Chapter 25: The Slip pt2

Being a nurse, Bruce's mother was able to give him some very good pain relievers. When Bruce got home, the throbbing pain in his hand, ribs and spine all but melted away within half an hour of taking the meds. Mrs. Banner wouldn't take no for an answer when it came to taking care of him the rest of the day. She put on an interesting science program on the TV, made him some tea, and even tucked him in a warm blanket on the couch. She actually tucked him in as though he were seven instead of seventeen. After everything that happened lately he'd be lying if he said he didn't miss being pampered like a child. Despite her obvious concern about her only child doing something he normally wouldn't, Mrs. Banner didn't bring up the fight or ask any questions about it the whole time. All she did was make sure he was comfortable and that was perfectly fine. Bruce had spoken his peace about it. What happened happened. The pain killers mixed with his warm blanket, relaxing tea and mellow voice of the documentary's narrator was too much for him to stay awake for long. Before he knew it, his mom was rubbing his head and urging him to rest. His eyes closed almost immediately and he was out like a light.

When Bruce opened his eyes from his brief but much needed nap, he squinted at the clock on the coffee table. It was just after 9. Bruce groaned. He still had school in the morning. 9 was usually when he went to bed. His body felt sluggish and he was still tired, but he knew it would be a long while before he'd be sleepy enough for proper bed rest. He wiggled his right fingers to see if the pain meds were still in effect. Though they didn't feel nearly as they had earlier, his knuckles still had a significant pulsating throb in them. He sighed, just grateful that he didn't break his hand like he feared. He sat up a little, seeing that the TV was still playing but it was otherwise quiet in the living-room.

"Oh hello, young man. What was your name again?" he heard his mom ask by the front door.

"Steve. I hang out with your son a lot. I believe I've picked him up from here a few times."

Bruce couldn't help but smile. Of course one of the Circle would come check up on him. He shouldn't have been surprised.

"Oh yes I remember you now. It's nice of you to drop by, but I'm afraid Bruce is sleeping at the moment." his mother replied.

Bruce cleared his throat and sat up fully. If he was awake, he might as well chill with one of his friends for a minute.

"It's okay, Mom!" he called out, his voice hoarse from sleep.

"Let him in. I'm up."

"Oh. Alright, sweetheart. Come on in, Steve." he heard his mother say.

Bruce rubbed his eyes as Steve came and sat down next to him.

"How are you, Bruce?" asked the blond.

Bruce cleared his throat, unsure how to answer that question.

"Conflicted to say the least, but I'm happy to see you."

"You are?" Steve asked uncertainly.

Bruce swallowed. He really needed to make up for his behavior over the past two days.

"Yeah, Steve. I told you earlier I'm not avoiding you anymore. I just,...I couldn't let you guys see me being a pathetic crybaby."

Steve's ocean blue eyes bored directly into Bruce's, giving him a gentle stare.

"Bruce, did you forget that Tony and I have also been through some rough break-ups? I was with Sharon for years and Pepper was basically Tony's first love. You could've talked to us. You should've talked to us. We may not have become friends until this year but I care about you."

Maybe it was the Rogers effect. Maybe it was the medication still in his system. Maybe it was how sensitive he was, but Steve's words caused Bruce to hug Steve before he could think about it. He thought maybe it was weird because they were both bros, but when Steve hugged back tightly, Bruce couldn't care less.

Betty's gone, but I'm not alone.

Suddenly their tender moment was interrupted by Steve's cell ringing loudly from his pocket. Steve kept one arm around Bruce as he used the other to reach into his pocket and answer the call. Seeing Tony's ID pop on on screen he put the phone on speaker mode.

"Hi, Tony." he greeted.

"Cap baby! What's going on? What are you up to?" asked Tony.

"I'm with Bruce at his house."

"Hey, Tony." said Bruce.

"Brucie Boy! Mister Knockout! How you feelin', bud?"

"Everything still hurts some but otherwise I'm okay."

"What's up with you, Tony?" asked Steve.

"Heyyyy so, I wanted to go out with Clint tonight but he declined my offer. On top of that he doesn't sound like he wants to see me tonight. You guys wanna keep me company?"

Bruce and Steve looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Why was Clint blowing off Tony?

"I mean sure I guess." said Bruce, not sure what to make of that.

"We'll be at your place soon."

