Betty, it’s… uh… it’s me Bruce. There’s going to be some… some things you’re going to hear about me. I don’t know much they covered up in the red tapes but… but…

Look, they say he was created now, created by the explosion or whatever but he was there. He was always there. Even when I was a kid the bastard never stopped bothering me and…

I sound crazy huh? Look I have to go. I don’t know how far away your father is but he’s coming and… and… he really stresses me out. I just want to let you know I love you and… I’m sorry I never told you everything. It… it’s hard… it’s really hard. Goodbye Betty.

…

The Crystal Goose was a small little bar in Arizona. It didn’t have many customers but on the rare occasion it did, it was usually military men.

Men in green from Stark Industries and Ferris Aircraft made themselves comfortable in the little bar. The bar was rarely full but when it was, the nights were anything but boring.

What made it all the more entertaining, at least for the bartender Maylene was the stories all the men in green told.

Colonel Casper over at Stark Industries talked about Doctor Will Magnus and his robots, people over at Ferris talked about this man in green over at Coast City who could make giant hammers pop out from a small little ring on his finger (a story which Maylene thought was a load of baloney) and the kids talked about their shitty lieutenants. Stories were all different and exciting but there was always one story, one story that stayed the same.

Stanley Jackson had had a lot of odd jobs and one of those jobs was at the Los Diablos Military Base.

And while Maylene didn’t believe in stories about men with green rings that could make anything, she did believe in the Hulk.

Because the destruction he left was real.

“All this fancy talk about Metal Men and men with rings,” Stanley said. “But have any of you seen the Hulk and lived to tell the tale?”

There was an audible groan from everybody in the bar. They’ve heard this story a thousand times before but despite that everybody entertained old Jackson because there was something entertaining about the Hulk, something entertaining about the timid man turned monster that caught everybody’s attention.

“I was the first one to see the Hulk. The first

…

one I tell you. There was this scientist, Doctor Banner. Him and the old Thunderbolt were working together on this gamma bomb. I don’t know why they wanted to build it; all I knew was that my job wasn’t to ask questions.

Now, Banner, Banner was a peculiar case. He didn’t seem like much of a man to me. He heard insults but ignored them, some of the men on the base used to steal his food, play pranks on him, basically make the man’s life a living hell but Banner didn’t pay them no mind.

But then there were his eyes.

I decided to join in on the fun, made a joke about his fiancée Betty.

Jackson chuckled.

Yeah get this, the doctor was engaged to Thunderbolt’s daughter. Can you believe it? Hunched out nerd like him engaged to a girl with legs that dangerous? Anyhow, I made a joke and the man grabbed my palm and this Banner, this milksop grabbed my arm. His grip was tight as hell, I swear he was about to break my wrist but the look on his eyes… the look on his eyes…

I could swear they were green.

He let go, apologised but needless to say I was a little creeped out.

I was there when they were testing the bomb. Buncha scientists hunched over these machines, the beeping and all those flashing lights of was enough to give a man a headache. Old Thunderbolt Ross was being the angry jackass he always is but I couldn’t keep my eyes off Banner. That incident had me all shaken up.

The bomb was scheduled for testing at some empty patch of desert. It was just around fifteen minutes before launch when sweet Betty Ross found out about the lightshow and…

Jackson chuckled.

Oh, you should’ve seen Thunderbolt’s face as his daughter ate his head up. The boys and I were trying our hardest not to laugh.

It was then the alarms decided to light up, the big blaring red lights. Some stupid ass kid crashed through the fence and was driving his car around the test area. The bomb had already launched by then and there was nothing any of us could do.

Or so we thought.

Brucie boy rushed through the desert in a jeep. He crashed into the kid’s car. Nobody could do anything, there were panicked calls and desperate attempts but we were dealing with a gamma bomb, there was no way we just stop it.

We don’t know what happened to Banner, all we know is that the bomb went off with Banner and the kid caught in the middle.

And then a few folks in special suits went out to look for him, for what remained. Imagine our surprise when we found Banner alive and well without a single scratch on him and the kid knocked out in a ditch, curled up like he was fast asleep.

