Tony Stark (snarky_bastard) wrote in angellogs, @ 2014-05-26 17:03:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, azelma thenardier, bruce banner (the hulk), princess luna, tony stark (iron man) |
Who: Bruce, Tony, and appearances by Azelma and Luna
When: 05/25/14
Where: out in the desert and then at the cottage
What: picking up Bruce, loads of drama
Warnings: Mentions of suicide, anxiety attacks, rape mentions, could trigger.
Tony was incredibly nervous. He was a little insecure now that he knew his love for Banner was obvious. He really didn’t want him to find out until he told him. He got up some clothes, the ones Azelma had said that would fit Banner, and jumped in the car to go and find him. Tony really thought it made sense that Bruce had Hulked out, he’d been brought somewhere that he’d not been able to help, he just lost control. That was to be expected.
It wasn’t long that he was pulling up near him, and he blushed when he saw him. Tony really hoped that that would go away once he got up to him to give him the clothes. Guys were generally not as modest as women anyway, it wasn’t out of the norm for them to be around each other naked. It was when you actually liked it that they tended to freak out. Tony arranged his face in the calmest expression he could and got out of the car, carrying the clothes and shoes.
“Hey, I heard someone needs some duds.” He said as he approached him.
He’d been waiting, wans was leaning in such a way the sun was against his back, last thing any man needed was sunburn to very sensitive parts. his back may getting a little red as it was. When he heard Tony’s voice, he smiled and turned to him. “Yeah, they got shredded when the green guy came out.” Looked down, a little upset. “You didn’t pass a town by chance?” Held a hand over his eyes to look up to him a little bleary.
Banner was all but oblivious. It wasn’t in the sense he didn’t exactly NOT like Tony that way, he just assumed nothing would come of it so he had pushed away anything like that. It made him a little upset, but he’d had to deal enough over his emotions.
Tony smiled, God he was cute. Way to go, Stark…. He thought to himself. “I did, why? Did you do something?” He asked, kneeling next to him. Tony was sure that if he had, they could work through it together. It’s not something he could always control, so you just had to make amends when it happened. If something did happen, they could offer to help clean it up, that kind of thing. Tony wanted to kiss away that worry on his face. God, he was like some school girl with a crush or something.
“Are you really okay, Banner? You can tell me. You can tell me anything.”
Bruce sighed, reaching for the boxers and jeans to put on first. “I landed in a town, on my ass mind you, and got bombarded with questions of how I got there... and HE came out. And I barely remember much of it. I just know at that point I had NO control.” Rubbed his head. “And I have a headache from it too. And I’m thirsty, but that’s just the desert for you.”
He stood and zipped the jeans up before slipping the shirt on, grunting because it burns!
“You can’t blame yourself for that, hon….” Tony said, not even noticing what he’d said. He was too concerned with making sure that Bruce knew he couldn’t blame himself. “You weren’t in control and things happen. Someone brought you here, it’s their fault for doing so.” Tony said, shaking his head. “We’ll get you some aspirin when we get home.” He added. “And something to drink.” He was thinking that water would be good, alcohol might get in the way of things.
“And I know I’ve got some aloe vera for that burn.”
“Hun?” He arched an eyebrow. “Is the heat getting to you? Last time I checked I didn’t look a thing like Potts.” shifted the shirt a bit and brushed his hair back. “Aspirin would be nice. A pepsi and pizza would be nice... and blueberry ice cream?” Nudged his shoulder a little, his way of showing he always remembers the blueberries they ate.
“And my skin will thank you for that.” Not realising how wrong that could be taken.
Tony blushed tomato red. Woops…. He said, “Actually, Potts and I broke up.” That wasn’t a lie, and he could safely tell him that. “I just didn’t see things going anywhere with her.” That definitely was true. He had to work on not licking his lips when he saw Bruce brushing his hair back. “I could go for pizza too.” He had to admit, that he would love to eat some blueberry ice cream, and he was going to have to hide his blush again when Banner nudged him a little. It was really cute.
“I am sure that’s true…..” Tony said, he was wondering if he was always going to be able to blush that easily around him.
