That evening they had dinner sitting around the table in the communal kitchen. Bruce had cooked a large pan of stir fry and rice, prompting Tony and Steve to get along long enough to enjoy it. It was actually going better than expected, conversation flowing easily and silence in between comfortable.

Steve was the first to start yawning. "Heck of day," he said, leaning back in his seat.

Both scientists nodded in agreement. Had it really only been that morning that they'd sent Loki away?

"I think I'm gonna hit the sack," he said, pushing away from the table.

"I'll probably head to bed too," Bruce said once they were left alone. "Which room is mine?"

"Oh, here," Tony said, wandering down the hall. He picked a door to the right and stepped inside. "This work?"

Bruce nodded, having eyes only for the bed. "Perfect," he sighed, kicking his shoes off and heading for it. He didn't notice Tony close the door and mirror his actions, jumping a little when he felt a hand on his waist. "What are you doing?" he asked warily.

"Going to bed," Tony said, flopping down and looking up at him as he spoke. "What's it look like?"

"Tony, I thought-"

"Bruce, calm down. We'll just be sleeping. I wont touch, we wont kiss, we'll just be sleeping, in the same bed. It's not a big deal." He patted the cover next to him. "Come on, we're both tired, just go with it."

Bruce heaved a sigh. "You have any pajamas?"

Tony grinned and bounded up, heading for the storage unit on the far wall. "We're close enough to the same size, so we can just share clothes," he said, tossing him a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. He watched as Bruce undid the yellow button down and let it drop to the floor, then shimmied out of cream slacks. He glanced up at the small sigh Tony unconsciously made.

He laughed and shook his head a little as he pulled on the pajamas. "You should be changing, not watching me," he said.

Tony shrugged. "I sleep in the buff." Bruce cocked his head and arched a brow. "But I suppose I can wear underwear," he relented, smirking.

Bruce smiled back and settled onto the bed. Tony stripped, kicking his pants halfway across the room, and sprawled on top of the covers next to him, on his stomach. That must've been a mistake though (or a very good idea, possibly) because Bruce gasped.

He was frowning when Tony looked up at him. So, yeah, a mistake."What?"

"Your back," he said, reaching out and running a finger down one of the worst scratches, already healing and fading away. "I didn't realize it was that bad."

Tony grinned. "Bad is relative. Plus, it was mostly my fault. This though" he rolled over, revealing fading bruises on his hip bones. "These are all you."

Bruce sighed and reached over, running his thumb across the ones on Tony's left hip. "Jeez, I didn't mean to be that rough. I'm sorry."

Tony gave a low chuckle. "There is absolutely no reason to be sorry. And did you not see the ones on my thighs?" he asked, drawing his leg up enough for Bruce to see the fading hand print.

His eyes widened. "And you really wonder why I think sex is a bad idea."

"Bruce," Tony said, waiting until he had the other man's full attention. When he did he sat up and grabbed him by the hair at the back of his head, gentle but with enough pressure so he couldn't turn away. "You have to stop beating yourself up."

Bruce sighed and couldn't think of an answer, so he leaned up and kissed him. It was hard and deep, a desperate clash of tongue and lips as he tried to pour as much emotion as possible into that gesture. Tony moaned into his mouth, hand tightening in curls, taking as much as Bruce would offer.

When he pulled away Tony's eyes were glazed, his lips red and glistening. Then he grinned. "Now that's more like it."

Bruce just smiled and shook his head, laying down and pulling the covers up. "Go to bed Tony."

He happily complied, sliding under the covers and calling out to Jarvis. "Lights off Jarv." And they faded away to blackness.

After a few minutes of laying there Tony huffed. "This is stupid," he complained, wriggling until he was up against the other scientist. "Damn, you're like a furnace," he observed, wrapping an arm around his stomach and settling in.

"Mm, Tony, you said no touching." Bruce murmured, already falling asleep.

"Yeah, I lied, you'll have to live with it."

"I think I'll manage," he sighed.

Bruce woke slowly the next morning, laying face down in a pillow, arms folded beneath it, wondering idly when the last time he'd slept so well was. Then he felt a tickle on his side, finally noticing the weight across his back, and lifted his head enough to see a certain philanthropist tucked up against him. Tony had shimmied down sometime in the night and now had his cheek pressed against Bruce's ribs, sprawled over the lower half of his body like he was a giant stuffed animal.

