under the stars - take two (for Pepper - totherescue)

[greenalterego]

It was a date.

But it wasn't that kind of a date. It was just two people agreeing to meet up at a specific time, for a specific purpose. The first planned get together that Bruce had participated in since the advent of the Hulk. He was still a bit nervous about the idea, to be completely truthful.

As requested, he set up the night time picnic area with blankets and pillows and those 'convenient' folding chairs that actually were harder to unfold than they claimed... and Pepper was going to bring the drinks.

"There, all set. What could possibly go wrong?" Well, talking to himself for starters.

Comments

[greenalterego]

If Bruce knew she was a witness, there would be no accurate description of the dismay he'd feel. But from the moment that his flesh hit the pavement of the road, it was as a flip had been switched. Rational thought swept away in the pure pain and emotion that heralded the presence of the Hulk.

HE GREW LARGER THAN THE SHELL OF A MAN

HULK ROARED

It was a challenge to the universe at large, the Hulk clung to no concepts, the ideas of mercy or pity or malevolence were nothing to him. He understood only the raw force of emotion. That which existed at the beginning of creation, pain, rage, or peace. Only the things that came from deep within. Unstoppable.

DESTRUCTION

As motorcycles sped to surround him, he grabbed them as easily as catching a ball. As easily as throwing a ball, he tossed them into an oncoming jeep. The explosion lit up the road briefly.

ESCAPE

When there was nothing left to hurt him, Hulk ran.

REST

Far from the site of chaos, he found a quiet field. He sat. He looked up at the stars. Far from him there was a cascade of lights in the sky and it was enough.

[totherescue]

Pepper was no stranger to explosions and flying chunks of metal debris, but she was still petrified, frozen behind the wheel, by the sight of the Hulk’s destructive behavior. He made the gang of adversaries look like nothing more than a collection of plastic toys, though by the time it was over, the flames and the carnage that had been left behind was very much real. ’Idiots,’ Pepper thought to herself. ’What were they thinking?’ There was a moment where she wondered if she ought to run – last thing she needed was to be spotted and ambushed like the others. But she was too scared to move, staying right where she was until the Hulk bounded from the road and disappeared across a darkened field.

It had taken a good hour to find the Hulk, and when she did, she was surprised to find him sitting quietly in the grass, staring at the sky. The shower had started, and though Pepper was too frazzled to really enjoy it now, she was grateful for the way it kept the Hulk preoccupied.

She was quiet as she got out of the car and began to climb the wooden fence, keeping her movements soft lest she startle him. She didn’t necessarily want to join him, rather, she wanted to keep an eye on him and ensure no one else bothered him. Or at least, subtlety had been her intention before the rotted wood of the fence cracked and gave out beneath her feet, sending her sprawling onto her side into the mud.

Shit.

[greenalterego]

Out of sight, out of mind. The Hulk gave no more thought to his previous tormentors, other than the small voice in the back of his mind. He was a creature of the moment. At home only under an open sky. It was lucky for Pepper that she found him in such a state. Her intrusion does warrant a sudden shift in his attention. Hulk jumps up, half backstepping and making a fist with one hand.

He snorts at the small woman, glaring in annoyance, for breaking his silent reverie.

If there is an awareness behind the Hulk's eye, it is independent of the Bruce Banner she would recognise. Hulk has his own patterns of thought, and instinct always drove it. After a moment, he is satisfied that she posed no threat to him and he shifts back down to look at the meteors.

[totherescue]

It's funny how one never knew how they would react to a certain situation until they were right in the middle of it. Had anyone asked Pepper what she would have done if ever spotted by the Hulk, she wouldn't have hesitated to say she would run as fast as her long legs would take her. But now that it was actually happening, she couldn't do anything but freeze and silently prep to meet her maker.

Only the searing, white-hot pain she was expecting never came. It wasn't until she felt the ground briefly rumble beneath her that she dared to open her eyes, only to see that he'd settled back down.

She was alive. And more importantly, the Hulk wasn't the least bit interested in trying to change that fact. She wasn't quite sure what to think about that, if she could've brought herself to think about anything at the moment. All she knew was that she was safe, they were safe, and with the chaos behind them, there wasn't much left to do but wait it out.

Too moved by adrenaline to care about the fact that she's another slip away from looking like a swamp monster, Pepper slowly uncurled from her fetal position and got to her feet. She moved carefully but steadily, approaching from the side, eyes peeled, breath held. Again, she wasn't looking to disturb his peace, but if she could just move a bit closer, just to ensure him that she was friend and not foe, that would've been one of the less disastrous things to happen this evening.

