Hey! Thanks again to people who helped me write Logan, i heard i nailed him spot on but i missed a little on Rogue...heh, told ya' i never watched X-men (2000)

Thanks for reviewing on what you want Loki to do! The standing poles are on the bottom.

It was a few days after the original Cell Phone call from the mysterious stranger. (Jarvis had hacked into a few security feeds, matching the audio to that of a young girl, taped while visiting a local museum for some school trip. Apparently, she went by the name 'Rogue' although Tony was positive that was not her real name.)

Tony and Bruce had been busy for the first day, the later avoiding the former as he had been upset with the lack of rights Tony had represented while phoning the younger girl. Bruce had told Tony when he asked what he was doing in the makeshift lab, that he was looking up the mutant gene to see if it could have a possible cure for his 'issue.'

In all reality, he was looking up the medical diagnosis for Narcissism, trying to see if there were any temporary cures.

Bruce flipped through the thick book he had, fingers flying as his eyes scanned any page for a word that could add to the sudden coldness to Tony's attitude- sure Bruce noticed that the Narcissistic tendencies were developing slowly, but turning harsh cold in only a single night? That was…wrong.

"-different from manic-depressive cyc-"

Bruce froze, moving back the four pages he flipped and narrowed his eyes, nearly brushing his nose against the small font as he skimmed, searching for the promising looking sentence.

"Narcissists go through euphoric and dysphoric cycles. They ar-"

"Jarvis, scan the definition of dysphoric." Bruce stated calmly, looking up as a nearby monitor flashed to life, the definition in helpful large font.

"Dysphoric: Dysphoria; depression; a state of feeling acutely hopeless, uncomfortable, and unhappy."

Bruce swallowed back the horribly sick feeling in his throat and continued to read, determined to find a cure.

"They are dilated, all encompassing, all consuming, and all-pervasive. They are different from manic-depressive cycles (As found in the Bipolar Disorder pg 607) in which they are reactive, highly dependent on external events or circumstances."

"No- no no no." Bruce whispered, pulling out a dictionary and quickly skimming the rest of the passage and picking out a few key words, quickly searching it in the medical terms.

"Anhedonia; a mental disorder, the inability to gain pleasure from normally pleasurable experiences."

"Mania; abnormal elevated or irritable mood or energy levels."

At the few words Bruce started to desperately read the passage, mouth growing dry as he looked at the irritable mood swings that Tony was already on.

"These mini-cycles, though outwardly manic-depressive-are not. They are the result of subtle fluctuations in the volatile flow of Narcissist Supply.

"These mini-cycles, though outwardly manic-depressive (or cyclothymiacs) - are not. They are the result of subtle fluctuations in the volatile flow of Narcissistic Supply."

"Narcisstic Supply: the balance of admiration, adoration, approval, attention, and so on throughout activities, thoughts, conversations, inspiration, and daydreams."

"All aspects of life are regulated throughout such supply, rendering it relatively stable and predictable."

"No." Bruce croaked, more and more, the information looking bleak.

"Is there something wrong, Doctor Banner?" Bruce jumped at Jarvis' tone, inquiring as he was obviously stressed.

Bruce sighed, lifting his arms to rub his eyes when he noticed that they were shaking.

"Yeah- can you tell me the last time Tony slept?" He asked, best to start by knowing which cycle Tony was on, anyways.

Jarvis gave a pause before answering, "Mr. Stark is currently inside his lab. He has been awake for 32 hours straight."

Bruce paused, waiting and thinking his next answer, "Do you think he's hungry? I could make him some food." Bruce offered, and Jarvis didn't wait nearly as long, this time.

"I do not think this wise, Dr. Banner. Mr. Stark is currently in a foul mood, unable to invent anything at the moment."

And Bruce felt that chill, that horrible feeling he got when he knew something the others didn't- Tony was on the negative side of the cycle.

Great.

"Okay- that's fine…Um; do you know where Pepper and Rhodey are?" Bruce asked, shifting in his seat awkwardly, while Jarvis scanned the house quickly.

"Miss. Potts and Mr. Rhodes are currently inside the lounge."

"Thanks Jarvis." Bruce smiled, making his way out and around the corner from the small area, he was reading in.

Indeed the two were inside the lounge, Pepper was going over paperwork while Rhodey was reading a book, and all the while, the TV was on mute- the bright flashing colours stunning Bruce for a small second.

