Work Text:
Neoteric
Gibbs watched Tony regularly vanish and worried that he’d be stuck here for good. He watched Tony get more and more tired and worried even more. He couldn’t really do anything for him though.
It wasn’t like he knew how to transfer dimensions. Still while he waited, he couldn’t help thinking about all that had happened. His thoughts reminded him about what Rupert had been sprouting out before they left.
“Why are you in danger if you’re not mated?” Gibbs probed while Tony rested.
Tony sighed. He wished that Rupert hadn’t brought that up. He’d heard about it from Penny. It was a neoteric idea that those that were unmated were easier to sense than those that are mated to humans. “Don’t worry about it, Gibbs.”
“Tony.” Gibbs warned.
“Seriously, Gibbs. It’s not a big deal.”
“They seem to think it is.”
Tony knew Gibbs was like a bull when someone tried to hide something from him, but he really didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want Gibbs to be with him just because it would make him safer. If he told Gibbs what they were talking about, he would always wonder if that was why Gibbs was with him if they got together later.
Shaking off the concerns, Tony ignored Gibbs statement and tried to figure out what he was doing wrong. Penny was able to drag Gibbs along and she didn’t even have the connection with Gibbs that he did, so he should be able to do it as well. He had to be missing something simple. He just knew it.
Gibbs let the silence stretch out. He had the patience of a sniper. He’d eventually get the answer out of Tony.
Either now or once they returned. It didn't matter to Gibbs. What did matter is that Tony stayed ok. Gibbs would do anything in his power to accomplish that.
Tony settled down. He'd been rushing trying to get out of here. He was sure this was instinct. So he settled down and focused on himself and what he was feeling and sensing.
That's when he felt it. The part inside of him that he thought of as Gibbs. He'd been actively pushing it away not wanting to pressure Gibbs into mating with him if that wasn't what Gibbs wanted.
Now, he realized. He couldn't do that. Not if he wanted to get Gibbs back to the human dimension.
That was his connection to Gibbs. He needed to bring it with him while he changed dimensions. Trying that, Tony breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Gibbs had come with him this time.