"Sweet! Hurry up. I got something that might help Brucie Boy out with the pain."

A weird fluttery feeling came in Bruce's gut when Tony hung up.

What does he mean by that? Do I really want to know?

When Steve and Bruce stepped out of the elevator to Tony's floor, they saw that he was outside on his patio with the screen door open. The two went out there as well, seeing Tony leaning out on the balcony with something small and white in his hand. As they got closer to him, Steve was hit with a certain funky, earthy scent. Tony turned his head and smiled goofily at them as they approached.

"Good evening, gentlemen." he said kind of slowly.

Steve crossed his arms. He knew he smelled that right.

"Pot, Tony? Really?"

Bruce's eyes widened.

"What?!"

Tony casually shrugged as he took a hit of his joint.

"Don't look at me like that, Cap. It's been a while. Besides I know you don't really approve of me drinking a lot and I needed to relax."

Tony purposefully blew a cloud of smoke in his friends' faces, causing them both to cough a little. Steve wasn't exactly antiweed but he wasn't really a fan either.

"Is this why you invited us over?" he asked.

Tony smiled and nodded.

"Absolutely. Well, at least partially."

Steve put his hand on the brunet's shoulder, looking right into his slightly red eyes.

"Is everything alright, Tony? Are you that upset about the Clint thing?" he asked.

Tony rolled his eyes as he took another hit.

"You know, not everything in my life revolves around Mr. Barton right? Yeah I am a little peeved about that but I've got other shit on my mind, too. Some shit went down and right now I just want to unwind."

Steve nodded, remembering he needed to try and ease up more. Despite the trouble that happened, part of him was still peeved that he had to beg to come along on their game of Hood Ornament.

"Okay. Alright. I actually prefer High Tony over Drunk Tony anyway." he jested.

It was true though. At least when he smoked he tended to be a lot more low-key. Tony snickered loudly, wrapping his joint free arm around Steve's shoulder.

"Ah but Drunk Tony has the wildest parties. Anyways, I know you're not up for this but how about you, BB?"

Bruce arched his brows, seeming really confused.

"What about me?" he asked.

"You want some of this kush? It's good for pain relief and relaxation. This shit will have you right."

Bruce's jaw dropped, making Tony snicker even more. Steve didn't know what to think. Tony was right about him. He'd never had a desire to smoke weed a day in his life. Every other time Tony offered it in the past he respectfully declined. Now here he was offering some to Bruce. Bruce didn't seem like the type to indulge in the greenery so he wouldn't be more likely to partake any more than Steve would. Right?

"Well, Bruce? What do you think?" asked the tall boy.

Much to his surprise, Bruce seemed to be seriously contemplating it.

"Well I mean, I'm not going to lie and say I'm not curious about it. And I have read a lot about the medicinal purposes of the stuff."

Tony inhaled a third hit and this time blew it in only Bruce's face.

"Listen to me, Bruce; I'm not going to pressure you into doing anything you don't want to do. You're gonna feel weird. I mean, really weird, but trust me, it'll help." he explained.

He reignited the joint and held it up to Bruce, whose left hand was slowly reaching for it.

"So, what's it gonna be?" asked Tony.

Steve knew the decision was made when he saw the shorter curly haired boy lick his lips.

Bruce let out another series of harsh coughs as he took his third hit. His chest felt like it was on fire and his mouth tasted like smoke but the effects of the marijuana were kicking in fast and kicking in hard. The three of them had went back inside and were sitting on the carpet in front of the couch. Tony and Bruce sat next to each other as they passed the joint back and forth. Steve sat across from them using his shirt to cover his mouth. He was still flabbergasted that Bruce Banner of all people was smoking weed for the first time, but at least it was with a friend who knew what he was doing. After coughing for the ten thousandth time, Bruce's fast started to turn pink as he laughed at nothing.

"How you feeling, BB?" asked Tony.

"I feel like...like...weird but like, good, you know. Like," Bruce slurred out, but his sentence was interrupted by another fit of unprompted giggling.

Tony clapped him on the arm, laughing himself.

"Gotta say I didn't think you'd go through with it, Brucie. Bet you're feeling lit right now, aren't ya?"

Bruce just kept laughing as he rolled onto the carpet, holding his sides.

"You know I hate that word, but it's pretty damn accurate right now." he said in between more coughs.

