That touch of reassurance he gets from Tony blends a drop of excitement and hope to what's already in Steve's eyes. Because god does Steve appreciate it that Tony isn't rushing him, that he's guiding him and being patient with him. Mostly because Steve knows himself — or at least, he knows what he's like when women have pushed him in the past. He knows that often, he'll just go along with the path of resistance. It's something that just happens, even if it doesn't match up at all with the rest of his life. But somehow, always, when it comes to this, Steve is too much of a pushover, and there's a high chance that he'll immediately regret what he lets himself into. Like with Private Lorraine in-between those bookshelves in the bunker. Like with Morgana, and the way he should've seen it coming.
But Steve didn't. He never sees this kind of thing coming. Which is why Tony letting him set the pace means so much. He'd behave, Tony had promised, as Steve blushed at the thought only a feet few away from the bed they're laying in now. Steve doesn't know for sure, but he imagines what Tony's doing with him is hard. He's seen the way women throw themselves at Tony, at a much more frequent rate than they ever did with him. Later, when he isn't so consumed by the way Tony feels against him, Steve will realize that maybe, by taking things slow, some of this is new for Tony too.
Right now however, he first sees that red in Tony's cheeks — is he ... blushing? Steve's never seen Tony Stark blush in his entire life, and then Tony nearly whispers those last words and when Steve next breathes in, his exhale sounds more like a whimper than anything else. But it's not because Steve's about to cry; the doting grin on his face should make that abundantly clear. His chest just hurts for some reason, and it takes him a few seconds to realize that it's not pain.
Four days ago, he told Tony that he thought he was falling in love. Apparently this is what that feels like.
He remembers, because this is what that night at the Ball felt like. This is what the wind felt like when it blew away the wet tears on his face when Steve had first convinced himself that wanting Tony was okay. And beyond those moments, Steve doesn't even have the right context to know that it's fast. Probably too fast, by normal standards. But he doesn't care, or know to care about that.
Which is why, in the end, his answer to Tony's question is another kiss. It's hungry, like the past few have all been, but the way that Steve's free hand moves to cradle Tony's face and the way his lips seem so unwilling to leave Tony's even for an instant — it's all motivated by love, and Steve is just starting to understand that it's what's been swelling inside him this entire time.
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But Steve didn't. He never sees this kind of thing coming. Which is why Tony letting him set the pace means so much. He'd behave, Tony had promised, as Steve blushed at the thought only a feet few away from the bed they're laying in now. Steve doesn't know for sure, but he imagines what Tony's doing with him is hard. He's seen the way women throw themselves at Tony, at a much more frequent rate than they ever did with him. Later, when he isn't so consumed by the way Tony feels against him, Steve will realize that maybe, by taking things slow, some of this is new for Tony too.
Right now however, he first sees that red in Tony's cheeks — is he ... blushing? Steve's never seen Tony Stark blush in his entire life, and then Tony nearly whispers those last words and when Steve next breathes in, his exhale sounds more like a whimper than anything else. But it's not because Steve's about to cry; the doting grin on his face should make that abundantly clear. His chest just hurts for some reason, and it takes him a few seconds to realize that it's not pain.
Four days ago, he told Tony that he thought he was falling in love. Apparently this is what that feels like.
He remembers, because this is what that night at the Ball felt like. This is what the wind felt like when it blew away the wet tears on his face when Steve had first convinced himself that wanting Tony was okay. And beyond those moments, Steve doesn't even have the right context to know that it's fast. Probably too fast, by normal standards. But he doesn't care, or know to care about that.
Which is why, in the end, his answer to Tony's question is another kiss. It's hungry, like the past few have all been, but the way that Steve's free hand moves to cradle Tony's face and the way his lips seem so unwilling to leave Tony's even for an instant — it's all motivated by love, and Steve is just starting to understand that it's what's been swelling inside him this entire time.