Fury's lips curled slightly upward—an expression rarely seen on Nick Fury's face.
Bucky stood beside Steve, listening quietly the entire time.
Once Steve finished speaking, he opened his mouth, his voice raspy but calm.
"Wherever Steve goes, I go."
Steve turned to look at him, his eyes filled with gratitude and an unspoken understanding.
Bucky nodded slightly.
Fury turned to Banner.
Banner leaned against the car door, hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie, his expression complex.
"Director Fury," he said, "I know you mean well, but do you know how many years I've been chased by General Ross?"
Fury nodded: "I know."
Banner continued: "Do you know what I've experienced in those laboratories? Do you know how terrified I am of becoming a weapon in someone else's hands?"
Fury did not interrupt him.
Banner lowered his head, looking at his own hands.
"Hulk... he isn't someone I can fully control. Sometimes he comes out and does things I don't want to do. I'm afraid that one day, he will cause harm to people who shouldn't be hurt."
His voice was very low.
"So, I'm not suited to join any organization. I don't want to become a burden to anyone else."
Silence.
Fury was silent for a moment, then he spoke.
"Dr. Banner, I understand your concerns, but I am not inviting you to become a weapon; I am inviting you to become a companion."
He looked at Banner.
"The Avengers are not an army, nor are they a laboratory; it is a... family, a family made up of freaks, madmen, and people abandoned by the World."
He paused.
"If you are there, you won't be a burden; you will have family."
Banner raised his head, looking at Fury.
In that single eye, there was something Banner rarely saw in the eyes of government officials—sincerity.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, then closed it again.
Tony walked over and patted his shoulder.
"Banner," he said, his tone uncharacteristically serious, "if you're feeling hesitant, you don't need to make a decision right now. Think about it slowly, and let me know when you've decided."
Banner looked at him, was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine. I'll think about it some more."
Fury was not disappointed.
He knew that people like Dr. Banner could not be forced.
Being able to get him to "think about it some more" was already the best possible outcome.
"Good." Fury nodded, "I'll wait for your news."
He turned to Steve and Bucky.
"Tomorrow, I will send someone to pick you up. First, go to headquarters for a simple registration, and then..."
He paused.
"Then, welcome home."
Steve nodded.
Bucky stood beside him, silently watching the distant sea.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long, intertwining them with Steve's, just as they had been seventy years ago when they walked side by side on the streets of Brooklyn.
When the car drove away from Long Island, the sky was already completely dark.
Thor sat in the back row, watching the streetlights rapidly receding outside the window, not knowing what he was thinking about.
Mavuika sat beside him, eyes closed, as if resting.
Tony drove the car, occasionally glancing at the back row through the rearview mirror.
Banner sat in the passenger seat, holding the unfinished bottle of water, also lost in thought.
No one spoke.
The car drove through Queens and entered Manhattan.
The light from the neon signs poured in from outside the window, illuminating the inside of the car with colorful hues.
Thor suddenly spoke.
"Big sister."
Mavuika opened his eyes. "Hm?"
Thor looked at him, his usually grinning face wearing a rare, serious expression.
"That Steve, and that Bucky... are they very powerful?"
Mavuika thought for a moment.
"Steve is a super soldier, his physical fitness far exceeding that of ordinary people. Bucky is too. They have received strict combat training and are very experienced."
Thor nodded.
"Then are they more powerful than those people of Kingpin?"
Mavuika smiled lightly. "Much more powerful than those people."
Thor nodded thoughtfully.
Then he said: "That Fury, he wants to organize them to protect this World."
Mavuika looked at him.
Thor continued: "I think... this is a good idea."
Mavuika raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh?"
Thor scratched his head, as if organizing his words.
"I mean, this World has many dangers. Those mortals, they are very fragile, and they need someone to protect them."
He paused.
"Before, I thought the strong were just the ones who were the strongest, but now I understand, the strong are not the ones who are the strongest, they are the ones who protect others."
He looked at the neon lights outside the window, his eyes bright.
Mavuika looked at him, his lips curling slightly upward.
"You've grown up, Thor."
Thor grinned: "I grew up a long time ago!"
Loki's voice came from the front row, with a hint of lazy amusement: "Before, only your body had grown up, not your brain."
Thor's face turned red: "Shut up!"
Mavuika smiled lightly.
The car stopped downstairs at the apartment building.
Tony did not turn off the engine, just turned to look at Mavuika.
"I won't go up. There's a meeting tomorrow."
Mavuika nodded. "Be careful on the road."
Tony smiled. "When have I ever not been careful?"
Mavuika looked at him, not speaking.
Tony shrugged: "Fine, occasionally not careful. But that was an accident."
He glanced at Thor and Loki in the back row.
"See you next time, two Royal Highnesses."
He stepped on the gas, and the car drove into the night.
Mavuika stood by the side of the road, watching that black Audi disappear around the street corner, then turned and took his two younger brothers upstairs.
The night was already deep.
Thor finished his shower, wearing a pair of big shorts, sitting on the sofa watching TV.
He had already learned how to change channels and was currently clicking his tongue in wonder at an action movie.
Loki sat on the balcony, holding a cup of tea in his hand, quietly watching the night view of Manhattan.
Mavuika was in the kitchen making hot cocoa; this was something Thor had recently become obsessed with, and he had to have a cup every night.
Everything was the same as usual.
Then, a deep, thick, metallic-sounding voice suddenly rang in their ears.
"Prince Thor, Loki."
That was the voice of Heimdall.
The Guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, who possessed eyes that could see through everything in the Nine Realms.
Thor was startled by the sudden sound: "Heimdall? Did Father King let us go back?"
Heimdall was silent for a second.
"His Majesty Odin told me to pass on a message."
His voice became formal, as if reading some kind of decree.
"Thor, Loki, you have been in this World for some time. Thor's trial has been passed, Mjolnir's power has been restored, and it is time to return to Asgard."
Thor's smile froze on his face, and Loki's eyebrows also furrowed slightly.
The living room was quiet for a few seconds.
Then Thor spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of reluctance.
"Heimdall, tell Father King, I... I don't want to go back yet."
Heimdall was silent for a second.
"Prince Thor—"
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