Disclaimer: I own no characters, storylines or dialogue that comes from Marvel.

A/N: This is the final chapter. Thanks again for all your reviews and support! hope the epilogue is worth it ;-)

Epilogue

Saying goodbye to Bruce Banner was embarrassingly difficult.

It wasn't as though he couldn't survive without the doctor around. He had for years. And he wasn't alone, after all. He had Pepper, he had Jarvis ... But Bruce had brought a different kind of companionship with him. The kind that comes with two people who nobody fully understands, except each other. The kind where there's an instant recognition of that very fact.

It also wasn't as though he'd be unable to return to life before his friend had been around. It had only been a few weeks after all. A time for them to work together and get to know each other. It had never been a necessarily permanent arrangement, and they had both known that Banner would never be able to live off Tony forever.

And it wasn't as though he'd never see him again either. He'd be back for visits when he felt like it, or Tony would track him down for visits when he felt like it and then there was that whole Avengers thing. Yeah, they'd see each other again, and plenty.

But somehow, the farewell was difficult.

They hovered on the tarmac on one of Tony's buildings outside one of Stark Industries' helicopters while the pilot pottered around to check on everything, and spoke about things of little consequence.

"I don't know why you insisted on having human-operated transport," Tony was sighing. "We both know my automatic machines are superior by far."

"Somehow I'd just feel more comfortable with a person who knows what's going on to be in there with me," Banner said with a smile.

"Jarvis could've accompanied you. He can do that, you know. Accompany any of my cars, helicopters, planes ... "

"I'm fine, Tony, stop bragging."

"But you ask an impossible task, Dr Banner," exclaimed Tony, eyes wide. "How can I possibly not when I'm as brilliant as I am?"

"You got me."

And they faltered there in the conversation, because that last bit was a routine for them. A conversation they often had.

"We'll see each other soon," said Bruce for what felt like the hundredth time since their conversation about his departure.

Tony would have told him to get over himself if he hadn't known that the words were just as much a reassurance for himself as they were for Tony.

"Yeah and if not, I'll find you," he said, providing reassurance in his own way. "You know I can."

"Just follow the chaos and destruction," Bruce half-joked.

Tony cocked his head at him, smiled, and said, "Or that tracking device. Probably more reliable."

The pilot approached, and said, "All ready, Dr. Banner."

"You sure about that?" asked Tony suspiciously.

"Leave him alone," sighed Banner, shaking his head. "He knows what he's doing." He turned to the pilot and said, "I'll be there in a minute."

The guy nodded, and vanished into the pilot's seat.

Bruce turned back to Tony, who felt that embarrassing urge to ask him to stay. Instead, they smiled at each other, as close to awkward as they'd ever been. Finally Bruce extended a hand to Tony, saying, "See you around, buddy."

Tony took his hand, gripped it for a moment and then pulled him in for a quick embrace, muttering, "What am I, a one night stand? Give a brilliant superstar champion a hug."

Bruce chuckled and hugged back for a moment, before they pulled away.

"See you around, buddy," Tony murmured, repeating Bruce's words.

Bruce nodded, grinned and said, "And don't worry about the pilot. He knows what he's doing."

"Fine."

Bruce nodded, still smiling, and then turned to the helicopter. He hoisted himself up and into the seat, as Tony backed away and the propellers started going. Slamming the door shut, Bruce held up a hand in farewell through the window. Tony raised an arm and waved as the helicopter hovered upwards for a moment, and watched as it went higher and higher before finally moving away.

After a long pause, he said, "Jarvis?"

Yes, sir?

"Hack into that helicopter and keep an eye on it. I don't need some idiot humanoid pilot crashing Banner into the ground."

Yes, sir.

Not that it mattered really. He doubted the Hulk would let a small thing like a helicopter crash interrupt his existence.

But somehow, to Tony, it was important.

FIN