"Oh, son of a bitch. My lungs feel like somebody kicked me in the chest."

Tony looked at Steve, who while not enjoying the smell or the cloud of smoke around them, was undeniably amused. He'd never imagined he'd see the day where Bruce was getting high and swearing.

"Yeah that's normal the first couple times. You know what sounds good right now? A fucking milkshake!" Tony yelled loudly.

Bruce's eyes went wide at the mention of junkfood.

"Oh my God, yes! I thought munchies were just a thing in the movies."

Even Steve couldn't manage a straight face. He and Tony cackled out loud together as the millionaire slowly stood up, his knees wobbling like pool noodles.

"I'd love to get them but I'm so high right now my legs feel weightless. A little help, Cap?" he asked.

That did nothing to stop Bruce's incessant laughter, which only doubled after he saw Tony try to swagger over to the doortr.

"Oh my god, you look like you're trying to walk on the moon."

"You are on the moon, Bruce!"

"Like you aren't there with me?"

"Touche."

Steve stood him and helped Tony sit back down next to their brainy friend.

"As the only one in here on planet Earth, I'll go ahead and grab the milkshakes. Where are they?" he asked.

"Downstairs kitchen where I usually have my smoothies. There should be a case of premade choco-taco milkshakes." Tony answered.

Bruce's jaw dropped as he gasped with a high pitched squeal.

"Oh my god! Steve go get them now! Right now!" he called out.

The blue eyed blond just giggled and made his way to the elevator, leaving Tony and Bruce alone for a minute. Tony turned his head and got a good look at his friend. He'd smoked marijuana on occasion here and there in recent years but it was mostly by himself. Steve obviously didn't express interest, Thor was against drugs, and Pepper and Rhodey both tried it once but didn't enjoy it that much. Seeing Bruce Banner, the sweet shy nerdy boy he is, with his eyes pink and stoned demeanor, was interesting to say the least.

"How's the hand?" asked Tony.

Bruce looked down at his wrist, trying his best to focus on something other than the wave of euphoria washing over his body.

"It's alright I guess. Kinda numb actually."

Bruce then looked at Tony.

"Have you ever done this with Clint?"

Just the mention of his boyfriend's name brought a goofy smile to Tony's face.

"Nah. I don't do this that often so it never occurred to me to even bring it up with ol' Clyde. I feel like it'd be fun though. He's so rigid most of the time."

Bruce bit down on his lip and chuckled mischievously.

"You like him, don't you?" he asked teasingly.

Both high as a kite, the two of them leaned on each other and snickered for what seemed like hours.

"I do. I really do. I mean I really do. I...I'm in love with him." Tony found himself saying without thinking.

Suddenly Bruce's snickering stopped cold. He looked directly into his friend's eyes, taking in the shock on his face when he realized what he'd just said. It wasn't like Tony's love for Clint was a secret, but hearing him actually utter the words just felt like a game changer.

"Oh my god, Bruce. I am so fucking high right now. Are you gonna tell anyone I said that?"

"Dude, I'm baked like a cake right now. As far as I'm concerned, every word between us is the weed talking and not us."

Tony threw his arms around Bruce and hugged him tightly.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you so much. You are such a good fucking person, Bruce Banner. I know you'll find love again."

Bruce scoffed. He was skeptical about that subject but he said nothing further about it and kept hugging him.

"Tony, not that this hasn't been fun, but why were you smoking weed by yourself before you invited us over? What's got you down?"

"No down here, BB. Nothing but high. So high. Like, I'm really high."

Bruce looked up at Tony, his eyes going sober for just a second to give him a suspisious glance. Tony then rolled his eyes and slowly let Bruce go.

"Seriously, don't worry about it. I'll go into details about it later. Right now I just wanna enjoy this. Jesus, where the hell is Steve with those milkshakes?"

"Can you potheads relax? I wasn't gone that long." came a welcome voice holding a box with several shakes.

"Potheads? That's a bit extreme, eh Cap?" Tony slurred out.

Bruce, still hardly able to move, reached out for a shake as best he could before falling over and laying down on the floor with his face in the carpet.

"Can you just hand me mine?"

A/N: Not too much going on here but I wanted to get the ball rolling. I haven't posted a chapter in way too long. Hopefully you're all still following and enjoying.