Thanks for everyone's support. I would especially like to give a shout out to two people. First, jivvin, who gave me a better translation for the Russian part last chapter, which I have changed. And second, to Pip4, who told me about this song by Skillet, called 'It's not me it's you,' which really describes Bruce's relationship with both his father and Ross well (and listening to it really helped my write the chapter) Also wanted to thank Pip4 for putting up with having a conversation with me! So Thanks! And thanks to all you reviewers!

Also, I went to the movies a while ago, and came early, so I saw an extended Iron Man 3 trailer. There was one line that The Mandarin says that really struck me. "I'll give you a choice—do you want an empty life, or a meaningful death?" Does this strike anyone else? It really got my brain thinking…..

Also used the song "Demons" by Imagine Dragons to write this chapter. Really great song to describe Bruce! Sorry for my rambling…..

Discliamer- I do not own the Avengers. *waaaaaaaa*

Warnings- The usual- effects of torture, nightmares, feels(like I promised), vulnerable!Bruce, and, um…IDK

Chapter 25- You Know That We're Worth It

Tony had not slept ever since they had gotten Bruce, which had been two days. Tony had gone without sleep for much longer periods of time, but this was different. He was 'keeping watch' over his friend, and would only leave to go to the bathroom. But there was reasoning behind it.

Tony had been lucky in life.

Ok, so maybe he hadn't had the best dad ever, but as a child, he really got everything he had ever wanted. All throughout high school and MIT, he had girlfriends. He never really 'loved' them, but, hey, better than nothing. And as an adult, he was America's top weapons producer and a billionaire. Even now, he had the team. And whenever he was hurt, Pepper was by his side. He had Pepper. Clint and Natasha had each other. But Bruce had no one. That was when Tony decided he would be Bruce's 'someone.'

Thor walked in silently and sat down in a chair next to Tony. After a couple minutes of silence, Thor spoke up.

"I have come to relieve you of your duty."

Tony rubbed a hand over his face, trying to look a little more alive. "I'm fine Thor, you don't have to do that."

"But I wish to. Asgardians always watch over their fallen warriors. It is a sort of vigil. When Father went into the Odin-sleep, I was bound to Earth, and I felt badly that I had not been there for him. I will not do the same with out brother-in-arms in his time of need. And friend Stark, I do believe you might be in need of rest and sustenance."

Tony cast a longing look at Bruce's pale form on the bed. He couldn't leave Bruce. He couldn't.

"I have already spoken to the doctor; he said Dr. Banner will not awake for a couple more hours," Thor said.

"Alright," Tony replied, however reluctant. He stood up, wincing at how stiff his back was. "I'm gonna take a two-hour nap. But if he wakes, no, even if he stirs, I want JARVIS to tell me immediately, got it?"

"Of course."

"Ok," Tony said. "You sure?"

"Yes."

"Positive?"

"Yes Man of Iron, now go rest."

"Alright, touchy touchy."

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Thor hadn't moved a muscle. Not one. He just watched Bruce, contemplating…..stuff.

Did Loki do this for the Allfather? Was he there? Or was he letting the enemy within the palace, while my father slept, unable to do anything?

The Doctor had always been kind to Thor. Even if he and the Hulk weren't the closest buddies, they were still a team. He could feel it when he was fighting, and he was sure the rest of the team could too. It was more than a mutual understanding between all the superheroes; it was a friendship that just seemed to hover in the air. When they all were fighting, it was I got you're back.

When one of them was having a rough day, they would all help the person, even if in the smallest ways, because that was I won't say that I totally get it because I don't, but I 'll try.

And when they all would have dinner together and watch a movie, all relaxed after a long day, it was so this is what a family feels like. Because in reality, many of them had never had a real family to begin with.

Thor was still confused about this new world. Bruce would always explain things to he and Steve, and for that, he was grateful. It was hard to come to a new realm with different customs and try to know everything. Of course, Jane and Darcy had explained some stuff to him, and living with the team helped, but there was one thing he didn't understand, even though it existed in every realm.

How could some people be so cruel?