“You okay?” Bruce leaned in. “Oh right, you rarely go outside. Come on, let’s get you out of the sun.”Took his forearm and headed to the car. “Can’t have you sunburn, you’re cranky enough as it is.” Gave a smile, the crook of his mouth shifting up as he did. He worried for him, didn’t want him getting hurt. It’s why he’d KNOWN he had to do something. It’s why he screamed at him whilst the Hulk. That was all him. That was all a very aware desperate scream to get him back.
Because even if he never returned the feelings, if he died he’d be devastated and would want to try and find a way to stop the green guy from preventing death again.
“Yeah… I’m okay.” Tony replied, his hands shaking a little with nervousness as he ran his hand through his own hair. It was really sweet how Bruce was worried for him. “I’m cranky anyway, that’s for sure.” He agreed, opening Banner’s car door for him. He had always done it for Potts, and it was just a habit. Tony was acting like a schoolgirl and he really hoped that Bruce couldn’t tell. He didn’t know what he wanted to say when he finally did tell him. He wanted the words to be right.
“Come on…. let’s go get your pizza and ice cream.” Just as much as Banner was worried about him, Tony was worried about Bruce, too. He didn’t want to lose him again.
Bruce let out a little noise and sat down. “Well then, can we order in...I don’t feel comfortable being outside right now.” Can Tony blame him. And without realising it. “I’d rather spend time alone, then with a group of loud and noisy people that don’t understand either of us.” He leaned back, stretching and let out a grunt and a moan before resting his head on the window when the AC in the car was turned on. “Green guy coming out always makes me tired and my hips sore...”
Tony tried to not show how turned on that made him… that his hips were sore. He was thinking that’s not why they should be sore… Dammit…. He didn’t know if he could safely think about that right now. He turned the car down the road. “If you want to order in, h…” He caught himself this time. “Bruce, then that’s what we’ll do.” He said. “You just tell me what you want… although I do need to stop and get the ice cream. I can drop you at home first if you want. What do you think?” He asked, looking over at him when he stopped at a stop light.
“I’d prefer that, I need a shower. My entire body is sore and sweaty. Hot water would be nice.” He groaned again and shifted down in the seat, his hips jutting out a little more than normal. “You should get whipped cream!” Mostly because the idea of Tony using something white on a spoon or his finger or... okay NOT letting his brain go that far down. The slight bulge in his pants was bad enough. Not that it could be seen unless you looked hard enough.
Oh my God, was he trying to make his brain explode? Tony couldn’t imagine the idea of whipped cream right now… things in his pants were already tight. He had to look away as he moved through the stop light. He didn’t know if he could look at him when he was speaking anyway, just the thought of him in the shower…. “Well I can do that…. you want me to get anything else? I like the cans of whipped cream myself. And you can shower… I’ll go to the store.” Tony clicked on the radio, and nearly had a heart attack when I Just Had Sex by Lonely Island started to play. Oh, that was irony for you…
Bruce’s eyes went wide and he coughed. “Here, this song kinda annoys me,” he lied. “Heteronormative and all.” Changed the station to a feel good song, just something by The Styx. He leaned against the window, trying to secretly adjust himself by pretending to push himself up on the seat. Wait, fuck. Did he just out himself... Ohgod he did. He turned red. “Uh, so uhm...well...” What do you do now after it happens. He turned away, unable to actually face him.
Tony looked at him, as he slowed to a stop at a stop sign. They weren’t far from the house. What did he say? Tony tried not to let his voice sound hopeful as he said, “What? What do you mean by that?” He was hoping that it meant what he thought it meant, but he didn’t want to assume. He touched his shoulder. “Hey… you can tell me anything… I mean that. If you have something to tell me, you know I won’t judge you for it…”
“Kinda... Gay?” Still not looking at him. “I mean I’ve dated a few women, but none of them stayed, could handle me, or they were afraid of me... Ignoring the fact I don’t actually like women. There was one girl I thought could turn me straight, she was sweet and pretty...” Bruce sighed and put his head down. “But things I just weird. I mean I do have someone I’m attracted to. Strong, proud of who is he, is proud of what he does even if he doesn’t say it either because he’s too humble or too stumble. Dark haired beauty and all.”
