Chapter Text
Earth-616
A car came driving through a town, (bigger than the one the Hulk had wrecked). It was a black sedan slowly cruising through. The streets looked ransacked - litter was covering the sidewalks and roads, windows had been smashed through, and things like trash cans and parking metres had been toppled over. But that wasn’t the weirdest thing in town, not by a long shot. People were standing outside, frozen. They stood around town like mannequins, frozen in place.
“Looks like our tip was right, Jimmy. This town is the same as the other two.” One of the men inside said as they parked up. They both got out, to get a closer look. Jimmy Woo, one of the two FBI agents, went over to a frozen woman and checked her pulse.
“They’re not dead, despite how it seems. They’re just… motionless.” Jimmy said. Jimmy Woo was a very handsome, charming, Chinese-American agent with short, black hair and a face that belonged on magazine covers. He had a lean, muscular body. He was there with his partner, Mike, although he didn’t typically have partners. Mike was a white man with salt and pepper hair and a slimmer build than Jimmy. They both wore black and white, pristine suits.
“We’ve just about managed to hush it all up so the Nation won’t panic, but it’s only a matter of time before this gets out.” Mike mentioned. They both walked into a store, to see the owner frozen behind the counter. All the shelves had been emptied of anything even remotely valuable.
“Not a dime left.” Jimmy said, checking the cash register. The pair of agents then went to the local bank, only to find the vault open and picked clean.
“How is this possible?” Mike asked, unable to make sense of it all.
“I don’t know. How can anyone put an entire town under a spell?” Jimmy asked, hoping a clue would present itself as an answer.
“Is it Loki again?” Mike asked.
“What would an Asgardian want with human-treasures?” Jimmy reasoned.
“He’s the God of Mischief, does he really need a reason?” Mike shrugged as they both walked back out of the bank.
“Hey, look…” Jimmy said, spotting something from across the street. The two of them crossed the road and approached a poster, hung up on a wall. It was a poster for a circus, with an image of a man in a green suit with black stars and a purple top that had a spiral attached to it.
“I don’t get it?” Mike said.
“Don’t you recognise it? Every town that’s been hit so far has had this same circus poster displayed in the streets. It’s a slim lead, but I say we check it out.” Jimmy suggested.
The Ringmaster’s Circus, a travelling group that amazed small towns with their acrobatic skills, comedic clowns and showmanship. Inside a large tent, the Ringmaster named Maynard Tiboldt had captured the audience’s attention while clowns were dancing around behind him.
“LADIEEEEEES AND GENTLEMEN!! I, the Ringmaster, personally welcome you to the GREATEST SHOW of all!” He announced. He was a handsome man, with black, curly hair and a pencil moustache. He wore his green suit with black stars and his spiral-top hat, along with a pair of white gloves and black boots. Maynard looked out upon his audience, a stand of seats filled with the town’s citizens.
“Watch me closely every minute! Do not take your eyes off me for a second, and I guarantee that you will see wonders such as you have never seen before!” The Ringmaster told them, gesturing towards the spinning spiral on his hat. “You are about to witness our miraculous main attraction - don’t take your eyes off me for a minute. Watch, see, behold!” The Ringmaster continued and the audience did as he asked. They stared into the spiral and second by second, their free will and consciousness slipped away. Then finally, all their eyes glazed over and they were frozen in place.
