Author's note: Glad everyone seemed to enjoy Bruce's appearance. :D So, more Bruce in this chapter! ^^
It's odd how waiting has a tendency to stretch time into seemingly near-infinity. He doesn't feel up to doing anything productive while Bruce is in there with Loki, so instead he plays around with his phone, thumb moving haphazardly across the screen.
A part of him wishes he had stayed in the room as Bruce was treating his patient, but it had somehow felt like an invasion of Loki's privacy, so instead he had left. He isn't sure he would have liked having someone around to gawk and gape at his injuries if he'd been in a similar situation.
Well, that, and being in the same room as an undressed Loki didn't seem like a terribly good idea, given Tony's previous history in that regard.
But at least it didn't seem like the god was too badly hurt, if Bruce's initial assessment was any indication. Even if it should turn out that he's sustained a cracked rib or two, even that will heal in a few weeks, despite how painful such an injury would be. So as long as it's nothing worse, he supposes he should be grateful, considering all the things that could have happened.
And he was really lucky that Bruce was in town, and able to stop by on short notice, so that's another thing he should probably be thankful for as well.
Of course, as expected, the guy had been shocked and appalled once he arrived and Tony took him aside to explain things. He hadn't told Bruce much over the phone, just informed him that it was an emergency situation that needed the utmost discretion, offering vague, non-committal answers to the prodding, uncomfortable questions that followed. And he wouldn't be surprised if Bruce had assumed Tony was bringing him in to deal with the aftermath of some fetish sex game of his gone wrong or something, but it was probably better to let him believe that than to tell him the truth over the phone.
After his recapping of the day that the envoy from Asgard showed up on his doorstep with a shackled god in tow, and a quick and heavily censored run-down of the days that followed, ending with the mishap in the subway that led to Loki's current condition, Tony had to endure a long lecture on just why slavery is a terrible violation of human rights and a plight on civilization. As if Tony didn't already know that. He hated being guilt-tripped like that; as if he was some slavery abolishment detractor who had been delighted about this arrangement.
For a frightening moment, Tony thought he saw a flicker of green twinkle as he locked eyes with the other man, and inwardly cursed himself for not thinking ahead. What if Bruce hulked out, too upset by this grievous affront to his ethics to remain in control of himself? Tony would have some serious redecorating to deal with in the upcoming weeks, if he at all survived. But the gods were good, and Bruce calmed down from his agitated state, even apologized for his boorish behaviour and the words spoken in anger, and admitted that there was nothing Tony could have done to prevent the situation.
And Tony has sure heard a lot worse in his life – in fact, he does on an almost daily basis – so he graciously accepted the apology from the somewhat shame-faced, once again soft-spoken Bruce, who assured him that he would of course have no objections to treating Tony's charge, as he delicately referred to Loki as, as if the mere word slave was enough to offend his sensibilities and bring forth the beast.
So all in all, given the situation, he supposes things turned a lot better than what he could have hoped for the moment he stood face to face with the intruding Asgardians and realized what was going on.
Then there's a click from a door opening, and Tony puts his phone away, steeling himself.
"So how's he doing?" he asks as soon as Bruce steps out of the make-shift hospital room, closing the door behind him.
"He'll be alright," the man answers in his usual soft-spoken voice as he turns to face Tony. "The most serious injury is a cracked rib, but it should heal in a few weeks. He's lucky he didn't sustain any worse damage, because those guys worked him over pretty badly. Besides the split lip and cut to the forehead that you've already seen, there are bruises and swellings all over his body, and he will be in pain for quite some time."
Grimacing, Tony drags a hand through his hair, clutching at a patch at the back of his head. "Damn. Anything I can do to help speed the recovery process up?" he asks, though he doubts there is.
Bruce shakes his head. "No, his body will have to heal on its own; he just needs to stay in bed for a while and recuperate, and he should be fine. I left him a bottle of painkillers that should last him the duration. However, if there are any complications – which I don't expect there will be – don't hesitate to call me again, and I'll do what I can."
"I will," Tony agrees. "Thanks for helping me – and Loki – out, and for keeping this between you and me." Yeah, what would he have done without Bruce, really? As uncomfortable as the man might be with the whole situation, at least Tony can count on him to be discrete.
If this ever should get out, that he is harbouring a war criminal who wrecked massive havoc on New York, he'd have a bloodthirsty mob outside his tower quicker than it would take him to down a glass of cheap scotch. Not even Pepper would have been able to salvage the situation, like she always used to do so expertly whenever he made a spectacle of himself in public, something that would happen with regular intervals.
To say nothing of how Fury and his SHIELD would come stomping down his door, dragging Loki with them to an underground cell somewhere where he'd probably be killed after they'd gained all the information and test results that they wanted. And then, there'd be a pissed-off delegation from the Magic Floating Fortress in the sky apparating in his house demanding to know why he, a puny mortal, has dared to cross the holy will of His Royal Dictatorship and give his bequeathed toy away to someone else when it was specified in the fine print that he didn't even get to sign that no one else should get to play with it.
And considering the way Asgard deals with those that displease them, he really doesn't feel like being on the receiving end of their wrath. He's pretty sure his head looks better on his shoulders than it would adorning the gates of Valhalla.
However, that is certainly not the only reason.
