Tony couldn't believe what he just saw. He left for five minutes and came back to his boyfriend punching Captain Fucking America (never mind how hot that was). What the fuck had happened to drive Bruce to violence, but not drive him far enough to bring out the other guy?

Once Bruce left the lab, Steve turned to him and sighed, but Tony didn't even let him get a word out. "What the hell, Steve? What did you say to him?"

Now Steve looked annoyed. "Seriously? You see him punch me and you ask me what I did?"

"Yep. No question. Bruce could have wiped the floor with you had he really wanted, but clearly he was sending you a message – which means you put your big Captainy boot in your mouth in some spectacular way."

"I don't know about that, I was just worried. He's messing around and people could get hurt."

Ah. Steve had figured it out. "Steve, what Bruce and I do is none of your business, and no one is going to get hurt. Leave him alone."

"No Tony, not what you and Bruce do here…he had marks on his neck, I think him messing around with girls could be dangerous…"

Or maybe he hadn't. "Ok, Captain Oblivious, listen. I left those marks on his neck, there are no girls, and there is no danger. We've been working carefully to make sure everything we do is responsible, though if I'm not mistaken, you've undone all our hard work in about thirty seconds. That man has more self-control than either of us can imagine and you just spit in his face."

Steve looked completely stunned. He sank down onto the stool behind him and just sat silent for a moment. "Banner and…you?"

"Yeah. Something so hard to believe about that?" Tony knew the forties were a different time, but he really hoped Steve was above casual homophobia.

"No, it's…it's just unexpected, that's all. I thought you had a girlfriend? Or do you still?"

Tony shook his head. "Did. Pepper. We ended it after Loki, when I knew that, well, Bruce existed."

Steve stared down at his hands for a few minutes. "Well. Well, I'm just a total ass, aren't I? I don't even know why I felt the need to press him on it. I just had this mental image…"

"Yeah, don't worry, he does too. That's why we've been so careful about it, and now who knows? I hope I can save some of our progress."

"Stark, I'm sorry. I should have known better. I trust Bruce, and I trust you." He got up and looked around the lab. "Where do you think he's gone? I want to apologize."

"Probably not the best idea. Let him cool down. I have a feeling I know where he is, but seeing you might…make things worse. I'll talk to him, and you can make it up to him later."

"Okay. I'll leave you to that then. And again…sorry."

After Steve made his way out of the lab, Tony headed up to the top of his tower, to his penthouse. He was hoping Bruce had made his way there to cool off. He was right, and Bruce was leaning against one of the newly-replaced glass windows, not far from the Loki-shaped dent he'd left in the floor. Tony hadn't had that fixed yet, and wasn't sure he wanted to. It was a nice memento.

Bruce had his arm on the glass, and was resting his head on his arm, staring out over the city. He didn't look over when Tony came to stand next to him. Tony didn't speak; he just slung his arm across Bruce's shoulders and leaned into him. "Steve's an asshole. He knows it."

"I'd say he had a point, but you'd just argue with me. I know he's an asshole. I'm glad he does too. It just really fucking hurt, to hear that he thought so little-"

"Yeah, he's seen the error of his ways. I helped."

"Well, that tongue of yours can do miraculous things."

Before Tony could reply, Bruce turned and started walking away.

"Where are you going?"

"Bed."

"Bruce, it's three in the afternoon."

Bruce stopped and half-turned towards Tony, looking at him with those bottomless brown eyes. "I know."

Tony smiled and followed his lover into the bedroom.