Bruce knew something was off that morning when he got up, but refused to believe he could be sick. He attributed his dry scratchy throat to the seasonal dryness of winter, despite the Avengers Tower having one of the best humidifying systems money could buy. He blamed his throbbing head on dehydration and sweating on the tower being a little too well heated.
I'm not sick, he thought to himself, I can't get sick! The other guy won't let me!
Now, he was swaying back and forth over the lab table as the room spun around him. Clutching a test tube in one hand, Bruce used his other hand to grab the table and steady himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Tony tuning up his Iron Man suits at the other end of the lab. It was now eleven in the morning and Bruce was feeling worse than when he had gotten up! A sleepiness overtook him that caused him to nearly fall asleep as soon as he sat down, so he opted to stand up. His knees felt weak, his whole body felt weak. A couple times he coughed, an act which had not gone unnoticed by the other Avengers, especially Tony, much to his chagrin. Deciding to get a drink of water, Bruce slowly moved towards the stairs. He was just dehydrated, if he got a drink, he'd feel much better! Or so he told himself.
Halfway to the stairs, however, Bruce was hit with another wave of vertigo and teetered back and forth, nearly falling over.
"Bruce!" Tony yelled, running over and catching him. He helped Bruce stand back up again and held onto his arm worriedly. "Are you okay? You've been coughing all morning and you look pretty pale. Like, paler than usual," Tony chuckled, though his sarcasm was just another way of masking his concern and making light of a serious situation.
"I'm… fine," Bruce said, clutching his head, "I'm just a bit dehydrated. I think the humidifier is malfunctioning. And also, would it kill you to turn the heat down?"
"Uhh, buddy, the humidifier's working fine, and nobody else has complained about the heat. ...Are you… are you sick? Dude, I didn't think that was possible for you!"
"I'm not sick!" Bruce pushed his way past Tony, walking again towards the stairs.
"I think you're sick! Hang on, let's have Jarvis have a look at you. Jarvis-"
"Tony, I'm fine, really. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to developing a cure for… for you-know-who…" Bruce walked away.
Around noon, the team gathered for lunch. Bruce, Tony, Thor, Natasha, Steve, and Clint all sat around the dining room table. Bruce decided to go with something light, as he wasn't terrible hungry, so he had a small, open-faced, sandwich.
Thor, like usual, was stuffing his face, "Banner, my friend, are you certain that is enough for you to eat? I realize you eat like a Midguardian bird but that is less than even you normally consume!" Thor turned to Natasha, "Did I use that metaphor correctly?"
"Uh… sure?" Natasha obviously didn't care, turning immediately to Clint.
"Thanks, Thor, but I'm just not very hungry today," Bruce took a bite of his meal.
Clint laughed at Thor, "I still don't understand how you Asgardians eat so much!"
"We have very high metabolisms. You should see my friend Volstagg, now he has an appetite!"
"Oh geez!" Clint laughed again.
Bruce smiled, it was nice to see the other Avengers getting along and having fun, even if he wasn't feeling well. He was incredibly grateful for his place among the team, as it was the first time in a long time Bruce truly felt like he belonged somewhere. In some ways, the Avengers were like his family, and the Avengers Tower their home.
However, this moment of brief respite didn't last for long, a sudden sharp pain in Bruce's head caused him to grip it and grimace.
"Bruce, you alright?" Natasha asked, now even she was beginning to worry.
"I'm… fine, thanks."
"No he's not, he's totally sick!" Tony yelled like a kindergartener tattling to the teacher.
"You're sick?" Clint gaped, "How? I thought you couldn't get sick! You're the Hulk!"
Steve piped up, "He may be the Hulk, but he's still human. Of course he can get sick!"
"Shit… you're not gonna hulk out now 'cause you're sick, are you?"
"Everybody shut up!" Tony intervened, "Can't you see Bruce's in pain? No one is taking this seriously!"
"Look who's talking," Natasha quipped.
"I concur," added Thor.
Everyone began to talk now, and the noise only made Bruce's headache worse. Bruce rubbed his temples and tried to stay calm, but this illness was making him irritable and he could hardly take it anymore.
"If you guys don't shut it I really am gonna hulk out!" Bruce cried in frustration.
They all immediately fell silent.
"Sorry, Bruce, we know you're not feeling well…" Steve murmured quietly.
"Come on, buddy, let's get you to bed," Tony got up and gently grabbed Bruce's arm.
"N-no, I'm fine, really…" Bruce tried to resist, "It's just a cold, let me finish my lunch and go back to the lab."
"Nuh-uh, no way. Come on, we're getting you some rest!"
"I'm fine, really! Come on, please don't make me go to bed, I'm not even tired!"
"But you were barely able to keep your eyes open a few minutes ago!" Thor bluntly shouted, "You almost fell asleep face first into your sandwich!"
Clint chuckled at this. Natasha glared at him. Bruce blushed.
Tony urged him again, "Come on, I'm not letting you do this to yourself."
"But- but-"
"Oh for the love of-!" Natasha stood up and yanked Bruce by the sleeve of his shirt.
"H-hey!" Bruce yelled defiantly.
Natasha hauled Bruce off to his room, Tony and the rest of the Avengers followed.
Once there, Natasha threw Bruce onto his bed, "Ouch!" he cried.
"Hey, watch it! You don't want a visit from… the other guy…" Clint shouted but ended in a whisper.
Once again Bruce tried to resist and got up but Natasha just shoved him back down again.
"Sorry buddy, this is for your own good," Tony pulled the blanket out from under him and laid it on top, tucking him in.
Bruce looked like he might try to get up again, but then Natasha threatened him, "Try to leave and I'll have Steve short-sheet you!"
"Why do you assume I know how to do that?" Steven asked, a bit indignant.
"Don't they teach you that stuff in the army? Or you learn it from your fellow soldiers? Whatever, I'll do it myself if I have to."
"Er, that won't be necessary. I'll be good," Bruce really didn't feel like getting short-sheeted.
Besides, he began to feel sleepy now, all that exhaustion finally catching up with him.
"But I… I really should get back to the lab… that cure… won't find itself…" Bruce muttered, his eyelids fluttering.
Tony smirked. Sometimes his friend was just too adorable! He motioned for everyone else to give Bruce some privacy, and they all left. All save for Tony.
"When you wake up, I'll get you some juice and soup. That oughta help!" Tony beamed. "Just take it easy now, okay? I'll turn up the humidity in your room and lower the temperature so you won't be too warm. I'll get you some aspirin for your headache, too."
"T-Tony…" Bruce whispered, "Th-thank…"
"Hey, what are science bros for?" Tony smiled, patting Bruce's shoulder.
"I…" Bruce's eyes finally closed. Soon, the only sound in the room was his rhythmic breathing.
"Sweet dreams, buddy…" Tony closed the curtains and turned out the lights, closing the door behind him.