“It’s done!” The Ringmaster declared and the clowns stopped dancing and the rest of his crew applauded. “Now go, friends! Go and give your finest performances. It’s a pity none will be awake to applaud you.” The Ringmaster told his acts. There was Bruto the Strongman (aka Bruce Olafsen) who was a beefy, white man with a brown, flat mohawk and wore an orange unitard that left little to the imagination. He was, as you’d expect, incredibly strong - able to lift three times his own weight. He went out into town and helped break into buildings and steal from everybody’s houses. Bruto was able to rip doors off cars and snatch anything inside. There was also the Crafty Clown (aka Eliot Franklin) who was rifling through the audience, pickpocketing everybody’s wallets and jewellery without a care in the world. He had white, spikey hair, a nose painted red and white-painted eyebrows and lips. He wore a purple jumpsuit with yellow polka dots and white gloves. The Human Cannonball (aka Jack Pulver) was a very handsome man with a lean, muscular body. He had sharp features, although most of them were hidden in a helmet that was shaped like a silver bullet. He also wore a silver uniform, that was made to look like tough armour. Pulver’s act was being launched from a cannon, but his more useful act was using his head to smash his way through doors so that he and the Princess Python could enter. Zelda DuBois, a Southern girl with long, rusty-brown hair and prominent curves wore a green unitard and black tights. She also wore elbow-length, emerald gloves and black heels. But, more noticeably, she wore a real-life Python that wrapped around her body like a feather boa. She had complete control over the reptile, who she called Precious. Zelda would often command the snake to slither through windows and steal anything inside. Then lastly, there were the Great Gambonnos (aka Ernesto & Luigi Gambonno). Identical twins from Italy with thin moustaches and light brown skin, lean bodies and handsome faces. They both wore pink spandex suits and had black, combed hair. They were acrobats, able to spin and twirl through the air and scale buildings as easily as Spider-Man. As if that wasn’t enough, the Ringmaster gave out commands to the audience (once they had given everything over to the clowns) and told them to go out into the streets and cause mayhem. To hand over anything of value that they can find. The Circus of Crime fled into the town, stealing entire safes, fur coats, jewellery, sacks of money and just about anything else they could get their hands on. The Ringmaster followed them, hypnotising anybody who hadn’t gone to the circus and tying up any loose ends. It was chaos as they smashed through windows and ruined what was once a clean, safe little town. The performers eventually returned to the tent, where the Ringmaster was waiting by a convoy of caravans and trucks. The tent had already been packed up, along with all their equipment because by now, they were a well-oiled machine.
“All right, back in the caravan, all of you! There are plenty more towns for the Circus to visit.” The Ringmaster told them.
“We’re gonna need a place like Fort Knox to store all of this loot!” The Human Cannonball chuckled as they loaded all their stuff into the caravans and trucks. It didn’t take long before the circus was back on the road, leaving behind another town of frozen, hypnotised people.
Rick Jones woke up with a stretch inside the laboratory. His neck ached after sleeping on a concrete floor, so he rubbed it as he stood up. He let out a yawn as his mind processed everything that’s happened in the last day. He didn’t sleep that well, but it was enough to make him feel somewhat refreshed. Rick tapped some keys on the control pad and the chamber Hulk was trapped in opened up. The Hulk came lumbering out, looking quite angry that he had been trapped for so long, but he wouldn’t hurt Rick.
“Shit, am I ever gonna see Bruce again?” Rick asked, concerned. Then his stomach rumbled.
“Urgh. Okay, I’m gonna get some food and freshen up. In theory, so long as I stay awake, you’ll stay here… So stay here.” Rick instructed the Hulk before leaving the lab.
Rick went into town and borrowing some of Bruce’s money, he grabbed a sandwich from a shop and washed his face in the restroom of a cafe. He was still exhausted. Rick also went to a clothes store and bought some cheap shirts and pants, so he wouldn’t have to keep borrowing Bruce’s oversized clothes. Now, he was dressed in a white tank top, a new leather jacket and a pair of jeans. Although he looked much better, he felt plenty stressed and tired. All of this just because he drove into a bomb, testing site. He went to a local diner and ordered a vanilla milkshake, then sipped on it as he sat at the bar. What should he do now? Go back to the Hulk and then…? He wasn’t a scientist, he wasn’t a soldier. He was an orphan with zero degrees. What could Rick Jones do?
“Are you going to the circus?” Rick overheard somebody saying next to him. They were a couple of friends, each drinking a Coke.
“Of course I am. Not like there’s anything else to do in this town. Who isn’t going?” The other one said.
“So true. I heard the whole town will be there. Even Mr. Tutters.”
“Our science teacher? Urgh, maybe I won’t go.” Rick couldn’t help but feel interested. A circus? Maybe he could use a bit of escapism. Maybe he needed a break from life-threatening scenarios.
So, the anxious young man went and followed the crowd to the red and white striped tent set up at the end of the street. Rick paid for a ticket and went inside and sat amongst the rest of the audience.
