Bruce Banner
Tony paced about this for days since his little outing with Sigrid. Since she mentioned Magni. Since HE spoke about Magni. He wanted to go home with Sigrid that day but like he said, he still had some things to fix. He needed to completely make amends. He had to.
"Okay." Tony took a deep breath. "Better start with the Big Guy."
+
Sigrid blinked her eyes. She looked around. She saw the little boy again. Tony had told her Loki had miscarried with Magni. So why was he her same age? Sigrid shook her head. It was a dream. It didn't matter. She walked towards the brother she never knew. Covered in white clothing.
"My name is Sigrid." Sigrid introduced herself.
"I think my name is Magni." The boy replied.
"It is. I know you."
"How?"
"You're the brother who didn't get to breathe."
"I've died?"
"Yes. A long time ago. Mama and Daddy were very upset over it but they're starting to get better."
Magni looks down. Sigrid reaches over and holds his hand.
"It's no one's fault. Daddy says sometimes you're just unlucky in life." Sigrid reassured him and he smiled.
+
"We need to talk." Tony announces in Bruce's lab.
"About?" Bruce arched an eyebrow. "I swear to God, Tony. I am not making a robot Thor. Look what happened with Ultron and Vision."
"Goddamn it, why won't anyone let it die?"
"Because Ultron dropped a city from the sky and Vision used to be JARVIS."
Tony smacked his forehead and took a deep breath.
"Bruce, that's not why I'm here." Tony rolled his eyes.
"Oh." Bruce bit his lip. "Then why? it's been a while."
"I know and I have things that need to be addressed."
"I'm all ears then."
"Good. Because you probably know what I want to say."
"I believe I do."
The two geniuses sat across each other in silence for a while. There wasn't tension but there was a strong awkwardness between them.
"I don't know how to say sorry." Tony finally spoke. "I know just saying it isn't enough but I have to start with you, Bruce. Not because you're one of my best friends but because it all started the moment I punched you. I won't make up excuses like how me and Loki were in a dark place or we've been going down a dark road for a while. That doesn't justify my assaulting you. Don't forgive me. Don't make amends with me. Just hear me out and let me talk."
Tony then started to ramble and Bruce let him. He always knew Tony never meant it. He had become a hardcore alcoholic. He relapsed to who he used to be. Except he wasn't sleeping around this time. Tony knew he screwed up the moment he put his hands on Bruce.
"You should have let the Other Guy take me out." Tony breathed. "It would have saved us from a lot of other shit that went down."
"Don't say that, Tony." Bruce sighed. "You were out of your mind."
"Don't cover for me."
"I'm not. I know you and I know how you are with Loki."
"I spoke to Sigrid and I need to go home. I don't even know my son. But I won't go home until I fix everything."
"For the record, I always believed in you, Tony. Like you said, you're one of my best friends but I swear to god, if there is a next time, I might kill you."
"I'll keep you to that, buddy."
Bruce hugged Tony suddenly and it wasn't like a normal hug. It was a heartbreaking one. One you give someone when they've been away overseas for a long time. As if Bruce hasn't seen Tony in years.
But he was back now.