Notes: New story. Will be putting it in installments, probably once/week. This is more or less to keep me honest with writing it. If I don’t, I won’t finish. I know me far too well. It’s a monster, probably close to NaNoWriMo levels if I’m honest. But it’s a nice monster. Note the tags.
Syzygy
Rating: M (themes/language mostly)
Pairing: Stark Spangled Banner
Special note: an AU of Infundo (post-Infundo Chronicles).
Summary: They’d always been a triad - sun and moon, encircling a heavenly body...
***
The question was so out of the blue, so perplexing, so - fuck no, he must be losing his hearing - insane that Tony dropped the spanner. It bounced and clanged angrily across the lab's cement floor causing one bot - U - to chirp softly and pick it up. U tried returning it to its creator by repeating bumping against his leg, but Tony focused on one thing right now. One person.
"Run that by me again?"
"You heard me." Bruce Banner stared at an oil smudge between their feet. It was twisted in an odd shape, reminiscent of pancake-shaped licorice. "I don't think I need to repeat myself."
"Oh hell, no. No." Tony yanked the spanner from U's grip and tapped his shoulder with it while pacing the floor. "You don't drop a bombshell like that without giving a guy a hint. What brought this on?"
"Honestly?"
"Yeah, honestly."
"It looks comfortably soothing, I’m tired of running, I like who I am...and." He bit down his response, holding it between his teeth, but Tony could see Bruce mentally shifting gears - frustratingly choosing to conceal a portion of truth. A skill Bruce was, unfortunately, still good at doing.
Bruce sighed. "Maybe I'm warming up to full-on pampering from you and Steve. Do I really need to explain myself?"
"All right, fine. I...get it. Sort of." Tony paused mid-pace and gave Bruce the side-eye, but not without sauntering over to his extremely significant other while poking him in his gut (and Tony's finger sunk in a good five inches, before Bruce swatted his hand away).
Like diving into fresh dough, Tony thought wickedly.
“Stop that.”
"Whatever. I'm just saying, you're what. Three-sixty? Three-seventy?"
"Three-ninety."
Tony tutted his tongue against his teeth, his eyes scanning Bruce from head to toe. He'd overlooked how round and jowly Bruce's cheeks had become and how much more his heavy belly wobbled over his belt like an over-inflated water balloon.
Tony slowly scraped his lower lip with his teeth and let his libido drink in Bruce's delicious form. His fat had dissolved all his chiseled edges, smoothing them like candle wax, dimpling him in places Tony never expected to notice. Arms, legs, face, chin, chest, neck - even elbows and fingers Pillsburied up into scrumptious fat. Bruce'd blown up like a county fair attraction and Tony couldn't tell where he'd even put on the extra twenty; Bruce’s fat had settled into all his body’s spare nooks and crannies. All that lovely jiggling Jell-o. Waiting for touches, prods, tickles, and gropes—
"Earth to Tony," Bruce muttered, snapping his fingers in Tony's slackened face.
Tony snorted, pretending Bruce hadn't mesmerized him and turned him so the fuck on. Was he becoming more like Cap these days? Wouldn't doubt it. "ANY-hoo," Tony said, grabbing a rolling chair. He took inventory of Bruce more thoroughly by rolling around the scientist, taking a good 360-look while Bruce stared at his circular pattern.
"Are you trying to orbit me?"
Tony laughed. "No. Although that could be an experiment for another day." Tony poked and prodded Bruce’s flab, freely grabbing fistfuls of his favorite butterball and fluffing his ample butt cheeks.
"Tony," Bruce cautioned.
"Sorry. Couldn't resist."
"What are you plotting?"
"Me, plotting? Perish the thought. I'm planning, Banner. I have ideas, I have a million ideas. But we're gonna have to get Cap involved. He'll want to know."
Bruce fidgeted somewhat, which surprised Tony. Didn't seem like something Bruce would be shy about.
"So soon?"
