing but not quite, before he said, "To paraphrase an old professor of mind – something that I find I do more often now, mind you, it's something like 'the mind is not a book that can be opened at will and examined at leisure.' He had a way with words, that man. Though to be fair, he mostly insulted me."

Bruce stared at him.

"No, I'm not reading your mind."

"Yeah, I got that…but how did you know what I was thinking then?"

"I'm not reading your mind but while I'm here I'm getting…impressions would be the best way to describe it."

"Impressions?"

The Master of Death made a noise that could be taken as an agreement.

"While we're here?"

Another agreeing noise.

"Where is here?"

"You tell me. This is, after all, your party."

Bruce did not feel like this was a party, especially with how he got here.

"It's a forest, somewhere far away from any kind human population, where no one is around who can get hurt."

The last part was mostly to himself.

"You're not dead by the way."

The Master of Death ignored the description of the location as he usually tried to.

"I'm not?"

Bruce could feel the sinking of his stomach.

It didn't work.

He was still a monster.

"You are not!"

The Master of Death was standing a foot in front of Bruce, causing him to stumble back a few paces.

"Wh-what?" Bruce stuttered out.

"You – are – not – a – monster," he spoke so slowly that Bruce kind of resented it – he wasn't an idiot.

"No, you're not."

"Quit doing that!"

How dare this Master of Death tell him how he can feel, when he can't even articulate the feelings himself most days.

The Master of Death took a step back and silently watched Bruce for a few minutes while he tried to get himself together…come to terms with what he just tried to do.

There was silence for several moments before the Master of Death spoke again.

"You know, someone important to me used to transform into what he considered to be a monster too, and he almost let his fear destroy everything good in his life. I didn't let him do it and I won't let someone else do it. Not if I can help it. Call it my people saving thing."

"You're the Master of Death though."

Bruce watched his lips quirk up under his hood.

"I'm a walking contradiction, Bruce Banner."

Bruce started. It was the first time the Master of Death called him by his name here.

They were both silent for a while before Bruce asked, "Where am I?"

They both know he's not talking about the forest.

"You are in, what I like to call the halfway point, in between, the place where you decide if you want to stay or if you want to go forward or go back-"

"Go back?" Bruce interrupted. The Master of Death probably would have kept on going had he not interrupted. "Is that what you meant by 'you're not dead by the way'?"

The Master of Death simply nodded.

"Why would let you me, of all people go back? Why not a young child who died, why can't they go back? Someone who died too soon? Why me?"

The Master of Death stared at Bruce before he said one word – a word, ironically he said recently to another genius. But this genius, he was going to allow to remember.

"Potential."

"They had potential too!" Bruce shouted.

"Of course they did. You all do, but their time on Earth was done. I don't make those calls. I answer to someone else, you know."

"Who?" Bruce wanted to shout that question too, but he was trying to be reasonable and not let the Other Guy come out - he could vaguely feel him in the back of his mind, though not as much as he did before he ended up in this place.

"You know."

And Bruce could sense the eyebrow raised beneath the hood.

Master of Death.

Of course.

"You know, I have one thought for you to take with you when you go back."

"I haven't made my decision yet!"

Bruce was almost in a panic. This place was perfect for him. No one was around.

Bruce could see the gentle smile the Master of Death had under his hood.

"You've made your decision. Your decision was made from the moment I said, 'you're not dead by the way.'"

Bruce wanted to argue, but deep down, he knew the Master of Death was telling the truth.

"The thought?"

"Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't a monster who saved you."

"If not a monster, than who?"

The Master of Death pulled his hood down, green eyes locked onto his, and said, "Maybe it was you."

Bruce was startled by more than just the roar as he woke up.

"Bruce, buddy, you all right?"