(no subject)

[starkingenuity]

"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!"

Comments

[aggravated]

"Stop- Stark stop it!" Bruce says more firmly, and actually uses a gentle grip on Stark's shoulder to try and keep him from getting up. "You need to stay down-"

"You need to stay the fuck in bed, Stark," came a totally different voice from the doorway. Bruce's hand tightened hard on Stark's shoulder for a moment as he recognizes the voice, and his heart sinks down into his stomach which churns hard. He quickly pulls his hands away as he realizes that the grip might become brutal if he's not careful.

He turns slowly and looks at Fury, who stands very straight in the doorway, hands together behind his back, glaring at both of them. "Banner. You need to come with me. We need to talk." That last word spoke of more than its four letters.

Bruce swallows, audible to Stark, and reaches over to pick up the piece of paper with the arc reactor's design. He looks back to Stark and says softly, "you're free to my lab, when Yinsen says you're allowed up. Make Jarvis set up shop before someone else does." His smile is entirely false; he believes he knows how this will go.

[starkingenuity]

"Hey, this is kidnapping! Doctor-napping! Whatever, it's still bad and I'm going to get my lawyer on this," Stark protests but no one's listening to him because he's bedridden and maybe, just maybe, if he moves around too much, his heart will overthrow the magnet attached to the plate over his chest and it's Good Night Kaiju, forever. With Fury's hand commanding him to lay his ass down, again, Tony does what he's told and glares metaphorical daggers at the back of the one-eyed man's noggin before he and Banner exit through the door.

At least Fury waits until they're behind closed doors before getting into the arguing. "Just what the hell were you thinking, Doctor?" he asks as Bruce is left to shut the door.

His hands are on his hips and though he wears the Ranger's uniform, he's certainly managed to make it look more imposing. Probably that long leather trenchcoat does the trick. He waits for Bruce to open his mouth to talk and immediately talks over him again.

"Did I not say this would happen? Did you not hear me say the words to you that the bond between pilots is incredibly possessive? Stark's most of all? You wanted to help, Doctor, but we have ways in place. You might have cost us our best pilots before we could retire them."

[aggravated]

Bruce feels like he's reverted back ten, fifteen years and there before him is General Ross, snapping at him like he was a child, like his father had before Ross. Slow, steady breaths in, out, focusing on each one as he listens to Fury's words, not meeting his eyes or even looking at his face, but more at his collarbone. There might be the power to destroy this whole place or even take on a Kaiju contained within him, but nothing about how Bruce act suggests that.

"You have 'ways' in place that would have kept Pilot Jarvis in the dark as long as possible, when every Human being has the right to know that they're ill," he says tightly. They'd already fought about this, but he'd gone and done it anyway. "I'm a doctor, and I'm not about to forgo the oath I took to keep some man in the dark from his own health issues."

Another breath in. Out. On this, he won't back down, even after the damage it caused, even though he's bearing the guilt of it. He never dreamed it would go as far as it did, and he regrets Stark being harmed (they could repair the Shatterdome, even the Mammoth), but Jarvis deserves better than lies. "You wouldn't want to be lied to either, Marshall. And what would you have done when Jarvis started to get physically ill? Stark would have found out then, and been even more angry that we'd lied to him and kept both of them in the dark!"

Okay, that has more snap to it than he wants to let out right now. He knows the Other Guy came out, thanks to both Jarvis' recounting of the incident and the familiar loss of time and memory. He wishes he could remember why, exactly. Either way, he doesn't want to toe that line again, not right now.

[starkingenuity]

That right there? That is a smirk. Fury doesn't have the look about him that would bespeak his namesake either. "Well said, Doctor," he agrees, though the corns of his lips immediately turn down. "But for your information, this has happened before. Will be happening soon with Coyote Tango's crew. One more battle, one more Kaiju, and the team gets retired." That really can't be the answer, but it's all they've got. "Which is why you're going to figure out how to shield our pilots before the next attack, got it?"

He's not playing games anymore, and the flip of his coat as he settles behind his desk.

