It didn't happen often, but it was often enough for Tony to know what was going on when Steve called him at 3 in the morning. Tony, of course, was still up, but he knew the supersoldier well enough to know that if he was up this late.. well he wasn't doing good. "Hey, Steve." Tony said as he picked up the call. Normally Tony would greet him with Capsicle or another one of his pet/nicknames that Tony made up just to annoy the supersoldier. But again, Tony knew what was up.
"Tony…" Came the hesitant and masked desperate voice over the phone, and Tony knew.
"I'll be right over, Steve. Wait for me, yeah?" He said, setting his tools down and heading to his cars.
"Yeah.."
"Alright. I'll be there in a few minutes, Steve." Tony said softly as he ended the call. He hopped into the car closest to him and took off. The brunette drove well over the speed limit, thankful that he had convinced the supersoldier to live close. Even at a normal and completely law-abiding citizen speed it was only a 15 minute drive. Tony, of course, made it in 6. He parked the car without much heed to others who used the street and hurried inside. He had a spare key to Steve's apartment so there was no need to ring the doorbell or knock. Tony slipped inside the darkened house. He didn't need any light though. Nor did he need to call out to know where Steve was. Tony padded softly towards the bedroom, only briefly telling himself that on normal circumstances shoes would have been a good idea. He shrugged the thought away as he stepped into the room. He gave a soft sigh, a slight pang going through his chest as he looked at the normally so cheerful and annoyingly optimistic blonde. Normally. Right now, Steve was sitting on the edge of his bed, elbows on knees and head in hands. Tony walked up to him, pulling the hands away and tilting Steve's chin up. "Hey there." He smiled gently at the blonde, another pang going through his chest as he saw the red around Steve's eyes, on his nose, on his cheeks. "Aw..C'mere." He says gruffly, sitting down next to him and pulling Steve close to him, pushing the blonde's head onto his shoulder and holding him tight. Because he hated seeing Steve like this. Everything else, was fun. Seeing Steve annoyed, feeling patriotic, happy, frustrated, comfortable, even angry. Everything was good and interesting, but not this. Tony hated it when Steve was like this. It hurt to see the blonde hurt. So he held him tightly until Steve started to cry. And Tony knew how much it took for that to happen. Steve had survived being beat up his entire life, then war, then losing his best friend, then the woman he loved, being frozen for years and waking up to a strange new era. Steve hid it well, but sometimes, he couldn't hold it in anymore. Tony gently guided Steve to the center of the bed. The brunette laid on his back then pulled Steve down to him, hugging him to his own chest. Steve, in turn, wrapped his own arms around Tony's smaller body, buried his face in the brunette's chest, and let it all go. Because he knew he was safe like that. He knew he was safe with Tony. "Shh, it's okay big guy, let it out." Tony reassured, stroking the blonde locks to comfort him.
"T-Tony..it's..I..I.." The supersoldier tried to stumble out.
"I know, Steve. It's okay, I know." Tony murmured, holding him tighter.
After a while, Tony's shirt was sufficiently damp and Steve had calmed down a lot. The brunette sat up some, gently tilting Steve's chin up. He leaned down, kissing away several tears, wiping away the rest. He placed several more kisses on Steve's nose, cheeks, forehead, trying to make him feel better. Then he hugged him again.
"Tony..thank you.." Steve said softly, voice still thick with his tears and emotions. Tony placed another kiss on the blonde's forehead, smoothing back his bangs.
"Anytime, Steve." He replied. "Let's sleep now, yeah?" Tony said, already laying Steve down, gathering the pillows, and pulling up the blanket.
"Yeah." Steve agreed with a weary but happier smile. He cuddled Tony, head tucked between the brunette's chin and shoulder. "Good night, Tony."
"Night, Steve." Tony responded, pressing one last kiss to Steve's head as he wrapped his arms around the precious blonde and closed his eyes.
