Science Bros (Private RP of Kirin and Lumpy)
 

Tony was in his workshop working on his latest upgrades to the Iron Man suit. He knew he should be getting ready for the party tonight. It would be the first public event that he and Bruce would be going to as a couple. When they had first started dating they kept it very private, but as it got more serious they had made their relationship public. Tony had received some financial backlash. The backlash wasn't even related to the fact that he was dating it a guy, it was because the guy he was dating had The Hulk inside his brain. But he wouldn't back down. He loved Bruce a lot.

LumpySpacePrincess:

Bruce was doing one of his breathing exercises, struggling to calm down. Tony, having grown up the way he had, was used to the press, used to the publicity. Bruce wasn't. He hated it. It was bad enough just being an Avenger - then they came out and all hell broke loose. And now they were going to a charity, where he knew they were going to be the center of attention. Just the thought of it was enough to make him anxious. He hated these events. He was only going for Tony. Bruce knew how important Tony's charity work was to him, and he felt like he had to be there. Even if it was going to be terrible. Really terrible.

Tony headed upstairs. He really didn't want to go to this event. He spotted Bruce and he's filled with concern. "Bruce?" He went and pulled him close. "Hey are you o.k? What's wrong?" Concern filled his voice as he rubbed Bruce's back.

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Bruce wrapped his arms around Tony's waist, clutching him tight and resting his head in he crook of Tony's neck. He remained silent for a few moments, enjoying Tony's warmth, the scent of motor oil he had learned to love. "How's the suit coming along?" he finally asked, not sure what else he could say.

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"Good, you know I have a thought. Let's skip the party tonight. We'll stay home and watch movies, drink beer, eat pizza." He said having just realized that Bruce was uncomfortable about going to the party. He should have thought about a smaller outing for their first one. He nuzzled Bruce softly.

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Bruce's brow furrowed. Tony liked these events - he shouldn't stay home just because Bruce couldn't handle them... Staying home and eating pizza (no beer, though) definitely appealed to him more than being surrounded by formally dressed strangers, but he felt like he owed it to Tony. "Are you sure?" Bruce asked, looking down at his feet, "You wanted to go, didn't you?"

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"Not really. I"d much rather be here just the two of us." He said still holding Bruce. "I have your favorite soda in the fridge with my beer." He said smiling at Bruce. He kissed Bruce's cheek. "So what would you like on the pizza?" He asked taking out his phone.

"Veggies?" Bruce suggested, shrugging. "Look, um, can you..." He slumped against Tony a little, shoulders slumped, still not meeting his eyes. "Sorry, but... Can we skip the beer part?" he said the last part of the sentence quickly, wanting to get this over with, feeling bad enough about keeping Tony home with him already.

"Well if you don't want to drink beer it's fine. If you do great. I have plenty." He grinned. "It's totally up to you." He dialed the pizza place and ordered a pizza with all sorts of veggies and one with all sorts of meats. He also ordered a couple of orders of cheese bread.

Bruce sat down on the sofa, listening to Tony's voice - it had a calming effect, even when talking about pizza - and feeling better already. They'll have a nice, quiet evening, just the two of them - it's going to be great.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made our first public outing so huge." HE said after hanging up with the pizza place. He sat down next to Bruce. He leaned in and kissed Bruce's neck and nibbled a bit.

Bruce gave him a little smile, but then shook his head. "No, don't - I'm sorry I backed out..." He knew Tony would say it was no biggie, but he still felt guilty.

"It's not your fault. I wasn't thinking." He said nipping at Bruce's neck. "I was being inconsiderate." He continued to nip at Bruce's neck.

Bruce responded with a hum, trying to stop thinking about the charity and concentrate on his boyfriend instead. He moved even closer to him and took his hand in his, gently squeezing it.

"Sir the pizza is here." Jarvis said a moment later.

"Thanks Jarvis." HE stood. "I'll be back handsome." He said going to the door. He paid for the pizza and then grabbed some sodas and some beers from the kitchen. He also grabbed some napkins before heading back to the living room. He sat everything on the glass coffee table. "So what movie should we watch?" He asked sitting back down next to Bruce.

"Um..." Bruce hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to nag Tony too much, but he did ask him to skip the beer part. He couldn't handle Tony when he was drunk, or drunk people in general. "Tony?"

"Oh yeah. No beer." It was hard for Tony. He had gotten so used to beer being his beverage of choice. He grabbed the beers and headed back to the kitchen. When Bruce had first asked him to cut back on the beer he had wondered if Bruce was worth it. Back then the answer didn't come easily. Though now it did. Bruce was worth it. Though pizza wouldn't be the same with out a beer. "Jarvis?" "Yes sir?" "Remind me to dump the beer tomorrow." "Of course sir." Tony let out a deep sigh he grabbed a few more sodas and then headed back to the living room. "So you still haven't told me what movie you want to watch." He said setting the extra sodas down and sitting back down next to Bruce.

"I don't know - Tony, you really don't have to throw your beer away," Bruce told him. This wasn't what he meant. At all. "Just... Don't drink around me, OK? I wouldn't want you to throw it away."

"But here's the thing. I always want to be around you." He said. "Besides I should probably quit drinking anyways. Well according to the last doctor I had. Now what should we watch?" He opened them each a soda and then opened the pizza boxes. He grabbed one of the meat filled one and takes a huge bite.

Bruce grabbed a slice of veggie pizza. "Well, we still have a Star Trek marathon to finish," he said, then took a bite. "If that's alright with you, I mean." He didn't really know what to say about that other part. Would Tony really quit drinking for him?

"Jarvis start the movie from where we ended last night." "Yes sir." The movie started and Tony snuggled against Bruce as the movie started. He would give up drinking for Bruce. He would do anything for Bruce.

Smiling, Bruce wrapped his arm around Tony's shoulder, doing his best not to think about beer or charity events, and focus on Tony's comforting warmth, the great pizza and the great movie. Just the two of them having fun.

Tony felt safe in Bruce's arms. He had never felt this way for anybody ever before. Before when he had dated it was one or two dates and then it was over. Also he wouldn't have changed who he was for anybody he had been with before. But then he had met Bruce and all that had changed. Bruce made him want to be a better man, a better person. He was soon drifting off to sleep on the couch. Did it get any better then this?

Bruce smiled and turned the volume down. He knew it's been a few days since Tony slept - he tended to bury himself in the lab or the workshop to avoid the nightmares... Bruce understood. He's been dealing with nightmares too, for way too long. Holding Tony closer, wanting to make him feel as safe as possible, he continued watching the movie.

For the first time in a very long while Tony slept through the night. He awoke with the sun shining on his face. He stirred his eyes fluttering open. He was still in the living room. He sat up and stretched wondering what time it was.