[His eyelids feel too heavy to keep open at this point. He's on the cusp- but Steve's still moving around a little, even if it's to settle them all the more. He's comfortable. And warm. It's nice. But there's a narrative here that obviously he can't just leave alone.]

You always come. When I call. Sometimes even when I don't. But you know.

[The times when Steve shows up for him even when Tony doesn't ask for him are the most important parts, he feels. Times when he'd rather soldier on alone, never mind the mountain of reasons why during any given moment. Those are the most precious. Those are the most important.

Because that's how this started, after all. Tony didn't put out a call, when he was suffering and determined to be alone. But Steve heard one anyway.]

You do everything. So don't say that.

[Almost like he's annoyed that Steve would try to say otherwise. To lessen the seriousness of how much Tony means this. Because he does. In his drunken, unintelligible way.]

Break the fall- I think that's what I said- you're always there, even when I was sure I'd have to hit the ground.

[Pick up. Carry on. Fix himself and walk whatever the hell he's talking about off. Any number of scenarios where he pulls his whole lone wolf act that people get increasingly mad at because he does have people. Even when he tries not to involve them in his messes. But Steve's stubborn, and sometimes he needs that too.

...just not a lot of that is translating right now.]

Even if it's just a ride home. That's what I needed. You always know.