I do not own any of the named/recognizable characters present. They belong to Marvel. Other recognizable things belong to their respective owners. This was written purely for fun.
All around him was the hum of machinery, providing a steady background noise. He had already tried blaring some music to keep the thoughts away, but it didn't help, and the idea of absolute silence had left him feeling shaken, so he had settled with just the noise of the lab.
Tony sat at his main work station, where he had been for hours now, staring blankly at the holographic screen in front of him. No matter how hard he tried to focus on the numbers before his eyes, he couldn't concentrate. Instead, he had either been lost in thought, or his vision had been obscured by a fresh wave of tears he refused to let fall.
And when he wasn't staring at the screen, he found himself staring at the stuffed rhino sitting on his desk out of arm's reach. Every time he looked at the beloved toy, already mildly worn in some spots despite how little time had passed, Tony went back to the details of that morning.
There was the deafening and shattering silence that had pervaded the air of the underground gymnasium. There were those moments afterwards that felt like lifetimes in which Pepper and Tony had sat in that terrible hush, staring at the man who had been returned to them, and staring at the absence of the little boy who had sacrificed himself to return that man to them. There was the suffocating grief and remorse that came with the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one.
Before the shock had worn off, Tony and Pepper had moved carefully toward Bruce's limp form to make sure he was breathing and had a pulse. The sight of Bruce's face, so familiar with the child's face he had seen just about every day for the past several weeks, had made Tony's breath catch and his heart ache.
Now, sitting in the lab several hours later, that ache still hadn't gone away.
Bruce was upstairs now, sleeping off the strain of the tremendous transformation in his own room, the same room that hadn't been inhabited since before he had been changed into a child. Steve had taken him up there.
Tony thought back to the brief interaction with the super soldier after JARVIS was given the numbed go-ahead from Tony to let the rest of the team know that Dr. Banner was back. Steve had come down to the gymnasium alone, stepping cautiously across the gym until he was next to where Tony and Pepper had been crowded around Bruce's limp form.
The engineer hadn't bothered to turn around and glance back at who had come into the gym. The pause, followed by the steadying hand on his shoulder had told him that it was Steve. The soldier had then gently draped a sheet over Bruce's naked body, and when Tony finally glanced over, he saw a sheen of wetness in the captain's eyes.
When Steve had looked over at him, Tony had immediately looked away. His own eyes had fallen to the shirt, shoes, socks, glasses, and the stuffed rhino left behind, and he had felt his eyes well up with tears again.
Those tears had nearly overflowed again when Pepper had reached over and lightly rested her hand against his arm.
Before Steve had left, he informed them in a soft, reserved voice that the team would handle alerting SHIELD about what had happened. Once he had gathered the unconscious man into his arms, tucking the ends of the sheets around his limp body, he had given them both a long look. "Please," he had said softly, "let us know if you—both of you—need anything."
Tony hadn't been able to reply. His throat had been too tight for words, even if he could have ever thought of anything to possibly say. Pepper, however, only offered a nod before Steve had retreated with Bruce.
Shaking himself back to the present, Tony blinked out of his thoughts. "JARVIS," he said hoarsely.
"Yes sir?" the AI responded, gentle and careful.
"Has there been any update on Bruce's status?" Tony asked.
"No, sir," JARVIS answered. "Dr. Banner is still asleep in his quarters. All vital signs are completely normal."
Tony nodded mutely to himself. After Steve had gone off with Bruce and Tony had retreated to his lab, he had asked JARVIS to monitor the unconscious man for any changes in his vitals. It was hard to know just what possible effects those chemicals could have on Bruce now that he was back to himself, but from the sound of it, he was physically okay.
The big question now was the mental effects the chemicals had on Bruce. Was Dr. Banner truly back? Had the chemicals interfered with Dr. Banner's mental capabilities? Was that really his adult mind in his adult body?
Would he remember anything that had happened over the past several weeks?
Swallowing the thickness in his throat, Tony glanced down again at the stuffed rhino sitting on his desk. He immediately looked back at the holographic screen before his eyes could well up again.
He hadn't been ready to lose one of his best friends today, but he hadn't even been prepared to lose Bruce, the kind-hearted, loveable child who had stolen his heart. He hadn't considered it as a possibility until those last few moments when the four year old had actually started transforming.
