A/N This is the end, I promise. Oh there will be sequels, in fact I'm working on two right now but don't expect to have them up too soon. As of this date, this story has had the most favorites and follows of anything I've written. THANK YOU. I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope this last chapter leaves you satisfied for now until I delve into their lives again.
Bruce kissed Tony all night. They experimented with many different types of kisses; a quick peck on the cheek, a tender kiss on the lips, hot, passionate, kisses where he thought he'd run out of air. Mostly Tony was the aggressor but this time Bruce had Tony pushed against the wall, one hand gripped tightly in the playboy's hair, the other at the base of his spine pulling him closer, if it were possible. It was a desperate kiss, open mouthed with Bruce's tongue probing insistently into Tony's eager mouth. Tony hums as he runs his hands under Bruce's shirt and lightly scratches down his back. Bruce releases from the kiss with a moan and suddenly realizes he's awake and he had been dreaming. Bruce finds himself slightly out of breath and his hand in an embarrassing place if anyone were around. Even more embarrassing since it's only partially covering the hardness brought on by the dream.
Bruce decides against going back to sleep and after a quick shower heads to the lab to work. After working on some easier projects he moves on to more detailed projects because his dreams are still invading his thoughts. He was in the process of mixing chemicals together when suddenly there was a hand on his back. He tensed his back very tightly to keep his hands from jumping.
"It's just me Bruce," Tony said.
"Volatile chemicals here."
Tony began to rub Bruce's back, "And you are very tense."
"Tony stop. I need to focus, as I said before volatile chemicals." Tony reluctantly removed his hand and stepped back. Bruce finished mixing the chemicals, placed the flask on a burner and set a timer for how long it was supposed to heat. The moment Bruce finished his task Tony's hand returned to rubbing circles against his back. "Tony…"
"I've decided to start today's experiment early. I think I jumped the gun going straight to kissing, no matter how much I think you secretly enjoyed it. I thought we would go with something much more basic. Touch. Being alone all the time you haven't gotten nearly enough of it…"
"And this is going to prove what?"
"Well, l think that after you had enough touch you will be able to tell which is neutral, comforting, annoying or," Tony lightly trails his fingers down Bruce's spine causing him to shiver, "Which is sexual. You'll also know what kind you want to receive and from whom."
"And I'm supposed to figure this all out in a day."
"No, I figure a week should be sufficient." Tony smiled, "I plan on touching you a lot."
And touch Tony did, every moment he could. Be it a pat on the shoulder, trailing fingers across Bruce's hand as he reached for something, a ruffling of Bruce's hair when they talked; Tony's hands seemed to be everywhere. By the end of the day, while having a beer on the terrace, Bruce felt the need to institute some rules for the experiment.
"First," Bruce said taking a step away from Tony so he could hope to finish the sentence without being touched. "First, no touching while I'm handling anything breakable or dangerous. Second, no sneak attack touches, I'd like not to have to wrestle with the other guy. Third, no groping, palming or anything that would be considered a sexual touch…"
Tony huffed at Bruce, "I have done no such thing."
"Just being preemptive Tony."
"How am I supposed to know what you consider sexual? Maybe you got some weird erogenous zones and then I get blamed for doing something completely innocent."
"Um, well, ok how about no obvious sexual touching?"
"Fair enough. Now I have some rules for you, gamma boy."
"Oh? How are you going to have rules…"
"One, for the duration of this experiment, Pepper is held to the same rules. If I can't feel you up neither can she. And two, you have to touch back. Touch is a two way street, give and receive…. Oh and two point one, you can and must touch Pepper in front of me. I don't know why you feel the need to hide your relationship with her. I'm well aware of it, besides I wasn't that dazed the other night; I saw what you two were up to. I'm fine with it, if I wasn't you certainly would've known by now."
"I know you are okay with it, just didn't want to flaunt it in your face."
"Why not, why wouldn't I want to see my two favorite people happy? I certainly don't think I've been that chaste with Pepper in front of you."
"You're odd Tony."
