Vital Communication Chapter 24

Disclaimer – how about a modicum of fluff? Just a tiny bit of domesticity for a break. No specific warnings apply, save cursing, because, hey, Tony. Oh, there is angst, because that's just where we are in the relationship...can't live without angst. (I'd like to though! Kinda tired of it, personally)

Tony led Bruce through the house. "Forgot this place was so Goddamn big. Well, we don't have to open the whole thing right away. What do you think of an elevator? Ah, who cares, exercise, am I right?" Tony was trying to cover the whirl of emotions by rambling and hoping Bruce stayed distracted trying to keep up.

Bruce just let the sound of Tony's voice wash over him, privately soaking up the dedicated and focused attention he was receiving as if he was basking in the sun. Even Hulk was happy in that moment.

The pair made it to the top floor, and Tony led the way to the back of the house. "Okay, so here's my idea. This room," and Tony released Bruce's hand with a slight frown, to turn the knob and push open the oak and cherry door. "Ugh, 80s décor. But, this room, has its own solarium attached. Mother liked to garden, and used this room for the delicate plants that couldn't adjust to New York winters. All that mess got donated to the Botanical Gardens, so you have nothing to worry about. I think it'd be a great room for you, able to be a refuge from it all. So, what do you think?" Tony had walked into the room, arms held out to showcase the space, expecting Bruce to follow.

Bruce stepped cautiously over the threshold, oddly nervous to invade this potentially sacred space of Tony's family. Tony spun on a heel to face Bruce, and watched him nervously enter the room. Bruce took in the room, seeing how the left hand wall was made of floor to ceiling glass panels, with a door set on the left hand side. The rest of the room was paneled in oak and cherry, with a pale, blond wood for wainscoting that Bruce didn't recognize. The 12' ceilings bore exposed beams that were painted white, and a couple of old fashioned, faux palm frond fans. He could see another pair of doors on the right hand wall, presumably leading to a closet and bathroom.

"Well, the glass is a concern, but it's a nice room, Tony," Bruce informed his host, turning to look at him.

"We can replace it with something less likely to break if Hulk sneezes," Tony said, dismissively.

"Why this one?", Bruce wanted to know, standing in one spot, not venturing to explore the room, or seeing much of the potential. He looked at Tony, watching his face.

"Well, why not? I figure we can make the solarium into a meditation room or something. This faces northeast, if I remember right, so it won't turn into a sauna if you don't want environmental controls. Could even make the outer glass into something that retracts, so Hulk has his own entrance. The closest room would be mine, once I get a few things changed. Um, if you want, you could take over that room too, if you think you'd need more space." Tony's rambling was picking up speed, so Bruce had to stop him.

"All right," he cut off Tony's ramble neatly, "Let's try this. We can work on some design ideas to update the room, and maybe," he explained his counter proposal. "Surely there's a room up here that doesn't need a complete overhaul before one of us can stay in it?" he had to ask.

"Um, well," Tony turned reluctant, a light blush suffusing his face. "If you don't mind sharing with me and the boys?" The billionaire refused to meet the physicist's eyes.

"Tony, how long has it been since you've been up here?" Bruce asked, nearly demanded, hands on his hips in consternation.

"Five years," Tony whispered, suddenly nervous and uneasy. He very nearly shuffled in place.

"All right. It's okay Tony. Just means there's a lot of work to do on the place. We'll take it one day at a time," Bruce told him, sympathy in his words. It had occurred to Bruce just how difficult a time Tony was having, being in the mansion again.

"Okay, yeah that works. So, let's look at the other rooms and see what we can do. JARVIS can't access the rooms yet, not until we can confirm the wiring is going to be able to handle the power. After you?", Tony explained in a rush, waving a hand to indicate they could leave.

Bruce turned and left the room to wait for Tony in the hall. Once together, they looked over the rest of the floor, as if they were on a realtor's tour. Each of the remaining 9 rooms was fairly large, just with outdated décor. One plus was an ensuite bathroom to each space, making each almost a tiny apartment.

"Don't know where to put each team member, but we'll figure something out. C'mon, let's head back downstairs and wait for lunch. You found the lab? Good," Tony was still very uncomfortable being in the house. The memories threatened to overwhelm him whenever he slowed down to think about where they were and what each room had been. He had to get control of himself if he was going to be able to help Bruce at all.

Bruce noticed his tension, and hoped the changes they made would put some of his awful memories to rest. Hoped that the presence of the team in the future would put some of the demons down. They both had so much to overcome, it was a wonder they weren't permanent members of a psych's office.

The pair meandered downstairs, Tony leading, and ignoring his surroundings as best he could. The hall they were in appeared to be a chronicle of Tony's life, in pictures and news clippings. Bruce slowed to take in the evidence of a young, vulnerable, towheaded child, who, even then, had too much of the weight of the world bearing down on such small shoulders. Bruce reached out and touched one such picture, showing Tony, maybe 8 or 10 years of age, holding up a first place Science Fair ribbon. What was startling was the grin on child-Tony's face. It was a near exact match for the "Press Grin" of today. It broke Bruce's heart to see it, and distantly, he heard Hulk roaring in renewed anger for Tony's old hurts. At least they were on the same page. Bruce clenched his eyes shut against the Hulk's anger, reminding themselves there was nothing they could do about the past, but be damned sure they made Tony happy in the future, in whatever way they could.

"Hey, what's the hold up?" Tony asked, turning back from the end of the hall.

"Nothing, Tony. Just looking at the photos," Bruce demurred, moving forward to join him. "Your science project award is pretty cool," he teases.

"Science?" Tony wonders, then he catches on to the particular photo, "Oh that. It was nothing," Tony brushed off the idea of appreciable accolades.

"Nothing huh? Not everyone can make a completely functional, small model ENIAC* machine at what, 8? 10? Pretty damn impressive if you ask me," Bruce exhorted, a smile on his face.

"Eh, who cares?" Tony dismissed, with a wave of his hand, getting a little aggravated with the discussion.

"All right Tony. I think it's impressive, even if you don't," Bruce shrugged, dropping the subject and headed down the stairs ahead of Tony.

Tony watched him go, and a small thrill swooped through his chest. Someone he liked, gave an actual damn about him? He could have floated down the stairs.

Back down on the first floor, they linked their tablets and started on a complete overhaul of the place. Ideas tossed back and forth over the next couple of hours, until lunch arrived. They didn't stop working, just kept on, around slices of pizza. A good 5 hours of planning, and they were done.

* AN: ENIAC is the first, general purpose computer.(sigh, it won't let me put in even a chopped up link) en. wikipedia wiki/ Eniac It filled a room and ran on vacuum tubes. I do believe that Tony would have been quite capable of recreating this beast, even on a small scale, and have it work. Remember, he created Dummy/Dum-E once he got to college, before JARVIS.