seekevolution | The Amulet

Tony nods, stoic, but not surprised. "So I heard." Let's not talk about you and the other doctor kissing. Tony recrosses his legs so that one goes over Bruce's. He needs to get Pepper naked ASAP before this turns into something bad.

And something he can't explain to his girlfriend.

"He's all right? Will be?"

Pepper wanted to see him kissing Bruce. Who knows what she would do with the idea of him shagging Bruce.

Bruce doesn't even really think twice about what Tony does, mostly because Tony is always trying to do little things like this. "I think he will be. The drugs they used... damn them for it. That's not the kind of thing that should be used on people unless it's a medical emergency. They threw him into a room and used him like a lab rat and two people died because of it!" For a moment, Bruce actually snaps his words before he looks away, eyes closing hard.

"What's done is done, it sucks I know that, but it's done," Tony says, only doing a so-so job on being cool, calm, and collected himself. SHIELD is really stretching it now. It's not that he cares so much what happens to Mohinder, but this research affects them all.

Banner more so. And no one messes with Banner. Not if they're smart, at least.

Tony shifts back, half on Bruce, half on his own chair. He's like a cat sometimes. He just wants to be in everyone's business. "We'll get it figured out when we land."

Bruce knows, intellectually, that Tony is right. That SHIELD agents go into their lives in SHIELD knowing that they are putting themselves at risk. They are dead and there is nothing that Bruce can do by being angry. However, however...

Bruce's inner anger could care less about that logic. Thankfully, Tony is there to tame that.

His brow lifts towards Tony at how the other man is making himself comfortable, but after a moment, he shifts just enough to let Tony stay comfortable. "...I know... none of this makes you happy." Very quiet, looking out across out the window. "Even having him here. Thank you for doing it. I couldn't imagine... anyone else doing it."

"Good scotch and a new project are the only two things that make me happy, Banner, so don't sweat it." And don't read into it. Tony sure as hell isn't going to, no matter how king of the throne he's being right now with his leg taking over Bruce's lap.

Truthfully, he's not sure what he feels. He loves Pepper. Obviously. But he probably loves Bruce. Also obviously but it's more complicated than that. More disastrous. The consequences are greater.

And there's no way to get rid of any hot and bothered feelings that come with it either because... Well, Bruce did sort of eradiate himself.

"We'll figure it out and ship Suresh back to the West Coast. Easy peasy."

There is something very reassuring about Tony's optimistic outlook on this whole situation, something that makes Bruce believe in that outlook. Perhaps not easy, but that they could find a way and have Mohinder back to normal, back to the life he had been loving.

Though Bruce, deep down, isn't even sure that's actually possible at all anymore.

Bruce had loved one person, one person with all of his heart, and it had ended in disaster. Maybe it had been doomed to be that from the beginning, considering who her father was, but that didn't mean he had cared about her any less. He had made the decision to end that, to let her go be with another man, and he still dealt with that decision. He had never been free, by his own notions, to just enjoy himself sexually, but in only a few months between Tony and Mohinder, his mind was being nudged from that.

Everything is more complicated now. Tony has never shied from being a risk taker, and Bruce had been honest with both men about his feelings.

"I hope so," Bruce only murmurs, closing his eyes. He's been going without much rest for a while now, and he feels comfortable and safe enough about where they are, and who is currently resting on him, to let himself drift a little.

This isn't a kindness, Bruce. It's an attempt to remove an intruder. Tony's got strange sensibilities. If Mohinder were a woman, this competition probably wouldn't happen. Bruce is allowed a girlfriend. A wife, if he wants, but Mohinder-- Smart, attractive, a good family man, probably monogamous, would be devoted00

It's nothing Tony can offer and he hates the thought of losing. Especially losing to Suresh. He watches Bruce sleep with dark thoughts in his head and brood for awhile until they land.

He'll just let Bruce sleep as he has Mohinder transported into the fifth subbasement. It's nice down there. One of Tony's labs is there as well as the Avengers' practice rooms. That means that Mohinder has all of Tony's luxury's at his fingertips...and his influence will be beyond Bruce, who will stay at the top of the Tower so no more kissing because Mohinder thinks about it will fucking happen again.

