𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗳- ʙʀᴜᴄᴇ ʙᴀɴɴᴇʀ

Silly Tony

It had been a few months since Tony's little experiment to see how far he could push Bruce Banner and make him Hulk out. Bruce had made it clear that day that he wasn't someone to be toyed with. And Tony, for the most part, respected that.

For the most part.

Tony was never one to back down from a challenge, especially not one that intrigued him as much as seeing the Hulk up close in a somewhat controlled setting. He'd been working on a new suit, something that could withstand a possible Hulk-out, just in case things went sideways. And, being Tony Stark, he convinced himself that it was for "scientific purposes"-if Bruce could somehow control his transformation even while pushed to the edge, it could offer groundbreaking insight into gamma radiation and human biology.

Of course, Tony kept all of this to himself. No need to clue Bruce in on his real intentions just yet.

***

It was a regular afternoon at the Avengers compound. Bruce and Tony were both in the lab, working on a joint project, when Tony decided to put his plan into action.

He started subtly, making small, irritating comments throughout the day-talking over Bruce's ideas, tweaking his designs without asking, and accidentally bumping into him a little too often.

Bruce brushed it off like usual, giving Tony the occasional raised eyebrow but never reacting beyond that. The man was a fortress of calm, and Tony was starting to wonder if this was all in vain.

"So, Bruce," Tony said casually as they were finishing up for the day, "remember that time you almost took down an entire city because of some *minor* misunderstanding?" He flashed a grin, knowing he was referencing one of the most painful moments in Bruce's history as the Hulk.

Bruce's hands stilled over his work, his jaw tightening ever so slightly, but he didn't respond.

Tony pushed a little harder. "I mean, I get it-big guy's got anger management issues, right? But come on, ever thought about... I don't know, meditation? Or a spa day? Oh wait-what am I saying? The Hulk would probably smash through the hot stones."

Bruce's eyes narrowed for a split second, but again, he didn't take the bait. "I meditate," he said calmly, resuming his work. "More than you'd think."

Tony chuckled. "Yeah, sure you do. But I guess some things just can't be controlled, huh? Like gamma-radiation-induced rage monsters. They're bound to slip up eventually."

There was a flicker in Bruce's expression now-small, but noticeable. Tony grinned to himself. He was getting close.

"Or, maybe you're just scared of losing control again," Tony continued, leaning back in his chair. "I mean, everyone's got limits, right? Even the great Dr. Banner."

Bruce's hands tightened around the tool he was holding, and Tony could see his knuckles going white. His eyes flicked up to Tony, just for a moment, and there it was-that familiar green tinge in his irises.

Tony knew he was playing with fire, but he couldn't stop now. This was the moment he'd been waiting for. "I wonder," Tony mused, "if there's something that could really set you off. I mean, if the right buttons are pushed-"

Bruce suddenly slammed the tool down on the table, the loud clatter echoing in the lab. Tony jumped a little but quickly recovered, still smirking.

"Tony," Bruce said, his voice dangerously low. "You're walking a very fine line."

Tony's heart raced. This was it. He could see the tension in Bruce's body, the muscles in his neck twitching. The air in the room felt heavier, like a storm about to break.

"Oh, I know," Tony said, unable to resist one last push. "But come on, Bruce. We both know the Hulk's itching to come out. Why keep holding him back? You don't need to pretend for my sake."

For a moment, Bruce was perfectly still. Then, slowly, he stood up, his movements deliberate, his breathing deeper. His back was to Tony, but Tony could see the telltale signs: his shoulders broadening, his fists clenching, the sound of fabric straining against growing muscles.

"Tony..." Bruce warned, his voice rumbling now, lower and deeper.

Tony's smirk faltered. The lab suddenly felt a little too small, a little too enclosed. The shift in Bruce's energy was undeniable. The Hulk was coming, and Tony wasn't sure if this was a brilliant idea anymore.

"Uh, Bruce? Buddy?" Tony said, standing up, hands raised in a calming gesture. "Maybe we should just-"

But it was too late.

Bruce turned, his skin already tinged green, his eyes glowing with barely restrained fury. His body expanded, muscles rippling as his shirt tore at the seams. "You want to see the Hulk, Tony?" Bruce growled, his voice blending into the Hulk's guttural tone. "Fine."

The transformation happened in seconds. One moment, Bruce was still somewhat in control, and the next, the Hulk had taken over, standing fully in the lab, towering over Tony.

"Uh-oh," Tony muttered, slowly backing away. "Alright, big guy, let's just-"

Before he could finish, the Hulk let out a deafening roar, slamming his massive fist into the nearest table, sending tech flying across the room. Tony stumbled back, eyes wide, his heart pounding. This was more up-close than he'd ever wanted to be.

"HULK...SMASH!" the Hulk bellowed, knocking over more equipment as he stomped around the lab, his anger palpable.

Tony quickly activated his suit, the pieces flying to his body just in time to shield him from a chunk of debris. "Okay, okay! We're done with the experiment! This was a bad idea!" Tony shouted, flying up to avoid another piece of shattered machinery.

But the Hulk wasn't calming down. He was furious, and the lab wasn't going to survive the tantrum. Tony flew out of reach, dodging Hulk's swipes as the green giant tore through the room, smashing everything in sight.

"Friday! Activate the calming protocol!" Tony yelled as he dodged another strike.

"Initiating now, sir," Friday responded, and suddenly, a series of lights flashed through the room, emitting calming waves of energy designed to help soothe the Hulk. It was a failsafe Tony had installed for situations just like this.

Slowly, the Hulk began to slow down, his roars softening to grunts. His massive fists clenched and unclenched, but he wasn't attacking anymore. After a few more minutes, the green started to fade from his skin. Bruce, exhausted, slumped down to the ground, back to his human form, panting heavily.

Tony landed beside him, his helmet retracting as he cautiously approached.

Bruce, still catching his breath, glanced up at Tony, his eyes filled with exasperation. "You...just couldn't help yourself, could you?"

Tony grinned sheepishly. "I mean, for science?"

Bruce gave him a look that could kill. "Next time you want to see the Hulk, *don't*."

Tony rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. Lesson learned." He paused, eyeing the wreckage around them. "But...it was kinda cool, right?"

Bruce just groaned, closing his eyes in frustration. "You're impossible, Stark."