"Is that news, Bruce? But in this instance I don't think I am. The world is. But whatever, you're not flaunting and I like to see you happy, end of story."
That night Bruce had a hard time falling asleep. He felt everything, the sheet, the pillowcase, the carpeting he paced back and forth on barefoot when he couldn't sleep. He wanted to go wake Tony up just to make him suffer like he was. But in the end he just stripped his bed and lay on the mattress which didn't seem to aggravate him as much. These feelings will go away once I get used to it, he thought. At least he hoped it was the case. Once he could find a way to lay perfectly still he finally fell asleep.
Tony followed Bruce's rules the next day. This relaxed Bruce enough, that by afternoon he had touched Tony a couple of times as well. They were awkward touches but Tony always gave a reassuring smile of approval and never laughed.
The next evening all three of them went out to dinner. Surely, Bruce thought, there wouldn't be any touching in public. He was wrong and it made him really tense. It was all so subtle and innocent from both Tony and Pepper, a small touch when passing the wine, when handing over a fork full of something new to try, when telling a joke, Bruce was aware of every excruciating moment.
"What's up Bruce? You look a little green around the gills," Tony inquired. "Not ragey green, more puke or bolt green."
"Didn't realize it was so obvious, it's the touching…in public…feel like everyone is looking."
"And? Are you embarrassed of Pepper…or is it me?" Bruce couldn't meet Tony's eyes "So it is me. Fine. I can accept that."
"It's not fine, and it's not you, well not all you. It's different when we are all in Stark Tower. I don't feel judged. But out here, I'm just more conscious."
"Self-conscious."
"Yes, Tony self-conscious. I mean everyone knows that you and Pepper are an item what does it look like if I'm touching her."
"But we've gone out before Bruce, just you and me," Pepper interjects.
"But always a meal and I never touched you. If anyone saw us they would assume it's just business."
"Oh, I never realized."
"And Tony…"
"You don't want people to think you are gay I get it…"
"I don't want to hurt your reputation."
Tony barks out a laugh, "That's such bullshit. There is nothing you could do to hurt my reputation; I do a damn good job of that myself. And you know what, as long as I'm no longer the merchant of death, I don't fucking care. This insecurity, embarrassment, whatever you want to call it, it's all on you. Pepper and I don't have a damn thing to do with it."
Bruce bows his head down, aimlessly moving his food around his plate not sure what to say. Pepper removes the fork from his hand putting her hands around his hand, Tony does the same to his other hand. "Look up Bruce," Pepper says.
"Yeah, lift your head up Brucey and take a nice long look around the room," Tony adds, "Is anyone looking?"
Bruce looked around the restaurant. He met a couple pair of eyes, but they weren't really looking at him, he was just caught in their scan around the room. "Not really."
"And even if they were, it wouldn't matter. Pepper is not ashamed of you and I'm not ashamed of you. You shouldn't be ashamed because I think that's what this is all about. You don't think you deserve to be cared about, to be touched. You base all who you are on the other guy. And even he deserves to be cared about. He's a fucking hero and so are you. And even if you weren't, you still deserve to be cared about and touched. Get it?"
"I'm trying to Tony."
Pepper pats his hand, "Well that's a start."
When they get back to the tower, Pepper heads to her apartment stating that she has a meeting early in the morning. "Hey Bruce, drink, terrace?" Tony asked after Pepper left.
"I think I'm going to pass Tony. I got a lot to think about and I don't think I'd be good company right now. Alcohol will only cloud my thoughts." Bruce steps forward and gives Tony a hug. "Good night, Tony, thanks for dinner. " Bruce heads off to his room while Tony just stands there in stunned silence.
After a couple glasses of scotch, Tony decides to head down to his lab because as usual he was having a hard time winding down. About two in the morning he finally felt tired and headed to his room. Tony had just dozed off when JARVIS announced a call from Nick Fury.
"This had better be good Fury…"
"You and Banner have thirty minutes to get to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s administrative building; a helicopter will bring you to the helicarrier."
