A/N: Just wanted to thank my reviwers: kimbee (yaye), Rayner Fox, (No worries. Glad you were able to catch up. Missed ya!), AvengerGal, (You make me laugh. haha.), and Avengerscrazygirl (Yes mi amigo , we are checking on Bruce again.)
WARNING: ANGST; Descriptions of torture...Please don't read if it bothers you.
Hold On
"30 Sir."
"Make it 40."
"The sequence is at 60%."
"Set it for 70%. Whatever it is, make everything 10% higher. I'll tell you when we can go further. We can use another blood sample when you get a chance."
-Voices.
All her heard was muffled noise, barely able to make sense of it. The room wasn't too dark, but it was by no means bright, a little variation from what he was accustomed to. Once he tried to open his eyes, he spotted the window to his left. Talbot was visibly marching around the small room like he was commanding a ship. Hands expressively highlighting what he wanted as his mouth ran.
Bruce gave a tug, head pounding as he pressed back. He struggled not to scream when a bolt of electricity shot through his veins seemingly out of nowhere. He rolls his eyes when it stopped, taking in the rest of his surroundings. There's always an IV in his arms, for what, he'll never know. There's no doubt in his mind he's been drugged with some sort of tranquilizers as he can see double of everything, to tired to utter a sound when he's shocked a second time.
Even before he's shot there's a buzzing in his veins and a sort of numbing characteristic in his finger tips. His head is aching to the point where he's ready to break out in a cold sweat, hardly able to breathe normally or move his head at all. He tries to plant a bare foot on the table, abdominal muscles scrapped along the metal bar that restrains him before he gives a tug on his wrists, restrained just the same.
Typical.
Banner is unaware Talbot has even entered into the room until Talbot gives him a firm slap across his cheek, seemingly for no reason. Bruce clenches his teeth, angrily snapping at his antagonist;
"There are a lot easier ways to get my attention."
He snickers at his struggling, spotting his reddening cheek that will bruise before the hour is over. Talbot rests a hand on Bruce's shoulder as he toys with a pair of pliers, distracting the doctor from the minion whose ramming another tube into his arm. His fingers twitch involuntarily, muscles begging for mercy though he's begun to ignore it. Talbot rests his pliers on the table, rolling up the opposite sleeve of Banner's have opened top that is stained with blood. Whatever they did to him while he was unconscious must have been ruthless though the physicist has little desire at this point for an explanation, groggy from the drugs and lack of proper sleep.
"We're collecting a few samples of DNA from you doc. Hope you don't mind."
He scoffs, "At this point, you probably of gallons of my blood laying around someplace."
The Collonel rolls his eyes, "Ross. Not me. I'm not doing this for your buddy. I'm doing this for me. You've got a monster inside of you and I'd like to exploit it. Create something 10 times worse for my own personal use. Make sense?"
Typical.
He doesn't say a word, just waits and listens as his eyes lids shut for a brief second. He's exhausted both physically and mentally. To drained to even contemplate an escape or even a rescue, unsure if he even wants to be rescued at this point.
Talbot gives up on an explanation, prying his jaw open despite Banner's fussing to pull away and keep his mouth closed. He manages to succeed in pulling away once, jaws snapping closed onto his own tongue. His mandibular starts to throb, blood filling in his mouth once he realizes his mistake. He sees colors on in the inside of his eyelids, teeth throbbing as they clash into one another. Talbot's assistant is quick to pry his mouth open once again, the taste of the metal pliers over-ruling the taste of his own blood;
"Hold still Banner, I'm just stealing a molar. Seriously, stop fighting me!"
There's no Novocaine, not proper instruments as he removes a third molar from the bottom left. He seems discontent when Bruce barely moans, growling as opposed to screaming as he tears it from the root;
"In pain yet?"
He clenches and unclenches a fist, blood continually pooling in his mouth. It's practically vacuumed from his veins, pried from him as Talbot takes a rough swipe through his mouth with a small cloth while the assistant places the extracted tooth into a bag.
The colonel clenches his teeth, slapping his victims cheek to illicit a response;
"Too weak to talk? I believe it. Your father had right to hate you so much. He should've destroyed you while you were little. You and your worthless mother. I'll never understand what Betty sees, or saw in you. Although, you've become pretty popular with Stark lately. Busy with SHEILD...Oh, don't worry. I've taken precautions to ensure you stay right where you are."
