(A/N: Argh, I can't stop writing Avengers fanfiction. It's like a sickness, just one that I really don't mind having. Anyway, since I liked doing the Bruce/Tony or Brony pairing as I have been told it is called, I figured that it wouldn't be too much trouble if I took another whack at it. And I really like schmoop so there's that too. I do not own the Avengers and the only thing that I get out of this is a fangirl giggle and blush, because what else would I do? Anyway, now that's all been said let's get this show on the road.)

Recovery Time: Six Months

Bruce came to with a startled gasp and a slight jump, his heart feeling out of rhythm and the Hulk telling him that he might have been dead. His eyes danced between green and their norm as his gaze locked onto Loki's pale face. The God of Mischief wore streaks of blood and soot like war paint, his pupils dilated from fear and exhilaration. Bruce swallowed heavily and took the offered hand, Loki's magic swirled over him briefly and he was mercifully clothed once more.

"Might I suggest Doctor that you retreat to safety?" Loki said mildly, his brilliant green eyes fixed to the left. Bruce realized in that moment that there was a shimmering barrier separating him from the battle. It took him a moment longer to understand that the Hulk was being restrained. His eyes widened and he swung his gaze to Loki's face, searching for an explanation.

"How? We were…" he could not think clearly, the Hulk was roaring but he was disconnected from that rage. He knew the feeling, it had happened once before during the Abomination incident.

"Drugged. Now go Doctor. Tony is fine and we will manage without you," Loki said though his patience was clearly worn thin. Bruce finally nodded and scrambled away from the fight. He hated to be forced into retreat, but in his current state he was of no use to anyone.

"You alright Mean Green?" Tony's voice came over his ear piece and Bruce smiled at the nonchalance with which his boyfriend was able to speak. Iron Man was flying rapid circles around the beast that they had been fighting, blasting away at the now cracked carapace. Loki had leapt back into the fray in the only way a Magic user truly could, his staff swung above his head simultaneously shielding and blasting away with fireballs.

"Sore, tired, caged, angry, chained, pissed," Bruce said as his own thoughts mingled with those of the Hulk. Tony had always wanted a status report from the both of them anyway so it was just easier to check and see what his more violent self wanted at any given time. Not that Hulk didn't tend to soften a bit around Tony, but that was just a matter of their relationship.

"Yeah, well, that's to be expected. This one's handlers knew about you my Green husband to be. But I'm just glad that you're okay. Now scram, I don't have the energy to focus on you and this thing," Tony said and Bruce smiled as he slipped through a barrier of rubble. Tony's way of showing his love was often sarcastic and commonly left the rest of the team wondering if they had recently had a fight; Bruce wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'm going you compassionless jackass. You'd better thank Loki for protecting my modesty. And when you get home I expect you to hop to on those Hulk-proof clothes," Bruce retorted, knowing that only one thing would happen when Tony got home. The traditional 'thank God you're safe' hour of cuddling would be followed by the team-work after party and then they would finally let Fury debrief them.

"Of course darling," Tony's voice was cheeky as he responded.

Bruce was whisked off to Avenger's Tower by a SHIELD agent and his communicator went out of range.

Eight hours later he was sick with fear, pacing the living area and tugging at his hair. The Hulk was still trapped within him and he was still cut off. The monster had been half-defeated when he'd left; they'd done so much damage to it in only an hour. But hearing nothing when he should have already been in bed and wrapped around Tony as the billionaire regaled him with the story of the fight, it was eating him alive.

He nearly came out of his skin, and not in a Hulk sort of way, when Loki appeared in the middle of the room. The God looked battered and scraped up, his forehead was slashed open and his clothing scorched. Bruce didn't hesitate, he stepped into Loki's sphere of space, felt that long-fingered hand wrap around his bicep and closed his eyes tightly. Being whisked through extra-dimensional space was not something that he intended to get used to, but it if it was serious enough that Loki came to get him in the shape that Loki was in, then he would deal with the discomfort.

