Chapter 246: Arresting Banner

(Note: Yo, I know I pretty much just started writing this novel again, but my writing is beginning to get in the way of school, and as much as I like writing, it's merely a hobby; I've got to focus on my future career. However, don't worry; I'm not going on another hiatus, but I will no longer be posting chapters consistently, at least until my semester ends.)

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Watching Mrs. Walters dash up the stairs, I glanced at Banner, who was holding his head in frustration and defeat, probably from what he happened to do while in that transformed state, meaning he remembered what he did.

"That's your cousin?" Asked Tut curiously as he glanced at Banner, who weakly nodded while aggressively rubbing his face before deeply sighing.

"Hmm, yeah, I can see it. A lawyer and a scientist, I know your family is stacked with bread." Muttered Tut lightly as he glanced at the ceiling, looking at Jennifer, who was changing clothes, before staring at Banner.

"What… What happened to me?" Asked Banner softly as he finally raised his head while glancing at Tut, who furrowed his brows before shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't really know; I only arrived after you started rampaging across the military base. But Rick, the kid you managed to save before the Gamma bomb went off, said you were exposed to the explosion, and then a few moments later, you started to transform into, well, whatever you were back there." Replied Tut lightly as he glanced at Banner, who clenched his head while narrowing his eyes in anger.

"That bastard Ross! I told him to delay the explosion! That fucking bastard!" Said Banner furiously as he gnashed his teeth, causing his eyes to glow green while his muscles began to bulge.

Furrowing my brows, I quickly reached forward and patted Banner's shoulder, hoping to calm him down, which succeeded, causing his eyes to return to normal while his muscles shrunk.

'Huh, does the transformation only react when experiencing intense anger? Maybe it's just intense emotions in general? Hmm, too soon to know.' Thought Tut lightly as he glanced at Banner, who was taking deep breaths before closing his eyes and sighing.

"T-Thank you, Blacksteel. I-I can't turn into that… Monster… Not again." Muttered Banner weakly as he raised his head and glanced at Tut, who flashed a smirk while leaning backward.

"No worries. Though to be fair, that transformation doesn't turn you into a monster, just something you've yet to control. If you had truly turned into a monster, you wouldn't have fled; you would've stayed and continued to fight until I knocked you out." Replied Tut as he dismissively waved his hand, while Banner flashed a weak smile before shaking his head.

"Maybe that's what you saw, but what about everyone else? If you hadn't arrived to stop me, I-I would've killed everyone there, and who knows how many more people? I-I'm a monster now, plain and simple." Stated Banner softly as he looked at Tut before sighing in defeat while lifelessly lowering his head.

I couldn't say much as Banner was entirely correct; he probably would've done just as he said if it weren't for me, but that didn't take away the fact that when transformed, he wasn't a monster. Even if diminished, he can still be talked to and reasoned with, though the only problem would be that I'm the only person who could realistically do that job; anyone else would get crushed to bits before they could open their mouth.

"And I feel so angry! I hate it!" Yelled Banner with a sudden outburst of anger as he flipped the small table while breathing heavily.

"Yo, just take deep breaths and calm down, Banner. It looks like the transformation is tied to your emotional state, specifically anger. If you let the anger control you, you'll transform again." Remarked Tut firmly as he gently set the table down while glancing at Banner, whose green eyes ominously glowed.

"A-Anger? I-Is that why I've been feeling angry? I-I guess that would make sense." Asked Banner angrily as he looked at Tut, who lightly nodded before gazing down at his arms, noticing his slowly expanding muscles.

With my help, Banner managed to calm down and return to normal, though he had ripped his clothes a little.

"I-I appreciate your help, Blacksteel, I-I really do, but look at me! I can't even control my emotions! W-What if I suddenly have an outburst in the middle of a city? What then? D-Do you know how much damage I'd cause? How many innocents I'd kill before I'm finally put down? Hundreds? Thouands?" Remarked Banner in defeat with a teary-eyed expression as he tightly held Tut's arm while looking at him.

"More like tens of thousands, Banner; your strength is comparable to the Kryptonians I fought against." Replied Tut lightly as he glanced at Banner, who hysterically laughed before plopping onto the couch.