“Can I get another glass?” Stanley asked, tapping the counter.

“Coming right up,” Maylene said heading over to the beer rack and filling up a glass.

“What happened next?” asked a private, a young kid with wisps of a beard and moustache.

“What do you mean?”

“You said you saw the Hulk,” the private said. “How’d you see him?”

“Kid have some patience,” Stanley said. “Can’t you see I’m drinking here.”

The bar chuckled. A filled glass was by Stanley’s shoulder, he took a sip. “So

The boys and I found a small town. I hesitate to call it a town, it was barely big enough to be a village. Thunderbolt put out an order to evacuate the town and those people agreed. We couldn’t use the base cause of ‘contaminants’ and all of us had to wear these hazmat looking suits.

Banner and the kid were sent to the big town house for some testing. Two scientists were sent in to carry out some tests, you know. The rest of us watched the perimeter.

Ms. Ross or should I say Mrs. Banner wanted to get in but Thunderbolt and some of the boys stopped her. Y’know how emotional women get.

Now I don’t know what happened inside, what I know about Banner’s transformation is from the reports and I’m not sure I should be divulging what was in those files so I won’t. I’ll just tell you what I heard.

Sunny, one of the scientists over at the house told us that those machines, the ones they use to track radiation, didn’t register anything. You’d think two men caught in the midst of a gamma bomb but there was nothing, it was just blank.

They were just about to call it quits, to give up trying to make sense of the whole situation when suddenly the radiation machine started going off.

Banner was stumbling around like a man possessed, knocking shit over. He was complaining about a noise or something, the details are hazy. Scientists tried to calm him down but he ignored them, his teenage boyfriend tried to do something but Banner ignored him. Sunny’s assistant George tried injecting him with a needle but and I swear to god this is true, the needle broke and Bruce threw the man out of the window like he was a toy.

And Bruce, he wasn’t there anymore. There was just this green thing, tearing through cars and trucks and houses like they were nothing. Bullets bounced off of him like they were paper balls, he knocked everybody around.

I didn’t see much; it was all a blur of explosions. His roar was louder than the gunfire. But I do remember, I do remember one thing. I caught a glimpse of his eyes, those green eyes of his. I realised Banner wasn’t there anymore, it was only the Hulk.

And in those green eyes, the only thing I saw was rage.

The ice was starting to swirl around the brown liquid.

“I realised something when I saw the Hulk,” Stanley said. “Those monsters, cryptids, whatever you want to call them. The Loch Ness monster, Bigfoot, part of what fuels the hunt is the mystery, the search, the fact that they might exist. Hell, I don’t know if they do exist or not but after seeing the Hulk, maybe just maybe… we’re better off not finding them.”

…

Rick Jones had to look behind him before he opened the motel room door.

The room was dark and dead silent. Curtains were closed, windows were sealed shut and not a single water drop could be heard from the bathroom. Both Rick and the doctor didn’t want to awaken the beast, a job that was getting harder to do in a crammed motel room like this.

Rick placed the groceries he bought on the table, breathing a sigh of relief as he removed his cap. Getting to buy basic supplies was becoming more and more of a hassle especially with the military state of emergency on the Doc. And what about the Doc? The Hulk himself? Doc was lying down on the bed in the corner with his face away from the curtain as if a single beam of light would set off a nuclear bomb.

“Who’s there?” Doc said, getting up.

“It’s me, Rick,” Rick said. “Got some supplies. Instant noodles, canned food, toothbrushes…”

“Oh,” Doc said. “Thanks,”

“Shouldn’t you eat up?” Rick asked, taking out a can of beans and prying it open with the rusted can opener they bought a few towns ago. “We have a long journey ahead of us.”

Doc got up. Ever since the transformation at the town he was starting to get skinny. The clothes they bought to stay undercover started to droop over his shoulders.

“You’re right,” Doc said. His hair was a mess and his clothes had wrinkles all over them. “I should eat.”

They ate in silence, the only sound being them chewing their food. Even then, Rick made sure he chewed on his food softly.

