starkingenuity | (no subject)

"Yep, actually, I did hear you, Doc. I'm just ignoring you." Don't be a buzz kill. Stark is riding high from that last fight. "It's just a cut. I've gotten a lot of cuts. Some bactine and some bandages and a little kiss over it from Jarvis here and I'll be just fine." The tall, leggy blond at his side doesn't even bother to roll his pale blue eyes. He's worked with Stark for years, too long really. He knows how the man acts.

"Sir."

That always makes Stark laugh and he lightly pats Jarvis on the back of his drivesuit. "Not your boss anymore, Jarv," he reminds him gentle. Or maybe he's just trying to drown out the mousy little guy following him. And that's when it hits him, halfway down the corridor, through the cheering crowds and the crews trying to get his Jaeger back into one piece. He knows that mousey little man follow him. "Shit. You're Doctor Banner! Well hey, nice to meet you finally! Man, we studied your tactics against Onibaba for months after that attack in Tokyo!"

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From:

starkingenuity

Hey. He does not smell bad. He smells like top end scotch. And that is delicious! Stark grins at Banner and the crows feet around his eyes crease slightly before he just gives in and leans against the other man. "Aren't you hot?" he asks. "Being in Hawaii must really suck for you."

To have that sort of internal temperature, Bruce would be better suited to Alaska. Why didn't they assign him to the Anchorage Shatterdome?

"If you want coffee there is a really good coffee place opened late." He doesn't want to go back. Not yet. The night is young. And Banner here is someone new and interesting to talk to. "Let me pick your brain. Show you mine if you show me yours."

From:

aggravated

...You reek, Stark. Like scotch and sweat and ego.

Bruce knows well enough that people all consider Stark handsome - the Jaeger pilots are all over TV and posters and the internet, after all - but he ignores it entirely in the face of how ridiculous this all is.

"I prefer the heat, actually," Bruce says calmly. "If you want me to--" can't even believe he's sayin this, "show you mine, you really need to see my lab. I have all of my work down there." New angle to try and get Stark back, or so he hopes.

From:

starkingenuity

"Oh ho-- Oh very nice Doc. I love how you tried-- No I mean really. A lot of people wouldn't try that with me. I mean, I see through people. Good intentions and everything. I still want that coffee. Off base. The shit in the Shatterdome is suppose to be gourmet but I lost my taste for hundred bucks a pound French roast just about the time San Francisco was attacked."

He gives Bruce a small squeeze and let's the other man take him out into the clammy, humid night. He likes the heat himself but being next to Banner makes him feel like he's got a fever.

"One coffee. On me. And then you can take me home." That grin says it all. Stark prefers to speak in flirts.

From:

aggravated

That had been almost subtly social for Bruce. When he's actually dealing with a patient, it's much easier for him to handle people, but in situations like this, he feels sort of lost and hopeless. Between his father and too much growing up in the Army, there's not a lot of education in that area. Still, he's trying.

Bruce wants to sigh at the delay, and the fact that the coffee will help sober Stark up and therefore less open to suggestion (not nearly open enough, Jarvis) but maybe the other would more willingly come if given the chance.

Maybe.

"One cup," Bruce agrees, but the flirt goes right over his head. Mostly. It's ignored, if nothing else.

From:

starkingenuity

That's probably fine because Stark flirts with everyone. Even toddlers. He's definitely not the sort to actually buy into when he says those flowery words. With another grin and some heavy leaning, they do manage to get to the coffee shop. It's pretty full, as coffee houses go, but when Stark asks a group of younger men if he can have their couch, they agree for the price of an autograph and some pictures. Even drunk, Tony pulls off a pretty sober exchange.

He has a Malaysian iced coffee in one hand and a cruller in the other when he takes a seat and turns towards the Doctor. "So have you checked the other pilots? The Mark-Is? How are their radiation levels?"

