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Only Tony

Dr. Banner blearily blinks at the pale sunlight that streams into his room and caresses his tired form. He yawns and stretches, wincing as he feels his bones pop and crack. Another morning. Another day. The scientist manages a bitter smile at the thought of the world blithely carrying on with life, not even sparing a glance at the weary forms huddled within it. How can they stand their ignorance? How can they stand to allow others to suffer so poignantly? Why do they never-?

Dr. Banner notices his trembling hands that have clenched into white-knuckled fists. Is that a hint of green…? He firmly ends his raging train of thought. It's too early to be disturbing the other Avengers with the appearance of the Other Guy. Yawning again, the scientist hauls himself from the tangled sheets and drags his feet into the adjoining washroom.

There he presses his fists against the white stone of the sink. The coolness of it awakens his mind, and he is able to release the tension stirring within his muscles. Inhaling and then exhaling deeply, Banner forces his neck to rise, lifting his reluctant head along with it. The indifferent mirror waits as he stares intently at his reflection.

His lips twist into a hollow smirk as he notes the greenish hue of his shallow cheeks. If he was any other person, he would be thought to be only suffering from a mild case of nausea. But, oh no, not with him. The green in his cheeks signifies his rage. The emerald burning within his eyes serves as a warning for others to beware the beast lurking within. Just waiting to strike. Just waiting to destroy-.

"Yo, Banner! Get enough beauty sleep?" The smirking voice comes from his billionaire playboy friend, who leans his body against one side of the doorway. Bruce chuckles darkly. Though he can't see Tony, the scientist knows that he has quirked an eyebrow.

"Leave me alone, Tony."

"So I can miss your glorious, sunny face?" Tony snorts. "I don't think so." He approaches the older, weary man and wraps his arm about his bent shoulders. "Do you know what I see when I look in that mirror with you? Go on. Guess."

Fighting the soft smile that threatens to grace his lips, Bruce decides to play along. "A billionaire playboy philanthropist and his warped companion?"

"Nope," says Tony cheerfully. It's Bruce's turn to quirk an eyebrow.

"Then what do you see?"

"A whole lotta bedhead." Tony ruffles his already-tousled curls and beats a hasty, yet gleeful, retreat. Bruce rolls his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. Only Tony.

Only Tony would have the audacity to even dare to touch him in the midst of his foul moods. Only Tony could make him feel like he wasn't a monster without ever really saying anything. Only Tony. Dr. Banner looks into the apathetic mirror again and observes that the green coloring his cheeks has given way to normal fleshy tones. The emerald in his eyes has dispersed into imperceptible flecks. He allows a genuine smile to emerge. Perhaps the world won't be so bleak today after all.