Thouchstarved Stephen. That’s the prompt :)
His hand shook as he pressed it against his chest. It helped, a little. Self-hugs were better for trying to stem the ache under his skin, and hugs from the cloak were even better, but both of those were a little move obvious and Stephen hated being obvious.
Around him the Avengers were piling into couches together. Stephen’s couch felt glaringly empty. He knew he was… standoffish, at times. But he’d thought that he had made headway with his involvement with the Avengers. They were no sort of family, but… friends.
Or he’d thought. The empty couch said otherwise. He felt like an idiot, half-filled hopes for the evening shattered.
The couch shifted beneath him as Tony fell into the seat next to him. Their shoulders pressed together. It wasn’t as close as some of the others were sitting, but it was closer than Stephen had had anyone in a long time. He stiffened, not sure how to handle the sudden touch, despite how much he wanted it.
“Rhodey kicked me off our couch,” Tony said in explanation for his presence.
Stephen glanced over. Rhodey looked confused at Tony’s presence on Stephen’s couch. There had obviously been no kicking of anyone off the couch.
Stephen must have been obvious, despite his best attempts not to. “I’m fine, Tony.”
“I’m not moving,” Tony said. “You can sit by Rhodey if you want, but he chews with his mouth open and he’s got a whole bucket of popcorn. Why do you think I’m here?”
“I thought he kicked you off.”
Tony shrugged. “Tomato, potato. Same thing.”
Stephen snorted. “Those are two entirely different things, actually.”
Tony didn’t move except to press a little closer. Slowly, Stephen felt himself relax as his body accepted the touch he so desperately wanted.
It felt… good.
