Fic: Tony/ Bruce, team
Title: Arc Reactor's Anniversary
Warning: pg-13? language? slash....
Word count: 4,298 words
Pairing/Characters: Tony/Bruce, Nat/Pepper, Clint/Thor, and Coulson/Steve, and team love
Summary: for avengerkink prompt:
I was rewatching Iron Man, and the part where Yensin talks about Tony still having shrapnel in his chest struck me: it made me remember that the Arc Reactor is actually the only thing keeping Tony alive, and not just a cool accessory. I'd love a fic where the Team reacts to the Arc Reactor, realizing what it does, learning how Tony got it, the fact his life depends on it, etc. I'd particularly love Bruce going all doctorly on Tony/being fascinated by the technology, or maybe even keeping Tony alive/treating him for something? Basically, I'm looking for hurt/whumped Tony, focused on the Arc Reactor, with doctorly Bruce and concerned Team. Anyone? Pretty please? I offer a lifetime supply of pie.
The blood had stopped flowing out in rivers and instead there was the trickling drops of blood. He kept his eyes focused on the skin under his hands, wondering if perhaps he had a career as a doctor after all. Of course, he did know about medicine and before he went into research, he had toyed with the idea of being a doctor. He wondered how things would have turned out for him, had he gone that path.
“Jesus Christ! Banner!” Tony hissed at him, but Bruce just rolled his eyes and kept his focus on stitching Tony’s side gash. Bruce just had to make sure Tony did not bleed out.
“You could have given me some scotch or something!” Tony snapped, but Bruce just ignored it, like he usually did.
“I gave you meds, you can’t have alcohol after that. Also, you need to stop drinking; so no I’m not giving you alcohol.” Bruce decided to respond, while Tony just gritted his teeth from the pain, though it was indeed lessening which meant the drugs were taking effect.
“It could be worst, at least I have steady hands.” Bruce muttered.
That statement hit a chord with Tony. Bruce felt the sudden tension run through Tony’s body, and he had to glance up to Tony’s face, to make sure the other was alright and it was not life threatening. It would be like Tony to keep quiet about any real threatening injuries.
Bruce had to bite down in his lip to keep from asking Tony anything. He saw the sadness and guilt in his eyes, and Bruce remembered that no matter what came out of Tony’s mouth and how he acted most of the time, there was more to Tony than he allowed everyone else to see. Bruce did not have the best people skills, he would perhaps make things worst instead of better, and so he focused on finishing up the remaining stitches instead. He allowed the silence to fall upon the two of them, balanced between uncomfortable and comfortable, that Bruce knew could easily fall into either realm, with only one word from Bruce.
“Rest, we can’t have the stitches popping before arriving at headquarters.” Bruce muttered, but it was not like Tony could go far in the plane. Tony didn’t say anything, eyes locked somewhere in space. It made Bruce wonder if Tony was suffering from shock.
"Stark? Are you alright?” Bruce asked, placing a hand on the other's knee, causing the other to snap out of his thoughts. Bruce could see the surprise and shock at seeing Bruce there, and that made Bruce even more worried. Did Tony hit his head?
“I am fine, just tired and in pain.” Tony grumbled, shifting to recline back on his seat.
Bruce wanted to protest, but he knew that the other needed his sleep. Instead, Bruce resigned himself to seating down and keeping an eye on Tony.
..........
He stands back and watches as Yinsen very slowly walks over to the pour the molten metal. He can’t help hovering behind the other, making sure that everything is going perfectly.
Careful. Careful, we only get one shot at this.” Tony nervously mumbles, clenching his hands into tight fists, already feeling like his life was slipping away from him, any moment now.
“Relax, I have steady hands. Why do you think you’re still alive, huh?” Yinsen replies, and Tony could clearly hear the amusement in his tone. Tony wanted to be affronted, but he couldn’t help grinning instead.
............
Natasha ran a hand through her hair, wincing when her fingers hit a knot. She quickly untangled the knot, feeling her tiredness beginning to seep into her bones. She could not wait to make it to her room and get some rest. Everyone had survived, thankfully, if just with a few close calls….like Stark’s stitched up side. She frowned as she thought of the other's reckless behavior; she didn’t understand why he couldn’t think before he acted. Next time, his injury could be much worst, something that Doctor Banner wouldn’t be able to fix.
“Hey.”
