chapter 11

"I just lost the signal."

"I should've predicted as much." Fury answered.

Harry smiled as he turned down his listening charm's volume, surreptitiously slipping his wand back in his pocket before he sat down. The Muffliato would do its job and conceal conversation in the area, he was sure, even with radio and video broadcasts; it was surprising how often he returned to those spells he'd learned in the Half-Blood Prince's book.

He lazily looked around the cabin he sat in; the small airplane that S.H.I.E.L.D. had arranged for him was not nearly as luxurious as Tony's private one had been, but it was still a lot better than the international jet to Afghanistan. An uncomfortable-looking Banner sat across from him, staring out of his small window, occasionally glancing nervously his way.

Harry reached into his bag, pulling out a pair of small rectangular objects with quite a bit of caution; Banner looked on curiously as he picked one up and wiped dust from its surface. He hadn't thought about trying this in a week; the longest, so far. Harry knew it was probably a lost cause, but he couldn't help it. He glanced at his fellow passenger briefly, but with all the magic that man had already gleaned up close and personal, this wouldn't change much. "Hermione Granger," he proclaimed. There was total silence. Harry sighed and tried again: "Hermione Granger!" After the third time he put the down.

Banner looked mildly confused. "I'm sorry, but what are you doing?"

Harry looked over at Banner with a shrug. "I'm trying to get in touch with some of my friends; I've been trying it for a while. I guess I'm out of range of even one of these."

"You're trying to contact someone… with a mirror?" Banner wondered, perplexed. "Are you trying to figure out who's the fairest in the land?"

Harry stared. "You've seen me stop one of the green guy's punches in mid-air, and it's a mirror that makes you sceptical of my abilities?"

"…It's a mirror," Banner said slowly. "How's something like that supposed to contact someone?"

"Magic," Harry answered dully, Banner rolled his eyes, gazing outside again.

"I don't know how you got me to agree to this, you know," Banner commented, and he sighed. "I shouldn't be here, you must know that. I'd just like to live my life in peace. Going back to the United States is most definitely not a good idea. It's a matter of time before others learn where I am and unlike you, I don't have any wish to reconcile myself with any of these people."

"This isn't just about me," Harry replied. "I'd hoped that a meeting with Fury wouldn't be necessary at all. Unfortunately, things have gotten out of hand. I'll have to find some degree of compromise with them at least, if only so I can live without constantly being hounded again."

Harry frowned, thinking of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s actions in the last few weeks. He'd not taken the organization very seriously since he'd first suspected Natasha's ulterior motives. He had to admit, he still had trouble with really considering them a threat. Fury had concentrated quite a bit of manpower and attention to keep him under surveillance: In the name of international security, he'd become remarkably persistent. S.H.I.E.L.D. had somehow managed to create a mountain out of a molehill and the paranoia ran deep, it seemed. Harry glanced at Banner and felt sorry he'd even brought him to their attention again. His particular ability certainly wouldn't put the organization's mind at ease any more than his magic did.

"I don't have to be there, do I?" Banner asked after a while.

"I'll meet Fury myself, don't worry." Harry said. "I guarantee your safety, for now. We both know that they don't have the ability to contain you. I'm present as well, so they don't have a chance even if they tried it. You might not be used to the idea, but we have some leverage here." Harry smiled widely. "It helps that the whole incident back in Brazil was essentially their fault to begin with; they owe us."

Banner snorted. "You are as much to blame as they are, Harry, if not more so! You, who just decided to go bother a person that even international spy agencies fear to get near.I don't even know who you are, either!" He sighed in exasperation as Harry looked away. "Could you please stop being the mysterious nobody for a minute? You won't tell me anything about what you did back there; stopping the other guy. I need to know what you did so I can find a way to replicate it. You just drop out of the sky one afternoon and wholly destroyed what little stability I had in life. I hope you're proud of yourself!"

"No, just... I'm a bit lost, I guess."

"Being lost in life – that's hardly anything strange," Banner said. "I'd say that you need something new. I don't know what you did before, but I figure you could make a difference." Banner smirked. "You could consider something more honourable than playing around with spy agencies, at least."

