A/N: I have really enjoyed continuing this story! Thank you for reading. I don't want to beg for reviews, so I won't. I will just say that I would appreciate feedback from those of you still reading. Anything is better than nothing! Enjoy the latest chapter!
The pain was nothing like Bruce had ever experienced. Usually, when he was the Hulk, Bruce felt a dull ache every time he was hit, cut, or shot; now, the dull ache had transformed into blinding agony. Qaseem had moved Bruce to another room in the house and strapped him to a metal table; a coroner's table from the looks of the guttering wrapped around the edge. The blood trailed from the bullet wounds in his shoulder and leg along with a cut on Bruce's cheek, where it collected in a crimson pool. Other injuries Bruce tried to ignore were the bruises he felt forming on his torso where Qaseem had beat him, and the muscle spasms he was having after being electrocuted.
Bruce waited for Qaseem to return for more torture. The former friend had been called away, leaving Bruce a few minutes to catch his breath and steel his mind. As if on que, Qaseem entered the room and grinned at Bruce. "I am sorry. Where were we?"
"You were about to discover the meaning of life and let me go." Bruce quipped.
"That does not seem right, Doctor." Qaseem raised an eyebrow.
"Worth a shot." Bruce mumbled.
"Ah, Bruce. It might surprise you that I did enjoy your humor when we worked together." Qaseem attached a wire to Bruce ad stepped to the car battery next to the wall.
"You can imagine my relief." Bruce said, drily.
"It seems I have not yet broken your spirit." Qaseem connected the battery. "Do you think we can fix that?"
"Only one way to find out." Bruce gripped the restraints on his wrists.
Qaseem flipped the switch and the current flooded Bruce's body. He shook violently, rattling the table, and causing more damage to himself. After a few moments, Qaseem cut the power, and watched Bruce try to steady himself. "You are tougher than I anticipated. I believed your Hulking abilities would weaken your human side."
"I've...always...been stubborn." Bruce uttered, shakily.
"So I see." Qaseem smiled down at Bruce. He was glad to see the man in pain.
Gunshots rang out from beyond the door. Outside, staccato gunfire became louder. Qaseem went to the window, but couldn't see anything from his viewpoint. He walked out of the room, leaving Bruce alone once again.
The noise outside covered the sound of approaching foot steps until the person stepped into the room. Bruce opened his eyes slightly to see an angel advancing toward him; maybe not an angel, but close enough for him. "Natasha?"
"Yeah, it's me. I'm getting you out of here." Natasha looked him over as Bruce did the same to her. She had changed into her black cat suit with her gun strapped to her hip.
"This wasn't the plan." He argued, unhappy that she was in danger, yet again.
"Plans change." She released his right hand then moved to the next restraint. "What happened? Why are you not...green?"
"Qaseem created a neutralizer and injected me with it. I don't know how long it will last or even if it's permanent." Bruce flexed his hand.
"It's okay. We've got it under control." Natasha was working on his other hand when she sensed movement and shot.
Qaseem dodged the bullet, maneuvering on his hover board. "I should have known the calvary would come."
"Sorry to ruin your fun, but we need him back." Natasha took cover near the doorway.
"We have not finished catching up." Qaseem complained.
"That's too bad. We have an early check out time, so we really have to go." Natasha replied in her sweetest voice.
"Very well. Do not forget your parting gift." The hover board appeared without Qaseem. The familiar sound of a missile arming came from the board, and Natasha tried to duck out of the way. The missile hit the wall and exploded sending Natasha sprawling on the floor, her gun clattering away.
As she tried to pick herself up, Qaseem stepped into the room and kicked Natasha in the side. He loaded again, preparing for a second kick, when Natasha swung her legs into Qaseem's. She continued the motion, swinging to her feet as Qaseem fell to the ground on his back. Returning to Bruce, Natasha tried to free him.
Qaseem got to his feet and grabbed Natasha from behind. He had her by the throat, but she didn't panic. Natasha elbowed him in the stomach to loosen his grip, then threw back her hips to shove Qaseem backwards.
Bruce struggled against the restraints, attempting to free himself to help Natasha. His heart rate was rising, but the neutralizer was still in effect. He wouldn't be much help even if he could escape.
Qaseem rushed Natasha, she easily avoided his strike. He turned to punch her and nearly missed her jaw as she moved to the side and landed two jabs. Fed up with fighting a woman, Qaseem pulled a gun to fire at her and forced Natasha out of the room. "It has been fun, little spy, but play time is over." Qaseem hit a button on his watch.
The hover board, which had been waiting idly in the background, came to life. The board charged Natasha too fast for her to move and threw her into the wall. Her head bounced against the stone, knocking her unconscious before she fell to the floor, limp.
"Natasha!" Bruce yelled as he pulled against the restraints.
They held tight, unrelenting.
"Hm, looks like the Widow has been thwarted." Qaseem stood over Natasha. "It is a shame no one could save her."
"Dammit, Qaseem! She wasn't a part of this." Bruce felt his anger rising along with his heart rate.
