Too Much Fun for One Night
Jul. 27th, 2011 09:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smash_stuffIt had been a very long day. It started with his alarm clock not going off so he was late for the Shield meeting. He rushed into that, very out of breath and made everyone eye him all shifty before he sat down...probably worrying he was going to Hulk out. But he got through that.
Then a few of his experiments fell through, two of which he had been working on for a long time so that was pretty frustrating.
Steve had pushed him a fair bit in training, he was physically exhausted after that.
By the time he got his reports done for the day and plopped them on Coulson's desk, after getting a talk from Fury about them being late, it felt like everyone was just grating on his last nerve.
So when Tony said they were going out drinking and he wouldn't take no for an answer, he nearly snapped at him. Instead, he surprised himself by saying yes. He actually wanted to go out and drink. Because if he went home, he was going to be a bundle of nerves that would barely get any sleep and he would have to get up and do it all again tomorrow.
It was Tony's pick of places so Bruce rode in his car. He barely said two words the whole trip, trying to enjoy the ride but not really wanting to talk.
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"So, Banner... Got a favorite? Rock? Jazz? If you say Country, I'm dropping you on the side of the road." Tony grinned to himself as he drove along. This was his escape as well. Not so much from SHIELD. He ran from them on principle. But more from his life and the media and Stark Industries. Pepper running the place left him being ushered out unless she wanted him to be a poster child.
He couldn't really take Steve. The guy instilled guilt for even looking at alcohol. So, who better than one very worn down Bruce Banner? His mind was ticking away places as he waited for an answer.
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"Either's fine," Bruce said, not really paying attention to the question. He was leaning against his hand, his elbow against the top of the door on his side of the convertible, just watching the scenery fly by. He hadn't even commented on how fast Tony was going which means he really had had a bad day.
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"Right. 'Cause that just narrowed my choices down a lot." Shaking his head, he decided something like jazz would be easier on the nerves and picked his favorite from the list. "You look like crap by the way." Because he was just that brutally honest. Pulling into the parking lot of a nice club, he parked the car and slid out. "Not as high end as my usual haunts, but I think you'll like it."
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Bruce grunted an affirmative, he probably did look as bad as he felt. This probably wasn't a good idea but he really didn't have any other ideas at the moment. Other than going back and laying in a bed he probably wouldn't sleep in. When they got there, he stepped out of the car, looking up at the neon sign that blinked at them. "You've been here before?" he asks.
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"Yep. Just once or twice. It's nice. C'mon grumpy." Striding for the door, he opened it up and waited for Bruce to enter. It's a pretty laid back atmosphere and piano music being played on stage. "It won't kill you and the crowd here isn't crazy enough to jump you."
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At least Tony had been thinking about the atmosphere, Bruce had said yes before he even knew what kind of place they were going to. He could have taken him to a rave without him realizing. Bruce steps in and balks at going further, surveying the not-too-crowded room...letting Tony take the lead towards the bar. He pushed down that nervous feeling in his stomach, telling himself that he needed to unwind a little and that he was going to be careful.
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Sliding onto a barstool, Tony winked at a girl not far down the line before tapping the bar with his knuckles. "Hey Joe. Me and my friend here are just trying to unwind. Put it all on my tab." The man grinned at him with an 'of course, Mr. Stark!'. "I'll have a scotch on the rocks, and whatever the good doctor wants to order." Turning about to face the room, he smiled to himself as he watched a pretty girl in a slinky dress take the stage to start singing a soft song. He'd picked the place for the live entertainment and a crowd that wasn't hurting money wise, but weren't living it up too much. Nice even keel and a place where people leave you alone.
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Bruce sits on the stool next to Tony's, his eyes flitting around from the bottles to the counter to the barkeep. "Beer is fine," he says, not going for anything strong. The song catches his attention and he turns to listen as the bartender puts the bottle in his hand. Good song, at least that was relaxing. He pops off the cap and takes a sip.
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Tony raised a brow at the order and turned his head to look at him with a 'you gotta be kidding me' look. "I bring you to a classy bar... and you order a beer. You're embarrassing. Joe... get this man a vodka martini. We'll start small and work our way up. Actually... tequila shots. Line 'em up." Grinning broadly, he turned about to grin at Bruce. "I'd say we play a game, but you're so not fun, you'd lose to fast."
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Bruce makes a protesting noise, giving the shot glasses a worried look as they're lined up in front of both of them. "Really, I'm good with this..." he started to say before his beer bottle got taken away.
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"Bruce Banner. We came to have a little fun." Tony threw back his scotch and scooted it away before filling two shot glasses. "Drinking a beer and brooding doesn't constitute as fun. It constitutes as looking like an old man whose teeth are going to fall out anyday. Now..." Pushes a shot glass to him.
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Bruce has still got his mouth open to protest...eyeing the shot glass. Fine, he did come out to have fun and it's not like he didn't entirely know what he was getting into by being with Tony in the first place. He swallows his protest and downs the shot before he can change his mind. He coughs as it burns it's way down, very much not used to this much 'fun'.
"You're a bad influence, you know that?" he says with another cough.
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"Good man!" Grabbing his own shot, he throws it back, reveling in the burn as he refills them. "Finish the bottle and I'll let you nurse a beer to your little heart's content. Deal?" Grinning widly, he lifted the glass to tip it to the other man. "Here's to bad influences. Sometimes the wrong way helps you find the right way."
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The bottle?? One step at a time, Bruce wasn't sure he would even get that far. "Probably won't need it at that point," he says with a wince at the second shot, hesitant to pick it up so he just holds his hand around it for now, trying to look like he's paying attention to the singing instead.
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"You're that much of a light weight? You know, I'm living proof that scientists are allowed to have fun." Patting the man on the shoulder, Tony threw back his next shot and toed Banner's leg. "Your turn, Jolly Green. That tequila won't drink itself."
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"Not exactly what I meant, I probably couldn't taste beer after this," Bruce says, looking down at the small filled glass. He reluctantly swallows it down, another face at the burning, though it's not so bad the second time. He wasn't feeling it yet but the fact that he's talking in whole sentences is probably a marked improvement over their car conversation. "I don't think I could do more than one night of this at a time."
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"We could get lime and salt to go with it if you want to make it more complicated." Laughing at the last line, he pat Bruce on the shoulder and filled the glasses again. "Who said I'd be willing to pay for you every night anyway? Besides... I think Fury, Coulson, and Steve have the nose of a bloodhound for when I binge drink." Waving it off, he really didn't care with Fury or Coulson, but big pouty looks from Steve tended to make him entirely uncomfortable. "So.. does it make it harder to get drunk?" Tony downed the third and smirked at the burn. He liked the burn.
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Bruce gives him a confused look but he's too chicken to ask why lime and salt would make it more difficult. This was difficult enough, being this careless. "Don't know why they worry about you drinking when they have me and Thor around..." There's less hesitation with the third shot, down the hatch. Those tense muscles in his neck were unclenching too, he hadn't realized how stressed he was. "Does...does what make it harder? The Hulk?"
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Tony watched the next shot disappear and he was refilling the glass even before Bruce put it down. Humming thoughtfully he filled his own and lifted it to look at the liquid in the glass. "How sweet of you to think so. Obviously I'm a flakey alcoholic that can't be relied on." It didn't bother him. Hear it enough you believe it and just move on. "And yeah... does the gamma radiation and the metabolism make it harder?"
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For some ~strange~ reason, Bruce snickers at that before he can stop himself. "I meant...you're not gonna throw cars through walls at a moments notice. Drunk or sober." He forces himself to slow down, not taking the next shot just yet. He was getting the feeling that Tony was determined to get him drunk regardless of consequences.
"I....well, I....don't know." He admits that he's never tried to get drunk since the experiment. "I suppose if the Hulk was drinking, it wouldn't effect him. His metabolism would just burn through it too fast. Mine's not exactly as hopped up as Cap's but it's mildly faster than it used it be." He shoots a look at the bottle, wondering how they got 2/3rds of it down so fast. "And I don't know exactly if the radiation would be a factor or not."
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"No. I just blow up labs and sometimes neighborhoods." Tony smirks to himself at this and tilts his head to look at him. "And I'm pretty certain the shiny red armor is like me screaming 'Torro!' at the Hulk. I think Thor likes accidentally hitting me as well. You never know." Fingering the shot glass, he's slowly down a little as well.
"I see. Someday I might care enough about biological studies to do a comparison. Steve would probably let me. You on the other hand, I'm not so sure about." Shrugging, he doesn't really care. He prefers machines and technology over bio-engineering. "But if you're ever game, let me know." He throws his shot back with a near purr.
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"When did you blow up a lab?" He wasn't really sure if there was a way to compare the Hulk and Steve side by side legitimately but it was worth thinking about. "I'll let you know, yeah." Bruce follows suit as if on automatic, forgetting which shot this was. He's starting to feel it now, blinking at the glass after he sets it down. "That's....probably a good stop....I mean, stopping place." Wow, that was harder to say than he thought it was going to be.
