Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count - 1713
Fic Detail - TonyBruce / Soulmate!AU
Written for Ari, for the Drabble Game
Every Part Of You (Is Perfect To Me)
Tony walked through the helicarrier with his heart in his mouth, his eyes on his wrist. The numbers were flipping down fast as the seconds ticked by, and it was so goddamn close.
He'd tried and failed to tell himself that this didn't matter, that he didn't need a soulmate, that fate could screw off because he could make his own destiny dammit, but as he got closer and closer to meeting the one that could, that should, complete him, Tony couldn't help but hope.
He stepped into the main area as the clock on his wrist ran down to zero, and when he looked up, he met eyes with the most adorable man he'd ever seen.
Doctor Bruce Banner was staring at him, his sleeve pulled up where he'd been watching his own wrist.
Either unknowing, or uncaring, Fury pulled their attention away from each other, and Tony remembered his purpose for being there. They had a job to do, and saving the world was more important than flirting with his person.
Even if his person was the most adorable person ever.
…
They gelled so well. It was—almost—perfect. They scienced together, they talked about the most obscure nonsense with the most intense seriousness until one of them, usually Tony, gave into the urge to laugh. They shared a love for travelling, they shared a sense of morality and the need to make up for the destruction they'd caused.
They also shared deep seated insecurities, but Tony was trying his best to be fine, and not deal with the consequences of flying the nuke through the wormhole. He wasn't doing very well, but he was happy to live in denial for as long as possible.
What wasn't perfect was that Bruce was still holding Tony at arms length. The rest of the team had followed the two of them back to the tower, within two months of the fight against Loki and the Chitauri, they were all living together in harmony… well. Ish.
Tony and Steve still griped at one another, and Clint was irritating on purpose, and Natasha was terrifying, but they were mostly settling into a strange team-family hybrid that was about as dysfunctional as it sounded.
And in the middle of all that, were Tony and Bruce, trying to navigate a soulmate bond while dealing with their own issues and on Bruce's part, his fear of being intimate and hurting Tony.
It was definitely different, and for all the good times, Tony couldn't help but wonder if the confusion was worth it.
…
"So like, Bruce is your soulmate, right?" Clint asked, throwing himself down on the sofa beside Tony.
"Right," Tony agreed, frowning slightly as he waited for the punchline.
"Does that mean the Hulk is your soulmate too?"
"Sure," Tony agreed. "He's part of Bruce, even if Bruce isn't entirely open to that. And he must like me a little, considering he caught me on my way out of the porthole."
Clint nodded thoughtfully. "So, sex with Bruce must be normal but sex with… you know what, that's not a question I need answered."
Tony stared at Clint for a long moment before he shook his head. "Why do I put up with you?"
…
"You brought ice cream. Is this a date?" Tony asked, raising his eyebrow as Bruce put the tray down on the coffee table.
On it, was a mug of coffee for Tony, a teacup filled with leaf water, for Bruce, and two bowls of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Bruce rolled his eyes, but anxiety was practically pouring off him in waves, and it was making Tony tense and uneasy.
"Are you about to break up with me, right now? Is that why you brought ice cream?"
"Tony, no," Bruce said, shaking his head emphatically. "This is… me admitting that I'm afraid, but that I… that I want to try and push through that fear, okay?"
"I… okay?"
Confused but willing to see where Bruce was going with this, Tony waited to see what his next move was. Bruce sat down beside him, closer than he'd ever done before, and after a moment, he tugged Tony closer, so he was leaning against Bruce.
"You wanna choose a movie?"
"Uh. Sure. J? Put on whatever I said I wanted to see last please."
As the room darkened, Bruce handed Tony his ice cream and the two of them settled into the movie. Half way through, with the bowls empty, Tony startled when he felt Bruce place his hand carefully on Tony's thigh.
"Okay?" Bruce asked.
"Whatever you want," Tony replied.
"It's not… Tony, if it was just about what I wanted, I'd have snapped you up the moment I saw you and told Fury to fuck all the way off. It's never been about that. I'm… worried. The 'other guy' is—"
"—As gentle with me as you are," Tony finished the sentence before Bruce could. Three times Tony had met the Hulk now, and all three times, Hulk had taken a moment to reach out to Tony, be it before or after the smashing. "You really need to give yourself, and him, more credit."
"I can't take the chance that you'll get hurt!"
"I'm not going to let that stop me!" Tony replied, sitting up. "I love you, Bruce, not in spite of the Hulk, but with him, because he's part of you. The resistance you have against him is understandable, but it's unfair to everyone, including him. He's not the soulless monster that you seem to think he is!"
"I can't give you everything you deserve," Bruce said, shaking his head and looking away.
