Disclaimer: I do not own the Marvel universe at all, kthnx.

Warnings: two men in a relationship together, unethical practices, language, etc, etc.

Author's Note: Welcome to Part 3. So far, we've seen what the world after the Avengers movie is like in my brain, and we've seen Tony and Bruce fall for one another. What else could be in store? Get ready for a rocky ride!

BITTER SIRENS

PART III: BROKEN PROMISES

CHAPTER I: CRASHING DOWN

For the first time in what felt like years, his hands were still. His fingers did not twitch with the need for constant movement, stretching for something to occupy them. Tony stared at his hands, resting palms down on the metal table. He did not feel the immediate urge to pick up a tool, to contort and bend metal to his will, to scrawl out countless equations or tweak and tailor designs.

For once, his hands were still.

Tony walked around his workshop, looking over all the projects scattered about, each at different levels of completion. The parts were there, ready to be made, fitted into place, tested, but right now, he did not move for any of them. Right now, he was merely taking stock. And wondering.

This was… different. Tony pursed his lips, standing near the wall, where he could survey everything at once. Nothing called to him. Nothing begged him to come and work.

"Sir, Miss Potts is requesting entry."

Tony sat down on a chair, arms crossed as he stared blankly across the mechanical dunes of his workshop. He would trudge for days through the desert of half-cocked ideas to find that one oasis, that one breakthrough, the completed project, but right now, his attention was divided.

The afterglow made everything soft around the edges, hazy. He couldn't see any of the projects clearly right now, even if he tried.

"Let her in."

The door clicked as it unlocked. Pepper immediately came inside, clipboard under her arm. He'd offered to give her a tablet, but she insisted upon doing everything the old fashioned way. She stopped a few paces from him, fiddling with her clipboard for a moment before finally leveling it before her.

"You were at the board meeting this morning." Pepper stared at the page before her, pen poised over it, ready to strike. It reminded him of a venomous snake. "From what I hear, it went very well."

Tony could hear the surprise. He glanced over with a frown, arms still crossed. "What?"

"It was at eight in the morning, you were more than civil, they even called you charming. And perfectly groomed. And sober." Pepper gave him an accusatory glance, then looked back down at the clipboard again.

"What?" Tony swiveled on his chair to more fully look at her. She was standing as stiff as a statue, and not just from the three inch spike heels. He knew her well enough that he could tell when she was irritated. Or outright furious.

Pepper didn't explain, pen slowly scanning down the paper, whatever that was. He assumed it was a schedule.

"Tomorrow you have lunch with the mayor. Also, the sitting president of M.I.T. was hoping he could have a phone conference with you sometime in the afternoon."

"Schedule it."

Pepper wrote something quickly on her page, lips still pulled in a disapproving line. He could practically feel the disapproval radiating off her in waves. It was making him uncomfortable.

"Pep, what?"

She tapped her pen on the clipboard, her carefully pulled expression bending into a small frown.

"I didn't tell you about the board meeting."

Tony gave a little shrug. "I know when they are."

"Usually I have to remind you, constantly, and even then you might miss it."

"I don't see your point."

Pepper let out a little huff, mostly restrained, then stared down at her clipboard even harder. Her knuckles were turning white.

Tony stood, making another slow round of his workshop, looking for something, anything, begging to be worked on. If Pepper had anything pressing, she already would have said it. She knew the way out.

"Director Fury wants a meeting with you."

Or not.

Tony stopped next to the partial arm piece of what would be the Mark VIII. Fury wanted a private meeting was never good. He took a deep breath, shutting his eyes. "When?"

"As soon as possible."

Tony hung his head. As far as his schedule went, he had no other obligations for the day. He wanted to have a private dinner with Bruce, but other than that…

"Schedule it."

Pepper turned, stalking out of the room.

So much for basking in the afterglow for a little while longer.

0

"What are you doing?" Natasha paused in the hallway, a hand resting lightly on the wall beside her. She quirked her head slightly, taking in the transformed common room. Gaudy banners hung on the walls, bright colors with a false metallic sheen. The room was decorated for a going away party.

Steve stepped down from the chair he was standing on, a box of thumb tacks in one hand, half a banner in the other. He grinned, looking down with just the slightest flush to his cheeks.

"Well, I…" Steve went to rub the back of his neck, almost dropping the dangling banner. He lunged for it, catching the end before it pulled up all his hard work. Natasha sighed, stepping over to help him. He gave a small smile, stepping back up on the chair. "Thor's going back to Asgard tomorrow and I thought we should do something for him."

"That's nice." Natasha tried to smile, but she knew it wouldn't reach her eyes. That was fine. Steve was gullible. "Is everyone invited?"

"Of course."

"Have you told anyone yet?"

Steve kept pinning up the last of the banner, not answering. She quirked a red brow, pursing her lips. "You should probably do that. We all have busy schedules."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"No problem." Natasha handed up the last bit of the banner, heading back into the kitchen, her original intent.

0

He sat there, perfectly still, elbows on the arm rests. Slowly, he put the tips of his fingers together, bouncing them off one another. The activity of the S.H.I.E.L.D. floor was only a muffled din beyond the door, making the silence in the office even more overwhelming. Tony frowned, keeping his gaze level, staring straight at Fury. He still wasn't sure if he should stare at the eye or the patch, so he opted for both.

"Tell me, Stark, have you reconsidered my offer?"

Tony leaned back in his chair, bringing one of his legs up. He drummed on his exposed sock for a moment, not breaking the stare-down. He absolutely refused to be the first one to look away.

"What offer?"

"Don't play dumb, Stark." Fury leaned forward, leather chair creaking loudly. Or maybe that was just his jacket. "We are looking to reopen Phase 2—"

"On that note," Tony stood sharply, smoothing out his suit as he did so, "I'm leaving."

"You haven't even—"

"I heard enough." Tony redid one button on his blazer, tugging at the lapels a little to straighten it all out. "I do not make weapons anymore, Fury. Nor does Stark Industries."

"Stark—"

"Give me a call if you want to convert the helicarrier over to arc reactor power or something." Tony spun on his heel, sauntering straight for the door.

"The U.N. and Nato aren't happy with the Avengers Initiative. They feel like it isn't enough, if another threat did come."

Tony paused, hand on the doorknob. He wasn't expecting Fury to surrender any information, much less an inkling of S.H.I.E.L.D. inner workings and motivations. The man's secrets had secrets. But there it was.

"As I already said, nuclear deterrent isn't the best route."

Fury sat back in his chair again, arms crossed. Tony could only see the man's frown from the corner of his eye and it was giving him the chills.

"We done here?"

Fury let out a sigh, giving a little wave. "How about you call me if your hands get antsy for a little destruction again?"

Tony yanked the door open, storming out.