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Tony felt safe with Matt. Felt safe letting him be there through Tony's worst.
And he won't lie, a big part of why is because Matt's blind. Because he can't see Tony. Can't see the state Tony's in.
He doesn't see the redness in Tony's eyes, or the way Tony can't bring himself to put up a smile sometimes.
Even if his other senses are better, even if Tony knows Matt can tell Tony hasn't showered, hasn't slept. Even if Matt's voice still softens when Tony's own voice cracks.
Besides, it's not like he has many other people who notice when somethings wrong, not anymore.
And here they are again, sitting on Tony's balcony, city noise bleeding into the silence. Matt still has his suit on, probably just finished patrolling, if Tony had to guess.
They never really talk on nights like this. Just sit there until Tony's finally ready to get up.
Matt's hand find Tony's, thumb running over his palm. It’s absentminded at first. Familiar. The same way he always does it. Little circles going over his thenar.
Then Matt's thumb reaches his wrist, and Matt stills.
It’s subtle—just a half-second pause—but Tony feels it anyway. His breath catches before he can stop it, tensing.
Matt’s fingers shift, more careful now. Exploring without prying. And Tony knows exactly what he’s found.
The scars are old. Small. Easy to miss if you aren’t looking for them. Tony’s never bothered to hide them properly, because no one ever looks close enough to notice.
He freezes. Every muscle locked, waiting.
Matt doesn’t say anything.
Instead, he lifts Tony’s hand and presses a soft kiss just over the scar. It's barely there. Reverent. Yet still makes Tony's chest tighten almost painfully.
Matt's thumb moves again, tracing upward along Tony's wrist until it finds another riased line.
He kisses that one too. Then another, and another. Each one just as soft as the last. He keeps going up Tony's forearm, kissing even the ones Tony hardly notices anymore.
By the time Matt reaches his elbow, Tony's breath is uneven, shallow in a way he hates. His throat burns.
He can't bring himself to look at Matt anymore, so stares out at the city instead, lights blurring together, and wills himself not to do anything embarrassing like cry.
Matt stops at the last one, just above Tony's elbow. "You okay?"
Tony swallows. "Yeah," he says, automatically. A little too fast. The word catches, voice cracking. It's the first thing he said in days, Tony realizes.
Matt doesn't call him out on it. Even if Tony can tell he notices the same thing.
"You don't have to be."
Tony lets out a shaky breath, something that probably could've been a laugh if he'd bothered trying a little harder.
"I know," he replied. "But I think I am. For now."
Matt hums softly. "For now's good," he says. "We can work with for now."