Yes, there were people like that everywhere, but seeing his friend almost dead for no good reason brought pure disgust to Thor. This 'General Ross' had practically killed their friend just because he was unique. It wasn't like Bruce had asked for the Hulk, but he dealt with it without any complaints. He dealt with the Hulk better than anyone else in the world could, and without the slightest sign of discomfort. (Well, he would take a whole bottle of Advil when he had a headache, but who could blame him? Tony Stark probably had enough money to buy the Advil Company forty times over, so no one cared. )

Thor had not known very much about the Doctor when they fought to save Manhattan. All he knew was that this man specialized in something called 'gamma radiation,' was hiding in third world countries, and could unleash a monster that might render an Asgaridan unable to walk for many days. He then later learned how Bruce had, first off, become the Hulk when pushing a teenager out of the way of a gamma bomb. That in itself was a feat worthy of great praise. And then how the doctor had been in these poor countries not only hiding from the military, but helping the people there at the same time.

And although Thor would never fully understand it, the doctor was funny. It was in a shy, witty way, and most of the time Thor wouldn't actually get the jokes, but they made everyone else laugh, and that was fine with him. They would just come out of nowhere, and sometimes it was just good timing or a funny remark, but he would have the Black Widow cracking up, and that was quite a feat. There would be times where he would banter around with Tony, and no one else really got those jokes, but Tony would smile, with a real smile and not his fake one. And when he would laugh….it was real as well. Tony Stark was mega-famous. Of course he had different masks he put on, including his smile and laugh, but when they were real…. it was amazing. Only Bruce could get him to open up like that.

And goodness, even Hulk showed signs of Bruce. They were so alike, yet different. When Hulk would fight, Thor could almost see a flash of brown in the otherwise green eyes. And when Hulk would smile (and that really only happened if someone told him to SMASH), Thor could see a hint of Bruce's mischievous grin.

It was quite a sight.

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Tony was now sitting back by Bruce's still unmoving form. He had to admit, after a short nap, shower, and a sandwich, he felt much better. But it didn't fill the burning hole in his chest on how he wanted to killkillkillkillkillkill Ross.

He would even if he died trying.

Then Bruce started to stir.

Tony instantly focused his eyes on Bruce. Bruce had shifted his head to the right, and Tony noticed he was clutching the sheets with white knuckles, but his eyes remained closed. Then a slight groaning came fro the back of his throat, and even through the eyelids, Tony could see Bruce's eyes moving frantically.

"Bruce?" Tony asked.

Bruce was murmuring incoherently, and his eyes were squeezed shut tightly. His heart monitor was starting to pick up, each beat faster than the last, as well as his breathing.

"Ngghh," he muttered. "No…..pleaseshl….stophg…" The words were slowly becoming clearer. "No more…I won't…..Ican't…don'tpleasedon't…"

Tony got out of his chair and sat on the edge of Brue's bed. He put a hand on his shoulder, lightly trying to break his friend out from his dream. "C'mon Bruce, wake up!"

Bruce was now thrashing around, the murmuring becoming much louder. "No..please…STOP…..Ican'twon'tnoplease."

Tony shook Bruce harder, and his eyes snapped open, revealing a brown with a tinge of green. Bruce backed up to where the bed and wall met, putting his hands up in front of his face as if to throw a punch.

"Please….nomore…pl…I….can't….hurts…Betty….help." His eyes were open, yet unseeing. He was clearly still in his dream, and it broke Tony's heart to see his friend, no, brother, so vulnerable and afraid. "Please make it stop…..I'll….do anything….can't…it…..no….I'm dying….. need….Tony…."

That made Tony's heart stop. When Bruce was tortured, was he calling for Tony to save him? It was insane that Bruce had to be afraid of something, someone, who should have never played a part in his life. It was sickening.

"Bruce, come on! It's just a dream! You're safe; I'm here. Tony, I'm Tony, remember? Tony, and Natasha, Clint, Thor, Steve, and Big Green, remember? Come on Bruce; please wake up. Please," Tony shook Bruce on the shoulders more roughly, causing Bruce to flinch throughout his nightmare. .

Then it stopped.