"One other thing, Doctor. We know that during your incidents you don't remember what a fool you are, but we have video. I'd like for you to take a look at your leisure and tell us what, if your best estimate, the other guy was doing saving Tony Stark's idiot self from the conn-pod, all right?" He pushes the disc towards Banner. "And then I want you two to get us that arc reactor. Do we understand each other?"

Is there any other response but yes?

[aggravated]

Bruce's eyes lift, just enough to catch that smirk, and it honestly confuses him so strongly that the flip back into stern-Fury doesn't even rock him like it should. Why the smirk? ...Was he... pleased? Bruce has no idea what to even do with that thought-

Until Fury smacks him back down with that deadline, which makes Bruce's eyes go wide. They all somewhat know the timeline of the next attack, but Bruce has to point out, "sir, if we have any training which has them anywhere close to the-"

Wait. Wait. Wait. Bruce's entire thought process crashes as the reality of something specific comes to the forefront, and he asks, quietly, "...you want me to stay?"

But, after all of that? Is it because he's that badly needed, then? It must be. There's no greater expert on radiation, so- yes. That must be it. Settled in the logical, he ignores his own question and nods. "Yes, sir, we do, loud and clear." But he still eyes the disc like it's poison. He's seen, once or twice, 'himself' on TV as the Other Guy, and it is the most deeply unsettling thing one could imagine. And the thing Fury wants him to look for?

He has no idea. The concept still has him stunned. Slowly he reaches out and takes the disc, then steps back. "You'll have the arc reactor first, as it's the more pressing need." Even though he knows that'll be mostly on Stark's shoulders as he's no engineer, and he'll have to get people to help with the issue on the shielding as why it isn't strong enough yet in the Mark II's-- and then about the Coyote Tango team.

"I'll be working on something to help counter the issue as well, of the radiation. There may very well be a way." For the Coyote Tango team, considering how long they've been in action, it might be too late. But for Jarvis... maybe not.

[starkingenuity]

Isn't it sad that two years is considered a long time for pilots? Most are killed after only a few attacks. The Tango has almost five kills under her belt during that short time. It's the best record anyone's got to date.

Fury's hands spread apart and he nods. "Then I leave it in your capable hands, but Doctor? Let's try to keep a lid on it for now. No one was killed but I don't need one more thing to worry about on top of everything else." He turns in his chair, thus dismissing the scientist to go back to-- Well, not to Tony. Tony Stark has decides to take himself for a walk. Well, he's manages to flirt his way into having a redheaded nurse take him for a push in a wheel chair. Thankfully, none of the doors on this level of the Shatterdome are raised submarine doors like they are in some of the other sections. They need to allow trolleys to be pushed through, after all, and so getting himself situation in Bruce's lab?

Actually pretty easy.

"Decaf coffee, all right? I don't need a racing heart. And altoids." Someone needs to learn patience. Someone needs to learn not to go out of his way to freak people out that expect him to be curled up nice and tight in bed being pampered.

When Stark's life is in danger, he certainly doesn't need any further incentive.

[aggravated]

Bruce will freak out just a touch when he arrives back in the hospital room and it's empty. Just a touch. Not that he shows it in any way other than his hand tightening on the door, but in his mind he knows Stark somehow figured out how to lug that battery along, get out of the room- no way it was on his own two feet, too weak for that- and where is he now?

Bruce's mind answers him immediately. There's only one place that Tony would go after their little discussion earlier. And I petted him.

Ignoring that.

Quickly he turns and heads down for his own lab, trying to keep himself from wanting to yell at Stark because he understands why Stark would be doing this, but it could kill him to be up and about this quickly! The man has no respect for doctors, does he? Or more specifically, their orders.

So when he comes into his lab, seeing a young lady walk out he recognizes as one of the nurses, he doesn't even bother with a greeting. No, instead, he calls out, "you're getting nothing but male nurses from now on, you know that, right?"

[starkingenuity]

Oh good, his new babysitter is back. Stark doesn't even look up from what he's doing, he just continues to separate metals as he tests a new conduction theory. He probably needs a spot welder too but he'll ask for it later. Besides, he doesn't want to accidentally spot weld the battery he's got in his lap right now to anything important. He sort of needs that to survive the next few days or weeks. Days. He likes to give himself impossible schedules.

