ironmonger | (no subject)

(no subject)

Milliways's appearance on the other side of the bathroom door is unexpected, but more acceptable than it would have been fifteen minutes ago. Obadiah is fresh from a shower, his sleeves worn just a little longer than usual. His business in the room he was using is concluded, and he doesn't see why he can't get a drink before he goes home.

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Obadiah wraps both arms around him, murmuring soothingly.

He does have a certain amount of practice with comforting Tony, after all.

"It'll be fine," he says softly. "I'll take care of you."

There are a number of reasons why that practice isn't doing him as much good here as it might. One, when Tony used to cry on Obadiah regularly, he was thirteen. Two, when Tony used to cry on Obadiah regularly, it was about his parents.

But he's not crying now, exactly. Obadiah's shirt is dry where Tony's face presses into it. It's not grief that has him shivering; it's a tangle of mostly nameless fears.

After a moment, he says quietly,

"Talk to me, Tony."

This is different. He needs more to go on. He will not fuck this up.

He sniffles, lifts his head, and meets Obadiah's eyes.

Yeah, the words aren't coming. Tony cannot even begin to sort out what's in his head right now.

Why does trust have to be so complicated?

"In your own time," he murmurs, stroking Tony's hair.

Patience is essential.

Tony slumps a little.

How does he even...

"I feel like something's missing," he tries, "and I don't know what."

Or even from where, exactly. Obie? Himself?

"I've never been especially demonstrative, Tony," he says. "Unless I'm faking it."

Which, of course, is not what Tony wants.

He sighs.

"I know," he says, and gives him a quick, soft, helplessly unhappy kiss. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he says. "You've always been more . . . open. I can't blame you for expecting others to be sometimes."

He hesitates.

"It doesn't come to me naturally."

Tony bites his lip, looks down for a moment, and slides into Obie's lap to hug him.

"It's okay," he murmurs, and it actually is. "I love you. It's okay."

Obadiah returns the hug.

"You have always been such a good kid," he says.

He snorts.

But his grin when he looks at Obie again is pure affection.

Whatever was missing, it's not missing anymore. Maybe he never needed it in the first place.

He chuckles.

"Yeah, that may not be the word I should be using right now."

"Good," he teases. "It's good that you noticed that."

"Well, I'm not completely morally bankrupt," he smiles.

(Lies.)

"I know," he says comfortably.

Because again: they're here, having this conversation. And they really are going to do this. Tony trusts him that far.

Yes, he believes there is something in Obadiah Stane that resembles a heart.

Isn't he sweet.

(Obadiah does not share that assessment.

Then again, Obadiah has never had a very good relationship with the truth.)

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