[It really is five minutes- maybe seven at the most- before there's that crunch of tires up the drive and then the sound of a car door slamming. Muffled voices, Rhodey and Tony passing each other farewells, Rhodey of course asking if he'll be okay and Tony telling him he's fine because he's always fine. Especially when he's not fine. And when they both know he's lying. But he bids him farewell and Rhodey leaves almost immediately after.
Tony takes one single second outside, like he's thinking standing out there and taking a breath might help but decides against it, because he knows what will. He wishes he had that feeling when he enters the house, that he could just shuck all of today off like a coat and hang it up. But that's not really him. That's not how he operates.
Instead he goes to the kitchen and immediately seals himself against Steve, winding his arms around his middle from behind, pressing his face against the back of Steve's shoulder while Steve's busy putting together what he assumes must be a different cup of tea. For him, no doubt. And this, in the safety and comfort of his own home with his husband, makes him feel better, breathing out a noise that's at least not all sigh into Steve's neck.
Then, muffled,]
Rhodey says hi. And also bye. He had another meeting to get to but he'll probably call later to ask how I am. To which you will, of course, say hunky-dory.
[ He hears Tony coming, of course he does, but he stays right where he is, because he loves the feeling of Tony enveloped all around him, rests a hand on his to keep him there. It's been a long day for him, and Steve will happily let them both take this moment, and let it soak in. They do always get to indulge, but today of all days, it just feels extra special. ]
Wish you'd stop lying to him. He doesn't want to hear that, he wants the truth.
[ Because of course, muffled or not, Steve knows exactly what Tony said. He turns in Tony's arms then, so he can wrap big arms around his waist, and card hands through his hair and guide his head to pillow against his broad and warm chest, built just for days like these. His heartbeat is so strong, and steady. He's hoping it does as much for Tony resting his nerves as he knows that pressing his ear against Tony's heart does for him. ]
I did say we could do anything you want tonight, so how about you pick a place for us to get takeout and then we figure something out?
Might be a good night for a swim in the lap pool.
[ Which is indoors so it's not like anyone can show up on the property. Whatever Tony chooses, Steve's goal is mostly just to keep him from doing work or any other activity where he has to be too alone with his thoughts, which means no movies that he can zone out for and probably no modeling for a portrait. ]
I'm not lying. I'm just massaging the truth here. Also it's about as pointless lying to him as it is to you.
[Two of the people that see right through Tony no matter what the circumstance. But those are the people he chose, that chose him in return. The kind of people he needs. Steve, especially right now, who turns and wraps him up tight. Gives him a place to rest for a moment, and he does so easily and greedily.
Leaning in, his arms still wrapped around Steve, he rests his head at his chest, eyes closed for a moment. He's home. Everything's fine from here. Everything's okay. No longer Mr. Stark or Anthony. No longer trapped in a room he doesn't want to be in with people he doesn't want to talk to, with a manic Justin Hammer wheeling around a loaded rifle.
All in the rear view. He just needs to keep telling himself that and eventually he'll believe it. But this helps.
His arms reach up, looped underneath Steve's, hands pressed into his shoulder blades while he clings, just a little. Head tilted up, into Steve's shoulder as if he can't tear away right now, he continues talking.]
Chinese food- I think I could eat an entire container of fried rice right now.
[Appetite appearing in the wear down of his nerves. And maybe Steve's gotten better at training him at being a human being. In small bits and pieces.]
But this first. For like. Five more minutes.
[Definitely demanding and not asking. But still a little wound tightly, he can't let the silence sit, and instead recaps finally, just a little.]
It's a shame you weren't there. Rhodey disarmed him so fast I thought he'd snapped his wrist. Would've been the cherry on top if you'd literally thrown him off campus.
Well, then maybe you'd have to be bailing me out of jail right now. Or, Rhodey would be doing it, because we both would've agreed that you need to be home, relaxing. Eating a ridiculous amount of fried rice.
[ He doesn't let go of Tony, but looks up towards the ceiling. ]
Got that, FRIDAY? Usual order of Chinese please.
[ He lowers his head then, to kiss Tony's temple, his hands around him protective, and strong. If he could, he'd make himself a cocoon around Tony so that he'd never have to face anyone he didn't want to. And maybe he's understanding the appeal of being completely surrounded in Iron Man armor. No one could see his face, even his voice is modulated. And he doesn't have to reach out and touch anyone.
All the luckier, that Steve gets Tony: who he is outside of the armor, beyond the self-aggrandizing string of titles, the multiple doctorates, the bylines they'd write for him under titles of magazines. He's just Tony, Tony who stays up too late and listens to music too loud and uses himself as a crash test dummy, emphasis on crash and dummy. ]
If there's a next time, I will. I don't say this a lot, but I think I hate them. I definitely hate that they're allowed to be near you. Hate that I couldn't be there to give Hammer a piece of my mind.
