[ Steve refuses to believe that Tony and Peter are gone — that his family is gone — not until he sees proof. God. He can't. Not until he's had a chance to apologize.
Which is why, when Carol says she'll look for them, Steve just nods. Of course she would, because of course there's someone to look for.
But it isn't until he first lays eyes on Tony, however, that all the guilt and regret in Steve's chest is momentarily washed away. Relief is followed by gratitude, followed by love, until— ]
I lost the boy.
[ Hearing it from Tony's lips makes Steve feel like someone's grabbed hold of his windpipe and started squeezing. His eyebrows scrunch and they quiver once as Steve's see's the thin coat of tears in Tony's eyes. ]
I couldn't stop him.
[ It's not your fault, Tony. ] I couldn't either.
[ Only a second passes before Steve pulls him in for a hug, his hands swiftly supporting Tony's back to secure them together just like he used to. But instead of feeling the familiar shape of Tony's body, he's shocked by how small Tony feels in his arms. It makes Steve pull him in tighter.
For a moment, Steve just wants to cry. There's too much bottled up inside him and it's all threatening to come pouring out. But for just a while longer, he tells himself, he needs to keep it together. ]
C'mon. [ He whispers, against Tony's temple. ] Let's get you inside.
I haven't written in a while. Be gentle. ðŸ¤
Which is why, when Carol says she'll look for them, Steve just nods. Of course she would, because of course there's someone to look for.
But it isn't until he first lays eyes on Tony, however, that all the guilt and regret in Steve's chest is momentarily washed away. Relief is followed by gratitude, followed by love, until— ]
I lost the boy.
[ Hearing it from Tony's lips makes Steve feel like someone's grabbed hold of his windpipe and started squeezing. His eyebrows scrunch and they quiver once as Steve's see's the thin coat of tears in Tony's eyes. ]
I couldn't stop him.
[ It's not your fault, Tony. ] I couldn't either.
[ Only a second passes before Steve pulls him in for a hug, his hands swiftly supporting Tony's back to secure them together just like he used to. But instead of feeling the familiar shape of Tony's body, he's shocked by how small Tony feels in his arms. It makes Steve pull him in tighter.
For a moment, Steve just wants to cry. There's too much bottled up inside him and it's all threatening to come pouring out. But for just a while longer, he tells himself, he needs to keep it together. ]
C'mon. [ He whispers, against Tony's temple. ] Let's get you inside.