He hated himself for having been willing to let go of the adult version of the boy, and he hated himself for grieving over what he lost. And then he hated himself all over again for being more concerned about his own emotions instead of the welfare of his friend.
He scrunched his eyes tightly shut and ran a hand over his face. "JARVIS," Tony said faintly.
"Dr. Banner is still sleeping, sir," JARVIS replied without Tony having to voice his question.
Right. Sleeping off the strain of the change.
The doors to the lab suddenly opened, and Tony glanced over in time to see Pepper slip in. She had a plastic bag in her hands, and the smell of freshly baked bread and herbs wafted in with her.
She didn't say anything as she walked toward him. As she passed by a different work station, she grabbed one of the stools and dragged it behind her until she was at Tony's side. Once she sat down, she placed the bag on a clear part of the table.
They sat together in silence—only broken by the humming of his machinery. Neither of them made a move to speak, and neither of them made a move to unpack the bag.
Tony glanced at the receipt taped onto the bag and he saw it was an order for two instead of three.
He swallowed the sudden thickness in his throat.
As Tony forced his eyes away from the receipt, Pepper finally drew a breath. "I figured you haven't eaten anything since this morning," she said, gently, somberly.
She followed his gaze to the stuffed animal nearby. She didn't say anything, but her hand lifted and settled against his back. When he drew a shaky breath, she let her hand rub soothing circles along his back.
They stayed like that for a long time, neither of them willing to break the hush between them. Pepper kept up the consoling motions, and Tony tried to absorb as much comfort from her presence as possible.
When Tony finally dragged his eyes away from the stuffed rhino, Pepper spoke. "Has there been any update on him?" she asked in a low voice.
"Not yet," Tony replied at the same volume, shaking his head just a little. "JARVIS will let me know when he wakes up." He swallowed and glanced over at Pepper. "It might be a while, considering…"
Pepper nodded in understanding. "I'm sure it was straining," she said, alluding to the massive transformation. They had been there to witness the entire thing, after all. They had known the boy had been in pain. It was so much stress to put on a body under the best of situations. It only made sense that the transformation from the body of a four year old to the body of a full-grown Hulk would keep Bruce unconscious for several uninterrupted hours.
Just remembering the pain on the little boy's face before he disappeared made Tony's heart ache again.
Tony swallowed and looked off again as Pepper glanced at the bag. "You need to eat something, honey," she said softly, her voice just slightly pleading. "Will you come upstairs with me?"
A number of different excuses came to mind. He was ready to say he wasn't hungry and that he was working, but then he looked at her. He saw the imploring look in her eyes, the hint of begging set in her eyebrows and the worry in the slight downturn of her lips. She didn't want him to be alone, but she didn't want to be alone either.
Instead, Tony drew a long breath and released it in a great exhale. "Okay," he said softly. Before he got to his feet, however, he reached over and picked up the stuffed rhino from his desk.
Once they were both standing, they immediately fell into each other's arms. They both held each other tightly, desperately, offering as much comfort as possible while soaking in the comfort they needed. Tony felt his throat tighten again and he buried his face against Pepper's neck. His hold on her tightened when she lifted a hand to his hair to hold his head in place.
Pepper gave him a squeeze and threaded her fingers through his hair. "We'll be okay," she promised in a whisper. "This was never supposed to be permanent."
"Doesn't make it hurt any less," Tony murmured against the safety of her neck, the words just barely making it past the thick lump in his throat.
He felt her breathe a pained sigh. "No," she agreed softly. "No, it doesn't."
Tony held her a little tighter.
They stayed like that for several heartbeats until they had both overcome their latest bouts of emotions. When their embrace had lost its edge of desperation, they slowly and reluctantly broke apart. Pepper discretely brushed away some of the wetness from the corners of her eyes before she reached over and picked up the bag on the work desk. With her other hand, she tangled her fingers with Tony's and lightly tugged him toward the exit.
Tony went willingly, keeping a solid grip on both her hand and on the stuffed animal in his grasp.
The elevator was waiting for them when they stepped out of the laboratory and they both stood side by side as the doors slid shut behind them. Tony studied the reflection of the exhausted looking man staring back at him in the elevator doors before he glanced over at Pepper's reflection.
