[Steve lying down beside him would have been enough, he would've snuggled up right to him. Especially after what a day this has been, there would have been nothing he'd like to have done more- except maybe burn off some frustrations while lovingly fucking one another but they'll save it. Save it for when he can fully commit and the both of them have time to just lose themselves to one another.
But when Steve slots in and then pulls him in and then tight, Tony exhales slowly. Tips his head up into the hollow of Steve's throat, leaves one hand trapped between them, his other arm winding back around Steve over his hips. Just hanging on. It's grounding. Being held just a little too tight. In a way that he'll probably never be able to fully explain. There's just something about being weighted down by strong arms. Yet the ones that belong to one of the kindest, gentlest people he knows. And the only person he loves in the way that he loves Steve.
There's a protectiveness in it. Safety. Something that brings him back down from all the haze and anchors him to earth. Where he belongs. With his husband. And Steve is warm, always has been so warm. Sometimes the best person to cuddle up with when it's cold outside. There's been an ache and a chill in his bones lately that just dissipates when he's in Steve's arms like this.]
Perfect. [The small, honest answer comes while he's still soaking it all in. But then his lips shape into a lazy grin against Steve's neck.] You've definitely cornered the market on bear hugs.
[And Tony, forever lucky, that he owns the monopoly on them. ...okay well he shares with Alice but still. He's even happier for that.] I love you. [They probably won't keep like this all night and he feels tired but that's more a symptom of life at this point than anything else. He tries to quiet down and still, so that Steve at least can drift off. He's still expecting it to take him a little bit. Mind going just a little. Thinking. Of all the things he'd like to accomplish tomorrow. All the formulas and processes.]
[ He feels that exhale in his bones. Tony's had a long day, and he's had a long few months or however of keeping all these secrets to himself in an effort to not scare Steve, but he hadn't been successful at that. Still, it must have been stressful for him, and so Steve holds him tightly to himself. In a way, it's like he's telling both of them that he refuses to let go, he refuses to give up. He'll knock down all the doors to the Sanctum if he needs more time, he'll beg Hank for more Pym particles now that he's returned. He'll do anything to keep Tony, who has so much more living to do.
One time, when Alice was very young, she'd asked for a sibling. A big brother, she had requested. And Steve laughed it off and told her that might not be possible, but a younger brother wasn't out of the cards. It was so long ago, but he's reminded now. And once Tony's better, maybe they can be reminded again, but for now he focuses on the present, not the future. ]
I've been practicing. Have you been at the receiving end of Alice's hugs? Sometimes I'd wonder if it's not physically possible we're both her fathers.
[ Yes, definitely physically impossible, and it doesn't matter, anyway, because Steve will always be her father regardless, but it would be nice if they could have a child who they never needed to worry about getting sick, or breaking her bones.
Steve settles in to sleep, and though it'll take him longer than usual, he'll probably be out before Tony is, deep breaths and loud heartbeat steady there to guide him into a restful slumber. ]
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But when Steve slots in and then pulls him in and then tight, Tony exhales slowly. Tips his head up into the hollow of Steve's throat, leaves one hand trapped between them, his other arm winding back around Steve over his hips. Just hanging on. It's grounding. Being held just a little too tight. In a way that he'll probably never be able to fully explain. There's just something about being weighted down by strong arms. Yet the ones that belong to one of the kindest, gentlest people he knows. And the only person he loves in the way that he loves Steve.
There's a protectiveness in it. Safety. Something that brings him back down from all the haze and anchors him to earth. Where he belongs. With his husband. And Steve is warm, always has been so warm. Sometimes the best person to cuddle up with when it's cold outside. There's been an ache and a chill in his bones lately that just dissipates when he's in Steve's arms like this.]
Perfect. [The small, honest answer comes while he's still soaking it all in. But then his lips shape into a lazy grin against Steve's neck.] You've definitely cornered the market on bear hugs.
[And Tony, forever lucky, that he owns the monopoly on them. ...okay well he shares with Alice but still. He's even happier for that.] I love you. [They probably won't keep like this all night and he feels tired but that's more a symptom of life at this point than anything else. He tries to quiet down and still, so that Steve at least can drift off. He's still expecting it to take him a little bit. Mind going just a little. Thinking. Of all the things he'd like to accomplish tomorrow. All the formulas and processes.]
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One time, when Alice was very young, she'd asked for a sibling. A big brother, she had requested. And Steve laughed it off and told her that might not be possible, but a younger brother wasn't out of the cards. It was so long ago, but he's reminded now. And once Tony's better, maybe they can be reminded again, but for now he focuses on the present, not the future. ]
I've been practicing. Have you been at the receiving end of Alice's hugs? Sometimes I'd wonder if it's not physically possible we're both her fathers.
[ Yes, definitely physically impossible, and it doesn't matter, anyway, because Steve will always be her father regardless, but it would be nice if they could have a child who they never needed to worry about getting sick, or breaking her bones.
Steve settles in to sleep, and though it'll take him longer than usual, he'll probably be out before Tony is, deep breaths and loud heartbeat steady there to guide him into a restful slumber. ]