Random OneShots

Be there

By: InkDippedFingers on Ao3

Stephen x Tony

~~~~~

Tony dragged his feet into the living room of the tower, his posture slumped and the nanotech housing on his chest feeling like a heavier weight than normal. He was distantly aware of the cut on his forehead, still sluggishly bleeding, and the bone deep ache in his shoulders from too many harsh maneuvers and panicked decisions – his body wasn't as young as it used to be.

Wiping a hand over his face, he blinked in the dimness, only the necessary lighting from the kitchen illuminating the space, and of course the sprawling city just beyond the glass walls of his tower. Normally, in the aftermath of a battle, he was still filled with enough adrenalin to wander down to his workshop – but not tonight. All he could think about was the exhaustion tugging at his eyelids and how utterly unappealing the thought of his cold bed was.

Stepping toward the couch with the thought of passing out there and then, he found himself stumbling backwards with a startled cry as a shadow shifted from that very spot, followed by a bleary, "Tony?"

The lights flickered on automatically, Friday clearly trying to make-up for what was obviously a severe breach in their security protocols while he tried to slow his pounding heart, his breath coming out in ragged pants as he stared at the familiar figure wincing in the sudden brightness. "What the fuck?" Tony complained loudly. "This is so not okay!"

Stephen stood from the couch, his knuckles rubbing at his eyes, as he peered back at him with a sheepish smile, "I didn't mean to scare you, Tony."

"I know that. Why didn't Friday tell me?" his head tilted upwards like he could see her.

"Sorry boss – I thought-"

"She didn't think it was important," Stephen interrupted. "I'm here all the time these days."

That was true, Stephen had been spending at least four out of seven nights in the tower, in his bed and he was glad he was. Still, Friday should know better than to not warn him about his arrival – especially given Stephen's tendency to just appear out of nowhere.

Settling a hand over his heart, willing himself to calm down, Tony found his eyes being drawn to where Stephen now leaned against the back of the couch. He was dressed casually, sweatpants and a T-shirt, suggesting he wasn't on Sanctum duty tonight and that he had been there awhile.

"Have you been waiting up this whole time?"

A blush-stained Stephen's cheeks, his gaze darting away, "it hasn't been that long."

Warmth bloomed in Tony's chest as he stared at his partner. Stephen had a small furrow between his eyes, like he was distinctly uncomfortable, but Tony was too distracted by the thought that this was their new normal. It was easy from there to move closer, to step into Stephen's arms and let them encircle his body, to sink into his firm chest, and press a kiss just beneath his jaw.

Stephen finally met his gaze, their depths filled with unspoken affection, "how did it go?" He whispered softly, like he hadn't been glued to the TV since the battle began – like he hadn't been ready to come to his rescue at a moment's notice.

Tony didn't mind, he liked the domesticity of the question, like his answer was a thousand times more important than what he saw on TV. Sighing, he buried his face into his chest and tried not to think too hard about the way his body felt like it'd been pummeled within an inch of his life, "it was fine, a few casualties in the rubble they think – but it was fine."

For a moment, the arms around him tightened, a gentle comfort. They both knew better than to give false reassurances, he couldn't save everybody no matter how hard he tried. It was a difficult truth Tony had been working very hard to accept these past years.

They stood there for a long time before Tony finally worked up the nerve to ask, a part of him afraid that Stephen would leave in a flurry of activity the moment he dared speak the words. He did anyway, because he didn't like not knowing how long he'd be able to drown in his partner's comfort, "I thought you were supposed to be at the Sanctum tonight?"

It wasn't a mistake on his part, he hadn't mixed the days like he'd done so often in the past. Tony had set a reminder on his phone and with Friday, wanted to manage his expectations – he really did hate sleeping in cold sheets without Stephen's familiar presence pressed along his back. Even if he wasn't meant to be there – they'd just defeated a massive threat in the heart of New York and involved or not, he'd imagine the sorcerers to be on high alert for the rest of the night.

"Wong got a couple of recruits to take over – it's good experience for them," he laughed a little. "They think of it like a reward."

"Poor bastards," he murmured lightly.

Tony felt something press against his hair – Stephen's lips to be certain and he found himself trying to suppress the grateful tears welling up in his eyes. He didn't ask the natural follow-up question, didn't wonder why Stephen could step away from his duties tonight – it was something they still didn't vocalize even after all this time.

He chose to just be happy that he was there.

"Let's get you to bed," Stephen's voice was soft, coaxing like he thought Tony needed to be convinced.

Tightening his hands in his partner's shirt, Tony refused to move for a moment longer, "I'm really glad you're here." I'm really glad I have you to look out for me.

Stephen's pause was familiar to him, they'd always been better at saying everything in the spaces between words, in the touches and looks that were shared, and that quiet strumming energy that morphed and flexed every time they were together.

"I love you," trembling fingers tipped his chin up until he was staring into crystalline eyes. "Always Tony."

You'll never have to know what it is to be without me.

Tony liked the idea of that promise.