From:

aggravated

It's somewhat fascinating to watch Stark work the crowd so easily, but Bruce is regretting this over all as he hears the fake 'snap' from camera phones snagging him in pictures with Stark after they end up beside one another on the couch.

"You know I can't discuss that with you, Stark," Bruce dryly says, shaking his head. He himself only has a glass of water - too late for tea and he's not about to introduce the caffeine in a cup of coffee into his system. "All I can say is that there's enough cause for concern that we're checking everyone." No, one already is sick enough with the poisoning that Bruce ended up in a 'calm' fight with Fury about the situation.

From:

starkingenuity

Tony lets his head hit the back of the sofa before he drains his coffee likes its a shot. The jolt is enough to start the sobering process, enough to wake him up a little. "So that means at least one of the first pilots have cancer. Oh goodie. Well slap some extra shielding on the Apostle and we're good to go. Ill wear some lead underpants too. Just in case I want to pass on my genius genetics to the next generation without having to worry about mutations."

Stark puts down the glass and starts in on his pastry as if the world has just been righted and he figured out the way to save mankind.

He hasn't but he has this terrible hero complex that he really can't shake. And probably doesn't want to.

"But if it will make you feel better and not come out here looking for me, I'll let you take my blood."

From:

aggravated

Bruce can only imagine how hot the coffee is and actually winces, just faintly, as Stark drains it. His throat works to push down the imaginary scalding. "We're trying to make shielding that actually works versus might be working, and the only way to check that fully is to check the pilots as well." He keeps his voice quite soft in this public place, wishing they were back at the Shatterdome to discuss it instead of here.

With a barely concealed look of relief, Bruce honestly says, "thank you. It'll take a few minutes and that is it."

From:

starkingenuity

Luckily for them both, the coffee had been iced and there only danger to the pilot happens to be from brain freeze. Only the truly mad or cold blooded drink hot coffee in Hawaii! He picks at the pastry quietly for a moment, nodding his head over and over to some strange beat only he can hear. At least he isn't humming. Sometimes that happens.

Jarvis is listening to music right now. He smirks. It's always fun to ghost drift with his co-pilot just as the blond is about to fall asleep. That's usually when it happens at least.

"I just have one ultimatum. You don't tell me the results. Ever." Because Jarvis will know.

From:

aggravated

Jarvis also feels just a touch drunk in his room, which though does help towards falling asleep. Usually there's a reassuring feeling in knowing that he's brought Stark home safely to his bed, but tonight, he's left that in the doctor's hands to make sure that Stark is healthy.

Bruce might think Stark is just a tiny touch insane, but that's just fine. He's worked with worst in the past. The ultimatum makes him raise a brow. "And if you are sick, exactly how do you want it dealt with?" Because Stark would know, then.

From:

starkingenuity

"Good...no actually that's a good question." Jarvis' little tug back is familiar and it's making Stark sleepy too which is...bad. Okay? Like really bad. He's no where near home and while no one is going to be stupid enough to do anything to him, he still needs to be back in his bunk and wake up first thing for training. He hides a yawn behind sticky fingers and focuses on Banner a little too intensely. "Well, slip it into my food. Mix it with scotch. Just don't tell me about it."

There's one person in the entire world that worries about him and Stark is trying to keep that to a minimum, okay? So don't go ruining this. He sets his feet up on the ornate coffee table before he licks his fingers and then thinks better of it.

"We have to go. He's falling asleep. I'm going to pass out too if we're still drifting. Schedule your tests for tomorrow during the usual physicals okay? I'll see your lab when I get a free minute."

From:

aggravated

Oh? Oh oh Bruce immediately finds that absolutely fascinating. He's read Lightcap's research on the phenomenon, but he's never seen it for himself. Are Jarvis and Stark still really connected after the neural handshake ended? There are a thousand questions he wants to ask, but he manages to keep them politely quiet in the back of his mind.

