Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Forty-Five

     I swallowed my fear and tried not to scream. The Hulk's mouth stayed curled in it's snarl, his breathing coming out in harsh puffs. Tony's fingers dug into my hip as he tried to shield me from the Hulk as much as possible. We stood there for what seemed like forever, neither of us daring to move.

     "Bruce. It's me, Tony. Tony Stark. Your friend," Tony said slowly. He took a step toward the Hulk, his hands up in front of him in surrender. The Hulk seemed to take a moment to think. For a second, it seemed as if the Hulk would do nothing. Tony was within reach when finally the Hulk swung himself into motion. He swung his massive arm out to bat Tony out of the way. He managed to jump out of the way but I wasn't fast enough. The collosal hand collided with my side, sending me flying. I was flung across the counter top, coming to rest in a crumped heep on the floor on the other side. The bunsonburner blew out and clattered to the floor. The diamond and the gem were thrown in opposite directions as I tumbed down. Tony gasped but his voice was drown out by another deafening roar. He was suddenly next to me, his hand pressed against my side cautiously.

     "JARVIS," Tony pausd.

     "Yes sir?" JARVIS asnwered from Tony's pocket.

     "Send me a suit," Tony said rapidly, helping me to my feet. I was slightly dizzy but I gripped onto Tony to keep from falling over. The Hulk was starting toward us. Tony pulled me after him and toward the metal stairs on the far wall.

     "Which mark?" JARVIS asked.

     "Any of them. All of them. Send everything," Tony demanded, ducking as a table was hurled into the wall above our heads; another roar echoed around the warehouse. Tony shielded me from falling debris with his arms. I clutched onto the shirt over his shoulders. The ground shook as the Hulk charged toward us. Tony ushered me in front of him and up the rest of the stairs. His back foot was barely off the grate when it was yanked from the wall. I paused to look down at the Hulk. He was flailing the stairs every way possible, in to every surface he could find.

     "Lucy, what are we supposed to do?" Tony asked, his voice quiet under the metal banging from below. I couldn't find any words to even sound like a valid answer. Before I could come up with anything, Tony pulled me so sharply that it actually hurt my arm. I hissed in pain but before I could say anything, the destroyed mass of stairs collided with where I'd been standing moments before. My grip on Tony's hand tightened as anxiety took hold of me.

     "Tony," my voice was weak and taunt.

     "I know, I'm trying to come up with something," Tony said looking around. His grip on my hand was so tight that I could feel my fingers falling asleep but I didn't want him to let go at all. His gaze stopped on one of the high windows behind me. He let out a half relieved breath.

     "Come on sweetheart," he said, pulling me forward.

     "What are we doing?" I asked.

     "You'll see," Tony called back as he broke into a run. We quickly were reaching the end of the walkway and the wall loomed above.

     "Tony?" I tried again. He didn't answer; just paused, turned slightly and jumped over the railing, taking me with him. I realized too late what was happening and I couldn't stop myself from going over the railing with him. I couldn't stop the scream that escaped my throat as we fell. I closed my eyes and brought my arms up for impact. Any second I would hit the concrete.

     But I didn't.

     I opened my eyes and peered out. Above me was Tony, seeming to be hovering in mid-air. It took a second to realize that one of his Iron Man suits was engulfing his body from the hips up. As soon as his whole body was in his suit, he collected me in his arms properly and turned to get to higher ground. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held myself against him tight. We only made it a few feet up before our movement was halted completely. We both looked down at what could have possible stopped our movement. My heart dropped into my stomach at the sight. Gripped onto Tony's foot was the enormous, green hand of the Hulk. His face was contorted into a horrific snarl. Tony tried his hardest to free his foot from his grasp. but nothing worked.