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Word Count - 508

What He Deserves

Tony flew aimlessly over the water. He wasn't even bothering to put the suit through its paces like he'd told himself he was going too. He was just… floating through the air. He didn't know what he was supposed to do with himself.

He'd messed up, badly, and because of him, Clint was in the hospital with broken ribs and a concussion.

All because he hadn't been fast enough.

So he'd told himself, take the suit out, figure out its speed limits and then make it better, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Admittedly, he'd also decided that it needed doing there and then because he couldn't bring himself to face Steve.

God but that man was such a contradiction. Every interaction they had left Tony feeling wrongfooted and uncertain, and he just… he couldn't take that right now.

Applying more power to the repulsors, Tony shot up into the air, higher and higher.

"I wonder if a fall from this height would be enough to kill me," he wondered out loud. It scared him how close he was to just… finding out. Cutting the power.

Apparently he was scaring J.A.R.V.I.S too.

"Sir, my primary protocols would kick in long before you hit the water," the AI said softly. "If I may, Sir, Captain Rogers is requesting you return home. He appears to be… worried about you."

"Annoyed with me," Tony corrected. "Still, it's nothing I don't deserve this time, is it?"

Without waiting for a reply from J.A.R.V.I.S, Tony engaged the thrusters once more and turned for home. He'd built an empire, twice. He could face Captain America's anger.

Especially since he'd earned it.

…

Steve was waiting for him on the landing pad of the tower, and he seemed to slump slightly with relief when Tony stepped out of the suit, pale but uninjured.

"Are you okay?"

Tony blinked. "Fine."

Steve raised his eyebrow, and Tony, not for the first time, wished he wasn't quite so perceptive.

"Clint's going to be okay, Tony. What happened to him wasn't your fault."

Tony stumbled slightly, and Steve reached out, placing his hands carefully on Tony's arms before he slid his hands down to his elbows to hold him steady.

"It wasn't your fault," Steve reiterated, and Tony couldn't help it when his eyes blurred with held back tears.

"It was," he whispered. "I should have caught him."

"You were catching Natasha, who definitely would have died today if you hadn't gotten her out of there. You did what you could do, Tony, and that's all any of us can, okay?"

Unable to do anything but nod, Tony didn't resist when Steve tugged him closer and then wrapped him up in a hug, the peach wool of his jumper soft against Tony's heated cheeks.

"Come on," Steve murmured. "You need to eat, and then we'll watch a movie, okay? I won't even complain when you tuck your feet under my thigh to warm them up."

"Thanks, Steve."

Written for:

Angel's Archives - 17. "I wonder if a fall from this height would be enough to kill me."

Wandmaker - Hawthorn (Such a contradiction) / Kneazle Whiskeys (Perceptive)

Sci-fi - Space - 7. I'm not sure - Uncertain

Game Night - Peach

365. 354. Empire