A/N: Last part! :D This is longest one so far… Seven chapters and at least a thousand words in each one; I'm proud of myself! :D
Quick warning: mentions of abuse in this one, so if that upsets you, then you might not want to read this. More on that in the note at the bottom…
We feel alive inside for the first time,
We've got to run not hide, from the former lives
We gotta take it, make it, never gonna fake it
This time we're breaking free, and making history.
-Alive; Hawk Nelson
Bruce had woken up in some pretty strange conditions, but waking up curled around a little boy was definitely a new one. He stared down into big blue eyes before carefully straightening, holding his pants up as he did so.
"Uh, are you ok?" He asked, his voice raspy. It was always raspy after a transformation. The little boy just nodded and kept staring.
"What's your name?" Bruce was really wishing for his teammates at this point, at least they would tell him what was going on.
"Neal." The boy said. Bruce waited until it was clear that nothing more was forthcoming before speaking himself.
"Hello Neal, I'm Bruce." He said.
"You saved me." The boy stated calmly, ignoring his last statement. Bruce wrinkled his brow in confusion and frustration. The Other Guy never saved anyone.
"I-I did?" He stuttered. The boy nodded solemnly.
"Found them!" Bruce recognized Tony's voice and glanced up to see the red and gold suit hovering above them, one gloved hand holding some clothes.
"I was almost there!" Peter yelled, dropping beside them. Bruce shook his head with a small smile. No doubt the two of them had been like that the whole battle.
"Here you go, Brucey, figured you'd want these." Tony tossed down the clothes and Bruce caught them easily.
"Hey buddy, how you doing?" Peter easily distracted the boy, letting him play with his mask, while Bruce changed.
"Alright, we just have to take Neal here home, and we'll be good to go." Peter said, slipping on his mask again. Bruce nodded.
"Uh, yeah, sure." He said, still confused about the kid. Did he really save him?
It wasn't until they were dropping off the kid at his house that Bruce began to believe it.
"You're my new favorite hero." Neal grinned up at him, eyes sparkling. Bruce couldn't speak for a moment.
"Uh, um, thanks?" He finally stammered out, unsure of what do in this situation. Apparently that was enough, since the kid then turned to Tony and Peter.
"You guys are pretty cool too." He said, then ran to the front door, giving a wave before going in.
"That's new." Bruce said, still staring at the door. Peter shook his head.
"Nah doc, you're my favorite hero too!" He said, mask still on. Bruce's worry about Peter being frightened now rose to the surface.
"So, ah, the, Other Guy, didn't hurt you?" He questioned, looking down at his feet. Peter's laugh startled him into looking up.
"Are you kidding? Big Green loves me!" He said. Bruce studied him carefully, but couldn't tell if he was lying with the mask.
"C'mon, we better get going or Natasha will leave us here." Tony said, firing up his thrusters. Bruce had resigned himself to walking when Tony grabbed him around the waist, taking off. Peter was close behind them, swinging from building to building. Bruce decided to leave off on scolding Tony for his recklessness until later, simply enjoying the flight for now.
Back at the Tower, Bruce noticed Peter's eye as soon as he took his mask off.
"You better get some ice on that, or you'll get a black eye." He commented. Peter nodded.
"Yeah, I'm not really sure how I got it to be honest." He said, heading towards the kitchen, "You get any black eyes in your day?" He called back. Bruce noticed everyone in the room trying to watch him without showing it and kept his face neutral.
"Yeah, I had my share." He replied. And then some. He thought bitterly. Peter walked back in, holding an ice pack to his head.
"Were you bullied?" He asked, expression curious. Bruce nodded.
"Yeah, something like that." He replied, picking up the newspaper. Thankfully, no one pressed the issue, instead putting on a Doctor Who rerun until Peter went home and they all went to bed. Then Bruce was almost expecting it when Tony slipped into his room. He sighed anyways though, and set down the notebook he'd been absently doodling an algorithm in.
"Tony." He greeted, voice even. The other man looked uncharacteristically serious.
"Bruce, I need you to tell me what's going on, what happened. I put off Pepper for this." Tony said. Bruce shook his head.
"Tony, it's the past. I try not to talk about the past, it frustrates me too much." He said, pulling off his glasses. Tony just planted himself on the bed.
"I'm not leaving!" He sang out. Bruce shrugged and systematically grabbed his pillow and a blanket.
"What are you doing?" Tony asked, head cocked at an angle.
"I'm going to sleep on the couch, since it appears that you want to stay here." Bruce said, heading for the door.
"Jarvis, lock the door!" Tony called. Bruce growled when he heard it click.
"Toonny…" He drew out the other man's name.
"We aren't leaving until you tell me what's up." Tony said, his arms crossed. Bruce dropped the pillow and blanket and walked over to the window. He looked at the night sky, struggling to hold back the memories. He flinched when Tony came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I just want you to work through it, whatever it is." Tony said seriously. Bruce took a deep breath, making sure he was in full control before whirling around.