“I’ve been wondering Doc,” Rick said.

“Hmm,” Doc said, looking up at him.

“Well, if you don’t mind me asking,” Rick said. “How do you know so much about… you know?”

“What?”

“You know,” Rick said. “Our big green elephant in the room.”

At that, Doc stopped eating.

“Like I said if you don’t mind me asking,” Rick said. “If you don’t want to talk about it.”

“No, I’m fine,” Doc said. “It’s just common sense. I remember what set me off when I transformed the first time around and figured it out from there.”

Rick nodded. “I see, I see. It’s just… I don’t know. You and the big guy, it’s almost like you… know each other.”

The Doc stopped chewing. He seemed like he wanted to say something more when he heard someone knocking on the door. Doc started covering his ears. Rick started to get irritated.

“We don’t need any room service,” Rick shouted. “Get the fuck outta here.”

“I’m sorry sir,” said a formal voice. “But we’re on the hunt for a fugitive by the name of Bruce Banner. We have information he might be residing in this here motel.”

Rick and the Doc looked at each other, panic overtaking their eyes as they tried to figure out who found out their location.

…

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Timmy who liked superheroes.

He would read the comic books and watch the cartoons on TV. There would be an evil villain or an ugly monster and the superhero would defeat them and send the villains to where they belonged.

Not to mention he saw the Green Lantern. Yes, the Green Lantern. A car was about to run him over but before he could there was a flash of light and suddenly he was in the Green Lantern’s arms and he had a big smile on his face.

There was another thing about Timmy. He was very curious. So, when big green cars filled with soldiers started going through the city, Timmy decided to follow them.

Timmy was a small boy so it was easy to hide. He saw the military with their guns and tanks and in the centre of it all was a man with white hair and bushy eyebrows yelling orders into a microphone. He reminded Timmy of his grandfather who yells at him and even his father when he was angry.

They were all surrounding the old motel his father always avoided. From his hiding spot by the alleyway, he saw a soldier knocking a door upstairs.

And then without permission the soldier barged into the room.

What happened next was too fast for little Timmy’s curious eyes to process.

The soldier was launched across the sky and there was a crack that made Timmy’s stomach twist.

There was a roar like thunder and the sound of guns roared like a hurricane, Timmy couldn’t hear his own voice. The world shook as a green monster leapt from the motel and started crashing through trucks like they were Lego sets. There were sounds of people screaming, and guns, and tanks. Buildings started falling around Timmy and the whole world seemed to turn inside out as the beast tore through everything with the strength of tanks.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

He was curled up in the alleyway, crying as the world was torn around him, his eyes tightly shut.

Boom, went the monster’s footsteps.

Bang, bang, bang went the guns.

And boom, boom, boom. The footsteps came closer like the rumblings of an earthquake.

He didn’t want to open his eyes; he didn’t want to open his eyes.

He opened them anyway.

And saw a pair of venom like green eyes staring at him.

The monster ran away and Timmy was found by the soldiers, the heroes. The heroes won, they always won.

But after what he saw, what he experienced, the nightmares that plagued him at night and the sounds that haunted his dream; Timmy didn’t live happily ever after.

The End.

…

“You have to go Rick,” Bruce said. “I have to do this on my own.”

“No way Doc,” Rick said. “You saved my life. I owe you and you can’t just do this all on your own. The military’s after you…”

“And after you, too,” Bruce said. “I can’t… I don’t want you to be in danger because of me, okay Rick. Just… just get out of here. Find a place to stay where they can’t find you. You’ll be fine.”

“I don’t have any place to stay!” Rick snapped. “I don’t have anybody! I told you that.”

Bruce sighed. “Look I’m sorry but you can’t join me. You’re not in danger from the military but also…”

“I don’t care,” Rick said. “You saved my life and I’ll always be grateful for that. I’m with you till the end of the line, Doc.”

Bruce smiled. He placed a hand on Rick’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

When Rick wasn’t looking, Bruce picked up a metal pipe he saw lying on the road.