Bruce keeps his jaw and eyes closed, cheek throbbing for what feels like the 20th time. The doctor is never one for retaliation, but when he feels another injection in his neck, he knows it's a suppresent. Bruce feels weak, though he won't ever admit it verbally; Drained from both a loss of blood and harassment. He takes a deep shuddering inhale before spitting a solid amount of his own red liquid towards his attacker with no hint of restraint. His chest heaves up and down as he waits, preparing for another slap across the face though he doesn't cringe, eyes focused intently on his antagonist.
Talbot grips his hand into a fist, throwing a punch across his face before he reaches for a knife, hovering just above his heart before he takes a deep breath, face and top covered with Banner's blood.
Bruce just waits, expressing no hint of fear or tension, "Go ahead."
He freezes, "I'd love to. But it's impossible with that monster inside of you."
"Then remove it!"
He huffs as he storms away, hurling glass against the wall in a fit of frustration before he drives his knife into Banner's gut in pure hate and frustration;
"I will! Believe me I will! And until I do, I will make you suffer. Suffer for all the innocent lives you've taken for your needless revenge! Suffer for taking the one thing I wanted the most right from my grip, you worthless creature!"
He's writhing underneath, knees pulling in as much as possible as he struggles to breathe. He's cringing in a pure agony, ears clouded as his body glazes in a layer of sweat. The blood is pooling everywhere as he cheeks go pale, chest crackling as he exhales. That thing inside him is screaming for revenge, roaring in his mind as he wrestles to keep 'Banner' alive.
Talbot ruthless tears it from his skin, calling for his assistants. There's a hot iron, circular in form when Talbot starts pressing it into his open wounds;
"Ready for it to stop yet Banner?"
He holds back his screams to avoid appeasing the devil. He's ready to spit in his face a second time when his mouth fills with blood. This one he's forced to swallow, when he gulps for air. The one thing component that's never been so precious to him before, is what he wants the most of.
Talbot abandons his weapons, hovering over his victim for some sort of response. Bruce curls up as much as possible, agonizing over his damaged flesh. The Colonel waits with a hand in his pocket, eyes focused on him. He rolls his eyes before storming away, realizing the stubborn physician had no intention of appeasing him with a scream or cry for help.
Bruce feels him storm away. easing up on his secretive nature. He feels like giving up, wishing there were some way to kill that thing inside of him and just end it already. When the lights around him go dull, he hears the doors locking him in the empty room for the night. He knew he was bound to suffer in solitude and now that they've gone, he can cry. He clenches his teeth more openly, writhing through his restraints. He breathes heavier, knees pulling up as far as possible.
With his eyes closed, he considers the life he's hated so much; his father's torment, his mother's cries, the never-ending abuse from Ross and others, the solitary lonely state he's been forced to cope with since birth.
No matter how much he wants to hold Betty just one more time, tell her just how much he loves her, he's not sure he wants to live for another moment. And how can she love a man so broken and disturbed? Was he even half a man? Or just a Monster?
All he ever wanted was to be loved, cared for by someone who appreciated him for who he was, and for him to care for them in return. To be accepted for what he believed, respected, and treated like he was somebody.
His body shakes uncontrollably, as a tears streams down his cheek, quivering in pain as he prays for death to take him before morning.
Pepper spots the brunette, sighing as she leans forward to get a better look. Betty's turned towards the window, though her tear is hard not to spot. She breathes deep shuddering breaths, puling her knees in as she pinches through her jeans.
Potts tilts her head, close enough to brush her hand against her arm in a tender way;
"Hon, you alright?"
Ross whips her head over her shoulder, startled by the contact. She looks down, embarrassed by her tears, though she can't deny she's heartbroken;
"I'm- I'm terrified."
Pepper stops, biting her lower lip as Betty breaks down in tears. She wraps her arms around the girl in a comforting way, "Oh...don't cry. It'll be okay."
Miss Ross finds herself with her head pressed against Pepper's shoulder, sobbing and shaking uncontrollably as she vents; "No!- He's- It's my fault! It's all my fault!"
Potts runs a calming hand over her back, holding her closer, "Shh. Don't talk like that. Don't go blaming yourself. There are a lot of things that are out of our control..."