"What I deserve?" Tony laughed, cold and empty. "What I deserve, is a swift kick up the ass straight down to the pits of hell, Bruce! You can't sit there and say that I deserve more than you when I don't want more than you. I just want you, and if you can't give me that, then there's nothing I can do about that, but don't tell me that I deserve more!"
"Tony—"
"No." Tony got up off the sofa and walked away. He didn't look back despite Bruce calling his name once, twice and a third time.
…
Bruce's eyes flashed green, and Tony reached out automatically to squeeze his shoulder. "It's okay, Bruce, settle down."
"He shouldn't talk to you like that," Bruce growled, glaring at Steve. "His reasons for having a go at you are flimsy at best, and we all know it."
"Hey," Tony murmured. "It's okay. He's going through a lot, I guess I just make the easiest punching bag. I'm a big boy, I can handle it."
"You shouldn't have to."
"Bruce—"
"He's right," Steve interrupted, rubbing at his neck. "He's right, Tony. I think… I think I just fell into the practice of taking my anger out on you, but you did nothing wrong. I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Tony assured him. He felt bad for Steve. He knew he was under a lot of pressure from S.H.I.E.L.D and for the last couple of months, he'd been far too close to meltdown for comfort. "Bruce, calm yourself, or let my green bean out for a cuddle, but seriously. Stop clenching your fists like that, you're going to hurt yourself."
Bruce blinked. "Did you just… ask for the Hulk to come out for a cuddle?"
"You mean you haven't seen the footage?" Clint asked gleefully.
"Ummm."
"Ah, shit, Clint, you're gonna land me in the doghouse, you asshole."
Clint paid him no mind, and held his phone out to Bruce, who took it cautiously and pressed play on the video Clint had pulled up. On the video, Tony flew in lazy circles around the Hulk until the Hulk plucked him out of the air with surprising gentleness.
Bruce didn't think his eyes could get any wider as he watched the Hulk cradle Tony in his arms.
"What the hell, Tony?"
Tony rolled his eyes. "I told you that my green bean isn't a problem, Bruce. He's like a goddamn teddy bear… one that smashes things."
Bruce was speechless and Tony shrugged. He'd tried to tell Bruce it wasn't a problem, but he supposed seeing was believing.
…
"Tony?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I fell asleep waiting for you to make me a sandwich."
Bruce pointed the butter knife at him. "Go back to sleep and starve then."
"Brucieeee. I need sustenance. And coffee. I have no coffee. I haven't had coffee since this morning!"
"A fate worse than death, I'm sure," Bruce deadpanned, rolling his eyes. He put the two plates on the breakfast bar and turned to pick up their mugs. "Come on, you big baby. Come and eat."
Instead of sitting at the bar, like Bruce had intended, Tony draped himself over Bruce, plonking himself down on his knee.
"Tony—"
"Nope. I haven't seen you all day, and I need a cuddle and sustenance and food and I'm not moving so… you might as well not complain because it won't work."
Bruce snorted and leant forward, wrapping his arm around Tony's waist to hold him steady. He pulled Tony's sandwich closer.
"Eat, you bloody menace."
They ate in silence, and Bruce could feel Tony getting heavier as he relaxed and gave into his exhaustion. When they were done eating, he helped the protesting man up, and with an arm around Bruce's shoulders to steady him, he tugged the man to his bedroom.
"Stay, Brucie," Tony asked, as Bruce helped him undress to his underpants and climb into bed.
"I'm not going anywhere," Bruce promised. He stripped his own clothes and climbed into the other side of the bed, wrapping Tony in his arms. "I'm done running from you, from us. I always feel better when you're near, and… well. The Hulk obviously likes you—"
"—Psh, mind your tongue, green bean loves me."
"Hmm. I do too, you know?"
"I know Brucie. I love you."
Bruce ran his hand through Tony's hair, grinning when Tony groaned happily at the fingers massaging his scalp.
"I feel like I'm going to melt into a puddle," Tony murmured, tone sleepy now.
"Sleep," Bruce replied quietly. "I'll be here when you wake up."
Tony just snuggled closer.
Written for:
Disney - C5. Someone trying their best but failing.
Trope - 12. "I'm not going to let that stop me."
Space - 19. Knife
Book Club - Alison - Meltdown / Teacup / "You brought ice cream. Is this a date?"
Showtime - 12. Resistance
Attic - 13. "Oh, I'm sorry. I fell asleep waiting for you to make me a sandwich." / "Go back to sleep and starve."
Liza Loves - 24. Someone's eyes changing colour.
Scamander - 21. A fate worse than death.
Basement - 16. "I feel like I'm going to melt into a puddle."
Film Festival - 17. Anxious
Marvel Appreciation - 17. "That's not a question I need answered."
Galleon - 32. Afraid
Romance Awareness, Day 7. A Timer counting down to when you meet your soulmate.
Romance Awareness, Extra: 19. Practice
365. 204. Flimsy