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[b]Location:[/b] Queens, New York; Avengers Academy [hr]

The Academy's courtyard was a sight to behold; a shockingly pristine lawn of cleanly cut grass, rows of well-trimmed hedges lining the sides of the building, as if forming a plant-based barrier. Beyond that were plenty of benches around the front, for those wishing to spend their off-time relaxing in the sun, soaking in the views of Queens, and then, the crowning jewel of the courtyard. It was a massive statue that showed off many, many different Avengers, from Iron Man to the Hulk and everyone in-between, serving as a monument to the achievements of this monumental team. Below it was a silver plaque that simply read as follows;

[center][i]"It's not about where you were born, or what powers you have, or what you wear in your chest; it's about what you do."[/i][/center]

Professor Hulk was awkwardly seated in one the nearby benches, fidgeting with clear nervous energy unbefitting his stature. Standing beside him was War Machine, who gave a passing glance to the green giant. [color=00aeef]"...You still worried? I think it's a bit late for that."[/color] A heavy sigh was his only answer at first, before Hulk finally spoke. [color=39b54a]"I would be more concerned if I wasn't. There's a lot riding on this; on whether we can really help them become their best selves."[/color] Rhodey was still a bit uncomfortable speaking to such a formal-sounding Hulk, even after all this time. [color=00aeef]"Yeah, I get it. I wanna believe all these kids will get what they need here, but if they don't..."[/color] War Machine left the comment lingering between the both of them. They both knew the answer to that possibility, and it wasn't one they wanted to think about.

Eventually, it was the Professor who broke the silence again, looking at a board that appeared comically small in comparison to his proportions, a smile alighting his face. [color=39b54a]"Well, at the very least, it's a colorful sort. Even the young lady you met signed up, it seems."[/color] Hulk turned, expecting some kind of positive reaction, but was a bit surprised to see that War Machine's idling seemed to gain its own nervous edge at the claim. [color=00aeef]"If I can be real with you, Bann-er, Hulk? That girl makes me nervous. Like a younger Tony."[/color] He had to catch himself mid-sentence; another thing he still hadn't grown fully accustomed to was referring to him as Professor Hulk. It was hard to imagine Bruce and the Hulk finally putting aside their differences, but, well...The proof was in front of him. Speaking of him, he gave a bit of a laugh at the comparison, though it also had a nervous edge to it. [color=39b54a]"Fair enough, but...You ARE the one who brought her on board."[/color] [color=00aeef]"Cause the alternative is her getting nabbed up by A.I.M. and making black hole guns or something."[/color]

That got a good chuckle out of the both of them, before Hulk returned to a stoic, yet notably yet anxious look, casually flipping through the multitude of pages pinned to his board. [color=39b54a]"I've already gotten some calls and e-mails about a good few students who won't be able to make it to this first day. At the very least, it means we'll have a more manageable first day."[/color] Hearing that, War Machine turned directly towards him, and despite his metal face completely lacking in emotions, you could almost feel the glare he was sending. [color=00aeef]"...Hulk, haven't we been around the block enough to know you never say stuff like that? Now I bet there'll be some HYDRA attack or something crazy."[/color] For his part, Hulk merely rolled his eyes. Surely nothing that extreme would happen today. So instead, he eagerly faced the front of the school, its gates open wide for the presumably approaching student body. 

The Professor knew it would difficult for many of them. Sure, there was a guarantee that their personal identities would be kept strictly confidential in the school grounds, but having known more than a few heroes who preferred their secrecy, he understood it would be no small ask of them to be so open. That, and the fact that they'd be living on school grounds; many of them were around high school age, so the concept wouldn't seem too foreign to most of them (assuming they had been planning to go to college, at least), but that would also inevitably bring its own complications, whether it be them clashing against fellow dormmates, or even something as intrinsic as the idea of staying somewhere for so long. Some of these kids certainly hadn't had the best lives before this, but Hulk was confident in making the school a safe place for all of them....

That train of thought was promptly broken by a small explosion on one of the higher levels of the Academy, shattering the glass windows as an obnoxious voice rang out. [color=ed1c24]"Man, who knew making chimichangas with lab equipment could be so hard?!"[/color] Hulk gave a defeated look to War Machine, who merely nodded. [color=00aeef]"...Yeah, I'll get him. Again. How the hell does he keep sneaking in without tripping the security...?"[/color] Now left to his own devices as his fellow Avenger and teacher went to go handle the permanent human barnacle that had attached himself to their estate, Hulk looked on with anticipation. Soon enough, the students would arrive....