kindacatchy | Post IW shenanigans

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Post IW shenanigans

[When Thor mentions what's up, Tony thinks he can't understand because he has gotten a shock and he needs time to understand what people are saying to him. His ears are ringing and he is sure he is having a constant heart attack. The situation isn't improved by the intergalactic magical portal back to Earth either.]

... in a wall?

[He's not even sure why he is surprised, but he is. Maybe he's surprised that he's still speaking and still exists in this cruel world.]

... with Banner?

[That can't be right. ...After all that pestering. After all that blackmail with no result. And Tony can only see the after-match of it.]

Sweet mother of God. [Tony's voice is slightly hoarse as he mutters. He puts his hands on his hips, looking up at the scene in front of him. Well, Thor wasn't wrong at all. Then he just salutes to get Bruce's attention.]

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She's... [His eyes go distant, remembering seeing her in the white armor of the Valkyrie. She'd been magnificent, and he hopes against hope that she's out there somewhere, shepherding the last remnants of Asgard to a refuge. He doesn't say that, and he's wistful, smiling without feeling it.] ...kind of a mess.

[They can't stay here looking at the battlefield or wondering how many homes and beds are going to be empty in Wakanda tonight. What they can do is something he's practiced for years - put one foot in front of the other.] Come on.

[It's okay that Tony's using this to distract himself. It's better than okay. If Tony weren't seizing on this new aspect of Bruce's relationship with his greener half to keep his mind from eating itself a little longer, Bruce would have put it out there for nothing.]

I think it means that he's... [He shrugs and looks over at Tony, and there's a flash of fear as naked as any he's ever shown, even in his announcement of Thanos' coming.] He's becoming more of an individual. It used to be that how I felt about people influenced him - Betty, Nat, you... He knew me, knew how I felt about him, but it was all a one-way mirror where he could see me and I could only see my own reflection. That's not how it is now, at least not all the time.

[And Tony goes on as Bruce does. He follows him, his hand still holding his shirt with a grip that's cramping his fingers. He ignores the dropped weapons, the mud, the blood and other things they pass for his own sanity.

He's listening Bruce explain, looking back at him and seeing his expression. It alarms Tony too, eyes focusing more a bit. The Hulk becoming... someone, rather than something is indeed slightly problematic. Depending on where it would stop. How much all that evolves. Wait, that's it.]

He's... evolving. [Tony mutters.] Could that be? Is that possible?

I think he's growing up. He used to be a big, pissed off toddler; now he's a big, pissed off, scared kindergartner.

[And that fear is a feedback loop in his head - their head.]

He'd only ever really lost one fight, and he can probably write that one off because the Hulkbuster was still built to contain him and protect others, not destroy him. He spent two years in alien death matches and won every one. [Except Thor, but that still doesn't sound right to Bruce.]

Then he gets his ass handed to him. He has no idea how to deal with that, and like a schoolyard bully taking some licks of his own for the first time, he's tucked his tail between his legs and gone into hiding.

[You hear that, you asshole? You were needed and you ran away.

If Hulk can hear him, there's no sign. No roiling bite of anger in his head, no sudden burst of green across his skin. If the two-way mirror's really down, Hulk's gone somewhere where he doesn't have to look or listen, which kind of pisses Bruce off, but really, what else is new?]

So let me get this straight- [Tony holds up a hand, to try to sort all this out.] So, the Hulk, he's growing, okay that's fair- But he's starting to have fears? And he's sulking? He's also having some positive emotions, like, preference for a person. For a Valkyrie, but still, it's something.

You two have a lot to talk about. [He decides. A dangerous spark lights in his eyes.] We'll have to find a method to trigger him back to life. To face his problems, like adults. [Tony is being the biggest hypocrite here, but let's ignore that.]

Though, what if he's all grown up and wants to have his own room, hm?

It was bad enough with a monster in my head, but another person?

[He slows down, making sure that Tony's looking at him.] It's my head and he's a squatter. I don't want an engaging dialog; I want an eviction notice. Give me the Hulkbuster and I'll get by just fine without him.

Yeah, that's a completely different scenario. There's medication for-- [Tony snorts, his attention on the other as they slow down.]

It's yours. [He says that without missing a beat. But he gets what Bruce is saying. It seems there's also going to be an endgame for them too.] I can help in that. We can work something out. If that's what you want.

[The offer, coming so readily and with sincerity that Bruce doesn't doubt, brings him up short for a moment. He searches Tony's face and then starts walking again, picking up the pace and gripping Tony's shirt to urge him along.] You know what I want? A drink. I want a drink, a Wakandan pizza, a shower, and about 10 mg of diazepam. I'll settle for the pizza and the shower.

[They have successfully tipped him over into numb and he's going to run with it while it lasts.]

You and me, we're going to focus on the things we can manage right now and we'll work on climbing Everest tomorrow.

[With a small trip, Tony falls in step with Bruce again, nearing the palace where they seem to take all injured. He feels the shift in Bruce's mood, and it helps his own. It's something he hasn't felt in a long time, being in sync with someone like this.]

Sounds like the best party there is. [He smirks.] And the best plan.

[He means it. Right now, he'd take anything for survival. Anything.]

[The medics are working quickly and efficiently, but they look as shell-shocked as every person they pass on their way into the palace. They stand out as foreigners, which at another time would be awkward, but just then is only convenient because there's no question about ID for either of them.

After a few minutes of being passed from one person to another, they end up with a strand of beads set to direct them through the palace to guest quarters, which Bruce immediately offers to Tony.]

