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It’s been a long day, for both of them, but especially for Tony, who had both a Senate hearing and an Avengers leader meeting on the same day. Given how frequently those two are in conflict with each other, Stephen feels it was more than a little cruel to schedule them on the same day. Tony was the only person who had to appear at both, though, and apparently his schedule wasn’t a deciding factor.
Stephen was biased, but he felt it should be.
Either way, the day is over now and they’re curled up together in bed. It’s not time to sleep yet, but it’s the most comfortable place to hold onto each other, so there they are. Tony’s head is resting on Stephen’s chest and the tension is slowly easing out of his neck and shoulders under the gentle sweep of Stephen’s hand.
“Thanks,” Tony murmurs eventually.
“What for?” Stephen hadn’t been any help; he hadn’t been invited to either meeting.
“Being here. Letting me complain to you. Waiting to find out the details. Pick one,” Tony says.
“You don’t have to thank me for that. I’ll always be here for you.”
Tony is quiet for a long moment. “Don’t take this personally, but… I have a hard time believing that.”
Stephen’s not surprised. Everyone in Tony’s life has abandoned him at one time or another. Even Pepper. Even Rhodey.
“Give me a few decades,” Stephen says, “and I’ll prove it.”