Captain America wakes up, and for the second time in her life, it's in a strange room. She tries to take in the surroundings, but everything is a little off. The windows are circular. The lights are also round. There is what seems to be medical equipment alongside the wall. If she had to guess, it was monitoring her vitals. There was a small screen on it which was flashing a very passive red.
She looks down at the bed and can tell it's oddly shaped to conform to her body. Even the fabric feels strange. It's very soft, and has a light sheen to it. She runs her hand over the top to feel the texture and it's not like anything she's ever felt before, almost alien. A flash of Thanos' blade protruding from her abdomen shoots through her memory. She lowers her hand, afraid to put pressure on a possibly concealed wound. She wants to pull the blanket down, but something warm is wrapped around her left hand.
Captain America looks to her left to see someone's head leaning on the bed. The person seems to have fallen asleep on her hand. "Hey," she says, lightly shaking them.
Tony's head pops up abruptly in a fright. There is an imprint left on his cheek from his watch and a bit of the fabric. He takes a moment to shake off the sleep and looks up toward Steve Rogers. "You're awake?" He asks, wondering if it's true. His eyes are red, possibly from crying.
"Yeah, I..." Steve Rogers can't think of what to say. So many questions are flooding through her head now. She studies Tony for a long moment before looking down at her hand. Not only is Tony holding it, he's holding it with both of his hands. It takes Tony a few seconds to realize what Steve is looking at.
"Oh," Tony says, quickly releasing her hand. "The doctors said you'd probably wake up today." He tells her. "You've been out for over a week."
"Over a week?" She asks, still feeling a little groggy. She looks around some more and notices the door is strange also. "Tony, where are we?"
"We're on a planet called Xandar." Tony tells her. "You're in a hospital."
"A planet?" Steve asks. Still a little taken aback.
"Yeah," Tony confirms, "After the battle, you were badly hurt... A lot of us were, but you had it the worst. We had no choice, we couldn't go home."
"The battle?" Captain America's attention shifts. "What happened? Did we lose?"
Tony studies Steve's face for a long moment, wondering if he should fill her in. He decides to give her the basics. "No, we won." He can see the instant relief in her face. "We got the stones away from Thanos."
"That's good Tony." Steve says and tries to pat Tony on the arm. She feels almost too weak to move. Tony catches her hand, and they stare into each other's eyes for a long moment. Tony's eyes are puffy and Steve can tell he was definitely crying. "Where are the stones now?"
"They're here, on Xandar. Nova Prime.. the uhh... space police," Tony describes, "they have the stones. Dr. Strange has the Time stone, though."
Despite her instincts telling her to let go, she grips Tony's hand a little tighter. "So are they going to change us back? Undo the spell?"
Tony grips Captain America's hand a little tighter also. "That, we don't know. I'm really hoping so." A Flash back to the first time they shook hands pops into Tony's head. It bothers him that she feels so weak now.
The door to the room slides open very quietly and in walks Dr. Strange and two other bi-petal aliens. One looks somewhat like a mole, the other looks human except for several deep vertical ridges on his forehead. The outfits all three are wearing are an odd type of shimmering off white color, but generally look like medical smocks. As they approach, Tony and Steve release each other's hands.
"Captain Steve Rogers, I'm glad to see you're finally awake." Dr. Strange says in a very sweet tone. "Perhaps now, Mr. Stark can get some rest and take care of those broken ribs." She gives Tony Stark a reprimanding look.
"Broken ribs?" Captain America asks. She tries to reach up and touch Tony's side, but he becomes self conscious and steps away.
"It's fine." Tony says toward Steve, before turning toward Dr. Strange. "I'll get some rest soon. I promise."
Dr. Strange studies Tony with a skeptical eye. "I'll hold you to it." She then turns toward Steve Rogers. "How about you Captain, are you feeling any pain?"
Steve thinks about it for a moment before responding. "No, not right now. Aside from feeling very tired. I hardly recognize you in that outfit."
Dr. Strange looks at her hospital uniform. "Yes, they insisted that if I were to help, I had to wear their uniform." She tells Steve. "Something about it being self sterilizing. I'm not a fan of the colors."
One of the alien medics chuckles while the other looks at the digital display. It turns the screen for Dr. Strange. "How does it look?" The creature asks her.
"Hmm... Your vitals seem close to normal." She tells Steve. "Blood pressure is stable, and there are no signs of infections." She turns toward Steve. "You seem aware of your surroundings."
"Assuming we really are on an Alien planet," Steve replies, "then I can assume there's no brain damage."
Dr. Strange smiles softly at the comment, but doesn't allow herself to laugh. She looks down for a second before speaking again. "You will be tired." She tells her. "Your injuries were extensive."
They both lock eyes as the conversation takes a serious tone. "Captain Rogers, if it wasn't for Tony Stark and the Time Stone, you wouldn't be here at all. As luck would have it, the only reason you are still alive is because of a series of... very lucky coincidences. By all means, the fact that you're even in your current condition, can be considered a miracle."