"I-I can't, Blacksteel. I-I can't live knowing I could just suddenly cause such carnage. I'm a walking disaster." Muttered Banner weakly as he side-glanced Tut, who raised an eyebrow while folding his arms.

"You're not going to kill yourself, are you? If so, I won't allow it; I don't think we've reached that stage just yet." Remarked Tut firmly as he looked at Banner, who gently shook his head.

"No. I-I'll turn myself in. General Ross should be able to contain me in case I ever have an outbreak." Said Banner softly with a wry expression as he gazed down at his hands before leaning backwards while Tut frowned.

"You're going to willingly turn yourself into Ross? That dumb ass? That doesn't sound like a good idea." "Heh, maybe not, but it's better than the possible alternative." Remarked Tut and Banner, respectively, as the former shook his head while the latter sighed before gently nodding.

Sitting back on the couch, I silently gazed at Banner before shifting my focus to his cousin as she emerged from behind the wall wearing an all-black suit and high heels with her black hair tied into a bun.

'Now that's a professional woman.' Mused Tut lightly as he looked at Jennifer before nodding in respect while she cleared her throat.

"Can I get you two anything? Bruce? Blacksteel?" Asked Jennifer calmly as she walked into the kitchen, glancing between Tut and Banner while opening the fridge.

"Nah, no thanks." Replied Tut with a faint smile as he glanced at Jennifer while Banner remained silent, too absorbed with himself.

Watching Jennifer exit the kitchen with three drinks, I blankly looked at her before shrugging my arms and taking a cup, only for her to awkwardly stand near me.

"Yes?" Asked Tut curiously with a raised eyebrow as he looked at Jennifer, who faintly blushed while holding her phone, causing him to nod.

"C-Could I get a picture?" Asked Jennifer in slight embarrassment as she looked at Tut, who nodded in agreement, causing her to sit near him.

When we had to lean far back from the camera since Jennifer was a bit shy to get all up on me, though it was just a minor inconvenience, and once the picture was taken, she looked at her phone for a little bit before raising her head and looked at Banner.

"Bruce, are you okay?" Asked Jennifer with furrowed brows as she looked at Banner, who seemed stressed out, before approaching him.

"Um, no, he's far from okay. He's gotten into some serious shit; the police, or probably the military, will come here to capture him. As a matter of fact, they're already in the process of sneakily evacuating this neighborhood and should be knocking on this door in maybe half an hour." Replied Tut lightly with a shake of his head as he folded his arms and stood up, glancing between Banner and Jennifer before turning around and gazing through several houses.

"Eh, t-the hell did you, Bruce? You didn't break Ross's daughter's heart, did you? I told you it wouldn't be wise to date her." Remarked Jennifer with a frown as she looked at Banner with an unsightly expression.

Appearing behind the couch, I leaned forward and whispered into Jennifer's ear, telling her to comfort Banner instead, as that was the sole reason we came here since I hoped the love from someone close to him would help him.

After I said my words, Jennifer cradled Banner and started comforting him like a mother comforting her child. While I wasn't all that proud of my intelligence like Stark and Reed were, I couldn't help but praise myself.

'Heh, I'm a fucking genius.' Mused Tut with a faint smirk as he raised his head, only sit back down.

Anyway, while Jennifer comforted Bruce, I remained behind in case Banner snapped and transformed or if he decided to change his mind and didn't want to go with the military. To be honest, I didn't want him to go anywhere, but that was his decision to make, not mine, so while I could force him, it wasn't my place to do so.

Around forty minutes later, even Banner and Jennifer could hear the noises from outside: the various military vehicles, tanks, and helicopters. All of them were too loud to remain hidden as they surrounded Jennifer's house, and now it was only a matter of time until they made their move.

However, the first one to move was Banner, who stood up, exiting Jennifer's embrace while slowly approaching the door in defeat.

"Thanks, Blacksteel. You as well, Jennifer." Said Banner softly as he flashed a forced smile before suddenly opening the door, prompting numerous weapons to be pointed at him while he raised his arms.

"B-Blacksteel, w-what's happening? I-Is Bruce going to be okay?" Asked Jennifer in fear and confusion as she looked out the window while Tut folded his arms.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you about it just after this is over." Replied Tut with a nod as he glanced at Jennifer while looking through the wall, watching as Banner was arrested.