Harry didn't answer. He'd been drifting for months now – no real goal, no objective. He didn't really know what he could do that wouldn't bring him right back to the place he'd first left. Inevitably reality conspired to put him back into volatile situations, and just as inevitably, he'd be right in the thick of things, spells flying. Was there anything he could do that wouldn't put him back where he came from, back on the lonely pedestal of the 'hero'?

After a long silence, Banner spoke up again. "… Can you tell me anything?" Harry winced at the slightly desperate tone. "The reason I agreed to go along with this nonsense is that I want answers. You could start to make up for your mistake in including me, at least."

Harry looked outside for a while, and then nodded. "You must understand that I can't tell you everything. I'm not comfortable relating much of my life's story to anyone, as it's irrelevant to the present day." He stared for a minute. "You've doubtlessly already deduced that I'm special. Around here they call me a Superhuman or Metahuman, it seems; that's what I hear from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Director, anyway. I'm sure they call you the same."

"I don't doubt it."

"I was born like that, and didn't know about it for the longest time," Harry continued. "I found about all that stuff in my early teens, and from that point up until a few months ago I lived a, shall we say, sheltered life." He glanced at Banner uncertainly. "There were others; there was a school, too. I spent my teenage years isolated from the world and when that was over, I lived for a long time without really interacting with normal people at all. I suppose that's how I ended up dismissing them as unthreatening."

"There's a community?" Banner asked, sounding mildly hopeful. "Do you suppose they could..."

"I'm the only one," Harry responded shortly. "I left home, if you will, and there's not really a way to get back; not without doing things I'd prefer not to repeat." He gave a friendly smile. "For better or worse, you'll have to make do with me. I'm unique, like you – and the, eh, green thing."

"I call it the other guy," Banner said. "Perhaps I'll tell you that story sometime."

Harry noted that they were crossing over land again. They were getting back over the U.S. "What I did… I don't know how much you saw, but it's part of the … skill set that I have. That last thing I did, I know it counteracted some of the beast's rage. Perhaps its mind, unclouded by that madness, chose to return control to you by itself." Harry rubbed his ribs and winced slightly. Even with a potion or two, it had taken the better part of a night to heal the broken ones, and they were still sore. Luckily he'd managed to avoid very close scrutiny on Banner's part. "I can speculate on whether or not it recognized something in me that made it stop. Perhaps it knew that I wasn't trying to truly harm it, or it simply realized that you and I were not enemies."

"Don't weasel out of it, Harry; whatever you did, it worked." Banner noted. "Even if this is something only you can do, I needthat kind of help. If you can keep him from emerging, then I…" He stopped, breathing in and out calmly. "I can't risk being in public as I am. If something were to happen, if someone were to find me, who knows what I might do? But you… you could stop it. You could calm me down in the same way that you calmed it down."

Harry gave a half-hearted nod, wondering if that would actually work; he tried to ignore the self-recriminations still running around in his mind in favour of good old magical theory. Cheering Charms would probably be more effective on Banner than they were on the Hulk, given that unlike the transformed state, Banner was just a man. Of course, though laughter and cheer were great ways to decrease the beast's mindless rage and allow for some degree of rationality, it wouldn't really remove stress – in a way, it would add its own. He wasn't sure if it would do much of anything to stop the change.

Unfortunately, Harry didn't know any calming spells; generally potions were used for such things since they acted for a longer period of time, and he'd never really had a reason to study alternatives. He suddenly felt very glad he'd taken his spell books along. "I'll have to think about what would work. I suppose as long as you're near me it'd probably be fine, but something more long-term would be better." Harry frowned at the thought; perhaps an enchanted item of clothing would suffice.

"The… flashes," Banner said after a few moments. "Flashes of silver and gold, gouts of flame. That's mostly what I remember. A solid but transparent wall in the middle of the air and invisible swords, as well." He rubbed the back of his head. "The delirium at the end… I admit, I can't remember anything after you hit the other guy with that until you shook me back to attention."