Then Jarvis spoke and Tony jerked awake, looking around blurrily and smiling when he saw Bruce.

"Sir, Miss Potts is here, she'd like to know which room you're in."

Tony grunted and laid back down, tightening his arm around Bruce again and using his back as a pillow. "Point her in the right direction then," he mumbled, preoccupied with considering if you could bite Bruce or not without having him freak out.

"Tony," Bruce hissed. Guess not. "Tony!"

"What? I only bit you a little."

"Letting Pepper walk in on us like this is just cruel," he said, indicating their ruffled state of undress.

Oh shit, right. Tony sat up and was about to stand, saying "Jarvis, tell Pepper to-" but it was too late. The brilliant PA turned CEO walked in, without knocking.

She caught them in a slightly awkward position. To say it was compromising would be a massive understatement. Tony had one foot on the floor, the other knee between Bruce's leg, where he'd put it when he'd clambered over him to get to the edge of the bed. He had a hand on Bruce's shoulder, was telling him to stay in bed and not freak out, and Bruce had his mouth open to complain.

Pepper just gaped at them for a moment, then fell into a fit of laughter, shaking her head as she left the room again.

They both stared after her. "Uh, that's either a good thing, or a really really bad thing," Tony said eventually.

Bruce dropped his head into his hands, ruffling his hair in frustration. "You're an ass. I'm an ass. We're both messed up," he groaned.

Tony finally got both feet on the floor and sought out a pair of pants. "Maybe just a little. I'm gonna go talk to her." He found Bruce's clothes from the day before and pulled them on, already out the door before Bruce had even budged an inch.

He stared at the closed door for a moment, then shook his head and sat up. Bones popped as he stretched and stood, shuffling towards the bathroom. This was too much to worry about before he'd had a proper shower, and maybe a hot cup of caffeinated tea.

When he was cleaned, dressed, and as presentable as he ever got, he wandered out into the living area. And found it empty. "Uh, Jarvis, where is everyone?" he asked the ceiling.

" is in the gym, and took Miss Potts out for brunch."

"Oh, okay, thanks," Bruce said, aimlessly looking around the large empty room.

"Of course sir. Will that be everything?"

"Uhm...Is there any tea?"

"Above the stove. A kettle can be found in the lower cupboard to the left of the stove as well."

"Thank you Jarvis," Bruce said as he went to the kitchen, finding everything exactly where the AI had said it would be. He filled the kettle and set it to boil while he looked through the variety of tea. It made guilt twist further in his stomach when he realized it had probably been Pepper who made sure this plethora was here.

He sighed and settled for cinnamon black tea, leaning against the counter, crossing his arms while he waited for his water to boil.

Tony returned a few hours later to find Bruce stretched out on one of the sofas in the living room, watching a movie about the end of the world. The perpetually rumpled scientist looked over his shoulder at the sound of someone entering, and arched an eyebrow in question. "How'd it go?"

He collapsed next to Bruce and slung an arm over his shoulder. "Better than expected actually. She doesn't hate you if that's what you're asking."

Bruce rolled his eyes. "That's good to know. But I meant is she okay."

"Yeah, she's fine. I'm almost offended by how not bothered she was." He noticed the other man's frown. "I'm just kidding, I'm glad she's okay with it. She actually said we make a lot more sense together than her and I ever did. I have to agree. Plus I got the impression she had her eye on someone else. I'll have to look into that. Hey, do you want to go out to dinner tonight?"

He reeled a little at the sudden subject change. "Uhm, sure? Like a date?"

"Or just two bros getting dinner. You know, whatever. But yes, I mean like a date."

"Okay, sure. It should be... interesting."

"I like the enthusiasm," Tony said, rolling his eyes sarcastically, but grinning.

Bruce shook his head, something he was getting used to doing, and just smiled. "Want to watch the end of this movie with me?"

Tony nodded, tightening his arm around Bruce and settling in.

Bruce was in front of the bathroom mirror later that evening, trying to do something with his hair so his curls wouldn't stick out at odd angles, when he heard a knock on the bedroom door. He ignored it, assuming Tony, who he'd last seen rifling through his closet for clothes, would answer it. But then the knocking came again, slightly louder, and he looked out into the bedroom to find it empty. He briefly wondered where Tony had gotten off too while he walked to the door.

