The Avengers are property of Marvel/Disney. I write this out of pure personal pleasure, and the desire to bring happiness to other fans, not for money. Thanks.

Warning: This story will contain yaoi, it means love between men. As much as drama and suffering, world destruction, non or dub con (not know yet), maybe gore, and sex. Fluff at the end, don´t worry. ^^

This work has been beta readed by the fantastic Vida.

Summary: They were one, they were three. Bruce was calm, Hulk was ire, and him… he was hate. Hate so deep it could swallow earth and everyone in it. Drown them in pain until all of them died. But maybe there´s one man who can´t be drown. Maybe there´s one man, who can embrace hate. A Devil Hulk, Bruce, Hulk/Tony love story.

Notes: Poor Tony, poor Bruce. XD I´m not sure, but maybe next chapter I would put in place the scene that would unleash the Devil Hulk. We will see.

Evil Hearts Can Love

Chapter 3- Open the door

"Bruce, open the door please."

Inside, someone moved, a chair scraped against the floor.

"Tony?" Bruce's voice came from the other side of the metal wall, bone-tired and ragged, and it made Tony's heart ache. It reminded him of those first few months of Bruces stay in the Tower, when the man had still been ready to bolt to India at any second, and just like then, that stupid, little fear of abandonment started humming in his ear.

Tony pushed it aside with all his might.

"Yeah, it's me. Care to let your lover in?" He tried with false cheer, even though he didn't feel anything more than dread.

Bruce sighed. Footsteps crept closer, but didn't quite reach the door, as if wary of coming any nearer.

"Tony, I already told you I was working on a experiment."

"Yeah, and we both know that's utter bullshit." -The engineer knew his lover could be as stubborn as himself, so he didn't let Bruce try and dodge this again. -"Please, it's been a week, and it's obvious by now that letting you deal with this on your own isn't going to help any of us. Just… just let me in." If asked, he would forever deny the pleading note in his voice. But the engineer knew Bruce was very vulnerable to a hurt needy Tony, and he wasn't below taking advantage of anything he could at that point.

"… You really shouldn't be here." Bruce said. It was clear the scientist's voice was wavering, but he still wouldn't let him in.

Tony just pushed him some more, hoping it would be enough.

"If this is about the Hulk maybe making an appearance and hurting me, I thought we had established he wasn't a mindless monster. And he likes me, remember?"

"Tony…"

"And I'm being polite, but if you don't open the door this instant I'm going to override your password, andcome in nonetheless. You know I can."- It wasn't really a threat, and Tony tried to pull it off playfully, but he would do it if needed. – "Bruce please… just…"- Tony put his head against the closed door, feeling alone, tired, still shaken up after the curse, and just... just needed. - "I need you."

Suddenly, the door opened, making Tony take a step back. Next second he was sliding inside, not really confident Bruce would not change his mind, and shut it again.

Just as he suspected, the laboratory didn't even look dirty. The only things that seemed used were the couch near the wall, a crumpled blanket and pillow thrown carelessly on it, and a bin full of empty water bottles and used tea bags. The rest of the place was as impeccable white as it was the last time it was cleaned.

"Haven't you even eaten?" Tony asked and was already opening his mouth for Jarvis to order some takeout, when he looked at Bruce, and the words died on his tongue.

He looked emaciated, pale and hunched in on himself, intelligent eyes dim behind the glasses. His curly brown hair, Tony loved so much to dig his fingers in, was greasy and tangled, and the clothes he had on were the same he had put on after the battle, just a lot more wrinkled and damp with sweat. He looked about to fall, but still had his patient, let me be, look on. That one made Tony want to shake and hug him, all at the same time.

"Bruce, love, you need a bath, some food, and our bed – in that order. Come on, we will order some takeout as we go." -He tried to remember when was the last time he saw his lover so wasted, and couldn't. It scared and preoccupied him. And because he was Tony Stark, it made him nervous and talkative. "Some hot hearty curry or chicken. I like chicken. Do you want chicken? I could totally eat some. You …"

"Tony." -Bruce interrupted him.- "I really don't think it's a good idea. I…" -He seemed to think better about what to say, and instead ended with: "I should go before someone gets hurt."

That was when Tony saw the nearly hidden behind the couch, seeming packed and ready to go.

"Jarvis?" he asked, because he had to know.

"Doctor Banner has just purchased a plane ticket to Brazil." -The AI informed him.

Anger and pain blossomed inside of Tony. Even so, he didn't shout. He understood, somehow, that this couldn't have been only about the Hulk making an appearance. Tony felt betrayed –even worse, abandoned.

"You were going to leave, without saying anything?" -He knew his voice sounded lifeless, knew he must have looked about to cry or snarl, but didn't care. Just tried to stay calm, because if he started losing it now, he would lose it completely.

Bruce came closer, as if to touch him, but didn't; laced his hands together so he wouldn't reach for Tony, and ignored the monster inside. Not the Hulk – it had been some time since they came to some kind of truce, and Bruce had been coming to terms with the green big one. It wasn´t Hulk the one he was ignoring now, even if he could hear him roar at the other one. It was the other, the poisonous yellow thing, Bruce was struggling to keep at bay, the one who wanted Tony on his knees.

"Make him beg. You know he would do it so very good…"

Hulk slammed the other and it grew silent, but Bruce knew it was temporary. It had been like that since the curse. He felt like he was tearing inside.

"Tony, you don't understand." -He said.

"Course I don't. Because I thought this between us meant something, but you are leaving. And if I hadn't asked Jarvis, you wouldn't have said anything about it. Would you?"- He didn't quite shout, not at all, but the anger was in his voice. He was tired, stressed by the curse and the painful sensation of being abandoned, betrayed yet again, even if for the most part he didn't really believe Bruce would have left without a very good motive. But the pain was not something rational.

Bruce took his glasses off, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It's not like that,"- And he looked so ragged, Tony couldn't make himself stay angry at him. He just… crumbled. His shoulders sagged.

"What's happening, Bruce? I know it has something to do with whatever happened with the dragon thing. It's been hard on us all, but I can't help you if you don't speak to me."

Bruce couldn't tell Tony he was afraid of this newly awakened thing inside himself. He didn't want to see Tony look at him, and see a monster. Not Tony, not the only one who never ever looked at Bruce, or Hulk, as anything other but people, fascinating humans he ended up loving. But seeing Tony hurt wasn't something he wanted either.

So he hugged this infuriating, magnificent, crazy man, against his chest, and just prayed it would be enough.

To be continued.