Apartment Above Stark Industries, Sunday Evening

[imafuturist]

The weekend had been one of the super fun kind that this island was so fond of throwing at people. And Steve had left a note before disappearing on him.

Which.

You know, that would be unpacked sometime when he wasn't looking five minutes from falling apart on Tony. But it was going to be A Thing. Don't think it wouldn't be.

"I'm ordering you food," Tony said the moment they were through the door.

[For he who is modded]

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[imafuturist]

"Steve," Tony said, taking his hand. "You know I'd never judge you, right?"

[heroic_jawline]

"I know," Steve said. "I judge me. And so did all of the weird stuff from Ma's house as it followed me around the woods all weekend. The portrait of Jesus was especially mouthy."

[imafuturist]

"About what?" Please don't make him fight the angry Jesus painting, Steve.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve leaned in and kissed him before getting another slice of pizza. "Don't go and fight the imaginary portrait, sweetheart."

[imafuturist]

Tony huffed, shoving a slice into his own face. "You were a great kid. Whatever that portrait said was wrong."

[heroic_jawline]

"How do you know that I was a great kid?" Steve asked.

[imafuturist]

"I have met tiny you," Tony replied, giving him a quick, slightly garlic-tasting kiss.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve sighed, then nodded. "But I was sick so much of the time--sicker because I was stubborn about being sick, and I caused Ma all kinds of grief."

Thanks for bringing that part up, creepy St. Patrick statue.

[imafuturist]

"She loved you," Tony replied with conviction. Half because he couldn't imagine otherwise and half because it was easiest to believe nice things of others.

[heroic_jawline]

"I know she loved me," Steve said. "That doesn't stop the truth of me taking up far too much energy by getting sick every time the wind blew."

[imafuturist]

"You are worth it," Tony said, leaning to press his shoulder into Steve's.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve rested his head briefly against Tony's. "You, my love, are biased."

[imafuturist]

"Just a little," he admitted.

[heroic_jawline]

"I'll be fine," Steve said. "Just having little ugly...pieces of myself follow me around for a weekend was not great."

[imafuturist]

Tony reached up to pull Steve to face him for a gentle kiss. "Sounds like the island decided to make anxiety corporal, huh?"

[heroic_jawline]

"A bit like that," Steve said. "You would have hated it."

[imafuturist]

"I'd be curled up in a ball somewhere," Tony admitted. Which wasn't true. He'd just repress extra hard because those sorts of invasive thoughts weren't new.

[heroic_jawline]

"You're stronger than that," Steve murmured, absolutely sure of it.

[imafuturist]

Tony kissed him again, letting his hand on Steve's cheek linger. "And so are you."

[heroic_jawline]

"Not this weekend, I wasn't," Steve said.

[imafuturist]

"Made it through, didn't you?" Tony asked quietly. "That's strength."

[heroic_jawline]

"That was pure bull-headedness," Steve said, reaching for more pizza. "Couldn't let the damn statues know they were getting to me."

[imafuturist]

"That's just as good," Tony replied, going for a big of garlic knots. "Fake it til you make it."

Which might have been soom speaking from experience there.

[heroic_jawline]

"Oh, I was faking it for all I was worth," Steve admitted. "While back being small and wheezy."

[imafuturist]

"Pocket-sized," Tony replied, shooting him a fond look before offering one or five over to him.