"I can work with guys too," he all but purrs. Yes, it's to make Banner give him that slightly shocked, slightly scrunched up face. Yes, he wants it to happen even if he's not looking. Yes, he's asking for trouble here and Jarvis is totally going to rake him across the coals.

Stark prefers women nine times out of ten but there's just something fun about picking on, teasing, and being around Bruce Banner and his tiptoe tightrope walking.

And he hadn't been lying about his eyes either.

"But enough about that. Do you have static resistant gloves? I have a charge to me now and that's either going to get me electrocuted or just a really nice new hairstyle. Or give me the power of flight. Actually-- Uh, maybe later. I still need altoids though." Be a darling, Banner. Get him breath mints. You'll thank him. Honesty.

[aggravated]

Bruce rubs the bridge of his nose slowly, letting out a breath as he denies Stark that look by hiding the wrinkle of his nose behind his palm. "You are insufferable. Surprisingly, we will be sharing this lab for a few weeks. Fury only wants the impossible in as short a time as possible." Not impossible, but right now, he's still in shock that he's even being allowed to stay. It means being able to help the pilots that can fight where he can't. Helping as many people as possible.

"Don't hit on the other scientists down here, please? That- you'll confuse them." You certainly confuse me. He doesn't exactly think Stark's directing that at him for any other reason that to make him flustered, and more frustrating that it works.

He looks at Stark, the corner of his mouth lifting. Even if it was his fault Stark's injured, it's good to see him up. --Jarvis!

"Hold on," Bruce says with a look of concern, "Jarvis doesn't know you're not in your room, still."

[starkingenuity]

"He'll find me," Stark says, choosing that particular topic to focus on rather than worrying about having to break promises to Banner already. There's no way he's not going to hit on anything cute that doesn't insist on handing him things all the time. "Don't worry so much." Stark isn't worried at all. They'll finish this arc reactor, cure Jarvis, save the world from the Kaiju-- It's sort of perfect actually. "Do you think they'll let me keep the Apostle when we're done and there's nothing but monster slime all over LA?"

Is that important to talk about? Yes it most assuredly is. It's either that or he's going to demand those altoids again since you're not paying even a lick of attention, Banner. Breath mints. Sit down. Be a genius. It's not too much to ask for.

When Bruce does finally sit down, Tony finally looks up. He pops open the tin on the table and takes a mint before he slips those gloves onto his hands. Some of this Banner is just going to have to do for him. Tony's much too weak to manipulate some of these finer details.

"So what do you do for fun? Skulk in the shadows?"

[aggravated]

Bruce really wonders if Jarvis will not panic, doesn't wonder if after the possible-panic that the cool blond will find them. Of course he will - where else would they be? He listens to Stark babble on, not even bothering to answer most of it because he doesn't know or care (what would Stark even do with the Apostle after they defeated the kaiju for good? How long will that even take? He wishes he could be studying the Rift.)

"Hmm?" Realizing Stark had actually paused for breath, and is waiting for his response, Bruce lifts himself out of his thoughts. "Fun?" His eyes actually flicker over to the container of Kaiju Blue, before admitting, "I'm not sure I've actually had 'fun' for a long time. I enjoy my work, though... or my katas in the morning. I've been studying Lightcap's work on my lunches." He hasn't shared with Stark and Jarvis, that is.

[starkingenuity]

"I like work. I like learning. That can be fun, sure, but I'm talking about actual fun, the stuff that the entire world would understand as 'fun' too." He pushes up his safety goggles and then pauses again to really take a good look at Banner and his mousey, never really look at you mannerisms. He's adorable in the way that older men really don't want to be adorable. Stark can dig that. "The titanium connector plate please?"

See? Talking about yourself and talking shop at the same time can be a magical experience! Stark is pretty damned sure he's having a magical experience too because the battery in his lap has just gotten a little heavier. Floating away with all of this, Tony waits for Banner's response as they work together on the next component of the reactor. No more schematics. They're doing this in real time. Trial and error. Drawings take too much effort.

"And hold the left side of the spring until it catches, thanks."

