Chapter Text
Tony shakily raised his hand to the door. He would've liked to say he was shaking from the cold, but in reality he was shaking with fear. If Steve found out Tony wasn't in his shop... there would be hell to pay.
Tony knocked.
The door swung open, and a young boy glared at him with piercing blue eyes.
"You're Tony Stark." The boy said flatly, his voice filled with a posh arrogance. He glared at Tony like something he had scraped off the bottom of his shoe.
"Yes, I-" Tony started.
"Damian!" A familiar voice from in the house shouted. Tony had to resist crying with relief at hearing it. "Who's at the door?"
"That idiot Tony Stark, the one who flies around in a metal suit!" The boy shouted back.
"Then for the love of god, let him in, Damian! It's freezing out there!" The voice shouted back. The boy scowled at that, but stepped aside from the doorway to let Tony in.
Tony's heart melted when he saw Bruce Wayne standing in the living room, cleaning up broken shards of something.
"Bruce, it's good to see you." Tony smirked a bit. "Nice kid, by the way. Domesticated looks good on you."
Bruce shot Tony a glare that held no heat, Tony could see the smile in his old friend's eyes. Bruce wore a plain white tee shirt with some random stains, a pair of white wash jeans with ripped knees, and no footwear. Tony would've scolded Bruce for that, but who was he to give a lecture on safety? Bruce's hair was a wild mess, and he looked as handsome as Tony remembered.
"Tony, it's good to see you." Bruce set down the glass shard in his hands and gave Tony a light hug. Neither of them were ones for hugging, but their friendship was beyond that.
Bruce smiled, but there was worry and tension in his eyes. Tony didn't blame him. Tony wasn't the type for random drop bys, and if he showed up unannounced, after not seeing each other for too long, there was always going to be a reason.
Tony had always admired Bruce. The two understood each other on a level most people couldn't begin to comprehend. Tony had been one of the first people to figure out that Bruce was the Dark Knight, and it baffled him how it wasn't more obvious to the public. Tony may have been a genius, but Bruce was just as smart, in his own ways. Bruce had a way of following breadcrumbs Tony couldn't even see, and solved mysteries before Tony even had all the clues. Bruce could read people, and with the cowl, he could easily make anyone, criminal or not, putty in his hands. But beyond seeing Bruce as an extraordinary man, Tony saw him as a good friend, one of the few people he could trust, and didn't have a biased view.
"Why do we have to go some funeral?" Tony pouted.
His mother pursed her lips. "Because, bambino, we're good friends with the Waynes, and it's only right to pay our respects. Just be quiet and respectful, Anthony." She said firmly. Tony scowled and tugged at the black suit he was wearing as they sat in the limousine.
"It's a shame for them to die so brutally like that." Uncle Obie shook his head. "I always knew Gotham was too violent. A damned shame. And to think they left behind a son only Tony's age." The man sounded like he was trying to look sorrowful, but Tony saw through it.
The funeral was quiet and depressing, and Tony tried his hardest to hide in the shadows as people paid their respects to the fresh plots. Tony was young, but he could see the faux sympathy and masks people had on as they talked about how sorry they were for such a tragedy. Tony saw a boy, his age, black hair matching his black suit, and a pair of angry blue eyes. He knew Bruce saw through these people too. Their eyes met, and Tony gave him a truly sorrowful look, and offered Bruce a small smile. Bruce's glare simmered, and he smiled softly back, comforted that someone genuinely cared.
Eight years later, it was Tony's last name on the funeral invites. He watched as everyone acted just as fake as they had for the Waynes, and knew that they didn't care about his parents. They just cared about the will, the money, the company. Even Uncle Obie didn't seem that distraught by Howard and Maria's deaths.
Tony stared at the fresh plots, his fists balled at his side. He wanted to scream. A hand landed on his shoulder, and Tony turned to face a familiar pair of blue eyes.
Bruce had grown as well, and was a formidable teenager, looking professional and handsome. Unlike everyone else, Bruce truly looked sorry. Beyond that, he gave Tony a look that said he understood. Because Bruce really was the only one who understood what Tony was going through. And Tony was grateful that he wasn't alone.
A few more years later, they were both eighteen, legally adults, but still young and treated like children. They were both at some gala, and Tony could tell Bruce hated it just as much as he did, and he convinced the young Wayne to escape onto the rooftop with him for fun.