"Oh- hello Bruce." Pepper smiled, looking up with a smile as Bruce shuffled in, awkwardly perching on one of the couches seats, looking at the two.

"So- er, anything new?" He asked, looking to the TV and inwardly wincing at how idiotic his conversation attempt sounded.

"Nothing unusual- a new superhero showed up in New York, shoots webs like a spider or something- he's managed only the small attacks, mostly thugs and robberies." Rhodey shrugged and Bruce looked up to see said red and blue adorned human swing across buildings using webs with an incredibly tacky spider print on the middle of his chest.

Hero's these days…

"Yeah, um, could I…show you guys, something outside?" Bruce asked attentively, not exactly sure on what ground

Pepper stared, looking at him once before looking at the nearly set sun and fading light before looking back at him and lifting an eyebrow.

"Um- sure." Rhodey stated, obviously confused as he got off the couch, setting the book on the cushion and walking after Bruce while Pepper followed, frowning at the obvious events.

Bruce walked out, standing momentarily on the porch before walking further out, knowing that Jarvis wouldn't automatically have an audio feed in such a new residence.

Pepper gave a disgruntled sigh as she carefully started to walk across the gravel driveway in her impressive heels, following Bruce as he settled on leaning against the railing a fair distance away, which overlooked the cliff, faces and the churning, waters below.

"What is it, Bruce?" Rhodey asked, shifting and leaning against the fence while Bruce nervously wringed his hands.

"I- this is odd to ask, but-er-"

"What?" Pepper sighed, looking up at the sky as something akin to storm clouds were very slowly growing closer.

"Did Tony ever go to see therapists after he came back from Afghanistan?"

Pepper and Rhodey blinked, Pepper giving a strangled cough as she cleared her throat.

"I-I don't see how you need to know anything about tha-"

"Pepper." Bruce stated quietly, and yet firmly, causing her to silence immediately when she caught the slightly haunted look in his eyes, "It's important."

They stared, Rhodey not answering as Pepper finally choked a slight coughing sob noise as she sniffed, answering curtly even though it hurt her obviously.

"No. He didn't want us to take him to one- he refused to meet with anybody, insisted that he was fine." She coughed, and Bruce bit his lip looking out over the water.

"Was he?" He asked quietly, and it was silent, nothing before Rhodey answered.

"He was better than we expected- he didn't freak on us, he didn't scream or break down, he could have never gone if we didn't know better." Rhodey scoffed, and Bruce's hand tensed ever so slightly.

"He has PTSD- he's an aquaphobic now. He doesn't do well with…hospitals, and surgery…he doesn't like it when people shout at him in that language never got him to tell us the name of it…" Pepper mused, a twisted laugh transformed into a sob as it left her mouth.

"Is that what you wanted to talk to us about? Him and that?" Rhodey asked, and Bruce slowly shook his head, dropping down until his elbows were leant against the railing, head cradled in his hands.

"No- I…" Bruce hesitated, and the two watched him carefully, he nearly choked, trying to find a way to say it.

"I- SHIELD has files on everyone, they never really did proper testing, but a few professionals observed, and a few doctors managed to analyze his patterns…it's not completely positive, but it's in the 70-90% range that they're right…" He rambled, choking off and looking at Pepper and Rhodey, the former who was increasingly getting worried.

"Bruce? What is it Bruce- is it about Tony? Oh god- it's about Tony, isn't it?"

Bruce swallowed, and looked out over the water, biting his lip before blurting out what he never wanted to say to anyone.

"Tony's a diagnosed with NPD." He blurted, mentally smacking himself before looking at the two others, noticing Rhodey's frown and Pepper's confused face.

"NPD? Bruce, I- what does it…" Pepper trailed off, arms flopping uselessly to her side.

"It's a personality disorder- it's known as Narcissism." Bruce offered, and they stared, a silent moment while they looked at each other in the eye, not speaking but merely thinking.

"I know Tony's many things, but he is not a-"

"I'm sorry, Rhodey. He is…It's, it's not the term they throw around- it's…." Bruce struggled, and Pepper frowned, bottom lip quivering ever so slightly, before she drew her phone out of her pocket.

"Jarvis?" she asked quietly, the screen flicking alive as Bruce looked at it unsure- would he tell Tony?