The image of Pepper in the door met his eyes and gave his hand a light squeeze. "Do you think he'll remember anything?" she asked softly.
Tony's gaze dropped to the stuffed rhino. He ran his thumb along the fluff that made up its body, and he marveled again for a moment on how well-loved the toy was. He wondered if Bruce—full-grown Bruce—would remember that day at the zoo when the toy had been gifted to him.
It would certainly stay with Tony forever.
"I don't know," he finally answered without taking his eyes away from the stuffed rhino. "We don't even know for certain yet that he's back to his full self again. There's…There's really no telling what or even if he'll remember what happened to him, at least until he wakes up."
The elevator slowed down and the doors opened on the penthouse floor.
Pepper led him out of the lift and toward the kitchen. "We just need to take it as it comes," she said quietly, giving his hand another affectionate and comforting squeeze.
Tony swallowed and offered a nod. That was all they could do at this point.
But still, what would they do if Bruce didn't remember anything that had happened to him in the past few weeks?
What would they do if he did remember?
After lying in bed well after Pepper had fallen asleep and well past midnight, Tony finally heaved a sigh and got out of bed. He knew he wouldn't be able to fall asleep, but he had promised Pepper he would try—especially since he had spent all of last night in the lab trying to—
He didn't really want to think about it.
Tony padded silently out of the room and had to stop himself from following the familiar path down the hall toward Bruce's—toward the guest rooms. He stood in the darkened hall for a long moment, just staring down the hall where he had grown so accustomed to seeing the soft purple light spill out of the boy's room. His heart ached at the absence of the purple hue from the child's nightlight.
He shook his head and moved out toward the kitchen, wanting to clear his mind.
When he got to the doorway, however, JARVIS spoke up. "Sir, Dr. Banner has awoken."
Tony's chest seized and he immediately froze. "H-He's awake?" he stammered faintly.
"Yes sir," the AI confirmed. "He woke up thirteen minutes ago and still seems a bit disoriented."
Tony stared across the kitchen, his mind racing at a thousand miles per second. Was Bruce confused by the large gap of missing time in his memory? Was he confused about waking up aching without the memory of a battle? Was he—?
And then he remembered all of the times he had spent time with the little boy post-transformation. Memories of how the child had always been so vulnerable and sleepy and achy and just generally miserable sprang to mind.
And every time, Tony had offered the boy water or juice, food, and comfort, whatever it had taken to make the kid feel better and to get him smiling again.
Tony stayed where he was for a second longer before he came to a decision. With new purpose, he stepped into the kitchen to gather a few provisions before he made his way through the darkened penthouse to the elevator.
As the elevator lowered him, his stomach did flips in his core. This was probably not a good idea, but someone needed to check on Bruce. It was something like three in the morning, which meant the rest of the team was surely asleep by now. Someone had to check on Bruce.
The elevator slowed to a stop, and Tony drew a deep, fortifying breath before he stepped off. He paused outside the door to the apartment, which had been left ajar. Steve must have left it like that after he had dropped the unconscious man off hours ago.
Tony swallowed and hesitated where he stood, staring at the door. "J, can you ask him if he's feeling up for a visit?" he asked softly, nervously.
"Of course, sir," JARVIS replied.
The following few moments of silence passed in horrible suspense. He wasn't sure if Bruce would want to see anyone this early in the morning or so soon after waking up. What if Bruce just wanted to be left alone right now? What if—?
His downward spiraling thoughts came to an abrupt stop when JARVIS spoke up. "You may enter, sir."
After another moment's hesitation on the threshold, Tony swallowed and carefully nudged the door open. The interior of the apartment was dark, but he heard what sounded like a television playing at a low volume. He moved cautiously through the darkened area, following the noise until he found its source.
The lump in his throat hardened when he saw it was an infomercial playing. Images played through his mind of himself and the departed four year old cuddled together on the couch in the middle of the night, watching horrible infomercials until the child had calmed down enough to fall back asleep after waking up in the throes of a terrible nightmare.
He forced himself to look away from the screen before he could get caught up in his emotions and looked toward the sofa.
Tony stepped carefully around the couch. "Knock knock," he said softly.
When he stepped completely around the piece of furniture, he saw the blanket-wrapped figure lying across the cushions wake up with a start.
