Slow & steady

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ｔａｋｉｎｇ ｉｔ ｓｌｏｗ

a s m u t / s h i p p i n g m e m e

Some characters can't just rush into things, especially things like love or sex. These characters need a partner who will take things slow, explore each other fully before taking the leap. They need someone they can trust.

Can you be the one they need?

+ post your character, preferences, etc, with or without a prompt +
+ tag other characters, either replying to the prompt they supplied or supplying your own +
+ remember, just because you're taking it slow, doesn't mean you can both take the back seat +
+ be kind to one another, and patient +
+ enjoy +

Comments

[sidekick_this]

Rhodey shoots Tony a particular look before sighing. Never change, Stark. He takes a giant bite of burger, savoring it for all its flavor because even the best hospital food can't compare to this.

And the best part: no onions.

He stuffs a fry into his mouth, noting that Tony's seems really off. He doesn't want to, but he puts his burger down. "What's on your mind, man? You're normally not this quiet. I thought you'd be making fun of my hospital gown by now."

[shwarm_after]

It's nice to see that look coming from Rhodey. If he just ignores the fact that Rhodey can't walk anymore, he can pretend that they're still in college eating burgers in bed, cracking jokes about their hot (and not hot) professors. For just a second he can almost forget about the accords, and his parents, and his team, and the fact that Rhodey can-

Goddammit.

He almost cringes when Rhodey asks him what's wrong. He didn't want to make it look like anything was bothering him. This was supposed to be Rhodey's distraction. Rhodey's entertainment. He wasn't going to be a downer.

"It's nothing," He gives a smile because he's not going to do that to Rhodey. He's the last person who needs that. "Just a little tired, you know."

Well that was a lame excuse.

[sidekick_this]

"Tony." There comes that tone. They've known each other for many years, and Rhodey can tell when his best friend is lying like a cheap rug. He knows Tony is tired, but there's more to it than that.

"You know better than to hide anything from me." He attempts to sit up a bit more, ready to hear what Tony has to say, if he's going to say anything at all.

[shwarm_after]

It's that tone, and for some reason its almost a relief to hear it from Rhodey. It means that things are getting better. Better in the sense that Rhodey's at least feeling like himself.

The only downside to it was the fact that he could read Tony like an open book.

He sighed and put his burger down. It wasn't as good as In-N-Out, anyways. How was he going to say this? How was he going to simply apologize for what happened? He wasn't going to make things better. He couldn't give Rhodey his legs back. He couldn't take back everything he'd done. He couldn't make things right between his team or the world or the damn country.

He couldn't fix anything.

"I'm sorry." It was all he could say but it didn't fix anything. It didn't do a goddamn thing.

[sidekick_this]

True, the apology wasn't going to give Rhodey his legs back, nor would it patch up the shattered relationships between Tony and the other Avengers. But the words carried a hefty weight to them, letting Rhodey know that it was a genuine, heartfelt apology.

It was enough to make him smile a little.

He reached out and set his hand over his friend's, giving it a subtle, gentle squeeze.

[shwarm_after]

Tony looked up when he felt that hand on his own. He was supposed to be here for Rhodey, not the other way around. Rhodey was the one with the spinal injury. Rhodey was the one who couldn't walk anymore. How could he smile?

He turned his hand over and returned the squeeze with one of his own.

It didn't make it better. It didn't even help, but it showed that he cared. Hopefully. "I just want to help you." Except he isn't helping now. Hell, he's the reason Rhodey's like this, anyways. Maybe he's never helped.

[sidekick_this]

Tony sounds like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Rhodey can definitely tell Tony cares and is trying his best to make things right again, or as right as they can be.

"I know, man." Yeah Tony was supposed to be there to keep Rhodey fed properly with junk food, but he's happier to have his best buddy by his side. And he didn't blame Tony at all. He made his own choices, and things like this happen in the line of duty. His hand squeezed his friend's, his smile widening a little more.

[shwarm_after]

The biggest problem was that there was no way to make this right. Sure, he could help Rhodey walk again with robotics, but would it make everything better? No. It was like putting a band aid over a bullet wound. It was a temporary solution to a problem that he couldn't actually solve.

All of this was something that he couldn't fix. Couldn't solve. It was a problem with an impossible solution.

"I'm doing a piss poor job at it," he snorts but has to smile when Rhodey does. Maybe it's a force of habit, maybe it's just nice to see that smile again. Either way it has him pushing the food aside so he can move closer to his friend.

[sidekick_this]

Tony always tried to solve everything, and then beat himself up when the solution wasn't 100% correct. But to Rhodey, all that mattered was the effort and intentions behind it. He knew Tony had his well being in mind with all the assistance and medical care. They've always had each other's backs, and this proved it.

"You're doing your best. I appreciate all of it, especially leaving off the damn onions." Rhodey noticed Tony scooting closer, and that made his smile widen. He hand slid up his friend's arm and rested on his shoulder.