In the end, it was Tony's fault.
That's how Tony felt.
He had begged Bruce to come to the charity auction. Bruce had declined, telling him how crowds made him horribly uncomfortable and how he wasn't sure how the paparazzi would react to Tony and Bruce's relationship.
But Tony begged and pleaded and begged and pleaded.
He finally got his way.
He shouldn't have though.
Because the minute they left the auction, Tony and Bruce were surrounded by microphones and flashing lights.
"Mr Stark, don't you realize that Dr. Banner is a liability to be around?"
"Mr Stark, aren't you ever worried about the Hulk making an appearance in public?"
"Mr Stark, why do you think the general public is afraid of Dr. Banner? Should they be?"
"Mr Stark, is Bruce Banner a monster or not?"
"Mr. Stark, are you sure about bringing such an unstable thing into this place?"
The questions were pushing Bruce's limits, HARD. The loud and insistent beeping coming from his heart monitor watch proved that.
They were getting up in Bruce's face, lights making his eyes blind momentarily over and over again.
But it was that one word that sent him over the edge.
"Thing."
Inhuman growling started to emit from Bruce, and Tony froze.
"EVERYBODY LEAVE!! GO!!!" Tony yelled, as green started to over take Bruce's skin.
"Bruce, baby, please-" Tony pleaded softly.
It was too late, the growl was now a roar and Bruce was now 9 feet tall, muscled and green.
"LEAVE BANNER ALONE!!! LEAVE HULK ALONE!!! LEAVE US ALONE!!!"
The Hulk practically screamed, loud enough to break windows around them. People screamed and ran, and Tony stood in shock.
Hulk didn't smash anything, didn't grab anyone, no. He jumped off, running away and Tony knew to where.
The small beach where Tony and Bruce had there first date.
To say Tony got there quick, was an understatement.
He wasn't scared as he entred the beach and saw the Hulk sitting on a rock, staring out at the sea.
He wasn't scared at all.
"Hey, Big Guy." Tony greats casually, taking simple steps towards the Hulk who now turned his head over to Tony. He merely grunted in reply.
"Would be ok if I got Bruce back or-" "Banner no want too."
Well, Tony didn't expect that. Tony couldn't remember a time when Bruce actually WANTED to stay the Hulk.
"And why's that?" Tony asks, getting closer to Hulk, watching as the green man stares down at his big green feet nervously.
"Hey, it's ok, Big Guy. You can tell me." Tony offers up, sitting on the sand next to the Hulk.
The Hulk's large green lips are pulled into a frown as he speaks. "Banner no feel good." Tony raises an eyebrow, tilting his head. "What do you mean?" "Banner no feel...worthy."
A small pain reinstated in Tony's heart.
"Worthy of what?"
Hulk looks back at the ground. "Worthy of Tin Man."
The pain is bigger now.
"Banner feel bad. Banner feel like 'thing'. Hulk tried to make lights and people leave Banner. But Banner still feel bad. Banner hate Hulk." The Hulk's voice is sad and upset. It makes Tony feel just as sad and upset.
"Hulk, can I tell you something?" Hulk finally looks over at Tony, nodding.
"Bruce is not a 'thing'. You are not a 'thing'. Bruce doesn't hate you, he's just worried that.... You won't like him or his friends." Tony doesn't know Bruce's feeling to the Hulk EXACTLY. But he takes his best guess.
Hulk's radiant radioactive green eyes widen.
"But Hulk like Banner friends! Hulk like Tin Man, Star Man, and Bird. Spider scare Hulk though. Hammer Man fun to punch." Tony nearly laughs at the words Hulk uses for the nicknames, but he doesn't.
"Hulk like Banner. Hulk love Banner. Banner and Hulk family. But Banner weak, like child. Banner need protecting. Banner no understand! Hulk protect Banner child!!!" Hulk begins to get disgruntled and angry, so Tony quickly diverts it, standing up.
"Hey, how about this, I'll tell Bruce myself. I'll explain it too him. Is that good?" Tony holds his hands in the air, voice soft and steady. Hulk's face relaxes and he nods.
Finally, after a few more moment of the Hulk staring out at the sea and Tony at the Hulk, the Hulk becomes his normal sized Bruce Banner again.
His normal sized naked Bruce Banner.
They say nothing, sitting in silence.
Until Tony breaks it.
"Feel like Shawarma?"
Bruce nods, smiling softly.
"Yeah. Yeah, I do."