They spent the whole night there, talking about anything and everything. Tony was ecstatic to actually smile and laugh with Bruce, not the fake smiles and laughter either of them flashed the cameras. Hours of talking, led to awkward flirting, and shy touches. Tony finally was the one to get enough nerve to kiss Bruce, and it had been absolutely perfect.
"Sorry to show up so... unexpected. I just... wanted to say hi." Tony said, grinning.
Bruce arched an eyebrow and the boy- Damian- snorted. "Damian, put Tony's coat in the closet. Tony, come on. Let's talk in the kitchen, I'll make some coffee." Bruce said, walking towards the kitchen.
Tony handed his jacket to the scowling kid who stormed off with it, grumbling to himself in a language Tony couldn't quite catch. Tony followed Bruce into the kitchen, and watched the man brew a cup of coffee. Tony took a seat at the kitchen island and sighed.
Bruce faced him with narrowed eyes. "So are you going to tell me what made you come to Gotham, without even a text of warning?" Bruce's voice was careful, but not accusatory.
"I... just everything happening with the Avengers, the Accords, the whole 'Civil War' thing, and everything else. I needed a break, needed to just get away from it all, be with an old friend who had absolutely nothing to do with it, you know?" Tony explained, rubbing the back of his neck. That was part of the truth, anyways. He hadn't exactly lied.
Bruce nodded, but his eyes remained narrowed. "Everything else? Tony, you know you can't keep anything from me. What's the real problem? We both know that while it'll take it's tole, you'll get through the legal work and mending your team. You always do. So tell me what's actually bothering you, why you felt the need to escape to Gotham." Bruce said, managing to give Tony a firm but caring tone.
Tony drew in a shaky breath, trying to hold back tears. why the hell hadn't he come to Bruce sooner? Bruce was so calm, level headed, and helpful. Bruce would understand. He always understood. He could trust Bruce. "Steve." Tony whimpered softly.
Bruce drew his eyebrows together. "Captain Rogers?" He asked. Tony nodded meekly. "What about him? What did he do to you, Tony?" Bruce growled.
"I... god, where the hell do I begin?" Bruce's eyes were livid when he realized there was a full story, but he remained quiet to listen. Tony ran a hand through his hair. "A few months after the Avengers had first formed, Steve started... romantically pursuing me. He went from flirting to flat out asking me out, to which I declined. I... you know he's not my type, Bruce. He's a great guy, a good friend, but I could never see him that way." Bruce nodded slowly, gesturing for Tony to continue. "Anyhow, he kept badgering me, cornering me whenever he could, recruiting other Avengers to help him get me alone. I barred him from my damned workshop just so I could have some time in peace, but he got Clint to start dropping stupid gifts down the air vents. They all thought I was just playing hard to get, you know, being a playboy? After about six months, I finally said yes, just to make him stop asking and get everyone to leave me alone." Tony explained, talking with hand gestures. "Anyhow, after one damned date, that I hoped would make Steve see we weren't relationship material, Steve just declared we were dating, without even asking me if I wanted to make it official." Tony watched Bruce clench his fists. "Dating him wasn't awful, I didn't like it, but I've dealt with worse. Everyone was so happy for us, Pepper gushed about how cute we were, Rhodey said we made a great power couple, everyone just thought it was meant to be, so I figured maybe I was the problem and I just had to make it work. And I tried, god Bruce, I tried. But... it just wasn't there. When we kissed I cringed, if he put his arm around me, I wanted to shrink away. I just couldn't get into it, there was no spark. And... and when Steve decided we had gotten far enough in our relationship for sex... I told him I didn't want it, I wasn't ready, and he just told me to stop playing hard to get. He... he told me I was a playboy, I was always ready for sex. And... god Bruce I told him to stop..." Tony put his head in his shaking hands, not bothering to stop himself from crying. He felt a pair of warm arms wrap around him, and his head, placed against Bruce's warm chest. Tony sobbed, his body shaking from the memories. Bruce's calloused fingers slowly carded Tony's hair.