"Well, yah, the sooner the better." Tony narrowed his eyes at him. "What's bugging you, Care Bear?"
"Nothing," Bruce said, but Tony didn't believe him. He let it slide as he rolled back to his desk.
" 'Nothing' for now, babe, but I'll challenge that declaration later." He did a quick calculation in his head and pulled up Jarvis' keyboard. "J, open a new file for me. Call it, 'Operation Supermax.' "
"Seriously?"
"Don't mock the name, Brucie Bear. It's not like I had time to come up with something better."
"New file created," Jarvis intoned, flooding the room with his soothing AI voice. "Would you like to add to it now, sir?"
Tony grinned at Bruce. "Scan Brucie for me, Jarvis. Put all his current vitals in there. Show us what we're working with."
Jarvis threw up a 3D image of Bruce‘s body and stats. “I will say, I'm quite curious, sirs."
"So‘re we, J. Especially interested in what'll happen after we tell Cap."
Bruce looked less enthused at telling Steve, but whatever. Steve was their partner; not telling him would be ridiculous. "Sure you don't wanna say why you're lookin' grim?"
"I'm not grim," Bruce stated, and Tony waggled his finger at Bruce's lie.
"Not my monkeys, not my circus. But you know Steve'll get it out of you if I can't, Pooh."
"I know."
"Easier to rip off the band-aid."
"I said I knew, didn't I?"
"Fine, fine." Tony toggled a few buttons on his keyboard. "J, call Steve down. We're gonna have a family meeting."
**
But Steve relayed a message through Jarvis saying he'd meet up after he'd finished his workout. Bruce had grabbed five pounds' worth of snacks and wanted to wait for Steve in the media room, but Tony cajoled and wheedled him until he caved. Which was why he ended up joining Tony in the exercise room instead, ogling Steve's lifting routine. Well, “cajoling and wheedling” wasn’t exactly right, to be fair. Watching Steve work out was a damn privilege.
"I feel like a stalker," Bruce muttered, unwrapping one of his remaining chocolate bars. He wasn't not staring, though.
"He probably knows we're here. He says he doesn't, but I think he does. I'm just obeyin' my thirst."
"Quit watching those dumb commercials." Bruce scarfed down his jumbo Snickers bar with two or three grateful grunts and gulped down his soda. And no, Bruce's Adam's Apple bobbing so deliciously up and down did not mesmerize Tony. Certainly not.
Nope.
"Mmf--and/or, get off social media. Sounds like you’re trying too hard to fit in with the cool kids."
"Heh. You can't tell me Steve doesn't like teasing us right back." Tony pointed his chin at Steve powerlifting weights rivaling Thor's class. "Look at 'im, you can't tell me he's not a thirst trap."
Bruce made a face as he tossed his wrapper and soda can in the trash. "Definitely too much social media."
Tony's eye lingered over Bruce's dwindling dragon hoard of snacks, which teased a lecherous smile from his lips. "You startin' early, or what?"
"Gotta keep up my strength."
"Mhm." Tony went into his head, thinking about how Steve'd go bonkers. In a good way. Probably in a good way. "You know Steve'll have his own ideas. You gonna let him go hog wild?"
"Oh, hardy-har." Bruce tore into a packet of mini donuts. "Yeah, okay, fine," he grunted. A smattering of donut crumbs sprayed from his full mouth before he put a hand to his lips to stop them. "You figured out why I'm apprehensive. Don't rub it in."
"I'm not tryin' to, Brucie. In fact, I think you're blowing this up way out of proportion." And don't think Tony didn't recognize the pun, even if Bruce didn't. He casually watched Bruce scrape crumbs from his shirt. "Don't you think he cares enough that h--"
"Oh, hey, fellas!"
Steve finally noticed them salivating in front of the spy window. Which was what Tony called it. Really, it was a breezeway with a window to the exercise rooms so folks could check for occupied training floors. But Tony mostly used it to indulge his naturally nosy nature.
