Bruce sat at the computer, scanning the information displayed across the screen and typing a few keys occasionally. A couple empty water bottles surrounded his workplace, the trashcan already full. The room, courtesy of Tony Stark, really was a scientist's dream. He hadn't even used half of the monitors yet, nor touched the virtual display, though he couldn't help but be intrigued. It was truly fascinating how much money Tony had put into Bruce's lab.

His lab. That thought still struck him as strange. It was more than anyone had ever given him before; more than he had thought anyone could give. Tony had even gone to the trouble of reinforcing the walls to "Make it harder to smash through, you know, if you get a result you don't like. Or I piss you off and need to run into the next room."

Of course, when Bruce had overheard a conversation between Tony and Fury about building a specialized room for him, he figured out the compromise. In a way, he was touched that Tony trusted him enough to not want to put any kind of safety precaution in. It was foolhardy and plain stupid, of course, but touching nonetheless.

He couldn't stay. That had been decided from the start. While he greatly appreciated the place to stay for a few weeks, he needed to be moving on. Working with the rest of the Avengers had been quite an experience, but it was becoming more and more clear that unless they faced an enemy as difficult as Loki again, he would be unwelcomed. And he agreed with them; the Other Guy was simply too unpredictable to be trusted.

The elevator doors slid open, and in walked Tony Stark in full glory. He glanced around the room without so much as a look at Bruce. To anyone else, he would seem bored. His sharp eyes didn't miss the fact that Bruce still hadn't unpacked very much, nor had he made any move to make it a personable living space. But he said nothing.

"I gotta teach you how to use the virtual display, Doc. Seriously, helps a ton with models and design. Not that you make as much as I do, but it can do stuff on the microscopic level as well."

Bruce gave is half-grin. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Yup, gonna have to teach you that. Oh and next month I'm getting an upgrade to the molecular module. There might be a way to program nanobots so they strengthen the immune system. I can build them, of course, but I'm not good with working on things that have flesh and blood. Or being around them for that matter. Has Fury gotten crankier than usual? Seems like it."

Bruce chuckled. "I wouldn't know," he responded dryly. "And don't lie. If you really have an upgrade for the module, it would have been put in already. You never plan a month ahead. You don't plan for more than a day ahead."

Tony feigned surprise. "I run a multi-billion dollar business."

"Pepper runs a multi-billion dollar business. You take the credit."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Twelve percent," he muttered, hands on his hips. "Either way, I'm not going to be implementing the upgrade for another month. So pretty much the same thing. Seriously, I think he has begun to lay off of his PMS medication. You know, the one he shares with Romanov?"

Banner chuckled again, looking back to his screen. Honestly, he didn't feel any closer to a cure now than he did when he had first transformed. Still, he had to keep looking. "There is no reason to put it off another month. If you want my help, let's just get started on it right now."

"Can't."

Bruce looked at him. "Can't?"

"Nope."

When no further explanation was forthcoming, Bruce sighed. "Why not?"

Tony shrugged. "Pepper's birthday. Don't want to get sucked into another project and forget about it. I mean, it's just a birthday, and I don't care and all, but she gets all bent out of shape when I forget it."

"Tony, her birthday was last month."

Stark glared at the scientist. "How do you know that?"

"Because you wouldn't shut up about it. And I got her a gift." Bruce removed his glasses, looking directly at the playboy. "Tony, what's this really all about?"

The man shrugged, glancing at the floor, then the ceiling. "Oh, I don't know. I just don't feel like it right now. You gotta have the right vibe to get these things done. I just don't feel it."

Bruce gave up and shook his head, turning back to the computer. He barely caught the inventor's next words.

"At least it would be one more month you could stick around here."

Banner let out a deep breath, leaning back in his chair. "How'd you figure it out?"

Tony shrugged. "Not too hard. I mean, antisocial, shy, withdrawn, and the fact that you still have everything packed up."

"It's better if I leave. For everyone."

"But the lab! Isn't it amazing? Come on, you have to admit, you aren't gonna find this anywhere else."

Bruce shook his head. "Natasha doesn't trust me, which takes away Clint's trust as well. Fury thinks I'm some sort of monster." He chuckled. "Not that he's wrong. Steve is wary, and Thor, well, he's oblivious. Better than nothing I suppose," he added with a half-grin.

"Aren't you forgetting someone?"

"You?"

Tony opened his mouth, closed it, then quickly pointed up. "JARVIS. I mean, you're the only other intelligent person he can talk to around here. And don't forget Pepper. She adores you."

"Tony, she calls me the scary Hulk-man."

There was a pause. "That was only once. But hey, there's still JARVIS. Right?"