"You've seen more than most – I keep that stuff pretty private for many reasons." Harry sighed. "Not private enough, or I wouldn't even have S.H.I.E.L.D. chasing me down."

"At least you can teleport – I just… wreck things."

"You nearly wrecked me, big guy – you've got nothing to whine about." Harry joked.

Banner smirked, staring outside silently. Harry's mind strayed from the topic of Banner, and back to the uncomfortable realization that he'd likely soon be talking to the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. He could manage little more than general annoyance with the man coupled with mild resentment over what his organization had done in Brazil. He'd been listening in on Fury for days now and what he'd learned hadn't really changed things. S.H.I.E.L.D. was overly interested in too many things that were vaguely considered potentially threatening, and if what they did regarding him was any indication, they weren't subtle about reining in those who strayed from what they considered to be acceptable. On the other hand, Fury had remarkable loyalty to his country and his subordinates, something Harry could understand quite well.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was a liability now, Harry realized. Fury had seen what happened with Banner, including from above, as Harry had deduced from his comments; he knew at least a few of his spells, even if they were perhaps unaware of how he'd achieved their effects. Even if there was no Statute of Secrecy, Harry was uncomfortably aware that such information could get to the wrong Muggles that might try to harm him, and there was clearly the technology to pull something like that off if the green guy was anything to go by. One way or another, he'd have to strike an accord.

Harry looked outside again as the land moved by – it would be probably be less than half an hour until the plane reached the airport. He cancelled the Muffliato with a quick jab from inside his pocket and with a pop the small television embedded in the side suddenly had an image again. Banner gave him a suspicious glance, and Harry smirked.

"An unidentified flying object was spotted in the Los Angeles sky, about half an hour ago. It moved at considerable speed before descending to street level; several eye witnesses report seeing a large metallic shape that resembled a human being which nearly crashed into several cars before taking off again. Amateur recording are forthcoming."

"I wonder if Tony saw this?" Harry wondered as he muted the television and smiled at Banner. "I bet he's already trying to build his own."

"Director."

"Agent Coulson," Fury responded with a nod, coming to a stop as he noticed that the other looked out of sorts.

"Sir – with all due respect, I appreciate that you'd like to take this task personally, but," Coulson hesitated. "Someone who can hold his own against Banner… even if we bring a small army, I don't see how we could ensure your safety. A long-distance conversation would be far wiser."

"Maybe," Fury admitted. "Still, I'm going. The danger you describe is already here; that's the problem with teleporting." Fury sighed. "The meeting's location has already been prepared." He paused for a moment. "This'll be interesting…"

Coulson blinked. "Hmmm?"

"Nothing," Fury answered. "Coulson – please keep an eye on Mr. Stark's latest antics, will you? I've seen the news; I can make some educated guesses."

"Yes, sir." Coulson answered. He paused, curiously glancing at Fury. "What do I say to Agent Romanoff and the other three? Did the Brazilian events count as a victory, or as a failure?"

"I'll get back to you on that."

Standing outside the doors, Harry suddenly felt nervous, but steeled himself. The drive from the airport had been a tense one; the driver hadn't said a word and neither of his passengers had tried to make small-talk. Ten minutes before they were supposed to arrive the windows suddenly went dark, and for a split second, Harry had felt dread creep up on him in the suddenly tiny space; he observed with slight amusement that it'd been years since he'd even really thought about his cupboard under the stairs.

Whatever place they had arrived at then was completely closed off; a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, not the Helicarrier. It was the only compromise that Fury had even considered when Harry had questioned whether the Helicarrier really counted as neutral ground. He wasn't sure if the new location was any better, but at least he could apparate away easily enough.

He walked into the large room at the front of the house with some trepidation; the stately manor room was nicely decorated with floral motifs and one wall was practically entirely covered by windows which gave a grand view of gardens and the great fountain directly behind it; Harry briefly wondered whether or not it was real or just an illusion, before discarding it as irrelevant. Standing before the spectacle, with his back turned, stood Nick Fury, the thin strap of his eye patch visible.