"And why do I need to do this instead of sleeping?"
"I thought you were on board but I should've known better…"
"Yeah, yeah I'm on board. Sheesh, a please or a sorry to bother you at o dark thirty…"
"O dark thirty is still a couple hours away and now if you could please get you and Banner's collective asses to the helicopter in 25 minutes so we can stop an invasion that would be perfect."
"Sarcasm doesn't sound good from you Fury. Okay we'll be there." Tony threw on some clothes and headed down the hall to Bruce's room. He knocked on the door gently not wanting to startle Bruce if he had already fallen asleep. Bruce opened the door after a few seconds, already dressed in a t-shirt and sweats and a pensive look on his face.
"JARVIS was kind enough to warn me. I'm ready," Bruce says with a yawn.
"I'm not but I guess we are going anyway. Why can't invasions happen at a decent hour of the day?"
"Why can they just not happen at all?"
"Good point."
As they went down the elevator to Tony's private garage, Tony put his arm around Bruce. "Don't worry; we'll all keep an eye on the other guy. He listens to Capsicle and you know how much of a mother hen he is."
Bruce chuckled at that image, then realized the fact he could laugh before a mission was nothing short of a miracle. He reached up and rubbed Tony's hand. "Thanks."
During the ride to S.H.I.E.L.D. administrative headquarters and the subsequent ride to the helicarrier, Tony kept up an everything-but-the-mission banter with Bruce. Mostly he talked about minor projects, nothing that he cared if anyone heard about. However, every once in a while when no one was looking he would touch Bruce and ask him if he was okay.
They were the last ones to arrive to the briefing. "Stark, Banner, nice of you to join us," Fury said with his usual sarcasm. "Banner, you seem unusually calm…"
"Don't worry I'll be able to bring the other guy out when needed."
"Good. Okay let's get started, I've got tickets for the game tonight, I'd like to be able to use them."
What Fury told them made it seem like this was going to be a walk in the park. Their objective was to take out a terrorist cell with delusions of grandeur trying to invade the U.S. through an unguarded part of the Canadian border. The terrorists' target was a small town in North Dakota, where they would set up a base of operations and move forward. Fury stated the only reason that the military wasn't taking care of this is because people get a little uncomfortable about military force on American soil and that S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't as monitored.
They were split up into teams. Banner was with Rogers because everyone knew the Hulk would listen to his orders. Stark was with Thor for the shock and awe factor. Romanoff and Barton were actually going to be in Canada infiltrating the cell's base of operations while it was mostly abandoned. Bruce walked with Tony to get the Iron Man suit. "Not looking forward to the quinjet ride are you?" Tony asked.
"Well its better with Rogers than Barton or Romanoff, but still he's not immortal." Tony stopped and turned. Facing Bruce he put his hands on his shoulders. "It'll be fine. Yeah I know what happened last time you were on the carrier but it's not going to happen this time. You're more in control and we don't have a half-crazed demigod pulling people's strings."
"Loki was full-on crazy Tony."
"Okay, point taken, just don't let Thor hear you say that. Now go. We'll go out for shawarma when this is all over."
"What is it with you and shawarma?"
Things started going downhill the moment they made it their rendezvous points.
"I got bad news," Natasha's voice crackled in all their ears.
"What is it Romanoff?" Fury responded.
"Whoever gave you the intel fucked up royally." Barton growled into his com.
"He's right. If we can believe the plans we found, troop number and weapons were greatly underestimated."
"By how much?" Rogers asked.
"At least twice as many troops. The weapons, it's not just the amount but also the quality. Apparently someone has been hoarding this stuff for years just for this occasion," Romanoff responds.
"Meaning?" Rogers replied.
"It's old Stark Industries tech. It seems like they picked up the whole catalog Tony." Romanoff replied half apologetically.
"Fuck me," Tony whispered over the com.
"I hope Banner had his Wheaties this morning," Barton interjected "Whole lot of heavy duty shit that needs to be smashed. We'll be there as soon as we can. Cap find me a highpoint, I think I'm going to be going through a lot of explosive arrows today."