[aggravated]

"Oh, ah, sure," Bruce gets up and actually starts getting hand on with the device Stark's already starting with. It's incredible, watching the movement of Stark's hands, how strong yet surprisingly elegant they are.

Why is he watching Stark's hands? He looks away from that, focusing on anything but.

"I'm not sure there's anything the rest of the world would consider fun in my days. I don't really have the time, too much to do." In particular now, with what Fury tasked him with and what he tasks himself with. His eyes lift to the pit in Stark's chest, and the guilt comes over him again. It gets quickly shoved back down. Focus on the work.

[starkingenuity]

What else is he going to watch? His face? His ass? Well he's sitting on the last one and that isn't doing any of the work that he needs Banner's assistance with. He gets the springs tacked down before his fingers start to shake and he pulls his hands away with a sigh. He's tired. He feels dirty. The altoids are totally not cutting it, he's really sorry.

Sitting back, Tony drags a hand through his stylishly messy hair and, after a few moments, bursts into the world's most brilliant smile. Even before the feet can be heard moving double time down the hall, Stark's already known his co-pilot is on the way. Normally, Jarvis is so much more refined and careful. He isn't one to throw his arms around anyone, much like Stark.

"Sir--"

"Still alive, Jarv. And so are you. We're gonna keep it that way." You don't get closeness until you'd been in someone's headspace.

[aggravated]

It's very strange to be between the two of them, somewhat like being the third wheel of a couple in love levels of awkward, at least for Bruce. He pulls back, a little awed by the smile, but he gives an easily faked one of his own. "You were right, Stark. He would find you." Not that Bruce is entirely surprised, but he believes Jarvis, who will forcibly be on downtime as well, will be able to help Stark with the arc reactor.

"...if you'll excuse me, I should get to work on the issue of the shielding." Quiet, not expecting to really be heard, more just noticed long enough for it not to be rude for him to slip away.

While Jarvis, in his calm way, is somewhere between pleased to see his co-pilot up and about and knowing that Stark should, undoubtedly, still be in bed. "I think you've done quite enough for today, sir." But instead of being tight and as much as an order as Jarvis would give, there is a warmth in his voice Stark would recognize. Relief.

[starkingenuity]

Their foreheads touch and Stark closes his eyes. "Fury gave us a deadline. I want to beat it," he complains. But Jarvis is pulling him away and he's so tired. So tired he forgets about the pretty brown eyes for now. Jarvis gets him back into bed and covers him up and feeds him and they sit together, not talking, for almost two hours before Tony falls asleep.

Jarvis is still holding his hand when he wakes up be Stark has to take a leak and he needs a shower and he needs to get to work. Who's be best to help with that? In amusement, Stark gives Banner a call and then calls again until the other man picks up.

"I can't have any nurses or scientists. Doctor's orders. But I could use some help. Are you busy?"

[aggravated]

Bruce almost didn't pick up at all as he hates phones because they interrupt him, but on a whim, after the first time, he did pick up and isn't Jarvis with Stark? "Hmm?" Still looking at the specs on the table, trying to figure out where the weakness is. Oh, ha ha, his own orders. Cute.

"You know I am, Stark, but what do you need help with?" And isn't Jarvis there with you or did you somehow ditch him again? Bruce gently removes his reading glasses and sets them on the blue prints of the shield on the Apostle, his eyes burning a little from staring.

[starkingenuity]

"Yeah but Jarvis is asleep and I'd rather not wake him up just because I don't think I can pick up a shampoo bottle and I'm pretty sure that I shouldn't get the massive battery attached to my chest wet." He is funny. Laugh out loud. It's amazing for his ego, you know! The smile he gives on the phone is probably audible because people with those smiles light up the entire room their in.

Stark waits for the sigh that signals defeat in Banner and adjusts his weight against the wall. He already feels dizzy from standing. A few more days of food ought to correct that. But for now--

"I'll owe you. One decent dinner not in the mess. Or send me that redhead from yesterday?"

[aggravated]

Bruce thinks about sending the nurse up for a few seconds, but realizes Stark would somehow charm her into doing something he shouldn't and that he really should go. He runs a hand back through his hair, looking over and eyeing a clock for the time, before sighing again. "Alright. I'll be up in a minute."