Rick turned around. “So, where we headed Doc…”

Rick crumpled to the floor. Bruce knelt down to check his pulse and thankfully the boy was still alive.

“I’m sorry,” Bruce said, choking on his words. “I’m sorry.”

He left the boy on the side of the road as he disappeared into the desert.

…

The Journal of Elizabeth Ross

It’s been a long time since I wrote in this journal, the last time was when Bruce proposed to me. Since then, it’s been months and the heartache isn’t getting any easier. Oh, Bruce.

The official story is that Bruce died in the gamma bomb explosion. I don’t know what the government and dad has covered up behind red tape. Ever since the government incident there have been sightings of this big green creature around the area. The biggest incident being one in a small town in New Mexico where the creature they call the Hulk caused major damage to all the buildings. That’s what they’re calling him, the Hulk.

But what bothers me is dad and his fixation with this Hulk. Dad has always put duty above his family but this time around it seems like he’s obsessed. He barely eats, barely sleeps. He’s been raking up a lot of debt with the weapons he’s been buying from Lex Corp and Stark Industries. Right now, he’s in the middle of a contract with a man named Will Magnus for the use of his ‘Metal Men’ whatever the hell that means. I don’t have the best relationship with ‘Old Thunderbolt’ Ross but his recent behaviour has me worried.

And then there’s this call I got just a few days ago from Bruce. I thought it was a prank but there was no mistaking his voice. There was a lot of apologies and a lot of things I couldn’t begin to understand but there was one thing he said that stuck with me.

He was always there.

It left me with a cold pit in my stomach. Bruce didn’t have the best childhood and he has some unresolved issues but he’s always been fine. A little meek sure, a little bit of a pushover but always fine. He was always the kind-hearted man who approached me at a party once fumbling all his words and remained that way.

But there were times, times he would get angry and… He was never abusive, thank god but seeing him like that made me feel as if I was talking to an entirely different person. A person I never want to know.

Betty Ross didn’t think much of it when her doorbell rang. She just went to the white door of her apartment and opened it, surprised to see her fiancé standing right in front of her looking like he had fought through a tornado.

“Hey,” Bruce said, stumbling into the apartment as if he was hungover. “They’re coming. I don’t have much time.”

He walked into the apartment, breathing it in as if it was the last time he’d ever be there. “I can still smell your perfume,” he said turning to her, his smile buried underneath his scraggy beard.

“You can just walk in here after months dressed up like a homeless person and acting all mysterious,” Betty said. “What’s going on?”

“Your father has someone waiting by your house,” Bruce said. “They’re not going to be long.”

At any other moment in her life Betty would be pissed her father sending someone to spy on her but at this point she was not surprised.

Betty sighed, crossing her arms. “So, tell me. What’s wrong? Why are you acting so… so cryptic?”

“Remember when we used to talk?” Bruce said. “About my past? About my father?”

“Well, we never used to talk about that,” Betty said. “You always used to change the topic.”

“Yeah well,” Bruce said, sitting on a sofa and grabbing his head. “Things are happening so damn fast now and I don’t…”

“Hey, hey,” Betty said in a soothing voice. She placed a hand on his arm to calm him down. “Slow down. Let’s… let’s talk about it.”

“I have dissociative identity disorder,” Bruce said. “Uh… multiple personalities. My dad he was… he was abusive and my mum tried to protect me but…”

Bruce clenched his fists. He could feel the rage slowly start to build up in his body and it took a lot of energy to stop it from consuming him.

“And I don’t know what was in that gamma bomb,” Bruce said. “But my altar, the Hulk, he… he…”

Just then he heard someone slamming the door. “They’re here.”

“Come out with your hands up, Mr. Banner,” shouted a voice. “We’ve got you surrounded.”

“Bruce…” Betty said with a high voice.

“Get out of here,” Bruce said with a harsh voice. Bruce could feel his clothes start to tear and his muscles start to grow.

Betty tried to hold him. “Bruce…” she said with a shaky voice.

“GO!” Bruce roared, his eyes glowing an eerie green.

Betty screamed.