The things Mohinder could think about could get infinitely worse than just kissing. Bruce will wake up more than a little confused about where he is and why he is alone, but he quickly surmises with a look around and then confirmed by JARVIS moments later. "Thank you, JARVIS," he murmurs, going to gather his things and get to the Tower as well.

"Tony?" Bruce calls out as he gets to the living areas of the Tower, not sure where he would find his friend. He badly wants to check on Mohinder, as basically his current doctor, so he will head for the elevator to go down to him.

He doesn't see the problem because he trusts Mohinder that much.

As the doors open, Tony steps out and sweeps Bruce into a dance. It's one of those things that only happens in musicals and with Tony Stark. The bearded man grins and gives Bruce a spin before ushering him to the kitchen.

"You haven't eaten and you should. Getting mad takes a whole lot out of you." He winks at Bruce and pulls open the fridge. "Do not think about Suresh for the next one and a half to two hours, all right? JARVIS is doing scans. You can look at said scans and have a turkey sandwich. But not in that order or the mayo will congeal."

Only Tony Stark. Only Tony Stark. Bruce blinks in a moment of stunned silence before he just nods in agreement, wondering how he ended up tangoed into the kitchen and awaiting a sandwich.

"Is he doing well, though? How is he coming off of the drugs?" As Tony had been down there, Bruce presumes, to make sure everything was all right. "I'll have to keep an eye on him for at least twenty four hours..." But Bruce does sit down at the table, brushing hair back from his forehead. Really, he realizes, he could stand to shave as well as a shower. Could do that along with a meal before the hour and a half is up.

"He's fine. Was chatting up a storm. I got him a phone and put him in contact with Molly. He's a happy little geneticist so don't worry sorry much, mom." Plate down, sandwich and all, Tony turns his attention instead to pouring a glass of milk. "If something goes poorly or he turns weird colors, JARVIS will let you know."

He ruffles Bruce's hair on the way past and drops off the milk. His sneakers are deposited in the living room and he wanders back in to sit on the counter across from the table.

"How are you?"

"Thank you." Spoken with such utter relief. Mohinder's devotion to his daughter, and Bruce believes her to be just that regardless of blood relation, is something Bruce admires in the other man quite dearly. "If it wasn't passed through physical contact, I would say to bring her here to make them both a little happier but..."

He shakes his head, making a bit of a face with the ruffle of his hair, before he drinks a healthy gulp of milk.

The question directed at him makes Bruce pay attention, but his eyes drift away. "I'm fine." Simple and calm. Mohinder hadn't known what the device would do; he had to make sure his patient is fine physically and mentally.

"We aren't having kids in the Tower," Tony says immediately. End of story. He might have 'Avengers' on the facade but it's still his baby. He still has some god damned rules here. Children is just one of them. Having the best hair is another.

Tony kicks his feet a little and frowns at Bruce.

"You...nah. Not buying it. Bed. Now. Shower first if you want, but you're taking a nap. You're no good to anyone exhausted."

Bruce gives Tony a bit of a look for that immediate denial of Molly - or any child - but ends up just filing it under 'Tony being Tony'. "She is a very well behaved little girl, I should add," trying to get the last word in on that.

"Excuse me? Who is being mom now?" Gesturing a little towards Tony.

"I am. Mama Stark. To bed with you. After the sandwich because honestly, Banner, you're not eating in bed. That's how you get ants," he says, jumping down off of the counter. "J? Pep still in London?"

"She is until next Thursday, Sir," the AI informs him and Tony does exactly a ten second counter down in his head before he leans over Bruce.

"My room, fifteen minutes. Twenty minutes. You really should shower."

Jealousy does not become him. It really, really doesn't.

Little surprise that Bruce is missing it entirely. He takes Tony's phobia in stride, going to deal with the whole of getting himself a proper meal if no other reason than Tony would not ride him about it, but equally as much as his stomach is starting to realize that it had been quite some time since a real meal had been a part of his life.

What did Pepper have to do with anything? Bruce looks up at Tony who is suddenly quite close, raising a brow at him before nodding. "Okay." It wouldn't take him much longer than that; some of that time in the Army never left him.

Not okay, never okay, but alas. Tony's already got his head on backwards and Mohinder Suresh doesn't get to win. He just doesn't.

