Heroes Assemble

Chapter 8: Chaos in The Sky

 Black Widow reached up and managed to touch her ear piece.

"We're okay." she replied to Fury's call.

Bruce let out a strained, pained groan. She felt her heart skip a few beats in fear.

"We're okay, right?" she asked.

Bruce groaned again, but glanced at her. Natasha gasped at the emotions in his eyes. Pain, strain and torment were deep within them. She's never seen so much of it at once.

"I..it's okay... Natasha." Bruce strained to speak, "He... He's ... not going to hurt... you."

"Are you sure?" she asked still slightly frightened.

"Ye... Yes." Bruce said, almost groaning. "He... He wants to... to get that pipe of...off your leg. Just... do... don't be scared... i... it's okay."

Natasha heard the honesty in his pained voice. Ultimately, she decided, if Bruce trusted her enough to come here in the first place, she could trust him. Swallowing thickly, she nodded. Bruce started to change into the Hulk. His muscles bulged and his skin turned green. Bruce screamed in pain as he was no longer in control. His shirt ripped off, but the pants didn't tear, they stretched, thanks to the Professor. He had changed into a large green skinned, buff creature. Natasha, although still shocked that she witnessed his transformation, kept herself calm. The Hulk lumbered over, grabbed the pipe with a massive green hand, and lifted it off like it weighed nothing more than a feather. He placed it down, softly, away from her.

"You okay?" He asked in a husky, deep voice.

She nodded, surprised at how soft and kind it sounded. Widow didn't even think he was capable of speaking so softly. Then, Hulk knelt down, and offered a hand to help her up. She took it and was gently pulled to her feet. Still a little shaken, Natasha nearly fell down again, but the Hulk steadied her.

"Easy." Hulk said, still softly.

"Thank you." she replied, accepting his help.

Natasha did eventually get her bearings to stand on her own. Hulk rose to his full height, which she estimated to be at least ten feet tall. She realized just how wrong people were about the Hulk. He's not aggressive the entire time, like Ross has always made him out to be. He can be gentle, she assumed he only attacks if he's provoked. She looked up at him, in surprise. He smiled at her. Widow couldn't help it, she smiled back. Suddenly, a hammer, wielded by Thor, slammed into the Hulk, who roared in rage.

"Thor, no!" Natasha yelled.

It was too late to stop the two powerful heroes. They crashed into a lower hanger bay, still tussling.

"We need an evac in the lower hanger bay." Natasha reported into her earpiece. "Thor's engaged the Hulk."

"I told him not to provoke the Hulk." Fury grumbled on the bridge then he ordered."Hill, insitate full evacuation on the lower hanger bay."

Hill headed down with another agent. Suddenly something rolled into the room in front of her.

"Grenade!" Hill hollered tackling the agent over the rail as the grenade exploded.

Fury, with his gun cocked, moved closer to the door, hidden in the smoke. Three hostiles came in. He took out two and Hill took out the third.

"Director Fury." a woman's accented voice, Molly's, came over the earpiece. "X-Men are enroute to assist."

"Got him back already?" Fury asked.

"MRD did a poor cover up job." She replied. "The rest of us stayed behind to keep an eye on the school and help him. What do you need, Director?"