Maybe it's the permanence that keeps them both dancing around the truth. Tony avoids it because he knows it's something he doesn't deserve. He's already fallen in love once, and failed love once. He doesn't need to do that again with Bruce too. But this is different. This is an unnamed thing that is safe in how expected it is. As long as they keep coming back and expecting it, neither of them will ever have to admit how much it scares them. Because it's already permanent for Tony. He can't live without Bruce somewhere in his life.

Hearing him say that makes something catch in his throat, but Tony doesn't cry, so he pushes it back. It burns going down. He's still happy. More than happy, fingers caressing Bruce's hips and ass and sliding up and down his thigh as if he's reminding him what it feels like to be touched all over like that. He doesn't pull away when Bruce holds their heads together. He lets the tips of their noses brush and smiles. It's just like Bruce to be so intimate and so reserved at the same time. That talent is one Tony will always envy in his friend.

"I know." Just two words, and for once Tony doesn't sound like an asshole when he says them. It's simply trust. Trust in Bruce and trust in this, even if they aren't going to call it that, because he's sure that Bruce will be there if he needs him. It's a level of trust he wasn't sure he could give anyone, and he still knows Bruce may leave at any moment. If things get bad enough, he could vanish all over again.

Tony's fingers finally curl around the warmth of Bruce's erection, beginning a steady rhythm as he strokes him slowly and moves his head back so he can kiss the side of his neck instead.

"Tell me what you want. You can lie back and enjoy yourself, Banner. Don't think about anything else. Just this."