Steve has always been ready to hurl himself into the line of fire. Of late, it's taken on a darker turn, like some part of him is looking for an excuse, and that's...not ideal. But even before the serum, he was ready to throw his tiny body on a grenade to protect a bunch of cadets whose interactions with him prior to had mostly been limited to ignoring or laughing at him. Even now, he couldn't fully articulate why that was important to him. It just was.
And he didn't see it in Tony when they first met, although part of that may have been the influence of the Mind Stone in Loki's scepter. Now, though, he sees. He also sees some strategy here, in Tony's choice to bring him along. They're probably the best options available to keep one another sane, the way they prod at one another's weaknesses while knowing, very clearly, one another's strengths.
Even at a reduced size, having Tony's image pop up so close to Steve's face makes him feel like they're about to fight, or kiss, or something. It's weirdly intimate; his gaze locks with Tony's, eyes flickering back and forth like he's trying to read him. There aren't enough words for how that 'I know you' makes him feel. The thing is, he believes it.
"I trust you, Tony," he says quietly, and when the gauntlets grip his waist, he puts his own on Stark's shoulders.
There's really no way to brace oneself for the ride they undertake here. There's a moment where Steve cries out in genuine fear; the guy jumps out of planes without a parachute, falling shouldn't be frightening, but this is more than that. He's terrified of losing contact with Tony, and when they land, he's mercifully conscious, with a death-grip still locked on the other man. The first thing he does is curl over his fallen teammate, to protect him from the cars swerving around them. As if they could hurt him in the armor.
"Tony?? FRIDAY, is he okay?" Steve is oblivious to the civillians around them, for the moment. There is no immediate danger other than the cars, and they're quickly coming to a halt.
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And he didn't see it in Tony when they first met, although part of that may have been the influence of the Mind Stone in Loki's scepter. Now, though, he sees. He also sees some strategy here, in Tony's choice to bring him along. They're probably the best options available to keep one another sane, the way they prod at one another's weaknesses while knowing, very clearly, one another's strengths.
Even at a reduced size, having Tony's image pop up so close to Steve's face makes him feel like they're about to fight, or kiss, or something. It's weirdly intimate; his gaze locks with Tony's, eyes flickering back and forth like he's trying to read him. There aren't enough words for how that 'I know you' makes him feel. The thing is, he believes it.
"I trust you, Tony," he says quietly, and when the gauntlets grip his waist, he puts his own on Stark's shoulders.
There's really no way to brace oneself for the ride they undertake here. There's a moment where Steve cries out in genuine fear; the guy jumps out of planes without a parachute, falling shouldn't be frightening, but this is more than that. He's terrified of losing contact with Tony, and when they land, he's mercifully conscious, with a death-grip still locked on the other man. The first thing he does is curl over his fallen teammate, to protect him from the cars swerving around them. As if they could hurt him in the armor.
"Tony?? FRIDAY, is he okay?" Steve is oblivious to the civillians around them, for the moment. There is no immediate danger other than the cars, and they're quickly coming to a halt.