Meanwhile, at Kamar-Taj, Strange watched over the comatose Banner under layers of protection. In reality, at this very moment, Banner was communicating with the Hulk. Strange did not intervene, nor did he intend to.
To buy more time, Kamar-Taj was prepared to expose itself to Kang, luring him into attacking the sanctuary with the Cosmic Cube. This window would give Spider-Man and the others time to gather their forces, collect intelligence, and find a way to defeat Kang.
There were approximately 72 hours. From the moment Kamar-Taj was exposed to the point where it could no longer hold out against the power of the Cosmic Cube, there were at most 72 hours—and that was an optimistic estimate.
On the other side, the Hulk and Banner were arguing; the confrontation had reached a fever pitch.
"Don't you get it? They don't need me! It's you they need! Why else would that skeleton come looking for you?"
This time, Banner showed no fear toward the green giant who shared his face. He let out a furious roar: "And so, you're just going to hide in here?! To hell with that!"
"Hulk does not want to fight for Banner!"
"Fight for me? Ha! When have you ever fought for me? Wasn't it always because you wanted to go!"
Within the dreamscape—a vast, boundless void of pure white—Hulk physically ripped a massive slab of stone from the floor and hurled it at Banner. It missed completely.
Banner was at his breaking point.
He had originally thought the Hulk would negotiate terms with him; that the Hulk would save the world, but at a price—a price where Banner would have to leave forever. Banner was prepared for that. But the Hulk's plan was to just quit?
Was something wrong here?
And now, Banner was responsible for the psychological well-being of this three-year-old brat in a giant's body?!
"Listen to me, they need you, Hulk." Banner screamed at the Hulk, his voice nearly giving out. "They need a super-strong, invincible powerhouse who can smash anything in his way! No one wants a Banner who can't even beat a cat, who just sits there doing nothing every time something happens, needing everyone else to protect him! No one needs Banner! They need the Hulk!"
"Don't you understand!"
Banner's answer was another boulder thrown by the Hulk. This time it hit him, but there was no sensation of pain. Banner quickly crawled out from under the rock, only to be met with another.
As if competing to see who could be louder, the Hulk's roar drowned out Banner's.
"NO ONE LIKES HULK!"
Banner was sent flying again, but the Hulk's voice didn't weaken in his ears for a second.
"NO ONE LIKES HULK! THEY LIKE BANNER!"
"They see Hulk and they run! They cry! They are afraid! Stupid old General just wants to take Hulk away and lock him up! Not Banner! Everywhere Banner goes, no one is afraid!"
"HULK IS A MONSTER!"
Crawling out from under the stones once more, Banner saw another rock headed straight for his forehead.
My God, it's never-ending.
Ten minutes later, when everything had finally settled, Banner walked over to where the Hulk lay on the ground. Looking at the Hulk's state, he spoke feebly, "I remember this posture. Every time you're tired after smashing things, you lie like this, close your eyes, and then you change back into me."
"Go away, Banner!"
"Let's... let's just talk, buddy. Sorry. I think those psychologists were right. Split personalities or whatever, at the end of the day, it's still just me... When you come out, I can see you. Can you see me?"
At this point, Banner chuckled. He remembered how the Hulk had ceased his rampage under Betty's soothing touch. Without a doubt, he could. Otherwise, how could Betty have calmed him?
Bruce Banner had always known the Hulk was a part of his inner self; he just hadn't dared to admit it.
"I... I was afraid of you. Not because you're a big, green guy who can smash everything. Sorry, buddy."
Banner took a deep breath and placed his hand on the Hulk's shoulder. "Do you remember? When we were kids. Our father was always drinking. Mom would push us into the room so we wouldn't have to see that damn old man committing domestic violence."
"Sometimes we didn't hide fast enough, and that old bastard would beat us too. Remember?"
"Hulk would smash him!"
"Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking back then. How great it would be if I were strong enough, if I could knock that old bastard down with one punch. Maybe that's when you appeared. A child. A child who wanted to protect his mom and give his bastard father a beating."
"But... I was scared. I was scared that you weren't the part of my body that wanted to be strong enough to protect my mother. I was afraid you were the part of that bastard father—the part that ruins everything, hurts the people around us, and refuses to admit when he's wrong... I was afraid we would become just like that bastard..."
Hearing Banner's sobbing, the Hulk rolled over. Seeing Banner weeping with his face in his hands, the Hulk hesitated for a moment before placing his massive hand on Banner's shoulder.
"Banner will never be like that. Hulk knows."
It took another long while before Banner sniffed, took a deep breath, and composed himself.
"Thanks, buddy." Banner looked up. "Parker said Kang shaped a new world using everyone's wishes. You were out there at the time, but your wish was to never have existed. Why?"
"No one likes Hulk. Hulk knows. Even Banner doesn't like Hulk. Hulk doesn't want to go out anymore."
Banner fell silent for a long time before lifting his head.
"You know what, Hulk? People do like you. I'm not lying to you—the children like you."
"They believe the Incredible Hulk is a hero. That he uses his mighty fists to smash the bad guys and throw them in jail. Not a single child thinks the Hulk is a monster. Not one. Have you ever seen kids like that?"
Hulk remained silent.
"The world out there is a mess right now. Some idiot wants to create a world where children can't find their heroes. They need you, buddy. They need you, not Banner."
The Hulk stayed quiet for several seconds, looking as if he were struggling to find words, like he was trying to concoct an unprecedented, difficult lie.
"Hulk needs Banner."
Banner couldn't help but laugh.
"I need you too, buddy. Do you know what I need you for?"
"What?"
"To use those big fists of yours and give those bad guys a real smashing."
"After all, I don't have fists as big as yours."
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