I'm baaaaaaack! Here is Bruce's chapter! This one was actually super difficult to write. I couldn't really decide what to do with Bruce cause he is such a difficult character! It really did confuse me and I was unsure of how to properly convey him. I hope you guys like this chapter! Enjoy!
Bruce was a scientist. He knew science, he knew drugs, he knew how these things worked. He also knew how his own body worked. So when whatever drugs they'd been given began kicking in, he knew immediately that something was wrong. His mind began clouding as he and Tony spoke and he shook his head to try and clear it.
"Bruce?" Tony looked concerned, "you... you good?"
Bruce felt fear creeping up on him as he realized exactly the ramifications of a panic in a contained cell, "no," he stared at his friend, trying to force back Hulk.
"Danger, Bruce," Hulk growled in his mind, "let Hulk handle."
'No,' Bruce warned his counterpart mentally, 'stay out of this. Our friends are here with us.'
"Danger to them too," Hulk snarled, the monster in Bruce forcing himself forward as panic seeped in, "let Hulk help."
"Tony," Bruce pushed himself against the wall, away from the others, "umm... I think, those drugs... They're umm..." he started to stutter as his breathing came in short pants, "they're.."
"Easy, Brucie-Bear," Tony sent a worried look over to Cap, "hey," he grabbed Bruce's hands, forcing the other man to look at him, "Bruce, look at me, man, you've got to calm down. You know I love Big Green, but we're a little pressed for space in here. I'm sure the Big Guy understands, right?"
"Puny man, team is in danger, move him," Hulk warned, his voice low and threatening in Bruce's head.
"Yeah, understanding is the last thing he is," Bruce gasped out, fear about to completely overwhelm him.
Images and statistics flooded his head. Hulk could cause so much damage. Flashes of his friend's faces, pale and lifeless, flew through his vision and swam as tears gathered. This drug was uncontrollable. He couldn't stop it. He was going to hurt the only people in the world who cared for him and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Ross had been right. He was a monster. He deserved to be in a cage. He needed to be in a cage.
"No cage," Hulk roared, "NO CAGE!"
"Tony," Bruce whimpered, curling up against the wall as his head throbbed from the volume of his counterpart, "what do I do?"
"I don't know, pal," Tony looked on helplessly as his science-bro clung to his hands, "we'll have to ride it out."
"No," Bruce's head shot up, his eyes haunted, "we can't. We can't, Tony!"
"Okay, okay, buddy," Tony pulled the hyperventilating scientist against him, "breathe, Bruce. Breathe."
"I can't," he whimpered, pressing his head against Tony's shoulder, trying to ground himself, "what if He gets loose? He's gonna get out!"
"Hey, remember Bruce, you have to center yourself, " Tony coached gently, glancing around helplessly at the team, "breathe and focus on your heart rate. Run through what we know. You're a scientist, man, let's figure it out."
"He was right," Bruce cried, his hands letting of Tony and yanking viciously on his own hair, "he was right! I didn't listen and now you guys... You're all gonna..."
"Whoa, there Bruce-bro, what are you talking about?" Tony demanded, exchanging concerned glances with Steve, "who was right?"
"Ross," Bruce yelled, Hulk's rage lacing the tone's as his eyes tinted green, "he was right!"
"Hey," Tony snapped his fingers in Bruce's face, "hey, Jolly Green, I need you to hold off while I talk to Bruce. I promise you can let loose later, but I have to talk to Bruce right now."
"Bruce scared," Hulk snarled, throwing the team for a slight loop as Bruce hadn't turned yet, "Hulk protect."
"I know, I know, Big Guy," Tony hid his shock as best he could, "but you hate Ross, right?"
Hulk snarled in response, Bruce's skin turning just slightly greener as Hulk slowly gained control.
"I do too, Big Green," the inventor gently rubbed circles on Bruce's shoulder, "but these weird feelings, these drugs, they want Bruce to listen to Ross. I have to talk to him, okay? So can you hold off for a bit?"
Hulk cocked his head curiously, "not scared," the monster seemed to be studying Tony.
"Nope," Tony popped the 'p' at the end of his word, feigning a casual manner, "you're just as clever as I thought, Big Man. So can I talk to Bruce?"
"Mhmm, fine," Hulk sighed grumpily, seemingly receding back into Bruce's mind, "what the hell, what the hell?"
"Hey, Brucie! You back with me?" Tony pressed, noting the stunned silence from the peanut gallery.
"Oh my god, I'm going to kill you all," Bruce was continuously descending into chaotic panic, "Hulk's gonna kill you guys! I'm a monster. I... I..."