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Chuckling in amusement, he sat his shot glass down. He only felt pleasantly hazed and figured he'd let Banner relax for now. Resting his elbows on the bar behind him, he watched the singer and small band play. "I had to completely rebuild my house after Rhodey and I got into a rock'em sock'em robot fight. You should have seen it." Bad memory. He just tried to make it sound funny. But he was instantly reaching for the bottle. "And you never know what you could learn between your change and his." He just didn't want to think about it right now. He really didn't like biology. Unless it was sex. He liked that area. "You're a total lightweight by the way." And there went down another shot.
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Bruce on the other hand was catching up to all those shots in his system, getting a slight buzzing feeling between his ears. He hadn't expected to get drunk this fast but there wasn't anything he could do about it now. He actually didn't feel too bad and found himself snickering at the thought of two Iron Man suits being rock em sock em robots. "That's awful," he says, trying to school his face back into a sober look without much success. "I know...sorry," he apologizes for his lack of drinking ability....to Tony -- he must be drunk.
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Smirking a little at the reaction, Tony could tell that Bruce was starting to fight off that lighter feeling. It didn't hurt for the guy to loosen up. And he had a feeling that Bruce had to do this once in a while to truly be free. He just... didn't want to get him over-excitable. Because lack of inhibition was a bad thing when you turned green and angry. "It was pretty awful. But we survived." Setting the shot glass on the counter he turned it slowly. "Don't apologize. You look ten times better already."
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"Hope you took pictures. Or someone did." He says through half lidded eyes, a smirk stuck on his face. Bruce sighs over the empty shot glass sitting in front of him, "It was just a rotten day, that's all." Now that his tongue was looser, Tony might find it's going to be hard to shut him up. "I had seven reports to finish up and Fury got on my case about being late. At least I don't hand write them like Steve but still...I never know what they want to know about what we're doing. Isn't this a new thing? The Avengers??"
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"Probably on youtube. Look it up." Everyone put stuff on youtube these days. "Yeah? Try not to let it get ya down... 'specially if it's Fury. Guy likes to blow things out his tail pipe." Snorting as he poured another shot for himself, Tony angled his head. "You need to learn how to tune him out. I'm great at it now." Reaching out, he pat the guy lightly on the shoulder before drinking his shot. "Military and government never change. We may be a free society... but that doesn't make them any less on the control-freak level."
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Bruce quips back, "You can tune anyone out, Tony..." He had been trying for forever not to let things get to him. Tony just throws off everything like water off a duck's back. "Never did like the military, they were only good for funding...." He shakes his head, looking downcast again. "So stupid, I should have known what they were using me for. Using my research for." Technically, it was his fault for jumping the gun with the experiment but if they had told him what he was really dealing with...
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"Makes my life much... much simpler." Chuckling, he let a foot swing a little, feeling like he was finally loosening up. "Funding... this is true. Make them pay you to play with toys. I did that." He stops at the last part and looked at him quietly. "Isn't that what it means to have a contract with the government? S'why I broke mine. But I was the crazy one for backing out. God forbid, I watch soldiers die and get blown up or tortured... As long as they get their new toys." Snorts at this and looks at Banner. "But ease up. Just means we're all blinded." Tony made it lighter than it was. Oh. He hated that aspect of himself. But no one needed to know what he really felt.
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Bruce actually *gasp* reaches for the bottle and pours himself a shot. "I'm hardly a toy..." he scowls before downing it like he wants to forget. "I mean, Shield'ss not so bad. It's nice to not have to be on the run anymore. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop." He would totally not be this forthcoming if he was sober. "I don't know why but trouble just seems to follow me everywhere."
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"Well.. it's like saying 'what else could go wrong?' when everyone knows saying that will make it all go wrong. Experience has made you paranoid.... you just need to ease into the idea that not everything is out to dissect you or tie you up." Tony watched him drink another and his mind considered the idea of stopping him. But he let it go for now. "And no, you are not a toy. But the science and research was... till it went all frankenstein... like me. 'Cept I've got the battery pack to prove it. Glad I don't have the bolts in the neck. That would just be tacky."
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He gives Tony a sidelong glance that's more than a little inebriated. "Except most everyone IS out to tie me up and dissect me. Usually." But he knew what Tony meant. It was a practiced reaction. One that had kept him alive for all the months he was running.
"....and the blue light shooting out of your chest isn't tacky?"
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"Bruce." He leveled a serious look at him. "I will never..." He waves a finger at him. "Never want to tie you up... down... any direction. You're not my type." Nods sharply and grabs another shot. "And blue's a fascinating color. Especially Arc reactor blue. You're just jealous."
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Bruce can't help a smile at that, he's too smashed not to. "Thanks...I think. And I'm not jealous. S'not like I even see myself when I'm green anyway." Maybe this getting drunk thing wasn't so bad after all, things were going pretty good.
He stares over Tony's shoulder, blinking a few times to make sure his eyes can be trusted. "Is that girl holding up her number at you?"
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Grinning at this, he gave the other man the thumbs up then slowly leaned to the side to look at her. She flushed as he grinned at her, but he didn't encourage it any further. "Probably. But I'm not out to find a bed warmer. We're working on you. Unless you want me to get her number for you? I could do that, but you don't strike me as the type."
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Bruce quickly shakes his head, "No, no no, please no. I couldn't do that, not to Betty." He didn't want the bad influencing to go that far, hopefully Tony knows where to stop.
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"Then just ignore 'em." He would smile pretty for them. Possibly compliment them if they got closer, but he was here to de-stress the doctor. Not find new conquests. "Feeling better there, buddy?"
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Bruce rolls his shoulders a bit, definitely more relaxed even if he was tipsy. "I think so." As an afterthought, he checks his watch...but he can't make out the numbers. "Well, it's not beeping so I should be good." A lopsided grin works it's way onto his face, "Coulson is going to kill us for coming here."
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"More than likely. But I am still trying for an actual real expression change on that guy. And since he's all protective of you and Steve, I find he flails the most.... albeit inwardly... when I try to get you two in trouble." He smiled smugly at this and looked at his watch as well. "It's time for you to stop caring about the time. Besides... unless you want me to drive you home drunk... which I can... you need to give me about forty-five minutes to sober up."
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Bruce out and out laughs at that, "I don't think he has another expression so you might be out of luck there." He gives Tony a look that was supposed to be worried but comes off more amused disapproval than anything. "Shouldn't drive drunk, I forgot that you drove us here. Maybe we could find a cab or something..."
Just then, the doors are swinging open and a rather loud group of bikers is entering the bar...
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Tony instantly sat up at the entrance of the people coming in. Dark eyes followed them and his jaw set. Normally? He'd probably stick around to keep them out of trouble. When you had a Doctor, sans inhibitions, holding in the Hulk? You had to think things through. "I think that's our cue." Rising to his feet, he tossed a hefty cash tip on the bar and told Joe to charge it to his card before looking at Bruce. "We'll call a cab outside."
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Bruce is a little confused at the hasty rush to leave but he stands up to follow Tony. He manages to stumble only once walking away from the bar but as they near the table of bikers, one of them sticks out a foot to trip him, pushing him down as he falls. The whole table is howling with laughter as he ends up on the floor on his face.
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Tony's eyes are always partially on the rowdy group. Certainly not the patrons he wanted to deal with. He came here to avoid the type. Too bad life never really liked playing into his hands. When Bruce is tripped, he wheels about to try and catch the doctor, dark eyes leveling on the men in warning. "Bruce?" Kneeling down beside him, he carefully places a hand on his shoulder hoping to calm him.
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Bruce hauls himself up with a grunt, using Tony's arm to keep on his feet. Yeah, he's ok. The bikers though don't seem to have had enough, giving him mocking looks at his clumsyness. "What's the matter? Don't have your sea legs yet? Or are you just looking for trouble?" The leader blows the smoke from his cigarette at the two of them with a smirk.
Now if Bruce wasn't drunk, he would have never thought of leaning against the table, his eyes narrowed at the annoying man across from him. And he definitely would have never said, "Why? You want to make something out of it?" Those inhibitions are sure missing in action now. At least his eyes are still brown.
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The moment Bruce leaned across the table, Tony thought he'd have a heart attack. Reaching out, he slid a hand to rest on Bruce's shoulder. "Hey, forget them. You know they're not worth the time." This was starting to backfire on him spectacularly. Assholes though the guys were? THey didn't deserve to be stepped on my the Hulk.
Unfortunately, the guys don't get that. "Yeah, run along with your sugar daddy boyfriend." Tony's back went stiff and against all his better judgements, he turned to look at the man with a dry, threatening look.
"Oh. I'm sorry. The trained gorilla want's a chance to talk? You should learn to raise your hand. You know what your hand is right? I'd hate for you to confuse it with more embarrassing parts of your body." Smooth, never inflecting past pleasant. He could make a compliment sound like an insult and an insult sound like a compliment. "Unfortunately, I don't care to converse with primates." He tugged on Bruce wanting out of there now.
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Bruce seems to be oblivious that the rest of the gang is starting to hem them in around the back, sensing a fight about to start. He twitches his arm a bit as if to get Tony's arm off of it, but without any real success. The leader flicks his cigarette away, "Maybe we ought to teach you and your date some manners." There's a slight beeping noise coming from Bruce's wristwatch but he's too buzzed to care right now. "You wouldn't like me when I-..." he never gets to finish it.
