Hola! I'm back and here is the new chapter. Sorry for the wait, but it's been a very busy week. Remember, reviews make me spaz out in joy, so keep them coming!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers.
"I'm telling you, Bruce was taken." Tony glared up at Director Fury in a combination of anger and exasperation. Thor and Steve sat at opposite ends of the cold metal table and Pepper filled Bruce's usual seat beside Tony. Natasha remained in the hospital with Clint by her side.
Fury leaned over the table towards Tony, giving him a stern look. "I've said it once, and I'll say it again. Do you have any proof? Or is it possible he just left?"
Tony rolled his eyes. "Look, I may not have a signed note from an attacker explaining that he took Bruce, but believe me, I know it. Yes, he was pissed at me, and yes, I'm even willing to concede that he told me he wanted to leave. But if he did just get up and leave, what happened to Jarvis? Why didn't he pack any of his things? Especially the photo of his Mom and him? Come on, Cyclops, explain that."
Fury's face growing murderous, he took a moment to regain his composure. "Look, Tony," he said. "We've already assigned some of our best agents to check out the room and check for him on any recent flights out of country. We're looking, but don't you think you're jumping to conclusions? Dr. Banner can handle himself, or, rather, the Hulk can. Do you think the Hulk would have just let someone take Bruce without a fight? And even if Bruce was kidnapped, the Hulk would have escaped by now. He's probably just off trying to hide from his problems again. We'll find him."
Sitting back in his seat, arms folded, Tony muttered to himself, "Yeah, you better."
"For now, everyone stay on alert and be prepared for if we do need to take on a rescue mission," Fury said. "But until such a time where this mission is actually required, you are all dismissed." With that, Fury stormed out of the room.
After an awkward silence, Steve spoke up. "So, you really think Bruce is in trouble?"
Tony looked up. "I know he is."
"Well, that's good enough for me." Steve crossed his arms and smiled. At Tony's look of confusion, he continued. "Look, you know Bruce better than anyone. Sometimes, I think even better than he knows himself. So if you truly believe that he wouldn't have walked away and that he's in danger, I trust you."
"Yes, and I as well." Thor chimed.
With a wary look, Steve raised his hand to speak. "I am curious. What made him so mad at you?"
Tony's face grew dark. "I was an idiot, that's what."
Steve took a long look at Tony, and, realizing that he didn't want to talk about it, stood up and motioned to Thor. "Come on, big guy. Let's go grab a coffee."
Thor's face lit up. "Will there be the tarts which pop?" Steve cracked a grin and began arguing with Thor about which Pop-Tarts were best as they exited the room.
Tony continued to stare out at nothing, mulling over what he should have and could have done in his head. How could he have let Bruce get kidnapped? He should have followed Bruce down, apologized to him sooner. What was happening to him right now because of his stupid insult?
Pepper was always a good reader of people, especially when it came to Tony, and as she saw all of these thoughts float through his eyes, she grabbed his shoulder. "Hey, stop that. You know it's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong."
His eyes glassy as he fought back tears, Tony lifted his head to look at Pepper. Guilt shone through his eyes, not only for this, but for everything he'd done. He'd always been able to bury his thoughts, shove them down and hope for them to come out in spurts of violence and alcoholism, but his heart was full. This was the straw that broke the camel's back, and he couldn't hide from his emotions any more.
His voice shaking, he slowly told Pepper his greatest fear. A fear that he'd never had to deal with before, because he never thought something like this would happen. After all, he was Iron Man; he was untouchable.
"What if… what if that was the last thing I ever get to say to him?"
Pepper shook her head and rested it gently on his shoulder, knowing he wasn't one for coddling. "I know you were upset, but you're usually much better at staying away from serious insults, particularly when it comes to father-son relationships. So what set you off last night? What made you say that to him? You've heard him be self-deprecating before."
Laying his head on top of hers on his shoulder, he sighed. "Pepper, I've known a lot of people in my life. I've been through a lot. He is the first person to really… really get me. Besides you, he's the only person I can honestly call a friend. This time, he was serious when he said he wanted to leave. He meant it. And after living with him for so long, I… I couldn't imagine life without him. I don't want to go back to life without him. I don't want to go to the science labs and not have him there to snark back at me. I don't want to go back to having no intellectual company who can carry on an entire conversation about whatever scientific crap Stark Industries is working on at the moment. I don't want to wake up and not have him there in the kitchen to criticize my laziness. You have to travel all over the world for work, Pepper, which I appreciate, but it means I can't always count on you to be here when I need someone to save me from myself. I don't want to be alone. Not again."
And so they sat there for what felt like an eternity, Pepper resting on Tony and Tony resting on Pepper. And in their silence, Tony realized that, for the first time, he didn't know what to do.
Bruce, Tony thought. Where are you?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
At that same moment, Bruce opened his eyes and looked around him at the empty science lab. Feeling more alone than he had in a long time, he shed a single tear.
Tony, where are you?