Hello guys, I know it's been awhile and I'm really sorry. Senior year is kicking my butt and I also have a job and somewhat of a boyfriend... But that's not really a good excuse to not update for so long. But I'm sorry! I hope this chapter is worth the wait! I love you all and I promise that I won't give up on this story, I love it too goddamn much...
REVIEW :)
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22
"Tony, we're going to be late." Bruce groaned as he pushed Tony into their bathroom.
"I don't want to go." Tony whined as Bruce shut the door in his face.
"Please," Bruce sighed, "just do this for me."
Bruce slid on his jeans and slid on a purple dress shirt. He began to button up the shirt and took deep breaths to keep himself calm.
"You just want to see me suffer." Tony accused as he turned the shower on and stepped in.
Bruce rolled his eyes. "Of course. It's not that I want to see my friends or anything, I just want to watch you suffer."
"I knew it." Tony whispered as he scrubbed shampoo into his scalp.
Bruce heard him and groaned. "God, you are such a child, Tony!"
"You are such a child, Tony." Tony parroted.
Bruce took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "I understand why you don't want to go, Tony..."
There was an awkward silence only broken by the sound of the water sputtering out of the shower head. Tony quickly washed his body and shut the water off. He stepped out and wrapped a towel around his waist.
"It'll be the first time since... You know." Tony whispered.
Bruce walked over and stood by the bathroom door, his heart aching from the pain that was laced in Tony's voice. Bruce leaned his forehead against the door.
"Everything will be fine, Tony. It's all going to be fine." Bruce tried to reassure him.
Tony rubbed his head with a smaller towel and walked to the door, opening it to find Bruce standing there waiting for him.
They looked at each other and Bruce could see the tears swelling up in Tony's eyes.
"I don't want to see him, Bruce." Tony murmured. "I can't do it."
Bruce shook his head, broken by the fact that Tony, who was the strongest man he knew, was in tears. "It's all going to be fine. You don't even have to talk to him, you don't have to sit by him. It'll just be this one time and then you don't have to see him again... Hopefully for a very long time."
Tony had never told Bruce what had happened between him and Steve and Bruce knew better than to ask. It was the one thing they didn't talk about... The one thing that Tony couldn't talk about.
"But I don't want to see him... ever." Tony growled.
"I know, baby." Bruce said as he rested his hands on Tony's waist. "But you don't have to worry about it. We'll see him tonight and that's it. Besides... I'd bet my best set of beakers that he won't even say anything to you... You know how he is."
Tony coughed out a laugh and nodded. "You're probably right..."
"Oh I know I am." Bruce smiled and kissed Tony briefly. "Now get dressed."
Tony nodded and pulled Bruce into his arms, hugging him tightly. Bruce shrieked.
"Yuck!" Bruce cried. "Now I'm all wet."
Tony laughed and grabbed his clothes and walked to the bathroom to change.
In a few minutes Tony walked out, dressed and ready to go. He had on a pair of dark jeans that hugged his butt nicely, and a dark green button down, with a pair of brown loafers on his feet. He looked unusually casual.
Bruce found himself staring at Tony, mesmorized by the other man. How did he get so lucky? He had done nothing to deserve such an incredible man to love him so much and be with him.
"You know I love it when you stare at me like that but I know you'll shit your pants if we're late so we had better get going."
Bruce blushed deeply and nodded. He cleared his throat, quickly grabbing his phone and wallet.
Tony tossed him the keys to his charger. "You drive."
Bruce caught the keys and gave him a questioning look.
"T-Tony, I-" Bruce stuttered.
Tony gave Bruce a flirtacious grin. "I dare you."
Bruce chuckled and took off running towards the elevator. "Race ya!"
Tony laughed and groaned. "And you call me a child..."
He heard Bruce laughing in the distance and sighed, taking off to catch up.
XX
When Bruce and Tony arrived at the bar everyone else was already there. They sat at a large table in the back. Clint and Natasha sat at the ends of the table and Thor and Steve chatted away happily at their side of the table. Bruce clapped Clint on the shoulder as he walked by and sat down beside Natasha, leaning over to kiss her cheek. He reached across the table and shook Thor's hand and glanced awkwardly at Steve, nodding to him politely. Clint stood up and hugged Tony, whispering something in his ear. Tony laughed loudly and patted his friend's back before sitting down next to Bruce. He warmly greeted Nat and Thor as he placed his hand on the back of Bruce's chair. The he turned to Steve and gave him a tiny forced smile.
The waitress came over and handed out menus and took drink orders. Everyone ordered alcohol except for Bruce, who had a light blush dusting his cheeks as he ordered a tea.
"NO MEAD FOR YOU DOCTOR?" Thor boomed after the waitress had left.
"Bruce doesn't drink." Tony answered casually before Bruce could even open his mouth. He gave tony a tiny smile and nodded bashfully.
"Oh?" Steve asked looking over at Bruce.
Bruce nodded again. "It causes me to have a weaker grasp on my control."
"You knew that?" Clint asked Tony. "I didn't know you guys were close."
Tony shifted in his chair and glanced in Steve's direction. "Bruce and I have gotten... uh- closer recently."
"Oh?" Steve asked raising an eyebrow, shooting a look between the two men.
Tony cleared his throat. "Yes."
The waitress brought their drinks over, they all thanked her and took their drinks. Steve smiled at her gently and turned back to Tony.
"So when did this happen... you and him?" Steve asked, jealousy flaming up in his eyes.
"Hey," Clint warned in a stern voice, grabbing Steve's arm, "don't."
"Fine." Steve growled, taking his beer in hand and gulping it down.
