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Tony ran over the darkened expanse of lawn, keeping as low to the ground as he could. Stopping when he reached the fence, he crouched down, finding the opening that had been cut into it earlier in the day.
“C’mon!” he hissed, urging Bruce to catch up.
“Sorry, maybe you should have told me I needed to stretch before we started this” he replied sarcastically, trying to catch his breath.
Tony took the bags that he and Bruce had been carrying, shoving them through the hole in the fence before crawling through himself. Reaching back through, he clamped his hand onto Bruce’s wrist, practically dragging him through.
“Let go” Bruce said, yanking his arm away. “I’m coming.”
“Sometime today would be helpful.”
Bruce just glared, gathering his things. Tony glanced around, making sure the coast was clear before taking off towards the building that loomed in the shadows before them.
“How are we supposed to get in?” Bruce whispered as they hugged the wall, trying to keep out of the light cast by the streetlamp in front of the building
“Clint said he propped a window open in the gym. We just have to circle around the back, it should be one of the windows in the locker room.”
Bruce sighed, following Tony as they headed towards the rear of the school. They were just about to round the corner when Tony stopped dead in his tracks, causing Bruce to walk right into him.
“Hey!”
“Shhh” Tony warned, putting a finger to his lips. Cautiously he peered around the corner, rearing back again. “It’s the janitor. He’s by the back exit, smoking.”
“Well, what are we supposed to do now? Maybe we should just go…”
Tony shot him a withering look. “C’mon Bruce, live a little. This is good for you.”
“Getting expelled a week before graduation will be in no way good for me. Or you, but they’d probably just let it slide in your case” he said, raising his eyebrows in challenge.
Tony thought about arguing, but ended up just rolling his eyes with a huff. “Whatever. The point it, do you want to go through your entire high school existence without doing anything a little crazy?”
“Yeah, actually. Crazy doesn’t lead to anything good, does it?”
“Maybe, guess we’ll see” Tony said with a grin. Now it was Bruce’s turn to roll his eyes. They stood against the wall for a few minutes before hearing the door slam shut, signaling that the janitor had gone back inside.
“Is he going to leave?”
“I don’t know, I would think. He can’t be here all night, can he?” Tony answered. He checked his watch, “It’s almost 10 o’clock, maybe that’s when he’ll go.”
“I thought you guys had this planned out better” Bruce said worriedly.
“It’ll be fine. I never plan anything and look at me, I’m doing great” Tony said with a certain self-assurance that only he seemed to possess.
“Uh huh.”
Tony looked back at him, pretending to be hurt by Bruce’s lack of confidence in him, before disappearing around the corner. Bruce sighed again, tossing his bag over his shoulder and following dutifully behind.
As they passed by the door where there janitor had just been, Bruce pulled at the handle, hoping that it would afford them a far easier entrance to the school. Unfortunately it had been securely locked and he hurried to catch up to Tony who was peering up at the row of windows, trying to find the one that should have been left open.
“A-ha! Found it” he whispered triumphantly. The window was a good six feet off the ground, making it hard to push the window pane up, let alone crawl into.
“I don’t think I’m going to be able to get up there” Bruce said, staring up at the windowsill.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you” Tony said, stooping down a little and linking his hands together. Bruce just looked at him doubtfully. “Oh come one. Just put your foot in my hands, I’ll lift you up, you open the window, pull me through. Piece of cake.”
Shakily, Bruce did as he was told. Pressing his hands to the rough bricks, he tried to hand on as best he could as Tony started lifting him off the ground. Even though it was only a few feet, his legs shook and he tried not to look down.
“Hold still” Tony grunted, gritting his teeth with effort. “You’re heavier than you look.”
When Tony had lifted him high enough, he gave the window pane a shove, opening it enough for him to slide through. Unfortunately he went in head first, crashing to the ground with a thud.
“Hey, you ok?” Tony called in a half-whisper/half-shout. “Here take the bags first.”
Bruce got up, straightening his clothes and leaning back out through the window to grab the bags, pulling them up and in. Next was Tony.
Bruce leaned forward further, hoping he wouldn’t end up tumbling back down. Tony stretched up and the two boy linked hands. Bruce leaned back, pulling with all his might while Tony’s feet scrambled against the bricks, trying to find purchase to help hoist himself up.