Steve grabbed a fresh towel and wrapped it around his neck while Tony bit his tongue. Making lewd comments was tempting and although Steve wouldn't have minded, Bruce would get skittish if he ramped up the tension now. And if Bruce bolted, well...kinda made what he was about to do moot.
"What's up?" Steve dabbed sweat from his forehead and plunked next to Bruce on the thirst trap bench. His cheeks reddened when he noticed the mound of opened goodies. "Is it an emergency? Fury call us in?"
"Oh, nothing like that," Tony said. He propped his feet beneath the breezeway window. "Bruce has something he wants to say."
Bruce wiped powdered sugar off his lips while swallowing thickly. "Well, not...exactly."
"Yeah, ya do, exactly," Tony said, nudging Bruce's shoulder. "Boy Scout," he said, calling to Steve. "D'you think you could steel yourself enough to not act like a kid in a candy store?"
"Tony..."
"Bruce, hon', it's all good. Steve," he started again. Poor guy already looked five kinds of confused. "It's something that'll affect the three of us but unless Bruce explains with his big boy words I'm not gonna help him."
"Traitor," Bruce huffed.
"Only way to kick you out of the nest."
"What," Steve said, finally getting a word in edgewise, "the hell. Are you two talking about?"
Bruce shot Tony a narrow look before turning to Steve. "It's...it's not enough," he began slowly. "I-I mean, we're fine," he stuttered, gesturing to each of them. "We're great. But I want. I want more. And I'm not sure how you'll take it."
"Just know," Tony interrupted, "I'm on board 100% if you are. But I'm looking at this from a scientific perspective more than--"
"I thought you said I should tell him."
"Well, you're taking too long, Banner. Cut to the chase!"
Steve held up a hand, motioning both to shut their traps. "Thank you," he said once they quieted. "Now. Bruce. Muffin." He stroked Bruce's chubby cheek and Bruce melted like butter in his hand. "Gimme the specifics. Let me decide if I'll be okay or not with whatever it is."
But Tony could see the small trembling smile on Cap's features; Steve was noticeably scared. He made a face, hoping Bruce hurried it up before causing irreparable damage.
"I want," Bruce sighed heavily. His glance went back and forth at the men in his life, then to his hands. "I'm not exactly happy at my current weight."
Steve's lips thinned. He looked like someone had taken his favorite toy away, but the expression fled before Bruce caught it.
Tony noticed, though.
"So you want to lose weight," Steve sighed. He kept his voice level but Tony detected his disappointment. "Well, I understand. It's not like we expected it forever and--"
"No," Bruce interrupted, quieter than before. He wrapped his hand around Steve's, stilling the man's jitters. "You've misunderstood. It's...ah. It's the opposite."
Steve's cheeks flared while Tony choked back laughter from Steve's startled expression.
"W-what? You wanna gain more?"
Bruce slowly nodded. "I know you've always been encouraging, and you seemed satisfied when I tapered off. But I really like it when you and Tony feed me." Bruce reached for Tony's hand and rubbed his thumb across their knuckles. "I like breakfasts in bed, lazy nights watching B movies, and eating crappy takeout. I like feeling overstuffed, and the headiness the feeling brings me. I think I've gotten as large as I can on my own. So I'll need help from you and Tony to get...um. Larger."
Steve visibly gulped. "Um. H...how much larger are we talkin'--?"
Bruce glanced Tony's way, and Tony encouraged him with a nod. "Um. To a point where I can stay sedentary. I'm happy at home - I'm happy here. With us. I don't want to run anymore, and I want to feel grounded. Literally. So--"
"He wants to become immobile," Tony explained, butting in again. "Which is no mean feat, with his metabolism. Even with Bed, even with all the snacking and meals he gets, he's probably leveled off. But if we're talkin' immobility, we're probably addin' another three hundred to him, more or less."
