(0-1d)abny
The Battle for New York had ended, Shawarma had been eaten, Bruce had been clothed, and all was right with the world…for about five minutes. Then Fury decided to call them back for a debriefing on the limping Helicarrier. The Avengers wanted to say no; surely they’d earned a respite. But needs must, and they needed SHIELD on their side, and somewhere to incarcerate Loki. They had left him outside the Shawarma King by a parking meter with Thor’s hammer placed on his chest. Loki glared at them helplessly while they ate. Was it childish…maybe, hilarious…most definitely, and it was effective. A Quinjet came to pick them up from the shop. Tony had decided to fly on his own in the suit; he needed to have a private conversation with Pepper anyways. Thor, who would also rather fly than ride, stayed in the jet instead in order to keep an eye on his homicidal brother. Hawkeye sat next to Thor and kept his arrow drawn to his cheek as he sighted unerringly at the trickster god, waiting and hoping for him to make any kind of move to escape. Loki for his part didn’t even twitch. Though his eyes still somehow danced with infuriating amusement. Captain America kept a hand on Clint’s other arm, willing him not to commit cold-blooded murder. Dr. Banner slumped in a corner his eyes barely open, exhausted from the multiple transformations he’d undergone during the day. Natasha rode with the nervous pilot up front as they headed toward the Helicarrier buried in the clouds. The tension mounted in the close space, and suddenly broke as Loki looked to his brother. “You surround yourself with peculiar mortals, Thor. Perhaps you would not be so easy amongst them if you knew some of what I know of them.” Loki said with a sidelong glance towards the Black Widow, who ignored him, and Hawkeye, who to his credit did not flinch.
“I suggest you still your tongue brother, you have sorely harmed these warriors and their world, if they should wish to seek retribution upon you, I would be sorely pressed to intervene, especially if you would seek to provoke them.” Thor said solemnly.
“Please, provoke me.” Hawkeye stated with a cold smile, the arrow pointed at Loki’s skull almost quivering in eagerness. Steve squeezed Clint’s arm warningly as Loki looked aside, for a moment uncomfortable. He was intimately aware how serious the sharpshooter was being. The rest of the short trip passed in awkward silence.
>>><<<
Tony Stark’s repulsors cut out as he landed heavily on the deck of the Helicarrier, just after ending his conversation with Pepper. She had apologized for not picking up his call; then had yelled at him for almost dying. He had also told her about Coulson’s death. He hated her being in tears. She had landed in Japan after watching all the harrowing events on TV, and he couldn’t even hug her, he couldn’t fix it… He arrived before the Quinjet did, which turned out to be a good thing. He collapsed to both knees when he landed and breathed painfully for a full minute before pulling himself to his feet. The aches from his near death experience, probable cracked ribs and multiple contusions, bruises and total exhaustion were getting to him. He’d been able to hold out and hide it during the meal he’d insisted they have, but now it was getting to be too much. If he hadn’t been in the suit he would have collapsed by now. He gasped uncomfortably as he straightened. “Sir? Your vitals are-” A British voice began.
“I know JARVIS.” Tony interrupted, trying to allay his A.I.’s concern. “Don’t worry, after Fury’s done showering us in flowery over-the-top praises and telling us how crazy awesome we are, I’m going to hit the bed hard, for like a year or twenty, at the very least.”
“I should hope so, Sir.” JARVIS responded unhappily. Tony groaned but managed to walk towards the conference room, ignoring the SHIELD agents who hailed him. When he reached the room he spotted Fury with his hands clasped behind his back staring out of the cracked bay windows towards the city, still smoking in the distance. Tony grabbed the nearest seat and sprawled ungainly in it in the Iron Man suit. He was vaguely surprised the chair held him, though it did creak alarmingly. Fury must have heard him enter, but he continued to ignore him, saying nothing. Tony carefully pried his helmet off; the faceplate had been hastily repaired prior to their final encounter with Loki in the penthouse, and was not coming off again. Basically this suit was a hunk of scrap. He was already planning the schematics for the next one. After this battle, he had gotten more than enough input for some much needed upgrades. Tony looked around the empty room and after finding nothing to catch his interest, once more returned his attention to Fury. Never one to endure silence well Tony shattered it abruptly.
“What does a superhero have to do to get a drink around here?” Tony asked with a quick smile. Fury turned around slowly and glared at him out of his one eye, which, Tony was certain had like fifty times the power of a normal two-eyed glare.
