Telling Bruce Banner that he couldn't go home was one of the hardest things Tony had ever done.
Sure, the doctor had agreed to stay the night- for convenience, though some part of Tony hoped it was simply because Bruce wanted to. Until he'd asked where "home" was. And Bruce's face had broken into a genuine, unexpected, gorgeous smile and said one word. "Betty." Not New York, or California, or New Mexico, he'd explained quickly, because quite frankly he had no idea if she'd stayed in their last home or moved elsewhere. Or if she even wanted to see him again.
"But I think I'm a free man now, " Bruce had quietly confided in Tony's lab, "so I can try and find her again. And my best friend, he's still out there somewhere. I think- I hope," and his face said so much more, it seemed to express actual disbelief that he had any right to these things- "I hope I can go home now. I'd really like to stop running."
Tony couldn't speak. The fact that this beautiful, damaged man had come into his life and given him his trust had thrown him completely. And he resolved to help Bruce in any way he could. But the fact of the matter remained- the next morning as everyone slowly awoke and Bruce shuffled downstairs, bag in hand, Tony had to tell him that he couldn't go home.
"I'm under warrant again." It wasn't a question. Tony didn't answer with anything more than a nod and hated himself for it.
Bruce sighed, as if he thought the news was inevitable. And maybe he did. That made Tony more angry than anything, because the man had known this was coming, and he accepted it.
"I'll go," Bruce said quietly, breaking the sudden silence. "I'm sorry, I'm putting you in danger. I need to go right away."
"No," replied Tony, the force behind it surprising them both. "You're not going anywhere. And don't you dare apologise again, not for this. This isn't your fault." A long-suffering expression crossed Bruce's face.
"You can't put yourself on the firing line like this. I won't have you targeted by the US miitary, by General Ross, because of me. And you will be targeted, don't roll your eyes. He can't use Betty against me, so he'll find anyone I'm close to in order to bring me in. It's not worth it. I'll disappear again. I'm good at that," he added ruefully, and that was the last straw.
I got low. I didn't see a way out. So I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spat it out.
"Don't go. Please," he asked, watching Bruce carefully incase he was going to run. Like a skittish animal, being hunted. "Hell, this is probably a neutral zone, right? Like Switzerland? The army can't get to you here, I guarantee. Besides, I have some friends in the military who can help. Well, one friend. But he counts as a lot, cause he's very important. And-" he added quickly, seeing Bruce about to interrupt- "it is not an imposition, or whatever you were about to argue. I want you to stay. You try to run and they'll catch you before you even reach the airport."
"I'm good at running," Bruce tried to say, but Tony waved it off with an impatient gesture.
"Let me help you. I wasn't kidding back on Fury's big flying ship, I want you here. And I an hep get the warrant off you, so you can go back to your Betty... or at least, you can contact her from here in the meantime."
Bruce shook his head. "I don't think contacting her will be that easy."
"Oh please, Jarvis can get the telephone number of anyone you-"
"- no, not that-"
"- you can use the phone, honestly-"
"Tony," Bruce implored, and Tony stopped. "She's Betty Ross."
A pause.
"Yeah, so?"
"Ross," Bruce emphasised again. "As in, General Ross. Weren't you listening?"
"Shit. He can't use her against you-"
"Because she's his daughter, yes," Bruce finished the sentence for him.
"Oh, jesus. No wonder he hates you."
Bruce laughed again, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "He's not exatly who I'd pick for an in-law."
Wait. "She's your wife?"
"No." And didn't that sound just a little bit mournful? "I meant that speculatively. Though I shouldn't be speculative. We were almost engaged before I.. before the lab accident."
Ah. "Almost?"
He shrugged. "Well, I'd bought the ring. Just didn't ask in time. She's probably moved on."
"Nah. Why would she?" Tony realised his mistake quickly and immediately started to talk again incase Bruce started listing all the things he hated about himself. "I mean, don't give up hope, big guy. We'll sort things out."
"Right. Sure." He didn't sound convinced. And Tony didn't know how to convince him.
"Do you require assistance, Dr Banner?"
"Um." Bruce paused, trying to think. "You know when you're in someone else's house at night, and you can't find the lightswitch, but you don't want to wake anyone up with the light either?" He was aware he was rambling, (to an AI, of all things,) and as he finished this the room around him started to glow dimly until he stood in an easy, comfortable light. "Oh. Thanks."
"You are welcome, Dr Banner. And for future reference, there are little to no lightswitches in this tower." The AI seemed amost offended that Bruce could even contemplate the idea.
