[ His fingers wrap around her hand like a lifeline, and he lets her take the lead at first, steps cautious as they walk down the hallway. The yellow light doesn't seem to expand any farther than the conference room, and he feels a little surer as they reach those stairs, even if it gets so dark that even any ability to see better in the dark wouldn't help him right now. ]
Don't. If they're still down there, stay close to me. I'll— he'll keep you safe.
[ In the dark, where he can't see her, where the Hulk wouldn't know where she is, he needs her to be as close to him as she can manage without getting hurt on accident. He's too terrified of what they could do if they managed to get to her, grab her or drag her off somewhere (whomever 'they' are). In that scenario, he trusts the Hulk far more.
Slowly, he starts down the stairs, the low buzz becoming louder as they reach the basement, loud enough that even she should be able to hear it, the darkness gradually enveloping them the farther down they step. Unconsciously, he shifts closer to her as they walk, as if the mere proximity between them offers him courage and certainty. ]
no subject
Don't. If they're still down there, stay close to me. I'll— he'll keep you safe.
[ In the dark, where he can't see her, where the Hulk wouldn't know where she is, he needs her to be as close to him as she can manage without getting hurt on accident. He's too terrified of what they could do if they managed to get to her, grab her or drag her off somewhere (whomever 'they' are). In that scenario, he trusts the Hulk far more.
Slowly, he starts down the stairs, the low buzz becoming louder as they reach the basement, loud enough that even she should be able to hear it, the darkness gradually enveloping them the farther down they step. Unconsciously, he shifts closer to her as they walk, as if the mere proximity between them offers him courage and certainty. ]