"I'm going to get you home," Bruce states firmly, and stands up, ready to help the other up if needed. He'd been tasked to do so, and he would. "And I'll also make this simple, Stark. I'll be joining you and Jarvis at your physicals, and if you don't show up or try to dodge me, I will track you down while you sleep to do it." The threat isn't much of one, but he would do it if truly necessary. Hopefully it points out just how serious he is about this.

From:

starkingenuity

Oh Banner. There's a sort of strange amusement to Tony Stark's smile as he stands up, a little unsteady on his feet. "Hm, that makes me want to skip, Doc," he teases. "Just to see you sneak into my bunk to draw some of my fluids." If Banner doesn't at least look somewhat taken aback, Tony is going to be rightly disappointed. For now, though, there's a lot of sleepy Britishisms in his head and it's a buzz kill. Especially when his co-pilot always thinks of things like the laundry or 'ringing his parents' rather than anything fun before he goes off to sleep.

Bruce's shoulder will be occupied by a very heavy head with dark hair and lashes for the trip back and Stark hums some of "Across the Universe" before complaining about Jarvis' abysmal and stereotypical taste in music.

"Beatles? Really?"

From:

aggravated

"I can be sneaky if necessary, or I can have ten men hold you down while I get my sample." A little dry but meant as a joke. Sort of. Maybe. His nose wrinkles at the whole concept though.

This whole issue with Drifting is exactly why Jarvis put his foot down on Stark having any 'fun', self or otherwise, until he's firmly asleep or the ghosts are gone. Randomly dealing with mathematical equations or battle strategies or completely off topic thoughts about that woman's chest over there are still vastly preferred over the sudden horny urges of his co-pilot.

"Nothing wrong with the Beatles," Bruce says thoughtfully, but the comment and the humming makes it so he must ask a little more about it while it dangles right in front of his eyes. "Can you actually see images from Jarvis, still, or only sounds? Or just thoughts?"

From:

starkingenuity

"Drifting doesn't work that way," Stark says lazily. The corners of his lips curl upwards. "But you'll never understand it until you do it. And let's hope you never have to do it. Because it kind of sucks too." He isn't too impressed with the degree of warmth Banner gives off but that's all right. These things happen. "I can't even explain it."

The cab bumps them and Stark's head shifts to the much cooler glass. They're back at the Shatterdome in minutes and Stark sort of pours himself through the door and salutes everyone they pass. At the cross connection of the corridor, Stark turns towards the doctor and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"And now, I must bid you adieu."

From:

aggravated

Bruce actually gives Stark a look as they go to split, and there in the quiet hall, he says quietly, "it isn't me I'd be afraid of if I had to Drift, Stark. I already have someone else in my head. At least you get a break from it." He gives the other a nod, and turns, heading back down towards his lab.

He'll be there at the physicals, tomorrow. Right now, he has thoughts he needs to get out of his head.

From:

starkingenuity

Despite late hours, drink, conversations about radiation poisoning that were suppose to be fixed in the Mark-Is last year before the Mark-IIs rolled out, Stark is prompt for his training and his drills. He spends his mornings after breakfast doing exercising, working with Jarvis through simulations, and stick fighting in the Kwoon room. It's always a sight to see when two drift compatible people are there instead of just trainees or one day pilot hopefuls. It becomes a dance.

One in which neither ever strikes the other, even when it goes on for over fifteen minutes.

After that, Banner can have his tests. Stark goes through them as needed, starting with a lung capacity test and ending with blood samples. He gives Banner a wink when he leans over. "Doctor. Nice to see you again."

From:

aggravated

"Nice to see you sober, Stark." A tiny bit less professional than he wants to be but he soothes it over with, "thank you for agreeing to this. Not only for your own health but for all of your fellow pilots."

His hands are very gentle as he draws a vial of blood. "I spent last night going over your research."