“Hero?” Fury asked, his voice dangerously soft. Tony quickly hid his flinch at the tone and question; he checked Fury’s face before replying with his usual flippancy.
“Yeah, you know one of the people that saved New York, flew a nuke into space, killed a fucking fleet of homicidal E.T.’s. Pretty sure that counts as heroic and super.” Tony folded his arms against his chest, covering his arc reactor’s light, the dented metal scraped loudly, and sounded like a rough scream. Fury snorted a short dry laugh.
“More like grand standing and self preservation, than supposed “super” heroism.” Nick Fury said while looming over the metal table with both hands. Tony’s mouth opened and closed at the open hostility in Fury’s face and the seriousness of his words. Tony refused to believe that the man before him, a man he respected, would treat him like this after he had risked his life to stop an alien invasion and a WMD. He swiftly retreated once more into his mask of snarkness.
“What?” Stark asked while lifting a metal hand to cup his ear. “I must have misheard you, because it sure as hell sounds like you’re speaking out of your ass.” Fury moved closer to Stark, getting within his personal space as he continued driving his words home.
“You heard me Stark. You could have disarmed that nuke midflight. Or if you had managed to buckle down and focus on closing the portal in the first place that situation would have never occurred. The motherfucking hole was opened from your own front doorstep, how could you not have know that, don’t you pride yourself on knowing everything, being ten steps ahead of everybody? You could have at least have kept your temper and nosy A.I. to yourself while in the Helicarrier. If you had, Loki would still be imprisoned here, there wouldn’t be a slew of casualties, and Colson wouldn’t be a stain on those beloved cards of his.” Stark’s eyes couldn’t widen any further as he only just managed from leaning back from Fury’s rage and the horrifying accusation that he had caused a multitude of deaths including that of Agents’.
“You’re shitting me...” Tony whispered, desperately, only an inch away from pleading. Fury drove the final nail home without mercy.
“No Stark, I’m not ‘shitting’ you. You are no hero, you’re a selfish wannabe, a disgrace and a fucking huge disappointment.” Fury’s words resonated in Tony’s mind, echoing those of another. He blocked it from his mind, eyes refocusing on the man in front of him. Tony started, attempting to wrestle up some kind of defense.
“What?! No! I-” Tony said, trying to deny the undeniable truth of Fury’s words.
“Save it!” Fury snapped. “A team of real heroes have arrived and I’ve got to go and greet them.” Fury finished.
“Real heroes? Those are my team!” Tony said desperately, beginning to stand.
“No those are the Avengers, you’re the consultant, and be grateful you’re still that.” Fury said quiet and damming. Tony froze and sank back into his seat.
“But I’m-” Tony began faintly. Fury ignored him and headed back towards the open doors.
“And if you want to stay a consultant I suggest you do your job and consult, work on the repairs for the Helicarrier, and be a good little engineer.” Fury waved a hand behind him. “Why don’t you wait here, have some coffee, I’m sure your participation in the debrief will be invaluable.” Fury finished sarcastically as he left without a backward glance. Tony Stark stared after him, silent and breaking.
>>><<<
The Avengers met with Director Fury and Maria Hill when they disembarked from the Quinjet. Fury shook Captain America’s hand in welcome, while six SHIELD agents pointed their guns at Loki. Loki for his part ignored them. Thor and the rest of the Avengers reluctantly left their charge with the agents, who then proceeded to place a metallic muzzle and arm length shackles on the mad God. Thor looked like he was going to protest the treatment, but then thought better of it. Fury nodded at them and led them to the conference room where they saw a brooding Ironman, his helmet on, lazing in a chair, staring off into space. Banner collapsed into the seat next to him. Stark didn’t acknowledge his presence or anyone else’s. The rest followed suit, tiredly grabbing seats and looking toward Fury to begin the debriefing. Fury silently looked at them and then said, “You did good today, but we could have done better.” Iron Man snorted mechanically. Fury ignored the outburst and continued. “The enemy was defeated but we had many civilian and official casualties.” Hawkeye looked down at the table, remembering the men he had killed while under Loki’s control. It made him want to seek out the God in his cell and use every trick he knew to take that smug look off his face permanently. He felt a hand under the table gripping his tightly. He glanced over at Natasha next to him who looked straight ahead at Fury, her face giving nothing away. Hawkeye closed his eyes a moment and then returned his attention to the meeting. “Captain,” Fury said, with a sharp nod towards Steve. “What would you say were some of things that occurred today that could have gone better?” Iron Man shifted his head around.
