It's heartbreaking to watch Tony shut down again. Steve sees the grief and the fear. A simple question but it rips through Tony. And that rips through Steve. God, he really can't stand seeing him hurt.
He gently takes his phone from Tony's hand and replies that it's related to SHIELD's history and he'll explain more later. He also takes Tony's phone from him. Both phones go down on the workbench and once again pulls Tony into the shelter of his arms. He should have never let him go in the first place.
"We can tell them when you're ready," he says as he curls around Tony like he can protect him from the pain and grief he's feeling inside. "Not until you're ready though."
And he won't have to tell them alone. They'll tell the team together because they lead it together. Yeah, everyone looks to Steve for the plan but Tony does just as much. They're the head of the team. Though Steve hasn't talked about his hunt for Bucky with many of the members. Just Nat and Tony. Maybe he should've kept them more in the loop before now but it's done.
He presses a kiss to the top of Tony's head. "You tell people when you're ready. I'll be here."
To hold his hand or hold him after. Steve's not going to make him tell people alone unless Tony asks for the privacy. Otherwise, he's going to be the steady presence Tony seems to need right now. And just pretend the whole thing with Bucky can be dealt with later.
no subject
He gently takes his phone from Tony's hand and replies that it's related to SHIELD's history and he'll explain more later. He also takes Tony's phone from him. Both phones go down on the workbench and once again pulls Tony into the shelter of his arms. He should have never let him go in the first place.
"We can tell them when you're ready," he says as he curls around Tony like he can protect him from the pain and grief he's feeling inside. "Not until you're ready though."
And he won't have to tell them alone. They'll tell the team together because they lead it together. Yeah, everyone looks to Steve for the plan but Tony does just as much. They're the head of the team. Though Steve hasn't talked about his hunt for Bucky with many of the members. Just Nat and Tony. Maybe he should've kept them more in the loop before now but it's done.
He presses a kiss to the top of Tony's head. "You tell people when you're ready. I'll be here."
To hold his hand or hold him after. Steve's not going to make him tell people alone unless Tony asks for the privacy. Otherwise, he's going to be the steady presence Tony seems to need right now. And just pretend the whole thing with Bucky can be dealt with later.