The last thing he remembers is a fist heading towards his face and then there's a whole lot of stars. Lucky for all concerned, he wasn't prepared for it and doesn't even feel the punch thanks to the tequilla shots. Bruce hits the floor like a sack of flour, out cold with a trickle of blood coming out of his nose. The bartender is hurrying to call the police as two more guys are reaching to grab onto Tony, the leader cracking his knuckles as if to take care of him as well.
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he sound of the beeping had him more concerned than anything else... so when the man knocked Bruce out, Tony stands there a few minutes staring. "Well... that was anti-climatic." Better than the Hulk, and he doesn't get to think on that long before he gets jumped. He may be best with his suit, but Tony has spent years training and learning to fight. So he manages to take down a few fast trying to keep them away from Bruce. "Really guys? I have interns that could eat you for breakfast."
It's when two came at him at once that he ended up with a fist to the face. Moving his jaw, he grimaced. Pepper was going to kill him. But by the time he was 'subduing' the remaining bikers, he was actualy happy to be arrested. Did he just think that? With ended with them both in a holding cell alone... with their less than nice neighbors hurling insults next door in an overcrowded cell.
Looking down at Bruce on the bench, he touched at his bruised cheek then managed to sweet talk a pretty officer into getting him ice to put on Bruce's face. Now they just needed to wait to make that one phone call.
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When Bruce came around, the first thing he was aware of was his numb and cold face. He blearily looks at the mound of ice in front of his eyes, wondering vaguely if he'd been frozen like Cap. A small sound escapes him as he tries to reach confusedly for the bag of ice on his face.
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Tony leaned over and lifted the bag away arching a brow. "I'm never taking you drinking again." But in spite of saying that, he's grinning around the dark bruise on his cheek. "Did you get beat up a lot earlier in life?" Sinking back down to sit on the floor by the bench, he sighed. Oh the media would love this.
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"...Tony~...?" The last bits of memory are jumbled and it takes him a minute to remember what they were doing prior to this. There's a twinge as the ice bag is pulled away and he winces slightly as he touches his bloody nose. He doesn't know it yet, but it's definitely broken. He struggles to sit up, still woozy from the alcohol plus the concussion he's sustained, and manages to find where Tony is sitting, trying to focus on him. "What happened?" He tugs on his shirt...it's still there, he hadn't Hulked out. The blood trickling down his face makes him look a bit severe, if he only had a mirror.
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"You decided to get in their faces. But don't worry, you went out like a champ." Turning to look at him, he frowned. "Your nose is broken. What are the chances I can reset it without you going green on me?" Arching a brow at him, he pushed up to sit next to Bruce letting him use him for support. Tony handled alcohol better... but he's not running perfectly either. "Like I said... last time I try that. If it makes you feel better, the gorilla ended up a few teeth short and the guy that tripped you got a broken nose." He didn't say out right tha the did it, but no one else would have fought to keep them back.
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"....oh." Some of it was coming back, now he remembers the bikers that had confronted them. He picks up the ice and clumsily applies it back to his nose, sighing into the cold. He answers Tony's question about his nose with a nasally voice thanks to the ice bag in the way. "S'ok, it'll mend next time I change if anything..." He looks over at Tony, taking in the bruise on his face. For some reason, he starts to smile at that. "Told you it was a bad idea."
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"These?" He pointed at the bruises. "I'm good. Had much worse. Shoulda heard the guy scream when he broke something in his hand from hiting the edge of the reactor. Not that it felt good for me... but it was still amusing." His voice was quieter. He didn't need the neighbors or anyone else hearing him talk about those sorts of things. Looking over at him, he shrugged a little. "It was going great for awhile..." And it was. They'd actually gotten along and Bruce had eased up.
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His vision is clearing enough to see farther and finally notices the metal bars. Surprised, he blurts out, "We're in jail??" That was probably embarrassingly loud, a few of their neighbors start snickering amongst themselves.
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Tony smirked. "Astute observation." Rolling his eyes at the laughter next door he debated yelling something to embarrass them, but he let it slide. "There was no way I could fight them off and drag you out of there as well. So I figured being in jail was a good thing at the time. And aside from your broken nose, I'm just a little bruised." Just those few bruises were pretty bad. "I called Coulson. I'm sure they'll be by soon."
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Bruce covers his face with his hands, leaning forward with a groan as he rubs his eyes. Jail, great. Way to go Bruce, way to be responsible. "We are in so much trouble..." he mumbles, just picturing the look that Coulson was going to give them once he showed up....if he even showed up at all.
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Coulson has been less than pleased to finally have Stark call him. From jail. Why was he not surprised. The charges were intoxication in public and assault. Where he knew Tony could get out of those, it was the fact that Banner was there as well that had him looking harder than normal. On the way out, he'd ran into Steve and invited him along... mainly because he was afraid he might leave Stark in jail when he got Banner out. It would be a lesson well learned. So as he moved into the police station he posed as Mr. Stark's lawyer with ease, posting the bail and picking up the necessary files. He'd make them disappear later as long as no one got pictures of either of them. That was when they were escorted to the cells... and he saw the mess of bikers and stopped in front of the cell with the two Avengers. Folding his hands in front of him, he sent them both the flattest most unimpressed look he could muster.
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Steve was just started to wonder where Bruce and Tony had gone off to, when Agent Coulson caught him in the hallway and neatly answered that question. He couldn't say he was that surprised by Tony's antics, but Bruce? There had to be something else. He followed quietly behind Coulson, it was easy to just follow in his wake - the agent had a knack for getting people to do what he wanted. Soon they were in the holding cells and he simply quirked a brow as he frowned at his wayward teammates, then made note of the other prisoners, looking for any possible threats.
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"Trouble is relative. They knocked you out so... I'm sure you're closer to sober and..." His voice tapered off. He'd been ready for Coulson. Possibly Clint laughing his ass off... but Steve was one he'd not factored into the equation and he was frowning just a little. "Well... nice to see you made it." And if he was a little unsteady in that, he covered it well. Where he wouldn't flinch at the look from Coulson, he was avoiding the look from Steven if and when it turned their direction. "In my defense, they started it."
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Bruce lifts his eyes towards the bars, his face a mess of dried blood under his nose and a handful of ice in a bag in one hand...and instead of looking downcast or ashamed like he usually does in these situations, the corners of his mouth twitch up into a bemused expression at Coulson and Steve. This situation was rather ridiculous. The tequila was still in his system, that's for sure. Without a word, he points at Tony, shifting the blame.
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Coulson pinched the bridge of his nose slowly and rubbed it at the juvenile antics before him. If nothing else, no one died and the Hulk was not loose on the city. "At least he's not helpless without his armor." That earned a look from Tony but he went on. "I should leave you both in here." Frowning at them, he finally straightened up. "Both of you will confine yourself to quarters until I can clear this up. Is that understood? If you don't agree, I'll leave you both here with your new friends."
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Steve's expression softened just a bit at the sight of Banner's nose, and he crossed his arms to frown at Coulson now. "I'm sure they agree, Agent. Let's just get everyone home before this ends up in the papers." Steve Rogers: Blissfully unaware of youtube.
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A brow rose at this, he doesn't believe for a minute that Coulson would leave Banner. But that didn't mean he was immune. Nodding once, he thought it better not to say anything. Though he does grumble at Banner. "Traitor." He waited till Coulson waved the guard over to open the cell and then looked at Bruce to go first. He's still making an effort not to look at Steve when he follows Banner out.
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Bruce's smile fades a bit at the admonishment from Coulson, though he really wasn't expecting anything less. He nods too, agreeing to the terms. He works himself up to a standing position and wavers slightly as he walks towards the door, dizzy from his concussion and still feeling light headed.
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Steve stepped forward to steady Banner as he swayed, looking over him critically for any signs of worse injuries; when he was satisfied that Bruce could walk on his own, Steve stepped back to walk alongside Tony, looking at him in concern. "How about you? Are you hurt?"
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The agent sighed at the sight of them. When Bruce gets to the cell door, he turned at his side. "If you need, hold on to me. We need to get you back and cleaned up." Shaking his head, he spares a look at Stark that is downright flat before heading for the door to sign out. He doesn't make sure if Steve and Tony are following. He simply leads the pack out of the station and opens the back passenger door for Banner on the suburban.
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For once in his life, he staying quiet. Looking over at the bikers, he couldn't help the smile and offering, "Thanks for a night to remember gentlemen." Smirking just a little he stops when Steve is by his side. His movements stiffen a little before he ran a hand through his hair. "Just bruised." And he hurt like hell, but he wasn't going to complain with the way Coulson is glaring
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He really didn't want to but between the dizziness, the growing ache in the middle of his face, and the fact that his feet were rebelling to walk in a straight line, Bruce takes Coulson up on his offer and holds to the back of one of his arms, keeping the ice to his nose. He ignores anything said to him by the bikers as they pass, having had enough "fun" for one night. He gets into the suburban slowly and sits down with a painful sigh. At least his nose had quit bleeding but he suspected the shots were starting to wear off because he could feel the inside of his nose now. And it hurt.
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After making sure that Bruce was safely in the suburban, he moves the box he'd picked up on the way out and considered telling Tony they lost his electronics, but he's above that behavior. Digging out the heart monitor, he closes the the box up in the back before heading for the driver side. Once he's in, he holds the monitor out to Bruce. "Are you feeling all right? Should I take you to the medics when we get to base?"