“You’re kidding right?” He said incredulously. Fury stared him down while Captain America shook his head in his direction.
“No, it’s a valid question, if we are going to be working together, we need to go over what went wrong today so that we can improve our strategies. It’s the only reason I agreed to this debrief in the first place, despite how exhausted we all are. We have to go over this while it’s fresh. As you had said we may not be solders, but there are some things we have in common with them, such as protecting innocents and this will help us do exactly that.” Iron Man tilted his head.
“We?” Steve Rogers thought it was an odd thing to say but shook it off as Fury replied for him.
“Yes Iron Man, we, as in we are trying to finish this meeting. This is not one of you’re playboy parties. This matters; we are trying to save lives here.” Tony moved, pushing his chair back and gesturing with his hands.
“Fuck it does, I’ve got actual important shit I’ve got to be getting on with, like yesterday.” Iron Man said.
“You don’t know the meaning of important, you are far too arrogant; this is not your fucking kingdom. You, Stark, are no King of Thrones!” Fury yelled.
“And you, Sir, are no fucking Jack Sparrow!” Stark yelled in response. Bruce Banner snorted into his crappy SHIELD coffee in the ringing silence, as Hawkeye covered his smile with a hand. Natasha was carefully expressionless. Rogers looked around the table, confused.
“I…don’t get it.” Rogers said quietly, regretfully. Thor clapped him on the back in commiseration.
“Nor do I, who is this Sparrow, is he related to our Hawk?” Thor asked in a booming voice. Hawkeye only just resisted laughing out loud, the look on Fury’s face was priceless.
“I’ll explain it to you later.” Banner said to Thor with a suspiciously serious face. Stark stood up abruptly and started stalking to the exit. He turned around, the blue light shining from his eye slits.
“If you need me, call me, on second thought, don’t, I won’t pick up. I’m out of this fucking eye in the sky.” Tony said, and then he turned his head to Banner and added. “And Brucie you are so invited to my awesome pad, come check it out after your done with this bitch fest.” Iron Man left without another word. The others looked after him with varying degrees of confusion and consternation.
“What was that about?” Banner asked worriedly. Steve gazed after their missing teammate with disappointment swirling in his gut. Nick Fury’s eye patch twitched as he shrugged.
>>><<<
Tony crashed through the penthouse window he had originally been thrown out of hours ago. As soon as he landed on the dented and damaged marble floor he collapsed.
“Sir!” JARVIS exclaimed from within the suit.
“M-alright J, just give me a sec.” Tony said thickly as he snapped himself out of the front of the armor and crawled out, like a caterpillar from a cocoon, breathing heavily on the floor for a few minutes. He feebly pried the bracelets off his wrists.
“Well…that could have gone…better.” Tony said in a small voice, breathing painfully.
“Oh sir, would you like me to call someone?” JARVIS asked plaintively.
“Hell no.” Tony said definitively. He hated even the idea of having anyone see him this pathetic. Bad enough he’d almost broken in front of Fury. God he was so damn weak! Howard had a saying; Stark men are made of iron. He would be steel. He struggled to his feet and staggered to his bar. He chugged the most expensive bottle of liquor he could find and sank slowly down to the floor leaning against the wall as his bruised eyes winced shut, the bottle clutched like a lifeline in his weakened fist.
>>><<<
Assistant Director Maria Hill sat in Fury’s office after having watched the conference room scene unfold on her tablet as Fury entered. “I see the mission was a success.” She said. She resisted the urge to itch at the bandages that were covering the side of her face. Fury’s back slumped once the door to his office was closed. He always relaxed more when he was around her. He folded his hands in his lap as he sat down.
“A bit too successful, I expected him to put up more of a fight, but then I did know where to hit him.” Fury said. Maria noticed the pained grimace the man made no attempt to hide.
“It was…painful to watch.” She said.
“Trust me it was more painful to do, but it was necessary. The WSC will need a scapegoat for the events of today. It certainly helps that it was from Tony Stark’s own tower that the wormhole was opened, and that he was the one that diverted their nuke.” Fury said. Maria nodded.
“It was lucky you were able to get him alone first.” Fury fixed her with his trademark stare.