Tony managed to get his front half in through the opening, so Bruce grabbed him underneath the arms and gave one last pull. He realized he may have pulled a bit too hard when Tony came flying through, knocking him down and leaving them both on the ground.
Bruce lay on his back, Tony stretched out on top of him. Groaning, he shook his head, trying to clear it.
“Made it” Tony chuckled, sending vibrations though his chest. He could feel his face flush as Tony looked at him, his face only inches away. He silently thanked his lucky stars that it was dark enough that Tony wouldn’t be able to tell.
Rolling off of Bruce, Tony got up, brushing himself off. Seeing Bruce still lying there, he smiled, reaching out his hand. “You alright?” he asked. Bruce nodded as Tony squinted to try to see him in the dark as he helped him to his feet. “Cool, let’s go.”
They felt their way along the bank of lockers against the wall until they reached the doorway leading out into the gym. Both winced at the creak of the door hinges as they pushed it open, the noise seeming to bounce off the bare walls in the silence.
As they crept across the darkened gym, Bruce couldn’t help but marvel at how different everything seemed at night. The bleachers stood quiet and empty, no sneakers squeaked on the floor while basketballs bounced off rims. It was peaceful and he much preferred it this way.
Tony looked back to see what had slowed Bruce down. “Creepy, isn’t it?” he said, seeing the way Bruce was looked around. “It’s so weird being here when no one else is.”
“Yeah.” Bruce could just make out Tony’s shape in front of him as they walked, lit dimly by an emergency light in the hallway outside. They reached the opening into the hall and both poked their heads out to scan the corridor. The coast was clear and they scurried up the short flight of stairs to the atrium at the main entrance.
Tony kneeled down, rifling through his backpack. He started handing stacks of plastic cups to Bruce, working quickly. “You start filling them up at the water fountain and I’ll arrange them on the floor” he directed.
“This is going to take forever, there’s no way we’re not going to get caught.”
“Don’t be such a downer all the time, Brucie. It’ll be fine, just get going.”
Bruce huffed, giving Tony an annoyed look before taking the first stack of cups over to the water fountain. Slowly, he filled each one, lining them up along the floor next to him. Tony would grab a few as they filled, carefully arranging them a few inches apart so they eventually covered the entire atrium floor, from the door to the main hallway. No one would be able to make it through without making a mess and setting off a domino effect of water.
After an hour, Tony stood back and looked proudly at their accomplishment. There was only a small path left from Bruce to him that they would fill in now that they were finished.
“Perfect” Tony said, beaming at Bruce. “I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces tomorrow. Principal Hayward is going to be so pissed.”
Bruce couldn’t help but chuckle, Tony’s enthusiasm finally rubbing off on him now that they were done. “Think we’ll get to miss first period?”
Before Tony could answer, the pair heard footsteps coming down the hall towards them.
“Shit” Tony hissed, grabbing Bruce by the arm. “C’mon, this way.”
They took off running the opposite way just as the janitor caught sight of them. “Hey, stop right there! Get back here!” he bellowed at the fleeing boys. He took off running after them, but was too slow to keep up and soon lost sight of them.
Glancing behind them and seeing that they’d lost the janitor for the moment, Tony took the opportunity to duck into the nearest classroom. They could hear the pounding footsteps getting closer, so they shut the door as quietly as they could and assessed their situation.
Looking around, they realized they were in the chemistry lab, where they had fourth period together. Through the window in the door, they could see a flashlight beam bouncing down the hallway, peering into each classroom as it passed.
“He’s going to find us” Bruce hissed, his heart pounding from both the run and the threat of being caught.
“Back here” Tony whispered, taking Bruce’s hand and dragging him towards the back of the room. Bruce realized where they were headed, ducking into the small supply closet at the back of the room. It generally only fit one person at a time, so once the door was closed behind them, Tony and Bruce found themselves in very tight quarters.
Tony faced the door and Bruce was behind, his face to Tony’s back. As they listened they could hear the janitor going through each room, searching.
“Out of everyone you could have chosen for this, why did you have to pick me?” Bruce moaned quietly, dropping his head until it rested on Tony’s back. Bruce could feel Tony tense up in front of him and immediately lifted his head.
“Sorry –“ Bruce began to say, but before he could continue, they heard the classroom door open. Tony turned to face Bruce, feeling him beginning to shake.
“I can’t do this” he whispered, trembling, “Maybe we should just turn ourselves in”. Tony could hear his breathing quicken until he was practically gasping.
