Chapter 18: The Candidates

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She grabbed the phone and her heels and started walking out.

Nat: where is Barton now?

Coulson: <phone> we don't know.

Nat: but he's alive?

Coulson; <phone> we think so. I'll brief you on everything when you get back. But first, we need you to talk to the big guy.

Nat; Coulson, you know that Stark trusts me about as fas as he can throw me. Wade doesn't trust me at all.

Coulson: <phone> oh, I've got the Starks and I'll pick up Bobbi. You get the big guy.

Nat realized what he meant as she exclaimed something in Russian.

Kolkata

A little girl was running through the busy streets worried as she ran up the stairs of a house as a man stopped her. Nearby, Bruce Banner was washing his face.

Woman; <Hindi> who are you? Get out! There is sickness here!

Girl: <Hindi> you're a doctor. My father's not waking up! He has a fever and he's moaning but his eyes won't open.

Bruce: <Hindi> slow down.

Girl: <Hindi> my father...

Bruce: <Hindi> like them? <points to some sick boys>

Girl: <holds up money on her hand> please.

Bruce followed the girl to her home as he had his bag with him as he stopped the girl from moving forward as a truck with armed individuals drove past. They went inside as the girl ran to the window and jumped out of it.

Bruce: you should've got paid up front, Banner.

Nat: you know, for a man who's supposed to be avoiding stress, you picked a hell of a place to settle.

Nat came out with a red jacket, a mix between crimson and red dress and she looked very beautiful.

Bruce: avoiding stress isn't the secret. <puts his bag down>

Nat: then what is it? Yoga?

Bruce: you brought me to the edge of the city. Smart. <looks outside> I assume the whole place is surrounded.

Nat: <takes off her jacket> just you and me.

Bruce: and your actress buddy? Is she a spy, too? They start that young?

Nat: I did.

Bruce: who are you?

Nat: Natasha Romanoff.

Bruce; are you here to kill me, Ms Romanoff? Because that's not going to work out for everyone.

Nat: no, of course not. I'm here on behalf of SHIELD.

Bruce: SHIELD. How did they find me?

Nat: we never lost you, Doctor. We've kept our distance. Even helped keep some other interested parties off your scent.

Bruce: why?

Nat; Nick Fury seems to trust you. But now we need you to come in.

Bruce: what if I say no?

Nat: I'll persuade you.

Bruce: and what if the other guy says no?

Nat: you've been more than a year without an incident. I don't think you want to break that streak.

Bruce: well, I don't every time get what I want.

Nat: Doctor, we're facing a potential global catastrophe.

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