“Luck had nothing to do with it, the man always chooses to fly than ride. I knew he would arrive here first, why do you think I arranged for the debrief in the first place.” Maria’s lips tugged up in small smile.
“And that’s why you get paid the big bucks, Sir, or should I say Jack Sparrow, what an awful pirate joke.” She said. Fury put his hands over his head.
“No jokes, not now Maria.” He said.
“It was harsh but it needed to be done Nick.” Maria said seriously, trying to reassure her boss.
“Yes, he had to be separated from the other Avengers in such a way that the others wouldn’t protest. He’ll keep himself apart from them now. The WSC will attack, but better their ire be directed solely at Stark, than the Initiative as a whole, or SHIELD itself, the world needs us.” Fury’s back straightened with the strength of his purpose. Maria settled herself back in her chair and mimicked him.
“Yes. But who knows Sir, Stark may just surprise us and survive being left out in the cold.” Maria said. Fury shook his head slowly at her.
“Make no mistake Hill, we are not leaving him out in the cold, we are hand feeding him to the wolves. But it’s the bigger picture at stake. We have priorities.”
“And Stark isn’t one of them.” Maria said sadly.
>>><<<
“Did anyone else think that was strange?” Dr. Banner asked outside the conference room after the two hour-long debriefing. Natasha shrugged silently. Thor had left to babysit his brother and the Tesseract, until someone figured out what to do with them. Thor was already insisting that he be allowed to return them both to his own world.
“I don’t know Stark. But being offensive seems par for the course for him.” Steve Rogers said with a frown. Clint smirked.
“The only strange thing I could see was when he invited you over, you just met didn’t you?” Clint asked, curious. Banner nodded, remembering how Tony Stark was the first person he’d met in a long time to treat him like a human being despite knowing what he was. His thoughts shied away from Betty.
“We met earlier today for the first time…” Bruce said simply. Clint leaned his side against a wall, folding his arms.
“And he’s already inviting you over, I’d watch yourself if I were you.” He said.
“What do you mean?” Bruce asked his head cocked slightly to the side.
“Just saying, the guy’s known to have a reputation, right ‘Tash?” Clint insinuated, nudging the Black Widow.
“Hmm.” Natasha said noncommittally, staring off into the distance. Clint shook his head.
“Right, well, are you really going to see him?” Clint asked.
“He did invite me, and it’s not as if I have anywhere else to stay. I certainly have no wish to experience SHEILD’s hospitality anytime soon; I’m pretty sure my room was jettisoned. Besides, I’d like an explanation of what went on in that debrief, something smelled…off about it.” Banner said. Steve wondered if Banner might not be right, Fury seemed if anything to be goading Stark, which was…odd. However, Stark was volatile in a way his father, Howard had never been, and completely dismissive of authority. He was vaguely surprised the billionaire had even listened to him at all during the battle. But it was undeniable the man was a hero, even if he had teamwork issues. Steve had learned just how dangerous that rocket (nuke) could have been, far too dangerous. He still had trouble believing his friend Howard would have had a hand in designing something capable of that level of destruction. He shook himself out of his revere, he was far more tired than he had realized. Today had been a long day, not the longest he had ever had, but definitely up there. He reached out a hand to Banner.
“Well, it was nice working with you Dr. Banner. I hope to see you again soon.” Captain America said while shaking the man’s hand with a smile on his face.
“You as well, Captain.” Banner replied politely, returning the grip. Banner turned and left towards the Quinjet dock.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Clint called after him with a leer.
“Which doesn’t leave much left.” Natasha muttered under her breath. Bruce Banner ignored the assassins, and headed for what was left of Stark Tower, wondering if he was making a huge mistake.
>>><<<
“Sir?” The English accent drifted through the dark and decimated penthouse. Dark save for a faint blue light shinning behind a sweat soaked shirt.
“N-no, pl-.” Tony Stark’s voice whispered desperately from behind the bar.
“Sir! Sir!” The voice insisted, breaking through Tony’s nightmares with the long ease of practice. Tony startled awake, jostling the spilled bottle beside him on the floor.
“W-what?” Tony stuttered.
“Sir, Dr. Banner is down in the lobby.” JARVIS answered. Tony blinked at the information and remembered everything, and then immediately tried to forget what had happened on the Helicarrier.
“What? Oh, right, buddy Brucie’s here. Yay! Wha-” He asked.
“You’ve slept for little over two hours sir.” JARVIS precipitated the answer.