"Neither was my wife, and yet, we are the last ones standing! It is our curse, Bruce!" Qaseem stressed.
"I already have a curse." Bruce snarled. His voice was lower and he felt his skin crawling. Bruce squeezed his eyes shut.
"Say goodbye, Bruce." Qaseem pointed the gun at Natasha's head.
Bruce opened his eye's and they flashed green. "Goodbye, Bruce." He growled as the Hulk began his return.
Clint notched an arrow and released it into one of the guards. His vantage point on the building across the street enabled him to watch Natasha enter the house where Bruce was. "Okay, Widow's in. Let's keep 'em busy boys."
"What do you think we've been doing?" Steve questioned, punching a guard.
"These men are no match for the mighty Thor." bellowed Thor. He summoned a bolt of lightning and struck the ground.
Qaseem's men toppled around him into motionless heaps. Tony landed next to Thor and fired at a lone guard running away. "I think you got 'em." Tony commented, surveying the street.
"Any word on Romanoff and Banner?" Steve asked walking toward the group.
A roar erupted from inside the small house.
"I guess that answers that." Steve replied.
An explosion came from the small house, creating a hole in the roof for Qaseem to fly out of on his board. Busting through the front wall, the Hulk appeared in the street. Qaseem fired at the Hulk from what he assumed was a safe distance. The Hulk jumped into the air and swiped at Qaseem; the quick movement of the hover board kept him from being hulk smashed in the street. He shot a missile that bounced harmlessly off the Hulk's skin. Grabbing a chunk of debris, Hulk threw it at Qaseem and watched it scrape the bottom of the board.
"Are we going to watch this because I need some popcorn." Tony stated.
"Where's Natasha?" Clint voiced, running up behind the group.
"Tony, Thor, you guys keep Banner busy. Try to take Qaseem alive. Clint and I will search for Natasha." Steve ordered.
"First one to annoy Banner wins. One-hundred dollars to the winner." Tony snapped down his mask.
"You're on metal man." Thor flew toward the Hulk with Tony not far behind.
Steve and Clint ran toward the house where Bruce had been, and split up to search for Natasha. Holding his shield in front of him, Steve was braced for an attack. He stepped into a room with a steel table, and saw Natasha lying on the floor. "Clint! I found her." Steve announced. He bent down to study her head.
Clint came into the room. "Is she okay?" He asked, kneeling next to Steve.
"She might have a concussion." Steve shook her slightly. "Natasha, wake up."
"Come on, Nat. We need your help." Clint added.
Natasha shifted her body and her eyes opened, alert and ready to move. "What happened?" She asked, sitting up.
"We don't know. Banner turned into the Hulk and took off after Qaseem." Clint filled her in.
"Can you move?" Steve asked.
"I think so." Natasha answered. Steve and Clint helped her to her feet.
"Tony, what's your status?" Steve inquired.
"The Jolly Green Giant is not that jolly. Qaseem is leading him into the city."
"He wants an audience." Steve observed.
"He wants the people to fear the Hulk and make Bruce feel guilty." Natasha urged.
"We need to get Bruce under control before he destroys Kolkata." Clint acknowledged.
"Tony, turn him around. Bring him back to us." Natasha stressed.
"What's your plan?" Steve questioned.
"The Hulk won't hurt me. Get him away from Qaseem, away from the city, and let me calm him down." Natasha insisted.
"Sounds good to me. Your call, Cap." Tony submitted.
"Natasha's right. Turn the Hulk around and capture Qaseem. Clint get to the roof. If Banner takes the bait, he will come charging through need to be ready to distract him just in case." Steve elaborated.
"You won't need to, Cap. He won't hurt me." Natasha defended.
"Get in position," said Steve in answer.
Natsha watched the boys run to their respective hiding spots along the street. She stood alone in the middle of the road waiting for Bruce to come to her. The sound of Tony's repulsor's and Thor's hammer strikes became louder.
"On the street. Nearing the house." Tony informed.
"Copy that." Natsha answered. At the opposite end of the street, the Hulk ran into the open.
He snorted and beat the ground with his fists. Spotting Natasha, the Hulk fumbled toward her. She watched him stop a few feet from her. "Hey, big guy." She prompted.
The Hulk stared at her with bloodshot eyes; a usual side effect. A gun shot rang out from behind him, startling the grabbed Natasha with one hand and bounded away from the group.
"What happened?" Clint said into the coms.
"Qaseem took a shot." Tony answered.
"Neutralize Davar, now!" Steve yelled.
"Working on it." Tony grumbled.
The Hulk held on tight to Natasha as he continued bounding away from the commotion behind them.
"Bruce, it's me! Focus, Bruce. It's Natasha!"
The sound of her name brought the beast to a halt. He skidded to a stop and let the dust settle. He stared intently at her face, snorting in frustration. Setting her back on her feet, the creature roared before beginning to shrink. The Hulk sunk to his knee's. Once he hit the ground, it was no longer the Hulk kneeling in front of her; it was Bruce.
Bruce breathed heavy - his shoulders moving with each breath - and he looked up at Natasha. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Instead, Bruce's eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out onto the empty street.