"Mr. Fury," Harry said as he stepped closer. He stared for a few moments at the magnificent sight outside, before focusing on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director, who turned around to meet his gaze. The edge of a bulletproof vest was visible under his all-black attire, and he was wearing the familiar dark cloak he'd worn on the Helicarrier. "We finally meet face to face, then. I'd almost expected that you'd shoot me the moment I walked in the room, honestly."

The tall man glared with his one eye, though he made no move for the clearly visible pistol strapped to his thigh. He merely studied Harry, as if trying to figure out a puzzle. "I'm sure you already know this, but I am Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. I make sure that when we all go to sleep at night, we still wake up in the land of the free." He turned to face Harry with undisguised suspicion. "You… are a mystery. I don't like mysteries."

"I do wonder what you're going to do about it when I don't tell you anything," Harry commented. "You're not really going to get anywhere by trying to intimidate me, you know."

"Nothing that a forty-five calibre injection to the leg won't fix." Fury said grimly. "You've been causing us a lot of trouble, you know that?"

"I try," Harry said with a smile, dropping with a sigh onto one of the soft leather benches that flanked the walls. Fury warily took a seat directly across the table as Harry cleared his throat. "From my perspective, Director, I believe the stir you claim I've caused is one of your own making. I certainly didn't set out to be of particular note. In fact, had you left me alone, there wouldn't even be a mess that needed fixing; I'd probably be trying out China's restaurants. Unfortunately, you had to stick your sizable nose into things."

Fury scoffed. "Much as we'd wish to, we don't have psychics, so we have to go with the available data. S.H.I.E.L.D. has honourable intentions, even when we do covert activities. As our name implies, we are about national security, not attacking people."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "You have been tasking people to follow me since the day I arrived in Afghanistan. I know that for a fact. I tolerated the intrusion, then, and it helped that Natasha's quite fun to be with." He smiled. "S.H.I.E.L.D. forces under your direction were instructed to illegally track and monitor me. That is not something which promotes trust as I had certainly not done anything to warrant such suspicion."

"We cannot let potential enemies run loose with unknown superhuman abilities; who knows what could happen? Natasha was already in Afghanistan when you arrived, which is one reason she accepted the assignment. It was merely surveillance at the time." He stared out the window, looking at the stars slowly becoming visible as dusk settled. "You are not the first exceptionalperson to appear on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar, and others like that have not generally been amenable to working with us. More than a few have had radical ideas about the future of the world, often placing themselves in the role of God-King." Fury grimaced. "It should be obvious that we cannot tolerate such excesses, and that we have to try and nip them in the bud. Travelling to one of the most volatile regions on the planet did nothing to ease our minds about you."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I spent three months in that country, and I didn't even whine about people constantly following me around, let alone attempt to take over the world. Indeed, it wasn't until after your organization decided it was a good idea to infect me with tiny machines here in the States that I became less than perfectly tolerant of your trespasses." Harry turned to Fury with an exasperated expression. "I decided I'd leave a completely honest note in your possession to make it clear that I don't appreciate what you were doing, and you go and grossly misinterpret every word I said! You paranoid M- bastards just went right ahead and sent someone to shoot me!"

"You broke into a secret military installation with top rate security," Fury pointed out. "Honourable or not, that was an illegal act and you can't claim you were unaware. Regardless of your intentions, you must've realized that you weren't making things any better for yourself."

"Yes, yes, remind me of my shortcomings again," Harry mumbled, twitching. "It's been nearly four months now, I'd figure you would've gotten that I'm not evil at some point. You're worse than Mad-Eye, you know that?"

"Who?"

"Mad-Eye. He's like you except whiter, madder and uglier," Harry muttered, grimacing as he thought back to the old Auror – he'd been frequently reminded of his loss during Auror training, when his name came up, a lot. One of the consequences of being a very long-lived and notorious dark wizard fighter. "Now – despite the fact that I have far more to complain about with regards to S.H.I.E.L.D. actions than the other way around, I'd like to know what the hell trying to drug and kidnap me was all about, when a talk like this is exactly what I requested. You weren't aware that there was such a thing as asking nicely? I bet it isn't even in the phrasebook, is it?"