“Right, time to get moving then, Ow, son of a bitch!” Tony began to more off the cold floor and then clutched at his side. He climbed the rest of the way painfully and gripped the bar to stay upright. “Tell him I’ll be right down.”
“Of course Sir.” JARVIS replied. Tony began to work his way to the elevator, until JARVIS’s apologetic voice stopped him. “Sir, the lift is currently out of order due to the extensive damage the building has taken, you’ll have to take the stairs.” Tony stared at the nearest eyecam incredulously.
“You’re kidding, right? Seriously J, that’s like 93 flights.” Tony said.
“I know Sir.” JARVIS answered. Tony groaned, his shoulders hunching in on themselves.
“Ugh. I knew I should have installed that fireman’s pole, but Pepper said I couldn’t.” Tony whined piteously.
“I’m aware Sir, would you like me to inform Dr. Banner to meet you half way?” JARVIS asked, after already having asked Dr. Banner to do so. Tony nodded, relieved to have the hellish stair climbing time halved.
“Yeah sure, why not?”
>>><<<
Dr. Bruce Banner had tiredly walked to the tower from where the jet had left him. He entered what was left of Stark Tower stepping carefully though the shattered glass doors and moved through the empty lobby with something approaching trepidation. He was just about to change his mind and look for some hotel to crash in, when a prim English voice suddenly appeared out of thin air and greeted him. “Dr. Banner. Welcome to Stark Tower, the lifts are currently out of order but if you would use the stairs to your right you will be led to Mr. Stark, who is eagerly awaiting you.” Bruce started back and looked around frantically for the source of the voice.
“Um…right, and you are?” He asked, half worried that he might be even more exhausted than he had at first thought. The voice spoke again.
“I am JARVIS, an A.I. created by Sir in order to assist him.” Banner thought about that for a second.
“Sir meaning Tony Stark I presume.” Bruce asked.
“Correct.” JARVIS responded.
“Okaay.” Bruce said taking the impressive A.I. in stride. He looked over at an emergency door over to the right and headed towards it. “I’ll take the stairs then, um, how many flights is this building?” He asked while looked at the ceiling, needing to direct his eyes while speaking to the disembodied voice.
“Do not worry, Sir is coming down to meet you half way as I speak.”
“Oh, well that’s alright then.” Banner said while nodding, too tired to notice or recognize the emotion that colored the A.I.’s voice.
He met Tony Stark after staggering up more than fifty flights. He was pretty sure the endless stairs would have been the death of him if he weren’t already certain that he was nigh unkillable. He turned the corner, wondering if it would be worth it to just give up and go back down, when he saw Tony Stark lying in a curled unconscious sweaty lump on the next landing. He rapidly ran up to the man and crouched above him. He breathed a sigh of relief at finding that he was still breathing, even if it was labored. Banner’s experience over the past few years came to the fore as he felt at Stark’s neck and found his pulse was thready but there. He thumbed open an eyelid and checked his pupil, noting the smell of liquor on his breath as he did so. He also noticed the pallor of the billionaire’s slick skin as well. JARVIS voice issued calmly from Stark’s jean pocket.
“Dr. Banner, Sir has no serious injury but is exceedingly exhausted. If you would be so kind as to assist Sir in getting to a bed, you will find a guest apartment on the next level.” Banner reached nervously into Stark’s pants and pulled out an advanced looking cell phone.
“I am not that kind of doctor, he needs an ambulance. I’m calling 911.” Banner determined as he tried dialing said number, but the keypad would not work. He silently cursed his lack of an Other-Guy-proof phone.
“I am aware of your credentials doctor, but I must respectfully disagree with your assessment, Mr. Stark despises hospitals and would argue that in the aftermath of this battle, there are many others who desperately need medical assistance and he would not want to take up valuable resources that could be better utilized elsewhere.”
“The man is unconscious, he needs help!” Bruce said urgently. He could hear a faint roar echoing from within his mind and closed his eyes as he reined in his emotions roughly. The green receded from his eyes as the A.I. continued.
“You are help Dr. Banner, please bring him to the room I specified. Please.” The A.I.’s voice pleaded, radiating deep concern. Bruce rocked on his heels, shocked for a moment before acceding to the A.I.’s directions. He couldn’t help but marvel on the creation that was JARVIS. The A.I. seemed to be a creation even more spectacular than the arc reactor and Iron Man armor combined.