Tony mulled this over, and pulled the car over into a parking lot. He didn’t know if he meant him or not… he could have been describing Rogers. But the fact that he was gay was a good thing. Tony cleared his throat. “It’s okay… what you’re feeling is completely valid…” He said, and turned so he was facing Bruce. “I think I’m gay too… I mean, I always had sex with women, but I think it was over compensation…. I mean, I didn’t ever really have a serious relationship with women until Pepper…” And then he’d met Bruce, but he wasn’t sure if he could say that out loud.
“Really?!” That came off a little more excited than he intended it, and his heart nearly lept of his chest. “I mean, really? Never would have guess, playboy that you were.” Smiled a little, teasing him but there was a little hint of hope in his eyes. “Any man would be lucky to have you too... If anyone was good enough for you that is. They’d have to go through me first.” Stuck his tongue out at him.
Tony couldn’t help but laugh when he was so adorable… “You know, any man would be lucky to have you too, but I’m hoping that this will prove to you that point.” He said, and closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to Bruce’s. He didn’t know where he’d gotten the courage, but he could tell that Bruce felt the same way, what with his excitement that Tony was gay, too.
And Banner froze, unable to react until he realised that yes this was actually happening. He moved away a little to look at him. “Tony...” Breathed out before moving to push him back, kissing a little more deeply than Tony had been, his hand reaching to brush up his chest to his shoulder, then his neck before tangling in his hair.
Groaning against his mouth, he kissed back, wrapping his arms around his neck. He thought that this was probably not really going to sink in for a bit, he hadn’t really expected this when he’d gone to pick him up. Tony just wished they weren’t in the front, car sex was harder in the front seat. “Mm… Banner, you’re good at this…” He murmured against his mouth, his fingers running through the hair at the nape of Bruce’s neck.
“I know.” And because he can, he moved to bite rough at the spot between his shoulder and neck, lingering his teeth there before pulling away, leaving saliva to trail down. “I’m still hungry, dropping me home so I can get clean, you get food, and then we can see where this goes.” And because he can again, he ran a hand down his chest to his hips and gently squeezed him before fixing his shirt and moving back to his seat.
Tony shivered. “Not fair….” He muttered, opening his eyes. He was all turned on now and had to go to the store. At least there was plenty of condoms at home… he was just going to have to make sure there was lube. He didn’t know what kind he wanted but he didn’t really care as long as there was some. “You just wait, Banner, you’ll so have to finish what you started.” He told him, and reached over, palming him through his pants slowly and agonizingly before he started the car again.
“Well I could, depends on how skilled your driving is.” Gave a little smirk and moved his hand over to rub at him, a little bit more firmly than before. “If you can get through a car hand job, you can be the top. Otherwise, I will...” Smirked and went to just undo his jeans and tease at him with just his hand, going up and down.
“What the fuck….” Tony gasped, his hips moving forward of their own volition, but he managed to keep the car on the road. “You are a little kinky, Mr. Banner.” He said, when he was able to talk again, his heart pounding out of his own chest. This really wasn’t what he had expected at all. He owed Azelma a text.
Bruce rolled his eyes and made sure the windows were up and the tinting were properly there before taking his cock from the hole in his boxers and began stroking slowly, evilly slow, occasionally brushing his thumb over the head of it. He smirked. “Well then, you aren’t allowed to complain, considering the precum that’s going on here.” He chuckled and pulled his hand away, only so he could lick the tip of his finger, making sure Tony saw him.
Tony had to admit, that was really hot. “Fuck….. oh, the payback…” He murmured, he could barely speak right now, he was so turned on. He was surprised that he was able to keep the car on the road, but he was able to, his hands were just a little shaky on the wheel. “You’re going to be teased just the same way, Banner.”