“What am I doing?” Rick sighed to himself, thinking about the docile green monster back in the lab that could go off on a tantrum at any minute. The show soon started, with acrobats twirling in the sky and launching from trapezes and clowns cartwheeling around.
“WELCOME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!” The Ringmaster declared, with a booming voice that captured the audience’s attention. “I, the Ringmaster, personally welcome you to the greatest show of all!” He announced. After a bit more performing from the acts, such as Bruto lifting huge weights and the Princess Python making the snake dance around her. Rick could feel himself smiling from the wonders before him. He actually felt like a person again.
“Remember! Do not take your eyes off me for a second! Watch! Behold!” The Ringmaster called out, gesturing towards the spinning spiral again. The whole audience quickly found that their thoughts were being drowned out by an overwhelming urge to do whatever the Ringmaster said. Even Rick was falling victim to the hypnotic device.
‘I can’t move… I can’t speak! He’s… Shit, am I hypnotised?!’ Rick thought as he felt his entire body become as stiff as a statue. Is this how the Hulk felt? He could feel his brain becoming clouded - like a fog drowning out his autonomy.
‘I’ve got to try and call for the Hulk before I black out. Come to me, Hulk. Help! HELP! God, I hope he can hear my thoughts from this far away. He must. He must! ’ Rick tried.
The Hulk let out a loud roar from the cave and charged out into the desert before launching into the sky. He had to save Rick. Like a bullet streaking across the sky, he quickly approached the nearby town (and specifically the tent).
RIIIPPP!!
The Hulk tore through the tent, making all the circus acts pause in shock and horror at the green monster. The Ringmaster looked at the Hulk with awe and bewilderment.
“What… is… that?! ” He gasped. The Human Cannonball quickly realised that the Hulk wasn’t hypnotised and wasn’t happy. He was already in the cannon.
“Fire me. I’ll take care of that oversized ape.” Pulver told the man behind him. He pulled a lever, then - FOOMF! The Human Cannonball blasted out of the cannon and shot towards the Hulk. A green hand simply swatted the Human Cannonball away, making him crash into the ground. The Hulk came lumbering towards the Ringmaster.
“Quick! Stop him!” The Ringmaster shouted. The Crafty Clown came running over, holding a power hose. Before the Hulk could reach Maynard, the clown started blasting water directly at the Hulk. FWOOOOOOOOSH! The Hulk was knocked off of his feet and fell with a crash.
“He’s stunned! Now’s our chance.” One of the Gambonnos shouted, up above. Holding a net, the two of them swung from swings and threw the large net over the Hulk. The monster groaned, confused and disoriented - having weak and vague commands from Rick. Bruto the Strongman then came running over with some chains and quickly wrapped them around the Hulk, who was still struggling within the net. It was impressive how well they worked together to bind the mighty Hulk.
“Want me to finish him off, boss?” The Princess Python asked, holding a postil in her hand and aiming it at the Hulk.
“No! I have a better idea.” The Ringmaster smirked. Meanwhile, Rick Jones watched helplessly. Unable to move, unable to speak. Not conscious, nor was he asleep. Forced to watch the Ringmaster’s men take the Hulk into a cage and hook it to a caravan. The tent was taken down and the Circus of Crime left, abandoning this town and heading for the next one.
The next day, the Ringmaster was preparing to open a new show, with his new caged animal. The Hulk, without commands, was subjected to being chained up like a prisoner. The Ringmaster was already making his crew print posters for the Monster of the Age. Nobody in their right mind would miss seeing this circus now. That afternoon, the Ringmaster was greeting his audience once more.
“LAAAADIEEES AND GEEENTLEMEEN!!” The Ringmaster said with his booming voice, while the Crafty Clown was playing with a hula hoop and acrobats were doing flips high in the sky. “Get ready for-”
“FBI! Everybody freeze!” Jimmy Woo shouted, bursting into the tent, followed by Mike and Rick Jones. The Ringmaster gasped and the audience exchanged murmurs as Jimmy Woo approached the ring.
“Ringmaster, you’re under arrest! We followed you from town to town and now, we finally have you!” Jimmy declared. “Your hypnotic spell isn’t everlasting. Your victims told us everything.”
