These Little Moments / Ironstrange

9~ Comfort

   My eyes fluttered open to bright lights glaring all around me, shining over my bed and beeping heart rate monitor. I looked down at the IV in my hand and groaned. Not again. Instinctively, I checked myself for any injuries which were minimal, save for a few cuts here and there. I got lucky this time. There was only one nurse in the room, but he was asleep in the chair at my bedside. He wasn't wearing scrubs though...or a hospital badge. He was in a tux, navy jacket draped on the guard rail of my bed and bow tie undone around his neck. Wait, that's not a nurse.

   "Tony?" I was surprised by how weak my voice was. It almost sounded like an old wooden door, slowly creaking open. His head shot up, dark circles evident under his tired eyes.

   "Stephen?" He questioned, uncertainty in his tone. I nodded as best I could, making his gorgeous eyes light up. "You're awake!"

   "Yeah, I'm awake. What happened? Did I miss our date? Tony I'm so-" I was cut off by strong arms looping around my neck, soft hair brushing my cheek. Tony buried his face into my neck, sending vibrations down it as he spoke.

   "You had me worried sick! You've gotta stop doing this! One car crash is enough for a lifetime," he lifted himself and looked me in the eye. "What if you died?"

   "I didn't."

   "But what if you did?" Tony placed a hand comfortingly on my cheek. "I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if you died."

   "Tony..." I tried to lift my arm, but a spike of pain shot up it. I guess I broke a bone. Great. I hissed in pain, making Tony back away from me.

   "Do you need a nurse?" He asked, frantically stroking my injured arm. "They're walking around outside right now. I could just go call one in for you."

   "No. No, Tony, I'm fine," I assured him, my eyes searching his worried ones. "Really, I'm okay."

   "Is there anything I can do?" He implored. "Please, I just can't see you like this. So hurt and broken. It scares me."

   "You could..." I started, an idea sparking in my mind. I quickly shook my head, dismissing the thought. "No that's stupid nevermind."

   "What?" I could see tears in his eyes. He was desperate to help me, in any way he could. It broke my heart, but I smiled softly at him.

   "It's not really medically proven," I began and he scooted closer to me. "But could you kiss away the pain?"

   "What do you mean?" He asked, taking my hand.

   "Can you kiss all my cuts?" I cringed at myself, but Tony just smiled. "It sounds stupid but... I think it's sweet."

   "Stephen I'd be an idiot to turn down a chance to kiss you," he giggled, lifting my hand up plant a kiss on the scar above my knuckles. Then, on the back of my wrist. His lips are chapped and warm against my cold skin, sending shivers up my spine. He gingerly flipped my hand over, glancing up at me before kissing my palm. Each fingertip received its own kiss and I couldn't help but laugh.

   "Tiny I don't think I have any wounds on my fingertips," I smirked and he chuckled, his breath hot on my palm.

   "Sshh," he quieted me. "Let me have this." He smiled gently at me as his lips continued their work, traveling excruciatingly show up my arm. Each kiss was remarkably soft, despite his dry lips. I shut my eyes, relishing in the sensation. He was so gentle that it made my heart ache. There was so much love and care in each peck that I could feel it in my bones. Maybe this practice did have some science to it after all.

   Tony eventually arrived at my shoulder, pulling back from me suddenly. I opened one eye to see him looking nervously at me. "Why did you stop?"

   "The rest are on your neck," he explained, tracing over one with a soft finger.

   "So?"

   "I didn't think you'd want me to."

   "I asked you on a date," both of my eyes were open now, focused in on his face. "I've really liked you for a while now, Tony, and I think you feel the same. I wouldn't have asked you to do this if I didn't want you to kiss me- and that includes my neck."

   "Yes," The finger on my neck came up under my chin, lifting it up carefully. "Yes of course I like you Stephen...I just don't want to hurt you."

   "You couldn't if you tried."

   His head dipped to my neck, two tantalizing kisses pressed against two small scars. I felt his breath against my jaw as he raised his face, leaving us centimeters apart. His eyes flitted to my lips, thumb coming up to trace a small cut on it. He sighed.

   "Stephen, I can't imagine a world without you in it," he whispered, resting a hand on my jaw. "It's cheesy, I know, but it's true."

   "Kiss me," I interrupted, breathlessly. One eyebrow raised slightly and I painfully moved my hands to the sides of his face. "Kiss me."

   Then his lips met mine, not hard or overly passionate. It was gentle, comforting, as I kissed back. My hands threaded through his hair and his lips shifted, capturing my bottom lip between them. I felt his soft hand against my jaw, running up to my ear and holding me. After a few moments, he moved to pull away but my lips followed him, pulled to him like a magnet. I pulled his head back to mine, connecting our lips in another, more heated kiss. He leaned over me, pressing his chest to mine as my hands played at the nape of his neck. That was when I bit his bottom lip and he pulled away.

   "S-Stephen..." He stuttered, clearly taken aback.

   "You're amazing, Tony Stark," I smiled up at him, small wrinkles crinkling around my eyes. A small yawn escaped my lips and Tony chuckled.

   "You've had a rough night, Steph," he smirked, pulling my blanket up to my chin. "You need rest."

   "Will you be here when I wake up?" I asked as he rested his head in the crook of my neck.

   "Always."

~*~*~

A/N: Y'ALL I CAN'T HELP MYSELF THEY'RE SO CUTE. Hope this wasn't too much too soon for you guys, but they're so in love it hurts