Chapter 62: Thor.
"Who are you people? You don't look like you're here for medical treatment… What do you want?"
As the door creaked open, a rugged-looking man appeared before them. His hair was unkempt, and his beard had clearly gone unattended for quite some time. His gaze swept over the group with suspicion—there was clear wariness in his eyes.
Banner instantly sensed something was off. These people didn't belong here.
Their appearance—especially the man in the sleek suit and the other in a striped costume carrying a shield—stood out like sore thumbs in this poor, quiet town. No one dressed like that around here.
Wait... a shield?
Banner's eyes locked onto the man in the red, white, and blue suit.
"That outfit... that shield... isn't that the same statue I saw as a kid at the Captain America memorial?"
'Is this guy a hardcore Captain America fan? Is he... cosplaying?' It sounded ridiculous, but it made more sense to Banner than the possibility of Captain America actually being alive.
"Dr. Bruce Banner," Tony stepped forward with a charismatic smile, "a pleasure. Who would've guessed that someone with seven PhDs would be hiding out like this, forced to stay off the grid just to avoid military pursuit. Life really does play cruel jokes."
"Who the hell are you?" Banner's tone sharpened, alarm flashing in his eyes. "How do you know who I am? Are you with the military? Did they send you to take me in?"
As Tony spoke his full name with familiarity, a cold dread crawled up Banner's spine. His heart rate spiked. He could feel it—the rage building deep inside, threatening to erupt into the other guy.
But he took a breath. There were only a few of them, and they didn't appear armed. That helped. The hammer and axe one of them carried? For now, Banner didn't classify those as weapons—just weird props.
"Easy, easy," Tony said quickly, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "We're not with the military. Let me introduce myself. I'm Tony Stark. We're here to talk, nothing more."
The tension in Banner's shoulders eased slightly, though his expression remained guarded.
"Tony Stark? The Tony Stark? CEO of Stark Industries? The guy who built half the weapons in the world?" He frowned. "Why are you here? And how do you know I'm here, of all places? Unless you give me some clear answers, this 'friendly conversation' is over."
Tony sighed inwardly but kept his tone light. "You're not wrong—I was that guy. But that was a long time ago. Stark Industries doesn't produce weapons anymore, and I stepped down as CEO. These days, I go by another name: Iron Man."
"Iron Man… Oh!" Banner's expression shifted as memories surfaced. "You're the one I roughed up last time I transformed. That metal guy in flashy armor. You're here for payback?"
The realization made him frown again, more confused than ever.
Tony felt a vein twitch in his forehead.
Seriously? He remembers me as 'the guy he punched'?
He wanted to yell, but restrained himself. This wasn't the time to provoke Hulk. Especially not when he was standing there in a custom suit and no armor.
"No, I'm not here to fight," Tony replied, pushing back the urge to swear. "Actually, we're here to invite you to join a team—a new kind of alliance. What do you say?"
Banner blinked. "Wait, did I hear that right? You're inviting me to join an alliance? What kind of alliance?"
The confusion in his voice was genuine now.
Li Yue stepped forward for the first time, his expression calm and steady.
"A team of people like you, Dr. Banner. Strong, unique... and willing to stand against threats this world isn't ready for. We're what is between Earth and its doom. We're something different. A Justice League."
Banner looked from Li Yue to Tony, then to the others behind them.
He had a feeling his quiet life was about to end.
"The five of us have formed an alliance. We call it the Justice League. And we're here to invite you to join us."
"Justice League?" Banner echoed, still visibly confused. "What's that supposed to be?"
His wariness faded slightly, replaced by curiosity. The name sounded dramatic—and absurd enough to momentarily distract him from his anxiety.
"The Justice League is—" Li Yue began, then suddenly broke into a dramatic pose.
"Since you've asked so sincerely, we'll answer with compassion! To prevent the world from devastation! To protect the peace of our nation! To uphold love and eliminate evil, cute and charming—"
"Cough!" Tony interrupted loudly.
Li Yue froze mid-pose, realizing what he was doing. He quickly straightened up, slightly embarrassed. "Ahem, sorry. Got carried away. Tony, your turn."
Tony shot him a look but rolled with it.
"Yeah… what he meant to say—though in a very odd way—is actually kind of accurate," Tony said, adjusting his cufflinks casually. "The Justice League is a team. We exist to protect the world when ordinary means aren't enough. When disasters strike—aliens, monsters, world-ending threats—we step in and stop them."
He shrugged. "Because someone has to."
Banner blinked, incredulous.
"World peace? Seriously? Just the five of you?" He looked around at the group, now growing more skeptical than cautious. "Did I hear that right? Are you guys for real?"
He rubbed his forehead, suddenly wondering if he was hallucinating from stress.
"Protecting the world? Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?"
Of course, anyone suddenly approached by a group of strangers claiming they need you to "help protect world peace" would probably just grab the nearest broomstick and chase them off.
"Uh, Banner," Tony said, trying to sound as casual as possible, "you don't need to be so skeptical. We're all... unique in our own way. You see that shield? You should recognize it. That's Captain America—the same guy who took down Hydra during World War II. Yep, he's still alive."
Tony then pointed at the tall man carrying both a hammer and an axe.
"And him? No, he's not a medieval carpenter. He's Thor—yes, that Thor, Son of Odin and God of Thunder from Norse mythology. He controls lightning and can hold his own against beings like... well, like you."
"…You're saying he could fight Hulk?" Banner finally interrupted, his voice laced with disbelief and something darker. "Don't be ridiculous. You don't know what Hulk is truly capable of. But I do. I've lived with that monster inside me. I know how terrifying he really is."
His expression hardened.
"I'm done talking. If that's all you came here for, then please—go back to wherever you came from."
Banner turned around, clearly ending the conversation.
"Banner!" Tony called out after him. "You really want to keep living like this? Hiding in the shadows? Like a fugitive? Always afraid that the military's going to burst in with guns drawn? Living like a ghost, like a monster?"
"Have you ever thought about coming out into the light?" Tony's voice grew more serious. "Standing tall—not as a threat, but as a hero?"
Banner suddenly stopped. His fist slammed into the wooden door beside him with a loud crack, leaving a splintered dent. Everyone flinched, including Tony.
"Maybe this is my punishment," Banner muttered, voice low with bitterness. "Maybe this is all I deserve."
He turned back toward the door.
"You should leave. And do me a favor—don't tell anyone where I am."
But just as he was about to go inside, a calm, firm voice stopped him.
"Well," Thor said, stepping forward, "if the only thing stopping you is doubt—then how about a wager?"
Banner turned slightly, glancing back over his shoulder.
"If I can defeat the creature inside you… you join us," Thor declared, his tone serious, lightning faintly crackling around his fingers. "If not… we'll leave, and never bother you again."
......
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