Solerah looked in the direction of the noise. She grunted slightly as she sat up. "We really need to get out of here."
"Can you walk?" Bruce asked as he looked at the wound, it was healing slowly but she was still bleeding far to much for his liking.
Solerah tried to stand but let out a sharp gasp of pain and curled into herself. "I-I'm sorry Bruce I don't think I can." Her voice was laced with guilt and Bruce shook his head.
"Don't be sorry. You almost died."
They heard another bang and Bruce could of sworn it sounded like it came from the outside. Bruce closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This place was falling apart and he needed to get Solerah out safely. He didn't want to but the only way he could see them getting out was with the other guy.
He opened his eyes which were now a bright green and let himself transform.
The Hulk ran through the building with Solerah safe in his arms, he was able to get through the collapsing building with ease, he rammed a wall with his shoulder and they were outside.
"DON'T MOVE!"
Hulk looked to the source of the voice and growled. Looking around the open forest he saw they were surrounded by heavily armoured trucks and men with guns. Hulk felt his rage rising. The men with guns were back!
Solerah, who was still weak and woozy peered up and recognised they were surrounded by the military. She was confused for a moment before she recognised General Ross from Bruce's extended file.
"FIRE!" General Ross exclaimed as large guns that were attached to the trucks went off. Hulk tightened his grip on Solerah and turned slightly, in an effort to protect her from the bullets. He was surprised to find however what was shot out were not bullets but what appeared to be steel cables. He quickly placed Solerah on the ground as the cords cooled around him, he grunted in frustration as the more he tried to struggle the more the cords tightened around his skin.
"There's no escape this time Banner." General Ross said confidently as he walked closer to them. "We've been working on this tech for awhile. All those times you took us out, we've been studying your strength. Those are titanium alloy steel cords. You won't be able to smash your way out of this."
"Hulk..." Solerah looked in horror as he tried to free himself from the various cords, she held her stomach where the bullet wound was and tried to stand. She had to help! "Back off!" She screamed as she glared, taking small weak steps towards the man.
"And just what are you?" General Ross raised an eyebrow gazing at her with a scrutinised look, temporarily ignoring the struggling Hulk.
Solerah didn't answer him, straightening as best as she could. "Look buddy. See this building?" She gestured to the destroyed base. "I did that. I destroyed this base and killed everyone in there. I'm not apposed to killing you too." She threatened, eyes narrowing at the man.
"What I see." He said as he placed his hand on his rifle. "Is an injury to exploit." He butted her with the end of his gun in her stomach. Solerah screamed in anguish as she dropped to her knees and fell onto her side.
"Lets wrap this up. Take her too and have her questioned-"
General Ross was interrupted with a deafening roar, Ross' eyes widened as Hulk tightened his muscles and flexed to the point where the cords burst.
"Impossible! Shoot again!"
Hulk charged at the trucks. Men abandoned them as he grabbed the large funnel of the gun and snapped it off, throwing it at the other truck, causing more men to dive out of its way. He swatted General Ross who tried to gain a distance between them into a tree.
After letting out another snarl he turned and picked up Solerah, jumping away from them.
Solerah looked up at Hulk curiously as he ran, wondering where he was taking them. Whenever she asked he didn't answer her so she resigned herself to just waiting for him to either stop or cool down. She looked up at the night sky and wondered what time it was, she was getting tired and she didn't know if it was from her her injury or the need to sleep. She guessed both. Her eyes started to droop but she was jolted awake at the sound of a freight train.
Hulk ran along side it, taking the door of one of the cargo carriages and forcing it open. Solerah let out a surprised cry at the sudden feeling of being lightly thrown. She braced herself as she rolled onto the floor. She looked up and saw Hulk transforming back to Bruce as he jumped into the carriage, fitting inside mid transformation. She sat up and scurried towards him, catching Bruce as he skid. She held him carefully, knowing he was usually disorientated after changing.
"BB? Honey are you okay?" She smiled in relief as he sat up, clinging to his shredded pants and looking around. "Solerah? Are you okay?!" Bruce reached out and touched her cheek, scanning her over to check for any new damage.
"I'm fine BB. I'm just glad you're okay."
"Where are we?" Bruce looked around at the cargo box they were in.
"I don't really know, Hulk was running for a long time before he threw us in here."
"What happened?" Bruce asked with a low serious voice.
"General Ross found you."
"General Ross?!" Bruce's eyes widened. "That's why Hulk ran, that's what happens. If Ross finds us, we run. That was how life was like before I joined C.O.D.E.X."
"So what happens now...?" Solerah asked nervously.
"You go back to C.O.D.E.X."
"What?! Bruce no, not without you!"
"I can't go back. Not now that the military knows where I am."
"Then I'll go with you!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Solerah!"
"Bruce!"
"I have to-"
"If you say protect me I'm going to punch you in the kidney." Solerah glared at him as Bruce heaved a sigh.
"This isn't a joke Solerah."
"Whose joking?"
"Solerah-"
"No Bruce. Listen to me. If you leave me you'll be miserable and I'll be miserable. Don't pretend for a second you're some great martyr. Oh poor Bruce, he left everything to protect them. No. You don't get to do that. If you leave me now THAT is what's going to hurt me. If you leave me now you'll be doing it because you're selfish and because you won't given give us a chance. So go if you want. Go."
She poured confidence and a fire into every word even though she was shaking on the inside. She narrowed her eyes when he wasn't responding more then just looking at her.
"It's now or never Banner."
He sighed. "You just can't make things easy can you?"
"Hey, it keeps you on your toes doesn't it?" She let herself smile, knowing she had won.
"One day I'm going to win an argument."
"Suuuure you are honey."
Bruce looked around at the cargo carriage they were in, trying to plan their next move.
"BB I'm exhausted, you're exhausted so can we just get some rest and figure it all out in the morning?" She tried coaxing him to rest instead of thinking.
Bruce's head was buzzing, all his senses were telling him to be on high alert but... He WAS exhausted as well and Solerah did just almost die. He looked at her blinking up at him, silently trying to convince him yes. He sighed and nodded, holding his arms out. Solerah smiled and crawled towards him, into his open arms as they both leaned down next to eachother, laying on the floor.
"Bruce...?"
"Hmm?"
"Promise me when I wake up you'll be here? Please don't leave me. You're all I have left."
Bruce was quiet, letting the weight of what she said sink in. He knew he'd have to choose his words wisely. "Solerah... From now on wherever I go, you go. We'll run as far as we can go." He nervously cleared his throat. "I mean, that is, for as long as you'll have me." He quickly added, worrying he sounded too bold. Solerah's heart swelled at his words. "You know for someone so smart, you sure can be stupid." She grinned, raising her head from his chest and craning her neck to place a kiss on his jaw, just under his chin. "I'm not going to leave you. Not ever." Bruce could feel his blush burning his face, he also felt something quell in his stomach. He felt truly happy for once. His grip tightened on her waist, avoiding her injury as he settled to get more comfortable, closing his eyes to try to let sleep overtake him.
"Bruce?"
"You're the one who said you were exhausted Sol. We aren't going to get any sleep if you keep talking." Bruce said just above a whisper.
"Untetra ritry vrai..." Solerah's voice was slow, she was falling asleep by the second. Bruce's eyes scrunched in confusion. "What does that mean?"
"Back in there, you told me you loved me. You've never said that before and I didn't get a chance to say it back."
Oh... Right, Bruce HAD said it, he had almost forgotten with everything that happened. He assumed she had told him the same in her own language and somehow that felt more special. "Yeah. Untetra reetrey vireye too." Bruce cringed at his attempted pronunciation but Solerah only smiled as she drifted off to sleep.