seekevolution | The Amulet

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!

"...Tony?" Quiet. Bruce lays there tensely in the clean scented sheets of Tony's bed, the faint smell of Tony's expensive bathing products over powering his usual scent that Bruce has learned well. "What are you doing?" Not that he's unused to Tony's odd tendency to touch him whenever possible, but this is pushing beyond where he's taken it before.

But it doesn't feel... bad, either. He can remember doing the reverse in that motel years ago, with Betty tucked up against him. Tony is warm at his back, and he's sure he must be quite a great deal warmer against Tony. Though with Pepper and her... ah, issues, the temperature of her body increased so perhaps Tony's gotten used to it--

That isn't the point!

"It's called spooning. I'm getting you those old sex ed films from the fifties to explain this stuff to you, Banner," Tony says, his breath tickling the curls at the back of Bruce's neck. Pepper's a little too warm to hold, not because Tony doesn't like it, but because she can't stay cool enough to let him sleep so close. She always sleeps over the covers, AC blaring. It's nice to have a little human...or not so human...contact.

And besides, just what harm is this doing? Answer: Nothing at all.

"Relax. You can't get pregnant this way, Myrtle."

Bruce gets something he rarely does anymore - goosebumps. They ripple down his arms and he stretches out a little bit to try and settle the odd feeling. The question of humanity is very dependent on who you even ask about Bruce.

"I'm male, I know I can't get pregnant." But there is a very quiet laugh somewhere in his voice, a nervous laugh, but he's trying to deal with this. Tony must just be pushing at him again. There's no danger like this; the Other Guy is quiet inside and Mohinder's reaching should be out of distance.

"Give science time. I'm sure you can get pregnant one day. Never lose hope," he teases, hand flat on Bruce's stomach. Tony shifts his thigh against the backs of Bruce's and tucks his knees into the curve of the other's. He's missed physical contact from one of his deemed 'safe' sources.

No wonder Mohinder's been crazy for Bruce... He's really a good guy and remarkably cuddly. Is that from all the body hair?

Give Tony a moment and he'll work his cool fingers up the inside of that horrible yellow t-shirt, cool digits on overly warm skin.

Even with Betty, though he had held her close, it was never this level of closeness. Tony seems determined to get in close in every inch he can- ah his fingers are cold! This only works at all because of their relatively similar heights.

He wants to protest, wants to run, yet even as he lays there, Tony going still against his back, Bruce takes stock of the situation and finds it surprisingly... quiet. No increased heart rate, no possible issues, only a quietness in his mind and body. Maybe it isn't so bad, then? He could try to sleep like this, with the octopus known as Tony Stark.

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