Natasha looked up, slightly startled, having been too caught up in her thoughts. She would have to work on that; it was not acceptable to have anyone sneak up on her. Even if it was Ms. Virginia Pepper Potts.
“Pepper.” Natasha gave Pepper a tired smile.
“I heard that everyone made it safe and sound, and that my boss acquired some new scars.” Pepper gave her, her own tired smile. Natasha sometimes forgot how much stress it was on those they left behind when they went to safe world, like Pepper.
“You’ve gone to see him, I take it?” Natasha asked, but already knowing the answer. She did not mind that Pepper went to Tony first, because for the longest time Pepper only had Tony in her life. It was normal for Pepper to go to him first.
“Yes, but he was already sedated by then.” Pepper reached out and took Natasha’s hand in hers, tugging her towards Natasha’s room. Natasha allowed herself to be led by the taller woman, enjoying the warmth that radiated from Pepper’s hand.
They said nothing as they walked, nor as they slipped into Natasha’s room. Lately, Pepper had been staying over more and more often. Natasha could pin point certain things that were Pepper’s, that told people that Pepper lived there, that she was Natasha’s.
Except, the reactor….that was new.
“Is this…?” Natasha reached over to pick the encased reactor. Proof that Tony Stark has a Heart.
“I gave one to him, before, but it broke. Never got around to replacing it for him.” Pepper answered, standing next to Natasha to also look at the arc reactor.
This thing, this is what kept Stark alive. It looked so fragile, just sitting there, behind that case. It reminded her of Stark, with a fragile soul that was encased by an equal fragile glass barrier, keeping people away but yearning to be broken….yearning to be more than just a piece on a mantelpiece. It was up to them, to let him know that he was more than just a piece on a mantelpiece.
yes, for the longest time, Pepper only had Tony, and Tony only had Pepper, but now….they both had the Avengers and things….they would be fine in the end.
..................
“That’s doesn’t look like a Jericho missile…” Yinsen mutters as he leans over Tony’s shoulder. It
“That is because it is a miniaturized arc reactor. I’ve got a big one powering my factory at home.” Tony answers, not even looking up from what he is doing with the small reactor. He has to get it just right, to make sure everything works.
“What will it generate?” Yinsen asks, not for the first wondering where Mr. Stark keeps all of his information in.
“If my math is right- and it always is- three gigajoules per second.” Tony states, because he is always right, always. He is never sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
“That could run your heart for fifty lifetimes!” Yinsen states in awe, trying and hoping he can keep his awe down. They are being watched after all, they always are.
“Yeah….or something big for fifteen minutes.” Tony mutters, finally looking up at Yinsen. Fifteen minutes, that sounds that enough time. Besides, according to the world, Stark does not have a heart, so really, those fifteen minutes is the most important part of the plan.
...................
Clint was eating cereal when the breaking news was suddenly in. Stark Industries, dangerous weapons have been seen in terrorist hands! And Clint already knows what the newscaster will say next, calling Stark on it, wondering if he is planning it all? if he is lying to the world about his loyalties? It was the usual media hungering for stories and shaping the idea of their viewers, because it sells. It was easier to do that, than to actually be doing something about changing the world.
Clint knew that there will be meetings about this, that Stark will hear about this and that the team will hear about this.
Clint also knew that things were going to be ugly, but he was hoping things wouldn’t get too out of hand.
“Damn it!” Tony hissed as he watched the news clips, eyes narrowing as he tried to remember which weapon that was. There had been so many, and many were pulled back and destroyed. They were not good weapons, they were too deadly, too hurtful, inhuman. It was not safe to have them. No matter how much Tony tried atoning for what he had done, there was always another big secret from Stark Industry that came up. A weapon he had created, that hurt innocent people and it was as if Tony was right at the beginning again.
“We are going to have to go and destroy the weapons.” Fury ordered as he turned off the screen.
“This is my mess, and I will clean it up.” Tony stated, leaving no room for argument, but Tony did not work on his own. Not anymore.
“We will help.” Clint stated, standing up and ignoring the glare that Stark sent his way. They were a team, and they did not always act like a team, and they also did not always enjoy Stark’s remarks, but they were still a team. They were learning to be a team and Clint would not let Tony go on his own, they couldn’t.
“Besides, you keep saying you have a new bow for me, and I have yet to actually see it and use it. I think this would be the perfect time for you to give it to me, eh?” Clint grinned, because yes, Tony had created some horrible weapons that were used for terrorist, but he now made weapons for them. Clint had never denied that Tony knew how to make some awesome bows.
