Protecting Me

Disclaimer:
As always...I own nothing.

Rating:
M (for references to domestic violence)

Genre:
Romance/Hurt/Comfort

Pairing(s):
(past) [abusive] SuperHusbands (Steve Rogers/Tony Stark)
ScienceHusbands (Bruce Banner/Tony Stark)

Lyrics Used:
Kathy Griffin "I'll Say It For You"

Kathy

I know what's in your head | But, if you turn red when ya say it | Well, don't ya worry 'cause | I'll say it | I'll say it for you

I know what's on your mind | But, if you're inclined not to say it | Well, don't you worry 'cause | I'll say it | I'll say it for you

"Wow! Thank you!" The applause was roaring as a middle-aged woman with flaming red-hair ran out on stage wearing a knee-length purple dress. "Thank you! Please, have a seat! Hi there, everybody! Thank you, thank you! We are live, live, we couldn't be more live! Oh, you came on a gooooooood night! Because we have the guy you aaaaaaaaaalllllllllllll wanna sleep with! And, well...another guy that you've all probably never heard of before but I have-he's a personal friend of mine and I can tell you, once you have met him you'll all wanna tap that, too!" Laughter from the relatively small studio audience filled the room before the woman on the stage spoke again. "Ladies and gentlemen, the genius, billionaire, playboy-oh-and, he's a philanthropist, too-as if his smoldering good looks and sharp-as-a-knife wit weren't enough, TONY STARK IS HERE!" She paused once again as the applause roared through the audience. "Yes! And, I know you all remember I said I would feature only normal who-gives-a-fuck nobodies-and, yes, I know I've been full of shit, this season, BUT-I am sticking to that promise, tonight. My other guest will a be a personal friend of both mine & Tony Stark's, a brilliant man all his own, Dr. Bruce Banner!" Another burst of a applause. "Yes, I know. That's how you know you came on a dangerous night! Caution by Bravo. That's what we like. That's how we like it. All right, so look-" Just then, the woman on stage jumped slightly as a loud clip of music burst through the air! "Holy shitballs!" She exclaimed as a stage hand handed her a yellow card with the word KATHY printed in bold black letters across the back. "Oh! Okay, so, apparently it's time for our 'This Just In' segment." Pausing a moment to look over the card in her hand, she went on to say "Oh! Apparently, according to my producers, my guests tonight have a-and I quote-'a big surprise announcement to make'. Okay, that just goes to prove that this shizz really is live 'cause even I don't know what the fuck this announcement is. Okay?! So, if that isn't live enough for ya, I don't know what the hell is!" Another burst of laughter and applause rang throughout the room before the woman on stage moved to her seat in the center of the stage and continued speaking. "Okay, so, I don't know about you guys, but, I'm dying to find out what this big-ass surprise announcement is so-cue the song!" She declared, throwing her hands into the air, forming a V-shape.

I know what's on your mind | But if you're inclined not to say it | Well don't you worry 'cause I'll say it, I'll say it for you

I know what's in your head | But if you turn red when you say it | Well you don't you worry 'cause I'll say it, I'll say it for you

You don't have to speak a word | 'Cause I know that we both feel it |And I don't care if it sounds absurd | I know the truth and I've got to reveal it

I know what's in the air | But if you don't dare ever say it |Well don't you worry 'cause I'll say it, I'll say it for you

I can read you loud and clear | Yeah I know what we're both thinking |I'll shout it out for the world to hear | And then we can give it a minute to sink in

I know what's in your heart | But if the hard part is to say it | Well don't you worry 'cause I'll say it, I'll say it for you

I'll say it, I'll say it for you

As the song came to an end, Tony & Bruce walked out on to the stage, hand-in-hand, as Tony smiled brightly and waved to the crowd as the applause erupted once more. Bruce, meanwhile, offered a slightly smaller and more timid smile. Sensing his fiancé's trepidation, Tony just gave him a warm smile and a reassuring squeeze of the hand, as they made their way over to Kathy-each of them offering her a hug and a kiss on the cheek-before settling on the couch next to her seat. As the sound of the applause died down, Kathy was the first to speak. "Okay, so, first of all, Tony, I just wanna say that you look fantastic! I mean, seriously, you look amazing!" The audience appeared to agree with a brief applause.

"Well, thank you, Kathy!" Tony replied, warmly. "And, you're-of course-looking lovely as always." He added with a characteristic Tony Stark wink.