"You want to know what's wrong? Why I can't handle it when I see children beaten or dead? Why I have issues with men so much as tapping my shoulder? My father used me as a punching bag for most of my school years. Then he killed my mother in a fit of rage, and threatened to do the same to me if I told anyone. Of course, his threats didn't mean anything when his drunken ramblings gave him away. He's still in a psychiatric ward." Bruce paused for breath, but the pity in Tony's eyes just made him angrier, and he kept dumping.
"After that, I was bounced around from foster homes and group homes, always too smart for my own good, at least that's what they told me. I managed to get into college when I turned 18, and got my first good break; a scholarship and a job as soon as I graduated." Bruce couldn't handle looking at Tony any longer, he turned back to the window.
"Is that what you were expecting?" He asked, his voice low now.
"Honestly? Something like that. You don't really hide it all that well." Tony said, moving to stand next to him.
"Then why'd you ask?" Bruce questioned, his anger still simmering.
"I guess I wanted to hear it from you." Tony replied. Bruce took a few deep breaths.
"Well, you heard it." He said, slowly repressing the screams echoing in his head.
"That I did. Are you alright?" Tony asked. Bruce shook his head.
"I don't think I ever will be, but you can't fix me. I'm a man, not a machine." Actually, I'm a monster.
"Bruce, you're not a monster." Tony's low voice drew him out of his thoughts, startling him with the similarities.
"What?" He said, confused.
"You're not a monster. I know what you're thinking, it's not hard to figure out. You are a man, a scientist, and a hero to a little kid. No matter what happens, you'll always be a hero." Tony said firmly, still looking out the window. Bruce shook his head.
"Sorry Tony, it's going to take a little while to believe that." He said. Tony clapped his shoulder, and this time he didn't flinch.
"That's what I'm here for. Now, if you'll excuse me, I do believe that I've left Ms. Potts alone long enough for her to finish paperwork." He said, heading towards the door.
"Tony." Bruce's voice was enough to make him stop, "Thanks."
"Anytime Big Guy."
The next day, Tony, Bruce, and Peter were sitting at Peter's dining room table with his Aunt May.
"So, you want Peter to take pictures?" May asked.
"Yes. More specifically, we want him to take pictures of the Avengers. The higher ups want more press, so we need someone to take pictures of battles and other things. He would have to stay in the Tower, so that he could always come with us. Of course, you could come with him, and we would pay the rent or mortgage on this house for you." Tony could be very smooth when he wanted to be, and Bruce had to wonder how he was just now realizing it.
"What about school?" May asked.
"Well, we certainly wouldn't deprive him of an education; this wouldn't interfere at all. I'll even send a car to take him to school and pick him up every day. Plus we have me and Bruce here to help him with any homework or anything like that." Bruce frowned, and then quickly smiled when May looked his way. He didn't want to help with high school homework; he could do it in his sleep. Of course, Peter probably wouldn't need help anyways.
"Aunt May, I would really like to do this. It's a great opportunity." Peter spoke up, and Bruce almost laughed at the little boy eagerness on his face. May's gaze softened as she looked at him, but there was also worry.
"Would he be safe?" She asked, and Bruce could tell that she knew. Somehow, she knew about everything.
"I can guarantee you that Bruce and I will always protect him." Tony said sincerely. Bruce wasn't so sure, but he wasn't about to speak up.
"And how are you involved, Dr. Banner?" Now Bruce wasn't sure what she meant, so he took the safe route.
"I'm just a scientist, ma'am. I help Tony with his projects and a few other things." He had no doubt that she had done research about him, about the Other Guy, and knew exactly what he was. However, her gaze betrayed no fear, something that he was adept at picking up on. She held his gaze for a moment longer, then smiled.
"You know what, this sounds like a wonderful opportunity. It would be foolish to turn it down. Mr. Stark, Peter and I would be honored to accept your offer." She said, gripping Peter's hand. Bruce was fairly certain he saw a wince on the kid's face, but he wasn't sure.
"I promise, you won't regret it." Tony said, standing and shaking her hand. Bruce did the same.
"I hope not." He heard her whisper just before they closed the door.
"That went well." Tony said once they were settled in the car, a fast convertible. Bruce nodded.
"Yeah, it went great." He said dryly. Tony just grinned and gunned the engine before taking off. As they flew down the street, Bruce couldn't help but be reminded of the old movies where the cowboy rides off into the sunset. Except there was no sunset. Or love story. Or horse. Or even a cowboy. So really nothing like it, but still. It just somehow felt like an ending of sorts.
The End
(For now)
So? Did you like it? Tell me! I worked hard to get the information on Bruce, but please tell me if I'm wrong. I looked it up on the Marvel website though, so you might want to take complaints to them. :P Oh, and virtual cookies to whoever can tell me where I pulled Neal from! :D