Tony, of course, was on the other side. He was dressed impeccably in a three piece suit, minus a tie, and had a plain pine box in his hands. A contagious grin was plastered on his face.

Bruce smiled back and leaned on the door frame, getting the hint. "You're picking me up for our date."

"Bingo," he answered, handing over the box. "I was going to get you flowers, but that doesn't seem right. I thought you might like this better."

Bruce slid the lid back, and melted a little. Inside nestled a pile of awkward little bulbs, cradled in spirals of tan shredded paper. "Flowering teas." He sighed and put the lid back into place, smiling fondly. "You're amazing."

Tony just smiled and suffled a little. Its not like he hadn't heard that a million times before, but coming from Bruce it actually meant something. "Come here," he said, pulling Bruce out of the door and running his fingers through his hair. He just stood there with a small grimace while Tony messed up his attempts at orderly hair. "Much better," he said when he'd finished re-ruffling the waves.

"Well, so much for having kempt hair," Bruce said with a smile, closing the bedroom door as they started down the hall.

"I like when you have bed head. Its one of your charms." Tony slid an arm around the shorter man's waist as they stepped into the lift. "So, where do you want to eat? I was going to get a reservation somewhere, but you don't strike me as the five star, $100 a plate type of guy." Bruce arched an eyebrow at that, smirking when Tony panicked a little and back peddled. "Not that you're not worth it, it just doesn't seem like you're thing. Ah hell, just..." He huffed and ran a hand through his hair, feeling like he'd just shoved his foot in his mouth.

Bruce, being brilliant, and more understanding than Tony felt he'd ever deserve, just smiled and took the stammering man's arm from around his waist and wound their fingers together. "I like diner food," he said.

Tony relaxed, beaming at him. "I know a place."

They ended up sitting at the far end of the counter in a small, hole in the wall diner, Tony looking ridiculously out of place in his suit, Bruce less so in his dark grey button up and jeans. Not that Tony really ever noticed being out of place.

The waitress behind the counter tried not to trip over herself when she recognized Tony. "You're Iron Man," she breathed, pencil hanging from limp fingers.

"Yeah, I am, and I'll give you a really big tip if you don't draw attention to that."

She nodded rapidly and actually gave herself a small shake. "Okay, can I get you some menus?"

Tony shook his head. "I know what I want. Bruce?"

Also a negative. "Macaroni and cheese, tomato soup, two pieces of sour dough toast, butter on the side, and a coke. If you have it all, that is."

The woman smiled and wrote everything down. "Sure thing. You?"

"I'll have an open face Italian sandwich, and a chocolate shake." The waitress finished writing everything down, then left them in peace. Tony immediately turned to Bruce with a quirked smile. "That was an awfully concise order. Something tells me there's a story there."

He smiled back bashfully. "Not really, its just what I get at every diner. Kind of like a controlled standard to judge the quality by."

That got a broad grin. "That's such a physicist thing, controlled testing." Bruce just rolled his eyes. "You're adorable." And blushed.

For the next twenty minutes Tony did everything he could to make his date turn a darker shade of red, whispering lewd things in his ear, or giving ridiculously affectionate, yet no less true, compliments. "Hey, look, you match your soup," he chimed when their food arrived.

Bruce groaned and put his forehead on the counter. "Its your fault."

"I know. Now eat your test."

With food in his mouth Tony managed to stop talking long enough for Bruce's blush to fade, and they ate their food in relative quiet, listening to the late night bustle of the diner. Tony leaned over at some point and rested against Bruce's shoulder, snatching a bite from the last of his macaroni. "That's actually pretty good."

He hummed and finished swallowing. "Yeah, its not bad. Think the soup could have used more herbs though."

"Brains, beauty, and he knows how to cook. Jackpot. So how's this place stack up in your testing?"

"Not the best, but certainly not the worst. I'd come back."

Tony nodded while he drained the last of his milk shake. He gestured for the bill then, and like promised left a tip that could put that woman's first born child through a year of college. Then they went home, and Tony insisted they try some of the blooming tea.

Bruce boiled some water while they changed into pajamas, insisting that Tony actually wear clothes if they were out of their room. "Its my tower, I can be naked if I want. I'm thinking about being a nudist while I'm here actually."