"Oh, of course. Should've known." There was an uncomfortable pause as Bruce tried to nudge his duffel bag behind him and wondered what to do from here. Jarvis broke the silence.
"Dr Banner, I regret to inform you that I have been ordered to alert Mr Stark if you seemed intent on leaving after nightfall."
He rolled his eyes. He had to. "Of course he did. It's not like I can ever escape being on constant watch."
"I believe Mr Stark's intention is to keep you safe. I estimate that you could be captured by US military forces in under half an hour if you tried to leave the tower tonight."
A bitter smile played accross Bruce's lips. "Clearly you've never seen anyone try to capture me."
"I have indeed seen such attempts, Dr Banner. And in which way would such an outcome be preferable to you?"
"You know, it's really obvious who programmed you."
"Indeed. Good night, Dr Banner."
Pepper first saw Dr Banner as his giant green alter-ego on the jet's TV screen, and hadn't paid him that much attention, save for the part where he caught Tony in mid-air after his fall from space. Now that, she was grateful to the Hulk for, she really was. But she wasn't sure what to expect from the alter-ego's... alter-ego. Whatever she was expecting, Bruce wasn't it. The shy, unassuming, fluffy-haired scientist? Hadn't seen that one coming. Or maybe she should have read his file.
In all fairness, she'd been pretty busy lately.
"So you're the famous Dr Banner?" Pepper had asked, with her nicest, friendliest smile. He'd nodded. A surprisingly good handshake, she noticed. And chocolate eyes you could drown in. Very endearing. She could see why Tony liked him.
"We're harbouring a fugitive," Tony explained cheerfully as he strolled into the kitchen where Bruce and Pepper stood.
She laughed uneasily. "I'm sure that's not true. Be nice, Tony."
"No, really," they both chorused.
"The army wants him dead."
"Not that easy. The army wants to use me to kill other people."
"Yeah, but in the long run, they don't want you alive, do they?"
"It's... um..."
"Complicated," they both finished, chuckling like schoolboys. Pepper sighed, watching them both, and hopped neatly onto a stool by the breakfast bar.
"Start from the beginning, then."
Bruce looked at them both in turn. Took a sip of tea. Ran a hand through his hair. Then began his story.
I got low.
Tony couldn't help but wonder how much that didn't say.
I put a bullet in my mouth and the other guy spat it out.
"So, tell me about India," Tony chanced one day while they were working.
"It holds 17% of the world's population, the national bird is a peacock, Hindi is the official language but there are a lot of lesser-spoken ones," Bruce managed to rattle off before Tony stopped him with an impatient wave of his hand. Bruce just smiled, teasing.
"You know what I mean."
Bruce conceded. "Hot. Frantic. Lonely," he added, almost as an afterthought. "But I was doing good work."
"Nothing else?"
He hummed absent-mindedly. "Nothing very interesting. I was just trying to lie low, most of the time."There was a pause as Tony tried to figure out what to say next. Bruce watched him, surreptitiously, waiting for the inevitable question. "It wasn't completely lonely, actually. I did know a dog."
"What was he called?"
"I just called him dog."
"Of course. Because you thought you didn't have the right to name it."
"He wasn't my dog."
"Right." They paused again. Eventually, Bruce, tired of waiting, looked away from his work and stopped Tony's monitor with a wave of his hand, then looked him in the eyes.
"In the vain hope that you're not going to ask what I think you're going to ask, can I inquire as to what's on your mind?"
"I..." he searched and failed. The silver words weren't coming as they usually did. Maybe for this, there were none. To hell with it. "You tried to kill yourself."
A look of disappointment. "Yes."
"When?"
Bruce waved Tony's screen back and moved away to his own worktop once more. "I can't remember exactly. It was some time last winter."
Tony's thoughts swam. Bruce, alone in the snow. Bruce, desperate for a way out. Bruce, shaking, a gun in his hand. The barrel on his lip. "Was that the only time?"
"No."
"How many other times, Bruce?"
For a second, Tony worried that Bruce might just get up and leave, that he'd pushed it too far. The silence rang out. Then Bruce spoke once more, his tone making it clear that the conversation was over.
"Just once more. A long time ago."
Tony had never been very good at leaving things alone. Besides, he was too clever. Noticed too much. A long time ago.
"After the Hulk?" He ventured, hoping to God he was right. Bruce shook his head, his voice cold and closed.
"Before. Long before."
Tony had never been good at leaving things alone. But the look in Bruce's eyes made him think that perhaps he should try, this time.
