thewintersoldier:

If it could only work once, he’d be proud it was you.

heylennah:

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 The Last Petal (Tony/Steve) by -lazarus.

Tony can feel the Earth rumble beneath his feet; all around him buildings were crumbling, fire and smoke were rising in the air and the echo of a hundred explosions rung loud and clear. He can’t remember how many Skrulls he’s taken down or how many of their weaponry he’s managed to destroy, but it feels endless.


His armor is already falling apart, his muscles strained beneath the metal, and his chest was now an insistent burn and ache of exhaustion. But he can’t stop just now. So many people were depending on him, so many things were at stake, so many things that required his protection… he could not afford to rest now.


He can faintly hear JARVIS telling him he had to recharge his heart soon, that the suit was slowly losing power. But Tony ignores the program’s warnings and instead dials a different number.


“Iron Man?” comes Cap’s voice instantly. “Tony, are you alright? Is everything okay?” The concern and sudden alertness is tangible, even though the screen.


“I’m fine,” says Tony, forcing his breathing to be even. “Just wanted to make sure everything was okay on your end.”


“We’re alright,” says Steve, sounding slightly relieved. “Where are you?”


“Not sure,” says Tony, looking around for familiar ground, but everything’s mostly been destroyed. “I think I’m near—” he gasps as a spike of pain shoots up his chest from the reactor core. For a moment he can barely breathe and his vision goes white.


“Tony? Tony?” Steve’s voice is louder, the tension back. Tony can hear him running. “Tony what’s the matter? Answer me, please.”


“I’m… I’m alright,” Tony wheezes, regaining some semblance of composure. “Just… a bit run down that’s all,” he assures with a laugh.


“Give me your coordinates,” says Steve at once. “I’ll come get you.”


“No,” says Tony instantly. “You’re needed there. I’ll be fine.” He can hear Steve starting to argue, so he interrupts quickly, “But that’s not why I called. I wanted to say… just in case… just in case this all doesn’t work out—”


“Tony, stop talking like that,” says Steve firmly. “Everything’s going to be fine. You’re going to be fine.” That last part sounded like a promise. It makes Tony smile despite the pain in his chest.


“Always the optimist,” he teases. “Someone has to be,” Steve retorts fondly. “You’re too much of a pessimist.”


“With good reason,” says Tony lightly, but then he sobers. “But just in case… I wanted you to know—”


“Tony—” Steve’s voice warns.


“I love you,” says Tony and he swears he can hear Steve stop moving. Stop breathing. Tony takes a deep breath. “I love you, Steve. I always have. And I know you don’t feel the same way—”


“I love you too—”


“—but I just wanted you to know in case I… I what?” says Tony, blinking in surprise.


“I love you too,” Steve repeats, and there’s a smile in his voice. When Tony doesn’t say anything—too dumfounded to say anything at all—Steve says, a little sheepish, shy. “I… I thought it was obvious.”


Tony feels something in midst the pain in his chest: something fluttery and soothing, something indescribable… like happiness.


“We’ll talk about this when it’s over,” says Steve finally, still with that note of happiness in his tone. It makes Tony breathe again. “Alright,” he agrees. “It’s a promise.”