And he sighed, moving to push him back into his pants. “I’m sorry...”Ran his hand over his neck. “Much as I want this I can’t.” And now he felt guilty. “I don’t want us to do this, and then later in realise things just aren’t. I can’t be hurt again...” had he said there was one other guy? When he was back helping the kids and their families health wise. A guy who complete destroyed him emotionally and it had taken a lot of him not to hulk out to kill him. A lot of strain and focus.
Tony pulled to a stop in front of the house, and counted to ten, and then fifteen, to get the erection to subside. He zipped his pants closed, once all was safe. “I don’t want to hurt you, Bruce, I really don’t. I want us to be together. And you know that I accept all of your flaws, and I don’t judge you for them. You are who you are, and you’re the most amazing man I know. I can’t imagine ever hurting you.” He said, taking Bruce’s hands. “I can completely get where you’re coming from, and we can go at the pace you want, I’m okay with that. I’ve never been with another guy before, and I want this to go right, but I’m going to need a little bit of a learning curve.”
“I have... but.” Swallowed hard, getting out of the car and rubbed his back. “I don’t know if I am comfortable talking about it right now. As it is...” Felt a tightness in his chest as he stepped up to the door, feeling his heart rate go stronger. “...not this. No.” Tried to control his breathing, gripping the side of his head and shutting his eyes tight, his jaw clenched.
“Hey… baby, look at me.” Tony said, he didn’t want to make him talk about it if he didn’t want to. He was fine leaving it till he was ready. “We don’t have to talk about this, baby… it’s okay. You’re okay, nothing’s going to happen to you. You're with me, and I love you.” Tony wasn’t sure if this was helping, but he knew that Bruce didn’t want to hulk out.
Banner blinked, stepping away. “Don’t say that so soon, don’t call me baby.” At least not yet. He groaned, growling a little as he clenched his teeth harder. He was going to... But he’d try his damndest not to. He stepped further away when suddenly he heard a little coo of a noise asking for ‘baba’, as in a bottle and he froze, turning to see a girl and a child.
Azelma had heard the car, and was eager to come say hi and welcome the new person to where she lived, seeing him like this though made her step back and hold Val close to her, very protective. “Oi, numskull. Get yourself out of your head or I swear to god...” Gave him a look, setting her own jaw as she tucked her daughter’s head under her chin.
It would be a lie if he said that that didn’t hurt, but he understood. He really did. “Okay…” Tony said, trying not to sound put upon. He knew that that wasn’t going to help anything. He gestured to Azelma when she walked up. “This is Azelma.” He said, he knew that he didn’t have to introduce Banner to her, but he wasn’t sure what he should say he was in relation to him.
“who are you to tell me what to do?” He shouted, causing her to tensed for a moment before squinting her eyes. “A mother protecting her child and unborn child, protecting the two other infants in the house, and the young boy that lives there. Along with my sister and her fiancé. Now I need to to calm down or I’m pretty you’re going to end up with a few people trying to take you down. And to be entirely honest, I’ve seen them fight and they are faster than you.” She was in fact talking about the random times she’d seen the people in mini skirt.
Bruce stepped back when she stepped forward, eyes still set on him. He growled a little, screaming out almost but stopped the moment he heard the baby start to wail. After a few deep breaths he relaxed his shoulders and just stared at her. How in the hell did she do that.
“Good, now don’t be a dumbass and let it happen again. You’re fucking better than that, I know you are. And after all, trying to teach this one that green is good, eating green food is good. Last thing I need is her seeing your giant green ass and going AGH GREEN IS BAD.” Azelma said, trying to shush the girl.
The man blinked, arched a brow, and gave a look to Tony- a rather ‘is she for real?’ look.
Tony looked at him, and shrugged, as if to say ‘I told you’. He would be lying if he said that he wasn’t jealous that it was Azelma to get him to stop. “I’m going to go and get the ice cream you wanted, and call for pizza…” Tony said, he needed to get out of there before he had his own anxiety attack. He didn’t want to do it in front of Bruce right now. He was even not sure if he could kiss him goodbye right now, it was safe to, he wasn’t Hulking out anymore, but he didn’t know if it was okay with Bruce. Finally, he brushed his lips softly and briefly against Bruce’s cheek and said, “I’ll be back.”