"But this- this is different- And...oh Pepper!"
Tony glances over his shoulder, spotting the two girls embracing with a sleeping demigod behind them as Rhodes pulls his jet into the base;
"Barton just called. Says he's got codes based off of Talbot's latest purchase and location. I'm willing to bet my fortune he's moved Bruce from New Mexico."
Potts narrows her focus, still holding onto Betty, "So, he's leading us on some wild goose chase?"
"Basically."
Rhodes waves his finger, "Hold it Stark, I'm getting something on my screen. I think Ross's base is about a mile out. I know it's not that Talbot fellow, but it's a start."
Betty pants for air, wiping her finger under her eyes, "My- f-father would know."
Pepper lifts her eyebrows with concern, holding onto Betty's opposite hand. Tony nods, a bit more stern than usual;
"Swell. I'll tell Romanov we're here and get in touch with Rogers. Tell Fury to meet us at the base if he gives a damn."
"Right."
Stark leaps from the jet, heart pounding as he enters the headquarters well after midnight. His eyes spot the two master assassins, alert and ready for action as they stand up to follow him. Clint storms ahead;
"Where we headed?"
Tony follows behind, "We're going to have to track local systems to find Banner. For now, we're heading for Ross. Got his little girl in my backseat."
Natasha raises her eyebrow, reaching a hand over her pistol;
"Does she need persuasion? Or did you loosen her tongue already?"
"No no, Betty's not the problem...I'll explain on the way. For now, just get ready to slaughter the General."
Clint nods, pushing his way through the doors, "With pleasure."
Tony mumbles, holding his head as he heads for the jet;
'Hold on Bruce, just a little longer, I'm coming buddy.'
"Morning Banner."
Talbot snickers when he sees the bruised and bloodied scientist, finally realizing he's in a cell.
Bruce barely tries to stand up, still in agony as he's finally able to curl up into a tighter ball. His head throbs from a fresh dose of drugs, wishing he could fall back to sleep no matter how restless of a night it had been.
The colonel holds a bucket, opening and entering the cell with two of his assistants. He grips at his chocolate curls to pull him upright, Talbots minions pushing him to his knees. With a lock dripping over his forehead, he tries to stay as tightly curled up as possible to ease the strain on his abdomen, mouth still aching from rough molar removal.
There's little warning before he feels like he's drowning, kept under water for what felt like eternity.
The instant he can breathe, he's gasping for air.
His eyes close. Talbot's voice is almost background noise as his thoughts shift to Tony. Poor Stark had told him about something like this, stuck in a similar situation...
That haughty genius who was kind enough to offer him a friendship, kind enough to catch him every time he fell sometimes, quite literally...and vice versa. What was Tony thinking right now? Did he even care? He was probably mad about the mess Bruce left behind before he was taken. He could have easily cost the billionaire millions in damages, not to mention whatever emotion trauma poor Pepper was now suffering because of it.
Were they hurt during the 'hulk-out'?! Pepper, Tony...and Betty!
To think he might have seriously injured the people he loved the most...
There were two more dunks before Talbot gave up, locking him back into the cage all by himself. He wasn't even sure if he was alive anymore, at least not until the colonel called to him;
"Alright Banner. Ready to transform? I suppose it's like my reset button, except...I may have a little surprise for you, when you stop cutting me off."
He sits back on his heels, hands originally placed on the floor as he starts coughing aggressively. Water is dripping from him, blood still pouring from his open wounds and from his mouth once again. Bruce shuts his eyes in a tremor, hacking up thick red liquid.
Pain...Every little thing he does causes pain. Even with his high tolerance, this is excruciating. His head lowers to the ground, hands wrapped around his neck as he trembles.
Drowning...Every breath of air is like a gift. He gulps greedily, taking in as much as possible until it's taken away from him.
"I have a system here that will change you automatically, I'm going to play with it a little just to see what happens, when it happens. I need it for my research. Ready Banner?"
It starts; Radiation shot through his veins as his eyes dialate. His muscles expand and contract until he growls. It's gruesome, unbearable, and just when liberation comes within earshot, it stops. He quickly reverts back to his original condition, hacking up another pool of blood. he falls to the side, pulling in his knees as far as possible as he waits, hand over his abdomen while he pants for air.
-Make it stop!
