"You sure you'll keep your cool?"
"I'll be damned if I don't," Bruce swore. His fingers were in knots as Natasha continued to speed at an unsettling rate of ten miles over the speed limit.
"I take it you won't wait in the car," Natasha continued, her eyes focused on the road ahead.
Bruce glanced to the backseat where the tranquilizer case sat. Having Natasha fire it from within the safety of a jet was far safer than firing on ground level directly in Ross' path. "I should be the one to do this. If I can at least pass the case off to Tony… But if that fails, I can take on Ross myself."
Natasha hated that idea-it was reckless. Bruce wasn't a fighting strategist, especially now when any move he made would be selflessly acted out. His greatest weakness was that he cared more about his friends than he did himself. That was a curse on the battlefield, and Natasha wasn't willing to let him die a martyr. "We're all gonna walk out of this, Bruce," she breathed as S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters drew closer.
Bruce called up Tony as Natasha's car slowed into the street. Dozens of uniformed agents were charging from the building while others watched a lower window with smoke billowing from the broken glass.
"A little busy," Tony answered.
"Natasha and I are out front," Bruce began. "We've got the tranquilizers."
Tony breathed a quick sigh of relief. "Banner, I could kiss you."
The call ended and Bruce hurried to grab the case sitting in the back seat while Natasha barked out orders instructing the onlookers to step away.
Bruce set the case on the ground and unclasped a set of locks. He carefully picked up the gun and checked to ensure that it was properly loaded.
"I'd recommend getting far away from here," Tony warned as his bright red suit loomed over Bruce's head.
Bruce gave his friend a helpless stare. "How bad is it?"
Tony snatched the gun from the Doctor's clenched fingers. "I've got this."
"I don't think this was the party you were expecting," Steve commented as he rushed over to his fellow Avengers. He withdrew the shield he had secured on his back.
Bruce turned to the blond, grateful he came to help, but terrified that someone else was joining in to fight his battle.
Iron Man eyed the Captain's signature shield. "Think that thing can go a hundred yards?"
Steve grinned. "I can go farther."
"You watch my back," Tony instructed. "Just a head's up, we're up against eight feet of red muscle."
"Red?" Bruce blinked.
The suit nodded. "Hulks, now available in red."
Bruce needed to sit down in Natasha's car to breathe. The colour felt like an explanation for the vein discoloration…
Tony stared down at his friend through his mask's screen. "Just sit tight. We'll have him asleep in no time." He turned to Steve. "Try keeping up."
The Captain nodded and checked to make sure his shoe's laces were tightly knotted before taking off after the iron suit.
Bruce helplessly watched them go. He continued to stare until he heard Natasha shouting his name. His head snapped to attention to find Natasha balancing a limping agent at her side.
"I don't think it's broken," Natasha began.
Bruce left his seat to offer it to the man who looked no older than Natasha. "I can take a look. Are medics on the way?" he wondered. There were cars now blocking the middle of the street as mobs of people shoved past to seek shelter.
"Should be," Natasha mentioned as she helped the agent sit.
Bruce used care in removing the man's left boot. The agent hissed and Bruce was particularly cautious in lifting the pant leg. He noticed light swelling and bruising around the ankle. Bruce gingerly touched the skin and felt no need for alarm. "Just a sprain," he confirmed. "Sit here until help comes…" He contemplated backing the car farther away from the chaos, but a growing mass of cars had created a blockade, making driving impossible.
There was a sudden crash accompanied by a wave of glass raining down the building's side. Iron Man came darting through the newly made opening as a large red fist reached out after him.
Bruce clenched his fists as he saw the giant fingers creep back into the building. He knew he couldn't sit back and watch the nightmare play out any longer.
Natasha was fixated by the large red hand, as was every onlooker. It was in that brief moment of distraction that she caught Bruce sprinting towards HQ's wide open doors. "Bruce!" she hissed.
He didn't listen, nor did he hear her. Bruce charged through the abandoned building, taking the stairs two steps at a time. His lungs felt ready to burst after climbing one flight, but echoing growls and faint blasts forced his legs to keep moving.
"Stark, back me up!" Steve's voice shouted. "He's getting too close for comfort!"
The voice was close, and as Bruce reached the top step, he spotted Cap flinging his shield down a hallway. "Steve!" he gasped, fighting to catch his breath.
The soldier didn't even flinch at the muttering of his name. He was preoccupied with a snarl and stomping feet that were growing louder by the second. Steve's shield came back to him before he went running in Bruce's direction.
Bruce began to panic as Steve grabbed him by the collar and helped drag towards an elevator with its lights powered off. There was no safety in hiding there if the power had been cut… And a little steel couldn't stand between an angry Hulk.
"Let's try a little nap," Tony's synthesized voice announced from around a corner.
