AN: I have never read any Tony/Bruce and I found them really hard to write, so I hope they aren't too OOC. Maybe let me know how I did in a review? Thanks for reading.
Bruce had never been to the Avengers facility before but it was stylish and ambitious like everything else Tony did.
When he tracked Tony down, of course he was working, making adjustments to some contraption that encased the lower half of Rhodey's damaged body, while ultra conscientious Stark Industries employee Maria Hill watched on.
Finding the door of the lab open, Bruce let himself in.
Silence fell as the three occupants of the room turned to stare at him. Rhodey in particular looked murderous, but Bruce wouldn't have expected anything less from Tony's best friend.
"Hey guys," he greeted, offering a tentative smile, one that he wasn't surprised to find went unreturned. He'd known this wouldn't be easy.
"Hi Bruce," Maria eventually offered to break the silence, sounding uncertain about whether or not she was happy to see him.
It was an awkward situation, so he addressed the easiest and most obvious thing first. It was a way too, of letting Tony know that he knew about the disagreement over the accords.
"How are you doing, Rhodey? I heard about your... Well I heard."
"I'm getting there. With a lot of help."
"That's good..." Bruce offered lamely.
Rhodey glanced anxiously at Tony who was yet to say a word, then he turned to the former SHIELD agent.
"Maria, I could do with some fresh air."
"Sure, hun," she agreed, taking his arm to help him outside.
"We'll be right outside, Tone," Rhodey offered, giving Tony a little smile. Tony nodded and Rhodey made sure to throw Bruce a menacing look before he went, making clear that he would be ready to defend Tony at a moment's notice.
Bruce watched them go, wondering when they'd become a couple and about what else he'd missed in his absence. It seemed like a lot of things had changed since Sokovia, he hoped Tony's feelings weren't among them, but Bruce couldn't blame him if they were. He hadn't exactly been the most supportive partner.
Bruce shifted his gaze back to Tony, who was watching his friends disappear outside. Once they were gone Tony kept his eyes on the empty space they'd left behind as he spoke.
"They're perfect for each other, don't you think? You ever see two people with bigger sticks up their asses?"
"I guess not," Bruce agreed, keeping his focus on Tony who was obviously trying to hide his feelings behind the humour. Self-preservation 101 for Tony Stark when things threatened to overwhelm him. Honestly though, Tony looked exhausted, like he was barely holding it together. Bruce felt terrible, knowing that he was partly to blame.
Now that they were alone, Tony's idle hands began to fiddle with another piece of nearby tech, his restlessness a clear sign of how uncomfortable he was. Bruce knew he was the cause of it and he hated himself for it, but this wasn't about him.
Seeing Tony's distress, Bruce decided right then and there that he was done with running, it only ever made things worse in the long run. That also meant that no matter how much Tony wanted to avoid it, they needed to have the difficult conversation.
"Tony, you need to stop."
"That's the last thing I need," Tony argued, squinting at a dislodged microprocessor. Bruce knew Tony always had several projects on the go, and that he would want to do everything he could to help Rhodey, but he needed some time for himself too. And avoidance certainly wasn't going to solve anything. Bruce should know.
"It's exactly what you need," Bruce insisted, stepping closer and sliding his hand over Tony's, forcing him to pause. "I'll bet you haven't stopped since it all went down."
Tony let out a shaky breath and looked up, eyes connecting with Bruce's for the first time. In them Bruce saw weeks of anguish and suppressed feelings bubble uncontrollably to the surface now that he didn't have to be the strong one anymore. Tears filled his eyes and then he was clinging to Bruce, making Bruce realise just how much he'd let down the man he loved.
He'd let his fear rule him, when he should've been thinking about Tony's feelings and how his absence might be affecting him. That's what you were supposed to do when you committed to a relationship.
"I'm sorry," Bruce apologised as he held Tony close. "So, so sorry. If you want to talk, I'm here now."
Bruce thought Tony might tell him about the fight with Steve, or details of Rhodey's injuries but he didn't. Tony's pain was deeper than that, his voice low and broken when the words came.
"My mom was murdered."
Bruce didn't understand. Howard and Maria had died years ago in a car accident.