[ If Steve were less kind of a person, he would find it pathetic how Hammer clings to Tony's coattails, and pretends that they're peers even though he desperately knows that they're not. As it stands, he just finds it grating, a thorn in his side. Maybe, if he's very lucky, he can get Tony to agree to some sleep later, and have some time to draft an email to Lisa. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
plz excuse me while I start another action thread with you because cannot ever resist more soft boys
Tony takes one single second outside, like he's thinking standing out there and taking a breath might help but decides against it, because he knows what will. He wishes he had that feeling when he enters the house, that he could just shuck all of today off like a coat and hang it up. But that's not really him. That's not how he operates.
Instead he goes to the kitchen and immediately seals himself against Steve, winding his arms around his middle from behind, pressing his face against the back of Steve's shoulder while Steve's busy putting together what he assumes must be a different cup of tea. For him, no doubt. And this, in the safety and comfort of his own home with his husband, makes him feel better, breathing out a noise that's at least not all sigh into Steve's neck.
Then, muffled,]
Rhodey says hi. And also bye. He had another meeting to get to but he'll probably call later to ask how I am. To which you will, of course, say hunky-dory.
it's ok i also love soft boys
Wish you'd stop lying to him. He doesn't want to hear that, he wants the truth.
[ Because of course, muffled or not, Steve knows exactly what Tony said. He turns in Tony's arms then, so he can wrap big arms around his waist, and card hands through his hair and guide his head to pillow against his broad and warm chest, built just for days like these. His heartbeat is so strong, and steady. He's hoping it does as much for Tony resting his nerves as he knows that pressing his ear against Tony's heart does for him. ]
I did say we could do anything you want tonight, so how about you pick a place for us to get takeout and then we figure something out?
Might be a good night for a swim in the lap pool.
[ Which is indoors so it's not like anyone can show up on the property. Whatever Tony chooses, Steve's goal is mostly just to keep him from doing work or any other activity where he has to be too alone with his thoughts, which means no movies that he can zone out for and probably no modeling for a portrait. ]
no subject
[Two of the people that see right through Tony no matter what the circumstance. But those are the people he chose, that chose him in return. The kind of people he needs. Steve, especially right now, who turns and wraps him up tight. Gives him a place to rest for a moment, and he does so easily and greedily.
Leaning in, his arms still wrapped around Steve, he rests his head at his chest, eyes closed for a moment. He's home. Everything's fine from here. Everything's okay. No longer Mr. Stark or Anthony. No longer trapped in a room he doesn't want to be in with people he doesn't want to talk to, with a manic Justin Hammer wheeling around a loaded rifle.
All in the rear view.
He just needs to keep telling himself that and eventually he'll believe it. But this helps.
His arms reach up, looped underneath Steve's, hands pressed into his shoulder blades while he clings, just a little. Head tilted up, into Steve's shoulder as if he can't tear away right now, he continues talking.]
Chinese food- I think I could eat an entire container of fried rice right now.
[Appetite appearing in the wear down of his nerves. And maybe Steve's gotten better at training him at being a human being. In small bits and pieces.]
But this first. For like. Five more minutes.
[Definitely demanding and not asking. But still a little wound tightly, he can't let the silence sit, and instead recaps finally, just a little.]
It's a shame you weren't there. Rhodey disarmed him so fast I thought he'd snapped his wrist. Would've been the cherry on top if you'd literally thrown him off campus.
no subject
[ He doesn't let go of Tony, but looks up towards the ceiling. ]
Got that, FRIDAY? Usual order of Chinese please.
[ He lowers his head then, to kiss Tony's temple, his hands around him protective, and strong. If he could, he'd make himself a cocoon around Tony so that he'd never have to face anyone he didn't want to. And maybe he's understanding the appeal of being completely surrounded in Iron Man armor. No one could see his face, even his voice is modulated. And he doesn't have to reach out and touch anyone.
All the luckier, that Steve gets Tony: who he is outside of the armor, beyond the self-aggrandizing string of titles, the multiple doctorates, the bylines they'd write for him under titles of magazines. He's just Tony, Tony who stays up too late and listens to music too loud and uses himself as a crash test dummy, emphasis on crash and dummy. ]
If there's a next time, I will. I don't say this a lot, but I think I hate them. I definitely hate that they're allowed to be near you. Hate that I couldn't be there to give Hammer a piece of my mind.
[ If Steve were less kind of a person, he would find it pathetic how Hammer clings to Tony's coattails, and pretends that they're peers even though he desperately knows that they're not. As it stands, he just finds it grating, a thorn in his side. Maybe, if he's very lucky, he can get Tony to agree to some sleep later, and have some time to draft an email to Lisa. ]