Fury ignored the jibe. "I had planned to have a meeting, eventually, before you chose to infiltrate my Helicarrier. Even if they do not work for us, extraordinary people like you are registered; with the increasing numbers in recent years that fall under that distinction, it has become imperative to do so, and to keep track of their location. Dr. Banner and yourself are two of the most potentially dangerous of such people that we currently have on record – certainly after Brazil's display – and both of you function outside S.H.I.E.L.D. control. In fact, you in particular have a tendency to vanish entirely. That cannot continue."

"So, what, you're going to force me to sit down and sign some papers? " Harry asked glibly. "Are you going to try shooting me again?"

Fury smirked. "No, I'm actually offering you a paying job. Free training. Room, board, food. A career. Travel."

Harry blinked. "What's the catch?"

"The catch," Fury repeated, and he smiled thinly. "Well, you basically do whatever I say for the rest of your life."

"Oh, is that all?" Harry said faintly, shaking his head.

"You'd be joining the single most powerful, most important organization on the planet Earth. What I want is an official agreement to lend your talents to scientific study by S.H.I.E.L.D. researchers." Fury steepled his fingers, gazing in contemplation at Harry. "Would that be acceptable?"

"Hardly," Harry scoffed, standing up and walking to the window. "Some secrets are mine to keep and to share. I doubt that will ever be anyone but my closest friends, and I'm afraid you are not among them. If you wish to force the issue, as you've alluded to, I warn you that I won't take such things lightly. If you wish to know what I can do, you'd better be on your best behaviour from here on." He smirked as Fury narrowed his eye.

"Your abilities are far too valuable not to use, or to risk falling into enemy hands," Fury argued. "S.H.I.E.L.D. needs people like you. You have demonstrated the ability to subdue – "

Harry scowled, cutting Fury off. "That is between Dr. Banner and me, and no concern of yours," Harry said sharply. "He has come with me at my request. I owe him a debt, and I intend to repay it; he is not here to be interrogated by S.H.I.E.L.D. or anyone else. Was it not one of your men that cowardly shot him in the back which led to my interference in the first place?"

"The shooter will be reprimanded for his actions," Fury replied amiably. "It was just one man."

"One man that nearly got his entire team killed by the terror he awakened, and who had to be rescued by an outsider. Hardly a stellar example of S.H.I.E.L.D. competency, I must say." Harry watched as Fury walked up to him, scowling. Harry raised an eyebrow. "You have made it very difficult for me to trust your organization, Director. I wouldn't dream of joining it." He glared at Fury, hesitating for a moment. "Director - if I truly wanted to know if you could be trusted, I have ways to find that out. I may change my mind on using them, if you continue to pursue me."

"Is that a threat?"

"Yes." Harry ignored the man's subtle move for his gun. "A threat for a threat, I'd say. You will continue to hound me, perhaps try to capture me again, merely for the potential military gain of my abilities. You may sugar-coat it, but that is what would happen. You are already aware of some of what I can do - what you would call teleportation, and telekinesis." Harry smirked as Fury narrowed his eyes at hearing his own words parroted back to him. "The only reason I have not used force to determine what you are striving for, is that I find the methods to do so distasteful on many levels. I'm usually very laid-back, but you should be very glad that I am not your enemy."

"Do you expect me to bow to threats or demands?"

Harry shook his head tiredly. "No. I expect you to acknowledge that I am not a criminal for you to persecute, as you seem to have concluded, or a tool to use. If you wish to see me as a potential ally or want me to lend a hand at all – for research or otherwise – then a little respect is not uncalled for. I have not started any violence or conflict against anyone since S.H.I.E.L.D. started tailing me, and I'm not liable to change that. Acknowledge that, at least. I'm not the bloody enemy."

Fury stared for a long moment, nodding reluctantly. "Granted. The fact that you so easily threaten to turn against us is a concern, though. A significant concern."

