Protecting Me
Disclaimer:
As usual, I own nothing.
Rating:
T (for domestic violence and possible swearing)
Genre:
Romance/Hurt/Comfort (and of course, you can't do H/C without a little angst)
Pairing(s):
[abusive] Stony (Steve/Tony)
Stanner (Bruce/Tony)
Lyrics Used:
Marion Raven "Set Me Free"
Author's Note:
First of all, I would like to point out that this is my first ever Avengers fic, so, please be gentle. That being said, this is also (obviously) my first Stanner (or ScienceHusbands, as I like to call them) fic. Also, this chapter (at least...possibly others, we'll see) will mostly be told from Bruce's perspective.
I also realize that the whole [abusive]Steve thing has been done before but I had this idea and really wanted to run with it. So, I apologize to whoever feels as though I stole their idea. That truly was not my intention, I can assure you. That out of the way, on with the show. I hope you all enjoy.
Set Me Free
Love...makes you feel bad
Makes you feel so sad
Pain...makes you feel good
Like only pain could
But, that's the way it goes
"What the hell you two have been 'experimenting' with down in that God forsaken lab for so damn long, anyway?!" I could hear Rogers shouting from my room. Granted my room was straight down the hall from the one Tony showed with the captain. But, even though the hall wasn't miles long, it wasn't that short, either. They had been having a lot of those shouting matches, lately, I noticed. I can tell I'm not the only one that's noticed, either. The rest of the team seems to be walking on eggshells around them. Tony tries to keep up the charade that everything's fine between the two of them-God love him-but, we're not idiots. We all know something's wrong. Personally, I think it's just Rogers being an ass. Tony bends over backwards to please him but it's never enough for that bastard. I pull my glasses off, pinching the bridge of my nose, willing the Other Guy back into submission when the anger threatens to bubble over at the thought of Tony being stuck with that assclown.
*smack* My head snapped to the direction of Tony and Rogers' room. It couldn't be. I know Rogers is an ass but...He wouldn't. I had to wonder about that. But, the following *thud* was very unmistakably the sound of a person hitting the floor. I couldn't help fearing for Tony's safety. Slowly, I quietly made my way down the hall towards the quarreling couple's bedroom. As I approached I could hear more of Rogers' harsh shouting. "Stop lying to me, you little whore!" That made my blood boil. Nobody-nobody-had any right to talk to Tony that way. Tony was an amazing man, Rogers should have counted himself damn lucky to have a guy like him. I had to pause and will the Other Guy back down. If I was going to Hulk out, I had to make sure I got Tony to a safe distance first. Once I was sure I had a lid back on the Other Guy, I continued down the hall until I reached the bedroom door. Cautiously, I placed my ear to the wood. I was worried. The room on the other side of the door had fallen deathly silent. Then, time froze.
*THUNK* "Ah!" There was no mistaking. That was definitely a punch. And, Tony's pained cry was all the motivation I needed. Of course the door would be locked. Backing up a few steps, I lunged at the door, hoping that my full body weight would be force enough to break the door open. Thankfully, it was. Although, as much as I may have thought I was, I was nowhere near prepared for the sight that awaited me inside the room. Tony lay mostly motionless on the floor with the exception of nursing a small cut just below his eye. The sheer sight of it all was enough to my chest tighten painfully.
"What the hell part of a locked door was unclear to you, doctor?" Rogers' tone was a mixture of anger and mocking sarcasm. Needless to say...I didn't care for it.
Letting my eyes linger on Tony a moment longer, I slowly turned to Rogers as I replied "Gee, cap'...I dunno." My voice mirrored the tone in Rogers'. "Maybe it was the part where you gave Tony a black eye. I could feel the anger spilling over into my voice, but, I didn't see a reason to stop it. I still had a handle on the Other Guy. That was enough for me. "What the hell is your problem, anyway, Rogers?!" I was all but growling, now. Venom, dripping from every syllable. Easy, big guy. Not now. Not with Tony in the room.
The next thing I know, Rogers is mere inches from my face, glaring me in the eyes. I didn't flinch. I just glared right back, dead into his eyes. I wasn't backing down. I was going to stand my ground. "Why don't you tell me, doc?" His voice was dangerously low, but, he wasn't scaring me. "How about you start with just what the hell you and my man spent all damn evening on down in that God forsaken lab of yours?!"
"Why should anyone have to defend 'your man' when he hasn't done one damn thing wrong?!" It was the truth. All Tony & I had been doing in the lab was working some modifications for his Iron Man suits. It sure sounded a hell of a lot like Rogers was accusing Tony of cheating on him. Ha! Now, that was laughable. Sure, Tony may present himself to the world as a playboy but in reality he was faithful almost to a fault. "What's the matter, Rogers?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in a challenging manner. "Insecure, much?"
If it was even possible, Rogers stepped even closer, replied in a venomous whisper. "You better watch your mouth, Dr. Banner. You wouldn't want it writing any checks that your ass can't cash, now would you."
"I'd be more worried about your own ass, if I were you, Rogers." Out of the corner, I could see Tony stirring on the floor, but, I knew I had to fight the urge to run to him. It wouldn't do either of us any good for me to let my guard down. No. I was keeping my eyes trained directly on the super soldier.
