AN: Hello all! I've been away from this fic for far too long. This chapter is too short for my liking, but I wanted to get out the first part of the team's reactions to Tony and Bruce's newly found coupleness. The story is wrapping up. Only a chapter or two more, so leave some comments about what you want to see. I plan on writing about the party. I had someone say they wanted a date chapter, so if enough people agree with that, I will write one! I promise the wait for the next chapter won't be this long. I love you all so very very much and I am touched by all of your responses. I can't write to save my life, and yet you guys hang in there and read it all! You are the best. ~Heather
Tony followed an exhausted Bruce into the conference room on the Helicarrier where the rest of the team was gathered.
The moment they entered the room, all eyes were on them, observing the differences that all but Natasha had been aware of before. Tony noticed the scrutiny and particularly saw the smirk on Agent Romanoff's face.
"What?" Tony asked, "What did we miss?"
"How long?" Clint asked smiling, his eyes moving from Bruce to Tony.
"How long what?" Tony said. Bruce stood quietly next to Tony, watching the events unfold.
"We figured out your secret," Clint said archly.
"Oh, really? I am a man of many secrets. Which one?" Tony smirked back, wondering if the team was more perceptive than he gave them credit for.
"Bruce and your secret! We know you are together!" Clint clarified. Natasha noted the rosy blush that bloomed on Bruce's face, while Tony's face remained a mask. He was remarkably good at that, she thought. Must be all the experience with the paparazzi.
"You are, aren't you?" Steve asked, suddenly doubtful and concerned that they possibly made the situation awkward.
But Tony made eye contact with Bruce, as if asking for permission. At Bruce's smile and nod, Tony's mask broke into a huge grin.
"We were going to tell you guys right after the battle! Promise!" Tony exclaimed. When Bruce edged closer to brush his shoulder companionably against Tony's, the team thought they had never seen Tony look happier.
"Son of Stark, son of Banner! I am happy for you both! Embrace me!" Thor grabbed both of them and brought them into a tight hug.
"Umm, thanks Thor," Bruce said, muffled slightly because he was crushed against Thor's chest.
"We must celebrate!" Thor said, finally releasing the geniuses.
Tony smiled, "Well, I sure know how to party! But," Tony said, glancing over at Bruce, "how about just the team?" Bruce looked at Tony and his expression was soft with gratefulness, a small arching of his lips told Tony he was pleased that the former partier was doing this for both of them.
"So when did this happen?" Steve asked.
At this question, Bruce rubbed his neck with his hand and mumbled, "Well, uh, yesterday, really."
"By yesterday, do you mean last night?" Clint asked. The hint of innuendo was not lost on Tony.
"No. I want this settled right now. It's not like that. Bruce is not…he's not…" Tony trailed off. Looking at Bruce, he shifted his hand over to lace their fingers together – a show of affection that he'd never exhibited with anyone. "He is so much more than that," Tony said, turning to face the team, determinedly staring them down.
"I didn't mean anything by it, buddy," Clint said.
Relaxing, Tony replied, "It's cool. Don't worry about it," and slapped a hand on Clint's shoulder in a friendly fashion.
Suddenly, Clint began to laugh. "Oh wow. Oh guys, I just remembered something I heard over the comm." He had to pause because he was laughing too hard. "The Hulk told Tony to stay."
Tony's face began to color in an uncharacteristic blush.
"He told Tony to stay like…like a dog!"
Clint and Thor dissolved into noisy laughter, while Steve attempted to quiet the laughs escaping from his mouth. Even Natasha was smiling. Bruce looked on in shock, jaw dropping slightly. "He did…what? I might have to see footage of that," he said, beginning to laugh, before stopping mid-chuckle at the embarrassed look on Tony's face.
"Yeah, you were a tad bit overprotective, Bruce," Tony admitted.
"I would say I was sorry, but I'm not," Bruce said, silently communicating the rest with a look at Tony. If it means you'll still be here, I'd do it again. And again. Tony squeezed his hand in thanks and understanding.
"What are we sorry about?" Coulson said, entering the room. His eyes passed over Tony and Bruce holding hands without any change in his composure. "Fury will be here shortly," he added pointedly at the couple, suddenly smiling kindly at them.
The scientists took the hint and broke apart, sitting in chairs next to each other. It's not that they didn't want Fury to know – and he was sure to find out – but they didn't really feel like it was any of his business right now.
The rest of the team sat as well, just as Fury walked in.
He stood at the front of the room and spoke, debriefing them apparently, but Tony barely paid any attention. The moment he sat down, he took Bruce's hand in his again and placed it palm up on his knee, underneath the table. While Fury talked, Tony ran his fingers along Bruce's hand. Though he had never been one for holding hands, it felt good to lavish attention upon Bruce. The recipient of his caresses would occasionally bend his fingers to catch Tony's hand and return the gesture. It was soothing.
Once Tony deemed Fury was done explaining that they had no intelligence on Loki or the cause of the attack, he decided to voice his idea.
"I have a theory," he said. At a tired motion from Fury, Tony released Bruce's hand with a gentle squeeze, stood, and stepped back from the table.
"After you guys left and the big guy went back into hibernation, so to speak, I had a few visitors. It seems either we missed three of these red devils, or they were sent after the main invasion. They arrived right as Bruce came back to us. Now, I think this isn't a coincidence. I think Loki sent those guys with orders to capture Bruce. The main invasion was a distraction from some other goal, but Loki knew we would fight these guys, and he thought we would leave the Hulk to transform on his own. It was a pretty half-assed plan, probably a last minute decision, but I think he wanted to capture Bruce while he was vulnerable and without our protection. Loki would want to get his revenge on Bruce for what he did to Loki in New York. Now, he didn't predict that I would never leave him alone and unconscious on the battleground. Unfortunately for those attempted kidnappers, Bruce wasn't unprotected. But it's just my theory. We won't know until we get to chat with Loki. I look forward to it," Tony finished.
Throughout his speech, his voice became fiercer with rage and he paced the room, ending with his hands on the back of Bruce's chair. Bruce leaned his head against one of Tony's hands and Tony came back into himself, abruptly returning to his seat.
Steve had been nodding during Tony's monologue. "I think you're right. We'll search more thoroughly next time. I shouldn't have left you to fend for yourself!" Steve said, berating himself slightly.
"I believe my brother would have had them appear in the city later. I am sure they were not there when we left," Thor reassured the Captain.
"Did we have any sightings of Loki?" Natasha asked. Secretly under the table, her thigh was pressed flush against Clint's and her hand was resting on his thigh, which if anyone had been observing, probably explained why Clint had gone slightly rigid in his chair.
"Not yet. We'll continue looking into Loki's whereabouts. For now, Avengers, get some rest."
The second Fury left, Tony turned to the rest of the team and Coulson. "So…party in Malibu, anyone? You can all stay over as long as you want." Clint grinned devilishly in agreement, while Thor boomed his approval. Steve shrugged his shoulders, knowing it was useless to refuse and also sure he would enjoy himself anyways.
"Oh, I'm there," Natasha said. Stark always did have the best vodka.
"I'm sure Director Fury would like me to keep an eye on you," Coulson said, internally ecstatic at the chance to hang out with Steve and the rest of the Avengers, as if he belonged. Which, though he was too modest to admit it, he did belong. He was a hero, just like them. Even more importantly, the Avengers looked up to Coulson, even more than he looked up to them.
Leaving the conference room, they all walked to the hangar and onto the SHIELD jet provided to take them home, chatting amiably with each other. At times, Tony would use his hands to emphasize what he was saying, but his hand would always find its way right back into Bruce's.