That's it. I'm done. If you get us lost with that to follow, I'm never letting you live it down.

[One bit of good news - Shuri has survived and wants to see them tomorrow. The woman who passes the message on doesn't say it, but it doesn't take a genius to recognize that all of Wakanda's leadership have more immediate matters to tend to than their foreign guests.]

[Tony had seen some part of the lab, through only through a screen when he was dealing with Wakanda. He knew even back then that he would love to visit one day. And now here he is and... he didn't imagine it like this. At all.

He only takes the beads when Bruce hands them over to him. Because he doesn't like people handing him things. Except if they are... some people. It's complicated. He is glad that this Shuri made it; partly because every single survivor is a treasure, and partly because Tony would love to ask her all. the. things.]

How dare you put me under this pressure, Banner. Can't you see I'm having enough as there is? [He jokes quietly as he puts on the beads and immediately starts experimenting with it. The idea of the device is not foreign to him, but the actual working of it is. It's fascinating. Tony knows that his way of thinking is always right and it's the best there is, but... discussing ideas with equally smart people can be such a thrill. Also, looking at technology like this? It wakes the child in him.] Such a beauty, it basically has no wasted energy. I'd love to take it apart.

[With that, he finds the map of the palace. It's a real life map, updated with the number of losses, survivors and all useful data Tony can imagine. But the most important thing is...] Let's take a detour through the kitchens, I can see they have some fine imported alcoholic goods.

[Bruce is blissfully unaware of how rarefied his ability to hand him things is with Tony, and that's just as well. Their friendship is best without the self-consciousness that realization might engender.]

Look around. It seems like most of the people in here are wearing them, too.

[He's sticking close, leaning in to squint at the map while he wishes he had his glasses.] I think they can excuse us if we raid the kitchen. I'm not so sure about the booze. [But if Hulk is going to hide out and keep his figurative head down, maybe Bruce can have more than one weak drink without worrying about what will happen. That actually sounds appealing.]

Seems like if you have this, you're free to go. It's like a badge, Happy would love the concept of this. [Jesus Christ, he really hopes Happy made it otherwise he's really going to go insane. Losing Happy would be like losing a puppy.]

It's always better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Or just, you know, do the thing. [Tony recites his life philosophy and turns off the map. He had the route memorized. He'll have anything with alcohol in it, thank you very much. If anyone's complaining he'll personally restock the missing items.

As they start on their way, Tony is in awe. He makes a mental note to have a heartfelt talk with Shuri about how they dared to keep all these goodies away from him.]

Not always. [They'd done the thing with Ultron and nearly undone the world, but hey, who's counting?

He's seen this before, and he'd be awestruck again if he had anything left for awe. All Bruce wants is to get some fuel, maybe some liquor, and go find the quarters they've been assigned so he can shower and have his breakdown in private.

They pass palace staff or residents or just locals who'd fled the fighting, but Tony's right. Those beads in Tony's hand serve as all the pass they need to be left to their own devices.]

Do you want to stay here for a while or are you planning to head back to the States after you get some rest?

[Ultron was a mistake. Indeed. Tony presses his lips together to stay quiet. He's done apologizing, he's... just done... Bruce may not, though, and Tony will help him process it all.

At the question he thinks about his own lab. Yes, that's where he will spend most of his time now won't he? Like a hermit. Until he makes the ultimate suit to go after Thanos. Until he's drank enough to delete all these memories and pain from his system...]

I'll see if there's anything I can do for Wakanda first, could take a few days. [He will not rest. There is no rest for Tony Stark. Ever. He turns to Bruce then, a bit of despair is gripping him. Bruce is not a person who would accept the Accords. Fairly, Tony has second thoughts about it too. ]

What about you, buddy? Would you come along, or what's your plan?

[Despite his question for Tony, it feels completely impossible for Bruce to plan any farther ahead than getting through this minute and then the next and maybe, if he stretches, the one after that. Tony's question just... hurts.]

I'm short on plans right now. If I go back, what am I looking at? The Avengers aren't... I don't know what they are.

Screw the Avengers, you could stick with me. Isn't that enough? [Tony, smirks. He doesn't want to say it out loud, that the Avengers are most probably gone. So screw them... But Tony will try to make sure to take in as many of them as he can. Vision included... He will try to save him.]

[Tony's good at surprising smiles out of him; he's been doing it since the first time they met and this time is no different.] I want to go back. It's kind of funny how much I missed you when I can't even remember most of the last two years.

[There is a smile playing on Tony's lips also.]

You better missed me, because I lived every second of these two years and missed you immensely. So. What's fair's fair.

And now, for this I present you... [He ticks away at the beads, and a door opens on their right. Seems like a smaller pantry when Tony peeks inside. Then motions toward it.] ... the pantry.

[The pantry is plenty big by Bruce standards, considering there's room for both of them in there. He starts poking around, looking for food that won't require any degree of preparation or effort. He's definitely on a "shove it in my face so I can sleep" kind of quest.]

I hope you aren't expecting anything fancy. I know you can't cook and I'm too tired to try.

Oh, no, no I'm just gonna grab some alcoholic beverage and snacks. If that's okay with you? Although, I'm sure these people worked out a way to make their food super easy.

[Tony talks and invades the pantry as if it'd be his. He's looking at the goods, picking them up just to put them back on the shelves. He's trying to find something that doesn't make him want to throw up on the spot. He decides upon whiskey and some dried fruit.]

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Post IW shenanigans

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