Cap let out a shaky sigh. "Whoa..."
Tony shrugged. "Again, more or less. Depends on what 'immobile' means to a guy like Bruce. 'Course you know," Tony said, sobering. "He's wouldn't be totally immobile, not really." His dark eyes roamed Bruce, emphasizing the seriousness of his next words. "The only way that would happen is if we separated him from the Hulk."
"Which I'm not asking for," Bruce quickly piped. "That's not my goal."
"Good. 'Cause that's more than my paygrade. What'dya think, Spangles?" Tony turned to Steve. "You in, or what?"
"I...I'm not even sure." His expression remained pensive before hovering between Tony and Bruce. "I think I want to understand what that means before I agree to it. It'll change our 'rules,' our dynamics, the team--"
"Absolutely," Bruce agreed. "But I guess...I'd like to retire, if that's okay. From the team. I've already spoken with the university--"
"What?"
"You have?"
Bruce motioned for his boyfriends to calm down. "I'm not giving up teaching, I'm just switching to an online format. I'll still be an adjunct but I won't teach in person or in front of a classroom. And besides..." He sighed, but a small smile teased his lips. "I won't be mobile enough for a classroom. At least that's what I'm hoping."
Tony shared a look with Steve who looked both mesmerized and stunned. But then Tony noticed something else a sly, (dare he say it), evil mastermind grin on Steve's face rivaling their greatest enemies.
"Steve. Your bad boy expression is showing," Tony muttered.
"I know, I know," Steve breathed. "But I kinda I wanna know how soon we can start."
Part two: https://burlybanner.tumblr.com/post/185854349769/syzygy-2
Syzygy - An AU of Infundo (post-Infundo Chronicles).
Chapter 5: Phase Trials 2
Chapter 5 Summary: Dr. Banner and Mr. Hulk.
Link to Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4
**
Giving Hulk control wasn't as easy as just saying it, though. Bruce definitely wanted Steve to observe - preferably Steve and Tony both. "He hasn't earned this level of trust," he admitted. "And I'm not comfortable with him in the driving seat."
"He knows that," Tony huffed. Tony seemed a lot more at ease with the prospect that Bruce ever would be. "He's been itchin' to come out, sure, but he knows the two of you have to share the one body. He's more okay with it than you give him credit for."
Bruce grit his teeth. "I know you trust him, since he saved your life and all - "
"You both did."
"Nevertheless," Bruce said, cutting him off. "He's very unpredictable. Even with my resolve he has moments of wanting to break free and I will never, ever feel comfortable giving him control. The whole 'give an inch' idiom is extremely à propos. Give him an inch, and he'll take a fucking planet. You have to watch him."
"Yeah, yeah. Okay, Banner."
"I mean it." Of course Hulk vehemently disagreed, but Bruce stuffed him down. "This isn't a game, it's my life. And by proxy, his. You can't fuck around."
Tony quieted at the urgency Bruce pressed on him and rubbed the back of his neck. "Fine, we'll 'watch' him, or whatever. But I'll prove to you that there's nothing to worry about. You'll see."
"I intend to," Bruce said. Part of the compromise included wearing a body camera every night, to see what Hulk saw and hear what Hulk heard. "I'll review the data each morning. And if I see anything untoward, the experiment's over. Done. No second chances."
Tony almost rolled his eyes but chose not to after Bruce shot him a deadly glare. "It'll be fine," he said.
"I hope so," Bruce muttered. But even if they tried it, he wasn't one hundred percent sure Hulk wouldn't do something against his will. Regardless of what he told the others.
**
"Is everything set?"
"For the fiftieth time, Banner--!"
"Stop." Steve felt Tony's shoulder's tense; he was practically vibrating. While Bruce thought Tony was acting cocky, Steve knew Tony's worry was equally high - he just had a weird way of showing it. "We're ready. D'you think you're relaxed enough to sleep?"
