Shades of Green: One Month

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Rematch

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Avengers Mansion

The Training Room


The sound of metal being crushed, torn to shreds by an angry emerald-skinned giant, who decided to vent his rage, echoes throughout the entire room. A thunderous roar soon follows as the Green Goliath lashes out against the remaining obstacles that dared to assault him. In a matter of minutes everything is destroyed, leaving nothing but carnage and destruction in his wake.

Exercise complete.

JARVIS' announcement goes seemingly unnoticed by the Hulk, blocked out by his breathing and the savage rage that threatened to consume his mind. He stands motionless, unmoving from the very spot where he terminated the remaining obstacles. Then he heard the sound of hands clapping together, which immediately causes him to turn in the direction that the sound originated from. He wasn't surprised when his jade irises settled upon a certain pale green beauty named Shego, dressed in her usual casual clothing, watching him with her dark emerald irises that seemed to gleam with mischievous intent.

"Impressive as always, Hulk. You really know how to smash, don't ya?", Shego playfully teased with a smirk.

"What do you want, Shego?", Hulk demands, narrowing his eyes at the former mercenary.

"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering what you were doing down here in the middle of the night. That's all. And it isn't hard to figure out what, especially after watching that performance. You're angry about something, aren't you?", Shego replies with an inquiry, keeping her tone indifferent as she examined the Green Goliath's expression.

"I'm always angry.", Hulk retorts in a low growl.

"Is that so? What're you angry about, if you don't mind me asking?", Shego probed, taking a few steps towards him.

"None of your business.", Hulk rumbled, averting his gaze from her own.

"Oh, c'mon, big guy. You can tell me.", Shego reassured with a humored chuckle.

"Leave it alone, Shego.", Hulk growled, turning his body before taking a few large strides in the opposite direction, attempting to put some distance between himself and the pale green-skinned beauty.

She immediately noticed this, the expression on his face and that actions that followed speaking volumes to her. It appeared as if he were trying to hide something. But what could it be that he's hiding? Why was he trying to dissuade her from the subject? He was clearly angry, though at whom or what she could not be certain. However, if one thing is certain, it is the fact that Shego was determined to seek out and discover what's irking the Hulk.

"Is it about the tuxedo?", Shego asks, taking another step closer.

"Let it go.", Hulk snarled between clenched teeth.

"It's about me, isn't it? It's about me tricking you to challenge me. It's about me beating you and making you tag along with me to that gala in a few days. But it's not about wearing the tux or going to the fancy party, is it? It's because I beat you in our little match, isn't it?", Shego questioned further, seemingly unaware of Hulk's massive hands clenching tightly into fists.

"No! You're wrong! I don't care about any of that!", Hulk roars, spinning around at blinding speed and getting directly in Shego's face, his snarling visage mere inches away.

Shego had been startled by the Hulk's aggressive outburst, yet she forced herself to stand strong and fearless, making sure not to show any sign of fear or intimidation. If there was one thing that the Hulk respected, it was strength and a courageous spirit. She knew and understood this. She also knew how to handle the situation, and had an idea in which might make Hulk feel a little less grumpy.

"Tell you what, big sexy. How about I offer you a rematch.", Shego suggested, leaning in closer until her lips nearly touched his own.

"Huh? What?", Hulk asked as he jerked his head back, confusion evident in his voice.

"You heard me. A rematch. You and me. Right here, right now.", Shego stated once again, confidence and a bit of mischief radiating in her voice.

Hulk merely stared at her, trying to figure out her odd and unexpected proposal. Silence reigned within the vast training room, neither of the emerald beings speaking so much as a word to one another. What game was she playing now? She had to be up to something, but the question is... what?

"You're crazy, Shego. You know that, right?", Hulk replied, briefly arching an eyebrow as he stared down at the near six-foot tall female.

"Maybe, but no more than yourself.", Shego shot right back with a quip.

"Hah!", Hulk laughed, a dangerous smile forming on his features.

"I don't know about you, but I'm game. So... are you ready to play?", Shego asked in a seductive tone of voice.

