Bruce doesn't move to open the door.
"Bruce! Look, I know I keep fucking up what I say, but this time let me actually talk to you." Tony says in what comes out as a muffled stage whisper to Bruce on the other side of the door. Bruce gets the feeling that Tony is trying to quietly yell into the crack of the door and wonders why he doesn't just ask J.A.R.V.I.S. to open it for him. The obvious answer makes him feel a pang of guilt. Bruce sighs, pulls himself off the ground, and opens the door.
"At least you weren't going to force the door open. I know you could." He says wiping at his forehead and putting his hand on the doorframe. Tony blinks at him clearly not expecting to gain access so easily.
"Well, yes, I could open any door in the tower with a verbal command, but not if I want you to trust me. Will you let me in?" He looks down at Bruce's arm blocking his entry and then back up to Bruce's eyes. Bruce steps backward and Tony steps over the threshold.
"Secure in your humanity after all, Stark. We monsters have to be invited." He laughs bitterly.
"Monsters? Vampires maybe. And there's the question of whether or not your stepping out of my way was an invitation…" Stark pauses, "That's beside the point though; you're not a monster Bruce! Well, you are; but not like that." Tony says as his eyes rove around the room.
"Then how so, Stark? Spell it out for me because I apparently don't get it. A monster is a monster is a monster. And you know it. I know you were afraid of me when you took me to the bus stop, I can smell it in your sweat." Bruce says, his voice calm. He moves so that he is now standing with his face inches from Tony's.
Tony sees shards of green in Bruce's irises. Bruce catches the micro-expression of Tony's fear, the slightest flinch, almost completely concealed, but not quite.
Bruce clenches his fists and continues,
"-And I heard what you said a moment ago. That's good. You need to remember what I am. Don't sugar-coat it. I take my medicine like an adult, with a strict routine to avoid side effects and I don't need your flavored pills." A fleck of spit hits Tony's face as Bruce emphasizes the "p" in a way no time in distant lands can erase from his American English. The shape of the word pulls Bruce's mouth into a grimace that Tony finds vaguely familiar. Some faraway part of his brain registers this as a very Hulk-like expression, but Tony blinks that thought away.
"Are you finished trying to intimidate me?" Stark jeers. He presses his beaded brow to Bruce's and stares him down.
Tony says while taking a step backwards: "I know what you're trying to do. You blast a lot of steam trying to keep people from seeing too much or getting burned, but that won't work this time. You're not a monster in the mindless sense. I know that's what you think, but The Hu-The Other Guy saved my life. Obviously he's sentient and has the capability to care about other people. You're more like Frankenstein's Mon-"
"But still a monster, Tony." Bruce interrupts.
"Jesus, Bruce! Hulk isn't bad, you're not bad. A monster's not inherently vicious, it's nature versus nurture and goddammit I believe in nurture!" Tony shouts and moves forward to put his hands on Bruce's wrists. Bruce jerks out of his grip and up against the wall to the side of the door. Tony can see that Bruce's eyes are shining green in the dim room.
"How is that any better?! Surely you've hacked my file at this point! By your own logic here I'm about 80% monster. What do you think the root cause of my rage problem is?!" Bruce slams his fist into the wall hard enough to dent it and doesn't flinch. Tony grits his teeth.
"The why isn't important Tony, keeping people safe is." He says and pinches the bridge of his nose mechanically before taking a ragged breath and starting again.
"Well then, if you'll excuse me, I am going to try and find whatever provisions have been made in case of emergencies because I don't feel very safe to be around." Bruce grinds out and pushes out the doorway past Tony.
Tony tears his eyes around the room, but can't find anything there that makes him feel less awful.
As it turns out, Tony had built a safe room in case of emergencies, and truth be told, Bruce already knew about it, but he couldn't resist that last passing jab. He snorts derisively as he thinks about it as the heavy, enforced doors slam shut behind him.
Tony stands around holding his breath until he can't hear Bruce's footsteps anymore and then takes off in a dead sprint in the opposite direction.
"J.A.R.V.I.S. , ready Mark VII." His voice cracks.
"Yes, sir." J.A.R.V.I.S. pauses, "Dr. Banner has entered the safe room without incident. Vital signs indicate heart-rate elevated to near crises level."
Tony has nothing to say. He dons his suit without fanfare and races to Bruce, ready to talk him down if possible.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., load the live security feed from the room to my display." Tony orders. Tony's vision is flooded with a vast white room, with Dr. Banner standing near the middle of the room. Bruce has broken into a sweat that soaked the armpits of his button-down shirt down to the edge of his ribcage. His skin appears to have taken on a verdigris hue, though Tony can't be sure.
"Dammit, we're fine! We're fine! I know better than to trust him! I know better! This isn't a big deal! You don't need to make an appearance!" Bruce shouts. His shoulders are raised and his movements are sharp. Tony turns his head, but the display fills his vision.
"There is no reason for you to come out now. We're safe." Bruce says. He doesn't look safe standing in the expansive room with nothing but steel bars and sadistically large punching bags to keep him company.
"I'm not sure under what circumstances I wanted to test the room, but this isn't it." Tony mumbles and puts a hand on the wall to steady himself.
Bruce sinks to his knees with a sigh. Tony squeezes his eyes shut. He can't escape hearing The Hulk's roar in stereo, over the speakers and through the door. Tony puts his other hand out to brace himself, opens his visor, and retches onto the smooth white tile at his feet.
(End Part 7)
[Woo-hoo broke the 1000 word mark! Since it's been a while I thought I'd try for a slightly longer update. I hope it's not complete torture to read this in such small increments. There were a few references this time around that I struggled with myself over whether to include them or not. I'd love some feedback on if everything made sense.]