"I kinda have to be, don't I?" The nervous chuckle Bruce gave was less than reassuring. "I mean, unless he can take over when I'm wide awake, without me knowing."
Bruce was half-kidding and they could hear his gallows humor loud and clear. Ultimately losing himself to Hulk scared Bruce most, whether or not he voiced it. "We've got this, Muffin," Steve said, and he wrapped his arms as far as they could go around Bruce's midsection. "I'll take point tonight, Tony tomorrow night."
Bruce pointed to Tony. "You're sleeping in your nanosuit, right?"
Tony tapped his chest, and the lights woven into his shirt fabric glowed. "Not as comfy as I'd like, but I'm on backup. Trust us, Pooh. We got this."
"And I'm all set," Steve said, tugging his earlobe. "Jarvis has me connected. I won't miss anything."
"Okay...okay."
Bruce was anything but okay, though, so Steve held out his hands. "C'mon, let's try it," he said, waiting for Bruce to take his hands. He gently guided them back to their bed, crawled on top of the sheets, and motioned between his legs. "Sit."
Bruce's cheeks pinked up, but he swallowed and lumbered across the sheets to settle between Steve's legs. "Now lay back."
"Steve--"
"Do it."
Bruce huffed, but followed Captain America's command. Steve hid his smile; he'd unearthed small ways that calmed his boys, and as much as Bruce fought against the truth he loved Steve cuddling and nurturing him. He initially pretend not to, but Steve felt how quickly tension left Bruce's body when he took control and treated Bruce special. Bruce only accepted the whole, "I'm in charge, I can handle you" treatment from Steve.
And boy, did he take to it.
Steve widened his stance a little more, feeling his body respond as Bruce nestled in. Over the past few weeks he'd noticed Bruce's broadening backside, even if Bruce didn't. "That's it," Steve whispered. Bruce let out a small sigh as Steve cocooned him as much as he could. His arms couldn't reach around like they used to, but they could cuddle.
"Can I be jealous? I think I've got room to be jealous."
Steve chuckled and patted the bed’s edge. "There's plenty of room for both of you on this bed, Tony."
"Mm," Bruce let out a lengthy sigh. Steve could feel Bruce's body sink into his as they all flirted with sleep. He lightly fingered Bruce's curls, easing him further in. "Not for long."
Steve snorted and grabbed a pillow so Tony could lean against his left side. "Not for long," he agreed. "We'll make you into a marshmallow man yet."
"Now that I'd like to see," Tony said, yawning.
Me too, Steve thought, but he didn't voice it.
**
Captain Rogers.
Steve stirred. What--?
Steve. Captain Rogers.
"Uh?" He blinked. What time was it?
Sorry to disturb you, but you did ask me to alert you.
Steve tapped his ear as he became fully conscious. "Jarvis?"
Yes, Captain Rogers. I'm speaking from your earpiece. You asked me to alert you when Doctor Banner woke - he is currently on the move, and headed for the nearest kitchen.
"Oh, right. On my way."
Steve frowned; he should've felt Hulk’s movements, at the very least. Glancing at the other side of the bed Tony was snoring up a storm. Hulk hadn't disturbed Tony either, apparently.
"Jarvis?" He whispered. "Is Bruce...Bruce right now, or Hulk?"
The AI paused.
Apologies, sir. It's impossible to determine at this time.
Great. What the hell did that mean?
"Okay..." Steve made a face and put on his sweats before heading towards the north kitchen. Guess he'd figure it out when he got there. If it was bad he'd tell Jarvis to alert Tony, but he honestly had no clue what to expect.
In hindsight, they really should've asked Hulk more questions when he showed up.
**
As Steve skittered around the kitchen corner, the only thing he noticed was the wide-open fridge door. He'd come from the opposite side expecting to see Hulk towering over the kitchen island, but he didn't see Hulk. He heard intense munching from inside the refrigerator instead.
"Bruce?" He whispered.