Bruce turned back to his computer once again. "I'm leaving in a few days, Tony. I've got a flight booked back to India, then another in a different name to a different place. I'm not gonna be the cause of any disunity in this team."

When he heard no other sound, he figured Stark had left. It meant a lot to him that Tony would try and get him to stay. He had never thought he would have a friend once the Other Guy had become a permanent part of his life, but Tony had boasted and pushed and prodded his way past the walls Bruce put up. Honestly, the hardest part about leaving was the fact that he would be leaving behind the one person who he could honestly feel free and unpressured around, the only person who didn't fear him. But it wasn't enough.

"My father was never around." The comment took Bruce by surprise, and he looked up sharply. Tony stood with his back to the scientist, studying the grid on the far wall with uninterested eyes. "Too busy saving the world, and whatnot. He always left me cool gifts and all, mostly robots to help me out with whatever I was doing." He smirked. "Why else would I keep Butterfingers around? Nostalgia." He looked down, cleared his throat, and let his eyes wander everywhere but Bruce's face. "I never knew my mother. Apparently she found someone who wasn't married to his job early on."

Bruce couldn't believe what he was hearing. Tony never talked about his past; nobody ever brought it up.

"I drank. A lot. Didn't really help, but hey, everyone's got their vices. Nobody in my life seemed to stick around. Dad died, mom left, and nobody in the family wanted some bratty genius. Emphasis on the genius." Tony said, suddenly turning to point and look at him.

"It had gotten better, wasn't drinking as much, and Pepper helped. Until my little kidnapping journey in the Middle East." There was another pause, and Tony cleared his throat. "I saw a man die. From one of my weapons. The man who made the original machine," he indicated to his chest, "that kept me alive. And I didn't return the favor." He once again wasn't meeting Bruce's eyes.

"The drinking started in earnest after that again. Never really stopped." Bruce gave him a curious look, and Tony shrugged. "What, you think I'm sober when I giggle in Fury's face like that?"

That got a chuckle from Bruce, and Tony forced a grin. "My point is, everyone has things that they have a hard time controlling. Everyone, hell, especially the Avengers, has shit in the past that messes them up. And running away from it won't really help anything."

"Doctor Banner!"

The demigod's loud voice boomed through the walls, causing both Tony and Bruce to jump. When the locked door wouldn't budge, they heard a grumble, and then "Mjölnir!"

"Oh boy," muttered Tony, as the magical hammer connected with the reinforced armor on the door. Said door was sent flying across the room in a crumpled heap, crashing loudly against the opposite wall.

"Good think I didn't put the projectors there," Tony mused, then stopped. "Metal door smashed by Thor's Hammer. How much do you think that would go for on Ebay?"

Bruce chuckled. "You probably wouldn't notice that much cash if it was out of your pocket."

"True. Hey Lightning Rod, what's the idea?"

Thor stopped his glaring at the door and, upon seeing the Man of Iron and the Doctor, beamed. "Ah! I have found you." He marched past Tony and stood directly before Bruce. Without hesitation, he reached forward and placed both hands on the man's shoulders. Bruce's eyes flashed green, and his muscles tensed. Thor noticed, but did not flinch away, continuing to smile.

"See doctor, now you know that the Man of Iron is not the only one who doesn't fear you," he said, voice uncharacteristically soft. Then, with a clap on the man's back, he stood straight again. "Come Doctor! You must join me in watching the mystic box in the upper room. It is quite fascinating, and I find it hard to remove myself from the soft seats."

"Actually, I'd rather stay down here. Makes everything easier," Bruce replied, edging away from the loud man. Thor looked at him, then gave a knowing smile.

"Very well, we shall stay. You and the Man of Iron will talk of science, and I shall pretend to listen and understand." With that, he promptly took a seat and leaned forward, to all appearances wrapped in whatever the scientists were about to say.

Bruce stared at him for a moment. "You really aren't going to listen at all, are you?"

"Not a word." Agreed Thor, still smiling.

Bruce laughed, truly laughed, for the first time in a long time. Longer than he cared to remember.

Tony smirked. "Well, come on, Thunderchops. I'm sure we can use you. I've got some things I'd like you to strength-test. Material for my floor." He glanced at Banner. "I want to make sure they are durable enough to withstand a demigod being smashed into them."

Thor huffed. "You will be searching a long time for such a material, Man of Iron!" he boasted, puffing out his chest. "But I will gladly test anything you wish."

Tony turned and poked Thor in the chest. "No Mjölnir."

Bruce watched as the two men argued over whether or not the hammer would be allowed admittance to the testing room with a smile. Then, walking over to the packed bags, be began to remove their contents. Perhaps he could stay, at least another month.

Perhaps he could get used to the friendship after all.