Reunion
“Boss?”
Yawning his way through a blink, his body sprawled upon the couch he’d been forced to keep in his work-shop so that he had somewhere better than a work-bench to rest on now that he was resting for two, Tony rubbed his eyes before slowly sitting up.
“Ugh... s’up Friday?” he asked whilst stretching and cracking his shoulders; “has Pep figured out I’ve camped down here instead of marching myself upstairs as ordered? Heh... I always used to think she looked cute when she was angry but now? Not so much... you are logging how many times she smacks me, aren’t you?”
“Your current, ah, hit-count is at an all time low of five, boss... she did used to slap you across the face more often when you were dating if my predecessors records are correct... But, boss, I didn’t wake you because of Mrs Rhodes” the AI continued as Tony cocked an eyebrow.
“Well then, why did...”
“Boss, we have a code green.”
Eyes widening to the size of saucers, Tony was up and moving to the closest holo-screen before his brain could process what he was doing; “where?”
“He’s in the Tower’s main lobby; he used the password you designated for a quiet entrance and the receptionist has directed him to wait in the chair you allocated for situation Houdini” she informed, the screen automatically producing a live feed from the lobby.
Letting out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding, the omega watched as Stark Industries employees, guests, tourist groups with designated tour-guides and plain-clothed Shield Agents went about their day to day business before zeroing in on the chair and its occupant.
“Well... at least we know why Phil’s boys haven’t jumped him... he looks more like a bear than a man right now” he chuckled mirthlessly, his throat tightening as he swallowed down the emotions which were threatening to crest over him like a tsunami wave. “Okay Friday, bring him down” he said, his legs sluggishly (as though he were walking in a dream) moving him towards the chute which his fellow scientist would be descending down shortly.
He couldn’t believe it, wouldn’t believe it until the man himself was sat in front of him.
“Hey Tony...”
The man was sat in front of him.
“Hey...”
He was pretty sure that his heart hammering against his rib-cage wasn’t good for his health, or Steve’s for that matter.
Shit...
Huffing out a deep breath, his taller form standing and stepping out of the chute to enter the work-shop proper, Bruce (his head bowed, shoulders slumped and posture defeated) rubbed the back of his neck as he struggled to make and retain eye-contact.
“I...”
“Where have you been?”
“Tony...”
“No Bruce, you don’t get a pass on this” the omega breathed raggedly, his eyes blinking a little too rapidly. “Where the fuck have you been? Do you even know how much time, effort and money went in to finding you? Do you give even the slightest fuck about the rest of us, huh? We needed you! I needed you and Nat... Jesus... don’t get me started on what...”
“I’m sorry... I...”
“Wow... sorry? You’re sorry? Well, gee, I guess that means we’re all...”
A pair of long, slender (despite the bulky, duffle coat) arms had wrapped around him, pulling him into a broad chest that was trembling and heaving whilst a face (already soaked with tears and the hardened bristles of a lengthy, impressively grizzled beard) pushed into the side of his neck.
“I’m sorry... I’m so... I...”
“You...” the inventor partially sobbed. “You... you bastard” he accused, his eyes burning as he returned the hug, his grip fierce for fear that one of his first and truest friends (outside of Pepper and Rhodey) would evaporate into the ether if he didn’t.
“Oo-h... God... I’ve missed you... I’ve... shit... there’s so much that I need to... you don’t know even half of the...” he wheezed as they collapsed to the floor together.
He only wished that Steve was here to see this...