"Grrah... No Banner! Hulk!"
What on earth...?
Steve padded over cautiously and peered over the fridge door. It certainly looked like Bruce, crouched and hunched inside the icebox. But there was something...animalistic about Bruce’s demeanor. Large crumbs and half-eaten empty dishes surrounded him while a mountain of food detritus stained the front of his shirt. He hunkered over a casserole dish with a turkey leg, and used said turkey leg to scoop up whatever existed in the casserole dish.
"Is Hulk!" He repeated loudly, spewing food in every direction. He glared at Steve from half-slit eyes and dug his turkey leg into the dish, taking another huge bite. Food bits fell off the turkey and down his robe.
Steve's mouth flew open. He couldn't help but stare a few beats before speaking. "Uh, wow. Now I see it." Hulk was in charge, but he'd kept Bruce small.
Incredible, Steve thought.
"Hmm!" Hulk-Bruce grunted and slammed the turkey leg into his chest as if asserting dominance. "Banner isn't Hulk. Hulk is Hulk. Hulk will make Banner like Hulk!"
Steve couldn't help the grin that suddenly teased the corners of his lips. "You're doing a great job, Hulk," he told him, and Hulk nodded proudly before tearing into the meat.
"Banner's still too puny," Hulk laughed. His voice was a hybrid between Bruce and Hulk's, low and rough with Bruce's timbre. "Hulk can make Banner all chubby, like Banner wants. But Hulk wants real food."
Steve scratched his chin, trying to decipher what Hulk meant. "Do you mean you like different things?"
Hulk grunted and used the turkey leg as a pointer. "Like that,” he growled, pointing to a casserole. “And that. Those are good. Not this." He pointed to a cake.
"Hmm." Steve pursed his lips, musing over the new information. It looked like Hulk liked meat and fried foods, but Bruce typically went for sweets. "Got it. We can have it ready tomorrow, Br--er, Hulk. Just tell us what you want."
"Mm. Good," Hulk muttered. He used the back of his arm to wipe away the food covering his chin and lips. "More of that," he said, pointing to cold fried chicken. "More grease."
"Anything else?" Steve started taking notes in his head. "You can have anything you want."
Hulk perked up, eyes widening. "Anything?"
Within reason, Steve thought, but he wasn't going to deny Hulk if he kept eating like this. "Sure," Steve said. "Name it."
**
"Oh my God." Bruce held his head in his hands as he reviewed the footage early next morning. "Steve, why the hell did you tell him--"
"C’mon, it's not that bad, Pooh Bear."
Bruce's eyebrow quirked as he glared at Tony.
"You're kidding, right?"
Tony shrugged. "It's not impossible."
Steve wrinkled his nose. "I can't understand how he knew."
"He sees everything I do, but he doesn't understand it. That's the problem." Bruce belched and rubbed his tummy. The stuffing from Hulk's night raid hurt, but he hoped to be hungry for lunch later. "There’s no way we can get all that crap. Even if we did, who the fuck could cook it?"
Tony smirked. "Leave it to me. I've got four-star chefs in my back pocket. If anyone knows, they will."
"He'd never know," Bruce muttered, even as Hulk roared in his head. "You could cook anything. He'd eat it."
Tony held up a hand. "Nothin' doin'. My Green Bean wants what he wants, and I'll get it for him hell or high water."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Bruce said, sighing miserably.
Christ. He felt ill.
**
Steve turned off the Hulk footage after viewing it with Tony for the third time. They both agreed it was practically pornographic, but they needed to see it again. For research.
Yep. Research.
"So? Thoughts?"
Tony shrugged, bumping Steve's shoulder. Feeling frisky Tony ran his stocking foot up Steve's leg and Steve had a feeling the three of them would enjoy themselves later.
"It's not as dire as Bruce makes it and honestly, I bet he's secretly pleased. Hulk totally behaved himself, totally stuffed our boy with some high dollar menu items. I have a feeling we'll appreciate the results in a pretty short time."
