At the moment the airplane touched down, the windbreakers instantly deployed, and the speeding plane visibly slowed down.
The cabin door opened.
At the private airport, leaning against a sky-blue sports car while waiting, Natasha Romanoff, dressed in a form-fitting tactical suit that accentuated her curves, looked at the person appearing at the cabin door holding a travel bag and immediately smiled and walked over to greet him.
"Bruce."
"Natasha."
Bruce Banner disembarked from the plane and embraced Natasha like friends.
Having gone through the Battle of New York, the Avengers were now true friends in every sense.
"Tony is missing?"
"Yes."
After starting the car and leaving the airport, Natasha said to Bruce Banner, who was sitting in the passenger seat: "Latest intel, not only Tony but also Pepper Potts is missing."
Upon hearing this, Bruce inhaled sharply.
"Mandarin?"
"Based on current clues, yes."
Natasha shook her head and said, "But there are differing opinions within the agency on whether it's really the Mandarin."
Bruce frowned and then became a bit curious.
"What about the others, what about Steve?"
"He went to the UK, you know, Ms. Carter is in London."
"Thor? Didn't he say he was going to find Jane?"
"He hasn't returned yet."
"Hawkeye?"
"He's on a mission in Europe, can't get away at the moment."
"..."
Goodness.
Seems like I'm the only one available.
Bruce Banner listened to the movements of the other Avengers, sighed inwardly, then showed a wry smile and looked at Natasha: "But I promised Betty, you know, this is my last chance to make amends with Betty."
After actively transforming during the Battle of New York, he seemed to have found the key to transforming into the Hulk.
Simply put.
After experiencing the Battle of New York, he seemed to have found a balance between himself and the Hulk, and as long as he maintained this balance, he could control his transformation pace very well.
Of course.
He can control himself before transforming, but after transforming, he still can't control it.
The Hulk is too fierce.
But that's not important. What's important is that after discovering he could seemingly control it, Bruce attempted to win back his ex-girlfriend Betty's heart.
Also because of the Battle of New York, he maintained peace on Earth very well, so the president pardoned all his crimes, and because he joined S.H.I.E.L.D., with five benefactors backing him, this is why he dared to contact Betty, unafraid of being caught for experiments by that terrifying ex-father-in-law.
This year's Christmas holiday is an important occasion for him to mend his relationship with Betty.
Looking at Bruce's wry smile, Natasha quickly said: "We've detected some unknown energy at the battle site, you're an expert in the energy field, plus, this won't take much of your time, we've roughly located Tony's position."
Bruce's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
"Where?"
"Rose Mountain, Tennessee."
"Tennesse..."
Bruce paused briefly and looked at Natasha: "Then why not go straight to Tennessee?"
Natasha chuckled, pointing to the travel bag on Bruce's lap: "I thought, you might have brought gifts, and you'd want to drop them off at you and Betty's holiday cottage first. After all, if you fly over and they get damaged or lost, you'd probably feel terrible."
This reason...
Bruce Banner considered for a moment, nodded, and looked at Natasha: "That's a solid reason, so we drop things at Calver Lake first, then head to Tennessee?"
Natasha nodded.
"Yes, how's my plan?"
"It's good, perfect, thank you."
"No need to thank me."
Natasha said with a smile.
From the private airport to the cottage by Calver Lake that Bruce and Betty booked is only a thirty-kilometer journey.
It's well-known that Natasha's driving skills are excellent, plus it's a sports car, so the thirty-kilometer road took only a moment to reach.
With the sports car engine shutting down came the consecutive sounds of the doors opening.
Natasha, stepping out from the driver's door, removed her sunglasses, scanning the scenic surroundings by the mountains and water, particularly where Calver Lake sparkled under the afternoon sun, couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"It's beautiful here. Did you find it, or did Betty?"
"Betty."
Bruce, carrying a travel bag from the passenger seat, let out a bashful chuckle: "I do know quite a few nice places in Bharat, but Betty didn't want to go there, and she doesn't have a good impression of Bharat."
Heh.
Not just Betty, to be precise, few women would have a good impression of Bharat.
After all...
It's a magical land where even lizards would cover their behinds before daring to visit.
Natasha thought to herself but didn't continue this topic, instead said to Bruce: "I'll wait for you outside."
Bruce nodded, not saying more, carrying the travel bag, and walked to the holiday cottage not far away to put away his luggage first.
Meanwhile, Natasha, after seeing Bruce input the code and enter the cottage, prepared to return to the car to wait until Bruce finished dropping off his luggage so they could head to the airport and then travel to Tennessee to find their fellow Avenger, Iron Man Tony Stark.
But...
Just as Natasha was about to get back into the car, out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed a young man walking toward them from a distance.
It looked like he was heading straight for them.
The newcomer was Hawk.
He had promised to bring Gwen over but hadn't agreed to bring her directly to the scene, so he left Gwen in a safe spot where she could see this place, then came over by himself.
Hawk initially thought Bruce Banner came here by himself.
Who would have thought...
The Black Widow was here too.
As Hawk met Natasha's gaze, he thought to himself and stepped in front of her.
Natasha frowned as she watched Hawk approach.
"You are..."
"I'm looking for Bruce Banner."
"..."
Natasha's eyes narrowed slightly: "Who are you, and how do you know Bruce Banner is here?"
As she spoke, Natasha had already cautiously placed her right hand on her waist.
Hawk glanced at Natasha's defensive gesture but paid it no mind.
Because Bruce Banner had finished putting away his belongings and came out from inside.
Seeing Natasha on high alert with her hand on her waist and the young man standing in front of her smiling, Bruce was amazed.
Then Hawk looked at Bruce Banner, who had come out, and his smile grew more cheerful.
"Bruce Banner?"
"I am, and you are..."
"Hawk!"
"Anya's brother!"
"..."