..............................
"Did you see that? Those are YOUR weapons... in the hands of those murderers! Is this what you want? Is this what you wish the legacy of the great Tony Stark to be?“ Yinsen hisses at him and Tony didn’t know what to think. Not really. Sometimes, his mind doesn't stop thinking, always jumping to each new thought and design. This time, he finds his mind empty, because he can’t think of new designs….when his old ones are being used to hurt people….people he had wanted to save.
;I shouldnt do anything. They could kill you, theyre gonna kill me, either way, and even if they don't, I'll probably be dead in a week.Tony mutters, because he doesn’t know what it is that he could do. What could he do?
“Then this is a very important week for you, isn't it?
....................
Thor heard some noises and he wondered if someone needed help. But who would be up that late at night? He figured it was either Bruce or Tony, since it seemed to Thor that scientists tended to not sleep. At least, not at regular times. Thor made his way into the kitchen area and immediately saw the drunken Tony Stark, splayed over the kitchen counter.
“Friend, are you well?” Thor asked worriedly, going over to shake Tony's shoulder.
"You know….you…only one….calls me….frrriend….” Tony slurred, raising his head to squint up at Thor. Thor could smell the alcohol just pouring off Tony in waves and it was rather disconcerting. Thor knew that it was not healthy for mortals to drink so much, it was bad for them, especially when they had drank as much as Thor would have to, to be inebriated.
“I believe you have had enough.” Thor firmly stated, reaching over to take the bottle of liquor from Tony’s hand, easily slipping it away. Tony just grunted and reached out his hand to get the bottle back, but unable to really control his body.
“Need more……can’t stop….thoughts…..ugh….” Tony slurred, trying his best to open his eyes wide, and Thor wondered what would be the best procedure to take. Of course, he was lucky enough to notice Tony face turn green, because he got the trashcan to Tony in time. Thor did not want to think of the problems that would have risen had Tony thrown up over the kitchen. No one would have been happy, especially Thor who would have had to clean it up.
“Come," Thor gently helped Tony, who was clutching to the trashcan for dear life, towards his room.
“You should not drink so much, everyone worries.” Thor muttered, but Tony was pretty much passed out, hanging off Thor’s arm.
Thor sighed, wondering what it was that was plaguing his friend. It was not Tony’s way, to talk about his problems, or did he perhaps think he had no one to talk to? Thor hoped that was not the case, for he could come to any of them to talk. They did worry over Tony, but perhaps Tony did not know it?
It was true that Thor was the only one that called him friend, but that did not mean the others did not think of him as such.
Thor decided that he would talk to the others about it.
....................
We met, you know, in Bern.” Yinsen states as he cleans his glasses.
“Really? I don't remember.” Tony frowns and tries to think back on that day.
“Of course not. If I had been that drunk, I wouldn't have been able to stand, let alone give a lecture on integrated circuits.” Yinsen laughs and Tony, he can’t help but laugh as well.
......................
"This is the fourth time you have gotten drunk Tony! This week!” Steve snapped, glaring down at the hung over Tony. He was looking pitiful, with a pale face, and bloodshot eyes. Bruce just moved over and pressed a cup of coffee in his hands. Well, it was more of forcing Tony’s hands to wrap around the mug and then forcing him to drink some of it.
“I can get drunk whenever I want.” Tony hissed after being forced to drink some of the coffee. He tried glaring at Bruce, but he figured that it was lost with him looking so sick.
“You are killing yourself! You know drinking is bad for you! You have to admit you have a problem!” Steve ranted on, while Tony tried to ignore and calm his raging headache. Bruce was pressing a warm towel onto Tony’s head, a little too tightly for Tony’s liking.
“Ow.” He groaned, but Bruce just shot him a look.
“You are lucky you did not get alcohol poisoning.” Bruce primly stated, much to Tony’s annoyance. Steve heard this and caused to go into another rant about drinking problems away.
“Look, it is what I do, I drink my problems away. No one cared before and no one really cares now so can we stop this and be allowed to wallow in peace.” Tony huffed, pushing Bruce’s hand away and glaring angrily at Steve.
He looked over at the doorway, where the rest of the team and even Pepper and Coulson were walking in. Pepper was going to open her mouth and retort, but Natasha stopped her and led her out of the room. The others followed, while Bruce quietly dropped the towel away and calmly followed, leaving Steve and Tony alone.
