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From across the room, Bruce can feel Director Fury's gaze resting heavily on him making it feel as if an invisible weight was being slowly placed on his head. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and the scientist does his best to stay focused on the matter at hand rather than on his own discomfort. However, it was beginning to grow difficult to ignore the way his hands were slowly clenching into tight fists against his thighs as the silence in the room continues to expand around them, making his stress obvious to anyone who could read simple body language. Thankfully, Nick Fury was one of those people and he wisely chose to speak before Bruce's stress could begin escalating further.

"Doctor Banner…I believe you know why you're here." The Director's voice left no room for an excuse or protest of any sort, which was good since Bruce wasn't planning to make either. That did not mean, however, that Bruce was going to just listen to Fury's orders as he had so helpfully done before. Director Fury seems to know what the scientist had been thinking; his one good eye narrowing as he rests is hands on the tabletop while leaning forward to trap Bruce under watchful gaze.

"This is when you're expected to speak, Banner." A small grin pulls up the corners of Bruce's lips, the expression on his face anything but happy though; it's said that if you smile long enough you can trick your brain into thinking you're happy. Slowly, Bruce pushes his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose before opening his mouth to respond to the other man's previous words.

"I'm not allowed a vacation?" Bruce asks, his eyebrows rising slightly as he looks at Fury. His response only seems to frustrate the Director, obviously knowing Bruce hadn't been on vacation at all. The scientist assumes the only reason Fury had not tried pushing him further was because of the Hulk, but he still was hesitant to push Fury's boundaries.

"No, you're not when you happen to be an Avenger!" Fury replies, his voice growing in volume at Bruce's insistence to avoid answering his question honestly. "Especially when you're a walking liability with a temper." He rolls his eyes in response, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he glances past Fury's head for a moment.

"I'm completely under control and you know that."

"That's why you've decided it was alright to disappear, because you're in control? It took us a month to find you, Banner." Briefly, Bruce wonders how they found him in the first place; Tony himself had taken the time to keep his location a secret from Fury. The only option was that someone in the team told him, but the people who were actually told were all rather trustworthy.

"How did you find me?" Bruce's question makes Fury grin despite himself, making Bruce scowl slightly at the pleased expression on his face. He didn't bother trying to guess who told, simply because he knew Fury was going to tell him anyway.

"Captain Rogers thought it was in our best interest to know." Ah, Steve. He could understand that…although he didn't like it.

"So what now? Are you going to lock me up, so I can't leave again?" Fury shakes his head, earning a slightly confused look from Bruce.

"No, you're going to tell us exactly who was in that hospital bed." From the shadows, Death stood silently watching the two men converse over his Master; Bruce was unknowingly winning back Death's favor, which was surprising since it once had quite a grudge on the seemingly immortal man. Before Bruce can open his mouth to tell Fury he didn't know who the man was exactly, the figure standing behind Fury makes him freeze in shock. It was in that moment that Bruce actually saw Death, unable to comprehend what he saw before Death left the room in wisp of smoke.

((Sorry for the shorter chapter though.))s