[Video Post 1] It would be so nice if something made sense for a change

[likeagerbil]

[Despite the Head Librarian's warnings, Steve had been exploring alone. Not the wisest decision but he didn't want anyone to get hurt while he was trying to get a general idea of the layout of the Library. As he moves deeper into the Fiction area, he notices something that seems a little strange. Telling himself that it's just trick of the light, he continues to move deeper into the stacks. Then the strange motion resolved itself into... Okay, that was weird even by 'aliens' and 'killer robot' standards.

Sliding his bookmark out of his pocket, he sets it to broadcast.]

Does anyone know if there's any wildlife that's native to the Library? I keep seeing weird insects.

[Something strange swoops by and Steve blinks in surprise.]

Or birds? It looked like a bird.

[Kind of.]

And there's a garden somewhere in the stacks.

Comments

[legacyofiron]

Tony grinned, full on, bright and unrestrainably wide. Leaning in, he touched their noses softly without even thinking about it. "Good." Because he had wanted to tell Steve that for a good long while now... but never had the bravery to do so. So maybe whatever this place was doing to his head wasn't such a horrible thing after all.

Nestling in closer to Steve, he let his eyes close as a low rumbling purr began to roil in his chest from the feeling of that hand on the back of his neck. "So do you, you always do... real sleep, not the kind you pretend is sleep." Having PTSD of his own tended to make him just as bad when it came to sleep. Not that he ever saw Steve sleep, but he could tell from watching him. Once Jarvis even asked about Steve's inability to sleep. Tony simply said nothing, not wanting to pry.

Now, he felt no shame in saying what he thought, if in a strange way. "Perfect pillow, perfectly good... you are perfect in all the ways that count in my imperfect mind." Perfect was a word Tony fought for, but knew he could never have. In everything from his work... to the person his heart fluttered for at the worst times.

[likeagerbil]

His eyes crossed slightly when Tony touched his nose to his. For some reason he didn't understand, Steve reached up and gently rubbed a spot behind one of Tony's ears.

There were times when his friend had reminded him of a cat. He could get the same offended looks and be just as fussy as the alley cats that Steve had befriended as a kid. That made the purr seem almost normal, soothing away whatever concerned he might have until his thoughts started drifting so he could barely keep track of them.

"Only if you try to get some real sleep too." The words sounded slightly slurred as dodging nightmares for so long began to catch up with him. Tony was right. It was warm. Warm enough that Steve knew he wouldn't dream of cold water or ice.

"'M not perfect." Yawning wide enough that his jaw popped, he gently scritched Tony's scalp. "Your mind isn't imperfect. If it is, it's perfectly imperfect. Just right for you." And for Steve since Tony was willing to give him something so important, a place when no one else had even hinted at offering him one. Maybe the vision was wrong and he could come home. "You're pillow is going to fall asleep soon."

[legacyofiron]

God that felt heavenly. Why did it feel so good for Steve to rub just behind his ear? His whole body seemed to lean into it and the rumble in his chest only grew more pronounced as he hummed his approval. Yes... he could deal with this. Definitely.

"I can do that." After all, he did invite Steve to sleep to begin with. And he partially planned to put weight on the younger to be sure he'd have to wake him up to get away. It was just the absolute best plan in his mind... it helped that Steve felt so deliciously warm to him.

"You are to me." The words purred out softly, almost a whisper against Steve's chest as he nuzzled in closer, eyes closed. How long had he thought that? Probably when they worked together to repair the hellicarrier... or maybe even just before that. Sometimes he could still remember that hot touch to steady him when the spell snapped about them with the explosion of the engine. It really didn't matter when.

Purring more at this, he smiled even as he started to drift off. "That is the intent, my blue eyed hero." Teasing softly, he found he liked that description of his own mind. He liked it more coming from Steve. "Sleep... not going anywhere..." Maybe falling asleep was the only to get him to stop the silly riddlish that infected his way of talking...

[likeagerbil]

Closing his eyes, he continued petting dark hair, smiling at how it curled around his fingers. He always preferred when Tony looked less like the media image and more like the guy that danced around the workshop to rock songs that Steve had finally begun to recognize. It was easier to talk to that version of Tony than the version of the genius that dealt with public.

Or he usually did... the riddles were a little weird but still someone he could talk to without feeling out of place.

Chuckling when Tony decided to pin him, he pretended to let out an annoyed 'humph' when his friend's weight settled on him. His hand stilled for a moment when the Tony spoke before he kept playing with the curls at the back of Tony's neck. If his hearing hadn't been improved by the serum, he might not have caught it but the words caused an flutter in his chest.

Somehow Tony kept reminded him of who he was supposed to be. Not the soldier or the hero but Steve Rogers. And that person was perfect to Tony. Just like Tony had become perfect to him, strengths and flaws important to the whole. Maybe he'd found home and hadn't realized it and that was why everything relating to Ultron had hit so hard.

Curling an arm around Tony, his breathing slowed and he had the feeling that the nightmares wouldn't show up this time. "G'night, Tony."