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“Can’t sleep?”
“Hmm… just… thinking.”
“Yeah, you’re always thinking.”
Peter pressed a gentle kiss to Tony’s shoulder, shifting so he was sitting up in bed. They were both quiet a few moments, with Peter’s eyes squeezed shut and his lips still firm against Tony’s skin, both of them silent and breathing in sync.
“Love you, Tones.”
“Love you too, babe.”
Peter moved so he was hugging Tony, arms wrapped around his torso with his hands clasped on the far side. With how he’d moved, Tony had to put his tablet down from where he’d been pretending to read the latest tech dispatch.
Peter wore only boxers and Tony had on just soft flannel pants. Tony’s hair was shot with threads of grey and he was wearing his reading glasses; Peter may be younger than Tony, but his body was starting to show its age, too. His muscles were less defined and his skin was pocked with scars and hairs and a weird bump on his back that the doctors assured them was nothing to worry about.
“You want to talk about it?”
Even though they were the only ones in the apartment, Peter whispered. His voice touched Tony’s bare skin gently and settled low and sweet in the bed. Tony took his time answering.
“Not tonight.” He said eventually, then rubbed his eyes.
Peter shrugged and climbed out of bed, moving as quietly as possible. He turned on the bedside lamp, covering them both in warm golden light, then padded out of the room.
Tony watched the open doorway where Peter had disappeared, but when Peter’s footsteps faded down the hall he turned back to his tablet.
Peter returned a few minutes later with a mug in each hand.
Tony smiled at him, “Babe, you didn’t have to make tea.”
“I didn’t.” Peter said, and he pressed a mug into Tony’s hand who smiled as the scent of chocolate wafted between them. Peter had added three mini marshmallows to the hot cocoa, and Tony took an appreciative sip, ignoring how it burned his tongue.
Peter settled next to him with his own cup and leaned his head on Tony’s shoulder, looking at the contents of his tablet.
Tony said eventually, “… My heart feels heavy. It just feels like… like there’s just too much… and it’s all stopped up… and I’ll never be able to… to…”
Too much all around them. Too much to the world. Never able to carry it all.
“I know.” Peter whispered, and his hands had been warmed by the hot chocolate when he reached to hold Tony.
Peter said, “You can sleep now, Tony. If you’re ready.”
Tony said, “I know.” And neither of them commented when he blinked back tears sparking on red-rimmed eyes.
“If you’re ready.” Peter repeated.
But neither of them slept right away.
Instead, they sat in the silence together, wrapped up in light and warmth and quiet.
With six mini marshmallows between them.