The absent wringing of his hands stops, and Bruce goes suddenly and utterly still. He hardly hears the last half of what Simmons has said from the rush of his pulse loud in his ears, and for a moment he forgets to breathe. He ought to be overjoyed to hear that Coulson is alive, but instead, all he can think is how Fury had manipulated them all, manipulated him in ways which were unconscionable. As if they were somehow incapable of finding the proper motivation to save the planet from annihilation.

Abruptly, he lets out a breath, and while his mouth was twisted into a grimace of distaste, his posture has relaxed again. It isn't Simmons' fault; he understands well enough that she, too, is discovering her role as a cog in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s machine.

"Maybe it's better that you're here," he says.