Tony took a deep breath and continued, he wanted to just get it all out. "I mean, he didn't hurt me, but I still hated every second of it. I didn't want him inside of me, I didn't want him kissing me, pressed against me, forcing me to come." Tony whimpered. "But... that was so much better than now. Even during the Civil War, he tried to treat me like he owned me, tried to force me to help him in being a criminal. I just wanted to do the right thing, be held accountable. I wanted to hold the Avengers together. And he just kept tearing them apart with his freelancing after his friend, Barnes. Then in Siberia..." Tony trailed off, and started shaking again. Bruce hushed him, with soothing motions. Tony calmed down, and continued. "In Siberia, we found out that this whole thing was set up by some guy named Zemo, who wanted to tear the Avengers apart. He showed me a video.... a video that showed the Winter Soldier killing my parents." Tony whispered, his voice strangled. "I... at first, sure I was angry at Barnes. But I know it wasn't his fault. I would've been able to get past it. But... one look in Steve's eyes... he knew. He knew my parents were murdered by HYDRA and didn't tell me. He told me once there would be no secrets before us, and broke his own promise. I mean, I guess it was over the top to attack them both... but I was just so angry. Two against one, they beat me into the ground, Steve slammed his shield into my chest, broke the arc reactor, which almost killed me. I have a scar from his shield being slammed into my chest. Then they just left me, left me frozen and half dead in Siberia. If FRIDAY hadn't contacted Vision before my suit crapped out, god Bruce, I could still be there. A dead body in my own suit. Anyhow, once I got back, and got medical attention, I got back to work. I pardoned Steve's team, got all the Avengers back home. And Steve just acted like it never happened, acted like we were fine. I tried to tell him that it wasn't a good idea, we shouldn't keep up our relationship, I'd been through too much to ever see him the same. And... he hit me. He backhanded me, and told me it was all my fault, and I should be grateful that he was willing to stay with me. He said I was emotionally unstable, and needed to get my head straight. Needed to see why he was right, and apologize to him, then we could be just like we were. He's gone back to not leaving me alone, and I just needed to get away from him, get away from everyone who couldn't see why I'm so scared of him. I... needed a friend." Tony finally finished. He was beyond relieved to get it all off of his chest.
Bruce was silent for a long time, just quietly holding him. "I'm going to kill him." Bruce finally growled, using his Batman voice.
Tony chuckled lightly. "And here I thought Batman wasn't a killer." He joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"He's not, but Bruce Wayne is willing to be to protect his friend." Bruce snapped.
Tony pulled away, and was a bit scared himself to see the look on Bruce's face. Bruce positively looked like he was plotting how he was going to kill Steve, and deciding what way would cause Captain America the most pain. Bruce had faced down the worst Gotham had to offer and then some, Tony was positive if they went head to head, Bruce wouldn't even need his Batsuit to rip Steve to shreds. Steve may be a super-soldier, but Bruce had years of training and a mind Steve could never match. Even in hand to hand playing fair, Bruce would probably win. And that wasn't even taking into account that Bruce didn't play fair. Bruce played to win.
"You're spending the night here." Bruce decided, his voice final.
Tony tried to protest. "Bruce, I can't-"
"Tony. I'm not letting you go back to that monster, and until I can figure out a more permanent solution, you're safe here." Bruce said firmly.
Tony didn't want to fight, and he definitely didn't want to go back to Steve. "Okay."
Bruce nodded, and filled up two cups of coffee. "Are there any Avengers you can trust? Ones who aren't living under some damned fantasy about what's going on between you and Rogers?" Bruce asked.
Tony sighed, thinking. "Vision, maybe. But then again, he's with Wanda, who hates me. So maybe not. T'Challa, possibly. I know he harbored the Renegade Avengers, but it was more of an apology to Steve for trying to kill Barnes than anything else. And he really doesn't know anyone well enough to have a bias, and he doesn't seem to hate me, so I guess T'Challa is my only hope." He admitted with another sigh.
Bruce nodded. "Noted. You should call him, let him know where you are in case of any immediate emergencies, but beyond that, ignore your phone, especially any calls from Rogers." Bruce gave Tony a pointed look. He set a coffee cup down in front of Tony, made exactly the way Tony liked his coffee. Tony was shocked Bruce remembered.
Tony pulled out his phone and dialed the contact 'King Kitty Cat', pressing the phone to his ear.
"Mister Stark, how may I help you?" T'Challa's formal voice came through, not bothering with small talk.
