Chapter 164: A Duet

[Third Person's PoV] 

"He's right behind me isn't he?" Tony asked in a tired tone. 

The Hulkbuster nodded its head with its very limited head movement.

Before Tony could react further, a deafening roar erupted behind him. The Hulk's massive fist swung through the air and slammed into Tony's helmet with a thunderous clang. The impact reverberated across the battlefield like a bell being struck. Yet Tony didn't budge an inch, remaining rooted to the spot. He sighed audibly, as if more annoyed than alarmed.

In the distance, Stark—inside his Hulkbuster armor—started to shout a warning but froze mid-sentence. His disbelief was palpable as he watched Tony remain nonchalant, the man seemingly unfazed by what should've sent him flying.

The Hulk, clearly unimpressed by Tony's indifference, reached out with his colossal hands, intent on crushing him. Tony swiftly stepped back, his repulsors flaring, and moved to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Stark.

"Looks like we're gonna need to tag team this one if we want to take him down," Tony suggested, his tone calm but purposeful.

Stark scoffed playfully, his voice carrying a teasing edge through the Hulkbuster's speakers. "Don't slow me down, kid."

Tony rolled his eyes, his trademark smirk forming beneath his helmet. "Shouldn't I be saying that to you, old man? Especially with that outdated scrap heap you're stomping around in." 

"Outdated?! This is the new trend" Stark said, sounding offended. 

The Hulk just looked more enraged than before, not only was there one more nuisance, they were both ignoring him and having an argument among themselves. 

Tony and Stark instantly boosted in opposite directions, their repulsors leaving shimmering trails of energy in the air. They both raised their palms, releasing synchronized blasts that collided mid-air right in front of the Hulk. The collision produced a concussive shockwave that staggered the green giant, forcing him to slow his advance.

Not wasting a second, both Tony and Stark launched themselves at the disoriented Hulk. Their coordinated attack was almost poetic in its precision—Tony aimed for the torso, thrusters roaring as he drove a knee into the Hulk's ribs, while Stark swung the Hulkbuster's massive arm in a crushing arc toward the Hulk's face.

The dual impacts forced the Hulk to stumble backward. He roared in frustration, shaking his head as if to clear the haze. Then, with a sudden burst of rage, he spread his arms wide and clapped his hands together with an earth-shaking boom. The thunderclap sent ripples of air and debris in all directions.

Anticipating the move, Tony and Stark boosted into the air just in time. Circling above the Hulk, they began bombarding him with a relentless flurry of repulsor blasts, each strike illuminating the battlefield with flashes of blue energy.

The Hulk roared louder, swinging his massive arms wildly in an attempt to swat the two armored figures. Though his incredible strength allowed him to withstand the energy onslaught, his movements grew slower under the constant barrage.

"Hey, old man," Tony called out through their comms, "I've got a plan. Try to keep up, alright?"

Without waiting for a reply, Tony descended rapidly, positioning himself directly in front of the Hulk. Before the green behemoth could react, a blinding flash erupted from Tony's repulsors, disorienting the Hulk and forcing him to shield his eyes with his massive hands.

Taking advantage of the opening, Tony darted behind the Hulk with the agility of a wasp. He latched onto the Hulk's back, locking his arms and legs around the beast in a vice-like grip. "Got him!" Tony shouted.

Stark didn't need further explanation. He dove down and began hammering the Hulk's face with the Hulkbuster's massive fists. Each strike landed with bone-rattling force, driving the Hulk's head back and forth like a pendulum.

"Come on, big guy," Stark taunted with each hit. "It's nap time! Go to sleep! Go to sleep! Go to sleep!"

"Come on, Stark!" Tony shouted, straining to maintain his grip on the Hulk's increasingly tense and bulging muscles. His thrusters whirred as he struggled to keep the behemoth restrained. "Did you not eat breakfast this morning or something?!"

Stark, inside the Hulkbuster, rolled his eyes despite the situation. "No, actually, I didn't. We were doing research, remember? And I'd bet good money you haven't eaten either."

The Hulk growled low, his teeth grinding together. Suddenly, with a ferocious roar, he kept his head back before he slammed his head forwards into the Hulkbuster's massive fist, causing Stark's armored hand to crumple slightly.

Taken aback the Stark flew back to create distance while replacement for the arm started to be dispatched towards his direction. 

"Well at least we know someone who's been eating his greens…" Stark said, looking at his destroyed fist. 

"Yeah and he grew up to be big and strong," Tony retorted. 

The mechanisms around Stark's arc reactor shifted causing them to expand, "Keep holding on to him kid! Don't let go" 

"🎶🎵 Never gonna give you up! Never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you~ 🎶🎵" Tony suddenly began to sing out of nowhere. 

"Kid?" Stark asked, trying not to burst out laughing as he shot a large unibeam from his chest aiming it straight at the Hulk, while at the same time his extra arm came and began to exchange itself with his broken one. 

Tony was holding the Hulk making him taken the Unibeam straight on while plant his feet deeply in the sand, "Sorry, Sorry, you said to not let go and that song Immediately popped into my head I couldn't help it" 

"🎶🎵 Never gonna make you cry~ 🎶🎵" Both Tony and Stark both actually continued singing in a duet as the song now appeared to be stuck in their heads. 

The Hulk roared again, the sound shaking the ground as he planted his feet firmly and hunched forward, absorbing the full force of the unibeam. His muscles rippled under the strain, veins bulging as he fought against the energy.

Tony lost his footing as the Hulk suddenly surged forward. In one swift motion, the Hulk broke free of Tony's hold, grabbed him by the head, and hurled him like a ragdoll toward Stark.

"🎵 Never gonna saaayyy goodbyeee! 🎵" the duet continued, undeterred, as Stark ceased the unibeam just in time to catch Tony mid-flight. The impact sent them both sliding back several feet, but Stark set Tony down beside him with a smirk before they looked towards each other and nodded. 

"🎶🎵 Never gonna tell a lie–" Both Tony and Stark boosted off to opposite sides while they continued sing. 

The both slid along the sand to stop as they stood a few feet away from the Hulk. The Hulk looked between as they continued unsure of who go for. 

The boosters around their feet ignited strongly alongside their repulsors as they charged towards the Hulk together they extended their fist as they both sang. 

"– And Hurt You! 🎶🎵" Both of their fist connected towards the side of the Hulk's face. 

It's face was slightly squished together as a shockwave exploded outwards between them creating a ring of sand between them. 

The eyes of the Hulk rolled to the back of it's head as it immediately face planted on the sand falling unconscious.

Both Tony and Stark let out a sigh of relief, Stark looked towards Tong and teased him a bit by saying, "Nice vocals kid" 

Tony chuckled as he teased back, "I can say the same to you old man" Tony said as he stuck his fist to the side which Stark bumped back as they both stood over the unconscious body of the Hulk, who started to shrink down in size. 

********************************************

+31 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3