Chapter 81 - Bruce's return

"Bruce Banner speaking" Bruce answered as he put the phone to his ear.

"Doctor Bruce! It's been a while since we last met... I think since we had to flee and blend in... Anyway, it's me, Prime. Hope you haven't forgotten about me" said the cheerful and cordial voice on the other end of the line.

Of course, there was no way Bruce wouldn't recognize the person on the other end of the phone. He had been investigating them meticulously for months. With each passing day, with every new discovery Bruce made, more questions arose, one after the other, opening up like a real Pandora's box.

"No, I remember perfectly, but I wasn't expecting a call from you. Did something happen?" Bruce asked, holding the phone to his ear with his shoulder while picking up his camera with his free hand.

"To be honest, I didn't expect to need your help so soon, but something happened. I don't know where you are in the world right now, but it's probably all over the news. Besides, I feel like it's related to our old green friend" Prime said on the other end, making Bruce's eyes widen briefly.

To Bruce, everything that could link him to the Hulk had been destroyed months ago. He didn't know the exact reason, but after he fled following the fight with Blonsky, he woke up again in Dr. Sterns' lab.

The place was completely devastated, with no samples remaining. Besides him and Blonsky, there was nothing left that could create a third abomination, or at least that's what Bruce believed until he heard Prime's words on the other end of the line.

"What do you mean by that... Blonsky... is he back?" Banner asked while he began to hurriedly pack his belongings.

The locals, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious to what Bruce was saying or doing. They were immersed in their own reality, where only they and the mural existed. Anyway, for Bruce, there was no more reason to stay in that place.

"No, that wasn't Blonsky. I called you because I have no idea who the lunatic that decided to attack me on the bridge while I was with my daughters is. You're an expert in gamma radiation, so I'm hoping you have some clue" Prime replied on the other end, letting out a brief sigh.

"Daughters? Never mind, I'm on my way. I'm a bit far, but I should get to New York soon" Bruce replied as he started to walk out of the cave.

"Alright, I'll be waiting. I'll send my new address" Prime responded.

Then, Bruce took the phone from his ear and checked the message on the screen. He confirmed it was indeed his current location. After noting the accuracy of the indicated point, Bruce removed the battery from the phone and threw it away.

***

"Done?" Sara asked as soon as she saw he had hung up the call.

"Yeah, he should get here in a few days. I just hope we don't get attacked again before then. I really don't want to fight again without knowing exactly who we're up against" Prime replied, letting out a brief sigh.

At the moment, only Prime and Sara were in the room. While Ema and Annie were in their rooms, busy with their activities, Prime put the phone on the table and settled on the couch across from Sara. She, as usual, was engrossed in her phone, alternating between texting and munching on chips from a bowl beside her.

"Are you sure it's okay to eat so much? You know, you might end up gaining weight" Prime commented.

Hearing those words, Sara paused mid-bite and directed her gaze at Prime. At that moment, Prime felt a chill emanating from Sara's stare and quickly turned to face her. His eyes met hers, cold and piercing, sending an uncomfortable shiver down his spine.

"Or you could just ignore what I said!" Prime began, feeling like he was walking on eggshells. "A stylish and beautiful girl like you, who practically never gains weight and is eating for two because of me, shouldn't worry about things like getting fat, right? Hahaha!"

After saying all this, Prime simply sighed, watching Sara's expression calm before she resumed her activities. He felt as if he had stepped on a landmine, deciding internally never to mention Sara's burden again. Even if the fate of the universe depended on those words, Prime promised himself he wouldn't give in, under any circumstances.

"Daddy!"

While lost in his thoughts, Prime was interrupted by a soft voice. He turned to find Ema smiling brightly as she ran towards him.

Before Ema reached her father, she noticed someone else with him, Sara to be exact. Seeing Sara, who was fiddling with her phone and eating chips, Ema caught her gaze and Sara turned to ask.

"What is it? Is there something on my face?" Sara asked, raising an eyebrow.

"... My sister told me that eating too much junk food makes people gain weight" Ema said in a cute and innocent manner.

Hearing this, Prime froze in place, questioning why. Why, despite avoiding his previous death, was this happening now? Was the universe conspiring against him? Was there some deity out there playing tricks on him? At that moment, Prime just wished to be attacked again or for some calamity to strike New York.

***

A week had passed since Prime got in touch with Bruce. During that time, Prime tried to act normally, but it was hard to ignore the constant presence of the symbiotic birds now circling New York. The memory of the attack still hung over him, especially since he didn't know who was responsible or what the motive behind the aggression was.

Furthermore, Prime felt a growing unease, especially regarding Ema and Annie. So far, neither of them had manifested their symbionts. Although this could lead him to think he had failed in his plans, Prime quickly dismissed that idea as soon as it arose.

Prime could sense the presence of the two symbionts residing in Annie and Ema. Both were in a latent state, waiting for the right moment to emerge, absorbing everything they could from their hosts before fully manifesting.

Putting that aside, Prime parked his car at one of the airports in New York. Sara was in the vehicle, completely absorbed in her cellphone, immersed in the technological world that had become almost 100% part of her.

The reason Prime was at the airport was simple: today would be the day Bruce would arrive. However, Prime wasn't sure how, but he received a message from Bruce on his cellphone. That was quite strange because no matter how much Prime tried to contact him, there was no response.

Prime simply decided to accept that Bruce had broken his phone. So, receiving an unknown message telling him to meet at such an airport really surprised Prime.

"According to the message, his flight should be arriving any moment now" Prime said, checking his wristwatch.

Shortly after, Prime focused his attention on the sky, and within a few minutes, a plane could be seen approaching. Prime was sure Bruce was inside it. Soon after, the passengers began to disembark one by one. Among them, Prime spotted a familiar face: it was Bruce. Bruce also noticed him and wasted no time in approaching him.

"It's been a while, Mr. Prime" Bruce remarked.

Bruce looked exactly as Prime remembered, although Prime was really wondering why he was dressed like someone who just returned from a long vacation in the Caribbean.

"Indeed, Bruce. You look well" Prime replied, noting Bruce's tired expression. "It's been a few months since we last saw each other. Also, just Prime is fine, no need for the 'mister,' it makes it seem like we're not friends" Prime continued with a wry smile.