Splash War
Tony had an idea. As soon as they got back to Stark Tower, he got to work. Since Bruce didn't seem to have any good memories, he was going to start making memories with him. They would do all the nice, normal things that Bruce should have been able to do as a child. But first, of course, he asked Bruce if he wanted him to stay home after such an emotionally draining therapy session.
“No,” Bruce replied quietly, “I think I just need to be alone for a while. I'm exhausted.”
So Tony left, heading into the city centre where he could shop. There he found a store selling swimwear and bought two pairs of swim trunks. He also took a moment to ogle the female mannequins in their skimpy bikinis. See, he told himself, I still like girls.
When he got back in his car, he checked the weather report and called the whole team, as well as Rhodey and Happy, and told them where to meet the next day.
He stayed awake that night, listening for movement outside his bedroom door, asking J.A.R.V.I.S. every once in a while, “Is that Banner I hear out in the hall again?” trying hard to sound annoyed, rather than hopeful.
J.A.R.V.I.S's response each time would be, “There's no one in the hall, sir.” And once he added, “Perhaps you are hallucinating from lack of sleep?”
“Don't mock me, J.A.R.V.I.S.,” Tony answered. “Just wake me if he comes.”
But he never came.
In the morning, Tony jumped out of bed, feeling like it was Christmas morning. He couldn't wait to see the look on Bruce's adorable face when he told him what he had planned. He was in the middle of making omelets for breakfast when Bruce padded into the kitchen, yawning, still in his pyjama pants and a t-shirt. A bit modest, as far as Tony was concerned, but he knew he'd get to see that furry chest later.
“Hey, bro!” he said cheerfully. “Guess what we're doing today?”
“Coffee first,” Bruce muttered, yawning again. He wasn't a morning person.
Tony poured him some coffee and handed him an omelet on a plate. He waited patiently while Bruce settled at the table and took his first few sips.
“Alright, alright! Tony, do you even realize you're, like, inches from my face and grinning like a maniac? Just tell me what we're doing and quit hovering over me.”
“We're going to Lake George!”
Bruce gave a sceptical look. “Okay, that's a three hour drive, Tony.”
“I know!” Tony enthused. “Road trip, buddy! But honestly, we both know it won't take three hours at the speed I drive.”
Bruce still didn't look like he liked the idea. “Well, I don't even have a bathing suit, and I've got a lot of work to do. This project I'm working on for--”
Tony cut him off. “Don't worry about it, I've got you covered. I bought you a bathing suit and you deserve a day off, anyway. Look, I want to make up for that day you had to come home early from the lake with your mom. I know I can't make up for your childhood, but let me at least try.”
Bruce frowned but relented. “You've gotta let me pick the radio station, though.”
***
He picked classic rock, which made Tony want to lift him right off the ground in a giant hug, but he restrained himself. He was getting so sick of restraining himself lately. For the two hour drive they talked and laughed and sang along to The Rolling Stones and Creedence Clearwater Revival. By the time they pulled into the parking lot beside the lake, Tony felt like they were definitely besties.
They grabbed their bags of towels and food from the backseat and walked down to a shady spot on the grass near the water's edge where the rest of the gang were already there, lounging on towels in their bathing suits. Tony saw disappointment flicker on Bruce's face even as he waved to the others.
“I thought it was going to be... you know, just the two of us,” he said quietly.
“Oh... uh...” Tony was taken aback. He had just assumed that Bruce would want to hang out with everyone. “Well, next special thing we do – because there'll be more, trust me – it'll be just the two of us,” he assured him, silently kicking himself for spoiling the opportunity to have alone time together.
They dropped off their bags and headed for the change rooms, where Tony handed Bruce his new swim trunks.
“Green,” he said, rolling his eyes, “of course. Thanks.”
***
The water was freezing. Clint, who had jumped right in without hesitation and was already swimming out into the middle of the lake, turned and hollered, “Hurry up, ya pussy!” to Tony as he stood, wet up to his waist, cringing every time he took a step and the water lapped higher.
“I'll get there, just give me a min--”
Suddenly, he felt two pairs of hands on his back and he was pushed into the cold water. Yelling obscenities, he turned and saw Bruce and Steve waist-deep in the water, both doubled over laughing.