How did he get involved in all of this again?

It's not long before there's a knock on Stark's door, and there's Bruce with an armful of supplies. Specifically towels, sponges, what looks like a med kit hanging off one arm, and a few other things to make this work. "You requested a shower?"

[starkingenuity]

There are plenty of things that cute redheads can manage to do that aren't immortal or wrong or seedy. Though Banner is probably right. Stark really can't have anything put by him. It's a very dangerous thing indeed. He hangs up after his short conversation with Banner and goes to meet him in the hall. He misses having his own bathroom the most when it comes to his old, semi-private life, but at least the other pilots are more or less neat and Jarvis double checks the shower stall Stark uses most in his day to day life at the Shatterdome.

He grins as he's met at the door -- either he's very slow or Banner walks quickly -- and glances over the supplies. He could say something dirty and nearly does when he hears Jarvis shift in the darkened room he'd just left. Later then.

"Thanks," is his response as he leans a bit on Banner and insists on cradling the battery in his other arm. It's his burden. And it makes for good biceps. "Really. My scalp is itching like crazy. I don't remember the last time my hair was washed and now it's a big greasy mess."

[aggravated]

Stark, you are pampered compared to the other pilots. You don't know how good you've got it because you have Jarvis as your co-pilot. Jarvis acts very much like the servant he had been.

It smells like a big greasy mess, too, but Bruce is more pilot than to say anything so rude. He lets Stark lean on him and walks slowly, but has no difficulty with the other's weight. "I spent most of last night trying to go over the shielding on your Jaeger, trying to figure out where the weakness is. I think I might have it isolated to the last major upgrade the system went through and that the shielding was considered good enough for the system at the time, but now it's just not quite capable of handling it which is why the effects have been so slow in coming."

He leads Stark out into the showers, and somewhat grateful to hear none running now and he starts to lead Stark into one near the back.

[starkingenuity]

"We get the arc reactor going and find a way to produce it on a larger scale and no one's going to need that shielding," he points out, trying not to shuffle even though his feet don't seem to want to properly cooperate and his knees just go to jelly. How embarrassing. He's a fucking pilot. He's stronger than this?

He's got a specific stall all right? And the one in the back isn't it. He stops just short of the one in the corner and, a little too pale, he leans against the thick white tile. Getting himself undressed is going to be impossible. How fun! Juggling the battery and trying to appear stronger than he is-- Next time he's just going to wake Jarvis up.

"This one. I don't trust what goes on in the other ones."

[aggravated]

Brows up. "...okay," Bruce says after a moment, and brings one of the items he'd been balancing in his arms - a little tripod folding chair. He puts it down and actually physically nudges Stark into it, pushing him down gently. "Sit."

He still is a doctor, and he takes care of stripping Stark out of his pants with careful, gentle hands, pushing off the open button-up shirt. "Alright, here's what we're going to do. I'm going to tarp off everything below your neck and do your hair, first. After that, I cut off a bit of plastic and some medical tape... we'll cover your chest and use a sponge for the rest."

He actually meets Stark's eyes, for a moment. "This is going to be a very awkward shower. Sorry." Not really sorry, but he knows Stark's not going to be happy about this.

[starkingenuity]

He's not as embarrassed as other men might be and Banner is a doctor so seeing nakedness likely is not a problem. Then again, he's probably never undressed someone like Stark, and man at the height of his physical peak and even sickly and smelly, not bad at all to look at.

He shifts in the chair and looks pointedly at Banner as the doctor folds his pants up and sticks them aside. "Yanno, this is why we needed the redhead."

But he doesn't mind much. It's efficient this way and there's no denying how much he needs it.

"I would have shared."

[aggravated]

Bruce gives a little snort of amusement, shaking his head at Stark. Of course he'd say something like that. And no, Stark, he's not eyeing you over or any of that fun stuff. You're a patient right now. Patient overrides everything else.

"I doubt she's my type," he says, attempting conversation. He pulls out his make-shift tarp with a hole on the center, and this is about to become wholly embarrassing for Stark. The tarp goes over his head, and the hole taped up around so no water can get down his neck.

When Bruce has it on Stark, the corner of his mouth lifts despite himself.