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“Stephen! You’re hurt!” The engineer rushed to his husband’s side right after the battle ended.
The nano suit retracted and showed the worried face of the older genius. The man cupped Stephen’s bruising face gently in his warm hands.
With a shaking hand, Stephen reached up to hold Tony’s wrist, “It’s just a bruise. I’m not in any pain, it’ll pass. I’m okay Tony.”
With reluctance, Tony let it go and they went back with the others.
Everything went as usual after a fight; short reports, clean ups, helping civilians and such. It was only when they got back to their house and turned in for the night did he see it.
Stephen decided to accompany him to change the ‘old fashioned’ way and that’s probably the only reason Tony found out in the first place.
A shocked gasp came from behind him as he took his robes off. The sorcerer turned around to see what had caused the genius to make such a sound only to find the other looking at him in horror.
Stephen didn’t need to ask as the mirror behind Tony showed what had caused the man’s distress.
Dark purple bruises covered his whole torso and chest.
“Huh…” and with realization pain erupted from his body. His knees gave out but was caught by two strong arms that pointedly avoided the bruised areas.
“Stephen!” a string of curses came out of his partner’s mouth.
“Need to get you to the medbay. Cloak!” He called out and the red sentient fabric zoomed towards them eager to help.
With the cloak’s help they got the injured sorcerer to the Medbay and with the help of FRIDAY Bruce was already there to help them.
Bruce checked on Stephen and gave him a few medicine along with a salve to help with the bruising. By that point the pain had died to a manageable throb and Bruce decided that there was nothing more to do and that Stephen would be fine resting in his own bed.
So, once more, with help of Tony and The Cloak, they went back to their room.
On their way back the walk was silent. Tony was having an internal conversation with himself, berating himself. He should’ve known that Stephen would hide his injuries so as to not worry him.
He should’ve known better, he should’ve-. Stephen should’ve told him. Why didn’t he tell Tony? He’s not a burden.. Did he not trust Tony?
The engineer quickly stomp the insecurities down as fast as it appeared.
No. It wasn’t that. His husband himself was shocked when he noticed the bruising. That means… Stephen hadn’t felt it in the first place.
Of course! It all makes sense now why the sorcerer would come back with cuts and bruises only to be confused when he sees or when someone points it out for him.
With that realization, the older man lets out a string of curses. By that point they had made the walk back to their bedroom and Stephen looked at him questioningly.
Tony looked at the younger man seriously, “Stephen. You didn’t know you were injured before you looked in the mirror.” It wasn’t a question.
Stephen looked down and bit his lips, “Ever since- Ever since Dormammu my pain tolerance had increased. I didn’t think…” The word died in his throat.
Ever so slowly the engineer moved himself, mindful of the other’s injuries to hug the other, “It’s alright I understand. You don’t have to explain yourself.”
They stayed like that for a while. Stephen felt like he was protected, like he didn’t have to worry about another thing in the world and Tony felt like he was holding the world in his arms.
“Although that means I’ll need to check you after every fight…” and with a teasing voice he added, “Thoroughly.”
Stephen felt his tension dissolve and laugh so freely that Tony wished they could stay like that forever.