The moment of tension passed in an instant.
That intense, animal-like awareness Daniel had just felt? Gone—like it was never there. He blinked, scanning the campus.
Next to him, Betty Ross frowned and leaned closer. "I could've sworn I just saw someone I knew."
Daniel followed her gaze back to the tree. Only a few gold leaves drifted to the ground now—no sign of anyone hiding there. But Daniel trusted his senses, which reached beyond what any normal person could see.
Down at the end of the walkway, just beyond the nearest building, a man was slipping away—moving quickly, blending in with the rest of the city. Ordinary eyes would miss him, but Daniel sensed a deep, raw anger under the skin; an old, simmering chaos. It was clear: Dr. Bruce Banner—better known as the Hulk—was here, keeping his distance.
For years, Banner had stayed hidden from Betty, from the military, even from S.H.I.E.L.D. Yet now, he'd shown up on campus, steps from the woman who'd forgotten him completely.
Daniel let out a quiet sigh.
This was just the beginning.
He knew that, in this world, Banner had lost his last real anchor—Betty—and instead might someday find understanding only with Natasha Romanoff. But history wasn't fixed. There was always the chance of a new future.
He put on a relaxed face, steering Betty away from the tension. "Let's go get that cake you promised," he said with a smile, keeping any worry out of his tone.
Betty hesitated, glancing back at the old tree with a flicker of uncertainty before catching up to Daniel. His presence always made things feel lighter, somehow. When he tossed out a quick, silly joke—something about dwarves refusing to do their own laundry—she laughed, feeling her tension melt away. Whatever had been bothering him seemed far off, lost in the morning breeze.
She walked a little closer. Curiosity bubbled up again and she couldn't help herself. "So… that thing you did earlier—was that real magic?" Her questions tumbled out. "Do you actually know spells? What's it really like?"
Daniel smiled gently.
'Keep it light,' he thought. 'No need to overwhelm her with truths she couldn't—or shouldn't—handle just yet. '
"Magic's… complicated," he said, choosing his words. "Imagine a universe with Nine Realms, all hidden in plain sight. Some are worlds of endless fire, some are eternal winter. Elves, dwarves, giants, gods—they're real. Just, you know, very far from here."
Betty's eyes widened in delight, like a child listening to a bedtime story. "That's incredible. It sounds like something out of a novel. Are you saying there are actual giants somewhere?"
Daniel chuckled, but the laughter didn't quite reach his eyes. 'She thinks it's all fairy tales. Safer that way, I suppose. If she'd read the right stories—or dug deeper—maybe she'd realize how much I'm not saying.'
They reached Stanley's Cake Shop at last.
Betty led the way inside, calling out, "Hey Stan! Got a new customer for you—I expect a discount!" A white-haired man behind the counter looked up, but his kind smile faded as he spotted Daniel. Stan's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms, sizing up the newcomer.
"This your new boyfriend?" Stan grunted. "Gonna introduce him, or do I have to guess?"
"What?!", Betty blushed as she glanced at Daniel, and replied, "Not boyfriend."
Daniel managed a polite nod. He could tell Stan was no average baker. "Daniel van der Berg," he said. "Nice to meet you."
Stan barely nodded, his tone chilly. "We're out of the favorites today. You'll have to settle for Italian strawberry."
Betty grinned. "Doesn't matter, it's all good."
Stan ducked into the kitchen, muttering—but not just about the cake.
Then it happened. The back door swung open. A man in a delivery uniform leaned out—Bruce Banner.
He froze the moment he saw Betty.
Betty stared back.
It wasn't his face that sparked her memory—her amnesia had always blocked that out. But the voice, the posture, the smell of flour and grease on his jacket—something inside her mind snapped free.
Everything returned at once. Memories of Bruce. Their love, their pain, the disaster that changed everything. The chaos, the blood. The monster.
Betty staggered, speechless. Then she turned and ran, tears streaming.
Daniel let out a breath, glancing at Stan.
"Guess you knew this would happen," he murmured.
Stan shrugged, silent. Maybe he'd been hoping for a reunion. But it was too late now.
Daniel hurried out the back door after Betty. He found her shaking in the alley. Banner was already gone—he'd vanished into the city.
Betty saw Daniel and straightened, her face hard.
"You knew, didn't you?" Her voice was icy. "You knew I lost my memory."
Daniel stopped a safe distance away. "It seems everything's come back."
"Answer me!"
He nodded. "I suspected," he admitted. "At first, I thought your name was just a coincidence. But after seeing that photo of you and General Ross, I realized who you were—and that you'd forgotten Bruce Banner."
Betty's voice shook, tears in her eyes. "You could've told me."
"It's not that simple," Daniel said gently. "Your memory loss protected you from trauma. Bringing those memories back too quickly could've hurt you—maybe even damaged you permanently."
Betty froze, pain flickering across her face. She remembered now: Bruce's transformation, the chaos, her father's wounds, her own injuries. She'd been in a coma after that day, and when she woke up, all memories of Bruce had been gone. Her father and a psychiatrist had spent years making sure her old memories stayed buried.
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Why didn't you help me remember… the right way?"
Daniel was quiet. "We barely know each other. I couldn't risk making things worse. And now, everything's come back at once." He gave her a serious look. "Massive shocks like this can cause long-term damage. You could lose even more. Or worse."
But Betty was done listening. "I need to find Bruce. Now."
Daniel nodded. "Then go—Stan is the only one who knows where he is. But you'll need to be quick."
"Why?"
He met her eyes. "Because your father's men have been keeping tabs on you for two days. If you want to reach Bruce first, you'd better move."
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