now i'm stronger than yesterday

[greenisnteasy]

Who: The Hulk, some unfortunate scientists, and YOU.
When: Early morning hours of Day 22 (before sunrise). Good mooooorning.
Where: Near the woods.
What: After going missing for four in-game days, Bruce comes back... Kind of. Come mingle with the big guy!

At some point in time, Bruce wakes up to find himself held captive, and he decides to break free.

That much, at least, the Hulk knows, or can guess, or whatever – he doesn't really care about Banner's issues very much at all because Banner doesn't care about his, and if he didn't need the Hulk, he wouldn't have let him out in the first place. Why should the Hulk care about him? What the Hulk does care about are people trying to hurt Banner because Banner's body is his body somewhere down the line, and that is so not okay. That is the opposite of okay.

They might be able to contain Banner, but the Hulk is convinced they can't contain him.

He's right. Of course. He's the strongest there is, and these dinky, wimpy little scientists with their stupid machines are so easy to squish. Too easy – there's a nagging, a tugging, and something from Banner's end bleeds through. It isn't really a conscious thought, or a string of words, but it's something the Hulk understands anyway. Take prisoners to interrogate. What were they doing to Banner, what did they want to do with the Hulk?

The Hulk snorts, but nods to himself. Okay, Banner. That's a good one.

While the Hulk's deciding this, his captors realize the Hulk's right – they aren't going to win this one.

The Hulk couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when they start to move him; he's busy fighting, dealing with a particularly thorny (but ultimately destroyed, thanks) machine. He does notice when he starts to fall.

Roaring in rage, he drops out of the sky much like Loki's box did, and he lands on his back, with a loud crash, just outside of the woods. In his arms, he's cradling one live scientist. Two dead ones tumble out with him, in crumpled heaps beside him, but he doesn't really pay attention to that. What matters to him is trying to figure out where those white coat bastards dropped him. He holds out his captive, looking into his face, and thinks of how to interrogate.

Maybe if he just growls in his face.

Comments

[agentx13]

Sharon is already up and about, stretching in the empty house she had shared with Natasha when she hears and the Hulk's yell and the ensuing crash. She wastes no time in running toward the fountain. But no, the noise came from farther away, and she sprints toward the woods.

She skids to a stop when she sees the Hulk, the two dead scientists, and... does the Hulk have a live scientist? Yes.

She rests a hand on the grip of her gun, the other on her knife hilt. She approaches more carefully, her eyes drifting to the Hulk, but just as much focusing on the scientist in his arms. Her expression is decidedly greedy. What she wants to do when she gets her hands on him...

For now, though, she merely watches. This is a new Hulk for her. She doesn't want to misstep. She'll let Steve handle it.

For now.

[greenisnteasy]

The Hulk sees her approach and readies himself, rearing his other arm back and crouching, prepared to strike. What he really wants is information, though, so he doesn't just start by piledriving her and moving on. She isn't wearing a white coat, and that's something, and she isn't made of metal and trying to kill him, so that's something else. He can dispatch of human attackers even easier than metal ones.

"Gonna stand over there all day?" he snaps, egging her forward.

[agentx13]

Glad to see her plan to merely watch is working so well.

She steps forward, not moving her hands from her weapons but not drawing them, either.

"I have nothing better to do today." She studies him for a moment. "Hulk, right? Not Banner? Mind if I play with your little friend, there?"

[greenisnteasy]

Good. She passes the first test, whoever she is. He holds the scientist tighter (he'll probably feel that later), and takes a half-step back.

"How do you know me?"

[agentx13]

"You used to work with my boyfriend a lot in another universe. Here, I just know Dr. Banner." She turns her head to the two bodies. "You're the only one who's been able to hurt the scientists."

"Bet you managed to take care of some others that didn't come through with you, too. Any idea how many?"

[greenisnteasy]

Another universe? The hell? He decides he doesn't care. She's not attacking him; it doesn't really matter what this human gets up to, in this universe or any other. Plus, she's stroking his ego; that's always okay, and he grins at first before he shakes his head.

"A lot. Still enough to bring me back here." He scowls up at the sky. "Dropped me here."

[agentx13]

Okay, Sharon. Don't push too hard. This is the Hulk, not Banner, and judging from her earlier conversation with Banner, she's not sure how much say Banner has in things.

"I have every intention of getting us out of here, Hulk. And I don't know anyone stronger than you. So I was wondering. Would you be interested in going after them again sometime soon?"

[greenisnteasy]

He just gives her a Look.

"Wasn't finished smashing them." The violence, and threat of even more violence, in his voice should be her answer.

[agentx13]

Her lips spread into a slow smile.

"Good." And now there's a moment of hesitation. "Do you mind if I take that guy off your hands if he's still alive? I've got some questions for him."

[greenisnteasy]

The Hulk growls slightly and eyes her, then glances back at the town.

"Don't know you. Where's Tin Man? Flag Man?"

[agentx13]

Ah. A growl. Not necessarily a good side. She stops moving closer, but she doesn't move back, either. So she'll just... keep her tone level. Calm, but not patronizing. She can do that. Right?

"On their way. I heard you help them save New York a while ago. They didn't tell me too many details, but it sounds impressive."

[greenisnteasy]

He narrows his eyes. He appreciates the ego-stroking, but that's a little obvious now. Hearing that the others are coming puts him a little more at ease. It's nothing against Sharon; he's just generally not a very good team player, but he liked that team in New York. He liked them okay, anyway. So far stupid Long Hair and his stupid dumb hammer haven't turned up either, so that's even better.

"Space whales," he says, because that explains everything. "It was fun." It really, really was, and that's also why he's clinging to the idea of the people he knows.

"Why should I trust you?" He totally wants her resume.

[agentx13]

"Because I can help you hurt more of the people keeping us here." She's quiet for a moment. Space whales?

"I thought you fought Loki there. Were there space whales, too?"