"T'Challa! Look, I need a favor. So currently I'm on a... vacation of sorts. Anyhow, I wanted to get away from the Avengers for a bit, visit an old friend, you know, the works. I haven't told anyone I left, and I would prefer no one know where I am, I just want some time alone to clear my head. Can I trust you with my location so in case of an emergency at least one of the Avengers knows where Iron Man is?" Tony asked, rushing through his words.
"I am honored you trust me enough to chose me to be the one with this information. Yes, I will keep your location confidential unless absolutely necessary to reveal it. Does Captain Rogers know of this vacation?" T'Challa asked.
"No!" Tony said quickly. "No he doesn't, please don't tell him. Tell anyone before you tell him. I left kind of on the fly, so he shouldn't even know I'm gone. Don't let him know you know anything, he'll badger you to death to find me." Tony tried to hold back the whimper in his voice. He cleared his throat. "Anyhow, I'm in Gotham City right now. You ever heard of Bruce Wayne? He and I are old friends, we go way back. I'm holed up at Wayne Manor, for now. Bruce is letting me stay here."
T'Challa let a moment of silence hang in the air, and Tony knew the Black Panther was suspicious. "I see. I have heard of Bruce Wayne, I believe I met him at a charity even he hosted once. Pardon my curiosity, but are you and Captain Rogers alright? I'm aware you two are romantic, though you seem eager to get away from him. Is everything all right, Mister Stark?" He asked, and Tony could hear genuine worry in the Wakandan's voice.
"I... it's not something I want to talk about over the phone. Just... there's a lot more to Steve and I than what reaches the surface. I... need to get away from him for a bit." Tony forced out, his voice shaking.
"Alright, I shall respect your wishes, Mister Stark. This is a bit intrusive and I apologize, but may I speak with Mister Wayne? I want to make sure my teammate is in good hands." T'Challa requested formally. If it were anyone else, Tony would've said no, but he knew T'Challa's intentions were true.
"Yeah, sure, hang on." Tony thrust out the phone to Bruce. "He wants to talk to you." Bruce arched an eyebrow, but accepted the phone.
"This is Bruce Wayne speaking, how may I help you?" Tony was surprised that Bruce wasn't using his 'Brucie Wayne' voice, but instead used a serious tone, not quite Batman, but it held authority. "Yes, Tony and I have known each other our whole lives, the Starks and Waynes have always been close." Another pause. "I'm aware of Tony's... situation with Rogers, yes." He growled. Bruce sighed. "If you're alone, and Tony is alright with it, I wouldn't be against it."
Tony almost pissed himself when there was a crash followed by heavy thudding and shouting.
"Give me my phone back, Todd!" Tony recognized Damian, wrestling a slightly older teen.
"Make me, Demon!" The older shouted. Damian shouted what Tony assumed was a curse in another language.
Bruce let out an exasperated sigh. "T'Challa, hang on a moment." Bruce pressed the phone to his shoulder.
"Jason! Give Damian his phone back! And Damian, what have I told you about swearing?! I don't care what language it's in, watch your mouth! And both of you be careful, there's broken glass on the floor from Dick and Steph's brawl earlier!" Bruce ordered, and Tony couldn't help but laugh, it was cute to see Bruce being a responsible dad. Bruce shot him a glare and lifted the phone back to his ear.
"I'm so sorry about that, children are a struggle." Bruce offered, his voice exasperated. Bruce chuckled at whatever T'Challa said. "Yes, I have four boys, and a couple of girls who are unofficially a part of the family as well. It's a circus, but family is family." Bruce paused again. "Yes, I understand. Trust me, Tony is important to me, I won't let anything happen to me over my dead body." Bruce nodded and smiled. "It was nice talking to you as well. Goodbye." Bruce hung up and passed Tony his phone back.
Iron Man arched an eyebrow. "Well? Do you have the teammate seal of approval?" He asked with a smirk.
Bruce chuckled. "I believe so. He seems cautious, and wary of me, but I wouldn't expect any less. He said he may visit you, to talk to you face to face about you and Rogers. In the end, he seems admirable, and a good hearted man. I don't trust him, but of all your teammates, I like him the best." Bruce admitted with that calculating look on his face.
Tony nodded. "You don't trust anyone." He pointed out.
"I trust you." Bruce shrugged. Tony smiled shyly, feeling like a teen on a rooftop all over again.