Monster

Bruce was weird, Pepper had noticed. she dropped by with things Tony or Bruce needed to sign or sign for and he always signed Stark. she noticed it every time. she had told him once that he could sign his name and for about six months he signed Banner, but then he'd suddenly switched back to Stark. maybe Tony didn't like him signing with his name? Pepper honestly didn't know. as she watched Bruce sign for a file Tony had requested, she got curious.
"you know, you can still sign your own name." Pepper said. Bruce looked at her confused.
"what do you mean?" Bruce ask.
"I mean, you can sign your own name. even if Tony doesn't like it." Pepper replied. Bruce looked more confused than ever.
"even if Tony doesn't like what?" Tony ask walking over and wrapping his arms around Bruce's waist, resting his chin on Bruce's shoulder.
"Dr. Banner signing his own name, instead of yours." Pepper replied. realization suddenly dawned on Bruce as Tony looked over the sheet.
"no that looks right to me." Tony shrugged.
"wait, Pepper, did no one tell you?" Bruce ask.
"tell me what?" Pepper ask.
"you didn't tell her?" Bruce ask looking at Tony, who was confused. he suddenly seem to come to the same conclusion as Bruce.
"oh... I guess I forgot. all the planning and shit we had to do, I guess it just slipped my mind." Tony replied honestly.
"I can't believe you forgot to tell her." Bruce muttered.
"hey if it makes you feel any better we technically still haven't told the team." Tony said.
"what are you talking about? what did you forget to tell me? what haven't you told the whole team?" Pepper ask.
"we're married. Phil and Steve were our witnesses. it wasn't a big thing though. just us basically." Bruce replied. Tony frowned at that, he'd wanted a big wedding, but just the thought of a crowd of people watching them had made Hulk come out to play. they'd spent a few awkward hours in silence as Hulk shielded Bruce while he was nervous, but Tony had eventually agreed to a just him, Bruce, and two witnesses. Pepper blinked at him in shock, then shook her head.
"your not serious." Pepper said. Tony held up his hand to shower her the ring, she noticed the matching ring on Bruce's hand.
"no really, we're married." Tony replied.
"so technically, I have been signing my own name." Bruce added.
"for how long? when did this happen?" Pepper ask.
"about three weeks ago." Bruce replied.
"really?" Tony muttered. Bruce nodded. "sorry I'm-" Tony started.
"bad with dates." Bruce and Pepper muttered.
"I don't like that." Tony said, looking between the two. Pepper stared. Tony Stark, the man who told her to her face they would never get married because Tony wasn't the marrying type, was married to Bruce Banner, and Bruce had taken his last name! Tony snickered after a moment of Peppers staring. "whats wrong Pep? cat got your tongue?" Tony teased.
"uh, no, just stunned. you used to run around saying you'd never get married cause you weren't the type." Pepper said. Tony shrugged slightly.
"just took the right person to tame me I guess." Tony shrugged pulling Bruce closer. Bruce stumbled slightly at the sudden tug backwards, but seemed used to it. Tony had never done that with Pepper, he'd never been too affectionate with Pepper, and he knew her well enough to see the jealousy in her eye's. she had still loved him with all her heart when she left him, but she left him because Tony simply hadn't cared about her anymore in her opinion.
"tell me why you wanted to marry this asshole." Pepper muttered looking at Bruce. he chuckled softly.
"he's an asshole, but he's mine and I wouldn't change him or the world." Bruce replied. because while Tony was an asshole to the world, it was a shell, much like his suit. it was a protective covering, to keep people from seeing the real him, but Bruce got to see the real Tony Stark. the Tony Stark who doubted himself every day. the Tony Stark who loved to cuddle and snuggle. the Tony Stark who was sweet and caring. the Tony Stark that wasn't a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. the Tony Stark who didn't live on coffee, blueberries, and sex. no, when it was just him and Bruce. Tony was a completely different person behind closed doors, sure his personality was the same, but he, himself, was different. Bruce was drawn from his thoughts, when Tony suddenly smacked his ass and headed to get some breakfast. Bruce's face lit up bright red and he turned to glare at his retreating husband. "asshole." Bruce muttered.
"love you too baby." Tony chuckled. he'd certainly never used pet names with Pepper either.
"honestly, what do you see in him?" Pepper ask. honestly Bruce was one of the reasons Pepper and Tony had broken up, Tony spent more time with Bruce then her. she wouldn't have been surprised at this point if they'd been sleeping together while she and him were still a thing.