"Tell me everything there is to know about Narcissism." She spoke voice a near whisper as the screen flashed blue, files branching and opening, loading and closing once more.

"Yes Mrs. Potts. According to the databanks of the Mayoclinic-"

"What's that?" Rhodey interrupted, and Jarvis took a few second to find an appropriate answer.

"It is one of the largest treatment facilities in the world, for rare or unusual illnesses. According to the databanks, Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism."

Pepper stared at her phone, and Rhodey clenched his hand on the railing, knuckles turning white as his whole arm trembled.

"Would you like to hear the rest of the information?"

"Jarvis- can you tell us the causes?" Pepper asked quietly, clearing her throat to speak louder after a brief pause.

"The Mayoclinic does not have an in-depth research on how the disorder is created. According to them, 'As with other mental disorders, the cause is likely complex. The cause may be linked to a dysfunctional childhood, such as excessive pampering, extremely high expectations, abuse or neglect. It's also possible that genetics or psychobiology — the connection between the brain and behavior and thinking — plays a role in the development of narcissistic personality disorder.'

Rhodey cussed, head dropping and Pepper dropping her phone onto the ground as she now actually had real sobs wracking from her body, Bruce felt a slight trembled as he reached down and gingerly picked up the phone, Jarvis now understanding what was happening.

"I apologize, Mrs. Potts. Long lasting effects of this disorder include abuse of substance, alcohol, depression, suicidal thoughts, relationship problems or other disorders."

By this time, even Bruce was taking deep breaths to try and steady his offset emotions, during somewhere of this time rain had started to fall, a thick curtain of black drawing the sky near midnight as Pepper tried to use the rain as an excuse as to why she was crying.

"Shit Tony- I…" Rhodey murmured, obviously blaming himself for never noticing.

'Why didn't I ever notice, Tony? Why didn't I notice that you were hurt like me inside- that you were just as messed up as I am?' Bruce's mind subconsciously whispered, and he shook his head, trying to get the leaking thoughts to vanish with the rain.

A crack of lightning non-Thor made lit up the area, causing the nearby surroundings to be alit shortly with a brilliant display of light before it vanished, a teeth crunching roar as it slammed into a mountain in the distance.

"We should probably go insi-" Pepper started, stopping as she froze, Bruce looking in the same moment as another flash of lightning alit the ground again.

And Tony, who stood on the porch, dripping and eying the trio with eyes filled with a glazed dull shock, and something even worse, acceptance.

He didn't move as water soaked through his thin tee shirt, or how his usually well-tamed hair clung to his face in wet shaggy clumps, and then, the lightning faded, another roar and silence.

"Tony! Tony come ba-" Rhodey shouted, lightning lighting the areas with such clarity it took Rhodey's breathe away.

Tony was gone, and Bruce trembled slightly, trying to rid himself of the image of Tony staring from the shelter of the porch overhang, safe from any raindrops falling on his face for a while.

'He must have stepped out to hear us…he must have.' Bruce's mind added, prodding his almost frozen thought process.

Yes, that would be the only reason why he had drops running down his cheeks.

Aww, poor Tony. And for clarification, no, Tony didn't freak because he felt that Bruce betrayed him- REMEMBER- He never knew that the others thought he had a mental problem!

Alright- standing polls on you guys!

( 10 votes) 1. A major part soon- as in an actual character.

( 2 Votes) 2. A major part later- in a few (dozen?) chapters

(7 votes) 3. Small appearences that you have to look out for- but makes you feel smart when you see them.

(...1 vote) 4. No mention at all.

So- as you can see, alot of you are all Loki fans, in which case, i'll be sneaking him in a few chapters, but don't worry, he's coming in SOON.

Oh- by the way to clarify for you dixiedream1nOkay, this might take a visual example, so i want you to stick your left hand out with your pinky and pointer finger. Those are your 'claws' Now, pretend you're holding something in your right hand. Then, pretend to hit your invisible 'claws' on your right hand on those of your left. That should leave enough room to make a spark that should land on your 'invisible object'

Oh- the Spiderman reference was for you, sonicxjones, As for Logan being a main character? I don't think so, it will mostly be Tony vs. The SUPER secret foes. (wink), but Logan will be there. I mostly wanted to make this story so anybody could read it, even non X-men fans.

Review!

~Oceanbreeze7