Chương 8: Matrix?

"Send him to me," Thor spoke out, his frown deepening every five seconds.

"Banner, you know he's too dangerous to be kept alive," Thor told me as he got closer. "He took everything from me, I swear to Odin, I will kill that purple bastard." I chuckled nervously as I looked at the Stormbreaker moving slightly.

"I completely understand, I mean, Thanos? He's a b****." I told him.

"Banner, you don't understand. He destroyed my home, my people. He deserves to die."

"I agree with you! Come on, kill that guy, I'm just a bit unfamiliar with all the killings, alright? I've been going through some things lately, y'know?" I heard Hulk chuckle from the back of my mind.

"Then stay out of my way, Banner. If you cannot wield the rage he deserves, let me do what must be done."

I raised my hands in resignation, backing up a step. "Hey, no arguments here, big guy. I'm just saying—let's make sure we're all, uh, calibrated before we go full 'Asgardian justice' on him." F*** me, I'm going sciency.

"Calibrated?" he repeated. "This is not science, Banner. This is vengeance. Justice for the blood spilled by his hands. Do not dare stand between me and my duty."

Hulk's voice rang in my head. "Puny new man scared. Let Thor smash. Hulk smash too."

"Strange said the bindings would hold, he's got him locked in some interdimensional magic thing, right? So, technically, we're not walking into a trap." I told as Strange prepared to open a portal to Titan as he already picturised Titan.

"This portal will take us directly to Titan," Strange said, his voice steady despite the strain visible in his expression. "Thanos is confined in an astral binding. He cannot move, but his mind is sharp and dangerous. Be vigilant."

"Yeah, great," I interjected nervously, my eyes darting between Thor and the portal. "But maybe—just throwing this out there—we approach with a tiny bit of caution? Like, a sprinkle of it? You know, in case he's got some... unexpected surprise waiting?"

"Puny new man talk too much. Let Hulk go. Hulk smash purple man."

As we stepped out of the portal and approached, I saw him. Thanos, kneeling in the golden runes.

"Thor," Thanos muttered. "You've come to kill me, I assume."

"And what will that accomplish? Will it bring back your people? Your home?"

"This is not for comfort`," Thor said. "This is for justice. For every soul you've taken."

Without another word, Thor raised Stormbreaker. He swung it down with all his strength, and the cage cracked.

Thor didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, gripping Thanos by the throat and lifting him effortlessly. The Titan struggled, and before Thanos could speak another word, the axe buried itself into his chest.

Thor pulled Stormbreaker back, this time, he aimed for Thanos' neck, severing the Titan's head.

Blood splattered across the ground. "Loki..." Thor muttered, tears threatening to fall out of his eyes.

I stood frozen, my stomach churning. "Well," I muttered, "that's... one way to handle it."

Thor turned to me. "It is done."

Hulk's tried to take control for some reason. "New man, Hulk say something to Thor." He requested me.

I let him take control as he transformed. "THOR SMASH GOOD! HULK APPROVE!" He laughed out as lifted Thor into the air.

"Hulk, put me down before I drop Stormbreaker on your head," Thor said, though the amusement in his voice was undeniable.

"Hulk smash. Thor smash too. Good team."

Hulk chuckled, slapping Thor lightly on the back—hard enough to send him stumbling a bit. "Thor tough. Hulk tough too."

Hulk crossed his arms. "Hulk smash. No more purple man."

Hulk's laugh rang out again. "Food? Hulk like food. New g-Banner like food too."

"Aye, food sounds like a good idea. We have much to celebrate, and I believe a feast is in order."

Hulk nodded enthusiastically. "HULK LIKE FEAST. LOTS OF FOOD. BIG FOOD."

I took control again, feeling the transformation back into Banner. "A feast sounds great." For some reason, I don't feel anything. I don't feel remorse, I don't miss my old life, obviously, but I don't miss my family, that is weird, right?

I stare at the ground, feeling the emptiness spreading through me. I can't remember what it was like to feel… anything. It's like there's a wall inside me that blocks everything out, like the part of me that should care about the past, about the people I've lost, is just… gone.