--------
When you felt like you were being sent home again in elementary for shorting out the power in the school... for the third time... Tony hadn't really expected a reprieve. He was actually expecting a cold shoulder and disappointed looks. Those he was used to. Concern, he was not. "I'm ok, for the most part. I need a hot shower... I should have thanked them though. Knocking Banner out cold kept him from getting angry."
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Bruce has the ice on his face again, reaching blindly for the wrist watch and putting it back on. It reads 135, not bad exactly. Nasally, because of the ice, he says, "Ndo....just a broken ndose is all," He blinks as if trying to remember how he got hurt. "Concussion maybe....
....on second thought, maybe you should." He didn't relish the idea of being poked and prodded but it wasn't like he had much choice. "It doesn't hurt too bad now, but I suspect I'll feel a lot worse later." They were going to have to put him under to set his nose, he was certain of that.
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"Understood." Coulson nodded to the other man. After that explanation, it was definitely going to happen. Starting the car, he turned back toward the SHIELD base letting himself calm down. He wanted to ask what happened, but the last thing he wanted to do was rile Bruce up. Maybe tactfully. "So. How did this happen? Or do I even want to know? I probably don't want to know..." His eyes catch Tony's in the rearview mirror and the other man just arched a brow at him.
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Steve looked up to meet Coulson's eyes in the mirror, "Can't the debrief wait until we've gotten them both looked at? I'm sure it was all just a misunderstanding."
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Tony just wanted to take a shower and curl up in bed... until the insomnia hit and he would be dying for work to do. House arrest... sounded brilliant. Really. Snorting a little, he half closed his eyes. "Definitely a misunderstanding. Just get Banner checked out and you can lecture me till my ears bleed before handing me over to Fury to see if he can melt my brain. I didn't need it anyway."
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Bruce frowns with a wince, even frowning hurt. He clears his throat a bit before saying anything, "Um...it's not entirely Tony's fault..." He looks sheepish as he says it. Bruce would tease and snark at Tony but he really couldn't sit by and let him take all the blame.
--------
That surprised Coulson a little bit. Sending Bruce a curious look, he regarded Tony in the mirror that looked content to pretend the front seat passengers didn't exist. "It's fine... we'll figure it out and clear it up. I don't think anyone got your names except the bartender... and I've already called him." Keeping it clean and out of the media was priority. "I'll figure out what happened before I report to Fury. Just keep your heads low." Looking at the doctor once more, he pulled into the base and cut the engine before moving to get the box out of the back and then moved to help Banner by opening the door for him. "Lets get you to medical. Stark... just go to your quarters. We'll talk first thing in the morning."
---------
"You're just afraid to throttle me along with him..." Bruce mumbles before he can stop himself. Confound those tequila shots. He eases out of the car when they arrive, stepping carefully so as not to fall over his feet. He must look a sight, wait till the doctors get a look at him.
---------
"I'll admonish you after I figure out what happened if it's necessary." He was calming down now. The irritation from before it mellowed out as he moves to the medical area staying close to Bruce. "I'll withhold judgement till I get the full story. Don't worry about it." It was... actually refreshing to see a sort of.. if small.. camaraderie with the Avengers. Even if it was over booze.
----------
If nothing, it had done wonders for Bruce's self-deprecating image. Loosened his tongue too, Coulson could probably ask him anything right now and he'd answer. Not that that's a good thing for an Avenger should he ever be captured, but one step at a time. "Tony was just trying to help. Don't blame him."
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The willingness to talk had him curious. "What exactly hapened? If you don't mind telling me what you remember." He knew Tony could have good intentions and that the guy just had bad luck. But sometimes he was just being trouble. So, if Bruce wanted to tell him different now... he'd listen.
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This was probably the longest conversation he had had with Coulson already, apart from when he was trying to recruit him. Bruce dabs at his aching nose with the bloody bag of ice and sniffs experimentally. Ow. "I probably should have said no, but..." he hesitates for a second. "...it was a very trying day and...I really wanted to blow off some steam for once." That sounded awful, considering he was the Hulk whenever he usually blew off steam. "It's a little fuzzy after the tequila shots."
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Nodding slowly at this, he reached out and very lightly pat his shoulder. "I understand. Maybe next time stay on base so we won't have the uncontrollable variables." Moving ahead of Bruce, he opened the door to medical. "For now, we'll get you patched up. Hopefully Stark will have more answers for me tomorrow."
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Bruce nodded...and immediately wished he didn't with a painful groan through the ice on his nose. He went through the door opened for him. "Wouldn't have been the same on base I think," he says, but he knows what Coulson means.
----------
Tony got out of the car looking pretty sour for a brief moment. And when he went to get his electronics from the box that Coulson had... it was snatched away by the agent. Standing there looking a bit scandalized, he wrapped his arms about himself and winced at a bad bruise on his side. "Does he think he's funny taking my stuff?" It was a rhetorical question... and between being hurt and wanting his gadgets back, he's torn.
-----------
Coulson knew Stark was eyeing the box like a child that had his favorite toy stolen. If nothing else, if he held on to it, Tony wouldn't leave the base. "Come on, Dr. Banner... they need to clean you up. They know not to push it." If Banner said stop they would. Or he'd knock them out himself. Because he should be doing work right now... not retraining medics.
-----------
Bruce knew better than to nod this time and just grunts an affirmative. The medics are soon helping him onto a gurney, one of the doctors checking his nose over carefully. He winces a few times, pulling back only once but still keeping himself in check. The doctor wants to give him a local but Bruce is really insisting on a full blown sedative. Because the needle for a local might be enough to trigger him.
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When the nurse tried to argue with Bruce, he grabbed her hand before she could take the needle. "Get the full sedative like he asked." The woman gave a slow nod. Most didn't argue with Coulson when he meant business. Setting the box of things that belonged to Tony and Bruce down, he watched the heart meter quietly. "How should they check for a concussion, Dr. Banner?"
-------
Bruce squirmed uncomfortably, the alcohol was wearing off and he was getting very achy and sore all over. There was a large headache coming too, he could feel it starting. "Um..." he says, trying to think. "I don't think they can do both at once really....not supposed to fall asleep with a concussion but I think my metabolism will compensate really." His heart rate has been going up unobtrusively, holding now at 150.
-------
Normally Tony doesn't spill a story or care to explain himself. But he wanted Steve to get it. "I was trying to get him out of there when those guys came in... One of them tripped him. Unfortunately alcohol not only gets him loosened up when he drinks... he also gets confrontational." Rubbing at his bruised cheek, he sighed. "In the end, they knocked him out and I got to fend them off. Believe me... it won't happen again." And he sounded remorseful.. but he doubted he would be with Coulson.
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Coulson's eyes stayed on the heart meter and he frowns when it increases. "You can check for a concussion later." Moving to the medicine counter, he pulled out a container that only a few could open. Pressing his thumb to a scanner, the case pops open and he grabs the injection out. A sedative. One for Bruce. Pulling it out, he checked it over before moving back to him. "Dr. Banner..." He waves the medics back hoping he'll calm on his own. "How are you feeling?"
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Bruce had a hand to his forehead, half covering up his eyes against the lights. That headache was starting to pound on the inside of his skull...he suspected the beginnings of a hangover. He almost doesn't realize that Coulson asked him a question, "Sorry, it's just....headache." He tries closing his eyes but the insides of his eyeballs hurt too. His heart rate is increasing steadily, 160...170....
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"Give him a pain killer. Wait..." Not a good idea... if they were going to poke him with a needle it would have to be a final one. "Dr. Banner... do you think you can take an oral pain killer?" It was the only other option. But he knew at this rate... they had seconds to get this going. Reaching out with the free hand, he placed it gently on his head almost fatherly in nature. "Deep breaths, Banner..." He rather not cross that line and knock the man out... but he would.
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So uncomfortable right now, Banner's feelings take swing for bad thanks to the alcohol in his system, glaring at Coulson. "I know what to do," he snaps before he realizes what he must sound like. 188. He pushes the hand away, "You guys are always telling me what to do, just stop!" 194.
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Ok... he's getting too angry now. And if he's not listening at all, it meant he had to cross that line. Without warning, he's pushed the injection gun to his neck and administers the heavy sedative. It's one of the items specially designed just for moments like this. Fast. Efficient. Easy. "I'm sorry, Dr. Banner..." And he didn't back away... "Everyone get back." Now to wait to see if it did it's job.
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"Ahh!" He knows deep down this was for his own good...but that hurt. His eyes flash green at Coulson, nearly sitting up as if to grab him....before the sedative hits him like a ton of bricks. Really soft smothering bricks. The green fades as his eyes grow heavy, unable to fight back against the dose given him and he falls back heavily onto the stretcher, his eyes glazed over as he tries to focus through the haze forming around his vision....his heart rate dropping steadily back down to 120.
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Not flinching, he stood his ground. Which in effect probably wasn't wise. But he wanted Banner to know he wasn't running from him. He promised not to let the man hurt anyone... and if he Hulked out thinking they hurt him... Sighing softly as he sank to the stretcher, he lightly placed a hand on Banner's shoulder before pulling away. "Monitor his heart rate and keep him comfortable... If there is any change let me know."
