-Themyscira-
Guest Chambers
Bruce is escorted by two Amazons into a cave like room with a large bed, a table and a hollowed out pool. They remove the cuffs from his wrists and ankles. They even removed the spiked collar before stepping away from him, clearly intimidated by his other self.
"You don't need to be scared of me." Bruce assured the two women, trying to calm their nerves.
"It's not you we're scared of, mortal. It's that...'Hulk' as you call it."
"Well, I'm sorry that you're scared of him." Bruce said in an apologetic way. He hated that the Hulk was making these beautiful yet dangerous women feel so uneasy. "Where's Diana?" He asked.
"She will arrive shortly with fresh clothes and food. Why do you wish to see her so much, mortal?" One of the women asked, wondering why it's Diana that Bruce wants to be near out of all the Amazons.
"I don't know why, but...she reminds me of someone I used to know. Plus, she calms the Hulk down, even when I don't let him out." Bruce says, almost like he's in a trance.
"She is very beautiful, mortal." The other Amazon said, clearly envying Diana's beauty. "We hope your quarters will be comfortable enough for your time here." She said in an almost sincere tone before they both walked out of the room, leaving Bruce alone to his machinations.
-Throne Room-
Diana is standing in front of her mother, arguing with her about sending Bruce into the world with limited resources, though her mother could tell Diana had feelings for the strange 'guest'.
"Mother, he is not the enemy!" Diana argued, desperately wanting Bruce to stay.
"He is a man, Diana! By Zeus' decree, all mortal men are enemies to the Amazons, regardless of their intentions!" She argued.
"You're wrong! He turned into that creature to protect us! He did not raise a hand to any of us, even when we raised our weapons to his throat! Doesn't that prove that he is not like other men?"
"Diana. I know you have feelings for this...whatever he is."
"What?" Diana asked, puzzled by her mother's claim.
"I've seen the way you look at him, the words you use to dissuade our accusations towards him. It's clear...you're in love. In love with a man." She said almost like she was ashamed.
"Mother..." Diana started to speak, but couldn't find the right words to say, so she kept quiet.
"When he leaves, that's the end of this. He will leave our home, and you will forget about him."
"But I don't want to forget him. I'm also sure he doesn't want to forget me." Diana said before storming off.
-Guest Chambers-
Diana soon arrives with Bruce's clothes as well as a tray of food, including grapes, apples, bread, and oranges.
"Hello, Diana."
"Hello, Bruce. I brought you some food." Diana said as she puts the tray on the table.
"Diana, wait. I want to talk."
"About what?"
"Anything. I want to get to know you better. I think the Hulk wants to know you too." Bruce says in a joking tone as he sits on the edge of the bed.
"He does?" Diana said, amazed that the Hulk would want to know anything about her, as she saw him only being interested in fighting. Diana joined him, sitting next to him on the bed.
"Diana, I can't thank you enough for being by my side during my trial. It means a lot that you don't want me dead or whatnot." Bruce said, looking at Diana's face.
"Bruce...they're going to send you away. I don't want you to leave. Stay here. I'll protect you from any kind of torture my mother tries to put you through." Diana pleaded. It's obvious that she cared about Bruce and would be willing to do anything to keep him safe.
"Diana...I can't stay here. I mean, I'd love to. This island, this room, everything...is amazing. You're amazing. I mean, you're brave, kind, and really beautiful." Bruce said. Diana blushed when he called her beautiful.
'So he does love me.' Diana thought to herself. She excused the thought for the moment and continued to converse with Bruce. "Bruce, when you turn into that creature, how does it happen?"
"Whenever I get angry or excited, it allows Hulk to emerge. While I have control, it's very limited."
"Bruce... I cannot even imagine what that must be like, to live with an unstoppable creature like that inside you, just waiting to break free." Diana said, feeling sympathetic towards Bruce's situation.
"Thank you Diana." Bruce says, smiling at the buxom goddess.
"Bruce...I want to speak with him." Diana says cryptically, though Bruce knew who she was referring to.
"You mean the Hulk?" He asked as Diana nodded her head up and down. "Diana, I don't know if that's a good idea." Bruce said, fearing that if he does turn into the Hulk, he'll hurt or worse, kill Diana.
