"Really?" He asks this with a note of shocked disbelief. Steve, who had all the time in the world to plan on the ride home, something he must have been doing in spades, didn't plan for that? But it's that that makes Tony realize Steve didn't come into this prepared for them to break over it. Yet that had been Tony's first inclination. To just get away from him and-
Well. He hadn't gotten that far, had he?
And that must be the reason, even when Steve reels him in further, he's still holding himself. Arms still crossed, eyes drifting from Steve's. But he lets him do it. Because part of him wants it. Needs it so desperately. He's just hesitant. Because what if they're not done? What if they still get into it? What if this is too much for them to get around? Because while starting out with seedlings at SHIELD is a fine plan it's still-
...Steve would still pick Bucky. He's sure of it. If he and Bucky got into it, Steve would pick him. And why shouldn't he? Tony doesn't have that much to offer Steve. Doesn't compare in that way. Can't. And that's- ...it is what it is. What it always is.
He doesn't push him away, but he doesn't sink into him, either. Just standing there rigidly. "I have to do this." Resolved to that much, staring at the floor while Steve's so close, so warm and solid and right there and if he were any more of a complete or honest person he'd just wrap his arms around him and allow himself this one thing. But he can't. "You should go back to your search. Who knows. Maybe we'll meet in the middle." He can't because that's where they're headed. And better for him, for both of them now, to see this for what it is. What Tony's at least telling himself it is. In every effort to protect himself because at the end of the day, as time has always shown him, he's the only one he can rely on.
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Well. He hadn't gotten that far, had he?
And that must be the reason, even when Steve reels him in further, he's still holding himself. Arms still crossed, eyes drifting from Steve's. But he lets him do it. Because part of him wants it. Needs it so desperately. He's just hesitant. Because what if they're not done? What if they still get into it? What if this is too much for them to get around? Because while starting out with seedlings at SHIELD is a fine plan it's still-
...Steve would still pick Bucky. He's sure of it. If he and Bucky got into it, Steve would pick him. And why shouldn't he? Tony doesn't have that much to offer Steve. Doesn't compare in that way. Can't. And that's- ...it is what it is. What it always is.
He doesn't push him away, but he doesn't sink into him, either. Just standing there rigidly. "I have to do this." Resolved to that much, staring at the floor while Steve's so close, so warm and solid and right there and if he were any more of a complete or honest person he'd just wrap his arms around him and allow himself this one thing. But he can't. "You should go back to your search. Who knows. Maybe we'll meet in the middle." He can't because that's where they're headed. And better for him, for both of them now, to see this for what it is. What Tony's at least telling himself it is. In every effort to protect himself because at the end of the day, as time has always shown him, he's the only one he can rely on.