---------
He can hear Coulson, after a fashion, down a long tunnel. The hand on his shoulder is barely there as he lets his eyes slide closed, ignorant of all other medical attentions given to him. They medicate him with some pain medicine, set his nose, and put him in a regular hospital bed to sleep off the sedative.
The End
Then a few of his experiments fell through, two of which he had been working on for a long time so that was pretty frustrating.
Steve had pushed him a fair bit in training, he was physically exhausted after that.
By the time he got his reports done for the day and plopped them on Coulson's desk, after getting a talk from Fury about them being late, it felt like everyone was just grating on his last nerve.
So when Tony said they were going out drinking and he wouldn't take no for an answer, he nearly snapped at him. Instead, he surprised himself by saying yes. He actually wanted to go out and drink. Because if he went home, he was going to be a bundle of nerves that would barely get any sleep and he would have to get up and do it all again tomorrow.
It was Tony's pick of places so Bruce rode in his car. He barely said two words the whole trip, trying to enjoy the ride but not really wanting to talk.
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"So, Banner... Got a favorite? Rock? Jazz? If you say Country, I'm dropping you on the side of the road." Tony grinned to himself as he drove along. This was his escape as well. Not so much from SHIELD. He ran from them on principle. But more from his life and the media and Stark Industries. Pepper running the place left him being ushered out unless she wanted him to be a poster child.
He couldn't really take Steve. The guy instilled guilt for even looking at alcohol. So, who better than one very worn down Bruce Banner? His mind was ticking away places as he waited for an answer.
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"Either's fine," Bruce said, not really paying attention to the question. He was leaning against his hand, his elbow against the top of the door on his side of the convertible, just watching the scenery fly by. He hadn't even commented on how fast Tony was going which means he really had had a bad day.
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"Right. 'Cause that just narrowed my choices down a lot." Shaking his head, he decided something like jazz would be easier on the nerves and picked his favorite from the list. "You look like crap by the way." Because he was just that brutally honest. Pulling into the parking lot of a nice club, he parked the car and slid out. "Not as high end as my usual haunts, but I think you'll like it."
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Bruce grunted an affirmative, he probably did look as bad as he felt. This probably wasn't a good idea but he really didn't have any other ideas at the moment. Other than going back and laying in a bed he probably wouldn't sleep in. When they got there, he stepped out of the car, looking up at the neon sign that blinked at them. "You've been here before?" he asks.
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"Yep. Just once or twice. It's nice. C'mon grumpy." Striding for the door, he opened it up and waited for Bruce to enter. It's a pretty laid back atmosphere and piano music being played on stage. "It won't kill you and the crowd here isn't crazy enough to jump you."
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At least Tony had been thinking about the atmosphere, Bruce had said yes before he even knew what kind of place they were going to. He could have taken him to a rave without him realizing. Bruce steps in and balks at going further, surveying the not-too-crowded room...letting Tony take the lead towards the bar. He pushed down that nervous feeling in his stomach, telling himself that he needed to unwind a little and that he was going to be careful.
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Sliding onto a barstool, Tony winked at a girl not far down the line before tapping the bar with his knuckles. "Hey Joe. Me and my friend here are just trying to unwind. Put it all on my tab." The man grinned at him with an 'of course, Mr. Stark!'. "I'll have a scotch on the rocks, and whatever the good doctor wants to order." Turning about to face the room, he smiled to himself as he watched a pretty girl in a slinky dress take the stage to start singing a soft song. He'd picked the place for the live entertainment and a crowd that wasn't hurting money wise, but weren't living it up too much. Nice even keel and a place where people leave you alone.
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Bruce sits on the stool next to Tony's, his eyes flitting around from the bottles to the counter to the barkeep. "Beer is fine," he says, not going for anything strong. The song catches his attention and he turns to listen as the bartender puts the bottle in his hand. Good song, at least that was relaxing. He pops off the cap and takes a sip.
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Tony raised a brow at the order and turned his head to look at him with a 'you gotta be kidding me' look. "I bring you to a classy bar... and you order a beer. You're embarrassing. Joe... get this man a vodka martini. We'll start small and work our way up. Actually... tequila shots. Line 'em up." Grinning broadly, he turned about to grin at Bruce. "I'd say we play a game, but you're so not fun, you'd lose to fast."
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Bruce makes a protesting noise, giving the shot glasses a worried look as they're lined up in front of both of them. "Really, I'm good with this..." he started to say before his beer bottle got taken away.
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"Bruce Banner. We came to have a little fun." Tony threw back his scotch and scooted it away before filling two shot glasses. "Drinking a beer and brooding doesn't constitute as fun. It constitutes as looking like an old man whose teeth are going to fall out anyday. Now..." Pushes a shot glass to him.
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Bruce has still got his mouth open to protest...eyeing the shot glass. Fine, he did come out to have fun and it's not like he didn't entirely know what he was getting into by being with Tony in the first place. He swallows his protest and downs the shot before he can change his mind. He coughs as it burns it's way down, very much not used to this much 'fun'.
"You're a bad influence, you know that?" he says with another cough.
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"Good man!" Grabbing his own shot, he throws it back, reveling in the burn as he refills them. "Finish the bottle and I'll let you nurse a beer to your little heart's content. Deal?" Grinning widly, he lifted the glass to tip it to the other man. "Here's to bad influences. Sometimes the wrong way helps you find the right way."
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The bottle?? One step at a time, Bruce wasn't sure he would even get that far. "Probably won't need it at that point," he says with a wince at the second shot, hesitant to pick it up so he just holds his hand around it for now, trying to look like he's paying attention to the singing instead.
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"You're that much of a light weight? You know, I'm living proof that scientists are allowed to have fun." Patting the man on the shoulder, Tony threw back his next shot and toed Banner's leg. "Your turn, Jolly Green. That tequila won't drink itself."
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"Not exactly what I meant, I probably couldn't taste beer after this," Bruce says, looking down at the small filled glass. He reluctantly swallows it down, another face at the burning, though it's not so bad the second time. He wasn't feeling it yet but the fact that he's talking in whole sentences is probably a marked improvement over their car conversation. "I don't think I could do more than one night of this at a time."
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"We could get lime and salt to go with it if you want to make it more complicated." Laughing at the last line, he pat Bruce on the shoulder and filled the glasses again. "Who said I'd be willing to pay for you every night anyway? Besides... I think Fury, Coulson, and Steve have the nose of a bloodhound for when I binge drink." Waving it off, he really didn't care with Fury or Coulson, but big pouty looks from Steve tended to make him entirely uncomfortable. "So.. does it make it harder to get drunk?" Tony downed the third and smirked at the burn. He liked the burn.
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Bruce gives him a confused look but he's too chicken to ask why lime and salt would make it more difficult. This was difficult enough, being this careless. "Don't know why they worry about you drinking when they have me and Thor around..." There's less hesitation with the third shot, down the hatch. Those tense muscles in his neck were unclenching too, he hadn't realized how stressed he was. "Does...does what make it harder? The Hulk?"
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Tony watched the next shot disappear and he was refilling the glass even before Bruce put it down. Humming thoughtfully he filled his own and lifted it to look at the liquid in the glass. "How sweet of you to think so. Obviously I'm a flakey alcoholic that can't be relied on." It didn't bother him. Hear it enough you believe it and just move on. "And yeah... does the gamma radiation and the metabolism make it harder?"
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For some ~strange~ reason, Bruce snickers at that before he can stop himself. "I meant...you're not gonna throw cars through walls at a moments notice. Drunk or sober." He forces himself to slow down, not taking the next shot just yet. He was getting the feeling that Tony was determined to get him drunk regardless of consequences.
"I....well, I....don't know." He admits that he's never tried to get drunk since the experiment. "I suppose if the Hulk was drinking, it wouldn't effect him. His metabolism would just burn through it too fast. Mine's not exactly as hopped up as Cap's but it's mildly faster than it used it be." He shoots a look at the bottle, wondering how they got 2/3rds of it down so fast. "And I don't know exactly if the radiation would be a factor or not."
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"No. I just blow up labs and sometimes neighborhoods." Tony smirks to himself at this and tilts his head to look at him. "And I'm pretty certain the shiny red armor is like me screaming 'Torro!' at the Hulk. I think Thor likes accidentally hitting me as well. You never know." Fingering the shot glass, he's slowly down a little as well.
"I see. Someday I might care enough about biological studies to do a comparison. Steve would probably let me. You on the other hand, I'm not so sure about." Shrugging, he doesn't really care. He prefers machines and technology over bio-engineering. "But if you're ever game, let me know." He throws his shot back with a near purr.
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"When did you blow up a lab?" He wasn't really sure if there was a way to compare the Hulk and Steve side by side legitimately but it was worth thinking about. "I'll let you know, yeah." Bruce follows suit as if on automatic, forgetting which shot this was. He's starting to feel it now, blinking at the glass after he sets it down. "That's....probably a good stop....I mean, stopping place." Wow, that was harder to say than he thought it was going to be.
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Chuckling in amusement, he sat his shot glass down. He only felt pleasantly hazed and figured he'd let Banner relax for now. Resting his elbows on the bar behind him, he watched the singer and small band play. "I had to completely rebuild my house after Rhodey and I got into a rock'em sock'em robot fight. You should have seen it." Bad memory. He just tried to make it sound funny. But he was instantly reaching for the bottle. "And you never know what you could learn between your change and his." He just didn't want to think about it right now. He really didn't like biology. Unless it was sex. He liked that area. "You're a total lightweight by the way." And there went down another shot.
