[ 'I've been told by Captain America not to leave my bed, and he seems to know what he's talking about.'
Sam's gaze doesn't drop, but he had to let it dart away for a moment, has to blink hard a few times on a shuddering intake of breath. It's not that he needs anyone's approval, or Tony Stark's in particular. Yet still... He was gearing up for Tony to feel at least conflicted, same as he initially thought Bucky cared more about the shield than the man behind it with Steve gone, or that Natasha would find it weird given her own close friendship with Steve.
None of their approval or disapproval would fundamentally change his choice, and it doesn't matter the same way the input of the people he's hoping to shield with the mantle does.
And yet.
For a moment, Sam can only stand there and let it sit. The fact that Tony apologizes immediately for the possibility of having made Sam feel defensive and like he had to explain himself even without Sam voicing anything to strictly necessitate that. The fact that this easy approval comes not just from Tony, but from people Sam cared about who he never thought he'd see again...
Sam swallows, then nods and silently pushes off the counter, folds himself back into the chair by Tony's bedside, where he is silent for a moment longer. The thick and sudden emotion ebbs slowly, until finally Sam breaks the other way, ducks his head and smiles, soft and honest, quietly pleased and relieved even while he has to put a joke on it so he doesn't choke on his emotions. 'I'm ashamed of you' still rings in his ears. But then again, so do other voices. ]
You sure you wanna be that easy on this? I was all prepared to show you how I can currently win arguments by walking away from you at moderate speed...
no subject
Sam's gaze doesn't drop, but he had to let it dart away for a moment, has to blink hard a few times on a shuddering intake of breath. It's not that he needs anyone's approval, or Tony Stark's in particular. Yet still... He was gearing up for Tony to feel at least conflicted, same as he initially thought Bucky cared more about the shield than the man behind it with Steve gone, or that Natasha would find it weird given her own close friendship with Steve.
None of their approval or disapproval would fundamentally change his choice, and it doesn't matter the same way the input of the people he's hoping to shield with the mantle does.
And yet.
For a moment, Sam can only stand there and let it sit. The fact that Tony apologizes immediately for the possibility of having made Sam feel defensive and like he had to explain himself even without Sam voicing anything to strictly necessitate that. The fact that this easy approval comes not just from Tony, but from people Sam cared about who he never thought he'd see again...
Sam swallows, then nods and silently pushes off the counter, folds himself back into the chair by Tony's bedside, where he is silent for a moment longer. The thick and sudden emotion ebbs slowly, until finally Sam breaks the other way, ducks his head and smiles, soft and honest, quietly pleased and relieved even while he has to put a joke on it so he doesn't choke on his emotions. 'I'm ashamed of you' still rings in his ears. But then again, so do other voices. ]
You sure you wanna be that easy on this? I was all prepared to show you how I can currently win arguments by walking away from you at moderate speed...