'Six Months After Complications and Revelations.'
"Daddy... Where did I come from?" Michelle's small voice whispered next to his head where they lay sprawled on the grass of the back yard.
"Why do you want to know?" He whispers back.
"Peggy said that I'm a science experiment."
"She did, did she? Why that little-"
"Daddy!"
"Right yeah, I'll talk to her dad later."
"Daddy just tell me where I come from." She huffed.
"Funny story-" He was inturupted again.
"Is it really a funny story, or is this one of those things that you laugh at now but was bad at the time, cause Aunt Pepper told me that you used to say that before telling her you blew yourself up again."
"… Well I guess you could say I was terrified at the time, now are you going to let me tell you or are you going to interrupt?"
"Tell me!"
"Well Micky it all started with a box."
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"Well Brucie it all started with a box-" Tony was cut off.
"I know it started with a box Tony, what I'm asking is why in god's name are we currently stuck in said box?" Still Bruce's voice was slow and calm even if it had a slight edge to it. The last thing Bruce remembered was watching Tony work on the metal box in the middle of the room.
"Funny story…"
"Tony what are you doing?" Bruce asked curiously, not in the least surprised to find Tony working on something completely unrelated to the task they were supposed to be doing.
"Well I got this idea after the big guy smashed open those containers with explosives in them, and decided that we needed hulk proof storage for the important things." His voice echoed out from inside as he leaned into the box.
"Well whose fault is it I hulked out?" Bruce snapped before quickly drawing a breath to calm himself.
"I said sorry like a million times, how was I supposed to know slipping caffeine into your morning routine for a week would do that." Tony said standing straight before hopping off the ladder and walking over to grab the controls for the small crane he built in the ceiling.
"Now what are you doing?" Bruce asked glancing up from the vial of red liquid he was currently studying.
"Moving it duh can't have it sitting in the middle of the room, and besides I have to take it down to the hulk room to be tested." He said grinning as the crane lifted the metal crate from the floor.
"I'm not testing that for you." Bruce muttered looking back down to his work.
"Keep telling yourself that big guy."
For a few minutes it was quiet; nothing but the occasional whirr from the crane or the tapping of a pencil from Bruce. Suddenly the silence was broken.
*pop* *snap* *ping*
"Shit Bruce!" Bruce heard Tony yell then suddenly the playboy was pulling his arm knocking the vial from his hand to spill down the front of him, but as Tony pulled Bruce he tripped backwards causing the doctor to collapse on top of him just as the cable to the crane snapped swinging and dropping the now upside down box, that had been on a collision course with Bruce ,over them thus trapping them.
"Bruce you okay?"
…
"Bruce?" Tony was glad at the moment that he had a permanent flashlight in his chest, as he shifted the now unconscious doctor Banner up right to study him for injury. Finding none he ran his handover the back of Bruce's head and finding a small bump.
"You hit your head…" he mumbled gently resting Bruce's head back on his chest, before slowly becoming aware of their positions.
"Well this is going to be awkward…"
And ten minutes later indeed it was.
"Tony this had better not be some sort of plan to get the hulk to show." A sleepy mumble was heard before Bruce shifted his head from Tony's chest to stare down at him rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Believe me when I say it's not and dear god I hope he doesn't." Tony said just realizing that he was stuck in a box with the man that could at any moment become a giant green rage monster and effectively crush him in the confined space.
"So you see it wasn't really my fault." Tony said smirking at a blanching Bruce.
"Tony…"
"Yeah?"
"That vial I had in my hand… where did it go?" his voice was tinged in worry.
"Umm I think it got dumped on you… why?" he asked now even more concerned.
"Oh god why." Bruce groaned covering his face with his hands.
"What was it?" He asked shifting slightly trying to sit up more.
"Stop moving." Bruce snapped and Tony stilled instantly.
"Bruce?"
"That stuff… i- it- I can't think, I just need you to not move so I can think straight."
"Why~" Tony ask smirking and without moving his hands from his face Bruce could tell he was.
"Tony this isn't funny, there's something wrong with my body." This made Tony frown but seeing no immanent Hulk transformation he pressed on.