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Bruce on the other hand was catching up to all those shots in his system, getting a slight buzzing feeling between his ears. He hadn't expected to get drunk this fast but there wasn't anything he could do about it now. He actually didn't feel too bad and found himself snickering at the thought of two Iron Man suits being rock em sock em robots. "That's awful," he says, trying to school his face back into a sober look without much success. "I know...sorry," he apologizes for his lack of drinking ability....to Tony -- he must be drunk.
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Smirking a little at the reaction, Tony could tell that Bruce was starting to fight off that lighter feeling. It didn't hurt for the guy to loosen up. And he had a feeling that Bruce had to do this once in a while to truly be free. He just... didn't want to get him over-excitable. Because lack of inhibition was a bad thing when you turned green and angry. "It was pretty awful. But we survived." Setting the shot glass on the counter he turned it slowly. "Don't apologize. You look ten times better already."
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"Hope you took pictures. Or someone did." He says through half lidded eyes, a smirk stuck on his face. Bruce sighs over the empty shot glass sitting in front of him, "It was just a rotten day, that's all." Now that his tongue was looser, Tony might find it's going to be hard to shut him up. "I had seven reports to finish up and Fury got on my case about being late. At least I don't hand write them like Steve but still...I never know what they want to know about what we're doing. Isn't this a new thing? The Avengers??"
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"Probably on youtube. Look it up." Everyone put stuff on youtube these days. "Yeah? Try not to let it get ya down... 'specially if it's Fury. Guy likes to blow things out his tail pipe." Snorting as he poured another shot for himself, Tony angled his head. "You need to learn how to tune him out. I'm great at it now." Reaching out, he pat the guy lightly on the shoulder before drinking his shot. "Military and government never change. We may be a free society... but that doesn't make them any less on the control-freak level."
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Bruce quips back, "You can tune anyone out, Tony..." He had been trying for forever not to let things get to him. Tony just throws off everything like water off a duck's back. "Never did like the military, they were only good for funding...." He shakes his head, looking downcast again. "So stupid, I should have known what they were using me for. Using my research for." Technically, it was his fault for jumping the gun with the experiment but if they had told him what he was really dealing with...
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"Makes my life much... much simpler." Chuckling, he let a foot swing a little, feeling like he was finally loosening up. "Funding... this is true. Make them pay you to play with toys. I did that." He stops at the last part and looked at him quietly. "Isn't that what it means to have a contract with the government? S'why I broke mine. But I was the crazy one for backing out. God forbid, I watch soldiers die and get blown up or tortured... As long as they get their new toys." Snorts at this and looks at Banner. "But ease up. Just means we're all blinded." Tony made it lighter than it was. Oh. He hated that aspect of himself. But no one needed to know what he really felt.
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Bruce actually *gasp* reaches for the bottle and pours himself a shot. "I'm hardly a toy..." he scowls before downing it like he wants to forget. "I mean, Shield'ss not so bad. It's nice to not have to be on the run anymore. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop." He would totally not be this forthcoming if he was sober. "I don't know why but trouble just seems to follow me everywhere."
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"Well.. it's like saying 'what else could go wrong?' when everyone knows saying that will make it all go wrong. Experience has made you paranoid.... you just need to ease into the idea that not everything is out to dissect you or tie you up." Tony watched him drink another and his mind considered the idea of stopping him. But he let it go for now. "And no, you are not a toy. But the science and research was... till it went all frankenstein... like me. 'Cept I've got the battery pack to prove it. Glad I don't have the bolts in the neck. That would just be tacky."
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He gives Tony a sidelong glance that's more than a little inebriated. "Except most everyone IS out to tie me up and dissect me. Usually." But he knew what Tony meant. It was a practiced reaction. One that had kept him alive for all the months he was running.
"....and the blue light shooting out of your chest isn't tacky?"
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"Bruce." He leveled a serious look at him. "I will never..." He waves a finger at him. "Never want to tie you up... down... any direction. You're not my type." Nods sharply and grabs another shot. "And blue's a fascinating color. Especially Arc reactor blue. You're just jealous."
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Bruce can't help a smile at that, he's too smashed not to. "Thanks...I think. And I'm not jealous. S'not like I even see myself when I'm green anyway." Maybe this getting drunk thing wasn't so bad after all, things were going pretty good.
He stares over Tony's shoulder, blinking a few times to make sure his eyes can be trusted. "Is that girl holding up her number at you?"
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Grinning at this, he gave the other man the thumbs up then slowly leaned to the side to look at her. She flushed as he grinned at her, but he didn't encourage it any further. "Probably. But I'm not out to find a bed warmer. We're working on you. Unless you want me to get her number for you? I could do that, but you don't strike me as the type."
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Bruce quickly shakes his head, "No, no no, please no. I couldn't do that, not to Betty." He didn't want the bad influencing to go that far, hopefully Tony knows where to stop.
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"Then just ignore 'em." He would smile pretty for them. Possibly compliment them if they got closer, but he was here to de-stress the doctor. Not find new conquests. "Feeling better there, buddy?"
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Bruce rolls his shoulders a bit, definitely more relaxed even if he was tipsy. "I think so." As an afterthought, he checks his watch...but he can't make out the numbers. "Well, it's not beeping so I should be good." A lopsided grin works it's way onto his face, "Coulson is going to kill us for coming here."
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"More than likely. But I am still trying for an actual real expression change on that guy. And since he's all protective of you and Steve, I find he flails the most.... albeit inwardly... when I try to get you two in trouble." He smiled smugly at this and looked at his watch as well. "It's time for you to stop caring about the time. Besides... unless you want me to drive you home drunk... which I can... you need to give me about forty-five minutes to sober up."
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Bruce out and out laughs at that, "I don't think he has another expression so you might be out of luck there." He gives Tony a look that was supposed to be worried but comes off more amused disapproval than anything. "Shouldn't drive drunk, I forgot that you drove us here. Maybe we could find a cab or something..."
Just then, the doors are swinging open and a rather loud group of bikers is entering the bar...
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Tony instantly sat up at the entrance of the people coming in. Dark eyes followed them and his jaw set. Normally? He'd probably stick around to keep them out of trouble. When you had a Doctor, sans inhibitions, holding in the Hulk? You had to think things through. "I think that's our cue." Rising to his feet, he tossed a hefty cash tip on the bar and told Joe to charge it to his card before looking at Bruce. "We'll call a cab outside."
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Bruce is a little confused at the hasty rush to leave but he stands up to follow Tony. He manages to stumble only once walking away from the bar but as they near the table of bikers, one of them sticks out a foot to trip him, pushing him down as he falls. The whole table is howling with laughter as he ends up on the floor on his face.
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Tony's eyes are always partially on the rowdy group. Certainly not the patrons he wanted to deal with. He came here to avoid the type. Too bad life never really liked playing into his hands. When Bruce is tripped, he wheels about to try and catch the doctor, dark eyes leveling on the men in warning. "Bruce?" Kneeling down beside him, he carefully places a hand on his shoulder hoping to calm him.
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Bruce hauls himself up with a grunt, using Tony's arm to keep on his feet. Yeah, he's ok. The bikers though don't seem to have had enough, giving him mocking looks at his clumsyness. "What's the matter? Don't have your sea legs yet? Or are you just looking for trouble?" The leader blows the smoke from his cigarette at the two of them with a smirk.
Now if Bruce wasn't drunk, he would have never thought of leaning against the table, his eyes narrowed at the annoying man across from him. And he definitely would have never said, "Why? You want to make something out of it?" Those inhibitions are sure missing in action now. At least his eyes are still brown.
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The moment Bruce leaned across the table, Tony thought he'd have a heart attack. Reaching out, he slid a hand to rest on Bruce's shoulder. "Hey, forget them. You know they're not worth the time." This was starting to backfire on him spectacularly. Assholes though the guys were? THey didn't deserve to be stepped on my the Hulk.
Unfortunately, the guys don't get that. "Yeah, run along with your sugar daddy boyfriend." Tony's back went stiff and against all his better judgements, he turned to look at the man with a dry, threatening look.
"Oh. I'm sorry. The trained gorilla want's a chance to talk? You should learn to raise your hand. You know what your hand is right? I'd hate for you to confuse it with more embarrassing parts of your body." Smooth, never inflecting past pleasant. He could make a compliment sound like an insult and an insult sound like a compliment. "Unfortunately, I don't care to converse with primates." He tugged on Bruce wanting out of there now.
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Bruce seems to be oblivious that the rest of the gang is starting to hem them in around the back, sensing a fight about to start. He twitches his arm a bit as if to get Tony's arm off of it, but without any real success. The leader flicks his cigarette away, "Maybe we ought to teach you and your date some manners." There's a slight beeping noise coming from Bruce's wristwatch but he's too buzzed to care right now. "You wouldn't like me when I-..." he never gets to finish it.
The last thing he remembers is a fist heading towards his face and then there's a whole lot of stars. Lucky for all concerned, he wasn't prepared for it and doesn't even feel the punch thanks to the tequilla shots. Bruce hits the floor like a sack of flour, out cold with a trickle of blood coming out of his nose. The bartender is hurrying to call the police as two more guys are reaching to grab onto Tony, the leader cracking his knuckles as if to take care of him as well.