"So, what's everyone eating?" Bruce asked as his opened his menu. It was very evident how anxious he was getting. He was trying to control himself the best he could. Tony saw the discomfort in his face and smiled sadly, rubbing his back softly. Bruce gave him a thankful smile.
"It feels like a perfect night for breakfast at midnight." Tony smiled.
"To make fun of our exes." Steve snorted, sipping on his second beer.
Tony shot an angry glare in Steve's direction. Everyone else stared at him in disbelief except for Clint who had more important things on his mind.
"To fall in love with strangers..." Clint swooned as he stared over at their waitress's ass.
Natasha gave him a warning stare, glaring at him from across the table. Annoyance burning in her eyes.
"Kidding." Clint chuckled nervously once he saw her looking at him.
"We're happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time." Bruce chuckled awkwardly, shaking his head.
"It's miserable and magical..." Steve added, studying the bottle in his hand.
"Tonight is the night we forget about our deadlines..." Natasha mumbled as she looked across the table at Clint.
"I don't know about you," Tony announced, setting his menu down and looking up with a smile, "but I'm feeling twenty-two again."
"It's been so long for you, Tony, I'm surprised you even remember." Steve snorted.
Tony clenched his fists under the table and Bruce placed his hand reassuringly on Tony'd thigh.
"That's rich coming from you Grandpa..." Tony growled. "What are you? Ninety?"
"Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you..." Bruce muttered in Tony's ear.
Tony sighed and relaxed a bit, giving his boyfriend a slight smile.
Thor glanced between Tony and Steve and raised his eyebrows. He wasn't completely clueless as to what was going on. Steve had told him everything... He and Steve had become extremely close during the last year. Whenever he came from Asgard to visit Jane he would always put aside time to spend with Steve.
"Okay guys,..." Clint groaned. "Come on. We're supposed to be having fun."
"We are." Steve smirked.
Thor elbowed his friend in the side and gave him a look.
"Fine..." Steve sighed and raised his arms up in defeat.
Natasha sighed and looked around in a sudden panic. "This place is too crowded."
And it was.
There were people occupying virtually every available space in the whole bar.
"Too man 'cool kids'." Bruce said sighing. "They probably have no idea who we are or that we've saved their punk asses."
"Who's Tony Stark anyway? Ew..." Tony said in a mocking teenage girl voice.
They all laughed, even Natasha and even Steve. And for a moment it was like old times. Before fights and breakups, before everything got so screwed up. It was like they were all good again. Not quite the best of friends, but not quite enemies. Like everything was perfect. And even once the laughter died down they just looked around at each other and smiled.
And everything felt right...
XX
After hours of talking, eating, drinking, and laughing it got to be late. They split the check and stood in the parking lot, dreading their goodbyes.
Bruce gave Steve a friendly handshake and an obvious forced smile. Steve smiled back and then turned to Tony, mumbling to him and then pulling him out of range of Bruce's hearing. But Bruce forced himself not to pay any mind to it and continued with his goodbyes.
He gave Thor a gentle hug and made him promise to visit soon.
"YES BUT WHEN I RETURN TO MIDGARD I INSIST YOU JOIN ME IN DRINKING MEAD WITH ME." Thor boomed.
Bruce laughed and nodded, "Perhaps I will, friend, perhaps I will."
Bruce moved over to Clint and tried to give him a handshake but the archer moved forward and pulled the doctor into a tight hug.
"We don't see each other enough, Doctor." Clint determined with a gentle smile.
"I agree." Bruce smiled. "We will have to change that."
"A double date." Clint grinned.
Bruce laughed. "That is a terribly wonderful idea."
Clint smiled and walked away, leaving Bruce and Natasha alone.
"Are you okay?" Nat asked him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Bruce took a shaky breath. "Yeah, I mean it was a bit weird for me and it hurt a little. It hurt to watch him suffer knowing I couldn't do anything to fix it."
Natasha nodded and gave Bruce a tiny smile. "The past is past. Steve is past. Tony is yours... You shouldn't worry."
"I am just so afraid of losing him... I love him, Nat. I love him and I need him."
"And you have him." Natasha added.
Bruce looked over at Tony and Steve talking. "But for how long?"
"As long as you hold onto him."
Bruce turned to her and smiled. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her head.
"I love you."
Natasha smiled into his shoulder. "I know."
They broke apart then and Natasha walked away, giving Bruce one final wave before climbing into the car with Clint. They drove away and then Bruce was left with Steve and Tony.
XX
"What was that about?" Bruce asked once both him and Tony had climbed into the car.
"Nothing." Tony shrugged, a blank expression on his face. "He just apologized."
"Apologized?!" Bruce choked out in disbelief and confusion.
"Yeah, for what he said in the bar." Tony lied.
"Oh.. and that was it?" Bruce asked skeptically.
Tony nodded slowly.
Bruce just stared back at him.
"Yes." Tony groaned, obviously annoyed. "Let's go home now. I say we stay up dreaming instead of sleeping."
Bruce let out a laugh and slipped the key in the ignition.
"Tonight we'll forget about the heartbreaks." Tony proposed. "Besides..."
Tony glanced over at Bruce and looked him up and down flirtaciously. "You look like bad news, Banner. And tonight... I'm going to have you all to myself."
Bruce blushed and laughed loudly. "Am I tempting you, Mr. Stark?"
"More than you could possibly imagine." Tony growled.
And that was enough to make Bruce step on the gas, speeding of towards the Tower, leaving all Steve related thought behind in the bar parking lot. Tonight was about Bruce and Tony... And only them.
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Oh dear, well I'm sorry this update has taken awhile I hope it was all you waited for and more. I know it wasn't the best I've written... I promise to update again soon. My beta did not check this chapter so I'm sorry if there are mistakes, I just wanted to give ya'll a new chapter asap! Please review!
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