“You’re going to hyperventilate” Tony murmured into his ear, hearing the footsteps searching the room outside. “I need you to calm down. It’s going to be ok. We’ll be ok.”
Bruce sucked in a deep breath, trying to slow his pounding heart. The footsteps grew closer, making their way towards the closet. Bruce grabbed Tony’s arms in panic, his fingers digging into Tony’s skin.
Tony grabbed Bruce’s face, holding in gently in his hands. Before Bruce knew what was happening, Tony leaned in, pressing their lips together. Softly, Tony kissed him, teasing at his lips with his tongue, until Bruce parted them, his own tongue meeting Tony’s. They kissed for a minute, Bruce still holding on to Tony, but his hands now relaxed, his breathing beginning to slow.
As Tony pulled away, he turned an ear to the door, but the room outside seemed to be empty. He looked back at Bruce with a smile he couldn’t see. “That’s why I chose you” he said and Bruce could hear the usual Tony smirk in his voice.
“I-I don’t know—” Bruce stuttered, completely thrown for a loop.
“You don’t have to know anything now. But you know how I feel so…think about it.”
Tony carefully spun around, trying not to bump the shelves full of chemicals and glassware. “I think the coast is clear, let’s get the hell out of here.”
Exiting soundlessly, Tony and Bruce walked back out into the empty classroom. Tony headed towards the door when Bruce stopped him.
“Actually, I – brought some stuff if you, maybe, wanted to do another prank?” he suggested shyly.
“Well aren’t you just full of surprises” Tony laughed quietly. “Whatcha got?”
Bruce knelt down, unzipping his bag. He pulled out a container and an eye-dropper. “Some nitrogen triiodide.”
“Whoa, nice” Tony said admiringly, coming over to see. “I didn’t think you had it in you. This’ll definitely liven up class tomorrow.”
Bruce smiled, feeling good about impressing Tony. He carefully sucked up some of the liquid into the dropper. “Where should we put it?”
“Should we do Dr. Merriman’s desk? Nah, then we might miss it if it happens before school. Maybe all the desks? Yeah, let’s do that!” he said, giving Bruce a gentle shove towards the front of the class as he followed behind excitedly.
Bruce walked down the rows squeezing a drop onto each desktop. “Make sure you get ours too” Tony reminded him as Bruce paused over his seat. “Plausible deniability, just in case.” Bruce nodded, dropping some on his desk.
“I can’t wait” Tony continued, beaming. As soon as everyone’s books hit their desks, boom! And the purple stains it leaves behind… this will be the best senior prank yet.”
As Bruce finished the last row, Tony held open the bag for him as he packed away his supplies. Checking the hallway, they darted back towards the gym, into the locker room, pausing before the open window. Bruce swung one leg over the windowsill before awkwardly pulling the other up as well as he clung to the wall. Looking like he was about to topple out, Tony held out his hands, lowering Bruce slowly down until he was close enough to drop easily to the ground. Tony tossed down their bags before following, landing unceremoniously on his ass as had a bit higher of a fall.
Bruce helped him up, flushing when Tony clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Nicely done. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
“Well, I made it through without having a heart attack, at least” Bruce said, shrugging off Tony’s compliment. Scooting back alongside the building, they made it to the hole in the fence without incident.
“I guess I’ll see you in the morning” Tony said, standing close to Bruce.
“Uh yeah, sure.”
“Ok” Tony said, turning away to leave.
“Wait –“
“Yeah?”
“Thanks…for picking me for this” Bruce said nervously. He could feel his heart pounding and prayed that Tony couldn’t hear it, it seemed so loud. “I know I sort of…freaked out… for a minute there.”
“No worries” Tony said with a small smile. “I’d say you did pretty well, considering you’re such a goody-two shoes.”
“Hey!”
“Just messing with you” Tony said, winking. “Thanks for agreeing to come. I better get going, if my dad finds out I’m out after curfew, I’m dead.”
“Yeah, of course, just…” Bruce hesitated, taking a quick breath, before grabbing Tony’s hand. Blushing furiously, he leaned in, kissing Tony chastely on the lips. He pulled back, looking at Tony uncertainly.
Tony smiled, pulling him back for another kiss, a little longer this time, before letting him go.
“Bye” he said with a grin.
“Bye” Bruce repeated with his own dreamy smile. “See you tomorrow.”