The people of Calcutta had been a buzz all morning, and it had started early.

Bruce Banner had been treating an elderly woman, he'd just finished packing his little bag when her son had rushed in, ushering him out in a hurry as he explained that someone was looking for him. That was all anyone told him as they snuck him through the city. Someone is looking for you.

He couldn't get who, whether they were military or SHIELD, man or woman, it was all just a confusing blur that kept him moving for the better portion of the day. Until a young boy took his hand and gently pulled it, trying to guide him from the back alley he was walking down "Come see." He pressed in heavily accented English.

He was immediately reminded of the girl that had lured him to Agent Romanoff, and halted. Wasn't that great? Now he couldn't trust children.

But the boy pulled again "Come see, come see!" He urged "Light."

"Light?" He echoed, glancing up at the sky and setting sun

"No, no! Light here!"

Bruce looked down, and grinned when the boy put a hand square in the middle of his chest "Light here, come see!" The small child pulled his hand again, and this time Bruce followed eagerly as they made their way through the back ways of the city.

They searched until sun was nearly gone, and then the child stopped and pointed across the street.

Even if the the glow of the reactor couldn't be seen at this distance, he would have been easily recognizable. His suit was impeccable, his posture was confident, even the way he gestured around the city and spoke to the man next to him screamed 'Tony Stark'.

"I don't think he's here, boss"

"No, he's definitely here."

"Okay, so he's here. Where, exactly? This place is huge."

"Where's your sense of adventure, Happy?"

"Oh no no no! Don't you start! Everything's an adventure with you! A trip for donuts could be an adventure!"

"I could go for donuts."

Both men turned abruptly as Bruce approached.

"Dr. Banner!" The man Tony had called Happy smiled brightly, and maybe with a bit of relief "We've been looking all up and down for you!"

"I've noticed, sorry about that." He gave them an apologetic smile, and Tony quickly waved it off "Don't worry about it, you're here now. We can go."

"Go? I'm sorry, I don't... Go?"

Tony looped an arm around his shoulders "Go, back to New York. Avengers tower."

Bruce laughed, and he could have sworn that Tony's expression fell "You want me back there? Remember what happened last time I was at the tower? I sort of broke it."

"You broke a lot of things, I'm not worried."

"That's not the point, Tony. I'm still-"

"Give yourself some credit, Bruce."

He was a little taken back by the abruptness in the other man's voice

"You saved people. You smashed a hole in a wall, and made a dent in my floor. And you saved people." He had grabbed both of the smaller man's shoulders and looked him dead in the eye.

"I..."

"Come back with me. Be safe, live in a nice place, eat good food, have a shower." He gently tugged on one of the limp curls that framed his face. Bruce felt a warmth spread through his body and tried his hardest not to look touched.

"I have a pretty sweet lab that we could work in?"

Bruce let himself smile "You should have lead with that."

In reality, he'd had him as soon as he'd looked him in the eye.

oOo

Living at the tower seemed to do wonders for the small doctor. The first shower and decent night's sleep seemed to make him a new man. He was smiling and chatty, catching up with the rest of the team in casual conversation over coffee. Everyonce in awhile he'd glance over at Tony, and see a genuine smile on his face.

Things only went up from there, he was getting closer with the other genius. They'd spend long hours in the lab, sometimes doing actual work, other times experimenting on gummy bears and making Peeps joust. Bruce was finally comfortable, and enjoying having a friend. But then, Tony took a strange turn. He was just... tired. Bruce was certain that there were times he was being stared at, but he'd look over and Tony would be fiddling mindlessly with whatever was in front of him. At first he feared that his friend was becomming sick, but that didn't appear to be the case. Then the doubt started settling in.

Surely he had done something, said something to upset Tony. To make him doubt the decision to bring him back to New York.

The thought festered in his mind, but he tried not to show it. Inner demons became more active, angry voices whispered harshly inside his head. The word 'monster' came up in thought more often than it had in months... Until one night he reached a boiling point that no one could ignore.

It had already been difficult to fall asleep, so he really shouldn't have been surprised to have a dream as horrible as he had.

His mother's head against the concrete, blood starting to pool and run down the driveway as his father shouted and ranted in a blind rage. A faceless monster that continued to beat on the woman even after she had passed, kicking the car that would have been their ticket to freedom, striking the small child that could only stand and take it. Ignoring the sirens and squealing tires that pulled up in front of the house, the beast let out an enraged roar, and suddenly Bruce was awake. He writhed, suddenly aware of his own monster trying to burst free. His heart was pounding and he hit the floor, clinging to himself and trying desperately to grasp at control.

Not now, please not now. Not here.

He wasn't aware of the door opening, or of someone standing there, until Tony spoke.

"LEAVE!" He shouted, painfully aware that his voice was not his own, and he desperately wanted Tony gone. What if he turned now? What if he hurt him? What if he only proved that he shouldn't be here...

A hand softly touched his back and he tried to speak, but Hulk had his tongue and all that came out was a broken snarl. The hand turned into arms, and he was aware of Tony speaking to him as he was brought closer to the other man. Slowly, gradually he was regaining himself. His muscles were burning and his body ached as he slowly straightened up and carefully rubbed his face "Thanks..."

Thanks? That hardly fit what had just happened. He'd put his life on the line, he'd just seen him at darn near his worst, and that was all he could muster... Thanks?

The rest of that night hardly mattered, because Bruce Banner had realized something. Tony was still there. He wasn't regretting his descision, and he cared. He smiled despite himself as he curled back up in his bed, and went back to sleep with an image of Tony in his mind.

oOo

Bruce would falter before saying that he was pleased that Pepper had left in a huff. Because he wasn't pleased. Tony was clearly hurting, and that was never something he would take pleasure in.

But at the same time, he was glad that he could finally repay his friend. He tended to him dutifully, bringing him food, encouraging conversation, leaving him be when he felt that alone time was needed. He even went through the trouble of getting Clint to walk him to get a cheesy horror movie Tony might enjoy.

Thus far his attempts seemed to be working, and the movie was proving to be working it's magic. A bet was made, and Bruce won. He wouldn't say that was because he'd already seen the film once... He was going to be spending time with Tony, out and about. They'd both be out of the tower, and they'd be doing something together and-

Tony kissed him.

Bruce sat frozen for a moment, hands hovering over the other man's shoulders.

Stark started to pull away, a look of something akin to shame on his face "Sorry, I just-..."

Banner shook his head, his hands went to the sides of his neck and he leaned in, kissing him softly. Tony's hands found his waist and pulled him close.

The feeling of Stark's experienced mouth working against his own was indescribable, and he quickly found himself lost in the sensation of their lips repeatedly making contact. He leaned against the other man, hands moving to wrap around his neck, suddenly finding himself wanting more contact.

Bruce was gently lied back against the couch as Tony carefully moved himself over him, hips lowering to press together as the kisses grew more passionate and eager.

His heart was fluttering behind the thin wall of his chest, and suddenly Bruce gasped, breaking the kiss and struggling to sit up right.

This had to stop, now.