For the first time in weeks, Tony met Bruce's eyes, and for how hurt he had been feeling all afternoon and evening, it was so damned good to see Bruce again like this. He could see all of those familiarities between this Bruce and four year old Bruce, and while it made something in his chest ache with loss, the relief flowing through him was astounding.
Bruce looked absolutely exhausted, complete with dark bags under his eyes and his greying curls a mess. Fatigue came off of him in waves. He stared at Tony for a moment longer before he started to struggle to push himself upright.
"Hang on, big guy," Tony said as he dumped the contents in his arms out onto the coffee table in front of the sofa. Once his hands were free, he reached out without a second thought and helped Bruce sit up. The physicist's body was trembling beneath Tony's hands, and once Bruce was upright against the sofa, he let out a breath that was equal parts strain and relief.
"Thanks," Bruce murmured in a hoarse voice as his aching body settled against the cushions. He pulled the blanket wrapped around him a little tighter in stilted motions, his jaw tightening at moments as he aggravated his sore body.
He stayed like that for a moment before he opened his eyes back up and looked cautiously at Tony. His dark brown eyes, the same dark hue as the little boy's, had an element of uncertainty within them.
After another moment, Bruce pulled one of his hands out from the folds of the blanket and patted the cushion next to him, a clear invitation for Tony to join him.
As Bruce was pulling his arm back into his blanket, Tony tentatively sat down next to his friend. They sat in silence for a long moment, both of them looking at the screen where the overly-cheerful television personalities were trying to sell some kind of kitchen appliance. Tony's fingers drummed along his knee anxiously as they sat there, neither of them speaking.
When the commercial cut away to customer testimonies, Tony awkwardly cleared his throat. "So," he began, breaking the hush, "I figured you'd have been in your room instead of out here."
Bruce glanced briefly over at him and gave a fraction of a shrug. "Had some interesting dreams," he replied as he focused on the screen again. He shifted uncomfortably, a grimace flashing across his face as an overtaxed muscle pulled unpleasantly. "I, uh…I remember this working pretty well as a sleep aid."
Tony felt something in him freeze at that. He swallowed again and forced himself to not look over. "You do?" he asked faintly.
From the corner of his eye, Tony saw the other man nod slowly. "I do," Bruce confirmed softly. His eyes fell away from the screen and he nibbled on his bottom lip.
Neither of them spoke again for a long time. Tony reeled from the vague admission that Bruce remembered. He remembered. How much did he really remember, though? How would he feel about everything that happened once he had recuperated from the transformation? How did he feel about it now?
Bruce cleared his throat, bringing Tony out of his racing thoughts with a start. "How long has it been?" Bruce asked quietly.
"Almost six weeks," Tony answered at the same volume. He gestured at the collection of things on the coffee table in front of them. "That's why I brought some things, since I don't know if anyone has been in here to clear out any expired things from your kitchen. But really, you should eat something."
Bruce looked over the items on the table and a weary smile touched his lips. He swallowed and looked down at his blanket-covered lap for a long moment before he drew a breath. "…I really don't know what to say, Tony," he said, and from the deep gratitude and hesitance in his voice, Tony knew that he wasn't just thanking him for bringing him things to help him recuperate.
The gratitude made something in Tony tighten. "You don't have to say anything," he replied in a strained voice. "You would have done the same if it had been me. And besides, it was…it was really no trouble." He paused to attempt to swallow the lump in his throat. "No trouble at all."
Bruce glanced cautiously over at him, his face set into an expression of anxiousness and distress and guilt. "I'm sorry," he said faintly.
Pain blossomed through Tony's chest. "Please don't apologize," he pleaded, looking at Bruce again. The pain doubled when he saw the look in Bruce's face. "Please don't."
"I took something special from you," Bruce said toward his lap.
"You did not," Tony protested. "What made him special was the fact that he was you."
A smile touched Bruce's lips, but it was sad and sardonic. "Maybe in the beginning," he said feebly.
He drew a breath and let it out as a sigh before he glanced over at Tony again. "I think we should probably count ourselves as lucky that I wasn't any older," he commented self-effacingly. "That could have been bad."
"It would have been fine," Tony said softly, honestly.
Bruce shook his head, but didn't offer a reply, and they fell into another silence. Bruce kept his head dipped and his eyes on the floor, no doubt still feeling guilty for things outside of his control.