"Hey, hey, Bruce," Tony looked at the others desperately, needing someone to help him, "Tasha, could you come help me with this?"
"I don't..." Nat shook her head helplessly, "I only know how to calm down Hulk. Not Bruce."
Tony blew his wild hair out of his face, "very helpful, red. Thank you for your contribution."
"Tony," Steve was taking on his 'Captain America' voice, "we don't know what to do to-"
"I know, Cap," Tony rolled his eyes, "I'm just blowing off steam. Relax."
Tony watched his friend carefully. Bruce was reacting differently than everyone else, which made sense. The scientist was far more adept at keeping any sort of anger and panic in check. His many years as Hulk had prepared him for this moment. Even though the drugs were impairing his senses, he was habitually keeping himself in check. It was actually rather amazing if Tony took the time to think about it. But he didn't have that time.
***Line Break***
Steve watched as Tony tried in vain to calm Bruce. The entire team was tense and worried this time, knowing the damage that Hulk could cause in this small cell. Green veins were spreading themselves across Bruce's skin as the scientist frantically tried to convince Tony that he was a threat. Steve had seen hysteria before, he'd been around for a while, but it had never affected someone so close to him. It made his 'Captain America' side falter. He was with his team on a mission. He was supposed to have the answers. He was supposed to know what was going on. He was supposed to be able to fix things. Instead he had to sit back and watch as Tony continued to try to calm Bruce down and keep Hulk at bay.
He paced quietly, stewing as he tested the bars, trying to find a weak point. They'd already tested them, but he just needed something to do besides watching his friend hyperventilate. Listening to Bruce panic about being a monster was killing him. He hated everything about this situation. How it had made him lose control. How it was torturing everyone of his friends. He should be able to stop this. To control the threat.
But this one was coming from inside them. He couldn't stop this threat. He couldn't control anything about this situation. And that terrified him. He could only hope that they could somehow ride the rest of this out and escape safely.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts and continued to hopelessly check their cell for weaknesses.
***Line Break***
Bruce's clouded mind unhelpfully supplied every image of the destruction Hulk caused. All the people he'd killed. All the cities he'd demolished. His friend's dead bodies flashed before his eyes. There limbs broken and twisted in inhuman directions, their necks snapped, debris littered around them. The only thing that kept him even slightly grounded was Tony's hug, the physical reminder that his friend's weren't dead, although his brain was trying to convince him otherwise. He fought against the thoughts, they were drugs. Just drugs. He would be okay. He would be fine. His friends were safe. But he could hurt them. Easily. If he lost control he could hurt all of them.
"Bruce, calm," Hulk growled, almost in a way that could be called gentle, "Tony, help."
"I'm trying Big Guy," Tony's voice cut through the spiral, "just give me a minute."
"Tony no help," Bruce felt his arm shove Tony away as he curled in on himself, "Hulk help Bruce! Tony leave us alone!"
***Line Break***
Tony landed hard on his cracked ribs as Hulk's strength seemed to channel through Bruce's arm. He cried out in pain as pain shot through him and Hulk roared angrily.
"Buddy, I'm just trying to help," he yelled as Bruce started to transform, "Hulk, please. SHIT! EVERYONE MOVE!"
He scrambled backwards, grabbing Clint and dragging him backwards as Hulk began to fully emerge, quickly filling the tiny space. The whole team pushed themselves as far away from Hulk as possible, trying to avoid being crushed by their teammate. The terrified mutant lashed out, slamming his fist into the wall and making the electricity flicker dangerously.
Natasha stepped slightly forward, partly shielding Clint and partly standing up to the raging Big Green.
"Hey, Bruce," she said soothingly, holding her hand out, "the sun's getting real low, buddy."
"No!" Hulk raged stepping forward as if to shove her away, "Hulk protect Bruce! Stay away!"
"Hulk!" Tony snapped, holding tightly to his ribs, "buddy, we're not trying to hurt Bruce. It's okay. He's safe with us! We'll help you keep him safe."
"No!" Hulk growled, his eyes narrowing suspiciously, "Bruce scared!"
"I know," Tony winced as a cough rattled his injured side, "I know he's scared, Big Green. But we really need Bruce right now," his head spun and he grabbed onto Steve's arm to keep from falling over, "we really need bruce. As soon as we get out of here, you can run rampant through the training rooms."
"Tony," Steve kept his eyes on Bruce as he steadied his teammate, "are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Steve," Tony said dismissively, directing his full attention on Hulk, who was clearly conflicted, "Hulk, buddy, I need you to let Bruce come back. I know you want to protect him, but we're in to small of a space right now."