He was going to need to get some vodka, too.
Azelma rolled her eyes. “Honestly.”
“What do you mean honestly, you don’t know my life.” Bruce said with a scoul despite the kiss from Tony to his cheek. He folded his arms.
“Actually, I know quite a bit. And you should know you don’t know mine either.” Began bopping Val up and down in her arms.
He’s angry, as such his words are poisonous. “What, teenage mother that doesn’t know the father?”
Okay, no. She won’t take that. And Tony be damned she moved over and slapped him clear across the face. “Don’t you dare say that. You wouldn’t want someone coming up to you and instantly judging you by appearance? I would have hoped you knew better than that considering the changing you do. If you MUST know. I was a thief and a street worker for most of my life because my father demanded we do so to get money. I saw my older sister and little brother dead in a from a failed attempt of a revolution. I was raped while still numb from the shock of losing the only people who gave two shits about me. I was still under my father’s control before coming here and being blessed by them being alive here. I had this child in my arms right now despite everything that made me hate the man who forced to make her. And despite it I managed to find love, someone who cares about me and my well being. And yes, I’m young and pregnant again but I sure as hell know not to judge someone based on what I see before them because goddammit you don’t know anything until they let you.” She may be crying hard and having issues breathing and holding Val.
“I looked up to you because you managed to control everything that was going on despite what happened... and now I don’t know what to think.” Hurt and feeling defeated she hurried off, tears streaming down her face leaving Bruce to just hold where she’d hit him in shock feeling more than a little guilty and like a complete asshole.
“I...wait...”
Tony had not seen it, he’d pulled over a few streets away to calm down and call for the pizza. He managed to calm down enough to call for the pizza, and then he collapsed over the steering wheel, crying and having a panic attack. He freaked out for about ten minutes, and then finally he calmed down, telling himself that Bruce hadn’t meant any of that personally. He wanted to believe that, and he knew it was true, it was just a little bit hard at the moment.
He started driving again, and went to the grocery store. He picked up some vodka, and margarita mix, with some ice, and got the ice cream and whipped cream Banner had requested. He made sure to get the cans, and got a couple, not that he thought they’d get a lot of use, but he wanted to make sure they had enough, and besides, he was actually really wanting a lot. He also got some pretzels and some chopped nuts for the ice cream and left, after paying for it all and at the last minute tossing some red solo cups in to drink the margaritas with.
When he got home, he put the ice cream and whipped cream away, and put the money for the pizza on the counter. It would still be about twenty minutes, it was a busy day. He went upstairs, to see how Bruce was doing. “Banner?” He asked, stopping himself from calling him an endearment. “I got the stuff and called for the pizza….”
bruce had been having a hard time taking it all in. He’d taken the hottest shower he could despite the sunburn, and had cried. He’d hurt the poor girl, he’d done something he never wanted to do because hes was coming down from something she’d done her best to help with. And damn she hit hard. At this point he had, had his face in his hands, dressed in the pyjama bottoms he found and no shirt.
So Tony didn’t have to walk further, he stood up and walked out to him, the decent bruise and along his cheek, nearly a black eye graced his face. “Yeah?”
"Oh... hon..." He said, his fingers ghosting over his cheek. "What happened?" He asked, wishing he could make both of their issues go away. It wasn't exactly easy, he didn't know what was wrong with him, not really. He hated to see Bruce upset, too, he wished that he could help. He didn't know what to do to help. He did his best not to lick his lips when he saw Bruce with no shirt on. It was hot.
"Come on.... I'll get some ice for your eye." He said, offering his hand to him.
“She hit me because I told her she didn’t know my life and she kind’ve went off on me. Some of the thing she told me about her life made me cringe and feel like my issues were barely there. I don’t know how she didn’t try what I did or how she made it out of there...” Rubbed his temple. “I made her cry and she hurried off crying and almost fell.” Sighed heavily and sat on one of the chairs at the table.
“I just can’t imagine someone so young going through that...”
