Author's Note: I don't own the Avengers. Marvel is lucky because I tend to break my toys.

xxxx

Tony grabbed Bruce's hand. "Let's go to the bedroom."

"We can neck on the couch," said Bruce. "I'll need a pulse meter before we do anything more exciting. The other guy broke my last one."

"Jarvis, monitor Dr. Banner's pulse," said Tony. "Anything over 180 let me know."

"165," said Bruce. "By 180, I'm well on the way to becoming the other guy and there's a lot of deep breathing involved to calm me down."

"No aerobic exercise for you," teased Tony.

"Deep breathing, meditation," said Bruce. "I can do this. Do you really think I've gone 10 years without a hard-on?"

"I suppose not." Tony sat on the sofa and motioned for Bruce to join him.

"Adrenaline sets him off, so I need to distance myself from my body," explained Bruce. "I've been beaten up and not changed."

"I want you to be aware of me." Tony put an arm around Bruce. "If you need to be off in lala land, then I rather do without."

"We'll work on it," said Bruce.

"Can alcohol help take the edge off?"

"My father was an alcoholic, so I never tried drinking, but the amount of drugs the military has pumped me with would lead me to believe my tolerance is high." This conversation was making him anxious and anxious was bad - very bad. Bruce rested against Tony, letting Tony's touch calm him. "You might know that numbers since I'm sure the helicarrier computers weren't the first computers you've hacked into. It isn't like Ross and Talbot were going to tell me what drugs they were giving me and the dosage."

"General Ross once shot you with a tranquilizer dart meant for a bull elephant." Either Tony didn't know the dosages off-hand or was scared that Bruce knowing the dosages would aid him if he ever tried to end his life, again. Knowing Tony, it was the latter. "I can see you drinking pure grain alcohol and only getting a little tipsy, besides we want you aware." Tony then smiled. "We are over-thinking this. Beta-blockers will work."

"Beta-blockers can cause erectile dysfunction," said Bruce.

Tony kissed Bruce's cheek. "Why must you see the glass as half-empty?"

Bruce shrugged his shoulders. "Because it is."

Tony put his arms around the man, leaning against him on the sofa. "Do you know talking about sex with you is very unromantic?"

"We can just snuggle like we are now until we have beta-blockers," suggested Bruce. "Dr. Stern's formula is on the laptop Pepper had received from India. Why reinvent the wheel?"

"Is this formula safe?"

"I've modified it," said Bruce. "You see my eyes go green, you stab me with a needle. Don't wait. Needles don't penetrate the other guy's skin."

"And it works?"

"I've tested it," said Bruce. "It works. We just have to make up a batch."

Pepper entered the room to see Bruce resting with Tony's arms around him. "You two cozy?"

When Bruce went stand, Tony grabbed into Bruce tighter and said,"Bruce is staying here awhile."

"I told him he could stay the night," said Pepper.

"If you are uncomfortable about me being here, I can leave," said Bruce.

"I wouldn't have asked you to stay if I didn't mean it." Pepper sat down on a chair. "Dr. Banner, you're welcome to stay as long as you need."

"You aren't nervous about the other guy?" asked Bruce.

"Yes, I'm nervous, but you saved Tony's life and Tony wants you here," said Pepper.

Tony kissed Bruce's cheek then put a hand through his curly hair. "See. No problem."

"Is Bruce sharing your room?" asked Pepper.

"Not tonight," said Tony.

"Bruce, Tony is a playboy." Leaning forward, Pepper looked straight at Bruce. "He isn't going to be anymore faithful to you than he is to me. I accept Tony's philandering because he always comes back to me."

Bruce swallowed hard.

"I can be your friend or I can be your enemy. Just remember I'm Tony's main squeeze. You're just side candy." Pepper had gumption - calling the Hulk side candy. Then she lived with Tony and, probably, seen it all. She wasn't a woman to mess with.

Bruce thought he should leave now. Being a third in their sex games wouldn't be good for his stress levels. Then again, Tony hid in his room because Bruce walked around town a bit after the shwarma, so leave or stay he was part of the equation.