Natasha called Bruce once she finished a morning shower at the gym. She felt relieved to hear him answer after the third ring. Last night had turned into a mess and she hoped it didn't stick with him.
"Good morning, Natasha," his voice was lacking its usual chipperness, but he sounded better than Natasha had hoped.
"Just thought I'd check in with you."
"Thank you," Bruce smiled. "And I'm sorry last night didn't go as planned."
Natasha propped the phone between her ear and shoulder as she packed up her gym bag. "It wasn't your fault. God, Bruce, had I known before, I would've fought to not bring it up."
"It's not your fault," he promised. "I shouldn't have lashed out at you."
She zipped up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "So what's on today's agenda?"
"Would you like to have lunch later?"
"I'm down in the gym. I can come right up for breakfast," she promised.
"This must be my lucky day," he chuckled. Bruce needed her to distract him. Part of him was tempted to pay Ross a visit.
"You have those croissants," she continued. "Better finish those up."
"That's a good idea," he replied, moving from the living room to the kitchen where the plastic container sat.
"I'll be right up," she added before ending the call.
Bruce left the door wide open before grabbing two glasses and a carton of orange juice. He overheard the door click shut as he found a bag of blueberry bagels. "Were you waiting outside the door?" he laughed.
There was a pause. "I take it you were expecting someone not me." It was Tony.
Bruce set aside the bagels and turned to his friend. "Did something happen?"
Tony shook his head as he stole a chair at the dining room table. "Just checking in."
"Then you should stay for breakfast," Bruce offered.
Tony eyed the chocolate covered croissants and helped himself to one. "You look better."
"I am." Bruce found a third glass and placed it before Tony. He pushed the orange juice towards him before taking a seat. "You're sure everything is alright?"
Tony flashed him a smirk. "Peachy. Just never got to see you last night. Thought you'd like to check out the new suit."
"A new suit?" Bruce blinked.
"Built him last night," Tony continued, pouring himself some juice.
"I didn't know you had something new lined up." Looking closely, Bruce could make out dark bags under Tony's eyes.
"Started him yesterday. Spur of the moment deal."
"Yesterday?" Bruce asked in disbelief. "A full suit?"
Tony nodded in between a bite of his pastry.
"Suits have always taken you days…"
Tony shrugged. "The more you build, the faster you get."
Bruce arched a brow. "Impressive."
Natasha strutted into the room, her eyes narrowing upon seeing Tony going to town on her treat for Bruce. "Am I interrupting you boys?"
"I think I should be asking that," Tony countered.
"Tony's joining us for brunch, Natasha," Bruce said with a smile. "The more the merrier, right?"
"Don't call it 'brunch,'" Tony frowned. "Breakfast or lunch. Pick one."
Natasha reached for a croissant and split it in half as she took a seat. There didn't seem to be any tension in the room. She was thankful for that.
"I have bagels, if you'd like," Bruce offered. "And cereal, eggs..."
"I'll have a bagel." Natasha reached for the orange juice and helped herself to a glass. "What's been eating you, Stark?" she wondered, briefly noticing the bags under his eyes.
"All work and no play." Tony took a swig of juice.
"With Banner?" she snorted.
He flashed her a crooked smirk. "Jealous, Romanoff?"
"Not of the Science Bros."
Bruce chuckled at the nickname.
"It's funny how you're always here," Tony added in a knowing tone.
Natasha rolled her eyes. "You just have bad timing."
"You sure I'm not interrupting anything?"
Natasha casually picked apart her croissant. "Yeah, Stark, I came to have wild sex with Banner and you ruined it." Her eyes briefly flickered to Bruce. She could only see his back, but she knew his face was a bright red mess.
Tony side-eyed the Widow. "I'm sure you did."
A disgruntled Bruce approached the table with a plate of bagels and some butter and cream cheese. "That's inappropriate, Natasha," he muttered, praying Tony wouldn't see right through his act.
Natasha snatched up a bagel while Tony pretended to gag.
"Dirty boy, Banner," Tony sang. "Dir-"
"Sir," JARVIS interrupted. "There is a matter that requires your attention!"