"Bruce, he didn't attack me. He never showed any interest in doing so. He doesn't want to hurt me. Maybe if I talk to him, I can get to know him. That way, I can convince my mother to let you stay." She pleaded with Bruce. After what felt like a minute of hesitation, Bruce sighed in defeat.
"Fine. Meet...my other self by that big tree outside in an hour. I hope you know what you're doing, Diana, because I don't know what the Hulk will do when he sees you." Bruce says as he walks out of the room, leaving Diana to ponder her next move.
-Throne Room-
Diana's mother is speaking with another Amazonian about getting rid of Bruce Banner. She sits in her chair for what feels like an eternity, tapping her foot repeatedly. The Amazonian clears her throat, getting the queen's attention at long last.
"Ma'am, what shall be done about the outsider?" She asked, clearly concerned on how to get rid of Bruce without Hulk emerging.
"My daughter seems to be smitten with this intruder. We will simply wait for his appropriate deadline to depart as we originally planned." She said.
"What if he doesn't depart on schedule?" The warrior asks.
"We kill him, even if Diana disowns me as her mother. If he refuses to leave, destroy this 'man'. As Queen of the Amazons, I order you to prepare your finest warriors for your greatest battle that you'll ever have!" She loudly proclaims. The Amazonian bows to her queen before departing from the throne room.
-Later-
Bruce, now in Hulk form, is sitting peacefully under a large tree. He looks down at the beautiful ocean until he sees Diana approaching from the corner of his eye. He scoots over, giving Diana room to sit next to him. They awkwardly clear each other's throats before Hulk starts the conversation.
"So...you wanted to see me, to talk to me. Why?" Hulk asked.
"I...want you to stay and live here...with me. I can't explain it, but I don't want you to leave." Diana admitted.
"Problem with that. I don't exactly fit in. An island populated by women doesn't look the same with a green monster running around." Hulk said, receiving a light giggle from Diana.
"You're not a monster, Hulk. You saved my people from those Germans. I don't care what my mother or the rest of my people say. What you did for us, those weren't the actions of a monster. They were the actions of a hero." Diana proudly said, resting her hand on Hulk's own hand, receiving a light, but audible moan from Hulk. He liked the way her hand felt. It was soft and warm, like a tiny heating pad was being dragged along his own skin. "Hulk, stay here. You'll live in peace, and you'll never have to fight again." Diana offered the jade-skinned giant, who grunted indecisively like an oversized ape.
"Hmm..." Hulk continued moaning and grunting, still trying to decide whether to stay or do what Diana's mother told him to do. "Diana?" Diana swiftly turned to look at Hulk again.
"Yes?"
"Do you really want me to stay here?" Hulk asked as he looks down at her.
"Yes. Of course I want you to stay. You're...amazing. You're strong, brave, and kind." Diana said, mirroring Bruce's own words that he used to describe her earlier.
"Then I'll stay." Hulk said. Diana happily wrapped her arms around Hulk's neck, holding him in a warm hug.
"Thank you, Hulk." Diana says as she release Hulk from her hug. "I'm glad that you've decided to stay, my friend." She says, smiling an adorable smile.
-Throne Room-
Hulk and Diana walk into the throne room and stop a few paces from the throne that the Queen is sitting on.
"The deadline has ended, creature. Tell me what choice you've made." She commanded.
"I'm afraid I'll be staying." Hulk said, crossing his arms and smirking in victory.
"What?!" The Queen shouted in anger and disbelief.
"Ah. There's the response I was waiting for." Hulk said, getting a stifled laugh from Diana.
"I let you sleep in a comfortable bed, treat you with kindness and generosity, and this is how you repay me, monster?! By insulting me in front of my daughter?!" The Queen angrily screamed out.
"No. Of course not. I'm insulting you in front of your people as well as your daughter." Hulk said.
"That is it! Amazons! Kill him!" The Queen demanded.
"What?!" Diana yelped. The other Amazons drew their spears and aimed them at Hulk, who rolled his eyes before he started fighting them. One Amazon leapt into the air, her spear aimed at the Hulk's head, but was intercepted by Diana, who drew her sword and shield and stood beside Hulk.
"Diana! What are you doing?" Hulk asked.
