Tony's panic attacks

Betty Ross

"whose Betty?"

Bruce paused at the question. that name was familiar.

"Betty?" Bruce muttered to himself.

"Betty Ross." Tony said. recognition crossed Bruce's face, followed by horror and fear.

"an old girlfriend." Bruce muttered.

"girlfriend?" Tony ask curiously. Bruce nodded taking his glasses off and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"yeah. we were together for a while before the Hulk became a thing. we were close, not like you and I though. she'll never compare to you." Bruce said.

"why'd you leave her?" Tony ask curiously.

"I didn't. she left me. she couldn't handle the Hulk or her dad trying to capture him. she left, never looked back I guess." Bruce muttered. "why the sudden questions? where'd you hear that name?" Bruce ask.

"oh, she's in the lobby." Tony said. Bruce's head snapped up.

"she's what? where? no! that means Ross is near by! I'm not safe here, no one is!" Bruce cried quickly. Tony put his hands up gently grabbing him, hoping to calm him.

"shhh. easy. it's okay. look, I'll come down with my Ironman suit, and if anything happens, I'll hold the fort while you get away." Tony said.

"I-I can't put you in danger like that Tony! he will kill you to get to the other guy! I can't live without-" Bruce started but Tony kissed him deeply, cutting off the rest of his sentence. he pulled back after a moment, rubbing his thumb across Bruce's cheek gently.

"it'll be fine love, I promise." Tony assures him.

"how can you be so sure?" Bruce ask. Tony smiled at him.

"because I just know." Tony replied. Bruce nodded slightly and let Tony lead him downstairs. Bruce didn't say it, but Tony could tell he didn't want him to mention they were boyfriends. he stepped away from Bruce as they walked out of the elevator.

"Bruce!" Betty grinned hugging him tightly. Bruce stood there awkwardly, feeling Hulk growl at the back of his mind. she stepped back and nodded at Tony. Tony just waived slightly, hesitantly stepping out of his suit.

"Betty, what are you doing here?" Bruce ask.

"we'll I'm here on a vacation and thought I'd stop by to see if you wanted to get some lunch." Betty smiled. Bruce looked at Tony, who gave him a small hesitant quirk of his lips. Bruce nodded.

"sure, but Tony'll have to come too." Bruce said. Betty's shoulders fell.

"I was hoping it'd be just us." Betty said.

"well, see...." Bruce trailed. Tony sighed.

"I have anxiety issues and panic attacks. Bruce knows how to help with them. I don't really go out with out him and he doesn't go out with out me. I don't like it when he tells people." Tony muttered after a moment, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away. Bruce looked at Betty to see if she was going to buy Tony's act.

"oh, um... there's no one else who can help with them?" Betty ask curiously.

"I have trust issues. I trust Bruce, I don't trust anyone else here. they probably want to poison me or shoot me or stab me or-" Tony listed.

"okay Tony, enough. we get it." Bruce rolled his eye's. his boyfriend was a little too good at this, but he'd probably had lots of practice over the years.

"well, okay, but I'd like to have a private conversation with Bruce." Betty said.

"he can listen to his iPod." Bruce assured her, pulling it out and handing it to Tony who cheered.