"Keeping Tony Stark Sane, huh? Me doing that was the blind leading the blind." They were mad scientists. That was what Tony said, and it was true. The two of them separate made bad decisions, caused a lot of violence and turmoil, and then together, they did much more. It was sad but inevitable. Sad that a friendship made with such sincerity and rarity had to come hand in hand with so much regret and pain. Bruce didn't have a single connection in his life that wasn't a hundred different variations of Complicated or Difficult. Simple didn't last long in the equation.

"I'm glad, I am, it's good that you have people." When Bruce first met him, he assumed Tony was who he appeared to be in the public. Brilliant and beloved and good with everyone, good at all the things Banner himself couldn't even dream about. And he was. He was just other things too. Even now, he had a magnetic (not intentional) pull, it drew people in. Whoever these three were, it was important.

Bruce of years ago would just let that fly, but time together, time with the Avengers, and then some truly terrible things happening made him a lot less scared than he used to be. Not of the things that mattered, when they saw most of it die. He usually shied away from being in other people's space, and Tony was the one who just ambled through his personal space, so he did the same, sidling up to his side. "Tony, you know I'm don't believe that." He watched his friend carefully. "I know it's been awhile, but it's still just me here. You can tell me anything." The lack of judgment between two mad scientists? Necessary.