"What is it doctor Banner, uncomfortable position?" He teased, then to add to the teasing he pinched his thigh. Bruce jerked back slamming his already injured head on the top (or is it bottom) of the box.
"Fuck sorry." Tony said immediately regretting his idea as Bruce started to mutter to himself one hand still over his face the other in a fist resting against the wall next to Tony's head to hold him up. Tony strained to hear what he was saying.
"Phosphorus and francium and fluorine and terbium-"
"Are-… are you singing the elements song?" Tony asked trying not to laugh.
"It helps me concentrate." Bruce mumbled his face was pink.
"Bruce it's okay I totally trust you not to hulk out." He said trying to comfort him.
"Then stop moving." He whispered with a strained calm.
"Alright message received, moving will be ceased immediately." Tony said relaxing his body he decided to just study Bruce. Rigid body, slow even breathing, everything about him seemed on edge.
"What was that stuff anyway?" He asked only after four minutes of silence because face it, it's Tony Stark he can't stay silent long.
"I'm not sure… it came in from one of the other labs, I was just looking out of curiosity, but…" He moved his hand from his blushing face to rest it on Tony's chest.
"But?" Tony raised an eyebrow.
"It seems to be making my body… overly sensitive to everything, hearing, touch, and taste, all of it."
"Oh… so pinching you was a bad idea."
"Yes Tony, it was, I could have killed you."
"But you didn't." Tony's response was matched with a grin.
"Your right I didn't." Bruce said exasperated.
"… so now what?"
"We get this box off before I accidently hulk out and crush you."
"That's… going to be a problem." Tony said sounding slightly sheepish as he tried to still his body from moving too much.
"Why?" Bruce groaned not liking the playboy's tone of voice.
"Its Hulk proof so the only one that's going to be able to move it is Thor or a crane but I doubt any of them could even begin to understand how to work it." He said grumbling the last part.
"So you telling me… that we are stuck in this box till someone notices were missing and gets Thor to help us?" Bruce questioned; his voice strained from the headache that had started in the back of his mind.
"Yup."
"You realize that we usually post up for days without seeing anyone…right?" He grumbled resting his head back onto Tony's chest not caring at all about personal bubbles or the fact that he was straddling the man his head hurt and he wanted nothing more than to just sleep.
"Bruce buddy you can't sleep, you of all people should know that, what with your trips to the middle of nowhere to play doctor." Tony said shaking the man's shoulder lightly so he didn't suddenly hurt him.
"Why~" The sleepy doctor whined childishly which amused Tony to no end.
"Because Bruce you hit your head one too many times, and at the risk of you slipping into a coma and leaving me without a science bro you can forget about sleeping." Tony huffed; patting Bruce's butt causing the other man to jolt awake.
"TONY!"
"HA I knew that would work." Tony said proudly.
"You're an ass." Bruce grumbled into his chest.
"I may be an ass but you sir have a very lovely one."
"Enough Tony, I'm awake and at the risk of being molested in a box I plan to stay that way." He sighed but still didn't remove his head from the other man's chest.
"… you know-"
"No Tony." Bruce cut him off knowing the train of thought before the other could finish, this didn't stop the playboy from continuing though.
"It wouldn't really matter if you were awake or not-"
"That's creepy." He said flatly turning his head up to look him in the face.
"Because seeing as were stuck in a box and you have nowhere to run-"
"Quit sounding like a rapist Tony." Bruce sighed rolling his eyes.
"I could really do whatever I wanted."
"Except I don't think you want to die by being crushed to death in a box." He reminded the rambling man.
"True… speaking of crushed to death; how's the sensitivity thing?"
"A little better but still there so please stop trying to talk with your hands." He replied swatting at one of the offending appendages that had stopped to hover in the air when Stark realized that yes he indeed had been.
"Whoops my bad-"
"Man of iron where have you gone off to I have urgent matters to discus with you, the device of toasting has suddenly broken!" Thor unmistakable booming voice sounded from outside the box.
"Well isn't that convenient." Bruce whispered tiredly.
"In the box!" Tony called out to the thunder god.
"Why are you in a box… is it some sort of midguardian habit I am not aware of?" His voice clearly only a few feet away.