"Tony protect?" Hulk questioned, cocking his head curiously.
"Yeah, Big Guy," Tony coughed out, "I'll protect him."
Steve gasped as Hulk transformed back into Bruce, never having seen it before. The scientist was hyperventilating still, his eyes blown wide with terror as he seemed to take in his surroundings. Steve was eternally grateful for the pants that Bruce and Tony had whipped up in their lab. Whatever they were, at least they awarded Bruce some privacy when he changed back.
***Line Break***
He'd actually changed into Hulk! Oh god, they must all be dead. There was no way they didn't get hurt. He was a monster. He was evil. He-
"Bruce," Tony coughed, "breath, man, breathe."
"Oh my god," Bruce exclaimed in horror as he took in Tony's appearance, "I hurt you! You're hurt! I-You- No! I hurt you."
"Bruce, buddy," Tony let go of Steve and stumbled over to him, grabbing him by the shoulders, "you're okay. It's just my ribs. Remember how I hurt them earlier? That's all it is, bud. whatever they gave me that helped with the pain is wearing off. That's all, Bruce. It's just the meds wearing off."
Bruce's foggy head seemed to clear slightly as his instincts took over. He began prodding at Tony's sides, feeling for the broken bones. He might be a monster, but dammit he was still a doctor! He grimaced as Tony flinched away from his touch.
"Ouch, asshole," Tony grumbled, "yes, Bruce, my ribs hurt."
"Don't be a baby," Bruce snapped out of habit, his head clearing as he took care of his friend, "you'll be fine. I just need something to wrap your ribs with. Seeing as we don't have that, you'll have to be satisfied with just not moving too much."
Tony's hand on his shoulder grounded the man just as much as helping to heal his friend did. He felt his head begin to clear, even as the drugs tried to pull him back under. He fought against them, knowing that he needed a clear head to help his friend.
It took him all of ten minutes to take care of his best friend, complete with making the man lay down and keeping him still. By the time he was done, his mind had completely calmed. The effect of the drugs had been counteracted by his desperate need to heal.
"Are you okay now?" Tony asked him gently.
Bruce nodded stiffly, remembering the things he said and not at all comfortable with his fears being displayed for all to see, "I'm fine."
"Bruce," Tony persisted, evidently being able to read Bruce far better than he wanted, "you know it isn't true, right?"
"I have no idea what you mean," Bruce tried refusing to acknowledge the situation.
"No bullshit," Clint broke in, "you're not a monster, Banner."
Bruce felt suddenly, incredibly trapped. His horrors had been nothing more than an exacerbated version of his inner monologue. He avoided the concerned gazes of his teammates, knowing they would try to convince him otherwise.
"Bruce, don't tune us out," Natasha warned him, "we mean it."
"You shouldn't," the sentence snapped out before Bruce could real back in his response.
"You just snapped out a drug induced panic because your teammate was hurt," Steve stepped in, "that doesn't seem very monster-like to me."
"I have seen monsters, Brother Banner," Thor spoke up, "I have fought countless monsters in my time. Trust me, my friend, you are no monster."
"Have you seen my dear counterpart?" Bruce demanded of his team, determined to prove them wrong.
"Yeah, Bruce-bear," Tony struggled to sit up, "and all he was trying to do was protect you. And when I explained that you were safe with us, he went away and let you help me."
"I'm sorry," Bruce blinked in shock, "you explained it to him?"
"He seems to be smarter than we give him full credit for," Tasha smirked, as though she'd known all along and had just been waiting for the rest of them to catch up which, knowing her was highly probable.
Bruce shook his head in confusion, he couldn't believe his team. They were all morons.
"Protect them," Hulk growled in his head, "they're stupid."
Bruce snorted quietly, 'couldn't have said it better myself,' he thought, looking around at his friends that he didn't quite fully believe yet, no matter what they thought, "couldn't have said it better myself."
***Line Break***
Down the hall, the two Hydra operatives were practically cheering as they relished in their weighted victory against the Avengers. The doctor resented every moment of this job. He wanted desperately to leave. He didn't want to do this anymore. This wasn't right. There was no cause that constituted cruelty like this. He almost got up and walked out, but his mind flitted to his family. Safe only because he was doing what he was told. He grimaced as he finished up the notes in the file and slammed it shut. His anger causing the beer that the operatives had so decently given him to rattle. His heart ached for the people in the cell. Their lives being torn apart and exposed. He hated this.
Bruce Banner: Complete
There y'all go! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! As always reviews, constructive criticism, and suggestions are welcome and encouraged! Love y'all!
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