…

Lieutenant Thunderbolt Ross was pacing back and forth screaming at whoever was unfortunate enough to get in his way. Surrounding his daughter’s house was a huge ring of soldiers armed with the best weapon but everybody here knew that wasn’t going to be enough. No, they’d need more.

“Relax, general,” Doctor Will Magnus said with a grin, the same grin that was plastered in all the magazines and science journals the young robotics genius had to take photos for. “My Metal Men will handle it.”

“Firstly, it’s lieutenant,” Ross barked. “Secondly, my daughter is in there with that… that monster and if anything happens to her I will personally shut down that dumb Metal Men project of yours. Stark let you get away with a lot. Don’t forget who’s handling all your ‘mistakes’ Magnus.”

Magnus clenched his fist, still keeping his suave grin however there was an edge to his voice. “Alright boss, sure thing.”

Magnus spoke into his smart watch. “Mercury, what’s going on inside the house?”

“Nothing much, Doc,” Mercury said, his long red face squished between pipes. “They’re just talking about Banner’s childhood.”

“Tin, Iron, Gold,” Magnus said. “You in position.”

The shining porcelain faces of Gold, Iron and Tin flashed onto the screen. Tin was standing by the door, always eager to prove himself. Gold and Iron were at the side of the building ready to jump in in case Mercury failed to rescue Ms. Ross.

“Lead?”

With heavy footsteps atop the roof, the bulky Lead perked his head up, his entire body ready to spread out and envelop the building in case Banner got out of control.

Magnus grinned. “And let’s not forget my darling Tina.”

A glittering female robot stepped by the doctor’s side. The robot had an hourglass figure, with a doll like grin and a face that was more sculpted than the other Metal Men.

“Oh, you flatter me Doc,” Tina said, leaning on the Doc’s shoulder and placing a hand on his chest.

Ross scoffed. “You program that thing?”

Magnus looked offended. “She’s not a program, she has a will of her own, don’t you Tina?”

“Yes, Doc,” Tina said, resting her head on Magnus’s shoulder.

“Whatever, creep,” Ross said.

“Doc, we might have a problem,” Mercury said through the comms. Ross rushed to the doctor.

“What’s up?” Magnus asked.

“Banner’s starting to freak out!” Mercury said.

It was at that moment they heard Betty’s shrill scream echo in the air.

…

Betty was standing face to face with a monster. It roared and it fought with itself, tossing its arms around, breaking tables, chairs and tearing through the wallpaper in a whirlwind of flailing limbs.

But he never got close to her, whenever the monster saw her face he looked as if he was in pain. In those brief moments she saw Bruce.

But she didn’t have time to figure out what was happening. She was surrounded in a swirl of red that looked like blood, a robot with a cartoonish face and odd face proportions grabbed her.

“Sorry, miss,” it said. “But we have to get you out of here.”

The robot burst through the window, carrying Betty in its arms. She heard the Hulk wail, saw him reaching out a hand but suddenly her door burst open and two more weird robots came and started to attack the Hulk.

There was a lot of noise around her, men in green started to surround her. She heard her father’s relieved voice, felt blankets being wrapped around her but all she could think about as the sirens wailed and the gunfire rang was the name of her fiancé.

“Bruce,” she muttered.

…

“I-I can handle you,” Tin said as he charged at the Hulk, turning himself flexible so he could wrap himself around him. But the Hulk was faster, he grabbed a hold of Tin’s face and crushed it in his palm.

“Tin!” Iron called out. Hulk let go of Tin’s body, screws spilling out of the spot that his head used to be.

“Tin’s out,” Gold said to Magnus. “Iron no!”

Iron rushed at Hulk, striking his face in a flurry of fists, forcing Gold to fight. Gold stretched out his fist, striking Hulk across the face. Iron rushed in for a tackle but the Hulk was quick, grabbing his arm and tossing him to the ground. Before he could crush Iron’s face under his foot, Mercury burst out of the pipes wrapping himself around the Hulk.