Bruce prayed that Tony would stop messing around as the stomping grew closer. He came to a halt at the elevator and Steve proceeded to pry open the doors with his bare hands. They slowly inched open, but Bruce knew the Captain wouldn't get them both to safety. A roar filled the space around them and Bruce found himself staring into a set of blood red eyes. The beast was a vibrant crimson with a sharp jaw and swollen muscles. Though doubled in size, Bruce could still distinguish Ross's aged features in the Hulk's face. He tensed as the General's nostrils flared in a familiar way. The distance between the beast and Avengers was closing in, forcing Bruce into a panic. Steve turned and muttered something that Bruce was in too far a state of shock to hear. The Captain prepared to throw his shield, but the second he raised his arm, the red Hulk came bounding towards him.
"I'm back here, bud!" Iron Man called out with the tranquilizer gun ready.
The beast snarled, his burning gaze focused on Bruce Banner as he threw himself in front of Steve.
Tony fired the gun with a stifled swear.
The red Hulk eliminated the distance separating him from the two men, and Bruce prayed that his only means of defense would at least buy Steve enough time to turn another corner and find safety.
Bruce hardly felt any pain. He felt oddly calm as he gave in to his inner anger and let the green monster take the wheel.
"Goddammit!" Tony swore as a familiar growl pierced his ears. He fired a second tranquilizer at the red Hulk just as Banner's Hulk lunged for his competition. "Couldn't let me handle this one alone?" Tony wondered as he prepared to fire a new shot, this time at his friend. There was only so much Hulk time one day could handle, and Tony never planned on dealing with two. He only had six darts on hand, and he had already used four. Luckily, he would save the last two.
Banner-Hulk straddled the fallen Ross-Hulk and proceeded to strangle his neck and repeatedly slam his head into the ground. The red Hulk was quick to fall unconscious and Bruce's alter ego roared until his voice hitched and his limbs grew heavy…
"So it was short lived," Natasha assumed.
"Kinda disappointing," Tony commented. "I wanted to see what would happen."
"Well, I'm glad you fired, Tony," Steve commented. "Dr. Banner wouldn't have wanted the fight to end in murder."
"I'm with Steve," Natasha replied.
"I was kidding," Tony sulked.
"I'm sure you were, Stark."
The voices of his friends slowly brought Bruce into consciousness. He attempted to open his eyes, but he was quick to snap them shut when a white light blinded him.
"Bruce?"
Natasha's voice made him want to try opening his eyes again.
"Bruce…"
Her voice sounded closer, and he could feel Natasha's fingertips against his cheek.
"It's all over."
Those words really made Bruce want to fully awaken. He attempted to ask about Ross, but his words escaped as an incoherent mumble.
Natasha smoothed a blanket that the paramedics had offered over Bruce's bare chest. "Take your time, big guy," she whispered.
Tony caught himself staring at Bruce's legs poking out from beneath the blanket. He had been wearing the Hulk pants beneath his regular ones. Normally, Tony would've laughed at his partner's readiness, but he couldn't even force a joke. He didn't know if Bruce planned to Hulk out today or not. For all he knew, Bruce wore those pants 24/7. Just in case…
"He'll sleep it off," Natasha breathed, giving Bruce a light pat on the arm.
After the tranquilizers kicked in, both Hulks were down for the count and had shrunk back to their normal selves. Ross was carted off by the medics for observation while the Avengers let Bruce rest on the ground.
"Let's get you to bed, buddy." Tony knelt down to help his lab partner to his feet.
Bruce groaned in protest, but he forced himself to stand and make the most of Tony's support.
Natasha pitched in by offering another shoulder to lean on. She even swore she heard the softest "sorry," which easily brought a smile to her lips. Tony's ride was ready and waiting in front of HQ. Natasha helped lay Bruce in the backseat. He made an attempt to sit upright, but he gave up and chose to rest on his back. Tony barked for the keys and Natasha pat Bruce's foot before shutting the car door. She moved over to the driver's side and leaned against the open window as Tony started the engine. "Keep an eye on him, Stark."
"Will do," he solemnly nodded.
Natasha was half expecting a joke about her mothering Bruce, but Tony seemed too shaken for jests. "Take care, Stark," she quickly added before drifting away from his black Audi.
Bruce didn't know how much time had passed since his mid-morning adventure. It was pitch black outside his windows. He didn't bother to question how he ended up back in his bedroom-he actually hoped that his day was all an awful nightmare. The aching in his bones told him it was real. He reached for his phone and found that it was 3:17 am. His entire day was gone, but he didn't mind. All that mattered to Bruce was that his friends were okay. The last thing Bruce remembered was Steve gritting his teeth as he fought to pry open the elevator doors as a red monster came charging towards them. He noticed a text from Natasha that enlightened him of all that he needed to know.
"Wasn't much of a brawl. Stark said you got some hits in, but Ross looked fine when he shrunk down-we took him in for surveillance. Fury says he's still unconscious." The message was sent at four in the evening.
Bruce sat up, his back cracking as he did so. "As long as everyone's okay," he replied. Bruce set the phone aside and wondered if Tony was awake at this hour.