"Current condition?" Captain America asks. The mood in the room shifts into a very gloomy atmosphere. "Am I going to be alright?" As Captain America asks this, she tries to push herself to sit up, and realizes something is wrong. She locks eyes with Dr. Strange in confusion, then turns toward Tony, who is looking downward trying to avoid getting emotional.
Steve Rogers has to push hard to lean forward, and when she does it takes a lot of strength to hold herself up right. She starts rubbing her legs up and down, massaging them. It suddenly occurs to her that she can't feel them. She tries wiggling her toes, but they don't move.
"The injury you suffered, irreparably damaged your lower spine." Dr. Strange tells her. "Even with the technology they have on this planet, there are still some things that cannot be healed." Steve Rogers feels her hair raise as Dr. Strange tells her the damage. "Your lumbar vertebrae and the lower part of your thoracic vertebrae were cut through, damaging all your discs and nerves. Had they not been severed, you'd probably be feeling a lot more pain. Possibly even permanently."
Steve Rogers starts lightly massaging her legs again, hoping to feel something. "And what else Doc?" She asks without looking up, fighting emotions. Tony Stark raises his hand to protest, but Steve shakes her head implying that she wants to hear.
"You also suffered extensive damage to your small intestines." Dr. Strange continues. "Tony Stark's nanobots were able to stop the bleeding and help us stitch them back together. From the best we can tell, they seem to be healing nicely, but..."
Dr. Strange pauses and Captain America picks up on the concern. She looks up toward her, afraid to ask, "But what?"
Dr. Strange takes a deep breath and feels more emotional than she'd expect breaking the news. "We couldn't save your Uterus."
The room gets very quiet. Tony looks up toward Captain America and sees her sliding her hands up toward her abdomen. She just rests them there for a moment, her face blocked by a head full of golden curls. Tony is wondering what she is thinking when he spots a tear drop down on her hands. Without thinking, Tony rushes up and hugs her. He can feel his eyes start tearing up as well.
That Captain cries for another minute or two before speaking again. "I don't know why it bothers me..." she says. "I never had one before... I've never even thought of having kids... Not in that way." She sobs loudly.
"I'm sorry." Dr. Strange says softly.
"Not to worry. It'll all be alright." An unexpected voice chimes in. "When we use the stones again it'll fix all this mess." Everyone in the room looks up and around, wondering who was just speaking. "Down here." Rocket says. She is standing a few meters away from the door and wearing what looks like an extremely oversized hospital gown that clearly doesn't fit her.
"What are you doing here?" Dr. Strange asks. "Didn't they kick you out?"
"They did kick you out!" One of the medics snaps. "For stealing!"
"I wasn't stealing." Rocket protests. "I was borrowing, and isn't everything here free anyway?"
"It's free by necessity!" the other medic snaps approaching angrily from behind Dr. Strange.
"Hey! Hey!" Rocket says loudly. "I'm not stealing. I'm just here to see my friends."
"Your friends left a long time ago!" The angry medic snaps.
"No they didn't." Rocket protests. "They're right here. Captain Goldilocks." Rocket gestures toward Steve. "And uhmm... Metal-Man." Tony Stark frowns at Rocket, who is trying to expand her lie. She looks up at Dr. Strange. "Oh hey! And you were there too, Dr. Weirdo?"
"Dr. Strange." She corrects Rocket. "I think it's about time you left... again" Dr. Strange says while raising her hand. A sling ring magically appears around her fingers.
"Whoa whoa!" Rocket says as the door quietly opens.
"Rocket! There you are. I've been looking all over for you." Drax says in her heavy accent. She is once again completely topless. She is carrying a large backpack. The pressure from the straps makes her chest look bigger. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see our friends." Rocket tells Drax. "Isn't that right? We came to see our friends."
"Hello friends." Drax says to Dr. Strange and the two medical staff, before turning back toward Rocket. "I thought we came for supplies."
"Yes we did," Rocket says, cautiously stepping back, "which we still need to get... at the store... down the way."
"Can we fit any more supplies in the bag?" Drax asks. "It's already full." Drax pulls the bag forward as if to check it.
"Hey, you know what?" Rocket asks while changing the subject. She turns toward Steve Rogers. "You should get yourself some robotic legs." As she says this she starts walking away. "That way if they heal you with those stones, you can give them to me. Run!" She shouts at Drax as she bolts out the door.
Someone shouts and there is a crash as Rocket bolts down the hall, out of sight. "Get'em green guy!" She shouts at someone outside the room as she makes her escape.
Drax is still standing there humored for a moment before turning back toward everyone. "Well, goodbye friends." She says as she walks out, in an attempt to follow Rocket.