Before anyone could ask, the TV automatically turned on with an angered Nick Fury on the screen.
"Should've checked your phone, Stark," Nick began.
The three Avengers gathered before the TV. Natasha recognized the background as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters.
"I'm sorry to spring this on you, Dr. Banner," Fury began, "but I have Ross' vitals growing more unstable by the second."
"Tranquilizers," Tony muttered under his breath. "I'm on my way!"
"We're trying our best to sedate him with what we've got," Nick continued, "but the sooner the better on those tranquilizers."
Bruce paled and shuffled back into the nearest armchair.
Natasha watched Tony leave before turning to her boss' live feed. "Keep me updated." She shut the TV off and approached Bruce, now seated with his head between his knees. "Let Stark handle this. It'll be fine, Bruce."
His knuckles whitened as he pulled at his hair. He felt an urge to shout at her that she was a liar, but he silenced that inner demon and answered her through gritted teeth. "This is my fault…"
Natasha longed to offer him a reassuring touch, but she felt like she was standing before a feral animal. She didn't need him lashing out and potentially setting off the other guy. "Stark can handle this. He was fine before, and he'll be fine now."
Bruce knew he had to trust her logic, but there was always a part of him that considered the "what if's."
"Will you try eating?"
He was hesitant. "Later." It wasn't a promise, but it was enough to sate Natasha. "Jarvis, please keep me updated," he gently requested.
"Would you care for S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance footage? I have their cameras o-"
"No." Natasha was quick to decline the program's offer. She knew Bruce would be in even more of a panic if he had to watch a live feed. "I'll accept updates from Fury. We can't add stress on Dr. Banner."
"Very well," JARVIS answered.
Bruce's hands fell into his lap. He kept his head low and didn't so much as flinch when Natasha rubbed the side of his arm. "You should go eat," he mumbled.
"I can wait."
"Do you think I'll take off running?" he asked.
She shrugged and tightened the grip on his shoulder. "You'll never make it there as fast as Stark," she commented.
"It's the thought of knowing that I at least tried…I have the pants on right now," he added.
Just in case? Natasha refused to ask that aloud. "I keep a gun under my pillow," she commented. "And last night, I had my stingers in my purse. I even thought about grabbing them after you yelled." Being prepared for the worst was an unfortunate similarity they shared.
Bruce cringed and kept his head low to hide his pained expression from her. Knowing she slept with a gun so close left him both concerned and terrified. But given that the Hulk ever showed up with Natasha around, Bruce knew that she would at least have some small way of defending herself.
Natasha inched closer to his warmth and allowed her hand to massage his back. She wished the peace would last, but the TV flickered on seconds before her phone began buzzing in her pocket.
Tony's face was stretched across the screen as a camera from inside his suit allowed for him to video chat the two Avengers. "I've got him subdued."
Bruce felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "How many shots?"
"One," Tony responded, "but I gave him a second, just to be safe."
"Is everyone riled up over there?" Natasha asked.
"Medic team seemed pretty shaken. Once I get back, we're whipping up some heavy dosages for them so I don't have to fly out here."
"The sooner, the better," Natasha agreed. "We didn't think you'd make it in time, Stark."
Tony proudly grinned. "That's why you need to trust me…I'm gonna clock out. Be home in five." He was about to end their livestream, but Bruce shook his head and quickly interjected with a loud "no!" Tony froze, wondering what the doctor so desperately needed. Milk, toilet paper… As Tony held his breath, he heard something-people- and their voices were growing louder as seconds ticked by. A crash forced Tony to snap into battle mode. "Strike that," he muttered before the television screen went black.
"Tony!" Bruce leapt from his seat, but the picture never returned. "Tony!" he shouted again as though Tony could still hear him.
"Bruce…" Natasha grabbed his hand, but he was quick to slap it away.
He didn't apolgize for it.
Instead, he ran for the door while Natasha acted as a mere spectator. She knew he wouldn't make it in time… A call from Fury provided her with a distraction from the runaway doctor. "Talk to me, Nick."
"Stark put him down, but he somehow woke back up."
