[Tony makes a cursory pat at his suit. The suit's taken care of most of the moisture, but he is a guest.] I usually prefer mine with a beach and an open bar but this is... secluded.
[He steps forward, oblivious to the new print on the carpet.] You don't write, you don't call. I thought I'd stop by and see if you were shacking up, pun intended, with some other science minded billionare BFF. Where are they? Are they hiding in the bathroom? [He paused.] Does this place have a bathroom?
[A wry tug of a smile from Banner. He appreciates Tony's sense of humor, and at the same time, it only highlights the social habits that Bruce has grown rusty at over the years.]
No running water. Rest assured, you're the only billionare in my life. [If you don't count government organizations.]
Out there you mean? Are you serious? [Though one little rule to live by seems to be if it's an inconvenience, than yes, Tony is serious.]
It's raining. [As they're both scientists, Bruce hardly thinks he should have had to make such an obvious statement. Still, he glances at the window, shutters shaking against the wind and rain.]
[Tony sighs. He knows Bruce is being difficult on purpose.] When is the last time you could see a star through a cloud cover like this?
[He raises his eyebrows. Unless of course, it's no star after all. There's something funky going on up there and he thinks he has an idea what, but first he needs to hook the doctor.]
You have towels. Come on, are you seriously afraid of some rain?
[All that it takes is a mention of something unusual and without thinking, Bruce has already taken a step in that direction. His interest caught, rain becomes a secondary concern.]
The visual output is stable? Are you thinking that it's a construct of some sort, or a natural energy?
Somehow, I don't quite believe you. [But anything else he might have to say is lost in the strong currents. Bruce hunches his shoulders and moves out into the rain, squinting up to try and get a view of the light that's got Tony so spooked.]
[Tony doesn't really spook easily, but the readings coming off this thing isn't exactly good news. That and maybe it is a convenient excuse for Bruce to come out and play.
The weather isn't exactly slowing down and he recognizes the fact that if he wasn't in his suit the wind might have proved a bit of a problem, which is why he tries to put himself as much between it and Bruce as he can. Not that it does much good.] Pretty, but freaky, right?
[It's not like Bruce has much of a front yard to begin with, but with the onslaught of rain, it's all pretty much become a big puddle, a danger Tony doesn't really think about until the first strike of lightening hits the sorry looking tree a few feet in front of them and sends half of it to the ground.
Sir, Jarvis prompts and Tony turns back to Bruce.] Okay, maybe we should...
[But he's cut off as the next lightening bolt strikes the suit, sending his internal sensors and alarms wild as it struggles to compensate and redirect the influx of power out. Tony doesn't even have time to utter a warning before the suit conducts the electricity through his feet and into the puddle, sending him with a force that sends him flying.]
[The lightning seems to be striking with a focused precision. If Bruce didn't know better, he'd suspect that Thor was behind this. It's just beyond reason to think that their fellow Avenger could do this however....
Bruce attempts to make a run back for the cabin, but one of the lighting bolts hits him and the word just shatters. Usually his change is stretched out over moments of pain and frustration, struggling for control and ultimately failing when his anger can't be stopped.
This time the other guy is released without much of a fight. You can't fight lighting, though if you're the Hulk, you might just give it a try.]
[Tony pushing himself up out of the mud, his ears ringing from the jolt.] Bruce!
[He probably should've expected the sight that greets him in Bruce's place, but it still manages to take him by surprise. Caution and relief overwhelming him as he pushes himself the rest of the way to his feet.] Hey big guy.
[The suit is booting up again and he's got about ten seconds before he'll have a definite get away plan available to him.] Deep breaths.
[A primal roar is the only greeting that Tony is going to get.
Bruce once described being the Hulk as being an exposed nerve. The lighting strike hadn't done any favors for Hulk's temper. The first thing he picks up, a deeply rooted tree, is torn up and thrown at the cabin.
There's no such thing as sentimentality when blind rage has taken over.]