"Dr. Banner," JARVIS announced.
He smiled. "Jarvis…Is everything okay?"
"Perfectly fine," the program promised. "You needn't worry, as per Mr. Stark's request."
"Is he asleep?"
"He is, yes," the butler replied. "And I was told to inform you that all is well and no one was gravely harmed this afternoon."
"That's very kind of him," Bruce added. "I'll thank him in the morning."
"Is there anything you require, Doctor?"
"No, I'm fine," Bruce laughed. "But thank you." The room fell quiet and Bruce continued to sit up, contemplating whether he should lie back down or have an early breakfast. His phone began to vibrate against his nightstand and he was quick to grab it.
"You're up early."
It was a text from Natasha. "Shouldn't you be asleep?" he messaged back.
"Shouldn't you?" she playfully responded. "Got caught up with some paperwork," she added.
Bruce wondered how much of that was true. He began thinking of what to write next, but his phone began to vibrate as Natasha's name flashed across the screen with an option to accept or decline her incoming call. Bruce quickly accepted and brought the phone to his ear.
"How are you?" she wondered.
Bruce relaxed against a stack of pillows. "A little sore," he admitted. "And a bit hungry…"
Natasha paused for a moment. "Didn't think the other guy would show up…"
"Me, neither," he replied. "But Steve and I were in a tight spot…"
"Ross is doing fine, last I checked. Fury told me," she added. "Still unconscious."
Lying down was making Bruce's eyelids grow heavy. "That's good… I mean, I didn't want to kill him…"
"I know," Natasha agreed. "You're a good man, Bruce."
"So…" Bruce paused. "Paperwork."
"Yep."
"Fury wouldn't give you a break after the day you've had?"
She laughed. "I needed the distraction," she admitted.
"Is everything okay?" he wondered.
"Fine," she promised. "It's just late... Should try to get some sleep soon."
"I'll let you go, then," Bruce smiled.
"That's okay." She fell quiet. "I wanna make sure you're holding up. You really surprised us earlier by bringing the other guy out."
Bruce shifted against his sheets.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "Maybe tomorrow we can get dinner."
"Dinner sounds nice," Natasha agreed. "And after dinner?"
He sensed a sly playfulness in her tone. "We, uh…never quite had a chance to discuss the other night, did we?"
Natasha snorted. "So it was awkward."
"No!" he lightly chuckled. "Just…unexpected-in a good way," he stammered. "It was nice…" He felt like he had dug himself into a hole as his face grew hot.
"It was nice," she agreed in a satisfied hum. "Think you'd be up for it again?"
He knew his face was a bright shade of red and he was grateful Natasha couldn't see him. "I…I don't know…" He began to chuckle. "Sorry, this is…quite the topic of conversation…"
"Too much?" she teased. "I'll stop."
Bruce caught himself drifting back to their heated union and his racing heart brought forth a rush of adrenaline. He knew he wasn't going to fall back asleep anytime soon.
"You still there?"
She sounded tired, and he could easily picture her relaxed on her side. "I am," Bruce answered, closing his eyes and imagining her lying beside him.
"I'm getting kinda tired," she admitted. Bruce could sense a smile in her voice. "No offense, Doc, but it is 3am."
He chuckled, his own body in such a relaxed state that he didn't dare move an inch. "You should get some rest."
"Dinner tomorrow."
"My place this time?" Bruce offered.
"Sounds like a date," she decided.
Bruce smiled. "Good night, Natasha."
She was quiet for a moment. "It's always nice talking to you, Bruce."
"That's very sweet of you."
"Night, Doc."
Natasha ended the call and Bruce decided to start his morning early with some breakfast. He slowly rose to his feet, but upon taking his first step, the floor felt oddly low, then suddenly far away. Bruce's feet suddenly doubled, and then his knees buckled, but he caught the edge of his nightstand to keep himself from smacking the ground. His stomach churned and Bruce lurched forward as a wave of nausea hit. He attempted to stand, but an excess of bile rising in his throat wouldn't let him make it to the bathroom. Bruce heaved into the carpet while his sides ached and his joints trembled. He could hardly bring himself to move as he coughed up a mouthful of acidic saliva. Bruce stumbled back, staring blankly as the pile of vomit before him. He felt ready to pass out from lightheadedness, but a particular lump resting in his bile forced Bruce into action. The small chunk squished beneath his thumb and forefinger. Bruce's eyes narrowed as he saw red. But it wasn't blood… Not all of it, at least. He hunched forward and wiped the excess vomit away to feel what felt like skin. Judging from the colour, it had to be Ross' Hulk's. The bit of flesh fell from his trembling fingers as Bruce desperately scanned his bile for any more traces of red. Aside from what looked like blood, there was nothing solid. Bruce fell back on his haunches as a second pang of nausea struck.
Natasha mentioned Stark seeing him giving the Ross-Hulk a few punches.
He wondered if Tony knew something more, something he didn't…