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Bruce looked at his phone and winced at seeing a text asking for help. It wasn't even Tony asking. It was one of those override protocols that he had set up for Jarvis for use only in emergencies. One of Tony's ways to mitigate for his distinct lack of common sense and self-preservation instincts. Bruce dreaded getting one of those texts, although since Tony's health took a drastic nose dive, they became so common that they almost became woven into the tapestry of his daily routines. This time, Tony had truly outdone himself. Bruce wasn't expecting to find him in an alleyway next to a notorious BDSM club, out of all places, looking distinctly worse for wear.
"Jesus, Tony, what the hell happened? Did you get mugged?" Bruce kneeled beside Tony on the ground and began giving him a once-over.
"Not quite..." Tony barely registered Bruce's presence until he had spoken directly to him and started fussing, shining way too bright light in his eyes and taking his pulse.
Bruce put the two and two together: "May I suggest that you put the realization of life-endangering fantasies and kinks at the bottom of your bucket list? Otherwise, you may just miss out on a lot of other stuff."
"It's not like that..." Tony shook his head and immediately regretted it as his surroundings started spinning again, and everything in his line of vision doubled. He started to wonder if it was all down to oxygen deprivation or if he hit his head at some point.
"Have you seen the state of your neck? What were you even thinking? You may be better, but you still have a heart condition and bum lungs. Breath play is the last thing you should be doing."
"He ignored my hard limits... And the safe word..." Tony babbled. He still felt dazed and confused, but with each deep breath, his brain came back online.
"This place is notorious. I'm not even surprised..." Bruce let out a deep sigh.
"How do you know what this is? Or how notorious..."
"Never mind how I know. Concentrate on your breathing." Bruce admonished. "I don't need the details, but you must tell me if you are hurt anywhere else. Honestly."
"My left shoulder. I think it may be dislocated from..." Irrelevant details. Tony stopped himself.
Bruce took hold of his wrist again and felt Tony's fast and thready pulse. "Any chest pain?"
"Yeah... My ICD shocked me, and then again. That's when he finally let me go... Is it ... Is it going to be ... another storm?"
"It's unlikely... " Bruce was flicking to Tony's vitals on his phone. "You are in sinus rhythm. I think you are just shaken up and need some proper aftercare."
"Uhuh"
"I will try and pop your shoulder back in..."
"Don't... It won't budge. The muscles have seased...."
"How long have you been sitting here for?"
"I don't know... A couple of hours maybe."
"Tony..." Bruce was lost for words. He just helped Tony get up and walked him slowly to the car.
"I'm thirsty..."
"I know. I will make you comfortable very soon but I will need to sedate you to get this shoulder back in. It's better that you don't have anything to eat or drink."
As soon as they reached the Tower, Tony collapsed onto the bed. He was completely exhausted. It wasn't long before memories of his latest ordeal made their way into his nightmares.
It started with images of the punk from the club. Pushing against Tony's throat and choking him despite it being one of his hard limits. Ignoring his safe word. Tony could feel the oxygen being cut off from his brain. The panic raising. The pain in his chest. Before long he was no longer cuffed to a bed post at the club. He was at his Malibu mansion. Sitting on the sofa. Unable to move and completely helpless whilst Obadiah ripped the reactor from his chest. The pain. Tony could not stand the pain he was sure that he was going to die. And then he was back in bed again. Still at the mansion but in a very different room. Obadiah telling him not to move. Not to scream. Tony paralyzed with fear.
"Oh God" Tony had suddenly awoken with a gasp. He felt as if he was kicked in the chest. He looked around. Bruce was standing over him. The emergency grab bag was opened and some of the contents spread all over the floor. Bruce was holding an oxygen mask against his face.
"Tony, I need you to take some slow, deep breaths. You are alright. Everything is fine. It must have been a hell of a nightmare."
"What... What has happened?"
"You had another sustained Vtach. The ICD has shocked you repeatedly with much more energy than usual. By definition, this is..."
"An electrical storm." Tony swallowed hard, memories of the last time his pacemaker went off script and started shocking him repeatedly flooding his mind. "I know what you are going to say. I need to go to hospital. I don't. I know what the trigger is. I just need some help to relax. Please, Bruce, I am not going to relax in the ER surrounded by strangers... Having to explain..."
"OK, alright. I'm going to call Sam for some advice. I am prepared to compromise on the medical bay for now. I need to pop your shoulder back in. Pain isn't helping the adrenaline surge you are experiencing. "