“Oh yeah? You think you're gonna get away with that?” Ignoring Steve, because there was only one guy on his mind, he leaped playfully at Bruce and grabbed him in a mock choke hold, wrestling him into the water.
“Stop!” Bruce shouted, laughing, but Tony dragged him further in and dunked his head under.
“Leave him alone. Sheesh, why do guys have to be so brutal?” Natasha complained as she stepped gingerly past Steve, who promptly threw her, shrieking, into the water.
Now there was a big splash war going on, and Thor jumped in, too, his long hair fanning out on the surface of the lake, to get in on the action. Bruce tried to dunk Tony, but he wasn't strong enough.
“Don't try to use my own move on me,” Tony chided as Bruce put him in a choke hold, “it'll never work.” He pushed him under the water again, and when he came up, sputtering, all he could do was splash Tony in revenge.
Everyone was laughing and having more fun even than the little kids who played and swam nearby. It had been a great idea to come here: now Bruce would have a great new memory to go along with the old.
Bruce stopped laughing and splashing to nudge Tony's ribs under the water, which was up to their nipples where they stood, “Hey, look.”
He nodded toward Clint, further out in the water where he had been swimming alone. Now, Natasha was out there with him, and she had her arms around his neck.
“They're looking awfully lovey-dovey.”
Tony nodded, not speaking. He was jealous – not of Clint, but of the fact that they could just do that and, aside from being a bit eyebrow-raising, it was no big deal. He knew it would be a big deal if he and Bruce were doing anything like that. Or if the group knew that they had shared a bed.
Without really thinking, he reached out and put his hand on Bruce's chest. Bruce grabbed his hand, almost reflexively, as if to push it away, but instead he held it there. They stood, looking into each other's eyes, until Thor came and pushed them both under.
***
“Okay, which joker invited Pepper?” Tony hissed.
They were back on the shore, basking in the heat of the afternoon on their beach towels and drinking lemonade that Steve had brought, and Pepper was approaching in an extremely tiny black polka-dot bikini.
“I did,” Natasha said, shrugging her shoulders. “I didn't want to be the only woman with all you wild and crazy men.”
“Well, Pepper and I are broken up,” Tony said venomously.
“Yeah, I know. She's here to hang out with me, not you.”
But she didn't appear to be there for Natasha, as she strolled right over to Tony where he was drying off.
“Hey, you,” she said, eyeing him up and down with a sly look. “Looks like you went swimming without me.”
“Pepper,” he motioned for her to follow as he moved out of earshot of the others, “This is really not a good time for awkward conversations between exes – this is supposed to be a fun memory-making day for Bruce – so why don't you and Natasha just go do your own thing? You know, get manicures or do yoga, something ladies like to do.”
“Tony,” she put her hand on his chest in just the same way he had done in the water, “I miss you. I don't know why, but... look, all you have to do is apologize for your ridiculous jealousy and I'll take you back.”
“Me apologize?” He glared at her. “You're the one who brought a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to my home! I'm not going to --”
He stopped himself. She sure looked sexy in that little bikini. Now that he was feeling it again, he realized he had missed the feeling of her soft hands on his skin. And... well... she looked sexy, what else mattered? Maybe he would apologize.
He pushed back her blond hair, tucking it behind her ear, and brushed his hand over her cheek. “Pepper, I...”
Then something made him look to where the rest of the group was sitting a few feet away on the grass, a feeling like he was being watched. Sure enough, Bruce was looking at them, the beads of water on his shoulders and chest glistening in the sun, a sad little smile of resignation on his face. He had to go to him.
“I'm sorry, Pepper, I can't talk right now; I told Bruce I'd sit with him.”
He went quickly back to the group and sat on his knees on the grass behind his best friend, placing his hands on those wet shoulders. “I've been wanting to do this for a while now,” he said, beginning to massage the tight muscles, ignoring Clint's chuckle and the look of shocked amusement on his face. “You're so tense, you really gotta loosen up, little buddy.”
Bruce turned his head as much as he could and looked up at him. “Don't you want to talk to Pepper? It looks like she wants to make up.”
Tony leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “You're the one that I want.”
Bruce smiled shyly and closed his eyes. He looked like he was in a trance as he relaxed and let Tony rub all the tension from his body.
The ride home was just as wonderful as the ride to the lake had been. And this time, Tony made it last the full three hours.