He looked up when Tony reached for one of the bottled waters on the table. As he was twisting off the top, Tony looked back at Bruce. "You really do need to eat and drink something," he said softly.
When he held out the opened bottle, Bruce slowly extracted his hand from the blankets. While he was drinking, Tony grabbed one of the several power bars he had brought down.
He was in the middle of pulling open the wrapper when Bruce hesitantly spoke up. "…what exactly happened?" he asked.
Tony glanced briefly over at him before he went back to opening the power bar. "Do you remember that call we received about that guy in Georgia?" he asked.
Bruce's squinted eyes focused in on the lip of his water bottle as he thought back. "Was that the one with the guy and his robots?" he asked, unsure.
"Yeah," Tony replied, handing over the power bar. He waited until Bruce obediently took a bite before going on. "The guy also had a chemical weapon that none of us knew the effects of, and, well…"
"Hulk got hit," Bruce said knowingly.
Tony nodded. "Yeah," he said again after a beat of hesitation, "and it, uh…changed you."
Bruce stared at him for a second longer before he looked off toward the screen again, where the infomercial had changed over to a different one about kitchen knives. He nodded to himself and nibbled on his lip for a moment. "Six weeks," he mused softly.
Tony watched him for a few more heartbeats before he reached over and picked up a different water bottle. He let his fingers play with the condensation so he'd have something to do with his hands.
As Bruce took another bite of the power bar, Tony started picking at the paper label on the bottle. "How much do you remember?" he asked tentatively.
Bruce paused in the middle of chewing to peek over at him, but he didn't answer until he had finished chewing and had swallowed his bite. He looked off, thinking. "It's, uh… Some of it's a little hazy," he admitted. "Some of it feels like actual memories from way back then, but some of it I remember really well. It's, um…" He paused to glance over at Tony. "It's a little disorienting, having two versions of that time in my childhood."
Another brief hush passed between them before a smile crossed Bruce's face. "I do remember being really happy here with you, though," he disclosed softly.
Tony felt his chest tighten with the admission and he smiled back. "I'm glad to hear it," he replied. "We wanted you to be happy."
Bruce watched him for a long moment. He looked hesitant, but also like he really wanted the answer to something that was puzzling him. "So," he began slowly after another beat of silence, "you and Pepper were going…actually going to adopt me if I was stuck like that?"
The ache in Tony's chest deepened and he felt his face heat a little, but he nodded as he glanced away. "We were all prepared for that, if that was what it came down to."
As he reached over to set the water bottle down and pick up another power bar for Bruce to eat, Bruce studied him. He continued to watch him even as Tony pulled the wrapper back, and when he didn't take the offered food, Tony met his eyes.
There was a look on Bruce's exhausted face that made Tony almost uncomfortable. The look was something he couldn't readily identify; he just knew it was one of the most open looks Bruce—this Bruce, the man who kept himself so closely guarded—had ever given him. It reminded him of a look Pepper had given him a few times in the past few weeks.
After another moment of carefully watching each other, Bruce's expression softened into something frightfully sincere. "I would have been in really good hands, then," he replied.
Tony looked away even as Bruce carefully took the power bar from Tony's proffered hand. They both turned their attention back to the infomercial on screen in time to watch the television personalities use one of their fancy knives to slice through a brick, Bruce sleepily munching on the power bar while Tony sat anxiously.
"You'll make a good father someday," Bruce said quietly as he fiddled with the wrapper.
Tony huffed a self-conscious laugh. "I don't know about that," he hedged.
"I do," Bruce replied honestly. When Tony looked back at him, he could see brutal honesty and sincerity on his face. Tony froze under the intensity of the look.
Bruce watched him for a second longer before he glanced down at the open water bottle sitting on the table. "I'm…I'm sure you have some idea about what my life was like as a kid," he began softly, looking uncomfortable and like he had never openly talked about something like this before. "These memories I have from…whatever it was that happened to me…they're some of the happiest."
The thought that only a few weeks of his time spent with Tony and Pepper already ranked higher than the entire duration of his actual childhood made Tony ache.
Tony swallowed the lump in his throat as the other man went on. "I'm not exaggerating," Bruce continued in a low murmur. "I think it startled me at first, but…but there aren't many people I can think back on and feel so much affection for."
