Tony takes a deep breath. Swallows. Controls his raging emotions, and forces a trembling smile. He looks slightly up at the man standing before him. Steve Rogers. His antagonist, his friend, his ally, his lover. His heart, or whats left of it, quakes inside him. 'Oh Steve,' he thinks, 'Why does it have to come to this?'
His smile is wavering and he tries to get his brain to cooperate. 'Focus, genius. You can't break down now. There'll be time for that later.'
He licks his dry lips and croaks out, "So, Cap. This is it."
Steve nods "Yes. This is it."
Tony tries to keep up the pretense that he's not going to cry.
"Funny. You never did strike me as the type for exotic dancers." Steve frowns, but its true, of all the people Tony would least expect to pack up and move to whichever South American country he's going to, its Steve. Steve is a stay at home boy. He likes his roots.
This is all Tony's fault. He never meant to hurt Steve, but once he knew which buttons to press, which places he could push and make Steve stumble, there was no going back. He couldn't help it.
Steve, perfect Steve, wonderful Steve the love of his life Steve, is going.
To Fucking Brazil.
For fucking ever.
"I'm sorry" Tony whispers and looks away. He can hear the flight attendant calling out the next departure. Why couldn't time stop, now, here.
Why couldn't Steve stay.
Tony's blinking back tears now. There's no use, he can't stop.
"Hey," Steve whispers, seeing his wet eyes "Come here..." He enfolds Tony in his arms and the smaller man sobs into his ex-lover's chest.
"Steve..." he murmurs "Steve, please... I'm sorry... P-please d-don't go..."
Steve says nothing, just holds him there, lets him cry, rocks him gently. It's a while before Tony pulls away, wiping his eyes.
"I'm sorry." He mutters again. "Steve, I-I don't think I ever told you... just down much I love you-"
"Tony-"
"No, Steve hear me out. I love you, and if you want to go, I understand. I respect your decision, just, remember the good times, yeah? And, please, don't look back in anger... I-I don't think I could bare that..." Steve nods, and Tony sees his eyes are damp, too.
The super soldier stretches out his hand.
"The good times, Tony. And nothing else." Tony takes his hand, the hand that feels so right molded into his own, and shakes it.
Then he lets go.
"Bye, Steve". He stands up on tiptoe and kisses his cheek.
"Bye, Tony". He lets his hand linger on the other's shoulder. Tony smiles, a sad, flickering smile, and Steve turns away. He walks across the strip of runway between him and the jet that will take him away from Tony, perhaps forever. Half way there, he turns and raises his hand in a salute. Tony waves and tears slide down his cheeks.
He watches Steve board the plane and feels his spirit break.
"Don't look back, Steve" He whispers. "Not today."