The audience just laughed as Kathy pressed onward. "Okay, so, we're all dying to know-or, at least I am, I don't know about everyone else, and frankly, I don't care." Another burst of laughter from the audience. Even Bruce couldn't suppress a chuckle. "What exactly is this big surprise announcement my producers just told me about?" She asked, curiously.

After glancing over at Bruce, Tony smiled and asked "Would you like to tell her or shall I?"

Smiling warmly back at Tony, Bruce simply replied. "You can tell them if you like."

"For Christ's sake, somebody just spit it out, already!" Kathy playfully quipped, earning another burst of laughter from the audience.

As his own laughter died down, Tony replied "Okay, okay, Kathy. Don't get your panties in a twist." He began playfully. "Well, as you already know, Kathy, Bruce and I have been dating for several months, now." Tony began, smirking as he reveled in teasing the fiery red-haired comedian. A huge smile broke out across his face as he struggled to contain his excitement as he continued to speak. "Well...A couple of weeks ago-on Christmas Eve...Bruce asked me to marry him." The audience instantly went crazy as applause-and, a few wolf whistles-broke out across the room. Kathy, for her part, just stared at the couple as her jaw nearly hit the floor, before her face broke out into a an excited grin-not unlike a child on Christmas morning.

"Oh my God!" She squealed, excitedly. "And?" She prompted, urging Tony to continue on with the story. "What did you say?!"

"What do you think I said?!" He declared. "I mean, just look at him. He's gorgeous, intelligent, compassionate, generous-always putting everyone else in the world ahead of himself...He's the perfect package! How could I possibly say anything but 'yes'?!" He asked, grinning wildly.

"Well, I must say, you are right about one thing..." Kathy began, mischievously. "I mean come on guys, the dude's fucking HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!" She squealed, gesturing to Bruce. The audience applauded their approval. "I mean seriously, Bruce. If you and I weren't friends-and, you weren't engaged to another friend of mine-I would totally be eye-fucking you senseless, right now!" Bruce felt a deep blush flaring up all over his face. Sensing Bruce's discomfort, Tony just squeezed his knee reassuringly. It was then that Kathy spoke again. "So?!" She spoke again. "Let's see the ring!"

Tony just chuckled lightly before extending his left hand to Kathy for her to examine the ring. As Kathy leaned forward, inspecting the ring on Tony's left hand, her eyes sparkled as a broad smile spread across her face. "Holy shitballs!" She exclaimed. "Damn, Tony, that is one hell of a ring!"

To that comment, Bruce just smiled warmly as he took in the proud expression on Tony's face. Overall, this really wasn't as bad of an experience as he thought it might have been. "Yeah, Bruce really surprised me with it." Tony began, in response to Kathy's comment. "I didn't even know he was planning to propose, let alone with a ring as amazing as this!" Tony couldn't stop the smile taking over his face.

"Okay, so, I know I already know the whole story of how you guys got together, but, would you mind sharing it with everyone else?" She asked, curiously. "I mean, I know it's kind of a touchy subject for you, but, I'm sure they'd all love to hear it." She added, gesturing to the audience with her hand.

After glancing over at Bruce for a moment, Tony saw the encouraging look Bruce gave him. "It's up to you, Tony." Bruce replied to the unasked question in Tony's eyes. After thinking about it for another moment, Tony came to a decision.

"No, I'll tell you." He replied, looking back over to Kathy before shifting his attention to the audience. "Bruce and I have been friends for a couple years, now, and I had been crazy about him since day one, but, I didn't think he would feel the same way and I eventually ended up dating another man named Steve Rogers." Tony began. Before he could continue, however, Kathy interjected with a comment to the audience.

"You guys probably know him better as Captain America." She elaborated on Tony's comment.