Steve grinned as his face got hot. "You should've been there, Tony. Hulk's an eating dynamo, nothin’ stopping him. He got filthy, though. Made him take a shower before we went back to bed."
"Bet Hulkie loved that," Tony laughed. "Can't imagine him wanting to take a shower, by any stretch."
"Nah. It was okay. He liked me scrubbing him down. In fact, I think...well."
Tony perked up and maneuvered his body to catch Steve's eye. "What?"
Steve scratched his neck and sheepishly looked away. "I think Hulk enjoys sharing Bruce's body, like last night. It gives him another perspective he doesn't normally have. I got the feeling he wants to take over Bruce’s body more often."
"Hm." Tony's expression sobered. "Don't let Bruce hear you say that. He'll go apeshit."
"I know. He's already concerned about their boundaries and this sharing thing is stressful for Bruce. But is it bad? I mean, Hulk would still be 'out' more or less. But there wouldn't be any property damage. Bruce wouldn't have to worry about Hulk making a mess."
"But he's also blind to Hulk’s actions," Tony countered. "And there's no guarantee Hulk wouldn't take over their body and swell it green if he got mad enough." Tony tsked between his teeth. "I dunno, Steve. I'd keep that between you and me. If Bruce decides he wants more he'll tell us, but I'm kinda iffy on that front."
"Yeah," Steve sighed. "Maybe you're right."
"I am," Tony said. He clasped Steve's arm. "Don't fall into the trap. Hulk is a good bro but Bruce is right; you've gotta watch him. He'll take whatever you give him, and weasel for more."
"Like what he wants for dinner," Steve moaned.
Tony laughed. "Yeah. Like that. I got it set up, though. The caterers'll have it ready by 11 tonight. Just in time for our Green Bean to dig in."
"Can't believe you found someone to cook that...stuff," Steve mumbled. He ran a hand down his face. "You got it so damn fast."
"Oh? Didn't you know?" Tony plastered on his sharkiest, snarkiest grin and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Tony Stark. I get shit done."
Hey dose the chubby trio give each other nicknames and what is a full day of stuffing like for them ( also I like school now
Yay, for liking school! :D Hope it continues to go well for you.
I think they do have nicknames for each other - Tony uses animal nicknames for Bruce (mostly bear-related) and Steve uses food nicknames for Bruce (bakery related, for the most part). I’d say Bruce sticks to diminutives of his favorite fellows (”Tones” for Tony, or maybe “T-bone” if he’s feeling particularly frisky and “Stevie” for Steve - or even SG or “Grant” when he wants Steve’s attention). Bruce isn’t one for using nicknames in my headcanon, though. I’m thinking he may find them a little silly. But he’s loosening up on that front, because Tony is a bad influence.
Steve takes time to find nicknames that seem to fit the person well, or that bring out their tender side, while Tony finds a nickname on the spot that often embarrasses the other person - in other words, he’s gonna use whatever’s handy (which fits his engineer personality). Steve uses common pet names of his day and mixes them around.
Steve’s more of the “baby”, “sweetheart” and “honey” variety when it comes to Tony.
(I know I have others - promise, I’m getting to them! But this is a quickie…)
Yes, anon! He does have a few nervous habits. He still rubs his knuckles when he’s nervous and/or cleans his glasses, but he also sits back in his (reinforced) chairs and taps his belly when he’s thinking. Or drums his fingers across the widest part of his stomach. His big tum makes a good shelf for his laptop as well - and he likes using it as a book rest, when he reads before bedtime.
Tony has noticed that Bruce occasionally uses one hand to rub his side when he’s deep in thought, and Steve noticed that Bruce uses his foot to propel himself back and forth in his rolling chair when he’s trading ideas with Tony, or another SI scientist.
