"I can't think of anything less I'd like to do than situps and jumping jacks right now," there's no sharpness in his tone when he delivers that news, and he manages to grin just a little. He knows Steve's penchant for punching bags until they collapse into dust or veer off into a wall and he doesn't really want to do that either. Even less so when Steve says something sweet, maybe without even meaning to. But...
He thinks he agrees. Tony himself still has tendencies to hole up. In the lab. Working through his hands and the mess in his brain is the only way he ever gets anything done anyway. Can't very well dwell on things that are bothering you when you have hot metal in your hands and have to concentrate, or if you run the risk of losing your place in a line of code if your mind wanders. He's best in an environment where he's creating rather than stewing on his own problems.
There's only slight resistance when Steve tries to take his glass, maybe one or two seconds worth before he lets go. There's no point in fighting with him about it. Or anything of that nature. Steve beats him out physically in every arena. And they're not fighting right now. Which is probably how it should stay. It's better like this.
With his hands empty they fall to his lap, as does his gaze. Thinking. Steve's giving him an out. What if he said yes? He'd go back to the lab- but he remembers those files are there. He'll start himself up again. It's not smart, which is precisely why he almost says yes of course. "That's my usual MO." But he's not so certain right now. Not when he looks up, at Steve so close, and can't seem to help the way he reaches out, stealing one of Steve's hands. Like he just needs to be holding on to something, and if it's not a glass, then...
"I think we both know that's not a good idea right now." Being as painfully honest as possible where Steve's just going to see through him anyway. He'll start on one thing and then he'll transition into running himself ragged trying to find leads while they're waiting for their other one to come in. In the mess of all of this, he seems to be thinking about something, the wheels churning behind his eyes. He just has this look about him and then very suddenly-
"Thank you. By the way." He clears his throat like those words had been stuck in there, breathing out a sigh after. His eyes drop, fingers turning Steve's hand over, palm up, so he can idly trace the lines there. "You don't owe me anything. You didn't... I know it would've made your life a lot easier to not bring this home. So..." If Tony had ever found that out, though, he probably would've never trusted Steve again. Ever. But that's just it. Most everyone else he knows wouldn't be as forthcoming. Hell... he might've tried to fix something like this before actually bringing it to light. One of his very huge, glaring personality errors. Somehow still, even though it could've destroyed them, Steve brought it home and told him right away.
There's not many people in his life he trusts like he trusts Steve. And this, tonight, solidifies why. "Thanks," he says again softly, tips of his fingers brushing over the inside of Steve's wrist, eyes still downcast.
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He thinks he agrees. Tony himself still has tendencies to hole up. In the lab. Working through his hands and the mess in his brain is the only way he ever gets anything done anyway. Can't very well dwell on things that are bothering you when you have hot metal in your hands and have to concentrate, or if you run the risk of losing your place in a line of code if your mind wanders. He's best in an environment where he's creating rather than stewing on his own problems.
There's only slight resistance when Steve tries to take his glass, maybe one or two seconds worth before he lets go. There's no point in fighting with him about it. Or anything of that nature. Steve beats him out physically in every arena. And they're not fighting right now. Which is probably how it should stay. It's better like this.
With his hands empty they fall to his lap, as does his gaze. Thinking. Steve's giving him an out. What if he said yes? He'd go back to the lab- but he remembers those files are there. He'll start himself up again. It's not smart, which is precisely why he almost says yes of course. "That's my usual MO." But he's not so certain right now. Not when he looks up, at Steve so close, and can't seem to help the way he reaches out, stealing one of Steve's hands. Like he just needs to be holding on to something, and if it's not a glass, then...
"I think we both know that's not a good idea right now." Being as painfully honest as possible where Steve's just going to see through him anyway. He'll start on one thing and then he'll transition into running himself ragged trying to find leads while they're waiting for their other one to come in. In the mess of all of this, he seems to be thinking about something, the wheels churning behind his eyes. He just has this look about him and then very suddenly-
"Thank you. By the way." He clears his throat like those words had been stuck in there, breathing out a sigh after. His eyes drop, fingers turning Steve's hand over, palm up, so he can idly trace the lines there. "You don't owe me anything. You didn't... I know it would've made your life a lot easier to not bring this home. So..." If Tony had ever found that out, though, he probably would've never trusted Steve again. Ever. But that's just it. Most everyone else he knows wouldn't be as forthcoming. Hell... he might've tried to fix something like this before actually bringing it to light. One of his very huge, glaring personality errors. Somehow still, even though it could've destroyed them, Steve brought it home and told him right away.
There's not many people in his life he trusts like he trusts Steve. And this, tonight, solidifies why. "Thanks," he says again softly, tips of his fingers brushing over the inside of Steve's wrist, eyes still downcast.