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Tony held his repulsor aimed directly at Bruce’s chest. Take the shot. Save Avengers tower and stop whatever Lillith had planned. Easy, right? He had failed Bruce but he could keep him from doing any more harm. Save the world. Take the shot.
Only one problem. He couldn’t fire. Not on Bruce, his best friend, the man he loved more than anything. Tony lowered his arm slowly. “Disappointing.” Bruce pulled the trigger.
Why didn’t he take the shot? Bruce would never want to be the monster. He spent so long trying to help humanity to make up for the Hulk. But he would never get Bruce back if he had. Tony had to believe he could get them back.
Maybe it’s selfish, but who cares? Nobody had ever accused Tony of being selfless. Bruce would be broken if he came back, but he’d be back. And nothing else Tony had lost would matter. Fuck the tower. They can still stop Lillith’s plans. Now they have a hope of saving Bruce. A hope for Tony to hold him in his arms again.
But it was still a failure. Tony Stark doesn’t fail. He should’ve seen this coming. This was his fault. How could he not notice the man he loved was being corrupted? He should’ve been there instead of messing around with magic forges.
He knew Bruce would never forgive him for not taking the shot but did it really matter? Tony would rather Bruce hate him and be himself than be corrupted by Lillith. He had to save him. Tony Stark never fails and he wouldn’t fail Bruce again.