p • r • e • s • s • u • r • e

Truth or Dare

"I-" He sighs. "I had a crush on a dude in uhm...in high school, and then he said he kind of liked me back but not really but that erm...he said he was flattered, and wanted to meet me after school and spent the whole day flirting with me only so he and his buddies could beat the shit out of me in the locker room."

Tony swallows.

"Oh. Fun."

"Yeah. It was...sure."

"I'm sorry, that's awful. Did no one...?"

"Nope. I had gotten into an argument with my only friend, so I was on my own."

"Jesus Banner, I'm really sorry. That sucks ass."

Bruce chuckles.

"Anyway, my turn. Truth or dare?"

"Ummm....well, it's warm under here and I don't wanna get up so I guess truth."

"Okay."

Bruce decides to take this opportunity to get him to open up, and Tony isn't quite sure if he's relieved or terrified to do so.

"Do you ever-I mean, when you...y'know, do you ever wanna die?"

Tony chokes, and he snuggles into Bruce's chest. The scientist pushes him away just a little bit to look into his eyes, but Tony hides again.

"If I'm going to talk about this, I don't think I can look at you."

"Why is that?"

"I make you sad."

Bruce just hums a little, messing with Tony's hair.

"So? You gonna answer my question, hun?"

"You kidding me? I'm no pussy, Green Bean Brain."

He chuckles.

"Tony?"

"Yeah. I um...I mean, I'm not trying to...to die."

"I know."

"Then why-?"

"You know why. Tell me, please."

"I don't really want to leave. Not always, at least. I mean, sometimes...sometimes I do. A lot. Sometimes, I can't help it. It's involuntary-I'll just be watching Doctor Who and find myself wondering if it would be possible to shock myself to death with the TV."

He sniffles, and Bruce pulls him tighter.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"It's also not yours."

He hasn't the energy to argue with Bruce, so Tony just breathes, which is actually harder than he thought it might be.

"What was that supposed to be, with the hydraulic press?"

The engineer stifles a whimper.

"Tony?"

"Idunno. I mean...I wanted it to hurt, but I also wanted to leave...but I wasn't really-I mean, if I did end up dying, it would have just been a happy little accident."

"Don't you dare drag Bob Ross into this."

Tony giggles, then stops.

Yeah, that's what I do. Suck other people into my problems like a fucking black hole.

"Not him too, you're right."

"Tony-"

"I know, it's annoying, I'm sorry, I can't help-I'm sorry."