"Deal with it." Harry frowned. "Now, I am willing to give you, shall we say, a second chance to gain some trust. I'll need some guarantees, though." He waved off Fury's response. "First: Banner is free to go. I will take personal responsibility to get him somewhere safe, from you or anyone. Second: If you request my help with anything, I can refuse. I will not do anything morally reprehensible, no matter how important you Muggles think it might be."

"…Muggles?"

Harry didn't answer the query. "Third…" He paused. "You don't suppose I could hop by the Helicarrier sometime?"

"I don't think I can stop you," Fury answered, scowling fiercely.

"Right – Fourth, about those uniforms of yours…"

"Stop that." he barked. "The only reason that the Army's not currently knocking on our door is that I have chosen to leave Banner out of things. I've omitted any mention of his transport here, and explicitly avoided entangling this any further. You should be grateful!" He scowled darkly. "You must understand, I cannot risk having people like you without supervision; it would ruin the entire purpose of our organization if we did. If you're not joining S.H.I.E.L.D. that leaves only one option that does not include your ass ending in the nearest internment camp under a constant sedative drip."

Harry twitched as the man stepped forward menacingly. "…And that would be?"

"You may think you're hot shit, but I've been in this job for longer than you have been alive, and I'm telling you this: Don't fuck with S.H.I.E.L.D. Since we cannot afford to let you be a loose cannon, it will have to be a case-to-case basis employment. Nothing. Else." Fury shrugged. "It's not a bad deal, all things considered."

Harry grimaced, wondering how he could get around this one without trouble. The look on Fury's face didn't exactly fill him with hope.

Fury frowned impatiently. "Tell me, Harry. If people were in danger, if the world needed your help, and you knew about it - would you be there?"

"Of course." Harry didn't have to think twice.

"Then help us." Fury intoned. "You may disagree with our methods, but I doubt you disagree with our goals. We form the shield between the peaceful nations of the world, and everything else that is out there. If you can find even an ounce of honour in that heart of yours, at least give it a chance."

"Case-by-case, then?" Harry asked , frowning. "I suppose that's something to work from - I will choose if I accept them, correct?"

Fury nodded. "Can I count you in?"

"I'm back," Harry announced, dropping himself like a sack of potatoes onto the couch. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s waiting room was almost as nicely-decorated as the Gryffindor Common Room, and the seats were, if anything, even nicer. Of course, this was just peanuts compared to the bigger stuff like the Helicarrier, which was completely up to date.

"That took a long time," Banner observed, blinking at the black attire Harry was wearing. "Where'd you get the new get-up?"

"Ah, I sort of demanded it," Harry said cheekily. "You know, the old stuff was getting awfully patchy after months in the desert and I hadn't properly washed it in weeks. I figured with all the people running around in uniforms, there had to be something in my size around here."

Banner shook his head. "You're with S.H.I.E.L.D. now, then?"

"Oh, hell no." Harry muttered. "I guess I count as a … sort of consultant. I'm going wherever I want, and if they really need me, they call. They gave me a mobile phone, though I don't know what they hope to accomplish with that. I don't work well with these things." He grimaced. "I gave Fury his own mobile back… figured it'd be an olive branch. I didn't expect it to start emitting sparks or smoke; I think he was attached to the bloody thing by the look I received."

"You blew up his phone?" Banner asked, and he snorted. "That's why you wouldn't show it to me, isn't it?"

"It happens. Anyway, now that I do have a phone, I might as well use it for as long as I can." He pulled out the small black device, wondering how long it'd take before it started going weird. "You know how you need to find a place to stay, right?" Harry inquired. "I can give you a little head-start on that, at least."

"What do you mean?"

"I got them to lay off you, at least, so you should be good as far as S.H.I.E.L.D. is concerned. The Army doesn't know. You need a new identity, though – and I need a few days of uncomplicated rest." He flipped open his phone and quickly tapped in a few buttons. "I'm glad I memorized this one – anyway, I know just the guy. Trust me."

"Wait, you're not calling-"

"Hey to you too, Tony," Harry said and he smirked at Banner, who shook his head and groaned. "Tony? Speak up, I can barely understand you! Are you driving with the top down?"