"Saving your life! I'm not letting you get killed!" Diana said as she deflected an attack from an Amazon with her shield and retaliating by kicking her in the face. Hulk punched a couple of Amazons across the room with a devastating right hook before grabbing another Amazon and swinging her around, hitting four more Amazons across the room and slamming her onto the ground hard. Diana swung her sword, breaking an Amazon's spear in half and bashed her in the face with a backhanded swing from her shield. While he watched Diana in action, an Amazon managed to drive her spear into Hulk's gut and cut him behind his left knee with her sword.
"Aaaagghh!" Hulk hollered out in pain as he kneeled down in pain as a result.
"Hulk!" Diana screamed as she knelt down beside him. Hulk pulled the spear out of his stomach as his wounds healed within seconds, much to Diana's amazement.
"I heal quickly. It's gonna take more that a spear to kill me!" Hulk said as he stood up.
"You continue to surprise me, Hulk." Diana said in an almost flirtatious manner.
"These ladies ain't that tough!" Hulk pridefully boasted, the Amazons barely being much of a challenge for him and Diana to defeat.
"Enough!" The Queen commanded. "Diana. The monster is leaving. Now."
"But Mother..." Diana began to say, only to be interrupted by her mother.
"It is decided, Diana! Unless you want to join the monster in exile, I suggest you keep quiet!" The Queen commanded as the battered Amazons picked themselves up and motioned for Hulk to go to the beach, where his boat waited for him.
"Diana...I'm sorry." Hulk apologized, sad that he wouldn't be staying like he and Diana planned.
"It's not your fault, Hulk. You know, I think you fought pretty amazingly."
"Ha. Thanks. You fought pretty well yourself." Hulk said, complimenting the beautiful goddess. As he walks away, Diana whispers to herself. "I'll miss you." Diana says, tears lightly building up in her eyes. She furiously turned around and stared down her mother.
"What in the name of Tartarus is wrong with you, Mother?!" Diana yelled, demanding an answer for her mother's behavior.
"Diana, I cannot bear to break the tradition of not allowing men onto Themyscira simply because you're developing emotional connections with one!
"Mother, do you think I want to go against you?! Yes, I care about Bruce. Maybe I care for the Hulk more, I don't know. But what I do know is that you're letting ancient history get in the way. In my opinion, it's because of you that half your royal guard rests in the medical wing. You tried to break us apart, and we retaliated!" Diana said, more tears welling up in her eyes.
"Diana-" She began to say, only for Diana to interrupt.
"No! Mother, I have nothing more to say to you." Diana said before storming off again.
-Beach-
Hulk walks onto the boat he was given by the Amazons. It has a bed, a desk, books, and three weeks worth of food and drink.
"There's enough food on this vessels to last a couple of weeks, Hulk." One of the warriors said.
"Whatever. Sorry about the beating." Hulk said, probably trying to get on the Amazons' good side again.
"No. Our apologies. Diana was willing to give you a chance, and yet we chose to follow orders and attack you. Forgive us." The Amazon said as she and her warriors bowed to him in a sign of respect.
"I forgive you...I guess." Hulk said. "Well, goodbye. Hope the next time I see you girls, it's on friendly terms."
"We would like that, Hulk. Happy travels!" The Amazon said as Hulk's boat drifted off into the open ocean.
-Throne Room-
The Queen is sitting on her throne, finally happy that Hulk is gone, but it seemingly cost her relationship with her daughter. She got up and walked towards Diana's room and knocked on the shut door.
"Diana? Diana, we need to talk. Diana?" The Queen pushed the door open, revealing an empty bedroom, with the wind blowing wildly into the bed chamber. "Guards!" Within seconds, three other Amazons approached behind her and saw the state of the room.
"My Queen?"
"My daughter is missing." She turned around and looked at the women. "Find her! Find her! Find her now!" She questioned as the Amazons began to comb the island to find her, but no such luck. "Where is my daughter?!"
-Author's Note-
Whoo! That took me a while. It's obvious that Diana left to be with Hulk. Next chapter will center on Bruce finding out about her abandoning her family to be with him, and then the two saving a town that's been overrun by German forces.
Hope you're enjoying the story, since I'm not the best author. LOL!
Stay tuned for more!
