Notice:

I do not own any of the characters or places, or marvel. Wish I did though..

Nightmares Become a Reality

Chapter 1

Tony woke up in the middle of the night sitting up straight in a panic, looking around the room frantically finding Bruce still laying in bed beside him peacefully asleep. Tony took a deep breath and slid back under the covers beside him and wrapped his arms protectively around Bruce, burying his nose into the scientist's hair, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. He slowly exhaled and whispered against Bruce's hair, "I love you Bruce, so much. I don't know what I'd do if anything were to happen to you." Tony was afraid to go back to sleep, he was afraid to close his eyes and have to relive his dream over and over again. Soon enough though, sleep over took him and he fell asleep holding on to Bruce desperately.

Bruce sighs quietly waking a little at the sun peeking through the curtains in the widow. He rubs at his eyes and realizes Tony tangled into him smiles a little. Bruce felt safe here with Tony, he felt like nothing could go wrong, he felt like he could be himself around Tony. He gently rolled over in Tony's arms to face him, and watched him as he slept. Bruce smiled a little and gently brushed a piece of hair out of Tony's face, and frowned slightly seeing the pained look on his face. Bruce gently wrapped his arms around Tony and held on to him and buried his face in his neck. He knew about the nightmares Tony was having, but Tony being stubborn, would not ever talk about them. Tony would tell Bruce, it's fine, it's just a dream, something stupid. Although, Bruce knew it was nothing, it was not fine and it was not stupid. He hated having to watch Tony suffer in his sleep.

After Loki's attack on Manhattan, Tony offered to show Bruce the labs that he had in his tower, yhat was before half of it was destroyed. Bruce stayed with Tony anyway and helped him with clean up and the rebuild of Stark Tower. Pepper was always around, but Bruce noticed her and Tony acted differently around each other now, but Bruce didn't ask, it was none of his business. If Tony wanted to tell him about it, he would.

Bruce felt Tony finch and quiver against him, snapping him out of his thoughts. Bruce glanced up at him to see Tony shaking slightly and a pained expression on his face gritting his teeth. Bruce slowly sat up in bed and gently pulled Tony against him holding on to him tightly and gently caressing his back and whispered, "It's okay Tony, I'm here. Nothing bad is going to happen. I'm here." Bruce closed his eyes tightly holding back threatening tears as he held on to his lover. He felt Tony relax slight, he opened his eyes and saw Tony drenched in sweat and his hands balled into fists. Bruce thought to himself, Alright that's enough. "Tony, come on, you're having a nightmare. Wake up." Bruce gently shook Tony trying to wake him, "Tony, please. Wake up. It's just a dream," Bruce shook him again and watched him concerned. Tony sat up in a panic, panting heavily looking around the room frantically before his brown eyes met with Bruce's and Tony clung to him.

Bruce was a little taken back by this. He looked down at Tony with concern and gently runs his fingers through Tony's hair, "Are you okay? This is the fourth time this week you've woken up like this." Tony didn't answer, he just buried his face deeper into Bruce's chest shaking slightly. Bruce sighs a little, "One of these days you're going to have to talk to me Tony. Because, if you don't they'll just get worse. Trust me." Tony picked up his head and looked up at Bruce slightly frustrated, "Trust me. I know too. I haven't been sleeping right since Afghanistan, Bruce." Tony let go of Bruce and put some clothes on before leaving without a word. Bruce sighed quietly running his fingers through his hair and muttering, "It is way too early for this." He rubbed his face a little and just sat in his bed, not wanting to face the wrath of a pissed off Tony, although he'd probably be locked away in his lab anyway.

Bruce finally decided to join the others, knowing that they were in the kitchen getting breakfast now. He walked into the kitchen seeing everyone, but Tony sitting around the kitchen island eating breakfast. Thor had his Pop-Tarts, Clint had a bowl of cereal, Natasha had fried eggs and some fruit, and Steve had a plate of pancakes. I walk over to the fridge and poke around inside trying to find something to eat, but gives up starts making a cup of tea instead. Bruce could feel everyone staring at him, and it made his skin crawl. He glanced over his shoulder seeing the prodding eyes of his team-mate. He raises an eyebrow and scans over their faces, "Can I help you all?" Everyone looked over at Steve and he sighed a little. Bruce started getting a little nervous, feeling the tension grow thicker. Bruce turned around looking at everyone and leaned against the counter waiting for an explanation.

Steve cleared his throat a little and took a deep breath before looking at the curious scientist, "We're just worried about Tony, that's all. He's hardly around here anymore, and when he is, he's," Steve paused looking at the table top then back at Bruce, "he's not himself Dr. Banner. We were just hoping that you knew what was going on, and could talk to him. Seeing how close you two are and all." Steve stop talking and Bruce could obviously see the panic and worry in his team mates' eyes. He sighed a little and rubbed the back of his neck a little. "I've tried talking to him about it. Tony just, shuts down and closes me off when I bring it up." Bruce shifted in his spot a little and looks at the floor crossing his arms over his chest, "Honestly guys, I don't know what's going on. Every time I try to get close to him and talk about it, he closes up."

Bruce could feel the eyes burrowing into him and he started to get slightly agitated. He heard the tea-pot start whistling on the stove and flinched a little before grabbing a mug with a tea bag and pouring the hot water into the mug before heading down to his own lab to avoid every one else.

So this is my first fanfiction... please review... tell me what you think... be gentle...