When they landed Loki's knees gave out but Bruce managed to grab him before he fell. He levered the fallen God into the waiting arms of Clint Barton, who looked much worse for the wear. Bandages covered his chest and abdomen and it looked as if part of his vest had been melted to his left arm. Thor, scorched and scratched, moved to assist their archer in moving Loki into the care of the SHIELD hospital staff.

By then Bruce was grateful for the drug that restrained the Hulk because his heart was racing out of control. The only face that he did not see was Tony's. Natasha was burnt and both of her arms were taped up. Steve was similarly scorched but was also missing his shirt and sported a large bandage on his right side. The Captain stood and limped carefully toward Bruce.

"Glad to see you made it out. Tony told us what happened. He's in with the doctors now. Left arm is broken, three fractured ribs, partially crushed pelvis, and compound fracture in the left leg. Thing crushed him in the suit," Steve said in as succinct a manner as he could manage while struggling to breathe properly. Bruce deduced smoke inhalation as the probable cause of the Captain's trouble because he didn't dare let his mind wander to how badly Tony must hurt. And he certainly didn't let his mind go anywhere near the idea that Tony could have died.

"He'll be okay?" Bruce forced the question out, his eyes fixed downward on his clenched fists.

"Yes Bruce. But he wants to see you," Steve said softly and gestured over to one of the agents that stood around the waiting room. She looked sympathetic as she led Bruce through the door that led into the ward where Tony was being treated. Of course he soon understood that her look of sympathy was not due to the fact that his boyfriend was injured when he heard the colorful language Tony was spouting at the top of his voice.

"You can give him pain medicine doctor. He's not the type to ask for it lightly," Bruce said and slid into a chair at Tony's bedside, avoiding the temptation the stare at the damage wrought upon the left half of Tony's body.

"That's not the problem. They won't let me have it until my head scans check out," Tony growled, obviously on at least a little medication to still be fighting mad in the shape that he was in. Bruce rolled his eyes and grabbed his partner's hand, kissing the back of it lightly.

"I'm sure your impressive brain is perfectly fine. But just let them do their job. You're lucky you idiot. You know that?" Bruce said when Tony leaned closer for a real kiss. He still stank of blood and burnt flesh, likely not his own but from the Avengers that had carried him, but Bruce didn't care at all. So much else could have gone wrong that he was just relieved to feel Tony's lips against his own.

"The injuries to his bones guarantee a six month recovery. He's going to need physical therapy. But since you have proven to be the only one that he listens to, I am telling you Doctor Banner, he is not to attempt to use the suit nor rehab himself. He can do some serious damage to his body if he does," the doctor was a kind-faced woman but Tony looked at her like she was the Devil when she addressed Bruce. After 8 years of the Avengers working together it was well documented that Tony would instantly cave when Bruce was involved, and SHIELD agents abused that knowledge.

"Understood Doctor," Bruce said firmly, his eyes fixed on Tony's trying to convey that there would be no sneaking around said requirements. The brown eyed brunette just rolled his eyes and sank slightly in the bed, hissing when the sheets brushed against his bruised skin. Tony was the only Avenger, aside from Bruce that hadn't been scorched, but somehow he still managed to be in worse shape than anyone other than Loki. And Bruce wondered briefly at that. Loki had gone into battle recently in a way that he would normally associate with Tony's brash personality. He shuddered to think that he would have to watch out for two renegades rather than one.

"You had better be prepared to deal with me getting flabby," Tony said sullenly and Bruce slipped his fingers over Tony's six pack with a small smile.

"We will just have to adjust your diet eh Princess? Can't have your girlish figure getting ruined. How will you ever fit in the suit if it does," Bruce joked but the sentiment was there I'm glad you're alive you loveable idiot and Tony's smile said that he understood. But the kiss said it better.

(A/N: So that's it. Let me know how you liked it yeah? I'm still fairly new to the pairing so I hope that I'm doing it well enough.)