#is this angsty

21.“You knocked on my door at 1 in the morning, to cuddle?”

Tonydidn’t really know what he was doing.

Hewas trembling, still in the haze of his dream, the panic, his heart thumping inhis chest as the aliens in all manner of forms came down upon Earth, killinghis friends, and he- he was scared. He tried to save them; he did, but then themonster took Steve away, calling out to him, and-

Well,that had been when he’d woken up.

Sonow he was making his way through his tower in New York, down the elevator andacross the corridors, still in his alert state, with underlying tiredness thatthreatened to pop his eyes out of his sockets at any second. And he was stillin his pyjamas.

Eventuallyhe arrived at Steve’s door, and knocks at it, hoping he’ll answer, needing him to answer.

Inhis haze, he might have blurted something out as soon as Steve answered thedoor and Tony was sure that Steve was alright.

Tonyblinked tiredly, and Steve grabbed his watch from his nightstand with his doorstill open, his room dark inside.

Hecame back to the door and frowned at his watch.

“Youknocked on my door in 1 in the morning, to cuddle?”

“Uhh…What?”Tony said slightly drunkenly. “Is that what I said?” Tony motioned with hishands, his eyes frowning and his mouth open in confusion. Right. It seemed hehad said that out loud.

“Youwant to cuddle,” Steve stated blandly.

“We-wellI – “Tony just stared at Steve, all healthy and alive and glowing even thoughhe had ruffed up hair and looked pretty beat himself.

“Er,okay, why don’t you just come in,” Steve motioned for Tony, and he looked likehe couldn’t understand what he was saying, which was unusual for Tony, and Stevewas slightly concerned.

“Comeon,” Steve said, and gently put his arm around of Tony’s and brought him slowlyinside and sat him down on his bed, as he looked around the room. He knew whatit looked like, obviously; he had made it for him and decorated it, and payedfor it…

Steveclosed the door behind him and offered Tony a glass of water, but Tony shookhis head.

Stevesat down on the bed next to him and saw that Tony had that far-off look again,his eyes wide and afraid, but nothing else would show it.

“Tony…”Steve said cautiously, and bit his lip. Tony had been like this before. It madeSteve worried, and made him want to protect Tony from this kind of things,these nightmares, the self-deprecation. So, they could either talk it out andhave a manly heart-to-heart, or Steve could give Tony what he really needed.And wanted.

Butonly if that’s what Tony really wanted.

Stevereached out towards Tony, but he was already there and his head fell ontoSteve’ shoulder, and Steve’s hand stopped in mid-air, and came down to theother side of Tony’s head to pull him close. Tony wrapped his arm around Steve,letting out a little whimpering sound, as Steve laid his head on the top ofTony’s, his chin nestled in his hair, holding him close to him, as if he wouldnever let him go.

“I’msorry,” Tony mumbled, and Steve sighed, about to protest. “I mean, this isn’tvery manly. I shouldn’t – I’m a grown man, I shouldn’t need this, or-““No, no, don’t talk like that,” Steve comforted him. “I bet when you needed ahug, no one was there, right?”

Tonyfrowned and looked up at him.

“Imean, everyone needs this, Tony.” He stroked his head. “You’re one of the bestmen – best person - that I know. And I meanthat,” He added. “Your only fear… isthe fear of losing your friends. Of losing the fight.” Tony listened to him.“And that – that shows that your heart truly lies-” He put his hand over Tony’schest, and Tony looks down at it. “It lies with us, with people, with love.”

Tonylooks at him, a little gobsmacked, and he smiles slightly and leans his headstraight into the other side of Steve’s neck to hug him properly. Steve smilesand hugs him tightly.

“Now,come on,” Steve says, pulling away slightly, and Tony falters slightly. “Youwanna sleep in here?” Steve gestured to his bed, and without really waiting foran answer, he pulled back the covers and smiled, and Tony got in, all warm andfuzzy, as Steve got under as well, tucking the covers around them and puttingone arm underneath Tony, as Tony buried his face in Steve’s chest, and hisbreathing was slowed down, his heart rate once again relaxed, warm, maybeslightly too warm in Steve’s embrace, but it was comforting, and he feltweirdly safe, like nothing bad could happen while he was with Steve, the big softsasquatch that he was.

Steveheld onto Tony’s smaller body warmly, his head sinking into the pillow, and hisface pressed to the top of Tony’s head.

“Thanksfor this,” Tony mumbled, not looking up, and he sighed. “’Night Steve.”

You really wished the genie would live inside its lamp instead of your mom’s crystal decanter, but you supposed beggars couldn’t be choosers, unless of course they wanted to waste one of their three wishes.

“I don’t get why you won’t make a wish already.” Donghan laid across your bed with his hands folded under his head. “When you first summoned me, I thought you’d use one right then to get out of this dump.”

You rubbed your temples. “I didn’t try to or even wanted to summon you. I was just moving my mom’s stuff.”

“Okay, but could you make the wish so we can live better? This studio apartment thing isn’t working for me.”

“Then go back in the bottle.”

“It’s cramped in there!” He gestured to his long body. “I’m better off out here but, geez, would a two bedroom be too much to ask?”

“I’m fine with this.” You shrugged, concentrating on the line of code on your laptop screen.

He sighed loudly and sat up. “Is this because I said I can’t bring back your mom?”

It was almost like he’d hit you. Once the wave of sorrow passed, you shook your head and continued working. “If it’s so cramped, why don’t you go for a walk or something? Maybe some fresh air will get you to shut up.”

“Oh, did I hit a nerve?” He stood up, walked over to you, and spun your chair around to face him. “I’m sorry I don’t have the power to do that. If I did, you know I wouldn’t hesitate.”

You looked down at your hands.

“In the meantime, it won’t do you any good to force yourself to suffer and live in squalor. I’m not saying you should wish to be a billionaire but a few hundred thousand dollars wouldn’t hurt.”

"But not the way she loves you!"

"..."

"You're so fucking stupid and yet she only has eyes for you," a humorless chuckle, "and I know you feel the same."

"You're hallucinating."