[Tony winces at the sound and moves back clumsily in his suit. Two seconds later there ia a tree sticking out of Bruce's shack and his suit lights up from the inside, causing him to give a small sigh of relief as he redirects the power to the thrusters and puts a little more distance between himself at the Hulk.
He's seen what the other guy can do.] Yeah, I'm not crazy about getting struck by lightening either, but let's lay off the vacation home, okay? Look! More trees. Over there.
[He moves towards a wooded area. Greenpeace might have something to say about this, but he'll make a donation.]
[Unfortunately for Tony, he's wearing something that lights up. Hulk isn't feeling too charitable towards things like that right now. The fire from the thrusters and the glow of the arch reactor catch Hulk's eye and he starts running towards Tony.]
Smash light!
[Because the light hurt him. Basic logic at work here. Very basic.]
[There isn't going to be much reasoning with this version of Hulk. Maybe if the change had been under more control, then he would recognize things that weren't a threat.
But, no. Right now, the more distance Tony puts between them, the safer he will be.
Hulk tears a path through the heavy forest, following the Ironman suit like it's a blinking lighting bug. Heavy rain and wind is nothing to him. The lighting that continues striking around them is the only thing that manages to distract the Hulk from Tony.
As the thunder sounds out, Hulk echoes his roar from earlier, challenging nature itself to stand against him.]
[This isn't the first time Tony's seen the Hulk. He still remembers the damage the big guy did to SHIELD's toys. Remembers reading the reports of what he did to Ross's men. Watched the amateur footage. Read the dossier.
He knows what the Hulk is and what he's capable of, but he still pushes, wanting him to be capable of more. He stops, hovering out of reach.]
Any chance I can have Bruce back? We were sort of in the middle of a conversation.
[Sorry, Tony, while this storm continues, you're going to have to get used to the new company. But at least the Hulk has decided not to throw another tree at you.
He begins searching for some kind of shelter, any decently sized cave will do.]
[Tony moves to go after the not so jolly green giant, when another strike of lightening hits. This time there's no doubting that the lightening has a target as it hits him. Jarvis barely has time to give him a warning before the suit is falling. By the time the system boots up the second time that night, the Hulk is nowhere in sight and even though he's left destruction in his tall wake, Tony realizes he's in more danger of being electrocuted than an invincible Hulk and seeks cover himself.
It doesn't take him long to find Bruce the next morning, after all the Hulk wasn't exactly covering his massive tracks and by the time Bruce seems to be stirring on the cave floor Tony has thrown a thin blanket over his naked form and it sitting on a rock a few feet away, eating a can of crushed pineapple he found back at the shack.
[Muscles aching, and head pounding, it's a moment before Bruce is able to articulate a response. It doesn't escape his attention that he's woken up in such a state. Though unlike others that wake up naked and in a cave, his concerns about what happened last night are more for the safety of others and not personal embarrassment.]
Tony. The light?
[A heavy weight of potential guilt is already clear on his expression, and he hopes that whatever happened, Tony will have the honesty to tell him up front. The little hope that Bruce holds out for a clean conscious is tied into the fact that this cabin was so remote, it's unlikely lives were lost.]
Worth investigating. [Tony drops his spoon into the tin and sets it down on the cave floor, watching Bruce.]
You killed a few trees and I think you stepped on a dam, but you're probably only looking at a really strongly worded letter from the Arbor Day Foundation.
[Tony leans forward.] You're inner rage monster really doesn't like lightening. Then again, I'm not sure it was actually lightening.
[A grin of relief cracks his dusty face.] Thanks, Tony.
[What was left of his pants was shredded and burned from lightning, so it was up to the blanket to preserve what remained of Bruce's modesty. He huddles inside of it, standing on shaky legs.]
The fact that SHIELD hasn't contacted you about it, worries me.
[His eyes follow Bruce, not missing the slight sway of the blanket as he steadies himself. He's looking a little paler than he'd like, but he knows better than to tell Bruce maybe he should take it easy. Instead he pulls out another can, this one mandarin oranges and tosses it at him.] Breakfast.