"Not exactly you see there was an accident and now we're stuck."
"'We're', there is someone else in there with you?" Thor queried.
"Yeah, Bruce, now if you don't mind can you kinda remove the big box."
"Of course!" His voice boomed, there was silence before the box was suddenly lifted and dropped to the side. It was at this moment that Clint decided to see what the yelling was about.
"I don't think I'm going to ask about this one." He said staring at the two men on the ground, one straddling the other with his head resting on his chest and the other grinning.
"I rescued them from the box he and the good doctor were trapped under." He said gesturing toward the metal container beside him.
"I see…" He trailed off smirking. "Then is there a reason that the 'good doctor' just fell asleep on you?"
"Wha- Dammit Bruce I said no sleeping we have to get your head checked out first." He said shaking him awake again.
"I'm up Tony just stop shaking me before I throw up on you." He mumbled cracking an eye open to glare at him. Clint and Thor frowned as Tony tried to drag Bruce to his feet, after falling on his ass after the third try Thor finally stepped in and picked Bruce up bridal style.
"I'm fine I can stand on my own." Bruce said but made no attempt to move, the others ignored his protests anyway.
"Take him up to the infirmary, but be careful not to move him around too much or be too loud we had an accident with some chemicals." Tony instructed Thor who nodded and left making sure not to go too fast as instructed.
"What's up with that?" Clint asked holding out his hand to help Tony to his feet.
"That is what happens when you hit your head one to many times." He said taking the offered hand.
"I meant the chems." He said as they started toward the elevator.
"Oh we don't know what they do but when that crate fell he kinda got them down the front of him, now his body seems to be really sensitive to everything."
"…How long were you trapped in there?" He asked studying Tony hard as they rode the elevator up three floors.
"Maybe half an hour."
"Half hour huh… you didn't try anything did you?"
"Oh for god sakes, I didn't do anything pervy to him you mother hen… well I might have touched his ass which I might add is a very firm one, but he's my boyfriend I think I can touch him if I want." He said smirking when Barton rolled his eyes and turned his gaze away.
"Don't tell Tasha she might try and cut your hand off." He laughed as the elevator doors opened.
"Oh… is she protective of him?" Tony asked curiously, he found the image of Natasha being protective of Bruce adorable.
" She is like a giant mother hen when she gets attached to people, you have no idea- … actually you might just get a taste of it." He said stepping away from Stark slightly.
"huh."
"Stark what did you do?" the cold voice of Natasha Romanov echoed down the hall wrapping itself around Tony like a snuggly blanket of doom.
"Nothing... well there was the whole crate thing, totally an accident." He said smoothly, continuing down the hall towards where she was leaned against the door to the infirmary.
"Then why is Bruce in there shivering to death even though it's nearly a hundred outside?"
"That would probably be the vial of red stuff that was spilt on him." He said opening the door and stepping inside Natalia hot on his heels a frown on her face and her eyes wary.
"Ah man of iron I was getting worried he seems to be quite out of it at the moment and thought it wise to wait for you before I left him." Thor said moving to give Tony a better view of Bruce. Bruce was sprawled out shivering on what had to be the most uncomfortable looking hospital bed he had ever seen. In fact he hadn't seen them before; this room was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s doing and he'd had no part in its making.
"Hey Bruce how you feeling?" He asked casually digging through drawers for a thermometer.
"Too cold." Was the only reply he got as the man shifted to sit up but was pushed back down by Tasha.
"Cold, you realize it's nearly a hundred out right?" He said not turning to ask the question still set in his quest to find the thermometer.
"uh-huh."
"Alright, you think it might have to do with that vial of red stuff?" he asked finally locating the object of his search he turned and was met with the sight of a curled up shivering red faced Bruce Banner.
"Yeah." Bruce panted his brows furrowed as he concentrated on breathing normally and not letting his heart beat elevate.
"Alright then, here stick this under your tongue you know the drill." He said placing the thermometer in Bruce's mouth.
"Yes doctor." Bruce said sarcastically before curling up again.
