[ how many times has tony remembered this feeling, the flashes of being carried across the sand that night? how many times has he wanted to feel it again, however briefly, even if just to see if he remembered it right? (turns out he did. the softness of the fur, the welcome warmth, the hold on him as strong as titanium, all of it.) but he's not shivering and delirious this time. he's perfectly capable, so there's no need.
tony swallows. definitely no need. voice still rough, he reminds the gion, ] Well, as much as I love being bridal-carried by a real-life D&D character, I do have two working feet.
[He probably shouldn't think about how much he enjoys feeling Tony pressed against his chest. It's just the closeness of another person, he tells himself. Nothing more to it.]
I didn't mean to wake you.
[By now, they're at the top of the stairs, and he gently sets Tony down on his feet.] There.
[ that's sweet, tony thinks; simba planned to tuck him into bed as snug as a bug. if he were gay (and a gion), he'd be charmed, but he's not, sooo moot point, right? ] Great. Thanks for the lift, [ tony says, strangely quiet, and then stands there awkwardly like a girl being dropped off at her doorstep after a first date, which–nope. not going there. he coughs and calls out, ] JARVIS! Hit me with the time.
[ "it's 12:46 a.m., sir."
as good of an exit as any. ] Yeah, I should probably try to reach that mythical state of "well-rested in the morning" that Pepper insists exists. Night. [ he wiggles his fingers in a wave. ]
Sleeping is a good start, [he agrees with mock solemnity. his next words are totally honest, though.]
Thanks for hanging out with me. It was nice.
[yeah, that sounds dumb, but also terribly earnest (and a little shy). he smiles softly at tony, reaches out to touch his shoulder for a moment, then turns to head back downstairs and to his bedroom.]
[ after sharing a smile and watching simba descend the stairs, tony tries to shake the feeling, first metaphorically and then literally with his whole body like a chill shot up his spine, that Something has Changed. the second try, for the most part, works. ] Yup, [ he gasps and leaves for his bedroom. he shuts the door behind himself and breathes.
when tony finally falls asleep, he unknowingly curls into the spot that simba lazed in earlier that night, even though it had long lost the warmth, the comforter tight around his shoulders. ]
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At least you get to sleep on a bed this time. Even if it feels like quicksand.
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tony swallows. definitely no need. voice still rough, he reminds the gion, ] Well, as much as I love being bridal-carried by a real-life D&D character, I do have two working feet.
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I didn't mean to wake you.
[By now, they're at the top of the stairs, and he gently sets Tony down on his feet.] There.
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[ "it's 12:46 a.m., sir."
as good of an exit as any. ] Yeah, I should probably try to reach that mythical state of "well-rested in the morning" that Pepper insists exists. Night. [ he wiggles his fingers in a wave. ]
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Thanks for hanging out with me. It was nice.
[yeah, that sounds dumb, but also terribly earnest (and a little shy). he smiles softly at tony, reaches out to touch his shoulder for a moment, then turns to head back downstairs and to his bedroom.]
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when tony finally falls asleep, he unknowingly curls into the spot that simba lazed in earlier that night, even though it had long lost the warmth, the comforter tight around his shoulders. ]