Tony's chest seized at that and his heart felt like it was about to break.
Bruce looked down self-consciously. "I mean," he went on, "the feeling's there for the whole team, especially you and Pepper…but especially you."
As Bruce hesitantly glanced back at him, looking cautious like he was afraid that he had said too much, Tony couldn't find the will to speak. He had no idea how to respond to something like that.
When no response came from Tony, Bruce swallowed and looked off again. "You might not think much of it, but…" He drew a deep breath in through his nose. "…but it meant the world to me to know you cared. That…that it was possible for someone to care. That's…that's a feeling I thought I'd lost until Betty."
Bruce drew another breath and looked back at Tony. "What I'm getting at is that if you could manage all that with…with me, of all people, then you're destined to be a fantastic father to your own child someday."
Tony stared at the other man, at a complete loss for words and his mind reeling.
At the prolonged silence, Bruce shifted uncomfortably again and cleared his throat awkwardly, looking away. "Or, u-um, you could just forget I said anything," he said uneasily, pulling the blanket closer around him like it could offer protection. He seemed to shrink in on himself in a way that reminded Tony of the way the little boy would curl in on himself when he was feeling uncomfortable or vulnerable. "That could just be the sleep deprivation talking. Don't mind me."
It took a moment for Tony to realize that Bruce had read his silence as something negative instead of what it really was. "No, no," he hastened to say, lifting a hand to reassure his friend. "I, uh… I'm just…"
When Bruce's brown eyes hesitantly met his again, Tony had to draw a breath and organize his thoughts before he could actually articulate what he was trying to say. It was hard with Bruce staring at him, so he looked over at the water bottle he had set down on the coffee table. "We wanted nothing more than for you to be happy, Bruce," he finally said. "To be happy, to feel safe, to…to feel wanted and loved."
When he glanced back at Bruce, he saw that same open and vulnerable look on his face again. It made the ache in Tony's chest deepen and his heart break. It was such a familiar expression that Tony had seen on the little boy's face when he was confronted with the idea that people actually cared for him, that he was worthy of such things.
It had taken weeks for the four year old to accept it, which was distressing in and of itself, but it was downright heartbreaking to realize that Bruce—this Bruce—hadn't truly accepted these things in years.
Bruce's eyes widened when Tony threw an arm over his shoulders. He went rigid when Tony scooted a little closer.
"And we want the same for you, Bruce," Tony said softly, giving him a gentle squeeze of comradery, mindful of his friend's sore body. "We want you to feel safe here, and we want you to be happy." He glanced over and lightly jostled the man against him when Bruce ducked his head and swallowed thickly. "You're allowed—You deserve to be happy, Bruce. It was true for little you, and it's true for you."
When Bruce didn't reply, Tony leaned forward a little to put himself more at eye level with his friend. "It's okay to want to feel safe and happy, Bruce," he added quietly.
Without lifting his head, Bruce glanced cautiously over at Tony. There was skepticism in his eyes, but his expression was still achingly open and exposed.
Their eyes met for only a second before Bruce's gaze fell away. "I don't think I'm up for this kind of discussion right now," Bruce admitted in a low mumble. "But, uh…" He pulled one of his hands out from the sanctuary of his blanket and tentatively let it rest on Tony's knee. When Tony gave him another reassuring squeeze, Bruce patted the knee. "But, y'know…thanks."
Tony smiled and relaxed against the sofa, gently pulling Bruce along until he was no longer hunched over.
They stayed like that, not cuddling the same way Tony had with the little boy Bruce had been less than twenty four hours ago, but still close enough to offer each other comfort. They silently watched the infomercial on screen for another handful of minutes, and Tony counted it as a win when he felt the tension in Bruce's body melt away.
Another few minutes later, Tony noticed that Bruce was starting to doze off. "Hey," he said at a low volume.
"Hmm?" Bruce replied sleepily, not even bothering to open his eyes.
"Think you can finish that bottle of water and the other half of that power bar before you pass back out?" Tony asked.
Bruce finally cracked open his eyes and glanced blearily at the opened bottle of water on the table, and then at the half-eaten power bar sitting in his lap. He looked like he wanted nothing more than to just go back to sleep.
