More Than Friends

It has started out slowly, and neither really knew when their feelings towards each other became less and less platonic. It had been just more than a year nice the Battle of New York and the Avengers had moved into Avengers née Stark Tower together. 

All but Bruce Banner had come rather willingly, once they realised how sincere the offer was despite their skepticism at first. Tony had spent hours relentlessly convincing Bruce that he would be welcome. That he wouldn't hurt anyone, Tony trusted that he wouldn't. There's a Hulk proof area for you if you need it, he'd said. And a lab. Wouldn't you like a nice lab?

Eventually, the man had given in. As time went on, he was very glad that he did. Tony and Bruce's friendship grew even more and could often be found bantering back and forth with each other good naturedly.

They teased each other relentlessly on some days, and to the other occupants of the Tower it would seem they'd started a contest without actually saying they had.

As weeks grew into months, the pair became closer. Tony was always one for physical affection if he trusted you enough. While he still leant off Bruce like he was a post or slung his arm around the mild-mannered man's shoulder, Bruce had begun to notice they lasted longer each time.

He noticed the looks Tony would give him across the lab, or how he'd be staring at some middle distance until Bruce recaptured his attention. Tony stood closer, sat closer, brushed hands more often. He also let Bruce hand him things on occasion, which at first Bruce couldn't understand.

The team could never hand the billionaire anything, and it pissed Steve off to no end, thinking the man was just trying to be difficult. One time he'd tried to force something into the genius' hands and Tony's face had lost its colour so quickly one think he'd been suffering from blood loss. The object was promptly dropped and Tony quickly fled the room.

Later, Bruce had found Tony in the corner of his mostly unused bedroom with his knees pulled to his chest and hands pinned firmly over the Arc Reactor between his legs and torso. He had his head buried in his knees in an attempt to make himself as small as possible.

Bruce approached slowly, deliberately making his footsteps loud to warn the brunette that someone was coming towards him. Other than the slight tensing of his shoulders, the man showed no other reaction.

Slowly, Bruce crouched next to him and gently put a hand on Tony's shoulder. He flinched and attempted to pull away further, a small sound of fear escaping, though muffled.

"Shh, Tony, it's alright. It's just me, Bruce." He cooed, shifting to wrap an arm around Tony's shoulders and pull him towards his chest, only loosely holding him in place. Once again Tony tensed, but after a few minutes he relaxed, finally allowing soft sobs to escape, turning his head into his friends chest.

Bruce merely hugged him close with both arms and slowly rocked them back and forth in a soothing motion, murmuring soft reassurances to Tony until he eventually fell asleep against him.

The physicist then gently lifted the limp billionaire into his arms and lay him down in his bed, lightly pulling the blanket over his sleeping friend. Tony shifted and half blinked his eyes open as Bruce went to leave, clumsily reaching out to catch the shorter man's arm.

"Bruce?" He asked tiredly, squinting and trying to refocus his eyes.

Bruce moved back and knelt on the floor by Tony's head, gently wiping the hair from his eyes. "Yes, Tony?"

"Stay?" He asked timidly, fumbling to regain his hold on Bruce's wrist. Bruce hesitated, but Tony spoke again before he could answer, voice almost a whimper. "Don't go..."