[ Although Steve has already told him he still loves him, that that’s the reason why he wants to come back and stay for good this time, the full I love you disarms him once again. It shouldn’t take him by surprise this much, but it does. Maybe the malnourishment affected his brain, he’ll wonder later.
Before Steve can leave the room, though, Tony answers before he can realize what he’s actually saying. ]
I love you, too.
[ It’s quiet, his voice almost getting lost in the room, but Steve would be able to hear it. It’s the answer Steve had been waiting for, the one he had already answered without a straight answer anyway. He’s still not ready to just start up what they used to have like nothing happened, he’ll still need time to learn how to trust Steve again, but...he does love him. Despite himself and how much he tried to forget him, he still loves him.
With a nod, Tony settles back against the pillows again before turning to look out the window. The vastness of space isn’t threatening to eat him up alive anymore, his new view is very different than what it was for 23 days, and he finds himself drifting off to sleep again not even a minute later. It’s just for a second, he tells himself. He just needs to close his eyes for a second. ]
no subject
Before Steve can leave the room, though, Tony answers before he can realize what he’s actually saying. ]
I love you, too.
[ It’s quiet, his voice almost getting lost in the room, but Steve would be able to hear it. It’s the answer Steve had been waiting for, the one he had already answered without a straight answer anyway. He’s still not ready to just start up what they used to have like nothing happened, he’ll still need time to learn how to trust Steve again, but...he does love him. Despite himself and how much he tried to forget him, he still loves him.
With a nod, Tony settles back against the pillows again before turning to look out the window. The vastness of space isn’t threatening to eat him up alive anymore, his new view is very different than what it was for 23 days, and he finds himself drifting off to sleep again not even a minute later. It’s just for a second, he tells himself. He just needs to close his eyes for a second. ]