“I got you now, you big green turd!” Mercury yelled. The Hulk growled, trying to grab Mercury but Mercury slid around his body like a snake. That gave Iron enough time to fight, striking him across the face.

“Remember,” Gold said. “We’re supposed to capture him!”

“Look at what he did to Tin!” Iron growled. “And you’re telling me you want to capture him.”

“It’s the Doc’s orders,” Gold said. “We can’t disobey them!”

“Fine,” Iron said.

“Lead!” Gold said, speaking into his built-in comms. “Begin operation wrap around.”

“Sure… uh thing boss,” Lead said from atop the roof. Lead spread his huge body across the house, wrapping around it like a giant grey blanket.

“What are they doing to my house?” Betty said.

“Relax doll,” Magnus said. “They’re just making sure that boyfriend of yours doesn’t get out.”

“C’mon Doc,” Platinum said. “Let me join them. I barely get to have any fun.”

“Relax Tina,” Magnus said. “You’re a woman robot, let the men do all the work.”

“Oh, you’re right, Doc,” Platinum said. “Don’t want to get my hands dirty.”

Betty scoffed. “Pig.”

The house was covered in a veil of darkness as grey metal started to spread across the windows and the doorframes. The Hulk was surprisingly still, Iron was still using him as a punching bag and Mercury grunted, struggling to wrap himself around him.

“Alright, Doc,” Gold said. “We have the entire house under lockdown. Tell Casper to get the helicopters…”

“Hulk… angry…”

“Huh?” Mercury said.

“What’d you say you little shit?” Iron said with venom, punching Hulk in the stomach.

“Iron stop,” Mercury wheezed.

“See what he did to Tin and then tell me to stop,” Iron growled.

“Gold,” Mercury grunted. “I’m struggling to…”

Hulk grabbed Mercury’s face, ripping him off his body as if he were a leech. And he didn’t know if it was just the darkness but the Hulk seemed to be a little bigger.

“Help…” Mercury cried out; his voice muffled by the Hulk’s fist. “Hel…”

His cry was cut short as Hulk crushed his head under his fist, Mercury’s body splashing across the floor as if it were blood.

Red liquid dripped from the Hulk’s left fist onto the floor below. Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.

“You wouldn’t like Hulk when he’s angry,” the Hulk said, his eyes hidden underneath a veil of darkness.

…

“Alright that’s a wrap,” Ross said. “How long till the helicarriers get here…?”

“What are you going to do to him?” Betty said, stepping up to her father.

“Just run some experiments,” Ross said. “Try and cure…”

“Stop with your bullshit!” Betty shouted. “What are you actually going to do with him?”

“Guys I wouldn’t call it wraps just yet,” Magnus said.

“Why what’s the matter?”

“Gold and Iron, their coms are down,” Magnus said, fear spreading in his eyes. “It’s expected of Tin but these two…”

“I’m sure it must be a glitch,” Ross said. “What with that big guy…”

But then they all heard it. The sound of something hitting metal. Something heavy.

Everyone tensed.

“Doc…” Lead said. “I don’t feel very good.”

“Mercury do you copy?” Magnus said. “Gold, Iron, anyone.”

That sound again, this time it was like a thunderclap.

“C’mon,” Magnus cried. “Respond! Respond!”

“Men,” Thunderbolt growled. “Brace yourselves.”

The men in green tensed, they had their guns pointed at the giant dent protruding from the Metal Men’s body like a tumour as the giant fist hammered away, inching closer and closer to escape.

And then the sound stopped.

Everyone stared at the dent dumbfounded. For a brief moment they relaxed.

That moment was all he needed.

Like lightning he struck, the soldiers cries and screams chorusing in the air. Gunfire was useless, the soldiers fired and fired but the bullets bounced uselessly off the massive brute’s green body. The slow but large Metal Man tried to attack Hulk but was crushed underneath his massive heel. The Hulk roared in the air.

Platinum of the Metal Men noticed the bodies of her comrades, reduced to scraps. She knew Doc wouldn’t want her to do this but she had to do something to avenge her friends.

“Tina no!”

