p • r • e • s • s • u • r • e

Truth or Dare

"More than there are leaves on the trees."

"-there aren't any. It's winter."

"Fuck you, I mean in general."

"Mhmm. Continue."

"More than there is sand on the beach. More than there are stars in the sky. I mean, it'sNewYorkand...light pollution, butthey'restilltherethey'rejustwearingconcealer."

Bruce laughs heartily.

"More than...more than there are grains of sand on Venice Beach. More than there are books in the Library of Congress. More than there are molecules of water in all the world's oceans combined and quadrupled. More than the amount of stupid shit Trump has said."

The scientist chuckles.

"Your turn."

Bruce thinks.

"I adore you a decent amount."

Tony laughs.

"Love you too, smartass."

They kiss, leaning back and rocking back and forth in a slow dance on the ground.

Tony fumbles desperately for Bruce's belt buckle, but the scientist stops him.

"Your stitches. Not until you're feeling better."

"Oh come onnn," he whines.

"Tony, no. I don't want to hurt you."

"Okay that's really just making it worse. I really don't mind."

"I know you don't, and that's what I'm worried about."

"Ugh. Fine."

The engineer rolls dejectedly off of Bruce's chest, lying on his aching back, staring up at the place where stars should be.

Tony deliberates internally on what he says next.

"This new core...there's a good chance I'll want to take it out. If I break down again. And I don't know...I just don't know. But I don't want you to freak out. Or feel bad for me. Or...help, although I'm pretty sure you will anyway. I just...it's gonna happen again, and I don't think I'll be able to stop me."

"I'm glad you're telling me this."

"I can't say I agree, but I do know that Pepper wouldn't be able to handle my bullshit, so I guess that's good."

"I'm so glad that I'm here, and I'm so sorry that I wasn't before."

"You don't have to, you know. You can walk away if it's too much."

"Sure. Then you'll die, and Morgan will probably be pissed as fuck when she's old enough to understand that it was my fault for leaving you, and Pepper will attempt to murder me multiple times, and Peter...I don't even know what Peter would do, but I'd probably move away from heavily populated areas to keep them safe."

Tony sighs.

"But that's not what matters," Bruce murmurs.

"What matters is you. You and me."

The engineer nuzzles further into Bruce's embrace.

"I know you're right. That I don't deserve it. I get it. I know. But I don't believe it. I don't know how to make myself believe it."

"You will. I'll just have to prove it to you."

They both smile.

Everything was okay, and then Tony got the itch. The darkness creeping like fog over the hills of his mind, his demons trying to take over.