You Called, I Answered (Salvatore Shield)

1.34 | Hulk

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Hope crouched low to the ground, her senses heightened as she continued her tracking to find Dr. Banner. She could sense the faint trace of gamma radiation and adrenaline mixed in with the stale air around the industrial site.

Every sound, every scent, and every movement were all coming to her very clearly, given how strong her supernatural senses are. And she knew that the scientist she was tracking was close now.

Her ocean blue eyes narrowed as she scanned the two large buildings in front of them, her supernatural instincts pulling her toward them like a magnet.

She rose to her feet slowly, turning to a glance at the SHIELD agents behind her. Coulson's team and hers, two very different groups now working together.

Her gaze moved past them and to the small army of federal agents under General Ross's command.

They lingered at a distance. Their weapons were ready, already preparing for a confrontation.

Hope's lip curled in slight irritation, thinking for a brief moment to herself.

She turned to her side. And her eyes briefly landed on Josie. The brunette couldn't tell what exactly Hope was thinking, before Hope's expression hardened again, and she looked back at Coulson, ushering her head towards the buildings.

"He's in one of these buildings," she told him.

Coulson raised an eyebrow, his calm demeanor still steady. "You sure?"

Lizzie rolled her eyes at that, and they could all hear Kaleb let out a scoff softly. Hope let out a humorless chuckle as she turned back toward the buildings, not even bothering to dignify his question with a real response.

"Your team can search the building on the left," she instructed, already stepping forward. "My team will take the one on the right. If you need help, just...scream."

A sudden silence filled the air before Agent Romanoff spoke up, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "How do we know you aren't just sending us into a trap?"

"I guess you don't." Hope's eyes flickered to Natasha, a small grin spreading on her lips, "But if I wanted you dead, I wouldn't send you to a giant green monster to get the job done." Her voice dropped to a dangerous tone, though she was still nonchalant as she added, "I'd kill you myself."

Barton mumbled under his breath sarcastically, "Hm, that's comforting."

Natasha's gaze narrowed slightly at the Tribrid before the corner of her lips upturned into a small grin, "Thanks for the honesty."

Without another word, Hope gestured for her team to follow her as they began to split up, Coulson's team heading toward the building on the left, and Hope's team moving toward the one on the right.

Josie fell in step beside Hope, casting a brief glance toward the other SHIELD agents, watching them disappear into their designated building. Then the brunette's gaze went to Hope, her eyebrows furrowing in thought.

"What if they find him first and they don't tell us?" She asked, her concern clear in her voice.

Hope shook her head slightly, her expression calm but still focused. "They won't find him."

Josie's frown deepened, and confusion flickered across her features. Then realization dawned on her, "You sent them into the wrong building on purpose."

When Josie's steps faltered for a moment, Hope stopped with her, facing her as Josie asked, "You don't trust them." It was meant to be a question but it came out more like a statement.

Hope sighed before looking away at the building and shaking her head, "Not yet."

Then Hope ushered her head slightly back toward the horizon, where the small army for General Ross still lingered not to close, yet not far enough for Hope's liking. She could see them all prepped there, waiting for something—anything—to happen.