"the same thing you used to see. a man who wanted so desperately to keep people safe like his dad had wanted to do. a man who had everything, but nothing at the same time. a man who was hurt and broken and lonely, but too afraid to show it. I just happened to be the same way, only it was all I could show. everyone knew it. it brought us together for the most part, but him caring about the Hulk and having a great ass helped too." Bruce replied chuckling. Pepper gave a strained smile.
"what does he see in you?" Pepper ask, unable to stop herself. she froze once she realized what she'd said. Bruce clenched his jaw slightly, hurt and green flashing in his eye's. he thought he saw Pepper smirk. she wanted to be a bitch? fine, Bruce could be one too. he smirked signing the paper.
"well, whatever he didn't see in you, obviously." Bruce replied, snarkily. Pepper seemed shocked to hear that.
"whats that mean?" Pepper muttered. Bruce shrugged, handing the paper back to her and taking the file.
"well he did marry me, not you so, obviously he see's something in me he didn't see in you." Bruce smirked walking off. Pepper stared slack jawed as Bruce walked away, clearly pleased with himself.
"the only thing in you that I don't have is that monster. you're a monster." Pepper said. Bruce immediately froze in his tracks. Pepper was grabbed roughly and spun around. Tony had her upper arm in a tight grip.
"don't you ever, ever, talk to Bruce like that, EVER. he is not a monster, Hulk is not a monster. they are not a monster! just because you're a jealous bitch doesn't mean you can be rude to him. if you like this job, you want to keep this job, you'll shut your fucking mouth. he is your boss now too and we'll fire you without a care in the world. I'll ruin your reputation. I will make it to wear no one else in the world will hire you. so you'll from now on say nothing to him at all, or be nice. I've already made it clear who is important here. I'm not afraid to find a new secretary." Tony said, shoving her out of the tower.
"Tony wait-" Pepper started, but Tony slammed the door in her face. he walked over to Bruce, who had his arm wrapped around himself in a hug like motion. Tony wrapped his arms tightly around Bruce and pulled him close.
"you are not a monster, neither of you are. don't listen to her." Tony murmured. Bruce buried his face in Tony's chest, holding tightly to him. "hey, we've been over this, monsters don't have feelings, or at least feelings anyone cares about. you have feelings, Hulk has feelings. I care about the both of you. yes okay, sometimes Hulk hurts people, sometimes he makes a big mess of the city when he gets angry, but he doesn't mean too. he's always helping us with the search and rescue after a fight, to help the people he's hurt. he stays and helps us do clean up sometimes, because he feels bad that he let himself get so carried away. Bruce you aren't a monster, you are a man who just happens to turn into a giant green angry toddler sometimes. yes, that giant toddler has anger issues and throws tantrums, but who doesn't? you aren't a monster and neither is the big guy." Tony assured him. Bruce didn't say anything, just help tightly to Tony, but Tony could feel it was more then just Bruce hugging him. he smiled slightly as he held Bruce for a while.
"thank you." Bruce murmured suddenly. Tony looked at him confused.
"thank you? for what?" Tony ask.
"everything." Bruce replied, nuzzling his face into the crook of Tony's neck.
"you're welcome." Tony murmured.
"okay, what happened? did somebody die or something? 'cause you guys have been standing there for line forty-five minutes." Clint said walking in.
"you don't know how long we've been standing here, you just came in." Tony glared.
"no Clint, no one died." Bruce muttered, not bothering to look up.
"then what?" Clint ask, watching them.
"Pepper caused trouble." Tony replied. that was Tony's code for 'Pepper was being a bitch to Bruce  and said something and or did something to him she never should have and I had to throw her out.' Clint nodded slightly. pretty much the entire team knew what 'Pepper caused trouble' meant except for Bruce. when he and Tony had first got together, Pepper had caused trouble for them and Tony had created the code immediately. Bruce was by no means tender hearted, but Pepper always seemed to know just what to say to upset him or even make him want to kill himself, thankfully he had Tony. Clint watched the two a moment longer before he headed on with what he was doing. Bruce pulled back and dropped his arms, looking at Tony, who simply smiled at him.
"Pepper's gonna leak us to the news, don't you think we should tell the team first?" Bruce ask. Tony shook his head.
"nah. it'll be fine." Tony replied. Bruce smiled at him. "come on, big guy, breakfast is waiting for us, but not for long if we don't get to it before Thor." Tony said. Bruce laughed and followed behind him. the real monster here, was Pepper's jealousy. Tony had pretty much made that clear without saying it, but he was pretty sure Bruce knew. jealousy was always a monster, one that could level an entire city faster then the Hulk could.