Tony sighed, he had felt the same way, although neither of their issues were any less important or not as bad as hers. They both had been through a lot. He took out a towel, and wrapped a bag of frozen peas in it and sat down at the table with him, putting it on his eye. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry for both of you. This is not an ideal situation for any of us… and it’s going to make everyone a little jumpy.” He said, he wasn’t happy she hit him, and he’d talk to her about it later, when she’d calmed down. But he’d try not to be confrontational, which was a first for him.
“You know, hon, your issues aren’t nothing just because she made you feel that way. Everyone reacts to things differently, and just because she’s had an incredibly rough life, doesn’t mean that your pain doesn’t matter. Your feelings are valid, too. I just don’t want you to think that you’re not important. Okay?” He closed his eyes, still holding the bag of peas to his face. He was starting to flip out again, and they both couldn’t do that in one day.
And Azelma felt awful, but she couldn’t face either of them so she sent a quick text. ‘hey, wanted to say sorry. I fucked up and panicked. It was a reflex and I didn’t know what to do.’ sighed, curling into the blanket, Val in her crib. She held her stomach, trying to will down her anxiety in an attempt to prevent the pain from creeping up again. And it really wasn’t working. She sighed, no one else was in the house. Gavroche was over with Elsa and Anna to see Loki, Gustave was with his father, and Scoot and her sister were at the doctor’s for the twins. She really didn’t want this to be a thing, she didn’t want this to be about her. But she was worried. she bit her lip. She’d wait on the response to see if she needed to tell them.
“I know that. She’s just young, that’s what I was most worried about.” Laughed softly. “And for her body size she is strong.” Groaned a little and leaned back. “I’ll be fine though, had worse. Pretty sure you should be worrying about the cut on my leg I had to attend to and stitch up myself.” His own skills for the win? Maybe?
That's kind of hot...." Tony allowed, as he pulled the bag of peas away to look at his eye. "You're probably right." He said, and pulled out some plates for the pizza. His hands shook, and one of them dropped to the floor. It broke into a few pieces, and Tony stared at them, and began to have a New York flashback, not even sure why. He closed his eyes and dropped his head in his hands, really glad that the Loki that was here was 13 and had no plans to try and take over anything.
Tony started breathing in and out, trying to calm down. He had been planning on making the margaritas. Tony counted to ten, and he still wasn't calming down. He heard the text from Azelma, but he had to calm down before he texted her back.
Bruce sighed and moved to pull Tony into his arms, keeping him in a close but gentle hold as he rubbed his back. “It’s okay you know, far as I know we’re safe here. Safe from anyone. And I did a little reading, seems Loki is with a Queen that can control ice and snow. But she’s a kind woman that keeps to herself and is rumoured to be engaged to her sister. But I don’t know if the last bit is true.” Sure he was a little shaky but was slowly getting better. “And anyway, any comes after you I will go Hulk and take them out. Like I did Loki in New York. That was fun. Bashed him into the rocks a lot. Hey, can I tell you something...” Leaned to rest his head on his neck.
“I screamed at you when I was Hulk. and I knew what I was doing. You looked dead and so I screamed because dammit you needed to be alive no matter what.”
He sniffled, and when Bruce held him he started to cry a little. He had no idea how much he’d needed to hear that. He really could feel better about how Bruce had snapped at him earlier. He held on tight, trying to formulate words. He didn’t know what he wanted to say, because honestly, hearing that Bruce had wanted him alive that much really touched him. “I’m… I really don’t know how to express how that makes me feel. Because honestly…. I really.. I feel the same way about you…”
Tony buried his head in Bruce’s neck, he smelled really good and he liked being held, he was finally starting to calm down. “I’m… I need to tell you something… you need to know if we’re going to.. well, do this dating thing.” He said, and pulled back just enough so he could see Bruce’s eyes. “I… I’ve been having this anxiety thing…. I don’t sleep.. I can’t stop thinking about… well… you know..” He couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud. “And… right now, I’m a mess. You just… you need to know if we’re going to be together.” Then there was that business about him not being able to wear his suit, but he didn’t have it right now, so it’s not as big of an issue.