"Have you considered that I don't want people seeing you naked?" Bruce asked while he set the glass tea pot on the living room table, bulb rolling around in the bottom.

Tony stared at him, then laughed. "Doctor Banner, is that a jealous streak I see?"

Bruce padded back to the kitchen and returned with the water, answering while he poured it in the pot. "Its more like a possessive streak. At least a little bit." Then he folded to the floor and crossed his arms on the table top, resting his chin on his arms and staring at the tea.

Tony fell silent while they watched, more fascinated by Bruce than he was by the tea. It was beautiful to watch the bulb unfurl, but he loved watching the man, how calm and pleased his expression was from something so seemingly unimportant. The water slowly stained, and Tony fell a little deeper.

"This is much better than flowers," he decided.

Bruce looked up at him with a beatific smile and sat up straight. "Definitely." Then he leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Tony's lips. He pulled back a hairs breadth and stared into caramel brown eyes. Then Tony was burying his fingers into his hair and pushing him back, sitting in his lap and fusing their mouths together. It was a slow burning thing, tongues twining, carefully testing and exploring, hands trailing thoughtlessly. A thumb ran up the bare of Tony's spine, eliciting a full body shiver and a deep breath, drawn through his nose because he didn't want to break the contact.

Then Bruce drew back with a shaky breath, Tony making a small noise of protest. "The tea will over steep," he said softly, licking his lips. Tony tracked the movement and leaned back in, stealing another kiss, then sighed and shifted so he was sitting just to the side of Bruce's legs instead of on them.

He fished the flowered bulb from the water and placed it in a dish, smiling down at the small soaked object before setting it aside. He poured two cups and handed one to Tony. "I know tea isn't really your thing, its fine if you don't like it."

They sipped at the steaming liquid, quietly enjoying each other and being pressed so close together, until the pot was down to dregs, Bruce having drank most. "I don't think I'll be giving up coffee any time soon," Tony said, setting his empty cup on the table. "But I'm glad you like it." Then he stood and pulled Bruce to his feet, insisting everything could be cleaned up in the morning, and lead him to their room.

He backed Bruce up until he hit the bed and sat down. His hands trailed down until his thumbs rested in the small divots of Tony's hip bones, pulling him down until he was settled in his lap again. "I had a lot of fun tonight," he said, and Tony gave low chuckle while he bent down.

"Good to know, because I had thought you were miserable the whole time," murmured against the skin of his shoulder, tilting his head and kissing the underside of Bruce's jaw. He felt the small swallow just before his response.

"Well, I don't think I've ever been so red. I thought I was incapable of blushing like that any more." Tony nipped at a sensitive spot on his neck at that, and he gave a small breath that shook on the way out. "But yes," he continued, voice low,"I had a very good time."

"Mm, good." Then Tony did the unexpected and stopped. He kissed him briefly on the lips, then swung his leg over and rolled away, pulling the covers back enough to crawl beneath them.

"Uh, what just happened?" Bruce asked, expression slightly dumbfounded.

Tony smiled and gestured for him to get under the covers with him. Once Bruce had settled down too, on his stomach, head propped up in one hand to look at Tony, he asked, "So?"

"I just..." Tony sighed while he thought of the right words. Bruce Banner was probably the only person who could leave him at such a loss for words. "Tonight has been perfect, and I don't want to ruin it."

He couldn't deny the small sink in his stomach. "You don't want the other guy making an appearance."

"Well, that would definitely get the blood pumping," he mused. "But no, never will that be my reason. Ever. I just don't want to see that look in your eyes. You don't deserve to feel that way."

"What way?"

"Disappointed in yourself. There's no need for it, but I know if we do something, and it gets to be too much, that's how you'll feel. And you shouldn't. You should be happy, and you were tonight, and its not worth ruining that just to get grabby."

Bruce actually laughed a little. "You're amazing," he said for the second time that night. "Thank you."

Tony's face glowed, and not just from the arc reactor settled in his chest. "Jarv, hit the lights," he called. Then he pulled Bruce over and they tangled together, falling asleep to the sound of tandem breathing.

Author's Note: I just wanted to let you guys know that you're all awesome, and that I value every review, favorite, and alert add, because my confidence is an unstable thing and positive feedback keeps my muse from starving.