[He tilts his head to the side and smiles] I think history shows that they like to use me as a last resort. You on the other hand... actually have more cat videos in your youtube viewing history than I would imagine. Do they calm you? [Beat.] Kittens?
[He shrugs.] Doesn't matter. They didn't contact you either.
[Catching the can, Bruce gives himself a minute before attempting the easy open pull tab lid.]
I'm a pet person. [Though he had opted for doing without that kind of companionship these days. He still moved a little too often to afford the kind of stability that a dog or cat would need.]
No. They didn't, and here I thought they were starting to like us. Have you tried Cap? Natasha?
[Tony grinned at Bruce's comment and made a mental note. He had just been teasing about the cat videos, but it made sense that someone as lonely as Bruce might need some company now and then.]
I've been told I'm an acquired taste. [He sighed and shook his head.] They haven't heard anything. Nat said she'd look into it. Cap's still mad at me for changing the settings on his phone, but he said he'd keep an eye out.
[Pause.] I changed his ringtone to Hanson. Thought he'd enjoy that. [He pushes himself to his feet.] I think we're going to need to take a better look at this thing.
Knowing Natasha, she'll show up with a target in mind. [At least they could count on a couple of the SHIELD agents to keep them in the loop now. Well, sort of.]
..new Hanson or old Hanson. I've heard that they actually grew into their talent well. Though of course, they're not nearly as popular as they once were.
[Sometimes, when you were on the run, you had a lot of boring days filled with VH1 'Where are they now?' and that was how you learned to speak the language of whatever country you happened to be in at the time.]
Old. [Tony said, giving him a sideways look. He seemed to give Bruce a double take.] Okay, that comment was more terrifying than the green rage monster.
So is this your Hulk cave? [He looked around the enclosed space.] A bit primitive. Two days and I can get a bar and a satellite TV up in here.
Oh. Pity. [Bruce doesn't venture to mention that his favorite Hanson song is actually Georgia. He finds it somehow relevant.
He does shrug a little helplessly. Not everyone can have the same musical tastes, Tony. What a boring world that would be. Even if it did mean AC/DC for all.]
You can probably skip the renovation ideas. It was about time for me to be moving on from here. [Bruce spares a sigh for his lost cabin. Not remembering exactly, but somehow still knowing that the Hulk hadn't left it standing.]
[Tony says this matter-of-factly. He's long been of the opinion that Bruce's genius belongs in one of his decked out labs. He's confident they can find ways for him to harness the Hulk together. He has lots of hopes for Bruce and while he's respected his solitude - to a certain extent - it does get tiring sometimes.]
I can't seem to locate it this morning. I'm having Jarvis run the numbers on possible coordinates. When I get a good estimate I'll go investigate.
[Eating another of the canned orange slices, Bruce fails to reassert his intentions of independence. He's too tired to argue with Tony anyway, which takes a certain amount of mental fortitude on the best of days.]
We'll go investigate. [Bruce smiles a little, he's not often proactive with volunteering his assistance. But the idea of letting Tony go off alone doesn't sit right either.]
Something that can direct lighting like that... I need to know what the intentions are.
[Tony raises his eyebrows at Bruce's insistence to come along, but his expression is fooling no one. This was exactly what he was hoping for and the way his mouth at the corners moves up the tiniest bit betrays him. He's never quite met anyone as sharp as Bruce. Sure he could locate and find the source of the lightening machine - as he's taken to calling it in his head - on his own. But things will be twice as much fun with Bruce, even if he does hulk out.
He can't be sure, but he wants to believe he saw some recognition in the eyes of the "other guy" last night. You know, behind the pain that came from being struck by lightening.]
Lightening in a bottle? Can't be good. [He gets to his feet.] Let's get some real breakfast. [He moved towards the face of the cave and added as an afterthought.] And you know, pants.
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Bruce tosses a towel at Tony a moment later.]