"I'll put the call in." The mole-faced medic says, turning away as no one makes an attempt to chase Rocket. He starts pressing keys on a digital pad. The door closes but almost immediately opens up again. A young looking green skinned woman in purple tights is standing there.
"Bruce!" Captain America calls out. She wipes her eyes as Tony lets her go.
"Hi Captain." Bruce says as she walks in. She glances very briefly at Tony, before approaching Steve. "How are you holding up? I'm glad you're awake."
"I'm hanging in there." Steve responds, with a sniffle. "They've just been updating me on what's happening... and my condition."
Bruce picks up on the emotional tone of Steve and reaches out to touch her hand. "You gonna be alright?" she asks.
The Captain thinks about it for a moment before answering. "Yeah, I think so." She looks at Bruce and forces a smile. "Look at you! Wow! You're green now. That's amazing."
"Yeah, that's not even half of it." Bruce says. "Watch this." She tears off a small bit of fabric from her shirt and rolls it into a ball. She then pinches it between her fingers and applies pressure. When she opens her fingers, there is a small solid piece of material on her thumb. She drops it and it lands on the bed with a small hard thud. "I compressed it into a solid."
Captain America tilts her head in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asks.
"It means I have all my strength." Bruce replies. "The Hulk and I are one. I am neither him, and he is neither me."
Captain America looks between Bruce, then Tony. "I'm still not sure what you're saying."
"Here," Bruce responds. "Maybe it's better if I show you." She steps back, closes her eyes, and begins to concentrate. It does not take long for her body to start growing. First it's a few inches, but then she keeps getting bigger and bigger. Her hair gets really long and her body once again takes on the unique hermaphroditic form it did while fighting Thanos. Bruce only stops growing when her head hits the ceiling. "Oops." He/she says.
Steve Rogers forgets about her troubles for a moment as she marvels at the beauty that is standing before her. The Hulk's eyes sparkle like emeralds, and despite being hunched over his/her smile is soft and welcoming. Her hair flows around her face, giving a kind motherly look to her, which is only thrown off by the masculine jaw. Steve lets her eyes wander and admire the broad yet soft looking shoulder. Bruce is wearing some sort of stretchy fabric which seems to adjust to her size, but her breasts still seem to push the limits, revealing much. Captain America peered down at Hulk's abdomen and gazed at a chiseled six pack that made her suddenly understand why Peggy Carter reached out and touched chest back when she first took the super soldier serum.
"Alright. Alright." Tony Stark says, reaching around and placing his hand on Hulks waist. Steve Rogers feels a sudden pang of jealousy, but confusingly does not know if it's for Tony or the Hulk. "At least you have clothes on this time." Tony says.
The Hulk looks down at Tony and smiles in a very emotionally revealing way. She tries to pat Tony on the head and he pushes her hand away like an embarrassed child. It makes the Hulk smile.
"You're amazing." Captain America says.
The Hulk looks at Captain America then Dr. Strange with a big smile. Even Dr. Strange appears flush, red with awe.
"That's not all." The Hulk says in a deep and smooth voice that causes Steve Roger's loins to ache, despite her injuries. The Hulk starts shrinking again, but instead of turning into the female counterpart she changes into someone a lot more familiar.
"Why didn't you tell me you could do that?" Tony Stark asks, grabbing hold of Bruce Banner. Captain Steve Rogers eyes widened in complete shock. Standing in front of her was Bruce Banner, in male form but with green skin.
"I tried to tell you." Bruce says in his male voice. "But you were just here the whole time, and never in your room."
Tony looks at Steve Rogers embarrassed, hoping she didn't realize the implications. "I had to make sure the Captain was alright." He says defensively.
Captain America is still too baffled to comprehend what just happened. "You're amazing!" She tells Bruce. Bruce and Tony look toward the captain.
"Thank you." Bruce replies. "The changes seem to have affected me differently. "The Hulk is a boy, and I'm a girl, but when our minds became one, we suddenly had the ability to jump back and forth."
"So you can control the Hulk now?" Steve Rogers asks.
"Not exactly." Bruce responds. "It's more like, I am the Hulk... and I am also Bruce Banner now."
Steve Rogers can't help but feel shocked and excited for her friend. "So you can turn into the Hulk now as well... I mean the classic version?"
"Classic version?" Bruce smiles as he turns back into a girl, doing a little bounce as she does so. "I like the sound of that, and yes. I seem to be able to turn into everything and anything between. I suspect I'm much stronger now as well. It's so strange and fascinating." Bruce smiles and turns toward Dr. Strange. "Speaking of which, I believe it's all thanks to you."
Dr. Strange smiles at Bruce. She is clearly still blushing from the sight of He/She Hulk. "All I did was open a few doors." She tells Bruce. "I assure you, I never intended for these results..." She starts to turn away, but stops herself and turns back. "Nonetheless, I am happy for you. Very happy." Dr. Strange can't help but look Bruce up and down. Despite still being female, she can't help but also feel a strong attraction to her.