Chapter 2: Talk to Me

The flight back was long and unpleasant. The hum of the ship was all that filled the silence inside of the billionaire's aircraft. Bruce was a damp, shivering mess, eyes steady yet unseeing on the cloudy path ahead. He wasn't there, rather, in his head. After what seemed like an eternity, the two geniuses had arrived. They were on the 92nd floor of Stark Tower, one of the more leisurely sections of the building. Filled with amenities that catered to every need, the area was a stress-free zone—according to Tony. Bruce, having changed into dry clothes, (courtesy of Tony Stark; he was surprised it was a perfect fit) stood silently as Tony prepared a fresh cup of coffee for him. He had insisted that he was content, but the billionaire had decided he wasn't. "Black or sweetened?" Tony called over his shoulder. "Lightly sweetened. Thanks." Bruce muttered.

Bruce wasn't particularly happy to be back. He expected an interrogation, to be berated and hovered over until Tony heard what he wanted to hear. And so he waited for the moment he was sure would come. Tony limped over to him, handing him his cup of coffee, and the two men took a seat in the living room. Quietly sipping at his coffee, the doctor hadn't said a single word; he didn't want to break the silence. Silence was very precious to him. It gave him a chance to contemplate, a chance to assess. He wouldn't stay in the Tower. He couldn't. The people here didn't deserve to live in constant danger. Especially Tony; he was the only person who had completely looked past the Other Guy. But that didn't make the man invincible.

"Is it bad? The coffee, I mean. You're just gawking at it."

Bruce was pulled back to the present. Offering a weak smile, he replied. "Oh… No, it's fine." He took a long sip of the steaming drink. Feeling the other man's eyes on him, he continued staring into his coffee; he hated being observed. He never knew how much the other person could figure out from a simple glance.

Noticing the doctor's change in body language, Tony spoke up once more. "I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. Just know that whenever you do want to talk, I'm here."

"Thanks, but I don't…" Bruce trailed off, releasing a helpless sigh.

"Oh, and another thing," Tony continued, "I knew you'd go running off again given the chance, so I took some liberties. You'll find it just a bit harder to leave now. Isn't that right, Jarvis?" He looked to the ceiling with a satisfied smile.

An English-accented voice spoke up. "Indeed. At the moment, Doctor Banner, you are not allowed access to any of the building's exits. I've encrypted them, per Tony's instruction." The engineer sank proudly into the sofa, glancing noncommittally at Bruce's disdained expression. "Don't look at me like that. You know you were gonna pull your little disappearing act as soon as I fell asleep. I wasn't letting that happen again."

"Tony, you can't just lock me in here." The doctor sighed once more, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Turns out I can. Really don't like the thought of you wanting to hurt yourself."

"And how exactly is keeping me locked inside your tower going to change anything?"

"I'll be able to keep an eye on you. Can't exactly help you if you up and leave."

Bruce carefully set his cup of coffee on the small glass table in front of him and stood. "I'm not some lost puppy, Tony."

"I agree. But you are my friend." Tony straightened in his seat. "So go on and throw a fit. Do what you have to. But I'm not letting you run off like this."

"Tony, you know I wouldn't do that… Look, for your sake, I can't stay. I nearly killed you."

"Nearly." He countered. "What happened that day doesn't matter anymore. Do yourself a favor and stop dwelling on it." Tony could never harbor any real animosity for the man. Bruce understood him better than most. He rivaled his intellect, was a man of mystery and deep thought. The more time he spent with him the more he figured out; he was intriguing, to say the least. Any of those characteristics could outshine his much greener one. This was his decision. He would do all he could to make the man forget whatever pain he was going through… maybe even completely rid him of it. Banner just had to stay put for a while.

Jarvis spoke up once more. "Sir, an incoming call from Director Fury." A large transparent monitor descended in front of the billionaire. Rolling his eyes, Tony pressed 'accept', expecting an plethora of complaints. A very irate-looking man had appeared on the screen. With an imposing gaze, he sat for a moment in silence, saying enough already. "Whatever it is, make it quick." Tony grumbled. "I'm trying to have a heart-to-heart with someone over here."

"I'm really not in the mood tonight, Stark. You've been dodging me for days on end. I thought it was made clear that cooperation—"
"—was needed if the Avengers Initiative was going to work. I know. I've just been… terribly busy." Glancing at his watch, Tony sighed. "Were you planning on getting to the point of your call anytime soon? I've got a few things to wrap up here."

Bruce quietly observed Tony's and Fury's little back and forth. It was funny how quickly Tony had turned into an asshole. Not that he wasn't an asshole to Bruce. But when it came to him, Tony was never an asshole without good intention. He shook his head at the idea. Intentions hardly matter if the outcome remains the same, and Tony just didn't get that. Bruce was a lost cause, and he had to leave before his friend figured that out the hard way... again. Returning to the present moment, the doctor had caught the last few words spoken. As the minutes ticked by, it became more and more difficult to stay focused.

"… Fine, fine, I'll do it. But only because you so desperately need my expertise."

"Just get it done, Stark." Fury's face faded from the screen, and with a snap, the monitor rose to the ceiling.

"Jeez, what rod does he have stuck up his ass?" Tony mumbled to himself.

"You ignored his calls."

"Don't take his side." Standing and stretching, the billionaire had realized just how exhausted he was. The week was filled with tedious work that had drained him both mentally and physically. The only good thing he got out of the week was finding Bruce. The wonders of discreet trackers… and oblivious friends. Oh, the convenience. With a limp in his step, Tony made his way to the kitchen, grabbing a can of beer from the fridge. Returning to his place on the sofa, he motioned for the doctor to join him again. With a bit of coaxing, he complied.

Bruce was not nearly as relaxed as his extroverted counterpart. He, too, had glanced at his watch. It was three past two in the morning; he would be fast asleep right now… if each dream he had wasn't plagued with terrible happenings of the past. He would avoid sleep days at a time out of fear, caffeine and brooding his only assistance in staying awake. But, being human, sleep was inevitable, and his body was already so weary. He would soon have to relive those painful moments. Wringing his hands and bouncing his leg, his anxiety was less than subtle. "Hey, got somethin' on your mind?" Tony asked, downing the rest of the can. The doctor merely shook his head in dismissal. "Still ready and willing to help here. But no pressure."

Bruce really didn't like to talk about his problems. Whenever he did, the conversation was brisk and vague. As Dr. Banner, confidentiality was his only defense. As the Other Guy, he was his every defense. The contrast between his two personalities was nearly infinite. At the moment, however, there was no apparent threat. Tony's sincerity has been proven through and through… So why build walls that were not needed? He supposed it was instinct. It would be far too much work to tear the walls down now. "It isn't anything you can help me with," he finally said. Rubbing his stinging eyes, he chuckled heartily. "You really shouldn't waste your energy on me, Tony… As a matter of fact, how's Pepper?" The billionaire seemed to stiffen at the question.

"…Okay, I completely see through your little attempt at dodging the subject. If you don't want me to pester you, you could just leave the Tower. Oh, wait…"

"Struck a nerve, did I?"

Tony feigned a look of astonishment. "Well aren't you observant?" His expression faded to solemnity. "Fine, I admit she and I are having some complications, as does any couple. The real mystery is what's going on with you."

The doctor sighed. "…I have nightmares I can't escape. That's what's bothering me right now. Happy?"

Tony hummed in acknowledgement. "Now we're getting somewhere... Elaborate."

…