"I want to take a sample of your blood if you don't mind." Tony said moving over to grab a syringe and numbing pad. Bruce looked uncertain for a moment before nodding slowly. Wiping the pad across Bruce's upper arm he quickly plunged the needle inside. After collecting the blood he placed a small green bandage on the needle prick.
"Tony can you come here a second?" Clint's voice sounded from near the door.
"Hey I'll be right back buddy hold up tight." Tony said throwing the plain white infirmary blanket over his shaking form before going to stand with the others.
"What's wrong with him?" Natasha asked instantly.
"I won't be sure till I get a look at the stuff that was dumped on him."
"You don't know what it is?" Clint asked
"No we were kinda in the middle of dodging being taken out by a metal box, but I'll look into it." Tony said starting to walk back down the hall toward the lab.
Once in the lab Tony looked around and found the vial of the red liquid. Picking it up gently he placed it on the table and began to take samples. He placed it in various machines around the lab before turning his attention on Bruce's blood.
As the hours rolled by he could find nothing that would constitute the high fever Bruce was running.
"Fuck… please let it just be a fever." He muttered to himself as his ripped off his latex gloved.
Three Days Later
Tony was confused, yet the evidence was right in front of his face.
Bruce had been curled up into himself, wide eyed and a little green, but not hulk green and that's why everyone was worried.
Natasha wouldn't let anyone near him. Tony kept asking what was wrong but she would glare and he would snap his jaw shut never getting a clear answer.
After hearing some 'distressing' news Bruce had apparently had a panic attack and there had been no appearance of the Hulk. Now he was being taken to S.H.I.E.L.D despite Tony's complaining and Clint's arguments, Bruce on the other hand said nothing, still in shock he didn't seem to notice anything happening around him.
"What's going on?" Tony demanded barging into Fury's office. The man didn't even flinch, he had been expecting this.
"Calm down Stark, when we have this sorted out we'll tell you."
"What do you mean when you have it sorted out, I thought you already knew what was wrong that's why he's here." Tony said seething just a tiny bit, he knows how much Bruce hated being near S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Tony, this is something the two of you are going to have to talk about… privately." Fury sighed, there was no way on earth or Asgard he was going to break this news to him.
"Can I go see him or am I going to be kicked out if I try?" Tony snapped, he couldn't help it, he was worried and couldn't help but feel that it was his fault that Bruce was having some kind of breakdown.
"Yeah you can… just, for the love of my sanity, try not to stress him out."
Tony turned on his heel and marched out the door.
"Fuck… why do I always have to handle the weird shit?" Fury groaned to himself rubbing a hand over his face.
…OOO…
Stepping into the room where Bruce was staying Tony silently made his way over to the chair beside the bed. Bruce didn't move just sat staring at his hands clutching the blanket in his lap.
They sat like that for the longest time; each lost in their own thoughts, when Bruce spoke up it was quiet and strained.
"Tony…"
Tony eyes snapped to Bruce's face, taking in the tired lines and the bags under the eyes, the nervous expression, fear, confusion; he waited till Bruce spoke again.
"I'm… p-pregnant." He whispered just barely loud enough for Tony to hear.
Tony was silent, his mind blank as what Bruce said sank in.
"Pregnant?" He breathed the word; his face is a mask of confusion and shock.
"They think it was whatever I dumped on myself when the crane snapped… they uh… they also think it's… yours." His voice was strained and his knuckles were white as he clutched the blanket like a life line.
"M-mine… but we've never-… you're a man, dudes can't get-"
"I know, they think it's something like DNA transference through skin to skin contact, and you were the first person I touched after I dumped it on myself." Bruce says slumping back in his bed looking like he was about to burst into tears.
Tony didn't know what to say, he didn't even know what to think. He had the urge to run from the room but the look on Bruce's face kept him rooted to his chair.
'Oh… OH FUCK!'
Bruce was pregnant.
Bruce was pregnant with his baby.
Bruce was pregnant with his baby and he had no idea what he was going to do.
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"So then what happened?" Michelle asked.
"Well you tell me, i went on to prove to myself and Bruce that we'd be great parents then when you were born i was so calm the Brucie was jelous."
"Dad said Aunt Tasha tied you to a chair."