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‘Not how I’d imagined Iron Man would be taken out.’ Stephen smothered his smile as he knelt beside the footstool, offering his hands.
Tony refused to meet his gaze, his body rigid, fingers digging into his forearms.
‘It happens, sweetheart.’
Tony didn’t offer the injured appendage, but he didn’t flinch as Stephen took his foot. Careful not to jostle him any more than he needed to, Stephen cradled the heel of Tony’s right foot, fingers gentle as they trailed against the furious red skin stretched over his ankle.
‘Saved the world countless times, fought with literal bones sticking out of my skin, but this-’ Tony gestured at his foot, gaze still captured by something in the corner of Stephen’s bedroom.
‘A twisted ankle is excruciating, especially the anterior tibiotalar ligament, which judging by the swelling-’
The touch of a thumb sweeping across Stephen’s cheekbone broke his monologue.
‘I can survive a busted foot. My pride, however…’ Tony exhaled heavily, folding his arms back over his chest.
Stephen recognized that mood, had seen it so many times after frustrating board meetings, hours spent in the lab after Tony couldn’t solve a problem.
He knew how to snap Tony from it.
‘What happened? One moment you were there, and then I couldn’t see you over the heads of your teammates… not that I usually can.’
There it was, the mark of defiance that made Tony a formidable opponent. There was one sore spot that Stephen knew if he pushed on would yank Tony from any sullen mood, and his response, his adorable, predictable response made Stephen chuckle to himself.
‘What is that supposed to mean, Strange?’
‘At least Wong didn’t mistake you for one of the apprentices this time. Although, I agree with him, it’s always hard to tell how old you are from behind.’ Stephen held Tony’s leg still as he laughed, looking up at his beautiful, indignant face. ‘Come on, sweetheart, it’s funny.’
Tony’s gorgeous brown eyes narrowed, a wince smearing across his face when Stephen’s fingers probed too close, all humor evaporating.
‘Sorry. I’m going to have to bandage this for you, sweetheart, and you’ll need to keep off it for a few days.’ Stephen pressed a tender kiss to Tony’s shin, well away from the injury.
Biting his lower lip, Tony nodded once, gaze cutting away again to the middle distance, his trust implicit, revealing with that simple action just how far they’d come in their relationship. For all their teasing and banter, their twisted, insulting love language, they trusted each other, and despite Tony’s aversion to rest, he knew when Stephen meant it.
Even now, with him kneeling and Tony sitting on the stool, Stephen was still a few inches taller. All teasing aside, Stephen was struck by the visual of how small Tony appeared. How slight and delicate he could appear in just his charcoal-colored undersuit.
Despite it only being a training exercise with Stephen’s apprentices, Iron Man had been asked to assemble to give them more of a challenge, but Tony had only made it a few feet without the suit on before he’d stumbled, throwing his body out the way of an inexperienced apprentice freezing before him.
He’d set the nanobots in motion seconds afterwards, but Stephen had already seen the agonized expression.
Stephen knew that the suit would’ve offered Tony’s foot the support he needed, that his lover would’ve fought just as hard in training as he would if it were a real battle, and that meant nothing would stop him. Not broken bones, lacerations, severe burns and certainly not a twisted ankle.
It might not have been a broken bone, but Stephen was still there to catch Tony as he tumbled out of the suit when they had finished, giving no explanation as he portalled them both to his bedroom.
Stephen’s trembling fingers lingered on the gauze of the bandage as he finished wrapping Tony’s foot, gazing up at this mighty, formidable warrior who barely stood against his shoulder.
Tony was short, small perhaps, but formidable in heart and soul.
A giant among men in more ways than one.
Stephen gathered Tony in his arms, hooking his chin over Tony’s shoulder as he held him tight. This was his favorite time, reality melting as their body heat mingled and shared, the reassurance of the hug proving they were still together.
That their strength was with each other.
‘All jokes aside, I’m glad you’re okay,’ he breathed out.
Tony’s head tipped against Stephen’s.
‘Although, maybe I should keep you in my pocket. Just for safekeeping.’