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he sound of the beeping had him more concerned than anything else... so when the man knocked Bruce out, Tony stands there a few minutes staring. "Well... that was anti-climatic." Better than the Hulk, and he doesn't get to think on that long before he gets jumped. He may be best with his suit, but Tony has spent years training and learning to fight. So he manages to take down a few fast trying to keep them away from Bruce. "Really guys? I have interns that could eat you for breakfast."
It's when two came at him at once that he ended up with a fist to the face. Moving his jaw, he grimaced. Pepper was going to kill him. But by the time he was 'subduing' the remaining bikers, he was actualy happy to be arrested. Did he just think that? With ended with them both in a holding cell alone... with their less than nice neighbors hurling insults next door in an overcrowded cell.
Looking down at Bruce on the bench, he touched at his bruised cheek then managed to sweet talk a pretty officer into getting him ice to put on Bruce's face. Now they just needed to wait to make that one phone call.
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When Bruce came around, the first thing he was aware of was his numb and cold face. He blearily looks at the mound of ice in front of his eyes, wondering vaguely if he'd been frozen like Cap. A small sound escapes him as he tries to reach confusedly for the bag of ice on his face.
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Tony leaned over and lifted the bag away arching a brow. "I'm never taking you drinking again." But in spite of saying that, he's grinning around the dark bruise on his cheek. "Did you get beat up a lot earlier in life?" Sinking back down to sit on the floor by the bench, he sighed. Oh the media would love this.
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"...Tony~...?" The last bits of memory are jumbled and it takes him a minute to remember what they were doing prior to this. There's a twinge as the ice bag is pulled away and he winces slightly as he touches his bloody nose. He doesn't know it yet, but it's definitely broken. He struggles to sit up, still woozy from the alcohol plus the concussion he's sustained, and manages to find where Tony is sitting, trying to focus on him. "What happened?" He tugs on his shirt...it's still there, he hadn't Hulked out. The blood trickling down his face makes him look a bit severe, if he only had a mirror.
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"You decided to get in their faces. But don't worry, you went out like a champ." Turning to look at him, he frowned. "Your nose is broken. What are the chances I can reset it without you going green on me?" Arching a brow at him, he pushed up to sit next to Bruce letting him use him for support. Tony handled alcohol better... but he's not running perfectly either. "Like I said... last time I try that. If it makes you feel better, the gorilla ended up a few teeth short and the guy that tripped you got a broken nose." He didn't say out right tha the did it, but no one else would have fought to keep them back.
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"....oh." Some of it was coming back, now he remembers the bikers that had confronted them. He picks up the ice and clumsily applies it back to his nose, sighing into the cold. He answers Tony's question about his nose with a nasally voice thanks to the ice bag in the way. "S'ok, it'll mend next time I change if anything..." He looks over at Tony, taking in the bruise on his face. For some reason, he starts to smile at that. "Told you it was a bad idea."
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"These?" He pointed at the bruises. "I'm good. Had much worse. Shoulda heard the guy scream when he broke something in his hand from hiting the edge of the reactor. Not that it felt good for me... but it was still amusing." His voice was quieter. He didn't need the neighbors or anyone else hearing him talk about those sorts of things. Looking over at him, he shrugged a little. "It was going great for awhile..." And it was. They'd actually gotten along and Bruce had eased up.
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His vision is clearing enough to see farther and finally notices the metal bars. Surprised, he blurts out, "We're in jail??" That was probably embarrassingly loud, a few of their neighbors start snickering amongst themselves.
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Tony smirked. "Astute observation." Rolling his eyes at the laughter next door he debated yelling something to embarrass them, but he let it slide. "There was no way I could fight them off and drag you out of there as well. So I figured being in jail was a good thing at the time. And aside from your broken nose, I'm just a little bruised." Just those few bruises were pretty bad. "I called Coulson. I'm sure they'll be by soon."
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Bruce covers his face with his hands, leaning forward with a groan as he rubs his eyes. Jail, great. Way to go Bruce, way to be responsible. "We are in so much trouble..." he mumbles, just picturing the look that Coulson was going to give them once he showed up....if he even showed up at all.
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Coulson has been less than pleased to finally have Stark call him. From jail. Why was he not surprised. The charges were intoxication in public and assault. Where he knew Tony could get out of those, it was the fact that Banner was there as well that had him looking harder than normal. On the way out, he'd ran into Steve and invited him along... mainly because he was afraid he might leave Stark in jail when he got Banner out. It would be a lesson well learned. So as he moved into the police station he posed as Mr. Stark's lawyer with ease, posting the bail and picking up the necessary files. He'd make them disappear later as long as no one got pictures of either of them. That was when they were escorted to the cells... and he saw the mess of bikers and stopped in front of the cell with the two Avengers. Folding his hands in front of him, he sent them both the flattest most unimpressed look he could muster.
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Steve was just started to wonder where Bruce and Tony had gone off to, when Agent Coulson caught him in the hallway and neatly answered that question. He couldn't say he was that surprised by Tony's antics, but Bruce? There had to be something else. He followed quietly behind Coulson, it was easy to just follow in his wake - the agent had a knack for getting people to do what he wanted. Soon they were in the holding cells and he simply quirked a brow as he frowned at his wayward teammates, then made note of the other prisoners, looking for any possible threats.
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"Trouble is relative. They knocked you out so... I'm sure you're closer to sober and..." His voice tapered off. He'd been ready for Coulson. Possibly Clint laughing his ass off... but Steve was one he'd not factored into the equation and he was frowning just a little. "Well... nice to see you made it." And if he was a little unsteady in that, he covered it well. Where he wouldn't flinch at the look from Coulson, he was avoiding the look from Steven if and when it turned their direction. "In my defense, they started it."
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Bruce lifts his eyes towards the bars, his face a mess of dried blood under his nose and a handful of ice in a bag in one hand...and instead of looking downcast or ashamed like he usually does in these situations, the corners of his mouth twitch up into a bemused expression at Coulson and Steve. This situation was rather ridiculous. The tequila was still in his system, that's for sure. Without a word, he points at Tony, shifting the blame.
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Coulson pinched the bridge of his nose slowly and rubbed it at the juvenile antics before him. If nothing else, no one died and the Hulk was not loose on the city. "At least he's not helpless without his armor." That earned a look from Tony but he went on. "I should leave you both in here." Frowning at them, he finally straightened up. "Both of you will confine yourself to quarters until I can clear this up. Is that understood? If you don't agree, I'll leave you both here with your new friends."
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Steve's expression softened just a bit at the sight of Banner's nose, and he crossed his arms to frown at Coulson now. "I'm sure they agree, Agent. Let's just get everyone home before this ends up in the papers." Steve Rogers: Blissfully unaware of youtube.
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A brow rose at this, he doesn't believe for a minute that Coulson would leave Banner. But that didn't mean he was immune. Nodding once, he thought it better not to say anything. Though he does grumble at Banner. "Traitor." He waited till Coulson waved the guard over to open the cell and then looked at Bruce to go first. He's still making an effort not to look at Steve when he follows Banner out.
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Bruce's smile fades a bit at the admonishment from Coulson, though he really wasn't expecting anything less. He nods too, agreeing to the terms. He works himself up to a standing position and wavers slightly as he walks towards the door, dizzy from his concussion and still feeling light headed.
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Steve stepped forward to steady Banner as he swayed, looking over him critically for any signs of worse injuries; when he was satisfied that Bruce could walk on his own, Steve stepped back to walk alongside Tony, looking at him in concern. "How about you? Are you hurt?"
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The agent sighed at the sight of them. When Bruce gets to the cell door, he turned at his side. "If you need, hold on to me. We need to get you back and cleaned up." Shaking his head, he spares a look at Stark that is downright flat before heading for the door to sign out. He doesn't make sure if Steve and Tony are following. He simply leads the pack out of the station and opens the back passenger door for Banner on the suburban.
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For once in his life, he staying quiet. Looking over at the bikers, he couldn't help the smile and offering, "Thanks for a night to remember gentlemen." Smirking just a little he stops when Steve is by his side. His movements stiffen a little before he ran a hand through his hair. "Just bruised." And he hurt like hell, but he wasn't going to complain with the way Coulson is glaring
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He really didn't want to but between the dizziness, the growing ache in the middle of his face, and the fact that his feet were rebelling to walk in a straight line, Bruce takes Coulson up on his offer and holds to the back of one of his arms, keeping the ice to his nose. He ignores anything said to him by the bikers as they pass, having had enough "fun" for one night. He gets into the suburban slowly and sits down with a painful sigh. At least his nose had quit bleeding but he suspected the shots were starting to wear off because he could feel the inside of his nose now. And it hurt.
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After making sure that Bruce was safely in the suburban, he moves the box he'd picked up on the way out and considered telling Tony they lost his electronics, but he's above that behavior. Digging out the heart monitor, he closes the the box up in the back before heading for the driver side. Once he's in, he holds the monitor out to Bruce. "Are you feeling all right? Should I take you to the medics when we get to base?"