No, merely thinking about Loki being handed over to a drastically shortened life as a test subject and what would probably be a fair bit of torture on the side, given the way Director Cyclops deals with people in his custody who aren't as keen as him on the concept of cooperating, makes something twist inside of him. And not just because he finds the concept of torture and summary executions morally offensive and revolting.
"No problem," Bruce interrupts his thoughts. "That's what friends are for. And besides, keeping the identities of my patients classified falls under the label of professional secrecy and is not information I would share with external parties." He follows his comment with a shrug, as if it is an everyday occurrence for him to treat intergalactic war criminals stowed away in people's towers.
"Yeah, well, I owe you, buddy." Tony slaps a friendly hand on Bruce's shoulder, squeezing slightly in what is supposed to be a male bonding kind of gesture. "If you ever need some nano-calibrated spectral metal alloy or an allographic permutator voice steering system, you know where to ask. And hey, I'll even throw in my complete A-team DVD collection for a long-term loan," he offers. "But no scratches on the box, it's special limited edition!"
"I'll keep that in mind," Bruce says with the hint of a smile. Then he gets serious again.
"You know, I asked Loki how he was faring with this whole situation, and I think I should ask you the same thing," he continues, crossing his arms in front of him. "So, how are you getting by with all of this? I imagine it must have been quite the… change for you."
Tony can't help but snort. "Yeah, that's putting it mildly. Seriously, sometimes it feels like my entire world has been turned upside down, and my life put on a never-ending roller-coaster with this guy."
Bruce regards him for a little while. "How long has Loki been here?"
Tony informs him. Damn, has it really been that long?
"I see," Bruce nods. "So how are the two of you getting along, then?"
"Right now… it's going alright… I suppose…" he trails off, not sure what he wants to mention to Bruce and what he'd rather keep quiet about. This is the first time he's had the opportunity to speak with an outside part about all this with the exceptions of Thor, if he at all counts as an outside part with his vested interest in Loki's welfare. In any case, bringing the subject up for discussion with Bruce seems a lot easier than talking about it with Loki's own brother. And who knows how long it will be before he gets a chance like this again, if ever?
"Jeez, this whole situation is just so fucked up," he blurts out, his unperturbed façade suddenly falling to pieces. But it would be ridiculous for him to stand here and pretend that he's okay with this situation, to technically be the owner of another human – alien – being, and all the implications that come with something like that.
Bruce says nothing, but his eyes urge Tony to continue, so he does.
"I mean, I'm supposed to own the guy, as if he's freaking property. Heck, I could do anything to him that I like – except for losing him in the subway, apparently – and no one in Asgard would bat even an eyelash. He isn't even allowed to defend himself or do anything. Seriously, how fucked up isn't that?"
Though he doesn't really want to, he says it anyway. "You know, when he first came here, he expected me to… hurt him." Yeah, unspecific like that. It will have to do. He can't bring himself to say all of what Loki had initially expected from him. "He was so afraid of me, and I… didn't even realize it at first."
"Don't blame yourself, Tony." There's something oddly nerve-soothing about Bruce's calm, non-judgemental attitude. "You told him you wouldn't hurt him once you understood that, didn't you?"
"Yeah, sure. But still. I should have realized it sooner."
"None of us is perfect. This is an extreme situation to be thrown into, and let's be honest here – how many people do you know that would have handled this kind of situation more proficiently than you have?" Bruce asks as removes his glasses and starts wiping them with the sleeve of his shirt. A couple of moments later, he puts them back on the bridge of his nose and gives Tony a long, searching look. "But you know what? I think Loki trusts you. After you left the room, he kept glancing towards the door as if he was hoping you'd come back."
Tony raises an eyebrow at that. Then again, perhaps Loki had just wanted to keep his best option for an escape route in sight, if Bruce should Hulk out on him. And maybe he should have thought better of leaving Loki alone with Bruce, after what had happened the last time the two of them had met. Yeah, just another one of those times when he never considered things from Loki's point of view.
Still, he hopes that Bruce is right. He would have liked him to be.
"Now, it's true that Loki has committed serious crimes and should be punished for them," Bruce continues, "but everyone deserves a second chance. And perhaps you can be the one to give it to him, if Asgard won't."
Truth be told, he really has no idea just what kind of chances he could possibly offer an enslaved god, but everything is sure sounding so nice and dandy and lofty when Bruce is the one saying it. He just wishes it would be that easy too once the man has walked out the door, leaving Tony to deal with this weird situation and his even weirder feelings.
He sighs. "You know, I used to think I was the living example of 'the man who has everything'. Perhaps that's why the universe thought it would be funny to dump a slave into the lap of the great Tony Stark just to prove me wrong for once."
Bruce's lips quirk upwards in an amused grimace. "I think you flatter yourself."
"Hey, I'm doing my best."
At that, Bruce turns serious again. "And no one expects any more of you than that, Tony. Keep that in mind."
Well, in a way, he supposes Bruce is right. At least it's good to hear it from someone else.
"You know, I suppose I should go check on Loki," he says with a sigh, nodding towards the closed door.
"You do that," Bruce says as picks his doctor's bag up, preparing to leave. "If there's anything, be it either in regards to Loki or to yourself, don't hesitate to give me a call."
"Thanks, Bruce."
"Take care, Tony." One non-assuming smile and one finger adjusting slipped-down glasses later, Bruce nods his good-bye, and Tony is left standing alone in the middle of the room, exhaling a deep breath and making a relieved grimace.
Well, that certainly went above expectations.
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