Natasha heard a smash as he spoke, then the sound of running footsteps. The emergency alarm was next to blare…
"Playing opossum, the bastard," Fury swore.
"Can you see Stark?"
"I can."
Natasha could picture him speaking through clenched teeth.
"The drugs aren't working."
The alarm's ringing grew louder. "I'll be right over." The TV flashed on to a view of Tony's face.
"I'm on my way back to whip up something strong."
Natasha narrowed her eyes. "Get everyone out of there," she told Nick before hanging up. She turned to the television screen with a hard glare. "Banner just took off. I should be able to stop him before he can get too far."
"Don't count on it," Tony replied. "Jarv, street cam footage."
Tony's face minimized into a cube occupying the upper right hand corner of the screen while a city street view took up the remaining space. Cars were swerving to the sides of the road, some even rear-ending one another, as the Hulk came bounding down the middle of the street. "Shit!" Natasha hissed.
"I have detected no serious injuries following Dr. Banner's path," JARVIS reassured the assassin.
"He's got a clear goal in mind," Tony warned. "Let's hope he doesn't get off that track."
Natasha clenched her fists. "I'm more concerned about what happens after he gets Ross. What if he doesn't change back and feels hungry for more?"
"He wasn't like that after the aliens," Tony reminded her. "I'd say we've got nothing to worry about."
"You better hurry up with those sedatives, just in case…"
"I'm closer than you think," Tony promised.
Natasha gave the TV one last stare. "I'll meet you at HQ."
"Roads should be all clear."
The screen went black again, and Natasha took off running.
He only had one thing on his mind, and as he ran, relying on both his hands and feet, his goal was clear. The Hulk roared as he charged through traffic. He continued to bound forward, ignoring the screams and honking horns that filled his ears.
And then he saw it.
A near mirror reflection of himself snarling before a smashed wall of concrete.
Hulk's mouth opened wide to let a deafening roar be heard. The second Hulk with red skin rivaled the growl, and the air around them stilled. Bruce's Hulk charged forward, straight into the red Hulk's chest.
Ross' Hulk nearly lost his footing, but he rolled to the side and let Bruce's Hulk stumble forward.
The green beast caught himself on his fists and shot the General the coldest glare his yellowed eyes could muster.
Ross-Hulk lunged at his opponent, and the two Hulks found themselves with both hands locked in combat.
Banner-Hulk drew his head close and bared his teeth at the red Hulk's ear. That only further angered him, and he kneed the green Hulk in the gut. The original Hulk rolled backwards, but red Hulk was quick to leap over him and deliver a ruthless punch to the jaw.
Natasha's car screeched to a halt as she spotted the two beasts brawling before the wrecked S.H.I.E.L.D. base. "Stark, you better grab what you have and go," she remarked into her earpiece as she watched Bruce take a blow to the neck. He suffered another hit and a broken yelp followed. "Shit!" Natasha slammed her palm against her car's horn and held it there until she had the attention of both Hulks. The two looked furious as they glared in her direction, but Bruce's eyes had a hint of knowing in them.
Ross-Hulk sprung to his feet and ran for the Avenger's car, but Bruce's Hulk managed to snag his ankle and drag him backwards. Banner-Hulk threw himself atop the red beast and took his foot into both hands.
Natasha watched as he crouched with his back to hers. His body was still for a moment until his arms jerked to one side and a gruesome snap that made Natasha's stomach uneasy was heard.
Bruce's Hulk crept backwards as the red Hulk's form began to shrink.
"I think it's handled, Stark," Natasha mentioned into her earpiece.
The green Hulk stumbled back and his form slowly shrank back down into tiny Bruce Banner.
Natasha rushed to his side, relieved to find that he was temporarily passed out. She didn't want him to see Ross. Her eyes were glued to the General's right foot, currently twisted back at an unnatural angle with the end of a bone visibly pronounced beneath a layer of skin. She switched channels on her earpiece to get ahold of Fury. "I'm out front. The Hulks are gone, but we're gonna need a medic team for Ross…" She glanced down at Bruce and gingerly stroked his cheek. "Let's get you home…"