Who: Anakin Skywalker and Bruce Banner. Where: The forest. What: An experiment. When: Friday, June 14. Warnings: Low. Status: Closed | Complete.
Anakin was a bit nervous about this encounter with Bruce Banner. He hadn’t had much (if any) experience with what Bruce called the Other Guy, and he wasn’t completely certain if the Force would work on Hulk. But the Jedi mind tricks had worked on the wraiths in New Orleans, so why wouldn’t it work on an angry Hulk? It was definitely worth trying to figure out, something that might prove to be useful down the road.
The two had agreed to do this experiment in the forest, as if it didn’t work, they would be away from the town. Well, as far from the town as they could be. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt, and he was sure that Bruce didn’t, either.
He had brought his lightsaber with him, and he was dressed in his usual Jedi robes. He had opted to leave Artoo at home, as he wasn’t sure how the droid would react to Hulk. Or how Hulk would react to R2D2.
“I suspect the goal of this is to not anger the Other Guy anymore than he already is.”
***
Despite the memories Bruce had of successfully integrating both halves of himself, he was worried that something would happen in Madison Valley that would trigger a resurgence of the Hulk and his alter ego would go on a rampage under the dome. He knew there were several people from home that could handle it if something happened, but he wanted to have backup with someone who wasn’t from their world.
He’d been putting off this practical test for a while, using the excuse of his trip home and then the new memories he and Natasha got. It was time to buckle down though and see if Anakin would be able to take effective action against the Other Guy if it was ever necessary.
“Well, we certainly don’t want him to lose control,” Bruce said. “So I hope that he’ll agree to this experiment.”
***
Anakin understood that things had been rather hectic for Bruce. People from his home were either waking up with new memories or being sent home, only to return again. Bruce included. So Anakin didn’t hold it against the man whatsoever that it had taken the two of them some time for this experiment.
“No, I didn’t think we would want that.” Anakin knew the point of this experiment would be to calm Hulk if something happened. To see if it would even work.
“He nodded in agreement, “I hope he agrees to this experiment as well. It would be beneficial to know what will work, and what won’t.”
***
“From what I’ve gathered, he’s pretty chill now that I’m letting him out on a regular basis,” Bruce said. “And he enjoys meeting new people.” His alter ego was probably a bit more social and outgoing than he was, which was a weird thing to think about.
He sighed and scrubbed his hand through his hair. “Okay, you ready?” he asked, waiting for an affirmative sign from Anakin before taking off his glasses, setting them aside, and closing his eyes so he could focus on his breathing.
A minute or so later, the Hulk emerged and looked down at the man in the robes standing in front of him.
“You Banner friend,” he said. He wasn’t entirely sure that was the case, but it made sense and Hulk was more intelligent than most people gave him credit for.
***
Anakin nodded in response to Bruce’s question. Because he was as ready as he would ever be. He watched the man closely, and took a slight step back when the Hulk emerged. He was bigger than Anakin had been expecting. He offered Hulk a small smile at his words.
“Yes, I’m Bruce’s friend,” he said softly. “I am Anakin Skywalker.” He didn’t know too terribly much about the Hulk, only what Bruce had told him. But he was going to treat him as he would any person. Which included speaking to him as he would any other person.
“May I… may I try using the Force on you?” he asked. Because he wanted Hulk’s permission before he did anything. He didn’t want to anger him.
***
“Force what on Hulk?” he asked, frowning at the question. In his experience, force wasn’t something that a person asked permission to use and he didn’t understand what he was being asked.
The confusion kept him from reacting in a more hostile way. At least for the moment.
***
Of course. Hulk wasn’t familiar with the Force. That made sense. Not everyone was familiar with it, so why would he expect Hulk to be? “The Force…. It is what gives me my power. I am a Jedi.” He wasn’t sure Hulk would know what a Jedi was, if he didn’t know what the Force was. “It allows me to move things without touching them. It allows me to use what is called Jedi mind tricks on people, too. I am able to calm people who are otherwise unable to be calm.”
He didn’t want to make Hulk angry or hostile, and he wasn’t sure if his description of the Force would make him so.
And, as a bit of a demonstration, he extended his hand. Bruce’s glasses, the ones he had removed before becoming Hulk, flew into said hand. “Part of the Force,” he explained.
***
Hulk listened and watched carefully. It didn’t appear that this puny man in a bathrobe wanted to hurt him. Most people weren’t capable of hurting the Hulk though. “Okay,” he said after taking a few moments to consider.
He wasn’t entirely sure what Anakin was going to do, but he was willing to roll with it. For the moment.
***
Anakin did not want to hurt Hulk. He merely wanted to test to see if the Force would work on him. So he was pleased when Hulk agreed to this experiment. That made things a whole lot easier. So he nodded, and smiled slightly at the green form in front of him.
“Okay,” he said softly. He paused for a brief moment, in an attempt to gather his thoughts. Then with a slight wave of his hand, he murmured, “You want to allow Bruce Banner to return. You do not want to cause me any harm.”
And he hoped that would work and not do the opposite of what he wanted.
***
The words washed over the Hulk as he watched Anakin, curious about what was going to happen next.
And then, within moments, he was shrinking and the green was fading rapidly , leaving a confused looking Bruce standing there. “Uh, what happened?” he asked, his eyes darting around to take in the area. It didn’t look like there’d been a rampage or anything.
***
Anakin smiled slightly at Bruce when he reappeared. “I told him that he wanted to let you return to… well, you. I wasn’t sure if it would work, or if it would make him angry with him. But… here you are, and he’s not here anymore.” He handed Bruce the glasses he had in his hand, the ones he had used the Force to bring to him. To show Hulk what the Force could do.
“I had to give him a little demonstration before he agreed to let me try. That’s why I had your glasses.” He was pleased, though, that the Jedi mind tricks had worked on Hulk.
“It’s fine, Bruce. Nothing bad happened.” He had noticed Bruce’s glancing around, as though trying to determine what had happened. “The Jedi mind tricks worked on him.”
***
Bruce put his glasses back on with no small amount of trepidation. It all sounded too easy. “Well, that’s something, at least,” he said. He’d have to let Natasha and Valkyrie know at the very least. Maybe some of the others from home, just in case.
Idly, he wondered if the opposite would work, if Anakin could make him shift into the Hulk. That could potentially be dangerous, especially if he ever ended up becoming Vadar. They’d deal with that if it happened though.
“Thank you,” he said.
***
It had seemed a bit too easy. Anakin had actually been surprised at how easy it had been to get Hulk to change back into Bruce. But he wasn’t sure he was really all that disappointed. At least he knew that it would work, for the next time. In case Hulk came about and wasn’t so agreeable.
And he didn’t want to think about being able to shift Bruce into the Hulk. He knew there was a chance of his turning to the Dark Side here, and that the Hulk would be a very powerful ally if he did turn to the Dark Side. But he had faith that this would not come to be.
“Of course,” he said with a small smile. “Maybe -- perhaps not now -- we can see what else the Force could do with him.”
***
“I think that would be good, yes,” Bruce agreed. He needed to work on better integrating his two halves, though he wasn’t interested in taking on that personal full time. “Thank you for your help.”
***
“Of course, Bruce. I’m glad to help.” He liked being able to help people. Even if people were unwilling to take his help at times, because of who he was to be in his future. “Call me. Or you can contact me over the network. I have plenty of free time at the moment.” Until the baby was born, that was.