For the first time through the whole ordeal, Bruce stopped thrashing and looked Tony in the eye. Then Bruce quickly took in his surroundings, and his eyes flew to the bedside table. There, on the edge, was the necklace with the ring through it. Bruce kept on staring at it as if in a trance, and Tony wasn't sure why. Maybe he would ask Bruce when the man was a little more…stable.

"Bruce, you with me?" Bruce nodded weakly, body visibly shaking. He placed his head in his hands. "Oh thank god," the scientist muttered. For what seemed like years, it felt like he was back there with Ross and the needles and guns and drugs…..

Then Bruce was suddenly wrapped up in Tony's arms, and he smelled like shampoo, aftershave, engineer oil, and just Tony. The Arc was nestled between the two chests, its gentle hum calming and warm even though the metal surrounding it was cool to the touch. Bruce burrowed his head into Tony's broad shoulder, and Tony could feel him still shaking. He gently rubbed his hand soothingly on Bruce's back, speaking in low, soft tones.

"It's ok, I'm here. I gotcha."

"Oh my god Tony, I'm so sorry." Ok, now Tony was confused, and angry at Bruce for apologizing for Lordknowswhat.

"What the heck are you talking about?"

"It was all my fault… I got attached when I knew I shouldn't."

"Bruce, what in god's name are you talking about?" Tony said, still holding onto the man.

"I got at-attached to you, and because of it…Ross to-took you."

Tony felt his heart sink. Bruce was the one all battered up, and he was apologizing! "Bruce, you listen to me right now, that was not your fault. Besides, Ross barely touched me."

"That's a lie a-and we both know it. I saw the Arc, Tony, and that was not nothing."

"Listen, I'm fine alright? You're the one who needs to rest and stop apologizing. Now, if you don't ask me asking, and it's totally fine if you don't feel like answering, but whose necklace is that?"

"Betty's. Ross said she was wearing it when she died. That was the ring I gave her." Tony was looking at Bruce carefully, because he found it slightly suspicious that Bruce said that like he was talking about the weather. There was no emotion, no feeling, no remorse….

"Bruce, you can stop acting, you know."

Bruce threw questioning glance at Tony. "What?"

"You can stop acting," Tony said simply. "You can stop acting like it's all right; stop acting stronger than you really are. If Pepper died, I would still be in bed moping and remaining dead to the world. It's human; you can't just ignore or hide your emotions."

"I'm not human," Bruce said.

"We are not going over this aga…."

"I break the Law of Conservation of Mass," Bruce interrupted, as slight smile on his lips.

"Ok, you got me there. But really, I'm trying to have a serious conversation for once in my life. NO using science as an excuse."

Bruce stared at Tony, letting out a small chuckle. "Really Tony? Because I remember Pepper screaming at you asking how you managed to 'blow the lab up and what excuse you had to be so incredibly stupid?!,' and you said, 'because science!'."

Tony suddenly felt the urge to face palm. "You really are something, you and your wit. No one put that in your job description. 'Dr. Robert Bruce Banner- incredibly smart, able to turn into an enormous green rage monster, and equipped with a wit that is so sharp it could slice a person open."

Bruce internally cringed. He really disliked being called 'Robert.' The only person who had ever called him by his real name was his father, well, when he wasn't calling Bruce other things.

Tony immediately watched as Bruce's face paled at being called Robert. Then it clicked.

"Sorry. I wasn't thinking. I get it," Tony said, eyes slightly cast downwards. "I can't stand it when someone calls me Anthony. Only my dad did that, and he wasn't someone to really be proud of."

Then it hit Bruce like an anvil. He had never heard anyone call Tony 'Anthony.' But somewhere deep down in his chest, it made Bruce glad that someone understood, that someone actually got how much a name could mean.

"So," Tony said, trying to lighten up the mood, "you're stuck on bed rest for at least a month, but judging last time that happened, you won't be following that. I will make you stay in bed for at least a week and a half, if I think you're ready to leave."

"Oh, thank you for your concern Doctor Tony," Bruce retarded, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"Woah now, I just might to raise your minimum time limit Patient Bruce. But really, watcha wanna do?"

"Honestly? I'd kinda like to play chess."

"Really? Alright. I'll go get a board. I know we have one somewhere around this dump. Be warned though, I'm so bad that the logical part of your brain just might explode."

"Bring it."

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