The fires that consumed Faro continued to burn, seemingly unaffected by the rapidly falling snow. The team stood at the entrance of the town. The great sign that read, "the town of FARO, Yukon's best kept secret" had a chunk taken out of the top corner. Just beyond the sign sat a crater that was about the size of a Sedan. It was as though God himself had leaned down and taken a bite out of the snowy earth.

"I always hated going to places like this in Fallout," said Tony.

"Now's maybe not the time for this, Tony," Said Steve. "These things just decimated a whole town."

"And a BEETLE unit," chimed in Brock.

"And a BEETLE unit, we should proceed with caution. God knows what else is still here. Brock, Frank, I need both of you at my side. I'll be at the front, Tony, you and Carol cover them. If things get hectic, break and we'll figure things out from there."

"I've always enjoyed a little improv," said Tony.

The group took their positions and slowly proceeded into the town, weapons and Cap's shield raised.

There was a sound like a great boom, followed by a pair of roars. To the ears of Tony and Steve, one of the roars sounded familiar.

"What the fuck, is that?"

"Language, Tony. Yes. I think so."

They moved with a bit more speed to the town square. At the center of it was a green mass, trading blows with an almost equal mass of white fur and teeth. Deep within the remains of the town, the Avengers could see smaller white furred monsters moving around the burning buildings.

"Carol. I need you to go take care of the monsters in the surrounding buildings.

"Banner, Banner! It's us, we've come to help," shouted Cap.

The Hulk did not turn to face them, he pulled a piece of rebar out of the ground and wrapped it around his fist before pummeling his monstrous adversary. He took the sasquatch looking creature's head in his hand and twisted his wrist. Breaking its neck.

"Ooh, getting dark," said Tony as he ion blasted away the buildings of horrors.

Hulk looked calm. He slowly strode up to Steve and opened his mouth as if to speak, only for a beam of light to blast through his chest. Hulk's eyes, though small, suddenly widened and he felt the gaping wound on his chest. Cap could see though it, clear to the other side. A mess of gore, green and parts of it glowing like exotic mushrooms. They then watched as the green flesh stitched itself shut.

"Oh my god," he said, awestruck.

"That's what I said. How have you been, Steve?" asked The Hulk.

"Banner? Bruce? Is that you?"

"No. Not quite. But that's not the time. Banner will explain more later. What's the plan here?"

"...Do what you did to the bigfoot." said Steve.

And to that, Hulk smiled. Steve hadn't really seen him smile like that before. The Hulk's teeth were oddly small and there seemed to be too many sitting in his mouth.

Another thing, this one looked more like a man than a beast. Though that didn't account for much, emerged from the fire. It was built like the hulk, though a size smaller. Its lower jaw was gone. Replaced by a pair of large, metal tusks. While the rest of its body was covered in a dense mane of blonde hair. A saber toothed tiger that walked like a man.

It went down on all fours and charged at Frank, who fired at it, the bullets doing nothing to impede it. It smacked away Frank's gun and held him. A kind of cruel sounded exited its throat. Something halfway between a laugh and a beastial snarl. Frank knew if this thing had a full jaw, it would have torn out his throat.

Hulk approached the creature from behind and took its head in his hands. At first, the action reminded Frank of something older boys used to do in school to bully the younger kids. He expected the green guy to lift him up and gently squeeze it to get it to drop him. Instead, Hulk applied pressure. Steadily increasing it until the creature's head was but a pulp in his hands. Frank didn't know why he thought Hulk would have done grabbed a pistol and aimed it at him, expecting to have to deal with him next.

"Are you really going to point that gun at me, little man? How do you expect that to go for you?"

"I didn't think you were much of a talker," said Frank.

Hulk stared him down. Frank refused to lower the pistol. Both parties were unshaken. Then Hulk laughed.

"I think we'll get along swimmingly," he said. Leaping off.

Frank breathed a frightened sigh once the Hulk was out of sight. He didn't like that knowing look that he gave him.

The dawn rose on the small town of Faro and The Avengers were victorious. Hulk passed out, reverting to Banner in his state of unconsciousness. Cap wrapped the smaller man up in a coat and threw him over his shoulder like luggage as they went back to the Quinjet.

Back in the Avengers tower, Tony was standing at his desk, examining. Cleaning gore out from between the plate of his armor. Steve had just stepped out of the shower and entered into the lab. His body was still slick with water and he combed his blond hair back with his fingers.

"So, what's the damage?" asked Steve as he adjusted the towel around his waist.

"Not anything more than the usual, you know," said Tony, not bothering to turn around.

"So, what do you think about all of this?"

"About all of what, Steve?"

"The missions feel like they're constant now."

"You know how it is. It's a new world, new threats and…" Tony was cut off when he felt Steve press up behind him.

All thoughts about what he was saying were gone. Instead, all he could focus on was Steve. Steve's wet body was still wet and soaking into his clothes from behind.

"Are you sure, Tony?"

When the fog cleared from his head, he said, "Yeah, yeah. Everything's good. Totally good."

Steve moved his hand further down Tony's waist, coming to rest it on his hip. But before they could move further, they were interrupted by Frank. At that moment, Tony probably hated Frank out of every single other person in existence.

"Hey, Stark, Cap, Banner's awake," said Frank.