“Do you really think we don’t care?” Steve asked, voice softer now, and Tony didn’t dare look him in the eyes because he knew Steve would have that kicked puppy look.
“No one cared before.” Tony mumbled, picking up the discarded towel Bruce had been using to help his headache lessen.
“You are not alone anymore, not anymore.” Steve states firmly and Tony wants to believe the other, he does….but it’s hard to.
“We may not like each other all of the time, but we are here for you.” Steve wished that Tony would look at him, but he knows that Tony is not ready. Not yet. He sighed before turning around and walking towards the door.
“You know, we all know about your reactor and what happened to you. We know its anniversary is coming up. We just wished you could come to us instead of drinking yourself away.”
That is the last thing that Steve said, before he left Tony to his thoughts.
........................
You got a family?” He asks Yinsen, because he sees the family man in the other.
Yes, and I will see them when I leave here. And you, Stark?” Yinsen asks him and Tony….for once, doesn't know how to respond to that question.
......................
“Stark! Watch out!” Natasha called out to him through their radio. He barely missed the missile directed at him, except he doesn’t see the other missile coming at him. He is pushed away just in time and Hulk quickly grabs the missile. The missile went off suddenly, sending Hulk crashing against a building, rendering him unconscious.
“Banner!” Clint on top of a nearby building, was the first to notice that Hulk had changed back to Bruce, and was falling rapidly to the ground. Tony reacted, rushing forward and catching Bruce in midair. Tony maneuvers away from Doom Bots, careful to keep Bruce uninjured.
“We have to get Bruce away from the area.” Tony hisses into his com.
“I’m fine.” Bruce muttered as he regained consciousness. Tony frowned but he knew that Bruce couldn’t see it, but he was sure that Bruce knew it was there anyways.
“You got hit on the head, I’m sure that does not equate to being fine.” Tony muttered, landing down and putting Bruce down.
“I’m a doctor, I’ll know.” Bruce waved Tony’s worry off, and Tony would have responded had Bruce not suddenly pushed him away, turning into the Hulk just in time. The bullets bounced off Hulk who growled and rushed forward, sending the bots flying.
Tony took back into the air, seeing as the Hulk was back in the battle.
It was not until after the battle, after they had regroupd, that they noticed something wrong with the Hulk. He was swaying before he dropped to his knees, body shifting back down to Bruce’s smaller frame.
Bruce winced as he touched his side, raising his hand for the others to see the blood. The injury had triggered the change, not the other way around.
“I guess this one was a deep one.” Bruce muttered more to himself than the others, before looking up at the others, who were still in shock to see an injured Bruce.
“Don’t all have to act worried, really.” Bruce drawled, wincing as he stumbled onto his feet, but Thor was suddenly there, picking him up.
“Come, we must get him to the doctors.” Steve ordered, already turning around and motioning for the others to follow him.
Bruce was fine, he would live, he knew that but he glanced over at Tony, who had lowered his mask. His eyes were glued to the ground and Bruce wondered if the other was feeling guilty, he wondered if the other was remembering something from his past. Bruce reacted, because the shots could have hit Tony’s reactor and that….that couldn’t be allowed to happen. It was a rule, one of the many unspoken ones that the team had. Unspoken, because their communication skills were horrible, and Bruce wished that that wasn’t the case because then he could say something that would make Tony feel better…instead, he finds himself losing consciousness.
“You may have been right about the scotch, but I still think you need to stop drinking.” Bruce muttered, sometime later, after he wakes up and Tony is sitting on the chair next to his bed. Tony was startled out of his thoughts, but he looked at Bruce and smirked. Bruce hadn’t seen that smirk in a while; he was glad that Tony was going back to his old self.
............................
“We gotta go. Come on, move with me. We got a plan, and we’re going to stick to it.” Tony mutters as he rushes to kneel by Yinsen.
“This was always the plan, Stark.” Yinsen responds and Tony denies it, because it wasn’t. Yinsen would leave with him, and he would see his family, and he would be Tony’s friend, and Tony would meet his family, and buy them things….because Tony had not had a friend like Yinsen before…and they could be friends…they could….
“Come on, you’re going to go see your family. Get up. “ Tony commands, because Yinsen can’t die, he can’t. It was not part of the plan dammit.