Then, without a word, Rogers reared back an arm and-before I could react-punched me square on the jaw. He packed a fair punch, I'd give him that. But, it wasn't even enough to knock me off my feet. I did have to fight twice as hard to will the Other Guy back down. It took a solid minute to will back into the recesses of my mind. By the time I did, though, I was aware of Tony next to me.
"No-no-no. Oh God..." Tony was practically pleading, though what with, I couldn't be sure. I couldn't quite tell if he was begging with Rogers or the Other Guy. "Steve, just stop it, okay?! Bruce didn't do anything wrong!" It was then that I felt Tony's worried and somewhat frightened gaze upon me. "Bruce? Bruce, are you all right?" He asked, tentatively reaching for my face-presumably to examine where Rogers' fist had collided with my jaw.
Dabbing at the small blood trickle at the corner of my mouth, I gently dismissed Tony's inquiries. "I'm fine, Tony." Turning to look him in the eye, I tried to offer him the most comforting look I could muster. "Don't worry." I tried not to let it bother me when he flinched away from the hand I was carefully raising to his cheek. Don't take it, personally, Banner. He's just hand-shy. And, hell...How could he not be? I tried to keep my voice calm and soothing, trying to offer him any form of comfort I could. "It's okay, I promise."
As I rose back to my feet, I felt Tony reaching for me. Turning to look back at him, it broke my heart when he pleaded with me "Bruce, please. Just...just don't, okay? You don't have to get involved in this, I can handle it, okay? Please?" I could tell that Tony was pleading with me not to get involved. If I had to venture a guess, he was probably afraid that Rogers would hurt me next. Or that Rogers would provoke the Other Guy. Both understandable concerns, but, I couldn't just stand idly by and let Rogers beat the living crap out of him. No, I had to act.
"I'd listen to the man, if I were you, doc." I just glared at Rogers. He was getting cocky and, to be perfectly honest, it was really starting to piss me off. "Why don't you just get out of here while I'll still allow it?" He smirked, smugly.
"Please. Please, just...Just do what he says, Bruce." I hated seeing Tony reduced to this. "Just...Forget you were ever here. Forget you ever saw this. Please." I made up my mind, right then and there.
Turning back to Rogers, I replied. "Fine. I'll be glad to leave." I noticed Tony visibly relax slightly, next to me. Motioning to him, I added "But, I'm taking him with me." Rogers was quiet for a moment. As if he was considering the offer.
"Now, why would I willingly just let you take something that belongs to me?" Oh, this kid was really getting under my skin. If he wasn't careful, I just might let the Other Guy out to play.
Stepping right up to mere inches from his face I replied "Let me make this real clear to you, asswipe." My voice is dangerously low. Right where I want it. "Either I can take him. Or..." I paused a moment to let a smal portion of the anger that had been building all night bubble up to the surface, eyes closed, focused on controlling the anger the way an old friend had shown me a few years ago. When I opened them, I noticed the good Captain looked like he might well soil himself. Perfect. When I replied, my voice was notably deeper. "Or the Other Guy can take him." When I spoke again, my voice had returned to a venomous level of normal. "It's your choice, Rogers."
"T-Take him." I couldn't help a small chuckle at the ever so slight falter in his voice. With a small cough, he spoke again, trying to regain his prior cockiness. "He's your problem, now, doc."
Smiling triumphantly, I turned to crouch down to Tony's level. Softening my expression, I extended him my hand to help him to his feet. "Hey..." My voice had taken on a much softer, welcoming tone. "Come on, Tony. Don't worry. Everything's gonna be okay." As I spoke, I made sure to keep my gaze fixed securely on his to drive my point home. Finally, after staring at my proffered hand, Tony finally reached out and took it. Placing my other hand tenderly on his shoulder, I reassured him one more time as I leaned in closer so only he would hear. "I'll make everything okay, again. I swear to you." For the first time that evening, I could have sworn I saw the slightest twitches of a smile playing at Tony's lips. Smiling in return, I turned towards the door, a protective arm wrapped around his waist. Just as we passed through the threshold of the door, Rogers opened his damn mouth again.
"Just so ya know, it's over you dirty little whore. You can have your little slut. I hope you're very happy together. 'Cause you just lost the best damn thing you will ever have!" That son of a bitch. How dare he speak to Tony that way!? Calm yourself, Banner. You've got Tony with you. He's safe. That's what matters. That little assclown isn't worth your time and energy.
Instead of dignifying Rogers' comment, I simply leaned in to whisper to Tony. "Don't listen to him, Tony. You don't have to take that from him. You never to take that crap from anyone anymore." And with that, we continued down the hall as the Captain made one last dig at Tony.
"No one's ever gonna love you, ya dirty little whore!" Before Rogers could say anything any more hurtful to Tony, I ushered him in to my room and shut the door, locking it behind me. At least Tony was safe, now. I'd fill the others in, in the morning. Right now, I just needed to make sure I kept Tony safe. After all, after everything he's been through that's the very least he deserves. To feel safe. Protected. And, damn it, that's exactly what I'm going to give him.