Banner tiredly dropped the smaller man onto a large bed and then sat beside him for a moment, breathing deeply. He checked Stark’s vitals again. His pulse seemed to have steadied. Banner couldn’t help but wonder how this was his life. He dragged himself to his feet and made the billionaire as comfortable as he could make him. Then he grabbed a chair over and watched over him as he slept, before unwillingly nodding off himself. JARVIS watched over both of them.
>>><<<
Tony Stark blinked his eyes open slowly at the unfamiliar surroundings and wiped some drool from the corner of his mouth. He focused in on the physicist sleeping in the chair beside his bed. The scruffy man’s head rested on his chest and his leg was folded one over the other, his arms crossed limply over his stomach. Tony abruptly realized that he was in one of his guest bedrooms. He moved achingly slowly from under the covers and reached for his phone on the stand beside him. He checked his messages and threw some obnoxious texts at JARVIS for a while. He smiled at the replies. If anyone had had to see him in such a pitiful state he was glad it had been Bruce of all people. He was sure Bruce wouldn’t use his weakness against him. But then he’d been sure of Obie too. He squashed down his sudden paranoia and looked over at Bruce fondly. Bruce seemed to somehow feel his regard. The man’s head snapped up and zeroed in on him. “You’re awake.” Tony resisted the urge to say obviously. “Oh right, I’m awake too, must have slept. Obviously. What time is it?” Banner asked rambling. Tony grinned and showed him the face of his phone.
“6am, eight hours of sleep and all is well!” Tony singsonged. Banner frowned and pointed at him.
“You collapsed.” Banner accused him. Tony nodded and pointed back at him.
“You slept with me.” Tony retorted. Banner narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.
“You’re going to tell that to everybody, aren’t you?” Bruce asked. Tony’s smile widened as he toyed with his phone again.
“Tweeted it an hour ago. #isleptwiththehulk. Was it as good for you as it was for me?” Stark asked innocently. Banner sighed loudly.
“How are you feeling?” He asked. Tony checked himself over, finding that he felt relatively better; his headache had faded to the background and was no longer trying to beat his skull in with a blunt stick.
“Better actually, how about you Jolly Rancher? You look all bright eyed and bushy tailed since your Hulkout. You know it’d be really cool if Hulk had a tail, I could totally see that, maybe like a green lion tail or something. By the by I’m glad you came.” Tony added, eyes burrowing into his own gratefully. Banner smiled gently.
“I’m glad I did too.” His smile faded remembering how terrifying Stark’s condition had been. “If you were that tired you shouldn’t have tried walking down all those flights.” Tony’s hands twisted in the blankets surrounding him, as he grinned at him.
“Had to see you Bruciekins, it’s proper host etiquette, and I’m nothing but the epitome of propriety and hostliness. Any who, JARVIS says that the elevator’s are back online again, thank fuck, and I need a shower.” Tony said in disgust while sniffing at his shirt.
“Hmm. Me too.” Banner agreed wholeheartedly. Tony leered.
“Wanna share?” He asked suggestively.
“Emphatic no.” Banner snorted as he answered succinctly. Tony mock pouted.
“Awzzz. Why not?” He whined piteously.
“Tony.” Banner said deadpanned.
“Brucie.” Tony mimicked. Bruce face palmed. Tony grimaced. “Fine, but I get firsties.” Tony gave in with bad grace.
“Sounds good.” Bruce agreed hiding his smile.
“Then more food.” Tony added. Bruce’s stomach decided to growl loudly.
“Sounds better. It seems like forever since Shawarma.” Banner said feelingly. Tony lifted a finger.
“And that should be a bumper sticker, which I’m totally putting on my suit’s ass right under the I Slept With The Hulk one I’ve already had JARVIS fabricate.” JARVIS’s voice sounded from an unseen speaker in the room.
“Your scholarly utilization of my abilities constantly impresses me Sir.”
“As it should.” Tony stated with a solemn nod.
Tony slowly raised himself off the bed and carefully walked to the elevator, trying not to show the observant doctor just how much pain he was still in. Bruce however, was preoccupied. He ached from the awkward position he had taken in the chair and tried to work the kinks out of his frame as he followed Tony. The ride up would have been awkwardly silent but for the ongoing banter that Tony kept up with mostly himself. They eventually arrived at the penthouse floor. Tony gestured Bruce to the remarkably intact liquor cabinet in the corner before striding to his bathroom, shooing a stray pigeon from his couch on the way. He vaguely wondered how the hell the winged rat had gotten up this high in the first place. Bruce ignored the alcohol and looked around at the mess of an apartment, noting in passing the broken shell of an Iron Man suit lying neglected amongst shattered glass.