It's a little sparse, I know. [But he's not one to waste resources on things he can't carry away easily.] Not your usual vacation selection.
[By which, he mean, what are you doing here Tony? Not to be rude.]
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[He steps forward, oblivious to the new print on the carpet.] You don't write, you don't call. I thought I'd stop by and see if you were shacking up, pun intended, with some other science minded billionare BFF. Where are they? Are they hiding in the bathroom? [He paused.] Does this place have a bathroom?
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No running water. Rest assured, you're the only billionare in my life. [If you don't count government organizations.]
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[He tosses the towel onto a table and cocks his head towards the door.] Now get out here. I need you to look at something.
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It's raining. [As they're both scientists, Bruce hardly thinks he should have had to make such an obvious statement. Still, he glances at the window, shutters shaking against the wind and rain.]
I don't have an umbrella.
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[He raises his eyebrows. Unless of course, it's no star after all. There's something funky going on up there and he thinks he has an idea what, but first he needs to hook the doctor.]
You have towels. Come on, are you seriously afraid of some rain?
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The visual output is stable? Are you thinking that it's a construct of some sort, or a natural energy?
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[He moves to the door and pushes it open against the wind.] Come on, Bruce. Go star gazing with me? I promise to be a gentleman.
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The weather isn't exactly slowing down and he recognizes the fact that if he wasn't in his suit the wind might have proved a bit of a problem, which is why he tries to put himself as much between it and Bruce as he can. Not that it does much good.] Pretty, but freaky, right?
[It's not like Bruce has much of a front yard to begin with, but with the onslaught of rain, it's all pretty much become a big puddle, a danger Tony doesn't really think about until the first strike of lightening hits the sorry looking tree a few feet in front of them and sends half of it to the ground.
Sir, Jarvis prompts and Tony turns back to Bruce.] Okay, maybe we should...
[But he's cut off as the next lightening bolt strikes the suit, sending his internal sensors and alarms wild as it struggles to compensate and redirect the influx of power out. Tony doesn't even have time to utter a warning before the suit conducts the electricity through his feet and into the puddle, sending him with a force that sends him flying.]
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Bruce attempts to make a run back for the cabin, but one of the lighting bolts hits him and the word just shatters. Usually his change is stretched out over moments of pain and frustration, struggling for control and ultimately failing when his anger can't be stopped.
This time the other guy is released without much of a fight. You can't fight lighting, though if you're the Hulk, you might just give it a try.]
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[He probably should've expected the sight that greets him in Bruce's place, but it still manages to take him by surprise. Caution and relief overwhelming him as he pushes himself the rest of the way to his feet.] Hey big guy.
[The suit is booting up again and he's got about ten seconds before he'll have a definite get away plan available to him.] Deep breaths.
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Bruce once described being the Hulk as being an exposed nerve. The lighting strike hadn't done any favors for Hulk's temper. The first thing he picks up, a deeply rooted tree, is torn up and thrown at the cabin.
There's no such thing as sentimentality when blind rage has taken over.]
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He's seen what the other guy can do.] Yeah, I'm not crazy about getting struck by lightening either, but let's lay off the vacation home, okay? Look! More trees. Over there.
[He moves towards a wooded area. Greenpeace might have something to say about this, but he'll make a donation.]
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Smash light!
[Because the light hurt him. Basic logic at work here. Very basic.]
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[He points upwards at the sky.] Lightening. Which means we should get somewhere where you're not the tallest thing around.
[He moves further into the forest.]j Hulk, smash, here.
[Is it weird trying to hold a conversation with a Hulk, yeah, a little. But talking is what Tony does.]
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But, no. Right now, the more distance Tony puts between them, the safer he will be.
Hulk tears a path through the heavy forest, following the Ironman suit like it's a blinking lighting bug. Heavy rain and wind is nothing to him. The lighting that continues striking around them is the only thing that manages to distract the Hulk from Tony.
As the thunder sounds out, Hulk echoes his roar from earlier, challenging nature itself to stand against him.]