The Hulk did not respond... at least not with words! Shego was barely able to avoid the Hulk's fist as she dodged to the side at the last possible second, the Jade Giant's gigantic fist shattering a metal column from it very foundations. Quickly getting into a fighting stance, Shego allowed a smile to grace her visage as she ignited her hands in fiery emerald plasma. She didn't see that one coming, nor could she predict that Hulk could be capable of moving so lightning fast. Needless to say, she was very impressed.

"Does that answer your question?", Hulk retorted with a somewhat sinister grin.

"Oh, I am gonna love this!", Shego proclaimed, rushing full speed at the Green Goliath.

When she got near, Shego dodged to the side to avoid the Hulk's right fist, that smashed into the steel and concrete flooring, before lashing out with a powerful spinning kick to one of his temples. Once again, she found herself hard-pressed to avoid Hulk's blows, amazed not only by his raw power but his incredible speed. Deciding to take the offensive, Shego began launching plasma bolts from her hands at the towering titan. Dozens upon dozens strike Hulk, momentarily engulfing him in flames and smoke, yet the assault failed to leave so much as a scratch on his thick, green hide.

"Is that the best you got, Shego?", Hulk taunts with a smirk, exhaling smoke from of his nostrils.

"Not really. I'm just getting started!", Shego replies, launching another barrage of plasma bolts at the Green Goliath.

"Heh. Good.", Hulk growled, shrugging of the blasts as he moved in closer for an attack.

Raising his fists high above his head, Hulk prepares to smash them downward towards Shego in an attempt to crush her to the flooring like an insect. But there is more to this tactic than meets the eye, for the Green Goliath knows that she would avoid the crushing force of the strike and leap over his form and then proceed to begin a frontal assault as soon as he turned to face her. As his fists smashed the steel re-enforced concrete flooring, Shego leaped to avoid the attack and over the Hulk's towering figure... just as the Hulk had anticipated. He had Shego right where he wanted her!

Moving incredibly, impossibly fast, faster than any being of his size should possibly move, the Hulk reaches out and grabs Shego in mid-air. She couldn't even form a reaction as Hulk's massive hand grasps her waist before proceeding to slam her into the flooring, cracking the concrete-steel flooring as he pinned her down. Struggling with all of her might, she realized her inability to break free of the Hulk's vice-like grip that kept her pinned to the flooring. Hulk slowly drops down to his knees, releasing his grip only to press his massive left forearm against her chest to keep her pinned. He leaned his face down closer to Shego's lovely visage, their faces just mere centimeters apart. For a moment, Shego seemed to get lost in his jade irises, finding it nearly impossible to look away.

"I win.", Hulk stated in triumph.

"Yeah, I guess that you did. Now I think I'll reward you a little victory gift.", Shego responded in a sensual, seductive voice that totally caught the Green Goliath off guard.

Before he could speak a word, Shego manages to lean up and gently kiss Hulk affectionately on the lips. It was a brief kiss, lasting only a couple moments or so, but the passion and emotion instilled within it was as intense as it was genuine. She broke the kiss, her eyes locked on Hulk's, gazing deeply into those green orbs that echoed a deep longing and loneliness not unlike that of her own. She could see him for everything that he is, everything he was, and she completely accepted him just as he accepted her. She loved him, and she was certain that he loved her.

"Feel better?", Shego asked, releasing a amused chuckle at seeing Hulk's dumbfounded expression.

Hulk slowly sets himself up on his knees, allowing Shego herself to rise from the flooring and rest herself on her knees. He stared at her for the longest time, not saying a word to her, as if he were lost in some form of deep contemplation, or perhaps engaging in a internal struggle within himself. Then, suddenly, a gentle smile slowly graced his normally enraged facial features. It was all the confirmation that Shego needed as she lunged forward, embracing him with her arms, her head resting against his massive chest. She felt his gigantic arms slowly encircle her, holding her in a gentle embrace, the sound of his beating heart relaxing her as she closed her eyes.

He is the Hulk. He is her friend. He is her love. He is her everything.

She is Shego. She is his friend. She is the one he secretly loved. And though he would not yet admit it, she was his everything.