“My family is dead, Stark…and I’m going to see them now. It’s okay, I want this….I want this.” Yinsen responds and Tony knows that this is it. This is it. This is the last time he’ll see Yinsen and the last thing he’ll say to the other.
“Thank you for saving me.” Because Tony is grateful for everything and he knows that Yinsen will understand that he means more than just the reactor, but for everything he helps Tony realize.
“Don’t waste it….don’t waste your life, Stark.”
.........................
“Is there a way of turning the light off that thing? Horror movies are not the same with a nightlight on all the time.” Clint teased, grabbing the bowl of popcorn from the coffee table, and placing in the middle of his crossed legs. He had been lucky and had taken the center of the big sofa.
“Because sleeping with a teddy bear is so much better?” Coulson inquired with a raised eyebrow, slipping to sit next to Steve, who was instead, sitting on the ground.
“I do not sleep with a teddy bear!” Cling cried out, throwing a handful of popcorn at Coulson, who just plucked them up and ate them.
“What are we watching anyways?” Pepper asked, running her hand through Natasha’s red hair. Natasha had her head on Pepper’s lap, her feet dangling off the sofa’s armrest. They sat on side of Clint while Thor took the tiny space on Clint’s other side.
“I believe it is called Friday the 13th? I believe it is a bad day?” Thor muttered as he picked up the case of the DVD. Clint chuckled and leaned into Thor’s side, because perhaps he used to sleep with a teddy bear before, but Thor was much better at keeping the nightmares away.
“Why am I even here?” Tony groaned, glaring at his…friends?
“Because, sir, you love us, just admit it.” Pepper primly stated, and Tony wondered if it was strange that Pepper sounded like Bruce, or that Bruce sounded like Pepper at times….
“Could we not watch Friday the 13th? What about The Ring?” Bruce asked, coming out of the kitchen with two more bowls of popcorn, and two sodas under his arms.
“Also, not all of you jump up to help carry these things at once.” Bruce huffed, shooting them all a glare, before carefully dropping all the goods at the coffee table.
“Thank you Bruce.” Steve sincerely thanked him, while the others just waved or grunted in thanks. Bruce sighed exasperatedly, before plopping down next to Tony.
“What about this one, called Darkness Falls?”
“How about just close your eyes and pick one at random?”
“Just put the movie in already!"
"Guys! Shut up, the movies is starting!”
“Can you please not do that while we are all here?”
"Shhh......"
.............................
"What the hell did you do to me?” Tony demands to know as he glances at his chest and the wires connecting to a battery. He looks back up, expecting to see Yinsen, but instead finds Bruce standing there, with an exasperated smile.
"What I did was save your life.” Pepper materializes next to Bruce, giving Tony her, ‘you’re an idiot but I love you but I swear to God if you try something that stupid again I will hurt you.’
"That is an electromagnet, connected to a car battery.” Natasha appears next to Pepper, with a matter of fact tone, but the tiniest smile on her lips.
“I removed as much shrapnel from your chest as I could,” Clint shrugs with a grin, leaning against the table Tony is lying on, and Tony can see Clint clutching the bow Tony made for him.
“But there are still some pieces left.” Coulson states, arms crossed as he sighs and pinches his nose.
“I've seen plenty of injuries like that.” Thor mutters thoughtfully, rubbing his chin as he smiles at Tony.
“In my village we call those casualties "the Walking Dead,” Steve steps out of the shadows with a tired smile, but just as they came, they all disappear leaving Bruce standing there.
“Because they take about a week to reach your heart.” Bruce mutters, placing a ghostly hand on Tony’s arc reactor, before disappearing as well.
.......................
Tony looked around the darken room, the movie was done hours ago, it seemed. Clint was curled up against Thor, both sound asleep. Pepper was sleeping, her head tilted back while Natasha slept, with her head still on Pepper’s lap. The coffee table had been pushed away and Steve and Coulson had taken over the carpeted floor. Clint was sleeping, leaning against Thor’s side, and Thor snored at random intervals. The whole team was sprawled around the living room. Tony looked down to see Bruce sleeping with his head on Tony’s chest, his left hand gently covering Tony’s reactor. The anniversary had come and gone, and Tony, Tony was feeling better, better than he remember ever being. He smiled and closed his eyes, already looking for the morning, when everyone would wake up with sore body parts, and Bruce would be horrified and flustered, making him look oh so utterly attractive.
Yes, that would be in the morning, for now, Tony wrapped an arm around Bruce and fell back to sleep.