Year 1
Bruce was working on the chemical makeup of the super soldier system to make a drug to knock out a super soldier if the need arises. He was back at Stark Tower and Tony was gracious enough to allow him to have his floor and lab back. He would never be more grateful to him. As he worked in silence his mind wandered onto the effects of Extremis. Tony mentioned that he suddenly had an influx of information which, according to FRIDAY, was the internet. He was kind of worried about all that information going through Tony’s head. After a few days, however, Tony was back to his old self commenting that he had gotten control of the information with FRIDAY’s help.
“Dr. Banner, you have been working for a total of 56 hours. I insist you get some rest.” FRIDAY comments. Bruce waves her warning off. He was startled when Tony bursts into his lab.
“Brucie bear! If I can't work for more than 32 hours neither can you!” Tony smirks. Bruce rolls his eyes in fond exasperation.
“Tony, I’m almost done-” Bruce doesn’t get the chance to finish as Tony pouts at him.
“Come onnnn let’s go watch some sci-fi movies and trash the science there!” Tony grins. Bruce sighs dramatically.
“You know my weakness.” Bruce chuckles as he gets up. Tony cheers and heads back to the elevator with Bruce following.
They arrive at the common room and Bruce make a beeline for the kitchen first. “Gonna make some coffee while we watch?” Bruce calls back to Tony.
“Ooh yes please!” Tony arrives in the kitchen soon after Bruce has spoken. There was a comfortable silence between the two as they made their respective drinks. Tea for Bruce and Coffee (Nectar of the Gods) for Tony. “Horrid leaf juice.” He huffs squinting at Bruce’s cup. Bruce chuckles and smiles at the other scientist.
“It’s healthy.”
“Horrid.” Tony insists making Bruce laugh a bit. They migrate to the couch in the common room, each of them leaning on the opposite side of the couch. “FRIDAY, turn on my science watchlist please sweetheart?”
“Of course Boss.” The lights dim and the movies begin. The two were found by Rhodey later leaning against each other asleep.
A month later, Tony was working on designs for new prosthetics for when he shows Pepper his idea about SI going into the medical field. As he was putting the finishing touches on the design Bruce came in. Bruce silently looks over his shoulder and marvels at the design. “Well? What do you think?”
“I’m very impressed and amazed Tony.” Bruce says with awe in his voice. “How long did you spend on this?”
“A couple of months, after I finished Honey-bear’s legs. I got the idea that maybe SI could go into the medical field. We could make a killing when it comes to prosthetics! When I submit these designs we can mass produce them and they could be cheaper for people that can’t buy them normally!. Think about the possibilities Bruce! With more people able to get prosthetics we would also be helping Physical Therapy Instructors and Centers help more people and all those kids won’t feel left out or even different!” Tony started rambling. “OH! We should also find a way to make it so that they won’t feel different about having a prosthetic.. OH! What if we get some animators or even a comic book studio to make a hero that has prosthetics?! That would be so cool and will get kids to associate their prosthetic with something good! Yeah??” Tony looks at Bruce, his eyes sparkling with excitement, smiling widely. Bruce swallows thickly. He wasn’t expecting this but as he was listening he was amazed at all the thought put into it, even if it was on the fly.
“Wow...that’s just..that sounds amazing Tony!” Bruce finally answers. Tony’s eyes light up at the approval and Bruce could have sworn his heart skipped a beat. He ignores it to smile back at Tony.
“You hear that baby girl?! Call Pep!” Tony turns around to face his design and Bruce settles himself on the couch content with watching Tony’s bots run around while Tony talks to Pepper with excitement.
A week later, SI is introducing their new prosthetics in order to help people disabled all around the world. Tony and Rhodey went to a press conference about it. Bruce watches from the couch in Stark Tower. He couldn’t help but focus on Tony when he spoke. His cool and sharp eyes with a charming smirk.
“Mr. Stark! Mr. Stark!” One report begins to shout. Tony nods to him. “Why did you decide to make these prosthetics?" Tony allows a guilty but soft expression to appear on his face.
“During the ‘Civil War’ as the media call it, my friend Colonel Rhodes here was injured and his lower spine was permanently damaged. I felt guilty since I called him to come with me so I built him braces to help him walk again. Afterwards, I thought why not go into prosthetics and help everyone!” Tony replies with a grin.