Fury never made it to the game. It was touch and go for a while but the enemy only made it far enough on to American soil to be prosecuted under its laws. Everyone was at the very least bruised including Bruce who had reverted back while still about 10 feet off the ground; the battle had completely burned through other guy's energy. Everyone took air transportation back to S.H.I.E.L.D. for a mercifully short debriefing and then headed back to their respective places for much needed rest.
There wasn't much talk on the way home; both of them were just that tired. It was only when Tony went to shift the car gears that he realized that Bruce's hand is on his thigh. He gives it a quick, reassuring, but tired pat, shift gears and continues back to the tower. Getting off the elevator, they drift off to their separate rooms without a word.
For hours Tony attempted sleep but was kept tossing and turning by the events of the day. He was irritated; it had been a long day and an exhausting battle. The fact that most of the enemy's weapons were old Stark tech was just the icing on the craptacular cake. He contemplated going to his lab and work but decided against that. As tired and distracted as he felt, he was sure something would end up exploding and he hurt too much already. Just as Tony finally starts to drift off, there is a knock at his door. He was about to tell Pepper, because who else could it be, to go away when he heard the tired pitiful voice from the other side of the door.
"Tony, um, it's Bruce, I can't sleep, do you mind if I come in?"
Tony couldn't be mad at something that sounded so pathetic. He climbed out of bed and padded across the room and opened the door. There stood Bruce, dirty, disheveled, and still wearing the borrowed clothes from earlier. Tony made a mental note to talk to Fury with about making sure there was always a change of clothing available for Bruce, which actually fit, on all missions. The least they could do to repay him for his work is keep something in his size in storage. He realized he had drifted off in thought and Bruce was still waiting patiently, albeit barely standing up, waiting for Tony to say something.
"Of course, come in." Tony says, stepping out of the way and going back to sit on the bed. Bruce closes the door and follows but stops and stands, shoulders slumped, at the edge of the bed. Tony pats the bed for Bruce to join him.
"I'm filthy; I wouldn't want to mess up your bed."
Tony points to the bathroom, "Then go take a shower you filthy little monkey. Then we can talk about what's got you still up after what has got to be the most tiring mission since the Chitauri." Bruce hesitates then turns toward the bedroom door, "I'll go get a change of clothes from your room. You just go take that shower. I can smell you from here."
Bruce does as he told and Tony heads to Bruce's room and returns several minutes later with something he thinks Bruce would sleep comfortably in. He places the items beside him on the bed because he doesn't want to startle Bruce by taking them into the bathroom. He could see how tense Bruce was and he didn't want to risk a second hulking out in less than 24 hours. Tony dozed off while waiting but snapped awake when he heard the click of the bathroom door opening. By the time his eyes adjusted there was Bruce, damp with a towel around his waist and another towel drying his hair.
"Decided to keep my clothes out here so you could see me naked?"
Tony shook his head, "I wish I was awake enough to be that devious. No, just didn't want to startle you by bringing them in there." Tony takes a moment to look over Bruce from head to toe, giving an appreciative nod now and then. Then he gives Bruce the most salacious smile his exhausted body can muster, "I think this is my reward for being thoughtful." He takes his hand and rubs it along Bruce's chest. Bruce is startled and tenses up at first but then begins to relax to the touch. "I never realized what a hairy little monkey you are."
"Tony you've seen me naked before…"
"But I'm usually too worried about whether or not you are okay to appreciate the scenery. And I haven't seen you completely naked; thanks to really those resilient pants you seem to wear. However," Tony stares poignantly at the towel, "If you would like to change that, I assure you I would be most appreciative."
Bruce stammers as he grabs his clothes, heading to the bathroom, "I should probably get dressed." Bruce returns in a few minutes and joins Tony on the bed.
"The other guy keeping you up?"
Bruce nods, "He's pacing the walls it seems. Battle still seems to have him all revved up. If I can't relax it just makes it so much harder to keep him caged."
