Don't Feed the Animals
Dr. Goldstein had told Bruce that, since he was able to talk about the abuse openly now, he didn't need to use hypnotism anymore. That was a relief to Tony, who couldn't stand to see the pain on his buddy's face anymore. He hadn't been hulking out lately either, but he continued the regular therapy each week just to be sure. He went on his own now, since Tony wasn't allowed in the room anyway.
One day he came home from a therapy session looking distraught. As soon as he saw him, Tony jumped up from the living room couch, where he was playing a car race video game with Rhodey, and stood in front of him, his hands on Bruce's arms, trying to get him to make eye contact.
“What's up, what happened?”
Rhodey glanced over briefly and called out, “I'm kicking your ass here, man, you better make it quick.”
“Rhodey, I don't care about the fucking game,” he called back, then said quietly to Bruce, still trying to catch his eye, “Do you want to go somewhere and talk? My room?”
He nodded, murmuring, “Sure, Tony.” He didn't look up to meet his gaze.
“We'll be right back,” Tony said, slapping Rhodey on the shoulder. “Don't kick my ass too hard.”
He knew how it must look, the two of them headed for his bedroom, but he didn't care. All that mattered was making sure Bruce was okay.
“What's wrong?” he asked, shutting the door.
Before answering, Bruce threw himself against Tony's chest, wrapping his arms around his waist and leaning his head on the strong protective shoulder. “It's just... talking about all the hard stuff,” he whispered. “Sometimes I think I'm so fucked up I'll never be okay.”
There were no sobs or whimpers, but Tony could feel the tears soaking through his t-shirt. “No,” he said softly, holding him close. “You're doing so much better now. You're working so hard on this; I'm really proud of you, Brucey.”
Bruce looked up at Tony with wide eyes, never the loosening the iron grip he had on him. “You mean that?” he said, incredulous. “You're... p-proud of me?” He stumbled over the word, as if it was so hard to believe that he could barely bring himself to say it. Tony could tell he'd just made his day.
“Of course I mean it,” he answered. “Look, that day at the lake was so awesome, and I really want to make more happy memories for you. With you. Just the two of us this time. When's the last time you went to a movie?”
“God, I don't know. It's been a long time.”
“Then that's what we'll do. Tonight!”
Bruce's face brightened as he pulled out of the tight hug. “Alright!” he said, smiling. “Tony, has anyone told you you're a really good friend?”
Tony grinned. “I think Rhodey did once, but he's probably about to take that back. I kinda just ditched him with the Xbox.”
Bruce laughed. “Yeah, he must be wondering what the hell we're doing in the bedroom with the door closed. Probably thinks we're making out.”
“Then maybe we should prove him right?” Tony grabbed his hips and gently tugged him closer.
Bruce, obviously thinking he was joking, just laughed again and pulled away.
***
They decided on a horror movie called The Witch.
“You scared?” Tony teased as they sat down. “It's supposed to be piss-your-pants freaky.”
“Of course I'm not scared.” Bruce munched on some popcorn as he spoke. “I'm sitting next to Iron Man, aren't I? I may have been half Hulk when you said it, but I still remember you promised to always protect me, and I'm holding you to that.”
Tony smiled and moved to put his arm around his friend's shoulder, but withdrew it when Bruce flinched and sucked in a quick breath.
“Sorry, Tony,” he said sheepishly. “I don't mind you doing that, really. It's just a reflex. I always feel like you're... you know... gonna hit me.”
“I'd never hit you,” Tony said. “You know that, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I know; you're my best friend, I trust you. Maybe just warn me before you touch me, or go slow at least.”
“Got it, no sudden moves.”
“Here,” Bruce held out the popcorn bag, “have some. It's really good.”
“No way, I don't eat that crap.” Tony waved the bag away.
“Oh, come on, it's just popcorn. At least try it.”
“Brucey, that is literally drenched in butter. I make it a rule not to eat anything coated in liquid fat.”
Bruce took a kernel anyway and shoved it against Tony's lips, saying, “Just one.”
Tony allowed him to pop the kernel in, then stuck his tongue out and playfully licked Bruce's hand before he could pull away.
“Gross,” Bruce chuckled. But he immediately got another piece of popcorn from the bag to feed Tony.
This time Tony managed to get Bruce's index finger in his mouth along with the popcorn and he gave it a long, slow suck, feeling it with his tongue. Bruce made a short moaning sound -- “unh” -- and shut his eyes for a moment and bit his lip. Tony could hardly bare that look of ecstasy on his face. He felt like a kid who had just discovered the joy of pushing an interesting button, and he wanted to push it again and again.
“Aren't you going to offer me another one?” he asked.
“Nope.” Bruce dug his hand into the popcorn bag and stuffed a handful into his own mouth. “I forgot,” he said as he chewed, “I saw a sign outside that said, 'Please Don't Feed the Animals.'”
As the lights went down and the movie began, Tony leaned in and whispered, “Can I put my arm around you?”
Bruce smiled at him. “Yeah.”
This time, since he was expecting it, he didn't flinch, and Tony kept his arm around his best pal for the entire movie.
***
They had walked to the movie theatre, which was only a few blocks from Stark Tower, and on the way home they walked with their arms around each other like drunken frat boys, laughing and jostling each other. Tony liked how Bruce was a little bit shorter than him, which meant he just had to lean his head to the side and his cheek would be resting on those soft brown curls. As they walked, he thought, What a freakin' adorable guy he is. And he finally trusts me enough to let me get close. He realized now that he had been right in his earlier impression that Bruce needed to be taken care of. Now that he saw Tony as a protector and not another violent man that could hurt him, he was happy and sweet and cuddly.
“So the movie really scared you, huh?” Bruce asked, grinning, elbowing Tony's side hard enough to make him yelp before wrapping his arm back around his waist.
“What the hell are you talking about? I don't get scared.”
“I felt you jump, Tony, so many times. Now that we're BFF's you can admit it: Tony Stark's a 'fraidy cat.”
“That's it,” he put him in a headlock and ruffled his hair, “when we get home I'm gonna beat your ass.” Then, realizing that Bruce had stopped laughing and there was a heavy silence, he corrected himself, “I mean... I'm gonna get you in the boxing ring and show you who's a 'fraidy cat.”
Bruce seemed to like that idea better.
***
Back at Stark Tower, Tony could see that Bruce was still in a playful mood, so he dragged and pushed him into the boxing ring while Bruce, laughing, fought to get free.
“Now, let's get our gloves on and settle this,” Tony said in a mock threatening voice.
“No!” Bruce giggled, grabbing Tony around the waist and tackling him to the floor of the ring.
It wasn't hard for Tony to flip himself over and get on top, pinning Bruce on his back and holding him down by the arms. He suddenly noticed that he was breathing hard even though he wasn't putting in much effort, and he felt the blood rushing to his pelvis where it was lined up perfectly with Bruce's. He couldn't resist one small thrust of his hips. Oh God, that felt good. And there was no way Bruce didn't feel it, but he was just looking silently up at Tony, letting himself be pinned there.
“God, Tony,” he breathed, and Tony felt him arch up to thrust briefly as he had done where their bodies met. Then, just as easily as he had been pinned, he wrestled Tony off and jumped up, grinning. “Gotcha!” he laughed. “You let your guard down!”