“Never mind that. Where’s the Hulk? You have no idea how dangerous it is to- you’ve been travelling with a living bomb! ” Rick questioned. Backstage, the sound of Rick’s voice woke the Hulk’s consciousness up. With one simple flex, he was able to break free from the chains, snapping them off his body like they were made of toothpicks.
“The MONSTER is on the loose!!” One of the crew members shouted as the Hulk tore through the curtain and let out a roar as he came to the main stage.
“Don’t worry, boss!” Bruto shouted, before charging at the Hulk. He grabbed the green giant by his chest and pinned him up against the pole that the trapeze artists were standing upon. It wobbled, almost making the acrobats fall.
“I’ve got him trapped!” Bruto told his boss.
“You idiot! He’s got super-human strength!” Rick warned him. And sure enough, the Hulk just grabbed Bruto, and lifted him up over his head, before throwing him across the circus tent.
“Shit, the Hulk is ruining everything. The Ringmaster will escape in all this confusion.” Jimmy said, taking out his gun.
“No, no, no, no, no! Don’t take out your gun, that will only make things worse. Let me handle the Hulk. Just gimme a chance.” Rick told him. But Jimmy was right. The Ringmaster had already slipped out of the tent and started making a run for it.
“Hulk! Stop!” Rick shouted, running over to the behemoth. “Stop fighting people!” He called out and sure enough, the Hulk’s swinging fists slowed to a stop.
“He’s gone!” Mike shouted, looking around for the Ringmaster.
“Shit!” Jimmy cursed, angrily.
“Hulk. Hulk, can you find him? Can you stop him?” Rick asked him.
“I’ll stop him.” The Hulk nodded, before ripping the trapeze artist’s pole out of its supports - making the Gambonnos jump and swing to the opposing one instead. The Hulk walked out of the tent and saw the Ringmaster running towards a caravan.
WHOOSHK!
The Hulk swung and swiped at the Ringmaster’s feet, making the master of hypnosis fall to the ground with a crash (with his hat falling off and rolling away). The Hulk went over as the Ringmaster struggled to get up, so the green beast helped him by lifting him up. He held Maynard in the air, threateningly.
“HELP! SAVE ME! DON’T LET HIM HURT ME!!” The Ringmaster cried out.
“Hulk! Hulk, put him down!” Rick shouted, running over. The Hulk reluctantly put the Ringmaster down.
“Thanks.” Rick said, before throwing his own fist, punching the Ringmaster directly in the face and instantly knocking him out. “That felt good.” Rick smiled, before hearing a low hum. Rick looked over to see military cars and trucks making their way towards the town.
“Oh shit.” Rick groaned. “Okay, Hulk. Let’s go back to the lab.” He instructed.
The military flooded into the tent, with every soldier searching for the Hulk - led by General Ross. He looked angry.
“Where is he? WHERE IS THE HULK?!!” The General shouted at the bruised and battered circus acts who were in handcuffs. None of them had any answers that Ross could act upon.
“What’re you doing here?” Jimmy asked, coming over.
“The Hulk, Woo. We’re hunting the Hulk.” Ross answered.
“The green thing? If not for him, the Circus of Crime would’ve gotten away.” Jimmy told him.
“Does it look like I give a shit? That monster is dangerous. He must be caught.” Ross spat, furiously.
“Well he flew the coop.” Jimmy sighed.
“Dammit. DAMMIT!!” Ross shouted, filled with rage. “Not only is he on the loose, but now he’s been seen by the public. How the hell did he survive that rocket launch? How… I don’t understand?!” Ross said, mostly to himself. “I’ll find him, I swear it. I’ll rid this world of that menace, no matter what! I SWEAR IT!!”
“Cool. Can you leave now? This poor audience has been traumatised enough as it is, the last thing they need is an unhinged General and his soldiers with guns meandering around.” Jimmy sighed, impatiently.
The Hulk landed with a loud thud outside the cave, just as the sun was beginning to set, and Rick dropped to solid ground. He was beginning to get used to travelling via Hulk-leaps, but his legs still felt like jelly afterwards.
“Alright, buddy. Let’s get some shuteye. Hopefully, tomorrow won’t be as… Ah, who am I kidding?” Rick sighed as they both went back into the cave.