X-Men Mission: Avengers vs X-Men: The Hulk 2

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Jean comes in to try and support the fight against the Hulk with Rogue.



As Kane left to help shore up the fight with Captain America and Black Widow, for a brief moment, it was only Rogue facing the green behemoth. It was odd how ape-like he moved and yet, there wasn't just a mindless brute behind his eyes. His fighting was cunning and he learned. Fortunately, Jean touched down beside her before he could initiate a new charge.

"Just in time," Rogue called out. The act of telepathy exhausted her brain, and although she was thankful Jean heard her, there was no way she could do it on her own again.

"I got nothin'. Please save the day."

Jean stared up at the Hulk, nearly forced to crane her head up as far as it would go. She could hear his breathing, thickened by quick half-growls that spewed spittle from clenched teeth, like an injured dog ready to lash out. He reeked of pungent body odor that made her nose curl. Sweat rolled down his skin, tracing down valleys of bulging veins and muscles. It matted the black hair along his forehead.

And he was green. She knew he was green because she'd seen him from afar during the mission at the prison. But close up, the color was less vibrant than she imagined. It was almost putrid, a few steps above what the skin looked like after death. Perhaps it was the dirt and grime.

The most important thing was, however, was that he was oh so much bigger than she imagined.

"...I'll try my best," she said.

She tilted her head. Something had felt wrong from the moment they arrived. She noticed it the most with the Hulk, a faint line between clarity and haze, a seam.

"Hulk. Why do you want to smash us?" she said. Sometimes it was easiest to ask the animal. Simple answers.

The man didn't answer, instead charging ahead with his deceptive speed. Several blows cracked the concrete as he propelled himself forward in his haphazard manner, focused on causing as much damage as possible. Only the quick interruption by Rogue stopped him from reaching Jean.

A few moments later, with her head spinning, Rogue wondered why she used herself as a barrier. The pain in her body was a constant companion, and she wasn't sure her arm was working that great. "I can't do this much longer...."

Jean's eyes widened. Well, that didn't go very well. Perhaps a little less conversation and a little more action. She needed to figure out what was going on, but first she needed to wear him down first and get him away from Rogue so she could recover.

"I'll tag in for awhile," she said," she said. She motioned for Hulk to come at her.

The green hulk was snorting and breathing hard, like a bull ready to charge. When she motioned to him, he did just that.

Rogue was filled with instant remorse when she saw the Hulk charge Jean. There was no way she could take him on, it was too much. Sighing heavily, she leapt in front of the way, taking the brunt of the attack. "Just do your thing, damnit! I can take it!"

"Rogue!" Jean let out a worried, frustrated sigh as she heard the sickening thud when the two bodies collided. She knew Rogue was trying to save her, but this was the opposite of her plan.

"Stay back. Recharge. I can do this," Jean insisted.

With the Hulk still disoriented from running into Rogue, Jean decided to extend that disorientation a little longer. Yanking a table cloth from one of the tables inside the Avenger's lounge, she covered Hulk's face with it to obscure his vision, then wrapped the equivalent of a telekinetic rope around his neck. The goal was to try to relieve him of his oxygen enough to knock him out. If he couldn't see her, he could come after her.

Trouble was, she didn't know how long it'd take, and his mind was wayyy too clouded with rage to reach him with a psi blast.

The tug of the TK lynching didn't seem to affect him as he took another charge at Rogue.

Thankful that Hulk didn't have the sense of smell that Logan did, Rogue easily sidestepped her blinded foe, and turned to Jean. "We can't keep doing this," she said outloud.

Can you get through to Logan? Rogue ignored the headache that was slowly building. We need rage to get through to this guy

Jean nodded, her eyes turning unfocused for a few moments before she blinked a couple of times.

He's on his way.

Relief filled Rogue's body. If anyone could deal with Hulk, it was Wolverine. And maybe she could get a quick brush of his healing....