The Howler (Bruce Banner/Hulk Fanfiction)

Chapter 27: Fugitive

About halfway through the day, Bruce bustled back in. It was so loud and abrupt that both Fingo and Fanggo were on their paws quicker than Bruce even realized possible. Both of them headed toward the door with Fanggo growled while Fingo held slightly back with his fur bristling and eyes wary.

"What's going on," Fingo asked as soon as Bruce walked right past them, but not before locking the door behind him. Clearly something had him spooked.

Frustration came off of Bruce in waves. "They've found me. They always find me!" He suddenly kicked a wooden object, almost like a tree with a place for Bruce to sit. It went flying and landed with a crash that sent Fanggo reeling in surprise.

"Who found you," inquired Fingo as he struggled forward. His front foreleg struggled to be pulled forward. He noticed Bruce struggling to pack some things into a beat up looking dull pelt like object. Fingo sat down across from him and tilted his head curiously. "Bruce, who found you?!"

Bruce turned to face Fingo sharply. Fingo held his breath when he noticed that Bruce's eyes suddenly had a flicker of green in them. Fingo gulped as Bruce sucked in a heavy breath to calm himself. "Just someone who's interested in the Other Guy. I'm sorry that I can't be of anymore help, but I really have to go. Somewhere remote that they won't be able to find me."

Thinking quickly, Fingo leaped in front of Bruce. "Wait! Let us come with you."

"What," Bruce asked, doing a double take. "What are you talking about, Fingo? I couldn't possibly take you two with me."

Fanggo suddenly narrowed his eyes as he lumped over to his brother. He sat down beside him with his head tilted. "We could help you? Help you stay hidden. Fingo and I know a thing or two without stealth."

"But, I-"

"Bruce, we can help you. Whatever you choose to do we will respect that. We're just offering our company," Fingo offered.

Bruce stood frozen for a moment. It was an outstanding offer. He had no idea who they were still, but they were certainly different from anything that he had dealt with prior. It might even attract more attention to him. However, he couldn't just leave them there. If SHIELD got ahold of them then they would never let them go. Fingo and Fanggo didn't deserve that.

"Fine, you can come. I can't promise that this will work, but I think that we're stronger together than we are apart," announced Bruce as he continued to pack.

Fingo drew over to Fanggo and brushed his head against his brother's shoulder. Fanggo touched his nose to his ear. "Are you alright with this," Fanggo whispered, realizing that he didn't really ask his brother about it before he just blurted stuff out.

"Of course. We need to find others like us and I feel like we need to protect him," explained Fingo as he pressed against his brother even more. "We will fight for him and for each other."

Fanggo grinned as Bruce finished his work. He grabbed a bag and faced them. "Now, you have to do everything that I say exactly the way that I say it. We're going to need to do this very carefully. You two don't exactly blend in."

Fingo looked down at his light gray pelt and wrinkled his nose. He always thought that he blended in, just a little bit. However, he thought it best not to argue with Bruce. "Alright, just tell us what we need to do," he announced with his chest puffed out in pride.

Bruce grinned. "Alright, we need to go and stand by me the entire time," he ordered as he grabbed the bag and headed for the door.

Fanggo and Fingo followed and headed outside. The air hit them as did the stench off disgust in the air. Fanggo let out a heavy snort that turned into a painful sneeze as it scorched his nose. "What's that smell," he growled with his tongue slightly sticking out of his mouth.

"You get used to it. Just don't talk or anything, alright? Not everyone will be okay with you guys talking," Bruce grumbled under his breath as he took off forward.

Fingo limped forward with his brother following, just in case he stumbled and fell. Fingo struggled to keep up as Bruce made his way down a hard substance on the ground that reminded Fanggo of the black stone that they had gotten hit on. He shuddered as they walked forward while the sounds of human life started to dawn on the two of the two of them.

"Bruce Banner!"

A voice sounded and Bruce immediately stiffened when he heard the voice. He turned around with his eyes narrowed. "Leave me alone," he snapped, his tone borderline on a growl.

"You know that we can't do that, Dr. Banner. Come with us quietly and we'll figure this out," the voice commanded.

Just then rain started to fall. It soaked through Fingo's pelt as he slightly lowered down. Bruce glanced over to the two wolves and sighed as he set down his bag. "Alright, just don't hurt them."

A man started to approach Fanggo and Fingo. He held a strange branch out in front of Fingo and then wrapped something around his neck. He started to yank Fingo and he let out a yelp as he was dragged forward. He collapsed onto the wet ground and was dragged forward.

Fanggo let out a snarl as he lunged for the branch. It was hard and nearly cracked his teeth. He yelped in surprise before he charged for the man. He knocked him off of his feet as he pulled Fingo back. Fingo desperately clawed at his neck in a desperate attempt to free himself. He managed to do so with a little help from Fingo. Fanggo stood in front of his brother with his back arched and fur bristling threateningly.

Suddenly, more thunderbranches were raised in their direction. "Contain those creatures or we'll shoot," shouted anther man.

"Fanggo, Fingo, it's alright," Bruce started. There was an edge to his voice that seemed to argue the fact that everything was alright. They picked up on it and reacted to it suddenly.

They came toward the two wolves again and that was all that Fanggo could handle. He took a step forward as his dark gray pelt was replaced by dark brown fur. His usual calm eyes turned pale yellow while his teeth bared in a snarl with saliva spraying the ground in front of him. He grew to the size of a Dire Wolf as The Howler took over.

The Howler lunged for the humans behind him. He tackled them all to the ground, striking out his paw when necessary and knocking them off their feet. Their thunderbranches didn't faze him as they struck him. He howled so loud that it seemed to shake the ground. Fingo ducked down as his stomach seemed to plummet.

    This can't be happening. This can't be happening, Fingo thought as he ducked his paws over his ears and shook in terror.

    A man headed over to Fingo, but he didn't make it that far. Fanggo speared forward and stood over his brother, swooping around and threatening everyone with a growl whenever they dared to draw near.

    "Fanggo, it's alright, shhh. Shhh," chided Fingo as he lifted a paw and rubbed it against his brother's rumbling and vibrating throat.

    Fanggo made no inclination that he knew what his brother was saying or cared. A moment later, there was another roar and Fingo looked up to see a green creature standing adjacent to Fanggo. It looked to Fanggo and Fanggo looked to him. The creature thrust it's fists against the ground, causing it to crumple. Fanggo let out a snarl as they charged forward with Fingo struggling to keep up.

    This really wasn't what Fingo had had in mind when it came to running away and finding answers, but it was the only option that he had. If he stayed, he would be killed, and if he didn't run, then he would loose his brother. If this was what it took to be a fugitive, then he was ready for it.

    He suddenly yelped when he felt teeth sink into his scruff. The Howler threw Fingo to his back and Fingo sunk his claws into his brother's fur to stop himself from falling off his back. His vision started to blur and all he saw was a flash of colors as they charged on through the day.