The spray catches him right across the face and while he is wearing safety goggle, they happen to be around his neck. Hot liquid stings his eye and seeps into the muscus membrane of his nose before he nearly stumbles clear off of his feet. Tony is fast, though, he knows where the chemical wash sink is and he plunges his head under the water, eyelids fluttering, nostrils flaring.
He gasps as he pulls his head above the surface, one eye bright read and his hair now damp as he looks at Banner.
Bruce is a little more careful in labs these days, and dutifully has his safety goggles on. Watching Tony get splashed with something is like a rehashing of a nightmare, and he's right by Tony's side, waiting for him to finish at the eye wash so he can get a look at him.
"I have no idea. Are you okay? Do you feel -- anything?" A burning or a stinging or an uncontrollable urge to turn into a giant monster? He knows that's a silly worry, but it's one he has nonetheless.
He lets Banner baby him because it's easier than batting him off and who's he fooling? He likes being babied. He's shuffled off to a stool and half leans against a purple shirt with his head tilted back and deft thumbs pulling apart aching lids.
"It's uncomfortable," Tony grumbles, though he'd been meaning to say that he was fine. "Like I've got soap in there."
Bruce can be a hoverer when he's comfortable with the person, and Tony? Tony's... special. He's valuable, okay? There's no one else like Tony in his life right now, and Bruce intends to keep him here, and keep him in one piece at the same time. The second one is surprisingly difficult, but the first one, surprisingly not so. He carefully inspects Tony's eyes, looking for anything in the normal range of medicinal concern, and also anything else like... mutating eye sockets or something. Who knows anymore?
"Okay, could be worse. Is it just in your eyes, or is it spreading?" He pushes Tony's hair back, giving him a better view of his whole face. "Might need to take you back to the wash over there."
"It stings where it hit my nose and cheek too," Tony replies, almost flatly and Tony openly frowns ath that -- and Bruce dragging him back to the faucet. He may flail a bit. He may breathe a little funnily as he presses into Bruce's side and hangs onto one belt loop. "You're going to drown me!" he complains as Bruce once again brushes his hair back, "but I can dig it if you keep stroking my hair like that."
Tony's answering everything very succinctly, but Bruce figures he's just complaining about the pain. He'd say whining, but he's more sympathetic to whining when it's merited. When Bruce is focused on making sure someone's face isn't about to be burned off from acid, or other every day doctorly situations, he isn't really having thoughts like this person's hair is nice or they're really close to me. So his mind's pretty clear as he thoroughly washes Tony's face.
Once he becomes a little less panicked is when he starts to notice... Tony's hair is really nice, and he's running his fingers through it.
"If I wanted to drown you, I would've Hulked out in the pool and done it that way. Instant scapegoat."
He pulls Tony up again and leans in close, his hands on either side of his face. Doctoring again! Nothing more.
"So far you seem okay... Let's run some tests on the stuff that splashed you. You up to some more science?"
"I'm always up for more science, but Jesus. Banner, why don't you know what it was all ready? Do you just stand around mixing chemicals all day hoping for a reaction?" That's not fair and Tony's sorry, but he's not the sort to apologize and so: "Mean, sorry."
OKAY, what the hell?
Tony is quiet as he follows Bruce back towards the station and flips up his goggles so that, you know, they rest over his eyes. One is still bright red and puffy and he's feeling a little whoozy but he's macho! Strong!
Uncalled for, but the apology is nice. Maybe a little unexpected, but deserved, Bruce thinks, so there. He glances at Tony over his shoulder as he reaches for the samples they'd been working with
( ... )
Tony's not really paying attention so he's a little bit stuck here. He stares up at Bruce with the good eye and shakes his head.
"They make your butt look fantastic." Wait a God damned minute-- "But that's just your butt, the pants have nothing to do with it and what the fuck, that's a truth serum." Ding ding ding, Tony's genius is back in the race.
He grumbles.
"This really is annoying. Please tell me there's a duration so I can hide in my bedroom for a few hours?"