Nodding, Tony went on. "Yes. And, at first everything was fine." He paused for a moment before pressing on, with the help of a reassuring grip on his hand from Bruce. "But, as time went on, I began noticing Steve's possessive side. It started out small, like whenever we would go to dinner, he would always accuse me of flirting with the wait staff or something to that effect. I didn't really think that much of it, at first. When it was still mild, it was almost a turn-on. But, then, it slowly got worse and it, eventually started becoming violent and even physical." After taking another steadying breath, Tony gripped onto Bruce's hand as he continued speaking. "At first, it was just a slap in the face here and there. Then...the slaps turned to punches..." Tony felt Bruce's hand tighten around his and turned to place his other hand on Bruce's arm whispering quietly in his ear. "It's okay, Big Guy. It's all in the past, now." After a small kiss on the cheek-which earned more than a few 'Aw's from the audience-Tony smiled slightly his fiancé seemed to relax a little and then returned his attention to the audience. "Anyway, one night Bruce and I had pulled an all-nighter working in the lab and when we went upstairs to turn in for the night, Steve was more than furious with me. He started getting in my face and yelling at me-accusing me of things like cheating on him with Bruce. Then, the next thing I knew Steve had punched me square in the face and knocked me to the floor." Tony paused to once again placate Bruce before continuing with the story. "It was then that I heard a loud crash and turned to see that Bruce had literally broken down the door to get to me." Tony looked over to Bruce and the two shared a small smile before Tony continued onward. "A brief fight ensued between Bruce and Steve before Steve finally caved and let Bruce take me out of the room-of course he still had to throw in a few last digs. But, that was the last I ever saw or heard of Steve Rogers." He stated with a smile as the audience erupted in applause. Turning to glance over at Bruce, Tony couldn't help smiling at the warm proud smile on his fiancé's face.

As the applause died down, Tony spoke again. "Eventually, about six months later, I was having a rough night. I had started wondering whether or not I would ever find the type of relationship that I really wanted." He began, entwining his fingers with Bruce's. "I told Bruce about everything I was feeling and-I don't know if he just got frustrated or impatient or what, but-he just blurted out 'I love you'." Tony paused once again as the audience all muttered a simultaneous 'Awwwww'. "I was so blind-sided-for once in my life-I was absolutely speechless!" Kathy and the audience all erupted in laughter and-to Tony's surprise-Bruce even let out a hearty, full-bodied laugh, at the comment. "So, I just went with my gut and I kissed him. Bruce started kissing me back, at first, but then pushed me away. At first, I thought I was being rejected. But, then, I couldn't believe it when he told me that he just didn't want to take advantage of my vulnerability." That earned another collective 'Awww' from the audience. "And, later that night, I went to talk to Bruce-after thinking about everything that had happened between us both before and after Steve-and I told Bruce that I had been in love with him from the moment I had first met him, and...well...As they say, the rest is history..." He finished with a smile as Bruce wrapped an arm around his shoulders and Tony leaned in to his side.

Kathy then led the audience in a round of applause before speaking again. "Okay, seriously-all kidding aside-Bruce, you have got to be the most perfect man I have ever met, wouldn't you all agree?!" She asked the audience who applauded their approval. "Why the hell can't more men be more like you?!"

Bruce thought about it for a moment and smirked as he replied "Well, let's face it, Kathy...If all men were like me, the human race couldn't survive." Kathy and the audience just laughed as Kathy spoke again.

"Well, Tony, I know you've been through hell and back-what with dickless wonder and what not-but, I have to say...You've got yourself one hell of a catch, here, with Bruce." She stated, earning another applause from the audience. "Don't ever let him go!" She warned, playfully.

Chuckling lightly at the playful warning, Tony replied "Believe me, Kathy...I have absolutely no intentions of ever letting him go!" smiling, at Bruce as he spoke. Bruce, for his part, just wrapped an arm around Tony's shoulder, squeezing gently, in agreement.

"So, when's the big day?" Kathy asked, excitedly.

After the couple glanced back and forth between each other, Tony finally spoke. "Well, to be perfectly honest, we really haven't set a date, yet." With a smirk, he then added "But, don't worry, Kathy. Once we have a date finalized, you'll be the first to know! And you will definitely get an invitation!"

"Yeah, you heard right, gays!" Kathy turned to the audience as she spoke excitedly. "I am invited to Tony Stark's wedding!" She declared, feigning a snooty tone as she spoke. "I totally know him!" She added, waving her finger through the air to add to her act. "Oh, holy shitballs!" She declared. "The producer's in my ear telling me it's time to go to commercial!" She elaborated. "But, when we get back, Tony Stark's got some explaining to do on my segment 'Explain This'! Don't go away!"

Author's Note:
Okay, so, I had originally planned to add in Steve's reaction to seeing this episode of Kathy, but, I frankly just got too impatient and wanted to post this chapter, already. But, I promiseto include that in the next chapter!