[OPEN] Green Means Go

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce is slowly acquainting himself with this version of New York City. He tries to spend as much time as he can in his labs, but there is only so much that can be done in a day. Sometimes, science requires patience, sitting back and letting things happen.

Also, there is the very real possibility that he will spend the rest of his life here. Bruce doesn't intend to spend it alone, isolated from the people of this world. He's had enough of that in his life. As difficult as it is for him, Bruce knows he has to make connections and find people who are willing to accept both him and the Hulk.

He needs the Hulk to learn how to quickly tell friend from foe.

Unfortunately, Bruce's deep thoughts mean he is not paying enough attention to his surroundings. He crosses the road at the last moments before the crossing light changes from "walk" to "don't walk." Unfortunately, a car also speeds towards him, barely pausing at a stop sign.

The result is Bruce getting hit in the side by the car and going flying over the hood.

This wakes the Hulk up.

Hulk ignores the driver, who gets out of the car to help Bruce and then flees, when he sees the Hulk. Instead, the Hulk focuses on the man's car, pummeling it angrily and tearing it into pieces. This only takes a few moments, then Hulk stops and looks around the street. People are screaming and running, but, so far, no one is trying to hurt Hulk or shooting stupid bullets.

Comments

[beastisbeauty]

Hulk huffs, looking irritated.

"Strong matters. Strong always matters! Jail not hold Hulk!"

[stronglikebear]

"Jail hold Yuri," Yuri points out, perhaps a bit childishly.

[aly_brighteyes]

She nods, lying, "And Aly."

Not for very long, but they needn't know such a thing.

[beastisbeauty]

"Hulk not let jail hold puny ones," Hulk assures them. "Hulk smash jail, free little friends!"

[stronglikebear]

"And then they'd be after us even more." Yeah, Yuri's feeling pretty pessimistic right now. It doesn't help that he doesn't believe they can really go unnoticed out here for long.

[aly_brighteyes]

Him, maybe. Aly knows how to make herself disappear. Still, she finds it sort of endearing that Hulk calls them his little friends and she reaches up to pat his arm.

"Thank you, Hulk."

[beastisbeauty]

Hulk stares at her hand on his arm, head tilted. He's not at all used to nice touches.

"ROMAC not stronger than Hulk. Hulk not let ROMAC keep puny ones."

[stronglikebear]

"They'd try, though," replies Yuri, a bit less touched. "And they'd try to go after our friends, too. Or at least, my friends."

[aly_brighteyes]

That's what it was, Aly thinks. It's all a bit like talking to Nawat, trying to explain humans and hawks and why crow mobbing wouldn't work.

"I know you'd keep us very safe," she agrees, keeping her hand where it is. "But ROMAC is trickier and crueler than that. If they can't catch us, they might catch people we care about."

[beastisbeauty]

Hulk frowns, not liking this ROMAC.

"ROMAC bad. Hulk not tricky people who hurt friends. Hulk find ROMAC and smash."

Because really, he thinks the simplest answer is usually best.

[stronglikebear]

"All of ROMAC?" Yuri is dubious. "They've got the government behind them."

[aly_brighteyes]

"That's part of what makes them tricky," Aly explains. "It'd be like knocking over an anthill. You can take out a lot...but not all of them."

[beastisbeauty]

"Puny boy too grumpy. Government not scare Hulk!" Hulk told him, gruffly. "ROMAC not follow us. Not see puny ones with Hulk."

[stronglikebear]

Yuri may be grumpy, but being called puny doesn't make him any less so. Frustrated, he turns and stalks a few steps away, telling himself he's looking to see if there are signs they really have been followed. Right now, he'd kind of rather have Bruce back.

[aly_brighteyes]

Boys, Aly thinks. Outwardly, she ventures, "I don't think I heard anything lately?"

[beastisbeauty]

"See? Puny ones safe. Hulk knows."

Hulk grins, confident that his time running from Ross gives him an edge on ROMAC.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri bites his tongue, refraining from saying that no, the giant man who could smash him with one hand doesn't know. "For now," he grudgingly admits.

[aly_brighteyes]

"It's easy enough to split off and find a way to safety," Aly points out, thinking of the Rebel Base.

[beastisbeauty]

"Yes, easy to sneak and be safe. Easy to smash and be safe," Hulk agreed, looking a bit sad. "Puny ones go away?"

[stronglikebear]

"I don't want to leave him out here," Yuri tells Aly firmly. Even if they're in danger for being close to the giant green target, he can hardly abandon Hulk -- or Bruce, for that matter -- in his hour of need.

[aly_brighteyes]

"Good. Me neither," Aly agrees. She can make it work, if worse comes to worse, being a clever enough girl.

Once again, she pats Hulk's arm. "Puny ones are staying right here."

[beastisbeauty]

Hulk gives a huff of surprise.

"Okay. Hulk tired now."

He leans back against a tree, his eyes fluttering shut.

[stronglikebear]

Yuri blinks. "...Okay...."

He looks to Aly, then to the suddenly sleepy Hulk. He furrows his brow, opens his mouth like he's thinking of saying something to the big green man, then shuts it again. Instead, he whispers to Aly, "Do you think he's alright?"

[aly_brighteyes]

"We'll find out, I suppose." Aly sits back on her heels with one hand in a fist against her mouth.

"Do you think tired means...?" she makes a shrinking gesture with her other hand.

[beastisbeauty]

Hulk is indeed shrinking, his skin fading to pink. After only moments, the green behemoth is gone, leaving Bruce Banner in his wake. Moaning, Bruce sits up, shaking his head a bit. He starts, seeing others so close to him. He turns the boy.

"Yuri? Um. Wh-what happened?"