Bruce watched as he spoke, his facial expression growing stern. “Don’t you dare...” Took his shoulders with a decent grip, looking in square in the eyes. “If I’m not allowed to have done that, neither are you.” He can’t believe that. Just... okay. Calm down Banner. He took in a deep breath, loosening his grip. “I’d be devastated, Rogers would be, Thor would be. And how would we be without you. We’d probably fall apart and not talk. Rogers would go off on his own. Thor would find things to do on his own. I’d... Find a way.” Turned to look away from him. “And I don’t even know why you think that would get in the way of this. It’s not like being in a relationship changes everything and makes it better. If anything it might be better for you to find help or a way to cope properly before we can do this. We can’t keep tipping each other off into this. It will get us no where.” He hates to bring that up. “I mean, we can still talk. But you getting like this, makes the green guy start to try and surface. It would be a downward spiral and at this point we’d be toxic for each other. It can’t work if we’re both dependant on the other for stability. It doesn’t work like that.”
He looked at him, his chin actually started to tremble. “Bruce… I realize what you’re saying is right… but… please… just for tonight, can we pretend you’re not? I promise… I’ll do my best to not freak out, okay? I really can’t be alone tonight…. and if it makes you feel any better, Azelma is making me see a therapist…. and she put me on Xanax because she can’t take it now that she’s pregnant…”
Tony ran his hand through his hair, and picked up the money to pay the pizza man, the doorbell was ringing. He paid the man, and went back to the kitchen with it, putting it on the table, and getting out paper plates. He didn’t want to break another one. “If you want me to go, I’ll go upstairs… and you can eat.” He said, his voice almost robotic, because he was afraid of what Bruce was going to say.
“That’s the thing, I don’t know what to think. For someone who’s been so close to death so many times, you’d there the realization that this world needs you would kick in.” Turned to face the wall, putting his hands together and pushing it to his lips when he heard the door open without a knock.
Luna knew something was going wrong, was off. She’d gone to Azelma first, getting some of what happened and helped ease her to sleep before coming here. It was obvious she was needed. She stepped in, her eyes glowing a little, hair moving on it’s own. “Can I please ask why Azelma feels so much guilty that it very nearly cost her a trip to the hospital? And explain why this entire cottage radiates more energy than many evil sources.” She tucked her wings behind her, the crown on her head glowing a little as well. “My name is princess Luna. Speak now.”
Tony pushed the box of pizza on the table away, it didn’t fall off but it got close. He folded his arms, hating the fact that he was so pissed, because he knew that Bruce had gone through the same shit he had. “Bruce, let me tell you something else, something that I’m so afraid of that I don’t want to talk about it out loud!” He said, his voice rising. “I can’t wear my suit anymore because it’s KILLING ME. Literally killing me. I love being Iron Man, and I fucking can’t because it’s making my heart condition worse! You get to be the Hulk, as much as you may hate it, and help people. I’m going to die if I continue to be Iron Man. You don’t think that I would love to be there for the world? I would.”
He was starting to get angrier, and he wondered if this was how Bruce felt all the time. He put a hand to his chest. “And as much as I don’t want to die, I do at the same time. However confusing it may be for you, it’s a fucking clusterfuck for me. Do you think I like feeling this way? I can tell you I don’t!” He snapped, and collapsed onto a chair, his hand still over his heart. “I’m sorry… okay? I really am.” He started to calm down a little, he just hadn’t been able to help his outburst.
However much Bruce wanted to react, he couldn’t let himself. It would come out and he’d never forgive himself. He’d just stare you to the wall, trying to not focus on it when he heard speaking again and it startled him
“You both have no idea how this universe works, do you?” She asked, stepping closer. She tipped her head. “What exactly is it that you are ill in with you heart or... rather lack there of.” Yes, she can tell. Luna just has this sense of when someone is just not whole. “I mean honestly.” She moved over to the one who had the first obvious injury. “May I?”
“May you what?!” He asked in shock.