“I keep telling him that he had nothing to feel guilty about, we weren’t even expecting a fight.” Rhodey adds while throwing his arm over Tony’s shoulder making said male laugh. Bruce couldn’t help but chuckles. You could always count on Rhodey to ease tension.
Soon enough, they had return to the Tower along with another, younger, individual. Bruce greets them as they walk inside.
“Oh my god!” Peter gasps. Bruce winces, it’s not unusual for people to be excited about the other guy.
“You’re Bruce Banner, you have like 7 PhDs and I have a poster of you! My wig has been snatched. Oh my gods.” Peter starts rambling as Bruce stares. He then makes eye contact with Tony and they share a small smile.
Bruce isn’t surprised when he is pulled out of his lab by an excitable spider child for dinner or movies. He is surprised when he’s dragged to Tony’s lab and is quite amused to see that Peter has been given his own part of the lab to do his own science.
Two weeks past before the next two kids of the household shows up. Tony blinks wearily as he stares at Harley and Stephanie Keener. They were standing outside the tower and looked very tired. “Oh my gods, come in you two!” He ushers them inside and takes them to the Penthouse. “Why were you two even out there? Shouldn’t you be with your mother?” Harley smiles sheepishly.
“Yeah..about that..” Harley hands him a letter and Tony accepts it. He absentmindedly leads the kids inside as he read the letter. Turns out their mother needed them to be in a stable home while she finds a job to make a living. Tony idly remembers the state of their home when he first arrived their and thought it was wise of her to do so. Tony sighs fondly before looking at the two.
“Alright, looks like you’ll be staying here for an indefinite amount of time. I’m guessing your mother would refuse any money I try to give her so I’ll have to talk to her about a compromise.” He chuckles as their eyes widened. “First things first let’s set up your rooms then introductions!” Tony claps before leading them towards the rooms.
Peter and Harley immediately hit it off and begins talking about Harley’s Potato gun and what modifications could be made. Stephanie was content with watching cartoons on the TV. Tony watches the three with fond exasperation before Bruce walks in. “Jolly Green! You finally crawled out of your lab!” Tony smirks as Bruce heads into the kitchen.
“I’m surprised you’re not in your lab.” Tony gasps dramatically before motioning to the three young ones in the room.
“As you can see Green Giant, I have to watch Underoos, Hotshot, and Sparkle over here!” Peter groans at the nickname while Harley snickers.
“Now Sparkle don’t laugh at Underoos.” Harley fakes a look of offense. Bruce laughs and returns to the group with a cup of tea. Tony spots in and squints at it. “Horrid Leaf Juice.”
“It’s Healthy.”
“Horrid.” Tony sniffs dispassionately before turning back to Peter and Harley. Bruce watches him as his eyes soften. Tony begins to chat with the two science kids and Bruce can’t help but notice the small features in Tony’s face. The slight dimples, the curve of his eyes, how they brighten a shade when he’s excited. Bruce tears his gaze away his face dusted with pink.
That night, Bruce finds himself watching an action film with Harley, Tony, Peter, and Stephanie. Rhodey, Pepper, and Happy ends up joining as well.
A week later, Bruce wakes up to Peter curled up into his side and Harley sprawled over him and Tony. Stephanie curled up into Tony’s free side and Tony was leaning against him.
Only a few months later, things got a little bad. “Ross will probably send a kill squad to Clint’s family…” Tony bites his lip pacing nervously. “I have to go and help-”
“Tony.. you don’t have to go.” Bruce says slowly Tony opens his mouth to retort. “Rhodey can go, and so can the Avengers Initiative. You don’t have to go.”
“Y-you’re right. I-I just have to know if they’re okay.”
“Ross is probably watching your every move at this point. Why not send someone else so that he won’t know and have them brought here secretly?” Bruce offers. Tony looks at him with a timid smile and Bruce couldn’t help the warm feeling that came over him.
“Yeah. That works great! Thanks Bruce.” Tony grins. Bruce smiles and nods.
That afternoon, Laura Barton arrives with Nathaniel, Lila, and Cooper. They are given a floor in the tower. They refused to move into Clint’s old floor.
That night, Bruce and Tony was in the kitchen drinking their respective drinks. “Boss, Dr. Banner, you have been up for 38 hours. I insist you get some rest.” Tony sighs but grins.
“Sure thing cupcake.” Tony responds before passing Bruce with a pat on the shoulder. Bruce smiles softly and nods at him before heading to his room.
That night was when Tony began to trust him again.