I should feel something, right? Guilt. Pain. Regret. But it's like those emotions are locked behind a door I can't open. I can think about my family, but there's no ache in my chest, no real longing. It's like their faces are just pictures in my mind, faded and distant.

What's wrong with me? Why don't I care?

I try to remember my old life—my home, the people I loved. But none of it seems real. I shook my head, also shaking off these thoughts in the process. I'm probably overthinking.

"Get it together, Banner," I mutter to myself, shaking my head. My own voice feels foreign like it's coming from a place that isn't mine. Wait, Banner?

"Maybe I'm just numb," I think aloud, but even that thought doesn't feel like mine. It's like someone else planted it in my head. Shit, is this the matrix like that Andrew Tate guy told?

Doctor Strange opened up a portal to Earth, the orange sparks lighting up the evening.

"Banner?" Thor's voice cuts through my internal breakdown. I look up at him, his face more concerned than I've ever seen. "You alright?"

I should say something, anything. But instead, I just give him a shrug and a smile. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

"Banner, if you're not alright, you know you can talk to me. We're family, aren't we?" Thor

I smiled again. "Yeah, sure. Just… a little tired. This whole saving the universe thing gets to a guy after a while, you know?"

"Hulk say new man weak. New man needs food. Hulk like food, yes?"

"Yeah, yeah, Hulk. I heard you the first time."

"Come on," Thor said, clapping me on the back a little too hard, "Let's go get something to eat. We'll all have a good time. After everything we've been through, a feast is exactly what we need."

Yeah, that's enough, probably too much mental breakdown for people to read, am I right?

"So, Thor," I said. "I gotta ask. Was it really worth it? Killing Thanos, I mean. Does it feel… like justice or just plain old revenge?"

Thor looked at me. "It is not the kind of justice that brings peace," he admitted. "But it was necessary. He hurt too many people. I could never let him walk free."

"Yeah, you're right." I put my thumb up to let him know I agree.

"WELL, are you both gentlemen done?" Strange called out. We both turned to him, who was standing beside the portal.

I gave Thor a quick nod. "Yeah, I get it. Thanos had to go."

"I did what I had to do, Banner. It doesn't bring my people back, but it's one less thing I have to carry."

"Hulk hungry! Hulk ready to eat now!"

Strange, who had been quietly observing, waved us over with an impatient sigh. "Come on, you two."

We stepped through the portal, and instantly found ourselves back on Earth. Tony, who had been waiting for us, smiled as we reunited. Meanwhile, T'Challa's flying vehicle landed nearby, suggesting the others had indeed gone to visit their loved ones. "It's been far too long since we've all been together," Tony said. "How about we grab some dinner at that shawarma joint I'm always raving about?" We nodded.

"Hey Tony, how are things with Steve?" I asked him, though I knew the answer. We needed to reconcile with him, especially since the next avengers movie has been announced, who knows, maybe it got hastened because of this deviance.

"Steve... I haven't exactly been in terms with him, we got into a fight two years ago, a big fight, you weren't there, the avengers split up. Bunch of bullshit. I met him at Wakanda, during the battle but couldn't bring myself to speak with him." he explained.

"Yeah, I heard bits and pieces about it," I said. "But, uh, maybe it's time you two work it out. The world keeps throwing us hardships, and it'd be easier if we were all on the same team, right?"

Tony sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know. But it's not that simple, Banner. A lot happened, and you know Steve—he's stubborn as hell."

"I get it," I said, giving him a sympathetic nod. "But after everything we've gone through, I think it's worth trying to fix things. For the team, for the future."

Thor slapped Tony on the back, making him stumble slightly. "Banner speaks the truth. We fought side by side, through the darkest times. Maybe it's time for healing."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Tony muttered, though he seemed to appreciate the support. "Let's just get some food first. No more heavy stuff for now."

Tony, considering the suggestion, nodded slowly. "You're right, Banner. Let's get some food first and then talk things over."

We walked towards the shawarma joint. The three of us, ordered our meals and sat down at a table.

Tony decided to break the ice. "So, remember that time we fought Ultron and I accidentally destroyed half of Sokovia?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I remember, that's when I flew the f*** away from this galaxy." I joked again.