A/N: Uh... Blame Boris... Just a little 3 shot that has been playing around in my head for the last few days.
Warnings: For this chapter.. Swearing, violence, implied m/m feelings.
Running Wild
"Nice place you've got here Doc." The sarcastically amused voice of Jasper Sitwell rang through the quiet lab space.
Across the room Bruce Banner chuckled darkly shifting yet another chunk of debris and eagerly peering at the mess of wires and machinery underneath. He was more than aware of the state the lab was in, it had after all been abandoned for a considerable amount of time and before that it had been subjected to many a barrage from the other guy. To say it was ruined was a vast understatement but there was a treasure trove of equipment hidden in the chaos, equipment Bruce could desperately use and was also extremely reticent to have fall into someone else's hands.
Jasper followed after him a curious look on his face, the physicist was honestly surprised he'd accepted this assignment Sitwell tried to avoid any and all members of the Avengers with and unrelenting fervor and always appeared to be a little standoffish when they did interact. Admittedly that was usually because Tony was being an ass and goading the man but still, his curiosity was piqued.
"I'll be honest Agent Sitwell, I was surprised that you agreed to accompany me here. You tend to avoid any unnecessary interactions with the Avengers."
If the agent was surprised by the statement he didn't let it show, instead he merely cocked an eyebrow and let a smirk slide across his lips.
"It was a slow day, so it was either this or deal with new recruits and I would much rather not take a bullet to the knee today."
Bruce couldn't quite hide his smile at that.
"And besides it's not all of the Avengers that bother me just a few... Certain individuals."
Individual.
Thatwas certainly one way todescribe Tony Stark and Bruce couldn't help but be amused by the fact the agent would rather spend time with him and possibly get smashed by his 'anger management issue' than spend more than five minutes in a room with the billionaire. Seriously SHIELD agents were fucking crazy. Jasper seemed to pick up on the focus of his thoughts and shot him a questioning look and Bruce faked a cough plastering an innocent look on his face.
"Yeah Tony can be a little trying at times..."
Jasper let out an incredulous snort of laughter, shifting some more of the rubble.
"Understatement of the century there Doctor Banner. I honestly have no idea how you put up with the guy."
The physicist merely shrugged demurely, there was no way in hell he was going into his reasons for putting up with Tony's antics. He had enough trouble dealing with them without being thoroughly teased for having the equivalent of a school girl crush and one of the world's most unattainable men. Because that wouldn't be humiliating at all.
"He's really not that bad once you get to know him and well he doesn't single me or the other guy out, treats us like normal people even though we're anything but... It's made him... Hulk kind of fond of Tony, me too I suppose."
Jasper chuckled at that shaking his head in disbelief.
"Not that I'm calling you a liar Doc but I find it hard to believe that Stark has the capability to express a positive human emotion effectively, especially toward another human being."
Bruce stamped out the flare of annoyance he felt from the other guy as quickly as it emerged but he allowed himself a mental sigh. People were as always taking Tony at face value, seeing the egotistical genius billionaire and believing that was all there was to him and while those were part of Tony they weren't everything. The man was multifaceted it's just he kept most of them close to his chest for only his chosen people to see. The physicist considered himself honoured to be considered among them. He was about to set Sitwell straight when a long, low whine ruptured the uncomfortable silence.
Both men froze.
Frantically Bruce's eyes scanned the surroundings, he recognized that whine and knew that it only meant bad things at such a close proximity. A Gamma pulse emitter about to fire was something he had wished he would never have to face ever again and yet here he was. His eyes locked with Sitwell's and then on the contraption standing innocently behind him, well as innocently as any laser looking device could. The physicist knew he had no time, knew what was going to happen before it could happen and found himself sprinting toward the other man regarding. The agent was frozen to the spot face contorted in shock as the other man charged toward him eyes flickering from brown to acid green in an instant and the slightly inhuman bellow of 'GET DOWN!' ringing in his ears. Jasper didn't register much after that, just the feeling of strong, impossibly strong arms throwing him to the side as the whirring reached it's a peak, followed by a high screech an almighty cloud of dust blinding him and finally an unholy roar of pain.
Moments later the dust cloud began to clear and Jasper coughed as he hauled himself into an upright position his keen eyes watching his surroundings carefully. At first there was no movement, no sound beyond the ringing in his ears but as everything settled he could make out the hunched outline of the other man.
"Doctor Banner..." He coughed out through a mouthful of dust.
The physicist didn't respond and Jasper could see the tremors running through his body as he fought of the impending transformation.
"Doctor..."
The other man spun around and as their gazes locked the agent felt the blood freeze in his veins. Instead of the acid green he was expecting the Doctors eyes were a deep blood red and filled to the brim with murderous intent. Jasper felt his breath catch as he shrank backwards as though the other man's stare had physically burned him. The thing behind Banner's eyes was wild, even more so than the Hulk and Sitwell knew with a cold certainty that he did. Not. Want. To. Be. Here.
The physicist let out another roar, filled with pain, despair and raw, raw fury that set Jasper's teeth on edge as he watched the transformation began to take place; so familiar and yet at the same time not. The man's body began to elongate the usually lithe limbs broadening and stretching grotesquely, he'd seen the Doctor transform many a time but this looked nothing like the transformation he was used to. There was an inherent wrongness to it that made even his battle hardened stomach want to expel it's contents. Banner grew taller his clothes shredding as lethal looking spines erupted from his back and joints and his bones cracked and distorted into something that wasn't even human anymore. Even more disturbing was the disgusting shade of yellow his skin was turning, it wasn't even close to the normal deep green of the Hulk that he was used to.
The creature let out a roar as it finally settled, harsh breaths wheezing from the snout as the pain subsided. He was taller than the Hulk but thinner; all wiry muscle, with powerful looking legs that were oddly jointed clearly made for pouncing. While Hulk could be used as a shield as well as a force of destruction, it was clear that this, this monster was a predator; a weapon and Sitwell prayed to all the deities that he wasn't caught by the thing.
There was a moment of silence before the creature began laughing loudly like something out of an insane asylum elongated head thrown back as it roared with laughter
"FRee at LaST... MonSTEr is FReeeeeee." The voice was slightly higher pitched than Banner usual low tones and it grated on Jasper's nerves like back nails down a chalkboard.
"baNNer thOuGHt He'D WON trAPPed me forEVER buT I shOWeD HIM. MonSTEr hAS Won! MonSTEr wiLL brEaK baNNer's WorLD; brEak his HeARt."
The monster's facial features twitched into something resembling a cruel smirk as he ran taloned fingers a fallen piece of masonry; cutting grooves into the stone.
"MuST brEak tHe AvenGErS... MusT brEak StaRK."
The agent's stomach plummeted as it caught sight of the madness in those swirling red eyes.
"YeeeeeS MusT break StaRK. break tHe HeARt tO brEak tHe mINd ANd then ThIs bOdY iS mIIIIIne forEVER."
The creature didn't even look back as it lowered itself into a crouch before leaping upwards with the force of a torpedo; shattering the ceiling as it went crashing through and sending another wave of debris downwards. Sitwell dodged the falling stone taking cover in a small alcove until the air once again settled cursing madly as he made a grab for his communicator. The curses became even more violent as he besides that it had been completely fried by whatever the fuck had hit Banner. With a grimace he stared at the hole 'Monster' had made in the ceiling and prayed that the Avengers were prepared for what was about to hit them.
~End Chapter One.~
A/N: So yeah... let us know what you think.