[Nightlight]

[seeagreatergood]

So things got awkward and Auggie moved his stuff back out of the Stark household into Milliways.

And he's been totally fine with it. Honestly. It's been kind of a relief not to have to keep such a close eye on himself the last three or four days. Milliways is kind of anxiety-inducing, but less anxiety inducing than living in a house with those two young men.

Of course, he misses the easy camaraderie. But it's not like this is the first time he valued safety over friendship.

Comments

[seeagreatergood]

Auggie blinks.

"--I haven't given it a lot of thought."

Or has actively avoided thinking about it, sometimes.

[toblameforit]

"Well, think about it now," he suggests. "We've got time."

[seeagreatergood]

"Huh."

He sits back in his chair, tapping his finger on his drink.






"Do you take me seriously?"

[toblameforit]

Puzzled: "...In what sense?"

[seeagreatergood]

"Any sense. But mainly do you take my concerns about a relationship with you seriously." He shrugs. "I don't think you take my concerns about your security seriously because to you they look like me not taking you seriously. And yeah, maybe I deserve that one. But if you don't take me seriously when I worry that I'm manipulating you or exploiting you, then there's no way to move forward."

[toblameforit]

"I think," Tony says, "if we're gonna talk about that part, I wanna be doing it in somebody's room."

[seeagreatergood]

"I . . ."

Deep breaths. Keeping them comfortable. Right.

"Okay."

[toblameforit]

"I mean not somebody's bedroom, just someplace with a door that locks. We can use my rooms; there's like a living room part with a couch and everything."

[seeagreatergood]

He relaxes, visibly.

"Okay."

[toblameforit]

Tony gives Sherry a light push out of his lap. "Scoot, Sherry, I have to get up now. Don't worry, we can go back to snuggling the minute we get upstairs."

[if_inconvenient]

"Oh, all right, if I must."

[seeagreatergood]

He manfully does not snort as he gets up and turns his cane on.

[if_inconvenient]

His restraint is appreciated! Ahem.

Sherlock leads the way up the stairs.

[toblameforit]

Tony follows by Auggie's side. His arm is available if Auggie wants to take it.

[seeagreatergood]

He's good -- walking with other people is nearly as good a physical deterrent as the white cane. Plus his hands are full.

[toblameforit]

In that case, nothing much happens until they're upstairs and Tony is deciding this is one of those situations whiskey won't improve and flopping drinkless onto the couch.

[seeagreatergood]

"Point me towards a chair?"

[toblameforit]

"How's another couch suit you? One o'clock, other end of this one from where you're standing."

[seeagreatergood]

"Thanks." He heads for the couch and settles in.

"So. Same question as downstairs."

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock settles back into lapcuddle configuration while Tony is thinking about it.

[toblameforit]

He sighs.

"Okay, so here's the thing. I know it could get bad, I know there's a reason why older people having relationships with teenagers is generally not a good idea. But I just... that kind of problem doesn't come out of nowhere, y'know? If I was gonna have trouble with that, I'd be having it with Obie, and I'm—not. And he doesn't really give a shit if he's manipulating me. So I don't think there's a huge danger here."

[seeagreatergood]

"Because you don't think I'll manipulate you, or you think you'd notice if I did, or what?"

[toblameforit]

"I do not think you'll fuck with my head on purpose, no. And one of us would notice. We notice when Obie thinks he's pulling something on us, but he's mostly figured out by now that the best way to get on my good side is to quit lying all the time."

[seeagreatergood]

He blows out a breath.

"Okay. Good."

[toblameforit]

"So where's that leave us?"