"Can we take a pit stop, if you don't mind?" Bruce says talking to the twilight rather than Tony.

"No prob big guy. I'll turn off here." Tony says and true to his word turns the car into a gas station and flicks off the engine. He surveys the place, and grimaces as he turns to Bruce.

"It looks pretty gross, want to go somewhere else?"

"It'll be fine, I've had much worse. I'll be right back." Says Bruce as he quickly steps out of the car before Tony has a chance to respond. Bruce jams his hands into his pockets and walks briskly into the store.

Tony pauses for a second unsure what to do with himself and decides to go inside for a candy bar and possibly a weirdly decent gas-station coffee. His keys jingle merrily as he makes his way inside and they are met with a pleasant little ding as Tony opens the door. Bruce is standing at the counter and turns to look at him as he enters. He ducks his head sheepishly, says something Tony doesn't quite catch to the man behind the counter, and walks past Tony saying he'll be out in the car. Tony turns to down an aisle and glances out to watch Bruce who has just opened the door of the car and grabbed his duffel bag.

Tony turns and exits the store briskly. He calls out to Bruce before he can do much more then slam the door shut.

"If you needed some change I could have spotted you." His smiles but it doesn't crinkle the skin around his eyes. Banner's outstretched hand tenses when he hears Tony's voice, his shoulders slump for just a moment until he pulls himself back to his full height. He turns to face Tony and opens his mouth to speak though he doesn't say anything immediately.

"You don't have to take your whole bag in; the murse look doesn't suit you at all." Again, a smile and a laugh that aren't quite genuine. He has almost reached Bruce and now reaches out as if to take his duffle bag. Bruce pulls away before Tony can touch him. His eyebrows have curved upwards ever so slightly and his fingers twitch unsure of their action.

"You can just let me out here. I'll make my way back to where I belong. "Bruce knows it's a lame thing to say but he straightens up and tries to assert himself.

"And where would that be? Because to me, the logical place for a mind like yours is in a lab like mine. It's a total waste for you to just fall off the grid, Banner. At least come do a little research, see the labs, eat some blueberries. How often do either of us have the chance to talk without simplifying everything to drooling simpleton level? I know you have to crave that kind of conversation. I do. Just a couple of days, what do you say?" Tony punctuates his argument by holding out a hand for Bruce's bag and grinning cockily, he knows that he has quite the carrot to dangle in front of Banner.

Bruce works his jaw but nothing comes out, so he just puts his head down and hands Tony his bag. Tony smiles even more broadly, showing off his perfect white teeth as he accepts the duffel bag. Bruce immediately turns on his heel and bolts in the opposite direction.

"Goddammit Bruce!" Tony yells and lunges forward to grab Bruce's shirt, yanking him backwards. This time when Banner rounds on him Tony sees flecks of green radiating outward in Banner's irises.

"Tony." Bruce says just his name between gritted teeth. He flexes his fists and shakes his head as if he is dealing with a particular trying child and he must take a moment to calm down before he should speak again. Tony takes the opportunity to speak.

"I owe you my life, Bruce. Let me repay you just a little bit. Please." Tony lowers his head and looks at Bruce through his dark lashes.

"Dammit Tony, " he hisses. "Why don't you pay me back by just letting me go?"

"I want to help. I-" Tony says but Bruce cuts him off.

"You want to fix me, do you? Think you can just parade me into your lab and make everything okay? I know you think you've figured me out, poking me with shit and everything, but I'm still dangerous, Tony. I'm never going to stop being dangerous. No amount of treats and bribes will change that." Bruce spits between their shoes, as if marking a line in the gravel and daring Tony to cross it.