CHAPTER 1

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except my own.

CHAPTER 1 Hulk

Do they always have to get into fights? Couldn't they just sit back for a month or two and relax? But noooo… 'There is a need for safety and we invented a thing to solve the problem.' And then there's this robot that feels self-righteous just because his data analysed Midgard and decided they are a threat on themselves. Well, no kidding! Surprise of the century.

Hel stretched her back as she watched the souls rushing around her in their turmoil. Well, not souls yet. At the moment it was a mass of panicking mortals. Nothing the young goddess was utterly fond of. It only taints their souls. They're going to be skittish like a young colt.

She shook her head, turning to watch the Avengers trying their best to save all the innocent citizens of Sokovia. Right from the moment Hel had felt compelled to come to this place she had known it was a futile attempt. Not many, not enough would survive the attack of the killer robots. Even, if Ultron originally had had good intentions.

"This is one hell of a mess," she muttered to herself and whirled out of the way of running passengers of the airborne city. "And not the good kind of mess. Even though I am bound to get a good handful of new subjects. No Valkyries showed up until now."

Hel dove into the shadows of a crumbled building, using it to shield her from view, as she took away her invisibility. Not for any particular reason other than she felt like it. If any of the Avengers just happened to notice me that might be nice, but not needed. I bet Steven is still grumpy about me keeping his best friend a safe distance away from him. Even, if it is the best at the moment. Neither their souls can handle this kind of emotional baggage at the moment.

The city sagged under her feet. Cries got louder; Hel noticed strong currents of energy unleashing. So Stark did have a plan to get the city down without too many casualties.She peered into the sky with narrowed eyes. The helicarrier hovered in the same place as before. Whoever was still in the city, was lost. Her senses detected the Man of Iron beneath the city, her uncle in the centre where lightning struck relentlessly. Two other souls were just leaving the city. Another newbie. Another fly to catch. Interesting.

Something caught her eye. While the helicarrier stayed locked in mid-air, one of the quinjets chased overhead. Too high to be of any assistance. Not towards the helicarrier either. Just out, as if ready to go into space. That didn't look like part of the plan. Not even in a badly thought through performance of one Steven Grant Rogers or Anthony Edward Stark. That was someone improvising without any knowledge for subtlety.

Immediately, Hel's interest was piqued. A small smile played across her lips, as the young woman decided to investigate the strange behaviour of this flying object. Without dilly-dallying around, Hel opened one of her portals. It led her right into the interior of the quinjet – and to the Hulk. Hel stopped short. She remembered her father's tales about this particular individual's strength.

"Hulk?" she carefully asked. The green giant turned around to look at her. There was such sadness in his eyes; Hel could almost feel it choke her. "What's the matter, big guy?" she knew Tony addressed him as such; so maybe it would convince him she was friendly.

"Hulk leave," the green man said. "Hulk not wanted here." He vaguely gestured at the rapidly shrinking surface of Earth beneath them. Something in his demeanour told her that something else was bothering him as well. "Hulk not wanted anywhere. No one likes Hulk. Only use Hulk."

Hel tilted her head slightly. "They don't like me either. I don't let that stop me."

"Little God right. But Hulk don't want to anymore." He turned away from her, sitting with crossed legs, hands resting in his lap and staring at the sky in front of him. He's accepting his fate of almost certain death just to cleanse Midgard of what he deems is his cursed presence. Hel's eyes widened. But I promised Doctor Banner to keep trying. I was sure… No. This cannot be the end of his journey. Out there is some godforsaken planet that would love this green giant and welcome him into their middle with open arms.

"Hulk?" Hel stepped closer to him, purposefully making sounds to allow him to judge her distance. "Would you allow me to bring you to a safe place to stay outside of Midgard?" She kept her face calm and slightly inviting as the mutant turned towards her. His eyes predictably searched her face for some kind of clue. Maybe to assure some rational part of him that this was someone he could trust. "I told you to keep trying," Hel said. "And I keep my promises."

Hulk considered her for some time. So much time in fact that Hel feared he might just decide to die and go to Valhalla as one of Odin's prized treasures. Yeah, as if that's going to happen. You belong to my collection. And your time hasn't come. Hel got down on her knees in front of him, effectively mirroring his posture, looking at him with honest eyes.

"Do you trust me?"

The green man looked at her outstretched hand as if it brought up another memory. He recoiled slightly. "Little God not good," Hulk mumbled. "Puny God father. Puny God bad."

"But I'm not my father. I am my own person. And I want to help you, Hulk. You are important and don't deserve to die." Hel forced herself to keep her voice smooth, coaxing. As if speaking with a frightened soul – which Hulk somehow was, if you looked at it from the right angle. Not even his other half liked him all that much.

So, Hel turned her hand around as if wanting to initiate a handshake. The notion of placing his hand on hers obviously didn't appeal to him so this was the first alternative that came to her mind.

"Do you trust me?"

Hulk looked between her face and her hand. Finally, he very gingerly grabbed her hand in a loose handshake. "Hulk trusts Little God. Bring Hulk away."

Hel nodded her consent, reciprocating the tender pressure of their handshake. Even though Hulk might not be aware of it, he had just made a deal with the goddess of death and she always kept her promises. So Hel carefully manoeuvred herself in front of Hulk, tapping across the control panel. But since nothing worked too smoothly, she snapped her fingers and let her green little friends do the work for her.

"Don't worry, Hulk. I promise to bring you to a place that likes you and you will like as well. You'll never have to keep up with the ignorance of mortals again."

He blinked at her slowly, obviously confused, but Hel didn't feel like explaining it any further. She gave the giant a gentle smile. "I wish you happiness." Then she opened a portal in front of the quinjet to bring Hulk safely to his destination – wherever exactly that was. Another portal opened under her feet. The young goddess waved one last time at the still crouching Hulk with the sad eyes and fell out of existence.