1049: What Is It Good For?

[alonewillsing]

Away at War/Battle MemeWe all know war can be a hard time for everyone but those left behind? It can be torture. Hoping you get a letter or a call, staying glued to the television and cringing at those news stories. Guess what happens to you now? Your loved one has gone off to fight a war (battle, fight, in that ilk of things) and some time has

Comments

Seven

[igotlow]

Bruce was trying to just be pleased that he was home. That they'd told Tony and he was likely on his way, and he was going to survive, and that some way or another they would get on with life now.

But it had never been in Bruce's plans to disappear for months, to be injured and sick and gone, or to come home and know that he'd never see properly again. Everything was blurry, dark, vague shapes and occasional movement - nothing that any amount of glasses or vision correction could fix. How could he ever get back to his work like this?

He wondered if they'd told Tony.

[igotlow]

Bruce sighed. He was still frightened, and wasn't ashamed to admit that to himself. He was terrified of this, of the realization of what had happened to him, terrified of some day Tony getting tired of how much he would need to be taken care of, terrified just of being taken care of. Tony seemed to have some idea of where they would be going from here, but Bruce...it was one huge abyss that he'd never thought was possible.

He twisted the bedsheets in his hand, trying to focus vaguely in the direction of what his hands were doing. He took deep breath and looked up blankly, strangely comfortable admitting things to Tony, regardless of how the other man would take it.

"I'm scared." He grinned slightly, and looked down again. He didn't know why he kept bothering to look anywhere.

[improvetheworld]

He smiled a little, leaning forward to put a hand on Bruce's arm.

"I know you. Hell, I'd think that hit to your head did a whole lot worse if you weren't. Honestly? I'm a bit scared, and shit all's happened to me. But. Look. I meant what I said. We'll work through this, we'll adapt. You're the master of adapting, Bruce. If Thor weren't a god and Cap wasn't jacked up with serum, you'd out-live them, too. Got it?"

[igotlow]

Bruce sighed. He nodded. He didn't want to think about the fact that he still wasn't sure if he could die any more than Thor and Cap could - it was still a sore spot. He wasn't sure how he'd even ended up as badly hurt as this, really. So close, and yet so far.

"Yeah, I got it."

[improvetheworld]

"Good."

There was a pause, and Tony's lips curled up in an amused smirk. It didn't really matter that Bruce couldn't see - it was probably evident in his tone.

"I hear all your other senses are heightened when you lose your sight."

[igotlow]

Bruce was startled into a laugh. He should have seen that coming - it's Tony, after all.

"So I hear." He smiled wryly.

[improvetheworld]

"You'll have to conduct a thorough experiment and report back to me. I don't think all the time I've spent in blind folds has given me proper data."

[igotlow]

Bruce shook his head, still chuckling. "I'm not sure when I'll get that done, but I'll be sure to make a full report for you when it happens."

[improvetheworld]

"You know. It'd help you relax. Forget about your problems. Give you something to focus on. I know a few girls - legitimately nice girls, even Pepper likes them - from the office. I bet they'd be down."

[igotlow]

He smiles, exasperated as usual. "I think I'm all right, Tony. Please don't inconvenience anyone for me."

[improvetheworld]

"Fine, fine. No beautiful women."

He let out a long sigh, then paused.

"I really was worried about you, you know."

[igotlow]

Bruce tugged idly at his sheets. "I'm glad you're here, now. I really am."

[improvetheworld]

"I know you are. You're always glad when I'm here."