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[dropsofjupiter]

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stark
aequitatis
pottspepper
starklegacy for au time hopping shenanigans because of course she would. and of course i would.

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[stark]

[ Tony’s very much aware of the fact that his hand is still in Steve’s, but at the same time, he very much doesn’t care. He could pull back, sure. Maybe he should. But it’s comforting, and the idea of letting go doesn’t quite sound so appealing.

Besides, for a moment he even forgets as Steve speaks about his condition. Tony’s brow furrows as he listens and sure, he’s walking so that does give him a one-up over him right now, but still. ]

I’m sorry, I wish you didn’t... [ He trails off for a moment, because he doesn’t quite know how to say it. He’s thankful, of course, that Steve used the stone on him. That he’s able to be here and they can be speaking. But he can’t be glad about it, considering the toll it took on Steve’s body. Steve may claim he’s fine, but Tony’s concern doesn’t disappear because he doesn’t quite believe him. ]

...thank you. [ He gives his hand a small squeeze, since his own strength hasn’t returned yet. ] You didn’t have to do this.

[gotup]

[Steve just huffs when Tony apologizes. He would have sacrificed so much more to bring him back that being sapped of his strength seems like a minor consequence. At one time, it would have meant everything to him - but Tony's life means more. Besides, he'll recover with time. They both will, he's sure of that.]

Stop trying to be humble, Tony. It doesn't suit you.

[He's teasing, and he softens the words with a smile. Mostly, Steve's bad at accepting gratitude. He doesn't need to be thanked for anything he does - he just does it, usually without considering the consequences beforehand, because it's the right thing to do.]

And like I said, it's more important to have a guy who can look forward than someone who's stuck in the past. [The shrug Steve gives is a little self-deprecating, but he means it: Tony is more important to the world than he is. They need minds like his, because there's a whole universe out there - a whole lot of universes - and Tony's the only one who can handle that particular brand of thinking. They'd already proven that.]

[stark]

[ The tease earns Steve an eye roll, but with the smile that goes along with it it's easy to tell that it's not malicious at all. Either way, even if Steve doesn't want want to accept his gratitude, though, it's very much there, reflecting in his eyes.

At what he says, though, he can't help but scoff. ]

Oh please, that's a load of crap. The world has already lost you once, Cap. Twice, if you count what happened after the Accords. I don't think we can afford to do it again.

[ He says it as he looks at him, as if to ensure Steve can see that he's not lying. This isn't just lip service. He means what he's saying. ]

And, well...if you would have found a way to keep me here, while you weren't, I would have bitched about it until I somehow found a way to bring you back. Obviously no one wants that, so...since you are still here, you just have to make sure you stay alive. [ He gives his hand a small squeeze before he can refute that. ] It's important to me that you do.

[gotup]

[There are only so many ways to interpret that, and most of them don't typically involve holding someone's hand and refusing to let go. Yeah, there are other people Steve would die for, but he doesn't have that sort of physical intimacy with them. (Of course, up till today, he would have assumed the same of Tony.) Steve stares long and hard as the meaning behind Tony's words percolates through his brain like coffee in a drip filter. Truth is, he's not very good at reading emotions sometimes, especially not romantic ones - and he's almost as bad at expressing them.

So when Steve brings Tony's hand up to his lips and brushes a kiss - soft and timid - against the back of it, the question is clear in his eyes, in the way he hunches into his shoulders a little, like he's expecting rejection. His stomach lurches like he's back on the Cyclone, and he sets their joined hands back down on the bed, licking his lips.]

Lucky for you, it looks like I'm pretty hard to get rid of.