Bruce used to bite his nails, but chocolate bars have pretty much taken that habit away. He’ll usually unwrap a chocolate bar and nibble at it if he’s uncomfortable with a situation. Chocolate usually helps calm him down.
How would Tony react to Bruce bringing a baby dragon back from his Asgard trip?
Ohh, anon…Tony isn’t exactly a pet person, although Lily is the exception. A dragon, though? I guess it would depend how big it got. Like, if it stayed Lily-sized (aka early Lockheed from the X-Men) then maybe. Tony’d probably treat it like one of his bots, but he’d be very wary of dragon poop - cause that stuff’s gonna stink.
But if it’s small, he might be okay with it, He’d be curious, no doubt…but them keeping it? He probably wouldn’t like it.
He’d ask Bruce to give it to Dr. Strange, ‘cause you know Stephen Strange probably has a menagerie of dragons in his backyard.
Does Bruce ever have sensory overload when interacting with the boys? Tony seems like he'd be extremely handsy and I'm curious if it ever bothers or overwhelms Bruce.
(I may create a story about this, but for now it’s a headcanon)
***
In a way, anon. Being chubbier has made Bruce a lot more sensitive to all his senses (except perhaps hearing) and every once in a while, when it’s too much, he can dissociate. Sometimes dissociation is a good thing because he can let go and trust his partners - but other times, if he’s not in a good place, it’s a gateway for the Hulk. If Bruce gets into a certain head space he’ll need constant attention from Tony and Steve, and they’ll have to keep asking him if he’s okay. If at any time he can’t answer, they’ll pull back.
Bruce is pretty touch starved, due to a lack of positive touch reinforcement growing up - and the lightest touch can arouse him or put him over the edge. Tony can tell if Bruce is in the mood by touching him; if Bruce stiffens, he’s not. If he leans into him, Tony will keep his touches soft and gentle until Bruce either says something, or responds in kind. Touch is foreplay for Bruce, more or less, and he trusts his partners not to abuse that fact.
Sometimes too much food awakens Bruce’s sexual appetite, and certain foods and food combinations can cause Bruce to briefly dissociate.
Bruce has come to an agreement with his partners, since Tony and Steve are pretty much “on” all the time (Steve’s super soldier serum gives him a healthy sexual appetite, while Tony is naturally sexual). They have to start out slow, to give Bruce time to adjust.
One thing Bruce cannot tolerate, though, is noise. He can’t handle loud noises or too much noise - those are triggers for him. If he ends up working in a lab with Tony for a project he may wear earplugs or put on his own headphones to cancel out Tony’s rock ballads. He needs time in a quiet area after being around crowds of people and loud noises. And if people he’s not familiar with touch him, then yes - he definitely reaches an uncomfortably high threshold of sensory overload pretty quickly.
What’s important is, Steve and Tony and Bruce have navigated their relationship fairly well, and are good at noticing the others’ signs. They know that a hand on Bruce’s shoulder is ok, but outright hugging him in public isn’t. That’s too much for him. They’ve learned what Bruce is comfortable with, and what he’s not - and they pay attention to when he’s not feeling up to people (and also when he needs them more than ever).
OMG!!! I HAVE GOT SO MUCH TO ASK YOU!!!! but i will keep it simple how would dinner be like for the chubby trio i can imagine them teasing each other and i cant help but giggle the idea of lilly licking there faces when there asleep ( ALSO MY SCHOOL AS A DOG NOW i can't spell his real name but i call him steve or for by that you can guess the breed! And i got a new class and my teacher is really chill even lets me read bruce fan fics!!!!
Hey! Glad you’ve got a great teacher who lets you read Bruce fanfic! Sounds like a great teacher to me. :)
They probably would tease each other a little, but nothing to hurt the others’ feelings. Tony would be the instigator, of course. He’d probably lay betting odds on who could eat more: Steve, or Bruce. Winner gets the money donated to their charity of choice. And Lily licks their faces even when they’re not asleep; she’s that kind of dog. :)