From:

starkingenuity

"Oh yeah?" Tony grins and Jarvis, as ever, is stoic and silent. Stark talks. Sometimes Jarvis adds, but generally, he lets the other do the work. Mostly because they don't need to discuss much between them. They handshake nearly every day in simulations or in drills in the conn-pod. Why speak when they'll share thoughts and feelings and memories in the nearest future? "Which part of my research?"

Go ahead, Banner. Wow him. No. Really. Wow him. He likes his ego to be stroked.

The beeping of the little machines are annoying but he ignores it. Banner has a lot of his attention right now, for better or for worse. Jarvis makes note of it. There will be ribbing later. Tony doesn't often get to play with people on his intellectual level.

From:

aggravated

As if he'd never dealt with an egotistical engineer or scientist before. He'd been one, before everything had come crashing in around him because of his own fault. So, he can stroke an ego when he needs to, but he does genuinely admire the work Stark had been doing.

"I was reading on your ideas for clean energy, and even what I could find on the programming you did for the Jaegers. I think the former is a fascinating concept and I don't know why, considering the difficulties we're having right now, no one's looking more into it." Bruce, while speaking about this, actually meets Stark's eyes, just for a heartbeat before he looks back down to his work.

From:

starkingenuity

"Well you know, not a lot of people that can follow my brain, so I guess it's probably obvious why no one's been working on the reactor. My dad tried it and didn't quite get there. Then K Day happened, all hell broke loose -- kinda literally -- and here we are. Don't worry. Soon as I'm not protecting the world from alien life, I'll get back to that clean energy plan." Jarvis listens to all of this with an intense amusement he's just not one to show. There's no ghosting today so luckily Tony won't get the backlash of that internal amusement.

In fact, Stark's not paying attention to anything other than Banner right now. It's probably just a passing infatuation between intellectuals anyhow. He'll find out tomorrow during their next drift. The teasing will continue later.

From:

aggravated

"I wish I had the engineering prowess to be able to help continue it, but that's far from my area. It seems a perfect way to solve the issues with radiation in the Jaegers." His thumb gently slides over as he pulls the small needle out, then lays a quick bandage over it.

"Trespasser changed everything, didn't it?" Asked, but not so much towards Stark as a rhetorical question.

From:

starkingenuity

"It certainly changed my weapons contracts," Tony laughs. "Right about now I might be giving a presentation to a five star general about a new set of smart mines or a tank detection device. Instead-- Well, I get to pilot a giant metal robot. Actually, the inner kid inside of me is pretty damned stoked about it." But yes. If he had time, if he wasn't a pilot, technology might have jumped by leaps and bounds.

If Stark gives up piloting, it might help the cause. But he can't. He's addicted. Not to the drift, God no, but then again, he likes the intimacy. Jarvis isn't butler. He's best friend. He's brother. He's... Right now, he's absolutely everything to Stark.

"So we done?"

From:

aggravated

In Bruce's quiet opinion, there is no 'might'. The kind of technology that Stark could bring to the Jaegers, to their weaponry, to the defense of the whole planet... it could very well save them all. Still, he's not Stark's father to dictate what he did. That is Marshall Fury's decision.

"I've finished with both of you." He turns back and gathers up his samples and the scanner, then looks back to Stark. "We'll see what it turns up." But he remembers the ultimatum that Stark asked of him. They would have to see what happens with the test results.

A small nod of thanks to Jarvis as well, then he heads back down to his lab.

From:

starkingenuity

It all suits Stark just fine. Though he caught that look. He liked that look. The conversation had been good for the most part but he's already over it. There's too many things to think about. They don't exactly get time off. There's very little downtime being a ranger. And anyway, Stark spends a lot of it with Jarvis.

Today, though, he breaks off from his co-pilot and heads down to engineer. Just to tinker. With an afternoon off...he might as well, right? Give Banner something more to read? He gets lost in code, lost in hardware. Lost in being a good old fashioned mechanic.

So long, he forgets dinner.