The teasing smile is mostly replaced by a genuine one because that's so not what he was anticipating, but hey, maybe Tony's a butt guy. It's a good thing Bruce didn't get a taste of that stuff because he could be in a sticky situation with Tony here for sure; while he's pretty convinced he's just Tony's new best friend, Tony's a little more for Bruce. Oh well. At least he knows his butt's fantastic.
"Doesn't say, actually. I think that's what I was supposed to find out." He's teasing now, amused and relieved that he doesn't have to worry about accidentally blinding Tony in one eye or something.
"It probably won't be more than a few hours." Genuine answer. Then his smirk picks up and his eyes light up with mischief. "Or it could be permanent. Guess we'll have to wait and see. I should probably stick around to observe you, too. Just in case."
No, no, Bruce. You should leave him alone. But that's not good enough. That's not science. "It makes the most sense. You'll need to keep careful observation notes and holy fuck you're doing it on purpose now."
Tony's up and out of his seat, already leaving. See? Goggles? On the side table. Lab coat? On the door.
"You probably should follow me and fuck-- Actually, yes we could-- I AM LEAVING, BANNER."
He's not really sure what's going on anymore... except that he's totally following Tony. He can't pass up an opportunity to witness this, and also? He's far too much of a troll not to enjoy tormenting Tony. They're best friends for a reason. He should've been wearing his safety goggles anyway!
It takes him a second to string together the what "they actually could" -- but that's not true, right? He was misunderstanding Tony. ...Right? Well, he could ask for clarification and get it pretty immediately, but...
"Oh, good. I'm leaving too. Going to your room? Probably best to limit your interaction with anyone else. Unless you think I should invite the other Avengers over for some truth or dare."
He grins. It's maybe a little evil. Gotta get his punches in where he can... Well, the fun punches. Also no he totally doesn't want the other Avengers coming over at all; he'd much rather play one-on-one truth or dare, thanks.
"If you really wanted to have a good laugh, you'd at least invite Clint and if you don't stop asking me questions--" The thing is? "I literally have to answer you, it's like this burning in my chest if I don't, like the worst thing in the world would be to make you unhappy and--"
He makes a sort of strangled groaning noise and crawls up into his face, faceplanting on the pillow.
What sounds like: "go away, Banner" comes from the pillow followed by a: "unless you find this helpful" and then a "I've always liked talking with you." Tony is just going to crawl out of his skin and through the mattress now.
He's sympathetic to Tony's pain -- he can't not be, really -- and he's about to give up the trolling game or at least be nicer about it, when Tony goes and says that last thing. It's kind of hard for that to not make him smile like an idiot, and he's just glad Tony's face is in the pillow, and he can't see.
"I like talking with you, so we're even."
Tony's in pain, right? Or at least he's suffering. And his back's right here. Bruce chews his lip for a second, but then reaches out to give it a tentative rub, like a good consoling friend. That's all.
"I'm not going to go away, by the way. I meant it when I said you should be observed. Luckily I sincerely doubt anything you might say to me would lead us to any danger, here." He makes a face Tony can't see, inwardly struggling with himself. Don't do it, Banner, that's rude and unfair and he's in a vulnerable state."Unless you know different
( ... )
Oh lets see... How about: "I've read your files. Elevated heart rate...? I know I push your buttons and I really do like the Other Guy but it would be really awkward for him to just show up during sex."
But that's-- That's thrilling. That single thought.
Which... Yeah okay. Maybe that hadn't been heard? Maybe it's fine. Really fine. Maybe Banner will think its a joke. Something not 'forcefully true thanks to your fucking serum--'
Tony stills at the touch on his back and turns his eyes up at Bruce. The one is still pretty puffy.
"Clinically, I think it's a safe bet to keep that stuff away from people's eyes."
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He gasps as he pulls his head above the surface, one eye bright read and his hair now damp as he looks at Banner.
"What the hell was that?!"
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"I have no idea. Are you okay? Do you feel -- anything?" A burning or a stinging or an uncontrollable urge to turn into a giant monster? He knows that's a silly worry, but it's one he has nonetheless.