Tony takes a shower too, though it's about a third as effect as usual. He's only given himself twenty minutes. That's really not enough time at all for a proper shower. These things happen.

Mohinder safely tucked away, Tony at least smelling nice, he waits for Bruce in a black tank top, soft pants and bare feet. No matter how bad of an idea this is, Tony likes the challenge. He can't help himself.

In just a touch under twenty minutes, there is a knock at the door. When Tony calls out, Bruce steps inside. It's about as easy going as Bruce ever looks - a pair of black sweat pants, a yellow tee shirt, and a gift from Pepper, a pair of LL Bean leather slippers that were impossibly soft on the inside.

He stops just inside the door, looking towards Tony with a hint of confusion. "Well, you asked for me to come, and here I am?"

Oh, the phrasing. Tony's just childish enough to laugh. "I asked you to nap. Sans white bread and mayo crumbs," Tony replies cheerfully, bright eyes and brighter smile as he flops down on his side of the bed. Pepper usually takes the other, but with the sky over Manhattan dark and the windows reflecting the big yellow thing that Bruce has become, Tony's not really all that sorry that he's replaced her for the moment.

He doesn't bother to get under the blankets. He doesn't have a goodnight glass of scotch. The television isn't on. There's no soft music in the background.

Guys are easier than women.

There's no need for romance. Mohinder might disagree.

Bruce's brows come together as he shifts his weight, his uncertainty showing. He does, however, take a step closer. "If you wanted me to nap, why did you ask me to come up here?"

Even a genius can miss putting two and two together when both the numbers and answer are in a foreign language. Maybe thankfully for Tony, Bruce wouldn't even know what to do with romance directed at him. He could try in the other direction, but even that might be doomed to fail.

"I want to keep an eye on you." No running off to your sweet Indian, Bruce. Mister Jealousy is not going to lose you to him. Not now. Not ever. He doesn't care how you may protest or what Mohinder might think otherwise. Tony lightly pats the bed and rolls over so he'll be facing the direction he wants Bruce to lay. "No late night sneaking. Let Suresh rest a little while. You can poke and prod him to your heart's content tomorrow."

Yes, they have two weeks but Tony can fudge the numbers and say they're starting tomorrow, so suck it, SHIELD.

Brows right up to his hairline, Bruce doesn't come a step closer. Tony wants him to come sleep with him? His mind doesn't even go as far as the other way that phrase could be used, but purely lay beside and try to sleep. Is it much different than falling asleep on the plane with him?

"You want to make sure he can't affect me?" Bruce takes Tony's words completely wrong, but it's enough to urge him to the side of the bed, though not laying down. The bed is huge, in his opinion, even for two people.

"Yeah, sort of." Bruce is...impossible. Hovering. Looking innocent. What the hell didn't Betty do right here? How could Bruce be so totally clueless, batting his eyelashes and-- "I won't bite." Though he does like to be bitten incidentally. "But I will get out the bondage gear and drag you into bed if I have to."

He's not joking. Don't check the closet. Pepper's gotten a little too into the whole whips and chains thing since Extremis turned her into a kick ass girlfriend.

Literally. Literally a kick ass girlfriend. He has bruises. She's so rough!

Betty, if you asked Bruce, had done everything right. He had been the one willing to give her up for her own safety. If things could have been different... well. If.

"I don't need to know your personal life, and Pepper probably wouldn't want me too, either." Bruce sits down slowly though, as if maybe Tony suddenly will leap at him, before he lies down with a wiggle under the covers. "JARVIS, please let me know if anything happens with Mohinder? If he's calling out or something is changing?"

"Of course, Doctor Banner."

"Satisfied?" Tony rolls his eyes at Bruce and watches his friend get uncomfortably comfortable. Bruce can't be this virginal. He just can't be. As Bruce curls in on himself, Tony does close the distance. He does put his arm around the other man. Banner's probably never been a little spoon before. But Tony's always on him anyway so this should be no different.

Bruce smells like sandalwood shampoo and Tony closes his eyes at the masculine scent and the thicker body in his arms.

The tensing is understood and in a way, also appreciated. He only sort of feels badly for this. Sort of. Bruce did tell him a few interesting things, though. That had just been one little kiss. Tony hadn't even tried all that hard at it!

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