2: BRUCE
"Bruce?!" Bruce sighed hearing Tony's voice ring out against the otherwise quiet lab. It took Bruce moment to for Tony's voice to reach his brain. Bruce was nowhere near stable enough for Tony to be anywhere near him right now. He was sleep deprived and every muscle in his overworked body ached, bringing up some of the worst nightmares he had in years. One of which he just woke up from, images of mangled corpses and Betty's screams still fresh in his muddled mind. "It wasn't real…." He whispered to himself as Tony burst into view of the small lab couch, worry written on his face like a book.
"Brucey, are you alright?" He immediately noticed Bruce's disheveled appearance and sat down on the edge of the couch by Bruce's feet and patted his leg awkwardly, but just oozing good intentions and comfort. Bruce had to resist the urge to scoff at the normally obnoxious billionaire's behavior. Tony was his best friend, yeah, and he loved the guy, but before this if you had told Bruce that Tony Stark had a neutering side, he would have sent you to a shrink. "Want to talk about it?" Tony was avoiding Bruce's eyes but his stance was firm and unmoving, obviously determined not to budge.
Bruce groaned fondly but still lightly kicked the genius with his foot trying to push him off the couch. "Go away Tony, I'm alright. It's not safe; I'm not exactly calm at the moment." Tony's eyes suddenly darted up to meet Bruce's in a steely glare. "I don't care Bruce, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not afraid." Bruce just glares in disapproval, but Tony doesn't even blink so Bruce lies back running his hands through sweaty hair and concedes. "I know you're not, that's why I think you're an idiot." Tony just raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Nu uh, Genius here." Bruce rolls his eyes but Tony goes back to all seriousness. "For real Bruce, talk to me. You have people here you know."
At that Bruce looks straight at Tony finally taking in his appearance. Tony's hair is sticking up all over the place, bags under his eyes, sweat glistening on his skin. He looked dead, yet here he was taking care of Bruce. "Says the man who won't sleep." Bruce grumbles. "It's just…memories…fears. I get so tense, it kills me and I wake up near Hulk-out, which makes me want to avoid sleep even more, and that makes everything worse." Tony nodded, furrowing his eyebrows in thought. "You think that maybe being tense all the time is making it harder to sleep?" Bruce thought about it for a moment then nodded in agreement. "Probably. The nights use to be easier, but the more I Hulk out for battles the more my muscles are strained and it kills me to do anything. "Tony nodded and then smiled. "I can help then maybe. Flip over onto your stomach." Bruce raised an eyebrow cautiously and Tony just rolled his eyes. "God Bruce I'm not gonna do anything. Trust me?" Bruce stared at his earnest expression for a moment before nodding slowly and flipping over onto his stomach. Nothing happened for a moment and then he felt Tony's hands gently rubbing his back and working the kinks out of his muscles.
Bruce gasped at the relief in his screaming muscles and Tony chuckled. "I learned all about the art of being a masseuse a long time ago Brucey. Pepper needs it sometimes after a long day of work, puts her to sleep right away. After tonight I'll have my personal masseuse start stopping by until your sleeping easier. If this works that is. Deal?" Bruce nods weakly, sleep creeping in as the pain in his aching muscles subsides and his eyelids droop. "Thanks Tony…." He manages to mumble before his eyes drift close.
Tony smiles and works the last knot out of Bruce's shoulder before stepping away from the couch and gently dropping a blanket over Bruce's sleeping form, slipping a pillow under his friends head and smiling gently. "J, Lights please." The lights immediately dim and Tony quietly sneaks out of the room leaving Bruce in a peaceful sleep.
So here is the second chapter. I'm really enjoying this story format. I have a feeling this will be something I do often, so please tell me what you think. Love you all and hope you enjoyed.
