Title: After the War

Characters/Pairings: Bruce Banner / Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, Nick Fury, Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, Thor and others.

Summary: In the aftermath of the attack on New York, Tony finds himself with an unexpected house guest.

Warnings: MxM pairing, angst, violence, swearing, smut.

Rating: 15 / T

Chapter 9

Bruce ran his hands down the smooth wood of the newly fitted door and felt a stab of guilt in the pit of stomach as he glanced at the repaired hulk shaped hole in the wall which was awaiting plastering and painting. Bruce stepped into the room and noticed a broken bed had been replaced – no doubt this was Steve's doing as he'd arranged for most of the household repairs whilst Bruce stuck to his room to ashamed to face what the Hulk had done. The bed had been dressed in an alarming shade of red and appeared to be drowning in scatter cushions which he'd never seen before – Pepper's influence Bruce thought surprised to find himself irritated by this.

Bruce closed the bedroom door and sank back against it; he breathed in Tony's scent which filled the room and sighed sadly, missing him even though that he'd visited him earlier that day; the mansion just didn't feel the same without him and despite Steve and Clint's constant presence and eyes on him he couldn't help but feel lonely without Tony there to wind him up and tease him.

Bruce pushed himself off the door and circled the room; he wrinkled his nose when he got a whiff of Pepper's perfume mixed in with Tony's comforting scent. Trying to ignore it, Bruce headed to the wardrobe and slid open one of the mirror-fronted sliding doors; he ran his fingers over the shirts which hung neatly inside – business shirts, mostly in black. Bruce stroked a collar here and there and then let one of Tony's numerous silk ties slip through his fingers.

Bruce closed the wardrobe and then circled the room once more; he wasn't sure what he was doing there or what he was looking for but he felt restless. Bruce noticed that Pepper had left a drawer slightly ajar – he headed over and opened the drawer to find that it contained Tony's more casual t-shirts; Bruce lifted one out and unfolded it smiling when he noticed it was the very same shirt Tony had worn when they'd first met on the heli-carrier.

'Bruce?' Bruce's eyes snapped toward the door when he heard Clint calling his name – clearly he'd noticed that he was out of bed. The door to Tony's bedroom opened and Clint peered inside. Bruce bumped the dresser drawer closed with his hip and held the t-shirt behind his back. 'Bruce are you okay?' Clint asked with a frown. Bruce knew he must be wondering what he was doing sneaking around Tony's room, and actually the same thought crossed his own mind.

'I'm fine.' Bruce snapped more harshly than he intended; he quickly scuttled past Clint and shut himself in his bedroom. Bruce instructed JARVIS not to let anyone disturb him and then sank back on his bed clutching Tony's shirt tightly in his hands; he breathed in his scent and wished Tony home more than ever; he was sick of everyone monitoring his every move and sick of not being able to leave the house without a chaperone.

Bruce could feel himself begin to rile up and knew he should warn Steve and Clint that the might have an unwanted guest.

'Bruce, calm down.' A voice whispered in the dark room.

Bruce turned to find Tony lying on the bed next to him wearing his usual cocky smile. Bruce stared at him – was he real? No he couldn't be which must mean he was either hallucinating or dreaming. Whichever the case, it was it didn't matter because Bruce instantly felt his anger die away and his body relax at the sigh to him and that cool blue aura which wrapped around him like a reassuring hug.

'It's not worth getting angry over.' Tony continued. 'Just relax.' he soothed reaching out and stroking his fingertips down Bruce's chest. 'You're tense … relax …' he coaxed shuffling closer to him. 'Your shoulders are like rocks.' he said massaging one with his strong hand.

Bruce glanced down and found himself suddenly naked – flushing with embarrassment Bruce turned to Tony and found him naked too – well his torso at least from what he could see as the rest of him was covered by the bed sheet. Bruce swallowed hard – he must be dreaming he concluded more confused than ever when he realised that he didn't want to actually wake up from this very surreal dream.

Tony's hand left Bruce's well massaged shoulder and stroked through the thick dark hair at the base of his neck; he leant forward and his lips touched the outer shell of his ear causing a shiver to sweep down Bruce's spine. Tony's lips drifted down Bruce's jawline before finally resting at the base of his neck which he happily nibbled at.

'Tony …' Bruce breathed somewhat uncertainly.

'Do you want me to stop?' Tony whispered drawing back and smiling up at him confidently. Bruce gazed back – he billionaire was so bloody sure of himself and it only increased Bruce's sudden desire for him.

All uncertainty melted away; Bruce turned on his side and sought out Tony's lips which he claimed for his own kissing him with fierce enthusiasm. Bruce felt Tony sigh into his open mouth as the kiss broke and they panted for air; the sigh was one of relief Bruce detected - relief that they'd finally found each other, relief that this was finally happening. Knowing Tony wanted this as much as he did Bruce wrapped his arms around Tony's slim waist and pulled him on top of him as he rolled onto his bed. 'Oh God Tony …' he groaned kissing him again; his hands delving into his hair.

Tony broke the kiss and sat back; his hands resting on Bruce's chest. Bruce was not quite sure of Tony's equal nakedness now that the billionaire was on top of him. Tony smiled down at him confidently. 'Banner.' he grinned rolling his hips. 'You want me, I can tell you're desperate to have me.' he whispered bending low and pressing delicate kisses to Bruce's sternum.

Bruce sighed happily and wriggled ticklish. 'Yes … yes I do.' he admitted unable to deny it. 'Kiss me.' he begged.

Tony pushed Bruce's arms up and pinned them above his head by his wrist; he rolled his hips again causing Bruce to moan as excitement swept down his spine.

Bruce gazed up at Tony who smiled down at him. 'I feel as if we've been waiting forever for this.' he confessed. 'Like we've been dancing around each other.'

Tony pressed a quick kiss to Tony's lips. 'Well no more.' he promised.

Bruce sighed heavily. 'It's just a shame this is all just a dream.' he whispered staring up at Tony whose face slowly started to blur at the edges – the dream was falling apart as he spiralled toward waking and Bruce desperately wanted to cling to it.

'Does it matter if it's not real?' Tony asked kissing him softly; his hands stroking down his chest.

'Yes.' Bruce whispered sadly; he closed his eyes and tried to focus on Tony but the taste and texture of his lips slowly faded away and suddenly he felt the room turned dark and cold.

Bruce reluctantly opened his eyes to find himself awake and alone; the weight of Tony on top of him was gone and so was the reassuring blue light of the arc reactor.

Bruce was not alarmed by the dream as he expected himself to be, more depressed that it was over and that the contents could never be real. When had this happened? When had his feelings toward the cocky billionaire changed? How was he supposed to face Tony now?