Tony touches Bruce's face, turning it toward him, "Well your eyes and skin are still the right color, so you are doing something right."
"I guess, just feel like I'm holding on by a thread here."
Tony puts his hand on Bruce's thigh giving it a reassuring pat, "Anything I can do to help?"
Bruce looks away, "I was wondering if I could sleep in here tonight?"
"Pepper's apartment too far away?"
"It's not that. It's just nice having someone who knows and can understand what went on out there… and besides if the big guy shows up, you always have the suit to protect you. Actually this is probably a bad idea, you won't be able to get it in time, maybe I should go to SH…"
Tony puts his arm around Bruce, holding him in place, "You are not going anywhere. You just need some relaxing sleep and what better place than here. Big comfortable bed, moderate temperature, calming music, JARVIS something classical and soothing please, and a sleeping companion complete with night light who promises to be on their best behavior." Tony stands up and pulls the covers back. "Now get in, it's been way to long a day and I'm actually looking forward to sleep."
Bruce climbs in and turns to face away from Tony who has moved and gotten in the bed from the other side. Part of him is still embarrassed that he needed to ask, but he also knows he can't calm himself down right now and keeping the other guy in is more important than anything. Besides over the past few days he's gotten so used to touch that he craves it now. He wonders if he can make himself ask Tony to touch him again.
It seems Tony was able to read his mind as he suddenly feels fingers against his back. Small trailing touches at first then small circles over his shoulder blades and down his spine. It's sort of relaxing but the material of his shirt is irritating him, putting him on edge. He is a lot more wound up then he thought. Bruce sits up and takes off his shirt. "It was bunching up," he tells Tony as he lies back down. Tony's immediately returns to rubbing his back.
"So you enjoy me touching you?"
"Yes," Bruce breathes out, relaxing against Tony's warm touch.
"Better than Pepper?"
Bruce turn's toward Tony, "I thought this wasn't a competition?"
"It's not, strictly a scientific question."
"I seriously doubt that. But to answer your question, it's not better or worse, just different."
"But enjoyable."
"Yes, Tony very enjoyable and…" Bruce's mind drifts back to earlier and a tremble goes through him.
"Bruce? Are you ok?"
Bruce turns back away from Tony, "I couldn't sleep; I turned on the TV, trying to relax… I saw the footage…"
Tony gives Bruce's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "That wasn't all Hulk damage Bruce. It wasn't even mostly him. Stark Industries' battle weapons are very destructive. Apparently there is a downside to genius."
"Not your fault. You don't make them anymore and you certainly wouldn't have sold them to that group."
"You don't really know the old me," Tony sighed, "I just convinced myself when I was done it was over, but they are still out there…Bruce?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I hold you?"
Bruce lets out a breath, "Please."
Tony scooted closer and put an arm around Bruce's waist and nestling his head against the top of Bruce's back. Bruce found the coolness of the arc reactor's metal ring against his skin soothing and the weight of the arm around his waist grounded him.
"Safe." Bruce says as he puts a hand on top of Tony's.
"What?"
"Touch. Pepper's touch makes me feel cared about, maybe even loved. Your touch…" Bruce yawns, "Your touch makes me feel safe. Probably funny coming from a guy with a monster inside…" The last words drift out with another yawn and a few moments later, Bruce is asleep.
Tony focuses on the steady rise and fall of Bruce's stomach and then tension of the battle finally starts to leave him. He thinks that it's probably safe to end the experiment early. He doesn't know how Bruce feels about him but definitely knows he trusts him a lot more. He also realizes how much it's going to hurt if after all of this Bruce rejects him in the end. As much as Tony tried to make this all about seduce and conquer, he knows his heart has definitely become involved. Higher stakes hopefully higher payoff he thinks. Tony sighs, places a small kiss on the back of Bruce's neck, closes his eyes and falls asleep.
When Tony awoke the next morning he was laying on his back and alone in bed. He turned over in the direction of the bathroom hoping to hear movement inside but all was silent except for the classical music he had JARVIS put on the night before.
