Iron Woman

Nightmares

"geez, Tony you okay?" Bruce ask. Tony shook her head, chest heaving. Bruce climbed onto the bed. "put your head between your knee's." Bruce said. Tony nodded doing as he said quickly. "relax. deep breath." Bruce murmured. Tony did as Bruce instructed and sat back when she could breath. "are you okay?" Bruce ask. 

"why are you still in here?" Tony muttered, rubbing at her face.

"you fell asleep on me, I was afraid to let you go. I thought you might wake up. how long have your nightmares been back?" Bruce ask.

"two, maybe three months." Tony muttered.

"why didn't you say anything?" Bruce ask.

"because I should be able to handle stupid nightmares thats why." Tony glared.

"Tony your nightmares cause anxiety attacks. you should've told me." Bruce said.

"I'm fine Bruce!" Tony growled. Steve burst in, shield at the ready and Phil behind him gun drawn.

"what happened?" Steve ask. Tony screamed slightly in frustration.

"get the fuck out of my room! no one invited you in!" Tony shouted, throwing a pen from her nightstand. it lodged in the wall beside Steve's head. Steve's face flared up red.

"uh, sorry." Steve muttered, slamming the door shut.

"is she okay?" Phil ask.

"go Phil." Steve muttered pushing him down the hall. Tony glared at Bruce.

" get out." Tony glared.

"Tony you need someone in here-" Bruce started.

"get out. now." Tony glared.

"give me a good reason why." Bruce said.

"because I said so and I will get the suit to throw you out if you don't." Tony glared. Bruce sighed and left her room.

*a week later*

anytime Tony tried to sleep, the entire tower would hear her earsplitting scream. for the teams sake, she'd stopped trying to sleep at night, but the day naps were getting further and fewer between. she had nearly stopped trying to sleep all together. finally Bruce had enough. he stood hearing her scream loudly.

"I can't take it. someone has to make her sleep." Bruce said, slamming his book down.

"where are you going?" Steve ask.

"to make her sleep, duh." Natasha replied.

"she won't let anyone in the bedroom." Clint muttered.

"I'll deal with that when I get up there." Bruce replied. he headed upstairs. he banged on Tony's door. "Anthony Edward Stark let me in now." Bruce ordered. Tony's door slowly opened. her room was pitch black, save for the light of the arc, which was odd since it was nearly noon. she was curled up on her bed. Bruce closed the door and headed over to the bed. "okay. come on." Bruce muttered, laying beside her. he pulled her close to his chest.

"I can't sleep Bruce." Tony said quietly.

"yes you can. I'll lay here with you." Bruce replied.

"I can't." Tony repeated.

"yes you can. it'll be fine. I helped you before with your nightmares, I can help you again." Bruce said.

"yeah cause you need to lose more sleep." Tony muttered. "last time you helped me, you were up all night with me and slept all day with the team avoiding you." Tony added.

"I'll manage." Bruce replied dryly. he tightened his hold on his sleep deprived friend. "now just relax and try to sleep okay?" Bruce ask. Tony sighed and nodded against his chest. she took a deep breath in and relaxed in the comforting scent that was just naturally Bruce, closing her eye's. she'd been like this before. a couple years ago, after the black hole, after Pepper left, while she was still a man. Bruce had practically live in her bed until the nightmares stopped. the entire team knew it too. they'd taken extra care around both of them, knowing Tony didn't want to talk about it and Bruce was too exhausted to even think of talking about it. not that it would have been his place to talk about it anyway. Bruce held Tony tightly, digging his face into her hair.