Tony's panic attacks

Bruce talks to Fury

Bruce was sitting in his chair in the lab working. Spike was asleep a few feet away in his play pen. Bruce hadn't seen Tony in a few days. he'd flown out of town for some meeting for Stark industries, but he'd return any day now.

"Bruce." Tony muttered tiredly, walking in.

"oh hey baby. why don't you head upstairs an get some sleep. you sound awful." Bruce said turning in his chair. as soon as he did, Tony plopped himself in his lap. one leg on each side of him. he wrapped his arms tightly around Bruce's neck and laid his head down on Bruce's shoulder. "uh, Tony?" Bruce ask.

"bad week. hold me." Tony muttered. Bruce wrapped his arms tightly around Tony, pulling him close.

"what happened?" Bruce ask. Tony whined softly and held tighter.

"had a nightmare in the hotel and had a code yellow. I haven't slept in four days and I feel a code yellow coming on and I'm exhausted and nauseous and I just want you to hold me for a little bit." Tony muttered, his face in Bruce's neck. Bruce pulled him closer, running his fingers through Tony's hair gently.

"want to talk about it?" Bruce ask. Tony shook his head.

"no. hold me." Tony replied. Bruce nodded and simply held Tony, like he demanded. he scooted his chair back up to the desk and continued with what he'd been working on. after a while, he was pretty sure Tony'd fallen asleep, he hadn't moved in a while. he wasn't saying anything. Bruce was positive Tony had fallen asleep. he heard the lab door open.

"hey, am I interrupting?" Phil ask.

"for once, no. he's asleep." Bruce replied.

"oh, um well, Nat and I were going to take the twins out for ice cream, I wanted to see if Spike could come." Phil said.

"Spike is seven months old. the twins are a little over five months old. you're taking them out for ice cream?" Bruce ask.

"yeah." Phil said. Bruce nodded.

"yeah sure, take him. I have a feeling I'll be stuck here for a while with Tony." Bruce replied. Phil nodded and went over for Spike.

"awe, he's sleeping." Phil pouted.

"take him anyway." Bruce replied. Phil grinned and picked Spike up carefully. "you know, if you and Steve want kids you can always ask Tony for help." Bruce said.

"nah. it's better when they're someone else's kids." Phil replied taking off down stairs. Bruce watched him go then turned back to his work, rubbing Tony's back absent mindedly. Bruce worked for a while, before he squirmed when the chair became painful against his back. he thought a moment, wondering how much he could move with Tony attached him, without waking Tony up. Bruce decided it was too painful to sit, even if it meant waking Tony. he slowly and carefully stood from the chair, carrying Tony of to the couch. he was almost there when Tony stirred.

"Bruce?" Tony whispered tiredly against his neck.

"I'm moving to the couch, chairs hurting my back." Bruce replied softly. he laid on the couch, Tony still attached to his chest. Tony wiggled a little bit, moving his arms from Bruce's neck to wrap tightly around his chest, his legs tangled with Bruce's. he knew his arc must've been uncomfortable for Bruce, or maybe he'd gotten used to it over the years, but Tony didn't care. "sure you don't want to talk about that nightmare? usually makes you feel better." Bruce said.

"it was normal and happy then it took a turn for the worse. they got you and Spike and they hurt you and they killed him. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't help or stop them. I kept trying to find you both but I couldn't do it. I couldn't find you. I couldn't help you, either of you, but I could hear you shouting and I could hear Spike crying and it's all I could hear." Tony said, taking a shaky breath. the tears had started up again. he pushed his face further into Bruce's shoulder, hoping he wouldn't notice them. "and I found you and you were so broken. you kept telling me it wasn't my fault but you were angry I didn't save Spike. and I found Spike and they'd... Bruce they'd killed him. they'd killed him and left him there, like he was trash and there wasn't anything I could do and I-" Tony was cut off by Bruce, who held Tony's face into his shoulder, holding him tightly.