"You can turn that crap off now. I want Rammstein, just play it until I tell you differently." Tony yanks open drawers and slams through his closet depositing clothes on the bed before stomping off to take a shower. Twenty minutes in a steamy shower has done nothing to improve Tony's mood as he storms back into his bedroom to retrieve his clothes, Du Hast blaring over the speakers. "JARVIS, where's Banner?"
"Outside your door." Tony looks up at the door just in time to see it swing open. Bruce leans down to retrieve the tray he had sat on the floor.
"Oh you already up I see," Bruce sets the tray on the nightstand and hands Tony a cup of coffee. "I figured you would need your favorite food groups, sugar and caffeine. There are more donuts in the kitchen."
"Thanks," Tony said a little guiltily. He has JARVIS lower the music as he quickly downs a donut and finishes off the coffee. "I should probably get dressed." Tony reaches to pick up his clothing when he is stopped by Bruce's hand.
"Tony, I need to tell you something. I would like to do it now before I change my mind." A brief look of horror crosses Tony's face before he schools it back to neutral.
"Leaving again?"
"No Tony, I'm not leaving."
Tony lets out a breath, "Well that's good. So, gamma boy, what's up?"
Bruce licks his lips and looks at Tony but then glances away. It was like he was seeing Tony in a whole new light. His slightly messy hair, the earnest look of his eyes when he was truly listening, and those lips, it was hard for Bruce not to skip the speech and just devour him. So he looked down, Tony's smooth chest even marred by the arc reactor was still too tempting. He didn't dare to look down further but instead folded his hands and his lap and stared at them. "I've been so stupid." Bruce said with a huff. "I've been looking at everything as black and white, either or, one or the other. I'm a scientist for fuck's sake. I know there are variants, variables, exceptions, whatever you want call them. I just kept ignoring them, causing everyone grief in the process."
"I'm not quite following…"
"I want you Tony. I want to be with you."
Bruce didn't see the open mouthed stare Tony had on his face for a solid minute. Tony took one of Bruce's hands into his, "It's kind of hard to believe that when you won't look at me."
"I can't."
"Why? I don't want you to say this because you feel you somehow owe me or some stupid shit like that. I don't need pity love."
"It's not that at all Tony. Believe me; I've thought about this a lot. It's not obligation or pity; it's not fear of you wanting me to leave. Once I stopped telling myself that I couldn't possibly feel this way I realized how much I really wanted to be close to you. Not like a friend, not like a team mate, I wanted you as much if not more than I want Pepper. Pepper makes me feel good, don't get me wrong, and I love any time I spend with her, and she's incredibly sexy."
"So am I."
Bruce chuckled. Then he timidly reached out touched Tony's stomach, whose muscles twitched a little, causing Bruce to take a shuddering breath and pull his hand back. "Yes, you are Tony. But it's not just that. When I'm around you things just seem better, you somehow make me feel comfortable, calm, so…" the word just died on his tongue.
"Safe."
Bruce sighed, "Yes. Incredibly unromantic I know."
Tony puts his hand under Bruce's chin and lifts it up. "Between experiments and saving the world we live incredibly dangerous lives. Safe is incredibly romantic. And the fact that anyone feels safe around me is downright sexy." Bruce turned away. "Now why can't you look at me?"
"Cause I want to kiss you so badly. Touch you, hold you, I just want to explore every part that makes you Tony. But my heart is already beating so fast just getting up the nerve to say all this and my control…"
Tony puts a single finger up to Bruce's lips. "Lie back gamma boy. JARVIS play something relaxing please." Bruce lays down and Tony lays beside him, head on his shoulder, holding his wrist with his hand counting the beats of his heart. Bruce closes his eyes and focuses on the music and how safe he feels. When his pulse has calmed down greatly, Tony lifts to head to find Bruce staring at him. Then Bruce leans forward to kiss his new boyfriend. It raises his pulse, but not enough to worry about. Next they proceed to touch.