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He knows what the Hulk is and what he's capable of, but he still pushes, wanting him to be capable of more. He stops, hovering out of reach.]
Any chance I can have Bruce back? We were sort of in the middle of a conversation.
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He begins searching for some kind of shelter, any decently sized cave will do.]
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It doesn't take him long to find Bruce the next morning, after all the Hulk wasn't exactly covering his massive tracks and by the time Bruce seems to be stirring on the cave floor Tony has thrown a thin blanket over his naked form and it sitting on a rock a few feet away, eating a can of crushed pineapple he found back at the shack.
He nods in his direction.] Morning, sunshine.
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Tony. The light?
[A heavy weight of potential guilt is already clear on his expression, and he hopes that whatever happened, Tony will have the honesty to tell him up front. The little hope that Bruce holds out for a clean conscious is tied into the fact that this cabin was so remote, it's unlikely lives were lost.]
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You killed a few trees and I think you stepped on a dam, but you're probably only looking at a really strongly worded letter from the Arbor Day Foundation.
[Tony leans forward.] You're inner rage monster really doesn't like lightening. Then again, I'm not sure it was actually lightening.
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[What was left of his pants was shredded and burned from lightning, so it was up to the blanket to preserve what remained of Bruce's modesty. He huddles inside of it, standing on shaky legs.]
The fact that SHIELD hasn't contacted you about it, worries me.
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[He tilts his head to the side and smiles] I think history shows that they like to use me as a last resort. You on the other hand... actually have more cat videos in your youtube viewing history than I would imagine. Do they calm you? [Beat.] Kittens?
[He shrugs.] Doesn't matter. They didn't contact you either.
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I'm a pet person. [Though he had opted for doing without that kind of companionship these days. He still moved a little too often to afford the kind of stability that a dog or cat would need.]
No. They didn't, and here I thought they were starting to like us. Have you tried Cap? Natasha?
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I've been told I'm an acquired taste. [He sighed and shook his head.] They haven't heard anything. Nat said she'd look into it. Cap's still mad at me for changing the settings on his phone, but he said he'd keep an eye out.
[Pause.] I changed his ringtone to Hanson. Thought he'd enjoy that. [He pushes himself to his feet.] I think we're going to need to take a better look at this thing.
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..new Hanson or old Hanson. I've heard that they actually grew into their talent well. Though of course, they're not nearly as popular as they once were.
[Sometimes, when you were on the run, you had a lot of boring days filled with VH1 'Where are they now?' and that was how you learned to speak the language of whatever country you happened to be in at the time.]
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So is this your Hulk cave? [He looked around the enclosed space.] A bit primitive. Two days and I can get a bar and a satellite TV up in here.
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He does shrug a little helplessly. Not everyone can have the same musical tastes, Tony. What a boring world that would be. Even if it did mean AC/DC for all.]
You can probably skip the renovation ideas. It was about time for me to be moving on from here. [Bruce spares a sigh for his lost cabin. Not remembering exactly, but somehow still knowing that the Hulk hadn't left it standing.]
Any plans about that light?
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[Tony says this matter-of-factly. He's long been of the opinion that Bruce's genius belongs in one of his decked out labs. He's confident they can find ways for him to harness the Hulk together. He has lots of hopes for Bruce and while he's respected his solitude - to a certain extent - it does get tiring sometimes.]
I can't seem to locate it this morning. I'm having Jarvis run the numbers on possible coordinates. When I get a good estimate I'll go investigate.
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We'll go investigate. [Bruce smiles a little, he's not often proactive with volunteering his assistance. But the idea of letting Tony go off alone doesn't sit right either.]
Something that can direct lighting like that... I need to know what the intentions are.
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He can't be sure, but he wants to believe he saw some recognition in the eyes of the "other guy" last night. You know, behind the pain that came from being struck by lightening.]
Lightening in a bottle? Can't be good. [He gets to his feet.] Let's get some real breakfast. [He moved towards the face of the cave and added as an afterthought.] And you know, pants.