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"It's uncomfortable," Tony grumbles, though he'd been meaning to say that he was fine. "Like I've got soap in there."
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"Okay, could be worse. Is it just in your eyes, or is it spreading?" He pushes Tony's hair back, giving him a better view of his whole face. "Might need to take you back to the wash over there."
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"It stings where it hit my nose and cheek too," Tony replies, almost flatly and Tony openly frowns ath that -- and Bruce dragging him back to the faucet. He may flail a bit. He may breathe a little funnily as he presses into Bruce's side and hangs onto one belt loop. "You're going to drown me!" he complains as Bruce once again brushes his hair back, "but I can dig it if you keep stroking my hair like that."
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Once he becomes a little less panicked is when he starts to notice... Tony's hair is really nice, and he's running his fingers through it.
"If I wanted to drown you, I would've Hulked out in the pool and done it that way. Instant scapegoat."
He pulls Tony up again and leans in close, his hands on either side of his face. Doctoring again! Nothing more.
"So far you seem okay... Let's run some tests on the stuff that splashed you. You up to some more science?"
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OKAY, what the hell?
Tony is quiet as he follows Bruce back towards the station and flips up his goggles so that, you know, they rest over his eyes. One is still bright red and puffy and he's feeling a little whoozy but he's macho! Strong!
"I think I might puke..."
DAMN IT.
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"They make your butt look fantastic." Wait a God damned minute-- "But that's just your butt, the pants have nothing to do with it and what the fuck, that's a truth serum." Ding ding ding, Tony's genius is back in the race.
He grumbles.
"This really is annoying. Please tell me there's a duration so I can hide in my bedroom for a few hours?"
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"Doesn't say, actually. I think that's what I was supposed to find out." He's teasing now, amused and relieved that he doesn't have to worry about accidentally blinding Tony in one eye or something.
"It probably won't be more than a few hours." Genuine answer. Then his smirk picks up and his eyes light up with mischief. "Or it could be permanent. Guess we'll have to wait and see. I should probably stick around to observe you, too. Just in case."
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Tony's up and out of his seat, already leaving. See? Goggles? On the side table. Lab coat? On the door.
"You probably should follow me and fuck-- Actually, yes we could-- I AM LEAVING, BANNER."
Shit times infinity.
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It takes him a second to string together the what "they actually could" -- but that's not true, right? He was misunderstanding Tony. ...Right? Well, he could ask for clarification and get it pretty immediately, but...
"Oh, good. I'm leaving too. Going to your room? Probably best to limit your interaction with anyone else. Unless you think I should invite the other Avengers over for some truth or dare."
He grins. It's maybe a little evil. Gotta get his punches in where he can... Well, the fun punches. Also no he totally doesn't want the other Avengers coming over at all; he'd much rather play one-on-one truth or dare, thanks.
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He makes a sort of strangled groaning noise and crawls up into his face, faceplanting on the pillow.
What sounds like: "go away, Banner" comes from the pillow followed by a: "unless you find this helpful" and then a "I've always liked talking with you." Tony is just going to crawl out of his skin and through the mattress now.
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"I like talking with you, so we're even."
Tony's in pain, right? Or at least he's suffering. And his back's right here. Bruce chews his lip for a second, but then reaches out to give it a tentative rub, like a good consoling friend. That's all.
"I'm not going to go away, by the way. I meant it when I said you should be observed. Luckily I sincerely doubt anything you might say to me would lead us to any danger, here." He makes a face Tony can't see, inwardly struggling with himself. Don't do it, Banner, that's rude and unfair and he's in a vulnerable state."Unless you know different ( ... )
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But that's-- That's thrilling. That single thought.
Which... Yeah okay. Maybe that hadn't been heard? Maybe it's fine. Really fine. Maybe Banner will think its a joke. Something not 'forcefully true thanks to your fucking serum--'
Tony stills at the touch on his back and turns his eyes up at Bruce. The one is still pretty puffy.
"Clinically, I think it's a safe bet to keep that stuff away from people's eyes."
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