Tina rushed at the Hulk but the Hulk was faster, he grabbed her in mid-air. Tina tried splitting her body into fibres to avoid his massive fists but the Hulk grabbed those thin fibres and flailed her around like a mace, using her perfect face to knock back soldiers and other men who tried to get close. When he was done, he ripped her head away from the rest of the body and threw her lifeless body aside.

The Hulk started walking, with each footstep feeling like a tremor. Gunfire rained down on his body but the bullets bounced off uselessly, falling on the ground like hailstones. He stared straight at Betty with those green eyes of his and for a brief moment Betty thought she was staring at the Devil.

Ross stepped in front of Betty. Doctor Magnus was on his knees, reduced to a snivelling heap after he saw what had happened to Tina. “Tina,” he wailed. “Tina!”

Ross took out a pistol. “You’re not getting anywhere near my daughter you freak!” Ross said, firing at him with a pistol that felt like a toy gun. “You hear me!”

The Hulk just grabbed him and put him aside. Betty tried to scramble away from the monster but she knew it was futile. The Hulk grabbed and slung her over her shoulders.

“LET GO OF MY DAUGHTER YOU MONSTER!” Ross screamed. A few dozen soldiers gathered up and were about to fire. “NO, YOU IDIOTS, THAT BASTARD HAS MY DAUGHTER!”

“Let go of me!” Betty cried. “Please let go of me!”

She tried hitting him but she knew it was futile. Her little fists bounced off his green body like plastic.

“No!” Ross cried as a tank fired its missile. Betty thought she was dead but when her eyes open she saw she was wrapped under the beast’s massive body.

“YOU IDIOTS!”

Ross’s men started to fire. “STOP, STOP!”

The Hulk cast a sad look at Ross and with giant leap, he strode across the sky.

…

They landed in a small alcove in a hill. It had started to rain. The Hulk crashed into the alcove, he let go of Betty gently. Betty rushed into a corner. Her body unable to take the sudden motion, she retched.

And when she turned around the Hulk was standing right behind her, casting a massive shadow of her. She picked up a rock and started throwing them at him.

“Get away,” she shouted. “Go away you monster!”

They bounced uselessly off his glistening green body, soaked through because of the rain. She backed away, picking up whatever she could from the ground and throwing it at him. Until she found herself against the wall, the craggy surface digging against her back.

“Please leave me alone!” she cried. “Please!”

She saw the Hulk stretch out a hand and snapped her eyes shut. When nothing came and all she heard was something clink across the floor, she opened her eyes and saw the wedding ring she gave Bruce lying on the floor.

The Monster had her back to her, staring out into the rain. It reminded Betty of a lonely little child, staring out the window in self-pity on a slow rainy day. It reminded her of Bruce.

“Bruce?” she said, ring held close to her chest. Reaching out to him with her right hand.

The Hulk turned and for a brief moment in his green eyes she saw blue.

And then he leapt in the rain, a green dot in the grey skies.

In that brief moment she forgot where she was. All alone in a craggy hill with no escape, that was when she felt her phone ring.

It was her dad. Soon he’d reply and they’d find her and she’d get out of this place but deep in her heart she wondered and worried about Bruce, her heart aching for the man she once loved wondering if they’d ever be together again.

…

What would you do if you saw a monster?

When Jackson and his friends in the army saw a monster, they saw a new beginning. A terrifying feeling of dread and the realisation that his time was over. That the military wouldn’t be able to handle more monsters if they came out of the shadows.

When little Timmy saw a monster his whole world came crashing around him. Little Timmy learned that the world wasn’t quite so simple and sometimes the monsters won.

Betty Ross saw things a little bit differently. She saw humanity. She saw humanity standing defiant against a broken world.

We should be glad we don’t see monsters. They have the uncanny ability to shatter the world around us, turning the world we know upside down, making things start to make less and less sense.

Nick Fury on the other hand always tried to make the world make sense. It was his job and he did it with one-eyed dedication.

Nick Fury knew that where there’s one monster, there’s bound to be more.

And the world at large had to be ready once they started popping out of the woodworks.