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When you felt like you were being sent home again in elementary for shorting out the power in the school... for the third time... Tony hadn't really expected a reprieve. He was actually expecting a cold shoulder and disappointed looks. Those he was used to. Concern, he was not. "I'm ok, for the most part. I need a hot shower... I should have thanked them though. Knocking Banner out cold kept him from getting angry."
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Bruce has the ice on his face again, reaching blindly for the wrist watch and putting it back on. It reads 135, not bad exactly. Nasally, because of the ice, he says, "Ndo....just a broken ndose is all," He blinks as if trying to remember how he got hurt. "Concussion maybe....
....on second thought, maybe you should." He didn't relish the idea of being poked and prodded but it wasn't like he had much choice. "It doesn't hurt too bad now, but I suspect I'll feel a lot worse later." They were going to have to put him under to set his nose, he was certain of that.
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"Understood." Coulson nodded to the other man. After that explanation, it was definitely going to happen. Starting the car, he turned back toward the SHIELD base letting himself calm down. He wanted to ask what happened, but the last thing he wanted to do was rile Bruce up. Maybe tactfully. "So. How did this happen? Or do I even want to know? I probably don't want to know..." His eyes catch Tony's in the rearview mirror and the other man just arched a brow at him.
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Steve looked up to meet Coulson's eyes in the mirror, "Can't the debrief wait until we've gotten them both looked at? I'm sure it was all just a misunderstanding."
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Tony just wanted to take a shower and curl up in bed... until the insomnia hit and he would be dying for work to do. House arrest... sounded brilliant. Really. Snorting a little, he half closed his eyes. "Definitely a misunderstanding. Just get Banner checked out and you can lecture me till my ears bleed before handing me over to Fury to see if he can melt my brain. I didn't need it anyway."
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Bruce frowns with a wince, even frowning hurt. He clears his throat a bit before saying anything, "Um...it's not entirely Tony's fault..." He looks sheepish as he says it. Bruce would tease and snark at Tony but he really couldn't sit by and let him take all the blame.
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That surprised Coulson a little bit. Sending Bruce a curious look, he regarded Tony in the mirror that looked content to pretend the front seat passengers didn't exist. "It's fine... we'll figure it out and clear it up. I don't think anyone got your names except the bartender... and I've already called him." Keeping it clean and out of the media was priority. "I'll figure out what happened before I report to Fury. Just keep your heads low." Looking at the doctor once more, he pulled into the base and cut the engine before moving to get the box out of the back and then moved to help Banner by opening the door for him. "Lets get you to medical. Stark... just go to your quarters. We'll talk first thing in the morning."
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"You're just afraid to throttle me along with him..." Bruce mumbles before he can stop himself. Confound those tequila shots. He eases out of the car when they arrive, stepping carefully so as not to fall over his feet. He must look a sight, wait till the doctors get a look at him.
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"I'll admonish you after I figure out what happened if it's necessary." He was calming down now. The irritation from before it mellowed out as he moves to the medical area staying close to Bruce. "I'll withhold judgement till I get the full story. Don't worry about it." It was... actually refreshing to see a sort of.. if small.. camaraderie with the Avengers. Even if it was over booze.
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If nothing, it had done wonders for Bruce's self-deprecating image. Loosened his tongue too, Coulson could probably ask him anything right now and he'd answer. Not that that's a good thing for an Avenger should he ever be captured, but one step at a time. "Tony was just trying to help. Don't blame him."
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The willingness to talk had him curious. "What exactly hapened? If you don't mind telling me what you remember." He knew Tony could have good intentions and that the guy just had bad luck. But sometimes he was just being trouble. So, if Bruce wanted to tell him different now... he'd listen.
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This was probably the longest conversation he had had with Coulson already, apart from when he was trying to recruit him. Bruce dabs at his aching nose with the bloody bag of ice and sniffs experimentally. Ow. "I probably should have said no, but..." he hesitates for a second. "...it was a very trying day and...I really wanted to blow off some steam for once." That sounded awful, considering he was the Hulk whenever he usually blew off steam. "It's a little fuzzy after the tequila shots."
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Nodding slowly at this, he reached out and very lightly pat his shoulder. "I understand. Maybe next time stay on base so we won't have the uncontrollable variables." Moving ahead of Bruce, he opened the door to medical. "For now, we'll get you patched up. Hopefully Stark will have more answers for me tomorrow."
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Bruce nodded...and immediately wished he didn't with a painful groan through the ice on his nose. He went through the door opened for him. "Wouldn't have been the same on base I think," he says, but he knows what Coulson means.
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Tony got out of the car looking pretty sour for a brief moment. And when he went to get his electronics from the box that Coulson had... it was snatched away by the agent. Standing there looking a bit scandalized, he wrapped his arms about himself and winced at a bad bruise on his side. "Does he think he's funny taking my stuff?" It was a rhetorical question... and between being hurt and wanting his gadgets back, he's torn.
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Coulson knew Stark was eyeing the box like a child that had his favorite toy stolen. If nothing else, if he held on to it, Tony wouldn't leave the base. "Come on, Dr. Banner... they need to clean you up. They know not to push it." If Banner said stop they would. Or he'd knock them out himself. Because he should be doing work right now... not retraining medics.
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Bruce knew better than to nod this time and just grunts an affirmative. The medics are soon helping him onto a gurney, one of the doctors checking his nose over carefully. He winces a few times, pulling back only once but still keeping himself in check. The doctor wants to give him a local but Bruce is really insisting on a full blown sedative. Because the needle for a local might be enough to trigger him.
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When the nurse tried to argue with Bruce, he grabbed her hand before she could take the needle. "Get the full sedative like he asked." The woman gave a slow nod. Most didn't argue with Coulson when he meant business. Setting the box of things that belonged to Tony and Bruce down, he watched the heart meter quietly. "How should they check for a concussion, Dr. Banner?"
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Bruce squirmed uncomfortably, the alcohol was wearing off and he was getting very achy and sore all over. There was a large headache coming too, he could feel it starting. "Um..." he says, trying to think. "I don't think they can do both at once really....not supposed to fall asleep with a concussion but I think my metabolism will compensate really." His heart rate has been going up unobtrusively, holding now at 150.
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Normally Tony doesn't spill a story or care to explain himself. But he wanted Steve to get it. "I was trying to get him out of there when those guys came in... One of them tripped him. Unfortunately alcohol not only gets him loosened up when he drinks... he also gets confrontational." Rubbing at his bruised cheek, he sighed. "In the end, they knocked him out and I got to fend them off. Believe me... it won't happen again." And he sounded remorseful.. but he doubted he would be with Coulson.
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Coulson's eyes stayed on the heart meter and he frowns when it increases. "You can check for a concussion later." Moving to the medicine counter, he pulled out a container that only a few could open. Pressing his thumb to a scanner, the case pops open and he grabs the injection out. A sedative. One for Bruce. Pulling it out, he checked it over before moving back to him. "Dr. Banner..." He waves the medics back hoping he'll calm on his own. "How are you feeling?"
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Bruce had a hand to his forehead, half covering up his eyes against the lights. That headache was starting to pound on the inside of his skull...he suspected the beginnings of a hangover. He almost doesn't realize that Coulson asked him a question, "Sorry, it's just....headache." He tries closing his eyes but the insides of his eyeballs hurt too. His heart rate is increasing steadily, 160...170....
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"Give him a pain killer. Wait..." Not a good idea... if they were going to poke him with a needle it would have to be a final one. "Dr. Banner... do you think you can take an oral pain killer?" It was the only other option. But he knew at this rate... they had seconds to get this going. Reaching out with the free hand, he placed it gently on his head almost fatherly in nature. "Deep breaths, Banner..." He rather not cross that line and knock the man out... but he would.
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So uncomfortable right now, Banner's feelings take swing for bad thanks to the alcohol in his system, glaring at Coulson. "I know what to do," he snaps before he realizes what he must sound like. 188. He pushes the hand away, "You guys are always telling me what to do, just stop!" 194.
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Ok... he's getting too angry now. And if he's not listening at all, it meant he had to cross that line. Without warning, he's pushed the injection gun to his neck and administers the heavy sedative. It's one of the items specially designed just for moments like this. Fast. Efficient. Easy. "I'm sorry, Dr. Banner..." And he didn't back away... "Everyone get back." Now to wait to see if it did it's job.
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"Ahh!" He knows deep down this was for his own good...but that hurt. His eyes flash green at Coulson, nearly sitting up as if to grab him....before the sedative hits him like a ton of bricks. Really soft smothering bricks. The green fades as his eyes grow heavy, unable to fight back against the dose given him and he falls back heavily onto the stretcher, his eyes glazed over as he tries to focus through the haze forming around his vision....his heart rate dropping steadily back down to 120.
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Not flinching, he stood his ground. Which in effect probably wasn't wise. But he wanted Banner to know he wasn't running from him. He promised not to let the man hurt anyone... and if he Hulked out thinking they hurt him... Sighing softly as he sank to the stretcher, he lightly placed a hand on Banner's shoulder before pulling away. "Monitor his heart rate and keep him comfortable... If there is any change let me know."
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He can hear Coulson, after a fashion, down a long tunnel. The hand on his shoulder is barely there as he lets his eyes slide closed, ignorant of all other medical attentions given to him. They medicate him with some pain medicine, set his nose, and put him in a regular hospital bed to sleep off the sedative.
The End