In all the excitement that had occurred since he arrived at the Tower, Bruce Banner had forgotten the real reason he had come to see Tony Stark in the first place. He had forgotten that he had meant to ask Tony why the debriefing on the Helicarrier had gone so pear-shaped, but Tony’s sickness and his own bout of sleepiness and Tony’s subsequent distracting banter had thrown that thought far from his mind. Bruce moseyed around the wreaked flat and picked up a stray magazine, New Scientist, and struggled to read some of the more interesting articles while he waited for his turn to take a shower. He wished his glasses didn’t have to break every time he had an episode with the Other Guy.
Tony leaned against the closed door of the bathroom heaving a sigh of relief. He forced himself forward, stripping and entering his shower, which was the perfect temperature. Tip of the hat to JARVIS. The cleansing mist sprayed him from all sides, extremely gentle on his sore muscles and bruises, and not flashback inducing. Unlike a regular shower or god forbid a bath would be, which was nice. He looked at himself in the glass reflection. His right side and back were a mass of black, blue, and red all over. Great now he was a pun, how was this his life. He rested his head on the cool glass as he soaped himself, groaning as he relaxed from the heated mist. “JARVIS you still in SHIELD’s systems?” He whispered.
“Indeed Sir, they believe they’ve removed me.” JARVIS replied softly.
“As if they could. Anything I should know?” Tony asked. The silence spoke louder than words.
“…”
“J?” Tony asked sternly.
“I may have picked up on a conversation that explains Fury’s treatment of you, though it does not excuse it.” JARVIS stated reluctantly.
“I’m glad to hear he’s still on your shit list. Play it.” Tony ordered. One glass wall shone with a blue radiance and resolved to show a video of Fury’s office as he and Maria had a conversation about yours truly. He could barely believe his eyes or his ears. But he did believe JARVIS. After the video finished he felt oddly better. Now he knew that there was reason that Fury had said the things he had. Even if he was still infuriated that the manipulative bastard had hurt him that way, no matter how good the reason. However, he could admit to himself that he wasn’t all that crazy about being hand fed to wolves. That just did not sound good, no matter how you spun it. After all the wolves might be on a diet or something and he’d just hate to spoil someone’s diet. That would be mean.
“Sir?” JARVIS asked tentatively. Tony shook his wet hair out of his face and ran a soapy hand through his hair.
“Well that was…expected, it makes sense. Of course the WSC needs a scapegoat, and who better than me? I should have realized.” Tony said bitterly. “Erase the footage, both my heart to heart with Nick and the one with Maria and him.” Tony said.
“But Sir!” JARVIS protested.
“Erase them.” Tony insisted.
“As you wish.” JARVIS responded.
“Don’t go all Princess Bride on me J.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it Sir.”
>>><<<
“Enjoy your shower?” Bruce asked when Stark entered the den with a towel around his shoulders, wearing new clothes.
“You’ve no idea.” Tony replied with a PR smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Looks like we missed a bit of fun while we were sleeping.” Tony added with a wave towards the sun.
“Fun?” Banner asked speculating on what he missed. Tony nodded sagely.
“Seems Loki and the Tesseract will be going home to not-so-mythical Asgard with Thor.” Tony said.
“Good.” Bruce said.
“Good?” Tony questioned.
“The Tesseract is too much of a temptation here, a temptation we obviously can’t resist. And I didn’t much like the idea of Loki being on Earth for any amount of time, guy’s crazier than the bag of cats I thought he was and far too powerful.” Bruce explained. Tony’s smile turned more genuine.
“True dat. I knew there was a reason I liked you, Big Guy.” Tony said.
“Can you not?” Bruce asked sadly.
“Not what? Go take your shower buddy, the water’s warm. Of course the water’s always whatever temp you like, but still. I’ll try to find you some fresh clothes, kay?” Tony asked hoping he could find something that would fit the broad shouldered man.
“Thanks Tony.” Tony tried to smother the warm fuzzy feelings blooming in his gut. He remembered Fury and Hill’s conversation about him and that did it. He was going to have to keep his distance from Bruce and the others or they might just end up becoming WSC targets as well, and he wasn’t going to let that happen. He’d die first.