“Deal with your injury.” Leaned over. “The one Azelma cried herself to sleep over, out of guilt and fear.” She moved her hand up, it beginning to glow purple and blue as she gently held it over his face. After a few seconds, nearly thirty, she moved her hand away and smiled. “There, any others I can attend to?”
Tony was calm now, and he understood why Bruce hadn’t reacted. He sat there, willing his arm to get some feeling back in it. He didn’t speak, he didn’t really know what to say, and honestly, he hadn’t been surprised when Luna healed Banner, this universe was a lot different than home. And home wasn’t exactly normal. He ran his hand over his arm, and waited a second more, and stood, filling the blender with ice. He murmured, “Thanks for healing his face. He has a stitched up cut on his leg that could use some looking at. I love him, I don’t want his leg to fall off from gangrene.”
He filled up the blender, hitting the button to mix it up.
“It is no problem. Last thing this household needs is something happening to it. They have peace for the most part, it should stay that way.” She dealt with his leg, despite the annoyed noise he gave Tony for the comment. “There, should be better. Now as for you.” She stood and walked over to Tony. “What exactly is it that is causing you issues. We have people from all forms. We have the Doctor, a mage. A mad scientist that Bruce has spoken to. There’s myself and my sister. A woman named Morgana who can do magic as well. There are people who can heal...” Folded her hands in front of her and waited.
He poured one of the solo cups full of the drink, and took a long sip of it, shaking his head. “No… I don’t care who you have here…. I have billions of dollars back home, and can get the best doctors in the country on the problem, and no one has been able to fix it. I’m not going to just let people who can do magic work on me.” Tony replied, he was actually a little freaked out that she seemed to think that there was something that could be done about it. Tony finished his cup and filled it again, picking up a piece of pizza and eating it slowly.
“Fair enough.” She moved to fix her hair back and walk away. She turned to look at him. “"Think on it, people here are kind to those willing to help. Can offer time ands resources to make anything needed. But they can only help someone who will work to help themselves." She sighed. “A cyborg arm made to feel being one of them.” And with that she was off.
Leaving there to be an awkward silence between them. “I’ll stay here, but in separate rooms. I don’t know if I can face you right now. Because to be honest, half the time I still wish he hadn’t taken the bullet out.” He stood up, thankful he was no longer injured. “I don’t know about any of this, and I regret revealing anything about our feelings for each other right now. It only made things even more complicated...and I’m scared enough now to not be able to sleep. I just... I don’t know anymore. Everything is a mess and I’ve never had to fight him down so much in years.” With that he stood up, leaving the pizza aside, and found one of the two bedrooms so he could sit on the bed to think some more.
Tony didn’t let himself do anything, but sit and eat, he put up the rest of it for Bruce in the fridge, finishing up the rest of what was in the blender, and cleaning up the kitchen. He didn’t think that he could function without some kind of alcohol in his body. He went and showered, leaning his head against the wall of the shower, the water pounding over him. He curled into a ball on the floor of the shower, just sitting there, the hot water hitting him.
He debated putting the stopper in the tub, but in the end didn’t. He turned it off, and crawled onto the bed, not even toweling off, just laying on the top of the bed on his stomach, closing his eyes. He wasn’t going to actually sleep, knowing Bruce was in the same house and he’d had to repress the Hulk, because of him.
While Tony was in the shower, all Bruce could do was think, for several hours, into the early morning. And he hated it. He regretted everything, most of all the touch. Sure, he never viewed sex as anything dirty, but he’d done something out of the moment. He never liked doing things too in the moment as it was. He couldn’t do this. He wrote a note for Tony, saying to the effect that he was going to find a hotel or something, but that he couldn’t do it. It was hard enough staying calm already, he just couldn’t handle if Tony tipped him to Hulk and he hurt him. Especially with the revelation of his health had shown.
Bruce left the note on the doorknob to the room he’d saw wet footprints trailed to, and quietly left the house, quiet as he can after packing things. He hadn’t even bothered with the pizza. For now... maybe he could stay with that other science guy? Maybe they could find a way to help him... if Tony was going to be stubborn, Banner would go as low as behind his back to help fix it for him.