Tony reached over and picked up the bottled water just so Bruce wouldn't have to strain himself in getting it himself. "I want to make sure you're actually hydrated and have something in your stomach. That was a hell of a transformation."
"It feels like it," Bruce murmured in agreement before he finally removed his hand from Tony's knee to take the proffered bottle. It only took a few swigs to finish off the bottle, and Tony traded the empty one for a freshly opened one.
As Tony set the empty bottle down on the coffee table, a tired smile touched Bruce's lips. "Thanks," he said softly, "for looking out for me." He downed a little over half of the water in the new bottle before he glanced back over at Tony. "You're not going to be overly protective of me now, are you?" he asked hesitantly, his tone half teasing and half truly curious.
Tony huffed a small laugh and lightly patted Bruce's shoulder. "I think I've been somewhat protective of you since we first met," he replied almost airily, though he was being honest. He reached over and plucked the water bottle from Bruce's hand and then pushed the half-eaten power bar against his palm. "But if I become smothering or something, let me know and I'll try to back off," he added, watching Bruce take another bite out of the bar.
Bruce glanced over at him as he chewed and he offered a slight nod.
Tony nodded approvingly before he lightly patted Bruce's shoulder again. "Do you need a hand getting back to bed?" he asked.
After swallowing the last bite of the power bar, Bruce peered back at the screen across the room. "I think I may stay out here," he answered quietly. "The distraction's nice."
As he tossed the empty wrapper haphazardly toward the coffee table, Bruce looked over at Tony. "You're welcome to stay, if you'd like."
It was a tempting offer, but now that Tony knew that things between him and Bruce were okay, his bed upstairs was calling. "Thanks," Tony said, "but I'm gonna head back upstairs here pretty soon. Besides, you need to lie down if you don't want to wake up more sore than you are now."
"That'd be a feat," Bruce murmured around a yawn.
As Tony carefully stood up and helped Bruce lie back down, a note of distress touched the physicist's expression. "You didn't have JARVIS wake you up to come check on me, did you?" he asked.
"No, I was already awake," Tony replied before he yawned, which made Bruce yawn again. "Though I'm not going to be awake for much longer."
"Me neither," Bruce agreed softly as he settled across the cushions again.
"Hey," Tony said, poking Bruce in the shoulder, "when we both wake up, we need to head to the lab to make sure you're…y'know…all right."
"S'fine," Bruce mumbled as he pulled the blanket around himself, his words slurring as he already started dozing off.
Tony watched him for a moment, struck by the similarities between this version of Bruce and the little boy he had tucked in for the past several weeks. He knew that these sudden reminders of the child he had grown to love would crop up at any time, and he knew that it would make something in him ache for what was lost, but already, that ache was getting a little less painful. It would hurt for a while, yes, but the pain would dull with time.
But for now, there was the ache of loss and the comfort of relief mixing in his chest.
"Good night, Bruce," he said softly into the hushed air of the darkened living room.
Bruce burrowed a little deeper into his blanket in sleepy, sluggish movements. "G'night, Tony," he replied drowsily.
Tony felt himself smile, warmed to his aching core, before he silently padded out of the room to let Bruce sleep in peace. He returned to the elevator, where JARVIS wordlessly lifted him back to the penthouse.
As he crawled back under the covers in his own bed, Pepper stirred. She rolled over to face him as he got settled, and her eyes fluttered open to look sleepily at him. Her eyes moved across his face, and she pulled in a breath as she stretched against the mattress.
"How is he?" she asked in a whisper once she was settled again, this time on her back.
Tony smiled and curled up against her, tangling their legs and draping an arm across her waist as he let his head settle upon her shoulder. Her arm wrapped around him and she let her fingers card through his hair.
"He's okay," Tony replied softly against her shoulder. He breathed in and let the air escape in a long, shaky exhale, letting the day's stress and pain and relief go with it. "He's okay."
A relieved smile touched Pepper's lips.
He tilted his head upward and pressed a soft kiss against her chin and let his eyes slip shut when she pressed a soft kiss against his forehead.
As Pepper fell back asleep, Tony felt sleep begin to finally tug on him. He settled against her body again, reveling in everything that happened these past few days, but more than anything, he reveled in the fact that Bruce—his colleague, his teammate, his friend—was okay.