Once she's close enough to be considered nearby, but still far enough to be out of the reach of a quick, backhanded swipe, she slowly settled down onto the grass, legs folding into a pretzel as she followed his gaze to the sky.

[greenalterego]

She could thank one Dr Elizabeth Ross for the previous experience that Hulk had with individual women. Though he didn't necessarily have the connection with Pepper that he'd felt with the other, if she stayed around him long enough, he would begin to recognize her in her own right.

Like animals sharing a particular territory, Hulk allows it because she is no kind of predator (though had they been in an office boardroom, he might feel otherwise).

Hulk grunts at her, just testing.

His legs shift to mirror her position, though they are far less dexterous.

[totherescue]

Pepper's stricken by just how childlike the Hulk is. Unpredictable and irritable, yes, but childlike just the same. She can't help feeling a tad bit amused by the way he not-so-graciously follows her lead. Before she can catch herself, she's uncurling her legs to stretch them out in front of her and pivoting slightly to face him.

"You know, since we're watching the sky, it may be easier to lie back. Like this..." She reclines until her back is flat against the ground, fingers linked behind her head as she crosses one foot over the other. When she turns to look at him across the way, she smiles and gestures toward the stars with her elbow.

"See? You can take in more of the sky this way, and it's a lot more comfortable."

He probably didn't understand a word she was saying, but after the long evening they've had, she hardly minds any lack of conversation.

[greenalterego]

Hulk watched her with some curiosity, he understood her words, but they weren't important. It was her body language that won him over. There was a ground shaking thump as Hulk dropped on his back, followed by booming barks of noise.

Hulk was laughing.

The sound only lasted for a few moments, then a silence as he closed his eyes. Sleep came easily to Hulk, who had no sense of remorse for the dozens of deaths at his hand that evening. The weight of those souls would be felt by the man who woke in Hulk's place.

[totherescue]

It had taken Pepper a moment to realize the Hulk was laughing rather than huffing and puffing in frustration. But once it became clear to her that he was actually enjoying himself, she actually began to feel bad for him. Pity for the monster who had killed roughly 30 men in less than five minutes - go figure.

Once he'd fallen asleep, she allowed herself to relax, turning her attention back to the stars. It's a shame Bruce had to miss this, and she can't help wondering what she would say whenever he comes to. How would she explain what happened? And more importantly, what were they going to do now that there had been quite a mess left behind? She's too tired to worry about it, and in the midst of trying to process the events of the evening, her exhaustion caught up to her, lulling her into a quiet slumber much like the Hulk's.

Quite, but short-lived. She isn't sure how long she's been asleep, but when she regains awareness of their surroundings, her eyes fly open with a start and a quick glance to her left.

[greenalterego]

There is a man waiting for her, just to her left. He looks like he's been through a car wreck, and maybe that is one way of viewing things.

"Oh, good." Bruce can pretend that her life was just another in a long list, but the relief that sinks out of his frame belies any approach of apathy. The fact that the Hulk hadn't killed her... it was a gift that he hadn't expected. One small thread to cling to.

"I don't suppose?" The others were alive? He hadn't even wanted to ask, already knowing the answer he'd get. The scientist in him refused to leave those questioned unasked however.

(I'm on the go, so this is an email reply - apologies for any errors in formatting as a result!)

[totherescue]

The memory of the last few hours come flooding in the moment she realizes Bruce is back to himself. Sure, he looks worn, and he’s probably going to look and feel a lot worse once she describes how the evening managed to play out, but for now? She’s just grateful he’s alive. So much so that she puts his question and all pretenses aside long enough to practically launch herself at him in relief, arms closing tightly around him as she settles into a firm embrace.

“Don’t ever do that to me again,” she scolds, though her tone is soft and weary. “I can’t even begin to tell you…”

s'all good :D

[greenalterego]

Before tonight, Bruce could count on one hand the number of times he's actually physically touched Pepper Potts. Most of those being polite hand shakes when he first started showing up at Stark Tower to play with Tony's R&D toys.

Suddenly having found himself with armfuls, it hits Bruce just exactly how long it has been since he's held anyone.

"I'm sorry, Pepper, I'm so sorry." He softly repeats into her hair. Distancing himself from her has no longer become an option.

"I won't, I promise." Bruce would say anything to make it right between them. He's afraid that if she stops to think, she's going to run off now and tell Tony, tell everyone exactly why he needs to be kept locked up or put down. If only that were possible. "I couldn't let them hurt you."

But that wasn't fair either. "...it was the only think I could think of."