"What? I thought she died in an accident."
"They made it look like that."
"They?"
"HYDRA. They used Barnes to do it and Rogers knew. He knew all along and he didn't tell me."
This was what Thor meant went he said personal.
"Oh Tony, that's awful. I should've been here."
Tony pulled back and scrubbed a hand over his wet face, before fixing Bruce with an anxious look.
"I've never been so angry. I wanted to kill them both. I tried."
If Bruce knew anything it was the helplessness of uncontrollable rage. He ached for Tony, that he had had to experience that.
"I'm sorry," Bruce said again, sympathising with the feeling. He knew that these were two words he'd be saying a lot over the next few weeks, because of his own selfish actions and because of the ordeal Tony had been through.
"And," Tony continued, "I thought for a second, that he was gonna kill me."
"Barnes?"
"No, Cap. He was so single-minded. In that moment, there was only one person that mattered to him and it wasn't me. I really thought he might do it."
As if they didn't have enough problems to deal with in their messed up lives, turning on each other was a complication they didn't need. Bruce could feel the anger threatening, the epinephrine beginning to flow. How could Steve be such a prick after everything they'd been through together? He was supposed to be Tony's friend.
"Bruce, please don't get angry," Tony urged, reaching up and taking Bruce's face between his hands. The soft touch helped calm him. "It doesn't change what's happened. I don't need the other guy. Just you. Don't leave me alone again."
In the face of that plea, protectiveness overcame Bruce, reminding him what was important, and the adrenaline subsided. He would respect Tony's wishes to the best of his ability. Bruce understood now. Someone else's feelings mattered more than his own did. He would have to find a way to make being on Earth okay because the right choice would always be standing by Tony's side.
"I shouldn't have left in the first place. I really am sorry. How many apologies is that already? You're gonna get sick of me..."
"No," Tony insisted, with a shake of his head. "No, as long as you stay here you can apologise forever if you want to."
Tony was too good, too quick to forgive. It was a quality that endeared Bruce to him but left Tony open to being hurt time and time again. He loved so deeply and Bruce had been shamefully inconsiderate of that. As much as Bruce wanted to blame Steve or HYDRA or anyone else, he knew there was only one person he should be directing his anger at, and that was himself. For being a coward. For abandoning Tony. But like Tony said, anger was no help to either of them now.
"I never thought you guys would fall out or that Steve would be capable of betrayal like this."
"Me neither," Tony admitted. "I guess you never really know anyone."
Tony's loneliness was so apparent in that moment and Bruce had the overwhelming urge to erase it forever. He knew he could do that, if only he was truly willing to commit to it.
"Except me," he declared. "You and I, that you can trust. I won't let you down again. I promise."
"I really want to believe that."
"I love you. So much. It's my own flaws that I can't get past. I can't help thinking that you deserve better, Tony. But if you really want me and all my faults, I'm yours. Never think I don't love you."
"No one's perfect, Bruce. All we can do is keep trying. Make better choices. I've never loved anyone the way I love you, with your anger issues, commitment-phobia and all."
"Alright," Bruce agreed, sliding his arms around Tony's waist and pulling them tight together. From now on he was gonna do everything he could to make Tony happy and keep him that way. "Let's start with scratching commitment-phobia off that list."
For the first time in the conversation, Bruce saw light fill Tony's eyes. Now all Bruce wanted was to kiss him, to show him he meant every word of what he'd said. He leaned in but Tony stopped him with a hand on his chest, leaning back just out of reach.
Bruce looked into Tony's eyes, and while he was sure there was no anger there, he did see wariness. Tony was willing to forgive but he couldn't forget. Not just yet. It was going to take more than a kiss to fix this but that was okay. Tony was worth it.
"Wanna help me with the new stability system for Rhodey?"
"Sure," Bruce agreed, releasing his grip and turning his attention to the bench full of spare parts. "Have you considered an in vivo system?"
Tony's excitement at the new idea was instantly apparent.
"See?" he grinned, grabbing his holo-tablet and pulling up Rhodey's scans, "this is why I adore you."
Bruce just smiled. This right here, science and problem-solving, had always been their common ground and he knew that if they worked together, from here they could fix anything.
